Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

When Charlotte and Henrietta decided to board a ship from Boston to England without their father’s knowledge, they had no idea the adventure they were truly undertaking. Followed onto the ship by their father’s coworker on the Massachusetts Supreme Court, the sisters had a dual purpose to this trip – the first to meet the brother of their beloved literary hero Jane Austen, the second for one sister to elope. But the cast of characters who join them on board are famous in their own rights. Will they derail the sisters plans to learn more about their beloved author, or will they form friendships that will last lifetimes?

Austen on Board is the latest release from bestselling author Natalie Jenner. Known for her books The Jane Austen Society and The Bloomsbury Girls, this seems like a fitting addition to her resume of historical fiction featuring Jane Austen as a catalyst for the characters’ actions. Taking a focus on Austen’s lesser-known brother and life outside the spotlight, as well as the legacy she left behind in the form of personal correspondence, this novel feels like an intimate look at her life from those who knew her best. With so many other famous names included in this book from the legal and literary world, this book is a must for all historical fiction lovers!

I give Austen at Sea 4 out of 5 stars. I have loved all of Jenner’s Austen-based books. This book in particular became a favorite once the story reached Austen’s brother and the dialogue around his own struggles with his sister’s legacy as well as when the story reached the courts. Jenner’s legal expertise shines in the latter half of the book with discussions of the court battles in both England and America. I found this an easy read with shorter chapters and simple vocabulary. I did find it challenging to keep up with the number of female characters in this as an audiobook at first, but that may be easier in a print version of the book.

With a theme of emotional abuse and controlling behavior, this may not be the best read for all audiences. However, if you’re a fan of Jenner’s previous works like I am, you will love this book! I would also recommend this novel as a book club selection with so many literary figures mentioned and so many plot points to unpack! If you love authors like Marie Benedict or Patti Callahan Henry, you’ll love Natalie Jenner, too!

I was excited to see Austen at Sea available through NetGalley! I enjoyed Jenner’s other works so much and am happy to have the opportunity to read her latest book as well. Austen at Sea will release May 6th. You can pre-order your copy today on our Bookshop.org page!

I have really enjoyed Natalie Jenner’s past books. Austen at Sea was another gem. Jenner’s fans will especially enjoy the Supreme Court Justice’s Austen book club. The characters are well written and likable. Enjoyed the narration by Rupert Graves.

Thanks to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the early copy. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the alc.

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I just found it boring and hard to relate to. I am upset because I usually enjoy historical fiction novels, and I am pretty sure that I have read books by Natalie Jenner that I have enjoyed in the past. Oh well.

For me this book just didn’t hit the mark. I have enjoyed Jane Austen books and books about Jane Austen so I thought this would be an instant hit for me. The two sisters I found rather dull and read very young. In the beginning they just seemed to be fangirls of Jane Austen wanting to travel to her hometown, which seemed a little stalkerish. When they were on the boat traveling to Jane’s home they were putting on plays and I was not interested in that. These were grown women putting on a childish play, just was odd. There were too many characters to keep up with and I didn’t find them that interesting. I ended up dnf’ing around the 60% mark. I thought it was a poor choice to have a male narrated for a book with women as the main characters and a book that focused on women’s rights.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The story is set in 1865 Boston, two sisters, Charolette and Henrietta Stevenson are devoted Austen fans and are determined to pilgrimage to Europe and meet Francis Austen, Jane’s brother. The novel is broken into four “books” each in a different setting and a large cast of characters.

The book was a slow start for me - the first section/book takes place in Boston and sets the beginning of the girls journey to England on the ship S.S. China and changes their lives forever along with their widow father, Justice Stevenson.

The second setting is on the S.S. China - the girls develop life long friendships while at sea. The third part of the book is in Hampshire and the relationship built with Francis Austen. The story end Supreme Court and we get a glimpse of how the journey to know Jane changed the trajectory of many lives.

Thank you to NetGalley for an early review audiobook.

Book Review: Austen at Sea by Natalie Jenner
Narrated by: Rupert Graves
Rating: 3.5 stars
Format: ALC from NetGalley, courtesy of Macmillan Audio

I was given an advance listening copy of Austen at Sea through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and I’m glad I had the chance to check this one out.

