The Austen Affair

by Madeline Bell

Two feuding co-stars in a Jane Austen film adaptation accidentally travel back in time to the Regency Era in this delightfully clever and riotously funny debut

Tess Bright just scored her dream role starring in an adaptation of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. It's not just the role of a lifetime, but it’s also her last chance to prove herself as a serious actress (no easy feat after being fired from her last TV gig) and more importantly, it’s her opportunity to honor her mom, who was the biggest fan of Jane Austen ever. But one thing is standing in Tess’s way—well, one very tall, annoyingly handsome person, actually: Hugh Balfour.

A serious British method actor, Hugh wants nothing to do with Tess (whose Teen Choice Awards somehow don’t quite compare to his BAFTA nominations). Hugh is a type-A, no-nonsense, Royal Academy prodigy, whereas Tess is big-hearted, a little reckless, and admittedly, kind of a mess. But the film needs chemistry—and Tess’s career depends on it.

Sparks fly, but not in the way Tess hoped, when an electrical accident sends the two feuding co-stars back in time to Jane Austen’s era. 200 years in the past with only each other to rely on, Tess and Hugh need to ad-lib their way through the Regency period in order to make it back home, and hopefully not screw up history along the way. But if a certain someone looks particularly dashing in those 19th century breeches…well, Tess won’t be complaining.

A wickedly funny, delightfully charming story, The Austen Affair is a tribute to Jane Austen, second chances, and love across the space-time continuum.

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Time Travel, Fiction, Fantasy, Historical, Audiobook

336 pages, Paperback

First published September 16, 2025

Reviews

[TheConnieFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Regency romance novel is definitely one of a kind. It did take me a little while to get used to it at the beginning, but towards the middle, that’s when I really started to love it! What initially drew me in was the premise of the story. I really enjoyed the premise of it and found it overall entertaining and fun! It had a little bit of a whimsical feel to it, which I loved. The banter and romantic tension between the two main characters were strong, in this slow burn romance. I really found this book to be quite clever! This book also comes with a lot of laughs! It is a medium paced read, has strong character development, lovable characters and is both plot and character driven. It is historical, beautiful, believable and well structured. I also absolutely loved the time travel in this story!

“The Austen Affair” is about Tess Bright, a struggling actress, who plays Catherine Moreland, in a cinematic adaptation of the “Northanger Abbey”. She is both wishing to revive her career and honor her late mother. Then we have Hugh Balfour, who plays the co star to Tess. He is already not fond of Tess. Then, something wild happens. They both get transported back to 200 years ago, in Regency era England, due to a tense run in on set with a space heater. They begin learning the social customs, navigate through grief with one another, then a bond between them begins to form. The bond they share ultimately ends up with them being in love. Overall I rate this a 4 out of 5 stars!

Content warnings include a sexually explicit sex scene, grief and family illness. Fans of Jane Austen, who also enjoy reading about time travel and loves romance comedies, would absolutely love reading this!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Madeline Bell and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for this digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on September 16, 2025!

I also did a buddy read with the sweet felicia!! So be on the lookout for her amazing review! ❤️

◈━◈━◈━◈━◈

・❥・Pre-Read ・❥・

✮ Official Start Date: May 5, 2025

╰┈➤ Buddy read with my girl, felicia!

╰┈➤ Two feuding co-stars in a Jane Austen film adaptation accidentally travel back in time to the Regency Era in this delightfully clever and riotously funny debut!

This is supposed to be a a good one. Fingers crossed. 🤞

◈━◈━◈━◈━◈

[Hannah Greendale (Hello, Bookworm) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Costars with clashing personalities time travel to the Jane Austen era for some enemies to lovers drama. Austen references abound!

You can visit the past too by perusing my thoughts while reading (see below). 🕜 Time traveling in 3... 2… 1…

PROLOGUE
This was supposed to be a light-hearted read. What is happening? 😭

CHP 01
Good gracious, this Hugh Belfour guy is a jerk. But Tess Bright is kind of a mess too. Maybe these two deserve each other? 🤔

CHP 02

This movie should be the high-water mark of my career, but here I am, crouched in the dark, listening to someone who hates me outline in detail exactly why he finds me so repugnant. And what's worse—he might just be right.*

It's gonna be hard to root for Tess if she doesn't stop acting like a child. 🫤

CHP 03
Oh wow, we've already time traveled. No time like the present (or the past, I guess).

CHP 05
Tess is stoked to be in this era (for reasons you'll discover if you read the book), and I keep thinking, But wait until you have to use the toilet, Tess. Wait until you get your PERIOD, Tess. But she's just discovered that the people she's staying with are among the "early adopters of indoor plumbing" so I guess things won't be as bad for her as I thought.🚽(Then again, toilet paper hadn't been invented yet, so…)

Why does every book I pick up lately have people vomiting in it? 🫣

CHP 06
I love how the characters in this book have given no thought whatsoever to how they're going to get back home. 😐

Shout out for mentioning Back to the Future. Great movie! 🙌


I stand corrected. They've started devising a way to get home.

