Oh man. I am so sad to give this such a low rating. I had high hopes but it just did not deliver. Too many characters, a confusing and convoluted plot… I could go on but I won’t. Disappointed. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

The other day I was discussing favorite reads with a friend and fellow reader, and I mentioned having received this book to review, and she said, "I've never really been into Jane Austen." I guess I suddenly realized that I have never really enjoyed her books either, and I have only ever read Pride and Prejudice. I am a fan of the films made of her movies and (I suddenly realized) I am a BIG fan of Jane Austen fans and the Jane Austen meta-verse. I love to read about people in the modern day who form bookclubs, keep diaries and generally go fan girl over Jane Austen. Such a great devoted cult. (If that is Jane Austen heresy, please accept this reader's apology.)

As such a fan I was first exposed to Natalie Jenner in her debut novel The Jane Austen Society. (About a rag tag group of post WWII Austen fans who fight to preserve her legacy. Five stars.). Jenner's other two novels are linked by character and historical time to this novel, and I also enjoyed them for their historical themes and the great feminist awakening that comes through in each.

So I was excited that Jenner's next work would be a further exploration of the cult of Jane Austen, plunging me once again into her fan world. This time the reader travels to Civil War Era United States and meets a pair of sisters who befriend Austen's aged brother via letters across the sea. They race to see him before he dies in order to learn more of Jane Austen's secrets, and as they sail to England they meet a pair of brothers who are also in pursuit of the aging General.

Along the way we also meet Louisa May Alcott and a host of other 19th century Boston Brahmins and literati and the sisters have a grand adventure which culminates in a rather funny set of international legal battles and escapades and of course, in Jane Austen style, everyone gets rightfully paired off and lives happily ever after. Stick around for the epilogue for a delightful tie to the debut novel I mentioned above.

The true excitement of the book does not come about until about two thirds of the way through the novel, so a reader must be content to get mingled into the Jane Austen world and meet the characters and watch them fawn over Austen and her life and meet the relevant players before getting to the true heart and story of the novel.

But if you love historical fiction and you are an Austen fan boy or girl--you will love the homage to Miss Austen, the discussions of her work, and the historical developments of the rights of women in the USA and Britain. I hated to tell sweet Henrietta and Charlotte and Louisa that suffrage was still a long way off.

This is a clever and compelling book. You need a good grasp of Jane Austen’s novels, life, an appreciation for Louisa May Alcott and Dickens (I think I’ve got all those) and it spoils A Tale of Two Cities (which I haven’t read so I skimmed some scenes).

The premise is lovely - in 1865, right at the end of the American Civil War, Frank Austen, Jane’s brother, is now a 90-year-old widower living a quiet life after a successful career at sea. He entertains a regular correspondence with two American collectors of rare books and two Janeites, Charlotte and Henrietta, daughters of a supreme court Justice. On a whim, he decides to invite all four to England to show them some of his family’s secrets and do some matchmaking.

When I saw that Frank was dead set on channeling his inner Emma, I cheered. I thought oh this is going to be fun. It’s not as light as I would have wanted (this is why I don’t read historical fiction) but I was invested in those characters and in the fascinating insight into Jane Austen’s life and writing (all but Northanger Abbey which everyone seems to hate even though it’s one of my favourites). This touches on women’s rights, female suffrage, married women’s property and a lot besides.

I enjoyed a lot of it, my problem is that I think Henrietta and Charlotte deserved a lot better than what they got (probably why I prefer straight up historical romance) and there are many times when the characters didn’t feel real and were just there to express ideas about grand affairs. My interest is in the domestic, and ultimately this was interesting but I didn’t love the personal relationships so not a favourite.

My endless thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this ARC!

I always enjoy Natalie Jenner’s historical research! Thank you @stmartinspress for my early reading and listening copy of AUSTEN AT SEA, out May 6, 2025.

I loved the idea that the two Stevenson sisters “escape” American society to connect with Jane Austen’s last surviving brother, who is now in his 90s. Of course they do this after they’ve reached the pinnacle of American society at the time…and there’s nothing left for them to “do” according to the men.

So on the ship they encounter several men along the way, make some questionable decisions that have repercussions and ripple effects for the future of American women and society, and are even in the midst of Louisa May Alcott!