There was a lot to enjoy, but also a few elements that made this land right between a 3 and 4 star for me. The number of characters was a bit overwhelming at first, and I had to work to keep everyone straight. That said, once the story found its rhythm, I appreciated the setting, themes, and character dynamics.

The narration by Rupert Graves was fantastic, his accent and tone truly made me feel transported to another time. It added so much atmosphere to the listening experience.

The pacing was uneven for me. Some sections were slow, while others moved so quickly I found myself rewinding to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Overall, it was an enjoyable listen and an engaging historical fiction read, even if it won’t end up on my trophy shelf.

Fantastic narration. Jane Austen fans will enjoy this ode to her writing. The book is packed with social commentary (especially women’s rights), historical context, and nods to many of Austen’s contemporaries. The marriage court case was a great plot point juxtaposed against Austen’s writing.

Thank you, #NetGalley for the ARC audiobook.

An historical fiction for fans of Jane Austen and for women’s rights! This is a novel about two young women who travel to England by steamship to get away from the smothering, protective attention of their widowed and lonely father, a judge in New England. The women, with chaperone, are off to meet the last living sibling of Jane Austen following a long correspondence. At the same time (and oddly, but I’ll go along with it), the judge and his judicial colleagues have regular meetings to discuss the books of Jane Austen. Most important to note is that one of the young women makes an error in judgement and finds herself in legal trouble. Thus we have the means by which the different judicial systems in the US and England work - notably with respect to women and their right to own anything. This is a very interesting bit of history, with suffragettes in both nations making an appearance and the judge and father having to reexamine his long-held convictions.
My thanks to the author, publisher, producer, and #NetGalley for early access to the well-narrated audiobook of #AustenatSea for review purposes. Publication date: 6 May 2025.

This book is a historical fiction as well as a Jane Austen informational book. I could tell that the author did a lot of research for this book which I appreciate but think the author wanted to put in this book, each fact that she found. Way too much non book related information. To quote the book itself “ never have I read so many non (maybe mis?) happenings in a book.” There were a few facts about Jane Austen and her family but the Jane Austen references were basically a group of people talking about the Jane Austen books. If you took out the extra, non-important facts and the summary’s of Jane’s books, you would have a nice short story. Also, it was an odd choice to have a male reader in a book so focused on the rights of women. It was a bit off putting to have so many women’s voices done by a man…it was difficult to decider who was talking. That being said, I did overall enjoy the reader.

I've enjoyed Jane Austen's novels and I like historical fiction, so I should have loved this novel. But it was just not a good fit for me. The narrator's voice and delivery were excellent, but the characters did not come to life for me. The one exception was the brief appearance of Louisa May Alcott—I did not see that coming! Hardcore Janeites will love this book, but it just did not grab me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance reader copy.

Austen at Sea by Natalie Jenner is a brilliant, perfect read and a great choice for a book club, especially for those who adore Jane Austen. The narrator, Rupert Graves, kept the story moving and was excellent!! There's romance and intrigue on the high seas and a delightful story featuring historical figures, and for those Jane Austen lovers, you won't be disappointed.
You will meet Henrietta and Charlotte Stevenson, who get on board a transatlantic steamship heading from Massachusetts to England, and what they discover and encounter is beautifully written with some humor thrown in..
I loved this book!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

An enthusiastic five stars for this marvelously fulfilling piece of historical fiction. The story manages to be both intellectually rich and emotionally pleasing. My perfect blend! In 1865, two daughters of the long-widowed Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice pen a daring request to the only surviving brother of their favorite author — Jane Austen. Meanwhile, two Philadelphia book collectors have similarly engaged with Admiral Austen about Austen memorabilia and editions. On the side, the Justices of the Massachusetts Supreme Court have elected to read and discuss the entire Austen oeuvre over the very summer break that sees the four correspondents heading off to England. Their discussions are completely engrossing, putting into dialog multiple well crafted opinions and surprising me with their depth. The story itself takes the reader from Boston, across to the sea to Hampshire, and concludes with a courtroom drama spectacular spanning both countries.