CHP 07

I wonder what Hugh did to prepare for bed. Jane Austen never really strayed into a man's bedroom, so I can't say for sure what he ought to be wearing. But I can't exactly picture him in a big Ebenezer Scrooge-y nightgown, so I elect to picture him in nothing at all.*

CHP 09
Tess whistles loudly and Hugh exclaims, "Jesus wept!"* I'm sorry, but, WHY? What kind of response is that? 😂 Hugh doesn't seem religious. Why is he exclaiming the shortest verse in the Bible?

CHP 10
Forgive me, but, it feels too soon for Tess to tingle at Hugh's touch. Sure, she thinks he's handsome, but he's still being a complete jerk most of the time. Other than them being thrown together in a different time period, nothing has happened to justify a growing attraction.

CHP 11
Omg, guess who's here?! It's... Jane Austen!

Oh my God. I've offended Jane Austen. I’ve made Jane Austen think that there’s been a leak from one of her nearest and dearest.*

Seriously, Tess? 🤦‍♀️

[Hugh] is strange and often off-putting. But he is not unkind. Nor is he ill-meaning.*

^ Okay, now we're seeing some cuteness between Tess and Hugh. A first sign of the ice thawing. Seems promising…

CHP 12

I had not anticipated that he would reciprocate so readily. That his mouth would melt against mine, urgent and hot.*

Oh my… 🫣

CHP 13
First Tess springs a kiss on Hugh. Then he responds passionately. After which he's standoffish and clearly trying to suppress his feelings for her. And Tess can’t figure out why he's acting standoffish? Are we seriously expected to believe she's this dense?

"You are as anachronistic as you are uncouth."

^ A period-appropriate zing from Hugh. Nice!

CHP 15
The Downton Abbey house? 🥹

CHP 15
More vomiting! 🤮 Bleh!

CHP 20
Is it just me, or does every other romantic comedy involve the leading man punching some dude to defend the lead female's honor? Like, I enjoy seeing someone get what they deserve as much as the next person, but I don't find physical violence attractive in the slightest. A man who resorts to punching is too emotionally immature for my taste. PASS.

CHP 22

"If the machine works, we'll be going home when it arrives. We should do everything Austen would want of us in the meantime."

I place a thoughtful hand to my mouth. "And pray tell, what is that?"

Hugh offers me his arm, and I link mine through it. "I think we should host a ball."*

^ ⁉️Um, excuse me, Hugh, but weren't you... JUST SAYING YOU'RE AFRAID YOUR DAD DIED WHILE YOU'RE STUCK IN THE PAST?! And suddenly it's a hard turn toward a jovial, "Let's have a ball!" What?! 🤪

CHP 25

My hair is pinned in an elaborate updo, dotted with seed pearls. A simple yet elegant gown of white silk keeps me looking youthful, almost angelic. The fabric seems to shine in the candle light of my room.*

^ Pretty. 😍

Somebody give Tess the award for most clueless heroine.🏆She doesn't know how to read her love interest at all.

CHP 26

There is a reason the Regency is the setting for some of the most ardent love stories of all time. Because when society will not permit you to whet your passion in physical contact, the contours of your paramour's body become impossible to stop imagining.*

CHP 27
I can't put my finger on why, but the heat between these two characters doesn't feel believable. A few shared laughs doesn't seem like enough to draw these opposing personalities together. Certainly a traumatic experience like time traveling could, but Hugh and Tess haven't reacted like people who are traumatized by their circumstances (save for that one time when Hugh briefly expressed concern that his father may have died while they've been gone).

His cock springs free, a soldier at attention…*

🐓🫡

…he slides into me like butter.*

Like BUTTER. 🧈 I'm wheezing! 🤣😂

He daggers repeatedly into me…*

I'm sorry, DAGGERS? 🗡️🗡️🗡️ Is this supposed to be sexy? 😦

The whole sentences is:

He daggers repeatedly into me, hard and fast, and yet it feels like an almost feather-like glide.*

^ A feather-like daggering? FEATHER-LIKE? 🪶🪶🪶 What even...🫤

These people haven't bathed properly since they time traveled and Hugh wants to do WHAT? 😛👅

Stop trying to make the smell of sweat sexy. It's not going to happen.


CHP 30
That Aunt Fanny, she is one shrewd lady.

CHP 33
🐁💀😶

CHP 35
🌧️😘⚡⚡⚡

EPILOGUE

He grins up at me with that goofy grin he only wears when we are approaching perfect happiness. "Come closer, Mrs. Bright."*

Does that mean they took her last name instead of his because she wanted to always keep her mother's last name? 🥹👉👈 If yes, that’s an incredibly sweet ending.