I love how Jenner sprinkles these amazing women writers into the midst of the storyline in a time when women were not given the same equal frankness that many men were.

I liked that many of the judges within the story also valued the women and their thoughts, despite what the law and society felt for the time. This could be a result of their father’s influence, but regardless, it was men in high power valuing these women.

Set between Boston and British ports of call, this is another great Jenner novel that you will enjoy!

This was a delightful story, full of determined strong-willed young women, Jane Austen tidbits and a solid love story or two! Loved the cross Atlantic settings and reading about women struggling to find their place in the 1800s.

3.5/5 ⭐️

Austen by the Sea is a beautifully written novel that brings the past to life with elegance and charm. The author’s prose is rich and immersive, capturing the refined world of the 19th century while making the characters’ journeys feel deeply personal. The intertwining stories of the Stevenson sisters and the Nelson brothers, drawn together by their love for Jane Austen, create a compelling and atmospheric narrative.

While the book is captivating, it does feel a bit longer than necessary, with some sections lingering more than needed. However, the exquisite writing and well-developed characters make it a rewarding read, especially for fans of historical fiction and classic literature.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC set to be published on May 6, 2025

Austen at Sea by Natalie Jenner
Narrated by Rupert Graves

This is the fourth book I've read/heard by Natalie Jenner and all four of them have had a connection to Jane Austen. The books also will allow us to meet or hear about famous people of all sorts. With each book I have looked up people and places that I want to know more about. That's one of the things I love about historical fiction, it makes me want to know more.

It's 1865 and Jane Austen's last surviving sibling, Sir Francis Austen, is near the end of his life. He still misses his two late wives, his siblings, and his children and grandchildren who have gone before him. He's had a long successful and adventure filled life and has some things he wants to pass on those who will protect what he has been protecting for so many years. It's through his letter writing friendships with two sisters and two brothers that Francis sees a chance for some matchmaking and passing on that which is important to him and to his late sister, Jane.

Charlotte and Henrietta Stevenson are in their 20s and they've had blessed lives for women of their times. They've also had to deal with all the many restrictions that society puts upon women although their father, Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice William Stevenson, has been very lenient and generous with his daughters for the times and his station in life. Now the women have a chance to break the shackles of their existence in Boston by accepting Sir Francis's invitation to visit him.

Nicholas & Haslett Nelson have both survived the Civil War, not entirely without injury. They run their Philadelphia family book store which buys and sells rare books and have been corresponding with Sir Francis about something he wants to show the brothers. They, too, book passage on the same ship as Charlotte and Henrietta, to visit Sir Francis. although the four won't know each other until after the ship sets sell.

We get to meet and/or hear about real people although the author makes up much of what is in this story. There is a slice of life chance to spend time with Louisa May Alcott, we get to spend time with Bostonian politicians and bigwigs while they debate which book they plan to discuss next (kind of their own buddy read group, which made me laugh). The trip across the ocean is a busy one and then many of the new friends who met on the ship will scatter once the voyage is over.

But, also, many of these lives with cross again and again and Sir Francis has a hand in some of what goes on even if his plans don't go the way he had hoped. If you enjoy reading about authors of the classics and some famous people of old, including getting to see how savvy women back then were doing all they could to gain the freedoms they deserved, there is much to enjoy in this book.

I followed the audiobook closely with the ebook, because there are so many people and places I wanted to research. The audiobook is narrated by Rupert Graves and my experience with him has mostly been in movies and shows that have dealt with classics so after getting used to the idea that a man was narrating the book, I began to feel he was a good choice for the story. We learn that plays of the time were sometimes performed by one person and that's how I see the narration of this story, with Rupert Graves putting on a auditory play for us as he narrates this story.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the audio and ebook ARCs.

Austen at Sea is a charming, heartfelt story about two sisters in 1865 who strive for more freedom than women were allowed in their time. Their widowed father is a State Supreme Court Justice who, along with his fellow Justices, has a book discussion group in which Jane Austen's books figure prominently. Henrietta and Charlotte begin a correspondence with Jane Austen's last surviving sibling, who is in his 90s and coming to the end of his life. Also corresponding with Admiral Austen are a pair of brothers who are freshly back from the Civil War and own a bookshop and collect rare books, for their enjoyment. They meet on a ship heading to England, along with a cast of characters including Louisa May Alcott. The story that ensues could be straight out of an Austen novel. I, very much, enjoyed this story of life, love, and the joy of books. 4-1/2 stars

I received an ARC for free and gave my honest opinion voluntarily.