On the surface, this could pleasurably be read as an engaging comedy of manners a la Austen herself, with the delightful development of surprising relationships etc. But under the tip of the romantic iceberg lies the depth, thoroughness, and insight of the literary, political, legal, and economic contexts of the time period. Equality, justice, freedom — these are topics on everyone’s tongues during the post-Civil War recovery period, the still relative newness of the United States, and the current battles in both locations for various forms of women’s rights (including, but not limited to, women’s suffrage). These issues are brought out with a number of different techniques. Those discussing Austen’s works have literary discussions about her characters, their roles, purposes, desires, and life lessons. Women’s rights are addressed (and argued) through a fascinating panoply of laws, Acts, and jurisdictions — exemplified by the situations and experiences of the various characters. It’s obvious to us today (I hope!) that women should have rights equal to those of men, but to hear the completely sensical arguments and rebuttals on both sides of the issue during that time period by people who were not inherently “evil,” was deeply interesting.

I both read and listened to this book. I actually preferred the audio in this case. It slowed me down enough to actually listen to different viewpoints and consider them carefully — I usually read too fast and often miss important details. Rupert Graves is the reader — a wonderful actor with a beautiful reading voice. I learned a lot about Austen’s life and her works (despite the fact that I’ve read each multiple times) and enjoyed a wide array of references from that time period — including Louisa May Alcott who appeared in a delightful cameo role. The cast of characters at the start of the book is quite helpful.

Highly recommended.

Austen at Sea is a historical fiction novel set in 1865, and takes place in both America and England. It will appeal to lovers of Jane Austen, and readers who like their historical fiction to lean toward more history than fiction content. I found the book to be interesting and approachable, and I learned a lot I didn't know about women's rights (or lack thereof) during that time period. I also learned about Jane Austen's family and facts about her books that were previously unknown to me.

Brief Summary: Two sisters travel by ship from America to England to meet with Sir Francis Austen, Jane Austen's 91 year old brother. Aboard their ship is another pair of siblings, brothers this time, seeking the same meeting with Sir Francis Austen. Even Louisa May Alcott is aboard their ship, and they all become fast friends.

Once in England, Sir Francis Austen shows the group Chawton House and gives the group a delightful tour of Jane's home. He also gives one of the group members an artifact of Jane Austen's that sparks a series of issues between two of the characters. The legal proceedings that follow are included to enlighten the reader about the world in which women lived at the time. During the course of this novel there are also subtle threads of romance between characters that mimic Jane's Austen's matchmaking prowess.

Impressions: Beyond learning more about Jane Austen by reading this book, I also learned about her family, Louisa May Alcott, the influence of Charles Dickens, and the legal constructs in place in the 1860s surrounding women's property rights, among other things.

Although the character guide at the beginning of the book was extensive, it was easy to pick up who was who and keep it all straight based on how the scenes were separated. I found this book very assessable and readable considering it was more of a history-heavy novel. I enjoyed hearing the judge's book club analysis about each of Jane's novels. It helped me think critically about each of her works in ways I hadn't ever considered.

I would have loved an author's note at the end to help me understand fact versus fiction even more, but the audiobook version I have didn't include it.

I took off one star for a couple reasons. The middle dragged a bit for me, with clunkier transitions when the author wrote about the legal rules in place at the time. I also felt like the last 1/4th of the book switched between past and present in a confusing, jolting way. I also wanted the ending resolution to be written in greater detail; it felt rushed.

Notes about Audiobook: The narrator was excellent. He had distinct voices for each character (and there were many!) and appropriate accents for both British and English characters. His voice was clear and easy to understand.

Content Considerations: No language noted (light if it exists), romance includes kisses and two brief mentions that sex is occurring. They could be described as very brief mostly vague non-explicit open door scenes.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the complementary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. My review is my honest opinion and has not be influenced by the author or publisher.