If I understood the ending correctly, then it's pretty cute (see spoiler above).


*Note: All quotes taken from an uncorrected proof and are subject to change in the final printing.

[Kayla_Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Griffin for the opportunity to read and review the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Two feuding costars in a Jane Austen film adaption get electrocuted and find themselves in actual Austen times. Tess needs to prove herself as a serious actress and this is her last chance, but Hugh is standing in her way. He wants nothing to do with her but now they must rely on each other to find a way to travel back to the present without changing history in the process. It was a cute and fun read. There were a couple of parts that had me laughing me head off. Butter. If you know you know. 3.5 stars rounded up.

[Elyse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like the way Bell writes. It flows so well and feels so natural and comforting. The characters are a little over the top, but the writing still makes them feel grounded and relatable.

I'm not particularly into romance, but I do enjoy reading them once in a while to break up my usuals, and the plot for this one sounded immediately intriguing with the time travel aspect. Between the fun plot and the writing, the first quarter of the book was cute and engaging. Then everything sort of fizzled out for me.

If you're a big fan of romance or Jane Austen, you'll probably enjoy the book. You can definitely tell that Bell is an Austen fan, and I think that part was handled very well. Because I'm not into romance, I think some tropes fall flat for me faster than they would for others. I felt like a lot of the action and dialogue was predictable. Miscommunication hijinks are tiresome. And I don't like when the main characters, especially enemies to lovers, acknowledge feelings too early. Also, almost all of the problems were resolved simply and immediately. The worst part for me was probably the grossly ill-timed almost sex scene.

There were a lot of side characters used to add drama, but the story was heavily centered on the two main characters and their story was fairly cozy. Three stars for me typically means "it's okay but not for me," so I'm sure many others will love this book.

[Lina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 / 5 Stars
This was a good Jane Austen regency era romance with a fun twist and while I really liked the concept, I just wasn’t 100% sold on the romance. In this book, Tess Bright is an actress at the end of her luck. She was just fired from a CW-esque show and the remake of Jane Austen’s “Northanger Abbey” is her chance to redeem herself. More important than that, it is her chance to honor her mom who passed away and loved Jane Austen. It would be going well if it wasn’t for her Type A, method acting co-star, Hugh Balfour. Tess and Hugh could not be more different and could not dislike each other more. So when lightning sends them back to the 1800s, they have to become unlikely allies. And because a lady can’t be single back in those days, Tess and Hugh have to act like a couple while they figure out how to Back to the Future themselves to the present. While they may dislike each other on set, they are two hot actors so sparks inevitably start to fly.

You will probably like this book if you like:
💚 Regency era romance with a modern twist
💖 Time travel
💚 Fake dating
💖 Dislike to love
💚 Discussions of grief
💖 Jane Austen

The concept was really great. Did I think they both should have been more freaked out that they time traveled? YES! Tess called it a “miracle” and was rather chipper about it all while I would have just been thinking about how I was transported to a time where I had no rights, there were no antibiotics and anesthesia, and I didn’t have floss or my skincare routine, but sure, we can call it a miracle. Beyond that, it was fun to get to see Tess and Hugh try to act their way out of the situation. They came up with an elaborate backstory and thanks to Hugh’s method acting research, they actually knew a lot about the etiquette and history of that time. There was a really funny part where Tess played the piano version of “Hot in Here” by Nelly that really cracked me up.

I also thought the portrayal of grief was super well done. Tess was grieving the death of her mother while Hugh was grieving the relationship he had with father because his father is suffering from dementia. Tess’s regency persona was a widow and while she hadn’t lost her husband, she had lost a love of her life and was able to articulate that feeling in a really potent way.

I bought into Tess and Hugh’s connection but I wasn’t completely sold on their love story if that makes sense. They were each other’s ally in this time traveling debacle and seemed to be the first people that really and fully saw each other, flaws and all, but I wanted more from their chemistry. Yes, they are two hot people (they’re actors so duh) but I felt like there could have been more moments of yearning, pining, hands brushing, hands flexing, all of that good regency era stuff. Maybe I am just a horndog but give me more sizzle. And because of that, their love declarations felt off to me.

All of that being said, it was a solid romance novel with a new and interesting concept. If you love Jane Austen, you may especially love this (I have only read one of her works so perhaps things were lost on me).

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing the eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: September 16, 2025
____________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: Picked this up based on how pretty the cover was and it turns out it is a time traveling regency era romance (say that five times fast) because why not?

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and statements are my own.

🎬 Blurb 🎬
“Tess Bright just scored her dream role starring in an adaptation of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. It's not just the role of a lifetime, but it’s also her last chance to prove herself as a serious actress (no easy feat after being fired from her last TV gig) and more importantly, it’s her opportunity to honor her mom, who was the biggest fan of Jane Austen ever. But one thing is standing in Tess’s way—well, one very tall, annoyingly handsome person, actually: Hugh Balfour.

