Austen at Sea

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!

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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.

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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 6^th.  You can pre-order your copy today on our Bookshop.org page!

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What I’m Reading

• Current print book: My Name is Victoria, Lucy Worsley
• Current audio book: A Brutal Reckoning, Peter Cozzens
• Book I’m most looking forward to: I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette McCurdy