Natalie Jenner

"Fans of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society will adore The Jane Austen Society... A charming and memorable debut, which reminds us of the universal language of literature and the power of books to unite and heal." —Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Girls of Paris Just after the Second World War, in the small English village of Chawton, an unusual but like-minded group of people band together to attempt something remarkable. One hundred and fifty years ago, Chawton was the final home of Jane Austen, one of England's finest novelists. Now it's home to a few distant relatives and their diminishing estate. With the last bit of Austen's legacy threatened, a group of disparate individuals come together to preserve both Jane Austen's home and her legacy. These people—a laborer, a young widow, the local doctor, and a movie star, among others—could not be more different and yet they are united in their love for the works and words of Austen. As each of them endures their own quiet struggle with loss and trauma, some from the recent war, others from more distant tragedies, they rally together to create the Jane Austen Society. A powerful and moving novel that explores the tragedies and triumphs of life, both large and small, and the universal humanity in us all, Natalie Jenner's The Jane Austen Society is destined to resonate with readers for years to come.

A Novel

The Jane Austen Society

Sonia Grgas

Would have been a 4 but for the v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y paced first half. Nice story with likable characters.

”We love Jane Austen because her characters, as sparkling as they are, are no better and no worse than us. They’re so eminently, so completely human.”
--
A quaint story about Jane Austen's quaint little town, where a group of literature lovers try to restore her memory and historical past in her previous home.

More than anything, this is a love-letter to Austen’s wonderful books. It is clearly very well-researched, imbued with her writing style, and told in such a way that it makes you want to read and reread her works.

When it comes to the plot and the characters, unfortunately, I had a bit of difficulty. I felt that the plot was very slow, and the characters a little bit too lacking in nuance. Although it handles subjects of trauma, loss, and pain fairly well, it was a little difficult for me to connect to any of the characters, and hence, really care for them. I mean, what are the odds that these Austen lovers can all quote her works from memory, and only ever have conversations about her books?

Overall, it was a sweet story, filled with a true love of all things Austen and that small-town charm. 
--
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

Sarah N

Melissa Palmer

Loved this book and it made me want to reread Austen's books. Great characters, good plot and a book for book lovers.

* INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER * "This novel delivers sweet, smart escapism." —People "Fans of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society will adore The Jane Austen Society... A charming and memorable debut, which reminds us of the universal language of literature and the power of books to unite and heal." —Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Girls of Paris Just after the Second World War, in the small English village of Chawton, an unusual but like-minded group of people band together to attempt something remarkable. One hundred and fifty years ago, Chawton was the final home of Jane Austen, one of England's finest novelists. Now it's home to a few distant relatives and their diminishing estate. With the last bit of Austen's legacy threatened, a group of disparate individuals come together to preserve both Jane Austen's home and her legacy. These people—a laborer, a young widow, the local doctor, and a movie star, among others—could not be more different and yet they are united in their love for the works and words of Austen. As each of them endures their own quiet struggle with loss and trauma, some from the recent war, others from more distant tragedies, they rally together to create the Jane Austen Society. A powerful and moving novel that explores the tragedies and triumphs of life, both large and small, and the universal humanity in us all, Natalie Jenner's The Jane Austen Society is destined to resonate with readers for years to come.

Vilandra

I loved this book. It felt like curling up next to a fire in the great house of an English village. The characters are superb, and their different storylines are woven together wonderfully. I wish this was a true story!

Siya S

★★★★ 4 YESSSS Everyone-gets-married-Jane-Austen's-style Stars!! 

Important Update (6/15): 
Took me a while (thanks to COVID-19) but finally, the book has arrived!!



Final Update (6/17):
I just finished this book and I absolutely love it!!! 



I know many have compared this one to The Guernsey Literary (...) by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows but after reading this I thought more of 
  We Are All Made of Stars by Rowan Coleman 
 with a Jane Austen twist. 


  And the society itself sounded like a band of misfits with negligible expertise and no head for business: a country doctor, an old maid, a schoolmarm, a bachelor farmer, a fey auctioneer, a conflict-averse solicitor, a scullery maid, and one Hollywood movie star.