A serious British method actor, Hugh wants nothing to do with Tess (whose Teen Choice Awards somehow don’t quite compare to his BAFTA nominations). Hugh is a type-A, no-nonsense, Royal Academy prodigy, whereas Tess is big-hearted, a little reckless, and admittedly, kind of a mess. But the film needs chemistry—and Tess’s career depends on it.

Sparks fly, but not in the way Tess hoped, when an electrical accident sends the two feuding co-stars back in time to Jane Austen’s era. 200 years in the past with only each other to rely on, Tess and Hugh need to ad-lib their way through the Regency period in order to make it back home, and hopefully not screw up history along the way. But if a certain someone looks particularly dashing in those 19th century breeches…well, Tess won’t be complaining.

A wickedly funny, delightfully charming story, The Austen Affair is a tribute to Jane Austen, second chances, and love across the space-time continuum.”

🌹 My Thoughts 🌹
I had so much fun with this book…except for a few minor details (I’ll get to that in a bit). I loved the references to Jane Austen’s books and the setting of Regency era England because-I’m saying it right now-Austen is the queen of romances and I will forever hold her works near and dear to my heart. ❤️ I actually think the first romance book I ever read was Pride and Prejudice, and I adore it. (Question: which is your favorite P&P adaptation? I’d love to hear which ones you like best ☺️) So I completely relate to and understand Tess’s giddiness to the situation she and her co-star, Hugh, find themselves in.

Tess and Hugh were good characters. Flawed, sometimes relatable, and they developed as characters as the book progressed. I enjoyed their banter and, later on, their friendship/romance, which pushed them to be vulnerable and understanding with each other. I also like that the side characters were there for a reason and actually were on the scene when they needed to be. 👍🏼 However, I felt that some of the feelings Hugh felt for Tess were more telling than showing. His dislike for her was evident and I thought it was funny, but I guess I wanted to be convinced that he liked her with some lingering gazes or whatever. It’s really nothing, though, because I liked their eventual romance, which leads to a spice scene, just to let you know. 👍🏼

What took half a star off for me was the plot. How does the electrical accident send them back to the past? Did someone make a wish or something that I missed? Was it just a freak accident? I guess I shouldn’t care because, hello-it’s fiction. But that bit confused me. The other minor issue for me was the amount of things that were happening. It was one thing after another and, gosh, why were they there in the first place? Oh yeah. They got zapped into the past. Duh. I forgot in the midst of side quests and drama. But the plot kept me intrigued and I breezed through the book. 💕

So do I recommend this enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, fake relationship romance book? Heck yeah, I do! Especially if you are a big fan of Jane Austen. This was literally so fun and I’m so glad I’ve stopped taking romance books too seriously because, honey, they were meant to be enjoyed, so just enjoy them! 🫶🏼

❗️ Content Warnings ❗️
Loss of a parent & grief

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars - I really enjoyed “The Austen Affair” - a super FUN mash-up of historical romance, time travel & Austen fan-fiction! The two leads (in both a Northanger Abby movie and the Regency time jump) were well written (Hugh’s quite hunky & Tess is quite ditsy) and I loved all the Austen references and call backs. Reminded me so much of “Austenland” too, though that was quite a while ago! Very enjoyable, especially if you are into Jane A. - but it was a bit spicy also, so heads up! (just skip chapter 27 if you're not into 🌶️🌶️!)

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two feuding co-stars quarrel on the set of Northanger Abbey and break the space time continuum when they’re struck by lightning and zippity-zapped back to 1815 Hampshire. Tess the hot mess express spills on her costumes and has crap taste in men. The role of Catherine Moreland is her last shot at both career redemption and honoring her Austen-obsessed, dearly departed mother. Hugh is a RADA graduate with a stiff upper lip and a stick up his arse. Either he thinks Tess improbably stupid, or perhaps he’s just a typical guy who says the wrong thing all the time. To return to the future from whence they came, they stage a fake engagement and embark on a mission to get electrocuted once more. The journey of enemies to slow burn to lovers peaks at a ball, so they Irish goodbye it to knock boots in a foyer. Shall lightning indeed strike twice? Might a love improbable withstand the tempests of time itself? I dare not think to say. I cried two times and misted a third because the Jane vibes were really vibing. When I say “I’m very fond of walking” and no one gets it, I shall turn to this book for solace herein..

[MillennialMomReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a modern girl’s love letter to Jane Austen and I am so, so here for it. Madeline Bell has created such a beautiful story of growing through grief in a time travel adventure steeped in everything you love about Austen’s work. There’s enemies to lovers, there’s a headstrong, obstinate heroine, there’s copious references to her characters both overt and subtle. This would make the most meta, and perfect, movie, and it is such a fast read. I would LOVE to read this as a multi POV story too, someday. This book is all the things that people who love Jane Austen wish we had the opportunity to say, and tells the crowd not yet familiar with her why her work is so deeply cherished. 1000% recommend, 1000 times yes. Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

[Angie Miale · Rating 4 out of 5]

How many Austen re-tellings do we need? SHUT UP HATERS, AT LEAST ONE MORE THAN WE ALREADY HAVE.