A deep dive into many social issues in post Civil War America and Britain….laws from both counties governing married women’s property, suffrage, citizenship and divorce. All of this is threaded throughout a Austen-esque tale which weaves a number of concurrent stories about the book’s many characters. In 1865, two Boston sisters, privileged daughters of Massachusetts’ Supreme Court, write to the 91 year old Admiral Austen…the last living sibling of Jane. At the same time, two book seller brothers, veterans of the Civil War, also write to the Admiral. Admiral Austen invites all 4 to visit him in the hope that he might engage in some matchmaking á la Jane’s stories. As in an Austen tale, nothing turns out as planned but the characters’ journeys are intriguing. I enjoyed this book but there are a few point of disappointment. The mysterious, unfinished letter written by Jane and found by the Admiral’s second wife was never fully revealed. As it is pivotal to the plot, I wanted more. Also, the (no spoilers) full story of the marriage of 2 central characters seems uneven…lots of info in the beginning and lots skipped over in the middle and end. Finally, if the reading isn’t a serious Austen lover, some of the prolonged discussions of her books might be a little boring.

5.0 stars
HIGHLY recommend

First off, I have loved every one of Natalie Jenner's books. They are lovely, well-written, and historically based. What's not to love?

The writing, characters, and storylines are so well done and strong. Plus, Jane Austen is weaved throughout the novel and is a powerful presence.

If you like Jane Austen books, Natalie Jenner books, or just a good historical fiction novel - this is it!!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6957549514 - posted 3/14/2025
StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/de64cbc8-2d44-4840-8014-10bc208227f9 - posted 3/14/2025
Books by Dorothea blog: https://draft.blogger.com/blog/posts/5498228170078225889?hl=en - posted 3/14/2025

Do you like Jane Austen? Do you like romantic sweeping stories with well crafted characters and scenes that carry you away?

Especially if you enjoyed Emma and Persuasion, read this. I'm so glad I did, and I savoured every page. I am so appreciative that I was given an eARC of this book, and I hope you'll enjoy it as well. It felt like a warm hug, or the feel good movie you watched when you were feeling under the weather.

I will be here with my tea waiting for the movie to come out, because it would make a splendid one.

"Austen At Sea" by Natalie Jenner is a wonderful book - especially for Janeites. While Jane Austen herself is not a character in this story, her writings are woven throughout. It is a very interesting story in the mid 1800's when women are the property of their husbands- literally. Also, whatever a women happened to own at the time of her marriage became the property of her husband immediately when the marriage takes place. The end of the Civil War has just taken place - and it is an thought provoking event to compare to women's fledgling rights. (Remember, the 19th amendment was not passed until 1920.)
This is a work of historical fiction. There are many characters woven throughout this work, some historical figures, and some not. I learned a lot while reading this book. 5 Stars
Thanks to NetGalley and the St.. Martin's Publishing Group for the ARC of this book. My opinions are my own.

I loved Natalie Jenner's 'The Jane Austen Society' and was excited to read an early copy of 'Austen at Sea'. Both stand-alone books provide interesting characters, appreciation for classic fiction, and unexpected romantic attachments. The author seems to have a consistent style of storytelling, and yet I found the plot fresh. As expected, with Louisa May Alcott as a character, women’s rights are a strong discussion point throughout the novel. Though I enjoy reading about strong female characters, I do not prefer the way they were presented here.

If you enjoy reading about bold women from classic fiction, then I recommend this book to you. Natalie Jenner weaves together different plotlines and characters' perspectives into a heartwarming story overall. Although, the amount of characters is not for the faint of heart.

Special thanks to Publisher, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I found it hard to get into this book, and as I kept turning page, hoping I would be drawn in more.
What a concept, two sisters and two brothers, walking in the steps the steps of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens.
From Massachusetts to England and return, from shipboard romances, to finding lost treasures, to court cases.
I see from this period of time, just after the Civil War, how limited women's rights were, and even worse in England.
I wanted to love this read, and I'm sure some will!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher St. Martin's Press, and was not required to give a positive review.

Natalie Jenner clearly loves Jane Austen’s works. This title, along with The Jane Austen Society, make that abundantly clear.