First of all, this book is all about loss and coping and getting back on track that is living a life. Although the misfits banded together because of Jane Austen, in reality, they all banded together because they're broken. They're broken and in a terrible need of something to shake things up instead of passively waiting on life. 


  “And, yes, sadly, no one else can ever understand your loss. It belongs to you. It impacts only you. And guess what? They don’t need to understand.” Mimi paused. “But you do. You need to fully appreciate how this has changed you, so that you can indeed move on and live, but as this changed person, who might now want different things. Who might now want different people about them. And, yes, God forbid, different people to love again. You are still so young—you’ve been given all those decades to come for a reason. And it’s not to waste them.”




Secondly, I love the characters. I absolutely love Dr. Gray. And Adeline. And Adam. They're all broken and real in their own ways. And they're very much in love - in a quiet, unassuming, oblivious way. The slow-burn romance was nicely done in this novel. And the way the characters worshipped Jane Austen made me wanted to reread her books like, seriously this time (I haven't been much of a fan, but I adore Joe Wright's adaptation of P&P, and I'm utterly obsessed with Keira Knightley in that version). 


  “Adeline, my father killed himself when I was very young, and it impacts me even as we sit here. It is a part of me, that awful, irrevocable act. And I am never going to be quite whole again because of it. You are not the problem: the loss is.”

However, it was dragging at times, and the drama just heightened for no reason at all. It's also too convenient that Colin what's-his-face would turn out to be so unlikable. The conflicts resolved a bit too conveniently, and I wish Natalie Jenner would spend maybe another 40-50 pages indulged more into the main characters toward the end. I liked Mimi Harrison, but I think the big twist about her was a bit rush (although one could see it from miles away). I felt like the book hasn't done her justice. 

Also, Frances, even though it turned out nicely - I didn't buy it. I was too invested in her quiet love affair, so I wish it could have done better than to rush it off like that. 

All in all, it was a great book that more than a dozen times gave me the butterflies-in-my-stomach sensation that I haven't experienced from a book in quite a while. Ahh, it started out with a series of devastating turns of events, but trust me, there's a silver lining at the end of the story. It is witty, hopeful, and adorable as heck. 8/10 would recommend



*heart eyes* and *le sigh*

Cheri McElroy

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

In 1945, a group of dissimilar people, including a widow, a doctor, a lawyer, an heiress, a farmer, a museum employee, an actress, and a woman in service, form a society to preserve the history of Jane Austen. In doing so, they find themselves offering healing and hope to one another.

A sweet story.

Eloise

This book's fictional characters and events give a stimulating reading experience. Each character is depicted holistically, with relatable human flaws and vulnerabilities. As the motley cast of characters gathered and their lives began to intertwine, I was attracted by the story. And, just as in real-life relationships, I found myself battling to understand the intent behind a character's words or behavior, sometimes returning to re-read a piece in search of signals or hints.

I rarely have time to read a book in one sitting, but in the case of The Jane Austen Society, having just time enough to read several chapters each day became a much-anticipated treat. I was transported to another time and place; I was inspired by the courage, kindness, and resourcefulness of the society members. While themes of loss and grief echo through The Jane Austen Society, they are answered with opportunities for redemption, delineated with tenderness and humor that strengthen the quiet joy of Ms. Jenner’s story. The Jane Austen Society is a book that deserves to be read, savored, and then read again.

Jordan /

I wanted to like this book but I found it so boring

Katharina Hoffmann

2nd listen:
If you see me listening to this multiple times this year, don't talk to me, it means I'm in need of comfort books and Richard Armitage
______

1st listen:
Do you sometimes lie in bed, feeling miserable, not quite knowing what to do and even if you did, you wouldn't have the energy to get up and do it? Yeah, that's where I was when I started listening to the audiobook of  The Jane Austen Society. I thought that if I had to feel miserable, I wanted to feel miserable while Richard Armitage was narrating a book in his soothing voice. Not only did his voice make me feel better, but I became so invested in the story and the characters that I continued listening to it while eating dinner and brushing my teeth. The first four and a half hours flew by, and I finished the audiobook the next day. It was everything I needed, and more, I LOVED it.