I really loved all the Austen talk in this book--from the chief justice book circle discussions to the ponderings from the POV of her last surviving brother. I could read anything about her for the rest of my life and never get tired of it. I was also obsessed with having Louisa May Alcott as a character in this book, because I also love reading anything about her, and I really enjoyed any scene with her in it. The romances among the other characters got a bit muddled for me and I confused a lot of the men characters and the Nelson brothers in particular didn't feel very well developed, or even necessary. I disagreed with some of the romantic decisions at the end, not so much that I was mad but just so that I didn't feel a lot about it at all. Also the protracted court trial made for a pretty slow ending. All these things aside, I overall really enjoyed especially the historical and literary aspects of this book, including all the feminist and abolitionist themes from the time, and I would definitely recommend it to people also interested in these topics.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I love anything related to Jane Austen and this did not disappoint! Imagine being a woman in 1865 and sneaking off on a ship to England with your female friend. No chaperone! 😱. These women were brave and hungry for more than what their current lives could provide.

These book introduced you to many famous people and left you wanting to learn more about them. It pulls you in and makes you feel as though you are there.

The narrator did a fantastic job and really made the story feel real.

Austen of Sea is a thought-provoking exploration of Jane Austen’s enduring legacy, blending historical reflection with modern debates about privacy, literature, and women’s rights. The book is divided into two distinct yet seamlessly connected halves: the first focusing on the love and lasting influence of Austen’s work, while the second shifts toward the battle to protect that legacy and the broader fight for women’s rights.

One of the most compelling aspects of the book is its deep, insightful discussions on Austen’s novels, which transcend generations. The narrative delves into the tensions within Austen’s own family—some wanting to share her life openly, others seeking to keep it private—a struggle that feels particularly relevant in today’s culture of constant sharing.

A standout feature is the inclusion of a book club formed by Supreme Court justices (all men), who engage in rich, analytical discussions of Austen’s works. Their perspectives provide fresh insights, making the reader eager to revisit Austen’s novels with new appreciation. In particular, Mansfield Park is highlighted in ways that make it especially intriguing for a reread.

While the book is packed with fascinating details, its large cast of characters can be difficult to keep track of, especially in an audio format. This may make it a better choice for readers who prefer physical or digital copies. However, for those willing to navigate its complexities, Austen of Sea offers a rewarding and intellectually stimulating experience.

Overall, this book is a must-read for Austen enthusiasts and anyone interested in the intersection of literature, legacy, and women’s rights. It reaffirms Austen’s timeless relevance and leaves the reader with a desire to dive back into her works with a fresh perspective.

I struggled with this book. I felt that it moved too slow and had too many characters to keep track of in an audiobook. The history aspect of the book was well researched and interesting but sometimes rambled on a little too much. I enjoyed the narrator and felt he did a good job.

Audiobook
Austen at Sea tells the tales of Charlotte and Henrietta Stevenson, who spontaneously board a transatlantic steamer to meet Sir Francis Austen, Jane Austen's last surviving brother. After striking up a written correspondence, the captain invites the ladies to his home. On the ship, the sisters discover other strong-willed women and find love. However, peace is quickly thwarted when legal concerns over women and their rights to property bring the matter to both British and American courts.

Another beautifully written novel by Jenner, paying much respect to Jane Austen, her devout fans, and women. I enjoyed all of the characters, but it felt overstuffed. Especially in the beginning. As an audiobook, keeping track of characters and their point of view was tough until much further in. I believe the book has a character list, which can help.

Also, for fans of The Jane Austin Society - this book has some details that act as a prequel.

Thank you, Netgalley and MacMillan Audio, for this advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.

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!

Hmmmm, I had a hard time with this book. It often rambled, had too many characters to keep track of, jumped forward in odd places and it just fell flat for me in the end. There was lots of information about the women's rights movement in post Civil War America, which was interesting if a bit dry. But a state Supreme Court full of men using Jane Austen's books to discuss women's rights just felt forced and weird to me. Much of the book was rambling, and I think you would really have to know and appreciate Austen, Dickens and Alcott to appreciate this story. I loved Rupert Graves as a narrator, but a man's voice was an odd choice for a book about Jane Austen and women's rights.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced audiobook, all opinions are my own.