And this is when Netgalley really needs the ability to rate between 4 and 5 stars. I loved this book! I would definitely encourage Austen fans to read. It's a beautiful story. I loved Francis 'Fly' Austen, the relationship between the sisters, and how Chawton came to life.

I had two small things that kept it from being a perfect 5 star read for me. And both of these are very subjective. Maybe it's because Northanger Abbey is often a love it or hate it Austen, (personally I love it) it's barely mentioned. When it is, some characters are disparaging.

2nd, The Epilogue I don't have that level of forgiveness in me. I'll say no more because I don't want to Spoil. To quote Darcy "My good opinion once lost is lost forever."

Wonderful treat for Austen fans. 4.75 stars for me.

This book was another sweet installment of Natalie Jenner’s Jane Austen books. I loved the two strong Stevenson sisters from Boston, and the kind spirit of the elderly “Fly” Frank Austen! Bringing in Louisa May Alcott as her formidable, moody self was the icing on the cake of this book for me!

This was a five-star read for me, and I highly recommend it, with a couple of observations. Being a huge Jane Austen fan myself and having read her six novels several times, I understood the frequent discussions that the characters had about her work, but this will not be the case for every reader. Also, the emphasis on British versus American law, with particular respect to women’s rights, at times dominated the plot, rendering the novel more intellectual than emotional in parts. This could have been a simple love story but the author chose to frame that within a deeper societal issue in history, and that’s what I found so interesting. There’s definitely food for thought between these covers. Thank you to NetGalley for an Advance Reading Copy.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy of Austen at Sea by Natalie Jenner

Author Natalie Jenner has interwoven a host of beloved authors and their works including William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Walt Whitman and Louise May Alcott to create an emotional and thrilling addition to her works which feature Jane Austen and her classic novels.

Austen at Sea revolves around the Stevenson family of Boston; father, William, is Chief Justice of he Massachusetts Supreme Court and his two young adult daughters, Henrietta (Harry) and Charlotte (Charlie).

Interestingly, the novel opens with the justices in great debate, not over a political issue but rather which of Jane Austen's novels is the greatest. It is charming to think of a group of men in 1865 arguing over Jane Austen!

The various subplots in Austen at Sea will keep the reader totally immersed. Louise May Alcott directs Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities while aboard a transatlantic sea voyage, a court case involving a married woman's right to hold on to her own property will be examined and the role of family in protecting their own will prevail.

Natalie Jenner has hit every note in this newest installment featuring aspects of Jane Austen's life and family while sharing the spotlight with both real and fictional characters.

This novel gave me everything I hoped for in a historical fiction story. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the siblings and how it fit within the world Jenner created. The plot came together nicely, and the overall atmosphere kept me engaged from start to finish. The characters had the charm I was looking for, and I found myself genuinely invested in their journey. Natalie Jenner did a fantastic job with this one, and I’m excited to see what she’ll write next.

Full confession: I’m an Austen fan. If you are as well, you’ll likely enjoy this book as much as I do. It’s steeped in Austen themes and details from her life, even if its fictional events take place many decades after that author’s death. It’s a reminder of how Austen’s themes continue to resonate, whether in post-Civil War America or current days. And, it's a fun story on its own merits.

The characters are well drawn and familiar, echoing to counterparts in Austen works even as they discuss her themes. I particularly enjoy Jane Austen’s brother James as a character, and the occasional Austen discussions among the learned members of the Massachusetts Supreme Court. (That bit has a semi-historical basis according to the author's notes.)

I had some difficulty getting into this book; I still think the pacing was a bit slow. However, I am glad I persevered. It was a heartwarming read that paid homage to Austen without being overly trite or tiresome.

What a jewel this book is! If you are a Jane Austen fan you will love the insights and real life facts contained here. The story, set in 1865, includes other famous characters of the time including Jane's brother Sir Francis Austen, Charles Dickens and Louisa May Alcott. There are numerous subplots to keep the pages turning: women's suffrage, marriage property law in both England and the United States and love interests which buck the norms of the era. The prose is gorgeous and the characters finely drawn. 5 enthusiastic stars!

The Civil War has ended. Four young Americans, two brothers from Philadelphia who collect books and two sisters from Boston who love books set sail to England to meet Francis Austen, last surviving sibling of the author. The five have exchanged letters and are equally excited at the prospect of getting together to discuss their beloved Jane. The voyage is significant; the sisters after defying their father’s wishes must make decisions on their own. The brothers watch the female passengers with amazement. The rest of the passengers grow close and forever friendships are forged. Sir Francis, similar to Jane’s characters, is a romantic matchmaker and hopes love will bloom for these young literature lovers. He has a secret never shared with family members that he yearns to share with his new friends. This is my fourth Natalie Jenner novel; the quality I love most about this work is how it mirrors Austen’s themes and characters. The importance of family, the need for trust and the rights of women are demonstrated throughout.

