The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner

My review

4/5 stars

I immediately felt involved in the characters in this book, literally from the first page. There was something about the way they were written that made them feel very real and like someone I wanted to root for. I cared about every single person that the author wrote about on some level. They all had some hardship they were facing as a result of the war, and they all had flaws in how they were dealing with that hardship that made them human. Above all, they all had something binding them together even when they didn't realise it, and I'm a sucker for anything that puts Jane Austen at the heart of the story.

The writing was warm, despite the somewhat challenging nature of some of the storylines, and respectful of both the muse and the time period it was set in. It was immersive without feeling overwhelming. I maybe would have appreciated just a smidge more allusion to the time period though, as I found myself forgetting that it was a post-war book at times, which was jarring when they were talking about how popular Jane Austen was an an author, but it's a very small niggle.

It was an absolutely devoted love letter to Jane Austen and the impact that she's had on many around the world. It was clear that she's had a big impact on the author, as she wrote with such care about the legacy that Miss Austen had left behind. I particularly enjoyed when the characters started dissecting some of her novels, as it gave me new insight into books that I have lovingly re-read time and time again.

Not so small a niggle as the time period, was the creative licence that the author took with the relationship between Jane and her sister Cassandra. I don't want to spoil anything for future readers, but in my opinion, it didn't feel true to what we know of the sisters and how they lived their lives.

Overall, the story felt a little predictable at times, particularly in regard to the personal relationships around the village. It was never off-putting, in fact, it served as a comfort at times when the book took a slightly darker or more serious turn. It also seems to have been a trade-off for how they resolved the issues faced by the society which I did not see coming. There were parts of the ending that left me feeling slightly dissatisfied (see Adam's story) but I can't deny that it caught me off guard and kept me reading.

A lovely surprise find at the library, and I definitely want to read more by this author.

Book blurb

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?

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You can buy the book here now. It was published by Orion.

For more on the author, you can head to her website, follow her on Instagram, or check out her Goodreads page.