Thoroughly enjoyed this book. With the heavy reliance on touting it's similarities with 'The Guernsey...' I thought this might be a poor imitation but this was a warm, beautiful book with fully realised characters which you were sad to part with. I thought it managed the balance between creating a village life and Jane Austen's estate and surviving history very well. I was sad when I finished it to be honest!

The Jane Austen Society’ is a tale which aptly mirrors the sort of patterning that we expect from a Jane Austen novel. A fictitious telling of the origin of the Jane Austen Society, the story is based in Chawton and considers just how much pleasure and escapism Austen’s novels bring a disparate group of villagers reeling from nearly half a century of world wars.
The actual society was founded in 1940 with the purpose of raising funds to purchase the cottage in Chawton where Jane Austen lived with her mother and sister, Cassandra. Natalie Jenner’s novel takes place mainly at the end of WW2 and this fictitious society has the aim of buying the cottage too. As in Austen’s novels, the reader can predict the pairing of Jenner’s characters, even if they are oblivious of this for most of the narrative! Aptly, the relationships echo some of those found in ‘Sense and Sensibility’, Persuasion’ and ‘Emma’ to name a few and the novel’s tone reads rather like one by Barbara Pym (bar one or two jarring North American phrases uttered by British characters!) which can only be a good thing. There are struggles a-plenty, moral dilemmas, a big reveal, just desserts and some happy ever afters. All in all, this story is a lovely ‘comfort read’ for our current anxious times.
Nonetheless, reflecting contemporary society, Jenner’s homage to Austen also allows a bright girl to fulfil her educational aspirations and a gay couple to find contentment. The addition to the story of Hollywood film star, Mimi, fittingly reflects the ‘me too’ movement whilst also reminding us just how wide Austen’s fan base is. Whilst this is a story to be enjoyed by many, Austen enthusiasts may well take particular pleasure in reading it.
My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.

Rating 4.5/5

In the quiet Hampshire Village of Chawton its 1945 and the residents are coming to terms with the end of World War II. Many have lost loved ones and for some there are more losses to come. In contrast Hollywood actress Mimi and her friend chief auctioneer at Sotheby’s lead quite different lives. However, they all share one thing, a love of Jane Austen and a desire to preserve her legacy. It is this that leads to an eclectic group of people forming the Jane Austen Society with a goal of creating a long-lasting tribute to Jane. However, this society leads to so much more for these characters as they form bonds, friendships and relationships that will last a lifetime.

When I saw this book on Netgalley and read the description I was so excited; So many elements just made it sound like absolute catnip for me. Wartime/post wartime setting – tick, based around Jane Austen – tick, set in one of my favourite places to visit in the UK – tick. Lots of ticks all around so I was very excited to get to get to reading it. I am pleased to say I loved this book and it gave me just what I wanted.

Firstly, lets talk about the characters because they really are at the heart of this novel. This book switches between perspectives; there are the 8 main characters that eventually form the society plus a few others scattered throughout. This is a lot of character to get to know and could have easily become quite confusing and led to a disconnect from them. I have read books with fewer perspectives and had to make notes to remind myself who is who and details about them. However, this wasn’t the case with this book. All the characters were so expertly built that it led to them being really distinct in their characteristics, I knew who they were, their story and felt connected to all of them. The first half of this book is quite slow with the characters being introduced and the groundwork being laid for the society to be formed built I felt this really aided my connection to them. This book is really character driven so if you like a slice of life story where you really delve into the characters you will love this.

It goes without saying that there is a big focus on Jane and her works in this story. What I found really interesting were the conversations the characters had about Jane's novels. We see them discussing their favourite books, which characters are their favourites and those they like least. I just enjoyed the level of detail. I think it’s something any Austen fan would enjoy reading but it also added a level of realness to the characters.

I think this book did really well was capturing the magic and feel of Jane's stories. The whole story is a homage to Austen but what I really enjoyed was how some of her classic plot devices were found nestled amongst the pages. There was lots of misdirection, miscommunication, people getting the wrong impression of who was destined to be with who. There was also lots of pining over people they liked, characters not realising who they loved even though we the readers could see it. They were real classic Austen situations that I think the lady herself would have approved of.

This really was a great story! It was cosy, atmospheric and I think would appeal to Austen fans and those who just enjoy a historical romance. It really captured the feelings I look for when I read a retelling or a book that features Austen’s fans. I think it paid a lovely homage to Jane whilst being a great story in its own right. It also gave us some beautiful fleshed out characters.

If you liked this I think you would also like the Austen Addicts series by Victoria Connelly.

So first, I'm a huge Jane Austen fan, love the books, have a favourite character, have a favourite book. So by looking at the book cover alone there was no way I was not reading this book.
Set just after the World War II in the small leafy English village of Chawton. I should say that this is a story of how The Jane Austen Society may have come about, it's not based on actual events, though of course there is a society. The book's lead characters are the village doctor Ben Gray, Adeline (school teacher), Adam Berwick farmer, Mini Harrison Hollywood actress and Frances Knight daughter of the owner of the Knight Estate, and family of the late Edward Knight, Jane Austen's brother. Those villagers with a love of Jane Austen work to establish a society to protect the Knight family owned books, other materials along with the cottage Jane lived in.
This book mingles the Jane Austen books and the personality of her characters into the story line and the setting of this book. If you know the Jane Austen books you are going to pick up on these straight away. For me this particularly added to my enjoyment of the book, as the story unfolds you can spot the elements of Austen and the nuances of the characters as they interact.
You do not need to have read any Austen books to understand and follow the story, in fact its a great introduction to one of the worlds greatest writers.
Of particular enjoyment to me was the characters discussing and disagreeing as to which of the Austen books they loved the most. So glad to find someone (even if they are an imaginary character in a book) that also finds Emma an unworthy favourite. I will not tell you here which is my favourite Austen book, other than to say I favoured Frances Knights story the most.
An entertaining read, and a great antidote for escaping a pandemic.

Many thanks to Orion books for this advanced readers copy of The Jane Austen Society.

A story about hope and second chances, showcasing in completely different characters. Each character loving Austen’s books. The epilogue was a perfect end to the novel.

The author clearly is a big Austen fan. There was so much detail in the history and location.

I learnt a lot about Austen’s books. The author even has a similar writing style to Austen.

A must read for any Austen fan.

4-5 stars rounded up.

Let me take you to Chawton, Hampshire in the 1940’s. A village where everyone know everyone, a microcosm of society, perhaps even like living in a goldfish bowl but which so aptly mirrors a world that Jane Austen depicted so incisively and wryly. After Janes brother inherited Chawton House she lived there with her mother and sister in a cottage provided by him for the last eight years of her life. Living in this archetypal English village 130 years later are a number of residents all suffering varying degrees of loss and pain, who are drawn together by a shared passion for Jane Austen. Add in a Hollywood actress who shares their enthusiasm, her businessman fiancé who has no soul and a father whose maliciousness knows no bounds and you have the formation of theJane Austen Society.

There is a lot I like about this book. First of all, because of the principal focus being the characters shared love of Austen it’s like books within a book. Their joint passion for preserving the writers heritage though her books and possessions shines through the pages. Secondly, I love the reminder of Austen’s works which these characters share with each other and through which they find solace for their pain. There are a lot of characters in this book but I think this is appropriate as so do Austen’s works. The language used matches the period of time although there is the occasional 21st idiom! I love all the characters that Natalie Jenner has created here and if I had to pick one out I’d select Frances Knight who bore her father’s meanness with such dignity and resilience although that’s not to say it does not cost her dearly. I love the interplay between Dr Gray and Adeline Lewis which was very Austenesque. The 1940’s is captured well as is the post war atmosphere and the engaging writing transports you back in time to a world still reeling from the effects of two terrible wars. There is the occasional cliffhanger, a shock or two and a whole range of emotions evoked though it all finishes up happily in true Austen tradition.

Overall, I love the concept of the book, it pays a worthy tribute to a truly great author for which I congratulate Natalie Jenner. It is very well written and it allows you to escape to an Austen like world and I think we could all do with a bit of that right now. I love Jane Austen so this book is a winner for me but it has huge appeal in its own right. Highly recommended.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Orion for the ARC.

I was drawn to this novel due to my love of all things Austen and was fully rewarded with references to her writing and characters throughout this story. Also, I was engaged by the references to Chasten and the Austen museum and have added it to my list of places to visit in the future.
The story itself was engaging and interesting to me as I don't often read stuff set in the 1940s and it was interesting to consider the changing dynamics of society of the time. I loved the characters but, at times, I struggled a little with the number of different chapters and what was happening to them. At times the pace dropped a little but it didn't really affect my enjoyment.
I hope to read more of this author in the future.

I didn't like it. And it makes me really sad because the blurb made the novel sound so promising. But I think that's where the issue lies. The blurb suggests that the novel will be one thing, when in actuality, it follows a whole host of different time periods and characters. I got lost very quickly into the book and I just wonder why it was structured in such a way, especially as the plot sounds relatively intriguing. I'd be interested to see what other reviewers think of this one.