The story is set in the early 1940s, spanning several years, and it is told from different points of view that are made up of the most important characters. There is a widowed country doctor in his forties, a farmer, a famous American movie-star, an heiress to the Knight family estate that still belongs to her spiteful father, and a passionate young teacher who is recently widowed. What these characters have in common? They are all ardent fans of Jane Austen and they all live in Chawton, the finale home to Jane Austen where she wrote her novels. Their shared love for Austen unites these characters. It brings them together to found the Jane Austen Society, dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and study of Miss Jane Austen's life and works.

The love for Austen and her works really pervades this book. I am glad Jane Austen's name was not used as a simple marketing tool to better sell the book. You can tell the author appreciates Austen and her books by the conversations the characters have about  Pride and Prejudice or  Emma. They muse about specific quotes and lines from the novels and discuss the characters' thoughts and feelings. Even though this book is a work of fiction, it does incorporate details about Jane Austen's life. You won't learn anything new if you're a passionate Austenite (is that what her fans call themselves?), but I learned some stuff that I didn't know before!

The characters themselves are very endearing. Even though the switching POVs were a little confusing sometimes because there were about a dozen characters, they quickly grew on me. Despite the charming village they live in, their lives are not always wonderful and rosy. Loss and trauma play a significant role in the characters' lives and they each struggle with grief, trying to cope with the aftermath of war and losing loved ones. As with Jane's novels, there are misunderstandings, unsaid words among characters who hide their true feelings, people who have loved each other in the past but were torn apart. However, how they find each other, and how they grow out of their misery and begin to bloom in the face of hope and change is all developed so naturally, so beautifully, that there were a few times when I was reduced to tears over the characters' love lives and emotional hardships.

I was really invested in the characters, and there was a specific slow-burn relationship that was so incredibly well-written that I kept screaming (in my head) at the characters to just confess their feelings already! Writing about it already makes me want to re-listen to the whole book. The ending is well-written, wrapping up the entire story in a very satisfactory, Austen-esque way!

Overall, this was a fantastic historical fiction/ romance book that felt like a hug from a friend. I would recommend this to any Jane Austen fan.  The Jane Austen Society allows you to escape into an Austen-like world and warms your heart, all the while reminding you that even though loss and pain are inevitably a part of our lives, they don't make us who we are. The book reminds us that hope is always possible and that we are never too broken to be made whole again.

Tatiana

It took me a week to read this book, but simply because I was in a bit of a reading slump. It did not help that the intrigue of the story took a while to get into motion. Natalie Jenner takes her time introducing her characters, their relationships and, maybe most importantly, how they fell in love with Jane Austen.

I would say, do not read this if you have not read at least two or three books by Jane Austen, or at the minimum know a few of their stories. Most referenced are Pride and Prejudice, and Emma.

The former is one of my all-time favourite books, and I absolutely love its adaptations. Emma, I have read a few years back and intend on re-reading as I have, since, much improved in English.

Honestly, this book just made me want to stop reading it to go back to Jane Austen. But, Jenner’s main characters are very much loveable and you cannot help but want to know what they will do, how they will do it, and whether or not some romance will happen.

Safe to say, I have very much enjoyed it. It might even have cured my reading slump. It’s a beautiful story about eight people becoming a family through their shared love of Jane Austen, her writing and, most importantly, her characters.

Kayla 

I absolutely adored this book! I read it in one day! This book fills you with the warm comfort of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society with the ambiance of a quaint English cottage that was home to one of the most famous writers. 

We follow neighbours in the town of Chawton before, during and after World War II. While they have all know each other in some capacity, there has never been a true and deep connection between the residents of Chawton. 

Old Man knight is dying and he is a grumpy, sexist fellow who does not think his daughter, Frances Knight can keep the property, once home to Jane herself, managed. He also despises the tourists who come and would not want to to become a shrine to the late author. 