This year marks the 250th anniversary of Austen’s birth so it is an auspicious time for the publication of Austen at Sea with one of its characters being Austen’s brother Francis and another his daughter, Fanny.

The story opens in the 1860s in America. Two sisters, nicknamed Harry and Charlie, live with their father, a state justice; their mother is deceased. Harry and Charlie want more independence than is easily on offer. They definitely challenge the powers that be.

Harry and Charlie’s father loves Austen fiction as did their mother and as do they. He even has a book club with other justices in which they discuss Austen’s works (see the opening scene of the novel).

The conceit of the book is that Harry and Charlie reach out to Admiral Austen who invites them and two brothers from Philadelphia to visit him in Portsmouth. At 91, the Admiral is thinking about his sister’s legacy and ephemera. While the two young women are fans, the young men, in addition, own a bookshop, and have an American first edition of Emma.

The Admiral thinks that it will be fun to put these four together. He has dreams of romance (is this like in Emma when she play matchmaker?) hoping that he is forming two couples. Read the book to see what happens in this regard as well as with the Austen memorabilia .

These four and others, including Louisa May Alcott, share a passage to England. It was enjoyable to see Alcott (and her love of Dickens) in these pages.

I very much enjoyed this novel. It offered me a lovely escape. The pace, characterizations and story all kept my attention.

Highly recommended to those who love Austen and/or historical fiction.

Note that reading the author’s afterword will clearly show a reader how much Austen means to her. I hope that Jenner’s Austen themed novels will continue.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

This book demonstrates why I love historical fiction so much! I thoroughly enjoy reading about real-life characters interwoven with fictional ones as the narrative brings to light bits of history while creating a new story of what might have transpired. It was intriguing to glimpse what their lives might have been like and to learn more of the times when the story takes place. Being an Austen fan, this was a must-read, but I also enjoyed the tributes to Dickens and Louisa May Alcott. I found the discussions between the justices, the court room hearings, the strong women bringing forth progress in the rights for women with their background of the civil war, delving into the characters and lives of famous authors a bit, etc., all fascinating and insightful. Exploring the intellect, and more importantly, the deep emotions of the characters brought them to life in ways that touched my heart and brought more meaning to their accounts than I had heretofore felt. The epilogue brought both joy and sadness as the next chapters of their lives were briefly detailed. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, I received a complimentary ARC copy with no obligation to post a positive review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

I ultimately enjoyed this book. It is written in a more old fashioned way and is slow to get going.However I connected with most of the characters. Austen at sea is written in 4 parts (books) with each part containing a plot beat. I recommend it for those who likes an old fashioned book.

I loved this book, the sisters are sweet and kind and spoiled and it is like an old story completely Jane Austen vibes. Very good writing and a great story

In 1865, devoted Austen fans, sisters Charlotte and Henrietta Stevenson decide to write to Austen’s 93-year-old brother Frances. Their correspondence leads to the sisters embarking on a trip to England to meet Sir Frances. They find themselves aboard ship with two brothers who are book collectors who are also on their way to meet Sir Frances. Sir Frances has matchmaking in mind but it does not go as planned. This story focuses on the themes of women’s rights and suffrage in post-Civil War America and abroad.

I absolutely loved The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls, thought Every Time We Say Goodbye was just OK, and struggled to get through this newest novel by Natalie Jenner. It was tedious and long winded and took forever to get to what would be the main plot of the story. I felt obliged to finish as I received an ARC and kept hoping it would become more engaging.
I did like the characters but the writing was in an old-fashioned style that just didn’t work for me.

This is a fantastic book! It's perfect for Jane Austen fans! It's full of adventure!There's a mysterious treasure, several love stories, and dreams that come true.

Charlotte and Henrietta are wonderful characters! Their sisterly bond is amazing. They're brave, smart, and compassionate. Their father, William, loves them and makes sure that their intellect is stimulated. I like Nash because he's stalwart. He's quiet, but he's always thinking. Admiral Frank is a romantic! He's known and lost love twice, but he still believes in its power.

The thing that I liked best about the book was that I felt like a participant in the story! The characters felt like old friends. I was so sad when it ended, but I'm glad that the epilogue tied everything up nicely! It also renewed my interest in reading Jane Austen's books again!

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.