Okay, so besides being enemies to lovers, this isn't a re-telling, it is literally a time travel novel and doesn't follow an Austen format, but Austen herself makes a cameo.

Tess Bright has left her TV show to make a Jane Austen movie with co-star Hugh. They really get under each others skin, he doesn't think an American TV star is worthy to do a British classic, and she thinks he is pompous. Tess has recently lost her mother, who adored Austen, and doing this movie makes her feel closer to her mom. An unexplained electricity accident puts them both back in the 1800's in their period costumes. They are in and around Hugh's family and they mistake him for his great-great-great-grandfather. Which is insane as you have 31 other sets of DNA in there (?) but for the sake of romance, let's pretend they are identical.

What follows is a funny series of misunderstandings and cast of characters. The author has some points to make about how far we have come (and not) since this time. Hugh and Tess use their research to help them assimilate into the culture, all the while working together to find a way home, which they seem indecently confident they can get back to the present time. Naturally, as they work together they find commonalities and slowly fall in love.

I really liked Tess and I felt her emotions- Hugh, as a Brit, is a little more buttoned up, but dedicated to his craft. I really enjoyed the little boy, who was sick and then recovered. He was a very cute character, and I love the way that the audiobook narrator voiced him and all of the British accents. Only one narrator on this one but she was very engaging and really allowed Tess vulnerability in her inner dialogue.

Read if you like;
Enemies to Lovers
Austen theming
Recent loss of parent
Time Travel - fish out of water stories

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ALC. Book to be published September 16, 2025.

[Kerrin · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a longtime admirer of Jane Austen, I approached The Austen Affair with high hopes that it would honor her legacy. Unfortunately, I was shocked and appalled by the modern spin. The continuous use of the F-bomb, the main character's ( Tess Bright) overt horniness, and the explicit open-door sex scene felt jarringly out of step with Austen’s refined subtlety. Austen had a gift for conveying passion and tension through wit, implication, and nuance—qualities this book often discarded in favor of crudeness.

That said, there are redeeming elements. Tess does embody some hallmarks of Austen’s heroines: she knows her own heart, speaks honestly, and embraces romance with openness. The enemies-to-lovers trope echoes Pride and Prejudice’s famous flawed first impressions, and the novel successfully touches on important Austenian themes such as the value of community and the bonds of friendship.

Overall, while The Austen Affair borrows Austen’s themes, its tone and style stray far from the spirit of her work. Readers who cherish Austen’s elegance may find the modern language and explicitness off-putting, but those open to a bold reinterpretation of Austenian tropes may enjoy it.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ 5 Stars – Enchanting, Quirky, and Utterly Delightful ✨

The Austen Affair is a beautifully enveloping read with just the right touch of whimsy. Tess and Hugh are wonderfully relatable characters—you’ll find yourself rooting for them from the very first page. Madeline Belle masterfully weaves humor, heart, and a hint of magic into this story, creating a world you won't want to leave.

The time travel twist adds an unexpectedly charming layer, giving this romcom a fresh and imaginative feel. Every page pulls you in deeper, and by the end, you’ll be wishing for just one more chapter. A must-read for fans of Jane Austen, quirky love stories, and a bit of literary time-hopping fun.

A special thanks to Netgallery and St. Martins Press for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this Austen-adjacent time slip novel! The enemies-to-lovers duo, Hugh Balfour and Tess Bright, clash as they star in an adaptation of Northanger Abbey, only to be forced into a fake engagement when they find themselves flung back into the real Regency era. Their spirited antics made me guffaw, while the many Austen references made my Janeite heart sing. A must read!

[Sarah | Kerosene.Lit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so delightfully silly and fun while still giving that cozy, serious period drama vibe! Tess and Hugh are feuding co-stars filming a new adaptation of Northanger Abbey when an on-set mishap results in them getting electrocuted and magically transported to 1815 Hampshire!

And the enemies-to-lovers tension was ablaze! Tess assumes Hugh is a pretentious jerk, while Hugh views Tess as an unprofessional, lacklustre actress. Of course, they’re both misunderstood, and I loved seeing them navigate Regency society with Hugh’s vast knowledge of the era while also worrying about how their actions might alter the future. (There’s even a surprising cameo!)

If I’m honest, the transition from enemies to lovers felt a little abrupt, but I was so swept up in their romance that I didn’t mind one bit. Hugh’s poetic, heartfelt words had me absolutely swooning, and I adored how their shared but differing experiences of grief allowed them to grow and truly learn from one another. If you’re a fan of magical realism and a good contemporary–historical mashup, this was such a fun time!