Dr. Gray, Adeline Grover, Adam Berwick (a farm hand on the property), Andrew Forrester (the estate lawyer), Evie Stone (a servant in the house), Yardley Sinclair (an auctioneer), Mimi Harrison (an actress), and Miss Frances Knight are all inducted into The Jane Austen Society in an effort to save the property from becoming part of a golf course (could you imagine!). 

All of the characters are unique and we get to learn their story and their connection to the authoress which I really liked. I love when an unlikely group of people are all connected in some way that they would have never been before. I was infatuated with the relationship of Dr. Gray and Adeline Grover and I was itching to see what would happen with those two. 

This is a book I will be venturing back to from time to time, when I am in need of a wholesome, cherished read about one of my favourite authors. I've travelled to Chawton before and as I was reading this book I was taken back to the quiet roads and the brick manor. I knew exactly the courtyard they were describing and the different building on the property. I only wish I had this book back when I had visited so that I could go across the road to the tea shop and read it while looking at the house. I guess this means I will have to go back!

Christina M Masters

This was a lovely book! And you don't have to be a fan of Jane Austen to read it, but it does help a bit since the author parallels some of the characters with JA's characters. But, it was a delightful story centered around several characters basically trying to find their way in the world after being beset by various tragedies or having their paths derailed by certain uncontrollable circumstances and being brought together over a common interest, in this case, Jane Austen. It isn't an overly long book and it is a relatively quick read. Part of me wants to say it is a bit light-hearted, and maybe there were certain areas of the book that the author could have delved deeper into some of the issues the characters were facing because some of the subject matter was definitely not light. One scene actually made me cry and that is not an easy feat when it comes to books. But, I think this was the book I needed right now. Something not overly morose, but could be serious at times. And, I am an Austen fan so this was definitely up my alley.

Shawna Gavas

I really wanted to love this book. A Canadian author writing about Austen? What's not to love?? The writing and descriptions were beautiful but I just never really connected with the group of characters. I kept waiting for something "more" and just never found it. This is most likely a "me not you" situation as most readers appear to have loved it. On the plus side, I would definitely give this author another go! :)

erin s

Natalie Jenner’s The Jane Austen Society is love letter to Jane Austen and her legacy. It even reads like an Austen novel — the whole story is told in free indirect speech, bringing the reader into the mindset of each of the characters. This is a quiet book about a quiet town that was a nice little respite from the world. (on an unrelated note I’m going to move to rural england)

Nona G

[2.5*] Jane Austen is, to me, a goddess. This is reason enough to go on reading fluff novels which incidentally touch on her work. I've had this novel on my to-read list for quite a while, knowing absolutely nothing about it but the title and what seemed like a cute cover. I chose it to be my first audio book, especially because it's fluffy and easy, so I would not worry too much if I got distracted and lost stuff. Also, it's narrated by Richard Armitage is the narrator, so there's something extra in there for the ladies... (I have to be frank, I don't particularly consider listening to audio books as reading, and this experience confirmed my initial impression. I don't get the same level of immersion as with reading.)

The novel follows a heap of characters, mainly from the village of Chawton, Jane Austen's final home. Here's where a few people - the village doctor, a school teacher, a farmer, a house maid, the current owner of the estate, but also a famous Hollywood actress - all self-declared "Jane Austen's biggest fans" - form a society with the purpose of preserving the house where the writer lived for the final 8 years of her life.

After listening to the first 10 or so chapters, I felt the need to go back and actually read them, because there are so many characters, with their different lives being described for a while until the story starts to unravel, that I got confused and was unable to differentiate who is who anymore. (The fact that they all had Armitage's voice didn't help, although he tried sounding differently with each of them...) The novel starts at a slow pace, Jenner focused on explaining each character in turn and their journey to becoming Jane Austen fans. It delves into quite a bit of pointless life details which leave little space for actual plot development, and then everything is rushed towards the conclusion, with an epilogue explaining their lives and how they actually get to buy Jane Austen's cottage and transform it into a museum. I'm not a fan of epilogues, its like the author didn't want to bother with reaching a satisfying conclusion through work and just threw in some after-the-fact stuff that would wrap up the story, but without giving us the journey on how she got there.