**spoiler warning

4.25★

I had such an enjoyable time reading this. I loved all of the characters and the plot was so intriguing. I mostly loved when Charlotte and Henrietta were on the ship making friends and just having fun putting on a show for the passengers on board.

I know this was not a romance but it was really fun trying to figure out who was going to end up with who. I didn’t expect Charlotte and Nash to be my favorite couple but they were.
And I was definitely not expecting the whole conflict with Henrietta and Denham and for them to continue on with their relationship after everything. Not going to lie, I was high key rooting for Henrietta and Nick even if it happened in the epilogue, but alas, it just wasn’t in the cards for them.

One of my favorite parts of this were the arguments/discussions the characters would have regarding Austen’s works. As a huge fan of Jane Austen, this was such a delightful premise. I know if this were to ever become a movie, it would be an immediate comfort film for me.

I do think that if you are not familiar with majority of Austen’s works, then some of the discussions that were held would probably be boring or just go over your head though.

Lastly, I loved the edition of Louisa May Alcott as a character on board. She was so lively, and while she was obviously fictional, I’d like to think that the real life author was similar.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

While it's not necessary to be a Jane Austen fan or have read all her books to enjoy this story, it certainly brings more meaning and connection to story. The book starts in Boston immediately at the end of the American Civil War and focuses on sisters Charlotte and Henrietta Stevenson, daughters of a Massachusetts Supreme Court Judge. They desire more inclusion and influence in an era where expectations of women are more severely limited. When their letters seeking additional connection with their favorite authors yields a return from Jane Austen's last living sibling, they find themselves charging forward into a trans-Atlantic adventure to meet him. On board the ship they magically find themselves in a tight friendship with other travelers including Louisia May Alcott and two bookseller brothers from Philadelphia, Nicholas and Haslett Nelson. Surprise, they are also Jane Austen fans who've received a letter of their own from her brother. The book turns from Boston, to the Ship, to an unlikely but interesting adventure with Sir Francis Austen - who takes them to the family home - before a flurry of legal activity at the Massacusetts Supreme Court.

What she does well - weaves a story with interesting characters, dialogue, plot, and settings, at a fast pace. In hindsight, the object of the book - the court case about women's property after she marries - should not have been a surprise considering the foreshadowing. However, the hasty secret shipboard marriage, the subsequent court case, and the ending felt forced. Aside from that, I enjoyed the multiple characters, the interactions between them all in both Boston and England. As I'm not well-versed in Austen's personal life, I found the scenes with Sir Francis Austin and his daughter surprising, sometimes confusing, and was quite shocked by the bonfire. I was so focused on this part of the storyline that when it shifted to the courts I was disappointed.

Still, this is a solid read by Natalie Jenner and I recommend it and will read whatever she produces next!

This is truly Jane Austen fan fiction. I enjoyed the references to Austen, various family members, and other famous people including Louisa May Alcott and Charles Dickens. The action occurs back and forth between England and Boston, many years after Jane Austen's death. There is lots of Austen like romance. Easy to read and fun story.
Also some interesting history in terms of women's rights and the struggle for more freedom for women.
My only complaint is a few instances of what I thought was behavior between couples that was not appropriate for the time period (1865). It felt too modern to me a few times, but only briefly and not that difficult to overlook.

I enjoyed Austen at Sea and the adventures of the Stevenson Sisters. I loved Sir Francis Austen’s machinations as he romantically plots ro pair the sisters with two brothers of similar natures and tastes. However my favorites parts of the book were the Justices Literary Society discussions of Austen’s books.

As much as I enjoyed the author's writing, I was disappointed in the ending with "they all lived happily ever after" leap. I adored the inclusion of the MA supreme court members and their "off-season" literary/book group. Would that was/is a reality of our jurists. Predicting how it would end did not deter from my thoroughly enjoying this read.

Natalie Jenner’s Austen at Sea is a masterful tribute to Jane Austen, brimming with depth, emotion, and literary finesse. Divided into four sections—Boston, The Sea, Hampshire, and The Court—the novel is a vivid exploration of society, relationships, and legacies, all woven seamlessly into Austen’s world.