(heat level: descriptive fade-to-black / borderline open-door)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Clare Gilmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Madeline Bell has resurrected Jane Austen in more ways than one in The Austen Affair, an absolutely delicious time-travel romp that combines regency-era set dressing with fresh, resilient, sexy protagonists. This book is a gem for anyone who never got over Darcy’s hand clench or is dying to hear daresay in a sentence. With writing that moves deftly from contemporary to historical, characters that unfurl like pearls in an oyster, and *chef’s kiss* Austen references, this romantic debut has got to be on your reading list!

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5 stars)
The Austen Affair is a delightful story - a romance with a time travel twist. You don’t have to be well-versed in all of Jane Austen’s novels, but if you are, you’ll appreciate this book even more than I did (with my just basic knowledge of some of those books). Tess and Hugh are co-starring in an adaptation of one of Austen’s novels, Northanger Abbey. Tess is an American actress mostly known for her TV work and has been a winner of the Teen Choice award, which doesn’t impress Hugh, who is a well-known serious British actor. They are at odds with each other on set all the time. They are filming in the area of England where Austen lived and worked. An on-set electrical accident catapults them, together, back in time to the Regency period in English history (early 1800s). They are quite lucky that they were in period costume when this happened!!

So Tess and Hugh have to blend in with local customs and try to figure out how to get back to the present day. Tess was such a delight. She’s full of insecurities, but she’s also resourceful and quick to ad lib/improvise as necessary, while Hugh is much more reserved and prefers to have things very orderly. As you can imagine, they eventually get over their dislike of each other and wind up appreciating the very things that used to annoy them. (Not a spoiler; this is a romance, after all!) Hugh has a real depth of character, once he allows himself to open up a bit. I loved that they wound up at the grand home of Hugh’s ancestors. He was so nervous not to accidentally alter history (and thus possibly erase his own existence). Hugh’s family was filled with wonderful characters, especially his young brother, George, who was actually his great-great-grandfather (if I’ve got the “greats” right).

There were plenty of funny moments, but these two “fish out of water” comments were ones that made me laugh enough that I made note of them, even while listening to the audio version. (These are from an advance copy of the book so they may have changed a bit in the finished book.)

Tess, to Hugh: “You tell me how two penniless weirdos with no connections will do in a time before women’s rights, air-conditioning, or Zyrtec.”

Also Tess: “Being from Hollywood, most of my ex-boyfriends ran along the lines of Mr. Armstrong. Attention-seeking, playful, and well aware that they were as frustratingly hot as a malfunctioning iPhone in August.”

The narration on the audiobook was wonderful. I loved how Stephanie Nemeth-Parker could quickly switch from an American accent to an English one and back again.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book and to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to a review copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely DELIGHTFUL read.

Tess is down on her luck both professionally and personally. She has lost her steady career on a teen-drama, but also lost her mother to cancer 18 months ago and is still in the throes of grief. Still, she is bound and determined to make the Northanger Abbey adaptation she was cast in her comeback role even if her co-star, Hugh Belfour, has the largest stick up his ass of anyone she has ever met. But when these two are thrown back in time and Hugh is mistaken for his aristocratic ancestor, Tess and Hugh have to think quickly and work together to not only cover their modern tracks, but find a way back to the 21st century.

As someone who loves Jane Austen’s work, I was intrigued by the summary of The Austen Affair and the unsaid promise that this book wasn’t going to take itself too seriously.

One of the benefits from a time-travel plot in a Contemporary Romance is that the book cannot take itself too seriously, and neither can the reader. If you can buy into time travel, the book is betting you can buy into Hugh looking strikingly like a dead ancestor, Jane Austen living in said village (she is not overused here as a side-character), and the easy breezy way in which Tess just accepts the events while Hugh is a bit more concerned. You can buy into the grumpy-sunshine dynamic, a forced engagement and rushed wedding planning to protect Tess’ reputation. Above all else, if you can buy into all of that, you are buying into the lightheartedness of the story and will enjoy it for what it simply is.

Because at its heart, this is a simple romp through 19th century Hampshire where both characters grow as people and learn to see one another as more than just co-stars…while talking to Jane Austen a couple times. They fall in love, manage to make it back home, and at worst only change the timeline by teaching dinner guests how to play Go-Fish.

I just had a really great time with this book. It’s charming as hell without trying to be while also tackling the impending loss of a loved one, the grief after that, and how to pick yourself up and move on. The Romance is well developed and doesn’t feel rushed which in a book barely over 300 pages isn’t always easy to do. Between all of that, it's fun most of the time and silly a little bit of the time! You don't even have to know much about Austen's work to enjoy it! How else can I sell you on this???

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the eARC!

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell
Contemporary and historical romance. Time slip / time travel.
The filming of Northanger Abbey, a Jane Austen regency novel, stars TV actress Tess Bright and British method actor Hugh Balfour. The two have been arguing and antagonistic since they first met and filming isn’t going well. A storm brews up while filming and sparks fly. All the way to the regency period where Tess and Hugh find themselves at his ancestral home. He’s mistaken for a relative that has come back from a war and the two need to make their out-of-time situation work as they try to figure out how to get back to their own time.

🎧 I alternated between an ebook and audiobook. The narration is performed by Stephanie Nemeth-Parker who does a fantastic job with specific voices for Tess, Hugh and several of the secondary characters. Plus two accents for Tess depending on the location. The excitement when Tess meets Jane is easily heard as well as plenty of other highs and lows in the story. The audiobook is an excellent representation of the story. I listened at my usual of 1.5 and higher to be able to read along with the ebook. I did notice a few editing corrections in the audiobook via volume but it didn’t interrupt the story at all.

Entertaining time slip story. Fun interactions with Jane plus family generations. Tess and Hugh are totally out of their element and working together helps them over their differences.
Clever story for George. Loved the declaration!
Definitely recommend this fun romance.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.

[Bailey Chadwick · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars

[Sara Wiser · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC via Edelweiss!! P&P Romance Review Bookclub!

Literally SOOOOO fun!! Two enemy co-stars on the set of a Northanger Abbey adaptation get accidentally sent back in time to the Regency era and have to find their way back home, all while learning what it really means to live in Jane Austen's world and while (gasp!) falling for each other!?!?! This book was genuinely nothing but a pure delight.

The author's true love and passion for not just Austen's works but the fan culture of Austen (references to the Austenland movie and naming her villain character Richard) were so deeply evident and you could tell she put her entire heart into this book. The writing was very strong and the side characters well developed, and to my sheer delight there was an Austen reference on every. Single. Page. If you are not a die-hard Austen fan, this is definitely enjoyable as a very cure rom-com, but an eagle-eyed Austen fan will be able to spot the clear and intentional references to all of Jane Austen's works. Also, when Miss Jane Austen herself showed up????? I WAS GAGGED OMG.

The best part? THE MAIN COUPLE WAS SO HEALTHY!!! THEY WERE SO GOOD AT COMMUNICATING!!!!!!! What a RELIEF to read a romance where they can actually TALK to one another!

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grab your teacups because this one’s a must read! Tess Bright, is an actress who lands her dream role but her co star, Hugh Balfour, is a British method actor with zero interest in making friends. But insert snark (seriously loved their banter!) and literal sparks when an electrical accident sends them back two centuries to the Regency Era and now they must pretend to be betrothed while trying not to rewrite history or fall in love in the process.

Think Bridgerton meets Back to the Future, with witty nods to Jane Austen to make anyone swoon. This is the perfect time traveling enemies to lovers rom com that’s heartfelt, and will have you staying up late just to read the last page.

The Austen Affair releases September 16th!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story so much!
Me thinks the key to enjoying Jane Austen type books is by adding in modern characters who time travel back to the era. This seems to be the common denominator in all the ones I have loved.
This book is funny, interesting, with heat filled glances and stolen kisses.
Highly recommend this cutie of a book.
Much love to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for my ALC.

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt like listening to something kind of dumb and un-challenging But this was even dumber than I thought it would be. Two actors in a Jane Austen film adaptation fall through time to Regency England. The writing was so bad. At one point, she talked about the leading man's biceps moving under his coat like an animal in a shallow pond? And I believe there were onyx eyes flashing fire? I could tell the author was attempting humor sometimes, but it was always clunky, forced and un-funny. I think I missed some of this book. Occasionally I brush against my headphones and the audiobook starts again without me, and when I came back to it. suddenly the narrator was referring to an engagement and a kiss that I wasn't there for. I opted not to go back because this was all so predictable that I didn't feel I needed to. I wound up kind of hate-listening to it, but still, I enjoyed it enough to finish.

[Jace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had SO much promise and in the beginning I was truly eating it up and was loving all the Austen references with a modern touch-- definitely felt like the movie Austenland. However, about halfway it started to drag out a little bit and the same conversations kept getting repeated over and over. I did however LOVE the vibes but that is mainly because I just adore the era of Jane Austen. I really wanted to love this book but unfortunately it left me wanting more.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

[Rae | The Finer Things Club CA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Madeline Bell’s 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘈𝘧𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳 is a fun and light-hearted romantic comedy centered around the two feuding co-stars of a 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘈𝘣𝘣𝘦𝘺 adaptation. Tess Bright is an American actress with a background in improv and best known for her work on a television teen soap. Hugh Balfour is a classically trained thespian who hails from a respected acting family in the UK and has an impressive resume of his own. Tess would like to rehearse scenes together and develop their characters’ chemistry; he prefers research and a Method-acting process. She dislikes his aloof, stiff demeanor; he finds her annoying and unprofessional. But their differences become the least of their problems when a freak accident transports them back to Regency times.

The novel has a compelling premise that works well with the characters’ professions and backgrounds. While the time-travel component does require a healthy amount of suspension of disbelief and the narrative somewhat drags in the second half with the addition of characters and side plots, overall this is an amusing rom-com that will appeal to Austenites and fans of enemies-to-lovers stories.

3.5 stars. Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Adrianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the ARC!

This book was so much fun. So many brilliant Easter eggs for Austen fans, an adorable romance between a bubbly young actress/Jane Austen superfan, and a seasoned British method actor. The main characters travel back in time and must rely on each other to make it through, falling in love in the process. Forced proximity, but silly, fun, and exciting. The romance was so sweet, and I loved both of our leads. I feel like a lot of romance heroines have some sort of complicated relationship with their parent, and Tess isn’t really an exception, but I think the way this book handles it adds a lot of heart to the story. The ending was a little strange and weirdly paced, but overall, it was a good read, for contemporary readers, Jane Austen lovers, and especially a mix of the two (I.E., me). It feels like the type of book that would be perfectly adapted for the screen, and I would be so sat in the theatre.

[karebear · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was cute and had all of the jane austen references i needed to get through the day. love the banter be the characters it was keeping me on my toes. it was a good blend of romance, contemporary, and historical fiction.

thank you St. Martin Griffin Publishing for sending me a copy MUAH 💋

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a touch of wry humor, new-to-me author, Madeline Bell, pens a blend of romantic comedy with time travel romance. Her enemies-to-lovers pair of film actors playing the roles of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey leads find themselves suddenly two centuries in the past and playing parts for a live Regency era audience.

Tess Bright lost her shining best bud, her mother, to cancer and her acting career derailed. Her passion for acting came from all those years spent with her mom watching the movie magic of Austen films. Now, in an ironic twist, her last big chance to save her career comes from a successful turn as Catherine Tilney. Too bad, her co-star, successful British method actor, Hugh Balfour, a child of British film royalty (and need she say, not very Henry Tilney-like), sees her as a mess-up, frivolous American who has no business in such a film.

But, a shocking event taking them both into the past and Hampshire countryside where Hugh’s family hails from and owns a local big estate has them ad lib-ing right and left. Her knowledge of Austen films and his meticulous research into his role are what they rely on as they fumble and bumble through the past.

Tess’ character narrates The Austen Affair. I confess that her personality and how she behaved much of the time, especially with Hugh, had me not that into her through much of the story. Like with a famous Austen heroine, she formed her opinion quickly and took a long time to see the hints that she pegged Hugh wrong. He didn’t give her much of a chance, either, but his serious, earnestness was easier to appreciate than her carefree romp through life because she was still hung up in the past. However, Tess does grow and change, learning to appreciate Hugh and his way of thinking first and having a plan. He came to appreciate her lively spirits and strength, too, especially when he finally opened up about his less than fairytale life.

All in all, this was a lighthearted romp with emotional depth, good character growth, and romance development. Austen lovers will appreciate this dream chance for the pair to revisit the past and even encounter Jane Austen herself along the way- 21st century mishaps may have been made along the way much to this readers amusement.

I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.

My full review will post at The Quill Ink 9.18.25.

[esther ౨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC. It might be one of my favorite reads of the year.

Happy Publishing Day!

The Austen Affair follows the Tess, a loud, funny, and realistically relatable actress as she gets her dream role in a Jane Austen movie adaptation and her movie partner, Hugh. Tess and Hugh travel back in time to the Austen Era in England, which holds a special meaning for the each of them separately. As they navigate their endeavors of no electricity and minimal plumbing they grow to discover that they might have more in common than they initially thought. Our FMC and MMC feel so real throughout this book that it didn't feel like I was reading a book. Tess and Hugh have their moments like all of us; they have fun, they get mad and fight and are rude to each other, but most importantly they feel real and believable. There are few things worse for me in a book than not being able to understand why characters acted the way they did. And thankfully, I never once felt that way in this book. The Austen Affair doesn’t require you to be a regency snob like some period books I’ve read. Instead it creates a welcoming feel and new appreciation for the original Austen Era. I have a feeling this book would be great for bookclubs that are hesitant to read classics but want to try something new. Overall The Austen Affair is a fast paced, witty, and lovable book that I am eagerly awaiting its release to purchase my own copy and reread it.

[ellie maranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book #2 for P&P Romance Bookclub!
SO SO SOOOO GOOD!!!! Definitely a release to watch for in September. Enemies-to-lovers, time travel, Regency era, Jane Austen—this book has everything!! Madeline Bell’s writing is wonderful, I loved every single second of reading this book. The romance was to die for and I loved that the characters had their own storylines, family struggles, etc. This book was so enjoyable, I highly recommend!