The plot is soap-opera-ish, concentrating death, love stories between unlikely partners, lovers reunited, unexpected inheritances in a small space, with a handful of plot holes thrown in for good measure. However, the book is also a commentary of Jane Austen's novels, with her being present at every step. It's clear that Jenner herself is a fan of Austen's work and took the opportunity to showcase her understanding of the more subtle details and intents in the novels. The character's own lives are constantly paralleled to Austen's characters.

I would say this is a cute, easy read, a beach read, as I would call it, with stereotypical characters doing exactly what one would expect they would be doing. But it gets extra points for the literary commentary on Jane Austen's work. And for Richard Armitage...

Ariel Duke

I was drawn to this book immediately because of the title. If I see Jane Austen in the title, I am automatically down to join in on the reading adventure. While this book was not what I had expected it to be, I really enjoyed how Jane Austen ended up being central. 

The beginning of this book is very slow, but that is understandable because we are being introduced to all of the characters separately and learning why they are each so connected with Austen. These separate chance encounters and stories really set up a unification of all the character that is believable and unforced. The natural chemistry between the characters was palpable and the desire to see them admit their feelings for each other embodied the feeling of the regency era more than I expected possible. I wanted to jump into the book at many points and tear of the blindfold in order to show them that they felt the same for each other. This kept me turning pages, seeking a resolution, once I got past the very slow start.

Judy Hudgins

Centering around the small English time Jane Austen spent 10 years in toward the end of her life, it follows the life of a handful of residents in 1947 and how their love for Jane Austen molds their lives.

Elize van Heerden

Definitely a slow start book, and it took me quite a while to get into it, I'm not sure if it was the narrator or the book itself. As a Jane Austen fan, I thought it would be a great read, but maybe just not my cup of tea this time.

Chelsea White

3.5 stars. Sweet book, and I may have liked it more had I read it rather than listened to it. It was winding and very narrative, but that made it a little hard to stay engaged with.

Krystal Campbell 

Thank you Netgalley and At Martin's Press for an ebook of this in exchange for an honest review. 

This book read very much like a Jane Austen Novel. If that was the Authors intention or not I don't know. In terms of actual "Plot" not a lot happens but I didn't find myself bored at any point as the lyrical writing and prose was so well done. I fell like if I was more of a Jane Austin fan or had read more of her novels I would have gotten a lot more references and enjoyed it more. It was however a nice light read and the characters were likeable.

Thank you also to Libro.fm for an advanced listener copy 

If I was to judge this book on narrator alone it would have score much higher and I do feel that this was why I found it so easy to read and so enjoyable. The narrator's voice was excellent and truly did sound exactly like I expected the Dr to sound.

Erin 

This is a lovely little book. You don't even have to be a Jane Austen fan to enjoy it. It's a quietly beautiful story about creating a lasting legacy for a common love and interest. The characters are charming and live and work simply with one another. There's a quiet little English village with quirky inhabitants, each with their own perspective, thoughts, and feelings. Much like Austen's novels themselves, a simply look or touch will make your heart flutter. Much like the life it suggests, the book is a bit slow at times, but not in a boring way - more of a leisurely one. You won't want to rush through this in a day. Take your time, take it in when you can, and you'll be surprised by how invested you'll be by the end - and you'll certainly want to pick up an Austen novel when you're finished.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER 'A wonderful book, a wonderful read' Karen Joy Fowler, bestselling author of The Jane Austen Book Club Only a few months after the end of the Second World War, a new battle is beginning in the little village of Chawton. Once the final home of Jane Austen, the Chawton estate is dwindling, and the last piece of Austen's heritage is at risk of being sold to the highest bidder... Drawn together by their love of her novels, eight very different people - from a local farmer to a glamorous film star - must unite to attempt something remarkable. As new friendships form, and the griefs of the past begin to fade, they rally together to create the Jane Austen Society, and to save the beloved novelist's home and legacy. But can her words change all their lives in return? A heartbreaking and uplifting novel of hope, loss and love. Perfect for fans of Miss Austen by Gill Hornby and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer 'A charming and memorable debut, which reminds us of the power of books to unite and heal' Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Girls of Paris

The Jane Austen Society A Novel

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