The story follows two Boston sisters, Henrietta and Charlotte, who long for freedom beyond the constraints of their era. Their bold decision to embark on a transatlantic journey aboard the S.S. China leads them to Portsmouth and a meeting with retired Admiral Sir Francis Austen, Jane Austen’s brother. When the Admiral bequeaths a controversial legacy to Henrietta, a transatlantic legal battle ensues, testing relationships and principles. Henrietta’s climactic courtroom speech is a standout moment, showcasing her brilliance and courage.

Jenner’s legal background enriches the novel, especially in the court scenes, which are intricately detailed and engaging. The narrative also features a colorful cast, including rare book dealers, a senator’s daughter, and Louisa May Alcott, whose witty and wise presence adds charm.

Themes of women’s independence, familial bonds, and romantic exploration are at the heart of this novel, making it a poignant and exhilarating read. Jenner’s exceptional storytelling and profound homage to Austen will captivate devoted fans and new readers alike.

5 stars. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the review copy.

Austen at Sea by Natalie Jenner is a lovely story. I found the characters delightful and I loved following along on the literary adventures they had. If you are a book nerd, like me, you will love this story. I also enjoyed the parts of American history that were woven into the story. Austen at Sea would make for a great book club discussion.

Should loss of privacy be the price of fame? This is one of the many (possibly too many) themes that Natalie Jenner explores in her latest novel, Austen at Sea. Having completed her loosely connected trilogy that began with The Jane Austen Society, the author writes another compelling story of how the love of Austen brings people together, this time set in the turbulent 1860’s.

“Two pairs of siblings, devotees of Jane Austen, find their lives transformed by a visit to England and Sir Francis Austen, her last surviving brother and keeper of a long-suppressed, secret legacy.”

There’s a lot to love in this book, as there always is in anything Natalie Jenner writes. But this time, there might be just a bit too much. Too many characters, too many plotlines, too many of the aforementioned themes. Women’s suffrage, the evolution of US law, Charles Dickens, philosophical discussion of Austen’s novels, Louisa May Alcott, the nature of freedom itself, and a confusing tangle of romantic attachments. The author needed to focus on fewer things to give them more clarity and more fully develop her main characters.

Still, this was a good book. I give it four stars and recommend it to any dedicated Jane Austen fan.

If you love 19th century literature and love to imagine the what it was like to live when all of these literary giants were writing, this book is for you. Right now, Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott are two of my favorite authors, so I enjoyed that this book was about Austen fangirls and included Alcott as one of the cast of characters. The narrative is steeped in history and literature--you'll probably learn plenty while you are reading. I loved the idea of making Francis Austen one of the main character of the story instead of another book imagining the life of Jane. I'm going to be honest, there are plenty of things about the book that didn't work for me, but ultimately the journey itself was entertaining enough that it was worth it.

As the aging brother, and sole surviving sibling of Jane Austen, struggles with entrusting items of his sister's legacy to strangers, he is contacted separately by two pair of American siblings who share an appreciation for Jane's writing. Somehow, he convinces both pair to come to England and share in celebrating Jane's legacy. The two pair of siblings meet aboard ship as well as engage with others, including Louisa May Alcott.

Ms. Jenner has spun a lovely tale based on two real-life stories. The writing is rich and painterly in the telling. The prose is exquisite and the dialogue reminiscent of an Austen story. The characters' emotions and motivations are beautifully captured and cleverly delivered. Ms. Jenner's legal training shines through the story like a beacon shedding light on the legal ramifications of the characters' actions within the story - a rather clever perspective, for certain.

This is a definite read for the historical fiction reader with a passion for Austen. For those interested in international law, I commend this story for the legal knot delivered which requires lawyerly untying.

I am grateful to author Natalie Jenner and her publisher, St. Martin's Press, for having provided a complimentary copy of this book. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.


Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date:‎ May 6, 2025
Number of pages: 320
ISBN: ‎978-1250349590

Natalie Jenner puts her talents on display in Austen at Sea. She gives us a delightful cast of characters who love books, especially those of Jane Austen, but Charles Dickens is prominent as well. The intricate story weaves in commentary on specific novels of Austen, as well as Austen’s family history. Much historical context regarding women’s rights during this period of history, the end of the Civil War, sets the stage for many of the characters’ motives. We are also allowed to delve into the law with characters who are sitting judges and lawyers in both England and Massachusetts. Jenner incorporates an interesting character, Louisa May Alcott. But above all, there are love interests that develop as expected between several characters and unexpectedly between others.
Thank you, Net Galley for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy.