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Austenland #3
Christmas in Austenland
Return to Austenland at Christmastime in this delightfully charming romance by bestselling author Shannon Hale.
Kestrel Klein has always been too much. Too much for her mother to manage or for any path in life to actually work out. Too much for her sweet Hank--the guy she thought was her soulmate, before he broke her heart. Itching for a big change, Kestrel enters a contest and wins a vacation to Pembrook Park, an immersive Austen experience. Bonus: it’s during Christmas, the one holiday where being too much is the whole point.
Once inside Austenland, Kestrel feels . . . dare she say, happy? Is it the cozy hearth fires warming her jaded heart? Is it the fun of gentlemen attempting to woo her under the mistletoe? Is it the instant friends who bring her into the fold? She's always worried that unless she can tamp down her too-muchness, she’ll never find that found family she craves. Just as Kestrel begins to let down her well-honed defenses, an unexpected visitor disrupts the holiday celebrations. Perhaps it’s the chance she needs to find out if her one true love really was meant to be. But now that she finally feels at home, is he still what she wants?
The third book in this utterly delightful series gives readers the chance to relish all the fun of Regency romance, from the comfort of their modern lives.
Kestrel Klein has always been too much. Too much for her mother to manage or for any path in life to actually work out. Too much for her sweet Hank--the guy she thought was her soulmate, before he broke her heart. Itching for a big change, Kestrel enters a contest and wins a vacation to Pembrook Park, an immersive Austen experience. Bonus: it’s during Christmas, the one holiday where being too much is the whole point.
Once inside Austenland, Kestrel feels . . . dare she say, happy? Is it the cozy hearth fires warming her jaded heart? Is it the fun of gentlemen attempting to woo her under the mistletoe? Is it the instant friends who bring her into the fold? She's always worried that unless she can tamp down her too-muchness, she’ll never find that found family she craves. Just as Kestrel begins to let down her well-honed defenses, an unexpected visitor disrupts the holiday celebrations. Perhaps it’s the chance she needs to find out if her one true love really was meant to be. But now that she finally feels at home, is he still what she wants?
The third book in this utterly delightful series gives readers the chance to relish all the fun of Regency romance, from the comfort of their modern lives.
Audible Audio
First published September 22, 2026
About the author
Shannon Hale
152 books14.4k followersShannon Hale is the New York Times best-selling author of six young adult novels: the Newbery Honor book Princess Academy, multiple award winner Book of a Thousand Days, and the highly acclaimed Books of Bayern series. She has written three books for adults, including the upcoming Midnight in Austenland (Jan. 2012), companion book to Austenland. She co-wrote the hit graphic novel Rapunzel's Revenge and its sequel Calamity Jack with husband Dean Hale. They live near Salt Lake City, Utah with their four small children, and their pet, a small, plastic pig.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
October 1, 2026
4 stars - this is a good women's fiction story about "Austenland" where rich people come to live out their Regency fantasies. I'd read the other two about 15 years ago and this one was a surprise. It centers on Kestrel, who wins the holiday vacay in a dance marathon and she's a bit of a hot mess with lots of trauma & baggage. Will the 12 Days of Regency Christmas heal her & help her to move forward?? Enjoyable for any Austen fans (me!).
Did Not Finish
May 29, 2026DNF @ 17%
Here's why:
This pains me. This pains me greatly. Austenland was the first book I ever reviewed as a brand new baby book blogger 16 years ago, and I loved it. It's one of my favorite books! Midnight in Austenland was also fun, but Christmas in Austenland is the one I expected to love the most! If you know me, you know I love Christmas. I was so, so excited to read this book that I jumped in the moment I downloaded it from Edelweiss. But... my goodness, it's terrible. I normally don't write up my DNF thoughts, but I wanted to in this case because I had such a strong reaction to it and wanted to warn people who might have been just as excited as I was. The synopsis leaves something out that, in my opinion, is pretty important.
Things started off promising! Kestrel arrives at Pembrook Park on Christmas Eve night, before all of the other guests arrive, and before the 12 Days of Christmas event is to begin. The employees think she's the newly hired maid, and she doesn't realize she's not meant to be the maid (because she thinks this is her character's part in the event) so she agrees that she is. They have fun getting to know each other and being silly all night and it's all very festive and cute. On Christmas morning they find out she's actually a guest, not the maid, and the mood changes. All of a sudden, they're supposed to be putting on a show for her and they need to get her set up to play her role as a regency lady. Then the other guests arrive and the clunky playacting begins. The men are excessively drippy with their flirtations and I think my eyes might have rolled out of my head and onto the floor. Kestrel is starved for any and all attention, and the only other guest I met before quitting is a smug little brat.
Pembrook Park has changed for the worse. It’s lost all the charm it had before, and the magic of putting a solid divider between modern-day reality and regency England isn’t there anymore. That divider has turned transparent, and I did not feel like I'd been transported back in time. The characters talk about modern things and they talk like it's modern day. Pembrook Park is co-run by two women. One is a rude stick in the mud, and the other one is an over-the-top, flamboyant ball of quirky nonsense who calls herself Charming and has the most obnoxious on again off again partner. Even though she’s in supposed to be charge, she lets him make all the decisions and since he pretty much hates Pembrook Park his decisions are not good ones. The dialogue between all the characters is weird and overly cheesy. Everyone is trying to act, but coming off as very bad at it. But what I hated the most were Kestrel's "Before" segments. This girl grew up in a cult and has clearly been traumatized. She was separated from her mom, who was fine with it, and these sections made me incredibly sad. She's also been hurt by people and struggles with feelings of inadequacy and abandonment. I cannot go back and forth between zany fake regency shenanigans and Kestrel's trauma dumping. There is nothing in the book's synopsis that prepared me for this, and it gave me emotional whiplash.
I was so excited for Christmas to explode on Pembrook Park. I wanted an old fashioned Christmas: traditional Christmas carols, wassail, roasting chestnuts, and snowball fights on the front lawn. I wanted swoony male characters, wooing the ladies in a way I couldn't tell if they were pretending or not. Kisses under the mistletoe, fake feelings becoming real ones, and to be enveloped with feelings of comfort and warmth. I wanted a festive vacation to yesteryear that I could cozy up with and read every December by the light of my Christmas tree. I didn't get any of this. Does it get better? Maybe. Maybe all of this comes later, but I can't continue slogging through this in the hopes that it does. So I'm done. And if there's another Austenland installment in another 10 years, I probably won't be reading that one either. I'm so disappointed!
Here's why:
This pains me. This pains me greatly. Austenland was the first book I ever reviewed as a brand new baby book blogger 16 years ago, and I loved it. It's one of my favorite books! Midnight in Austenland was also fun, but Christmas in Austenland is the one I expected to love the most! If you know me, you know I love Christmas. I was so, so excited to read this book that I jumped in the moment I downloaded it from Edelweiss. But... my goodness, it's terrible. I normally don't write up my DNF thoughts, but I wanted to in this case because I had such a strong reaction to it and wanted to warn people who might have been just as excited as I was. The synopsis leaves something out that, in my opinion, is pretty important.
Things started off promising! Kestrel arrives at Pembrook Park on Christmas Eve night, before all of the other guests arrive, and before the 12 Days of Christmas event is to begin. The employees think she's the newly hired maid, and she doesn't realize she's not meant to be the maid (because she thinks this is her character's part in the event) so she agrees that she is. They have fun getting to know each other and being silly all night and it's all very festive and cute. On Christmas morning they find out she's actually a guest, not the maid, and the mood changes. All of a sudden, they're supposed to be putting on a show for her and they need to get her set up to play her role as a regency lady. Then the other guests arrive and the clunky playacting begins. The men are excessively drippy with their flirtations and I think my eyes might have rolled out of my head and onto the floor. Kestrel is starved for any and all attention, and the only other guest I met before quitting is a smug little brat.
Pembrook Park has changed for the worse. It’s lost all the charm it had before, and the magic of putting a solid divider between modern-day reality and regency England isn’t there anymore. That divider has turned transparent, and I did not feel like I'd been transported back in time. The characters talk about modern things and they talk like it's modern day. Pembrook Park is co-run by two women. One is a rude stick in the mud, and the other one is an over-the-top, flamboyant ball of quirky nonsense who calls herself Charming and has the most obnoxious on again off again partner. Even though she’s in supposed to be charge, she lets him make all the decisions and since he pretty much hates Pembrook Park his decisions are not good ones. The dialogue between all the characters is weird and overly cheesy. Everyone is trying to act, but coming off as very bad at it. But what I hated the most were Kestrel's "Before" segments. This girl grew up in a cult and has clearly been traumatized. She was separated from her mom, who was fine with it, and these sections made me incredibly sad. She's also been hurt by people and struggles with feelings of inadequacy and abandonment. I cannot go back and forth between zany fake regency shenanigans and Kestrel's trauma dumping. There is nothing in the book's synopsis that prepared me for this, and it gave me emotional whiplash.
I was so excited for Christmas to explode on Pembrook Park. I wanted an old fashioned Christmas: traditional Christmas carols, wassail, roasting chestnuts, and snowball fights on the front lawn. I wanted swoony male characters, wooing the ladies in a way I couldn't tell if they were pretending or not. Kisses under the mistletoe, fake feelings becoming real ones, and to be enveloped with feelings of comfort and warmth. I wanted a festive vacation to yesteryear that I could cozy up with and read every December by the light of my Christmas tree. I didn't get any of this. Does it get better? Maybe. Maybe all of this comes later, but I can't continue slogging through this in the hopes that it does. So I'm done. And if there's another Austenland installment in another 10 years, I probably won't be reading that one either. I'm so disappointed!
October 7, 2026
Thank you to libro.fm for the ALC of this book and to Bloomsbury for an ARC of this book.
This is a second chance romance and a third book in the Austenland series.
Overall this is a good book in general but fair warning, it’s not the usual light fare associated with a Christmas book. Our FMC has had a fairly traumatic past which she has to come to terms with while at Austenland. One of those things is the heartbreak she experienced when she broke up with her boyfriend Hank who she thought was the one.
Kestrel has always felt like she was too much and never knew where she belonged. But she thought she belonged to Hank. So when he broke up with her because of his family, this threw her completely off kilter. Once she arrives at Austenland, she immediately felt at home.
And then an unexpected visitor makes her wonder if even at Austenland she cannot get things right.
The book was entertaining but really couldn’t decide if it was a serious let’s work through past trauma or a book where people acted a bit silly. Perhaps i tend to like my Christmas books a bit more lighthearted and thus for me, this one was just mediocre. However if you want real world issues even if the primary premise is a holiday book, this could be a good choice for you.
This is a second chance romance and a third book in the Austenland series.
Overall this is a good book in general but fair warning, it’s not the usual light fare associated with a Christmas book. Our FMC has had a fairly traumatic past which she has to come to terms with while at Austenland. One of those things is the heartbreak she experienced when she broke up with her boyfriend Hank who she thought was the one.
Kestrel has always felt like she was too much and never knew where she belonged. But she thought she belonged to Hank. So when he broke up with her because of his family, this threw her completely off kilter. Once she arrives at Austenland, she immediately felt at home.
And then an unexpected visitor makes her wonder if even at Austenland she cannot get things right.
The book was entertaining but really couldn’t decide if it was a serious let’s work through past trauma or a book where people acted a bit silly. Perhaps i tend to like my Christmas books a bit more lighthearted and thus for me, this one was just mediocre. However if you want real world issues even if the primary premise is a holiday book, this could be a good choice for you.
Read
September 26, 2026Review coming. Please note this book is not closed door.
Want to Read
April 22, 2026What a treat to get another book in this series. Preordered immediately!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
After many years’ absence, a holiday romp in Austenland! What a delightful prospect. And it was, frequently. Shannon Hale showers her leading lady (Kestral Klein) and plot with her characteristic zeal and bon mots when Kestral wins an endurance dance contest for the plum prize of 12 days of Christmas in Regency era Austenland. Kestral hopes to heal her broken heart and find something like family and romantic diversion in the outrageously expensive total immersion theme park for Austen fans who want to live their dream. The favorites are here from the previous Austenland books: the irrepressible wealthy Southern Belle of a certain age, Miss Charming, now co-owner of Austenland; and Mrs. Wattlesbrook, the formidable founder of Austenland, and a stickler for period details. Kestral, as others in Hale’s previous Austenland books (and probably most of the guests of Austenland), has come to escape her history, which in addition to the rejection of her soulmate, includes her childhood years of abuse and brainwashing in a communal setting. Flashbacks of this trauma are skillfully done and very realistic, often uncomfortably so, and make such an odd contrast with the extravagant romance tropes that they often seem to belong in a different book. Kestral is seeking romantic oblivion with one of her actor suitors but instead finds a shocking and unexpected guest from her own past. And the beloved Miss Charming is being besieged with a similar situation which could imperil the fate of anyone who worships the place that worships Jane Austen. The pairings and budding friendships, missteps, and dialogue are cozy rom-com gold, though it takes a very long time to tie everything up with repeated snippets of Austen plots throughout. This is an escape book which is not really an escape, which makes it hard to categorize and interesting.
October 4, 2026
If you’re looking for a holiday romance that’s not quite so warm and fuzzy, read on.
Kestrel wins a trip to Austenland, which sets her up for a fun Christmas romp. But in the split timeline, we learn all about Kestrel’s trauma from a) growing up in a cult and b) disastrous almost in-laws who broke up her previous relationship.
It’s been a long time since I read the other books in the series, but a holiday romance where the main character spends her dream vacation (as Taylor Swift would say) eating out of the trash… wasn’t really for me.
Kestrel wins a trip to Austenland, which sets her up for a fun Christmas romp. But in the split timeline, we learn all about Kestrel’s trauma from a) growing up in a cult and b) disastrous almost in-laws who broke up her previous relationship.
It’s been a long time since I read the other books in the series, but a holiday romance where the main character spends her dream vacation (as Taylor Swift would say) eating out of the trash… wasn’t really for me.
Read
September 8, 2026Romance is not my genre, but is it weird to say I'm proud of Shannon Hale for writing this?
Like yes, Christmas in Austenland is telling the exactly-what-it-says-on-the-tin story of a girl spending... Christmas in Austenland with her ex, where they do Hallmark movie activities and exes-to-lovers tropes like getting snowed in together and mix it up with quirky gown- and cravat-clad side characters and such. But it's also the story of an ex-cult survivor with PTSD going on a journey of self-acceptance, working to combat negative self-talk and feel comfortable with her sexuality in a world that slut-shames her. AND it's the story of
So yeah, it seems to me that Ms. Hale was perhaps processing some some stuff here. And this type of therapeutic book might not be for everyone! It wasn't for me, in fact. But I'm glad it exists. I can tell it took a lot of courage to produce. Between fighting against book bans, advocating for less gender-gatekeeping and more diversity in books/publishing, and having the courage to write something like this, there's a lot to respect about Shannon Hale.
Like yes, Christmas in Austenland is telling the exactly-what-it-says-on-the-tin story of a girl spending... Christmas in Austenland with her ex, where they do Hallmark movie activities and exes-to-lovers tropes like getting snowed in together and mix it up with quirky gown- and cravat-clad side characters and such. But it's also the story of an ex-cult survivor with PTSD going on a journey of self-acceptance, working to combat negative self-talk and feel comfortable with her sexuality in a world that slut-shames her. AND it's the story of
So yeah, it seems to me that Ms. Hale was perhaps processing some some stuff here. And this type of therapeutic book might not be for everyone! It wasn't for me, in fact. But I'm glad it exists. I can tell it took a lot of courage to produce. Between fighting against book bans, advocating for less gender-gatekeeping and more diversity in books/publishing, and having the courage to write something like this, there's a lot to respect about Shannon Hale.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I did not know that Austenland had become a series, but it has. This one misses because the focus is more on female empowerment and the behind-the-scenes staff/happenings of the Austenland experience and less on living in the world Austen created. There's just enough of that to hold the interest of anyone who likes Austen and modern romcoms.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss.
September 22, 2026
✨Gifted ARC✨
The way I felt for these characters! I enjoyed Kestrel’s story, watching her grow, and seeing her find her romantic second chance.
THOUGHTS 💭
🫖 From the very first chapter, I knew the found family would be a highlight of this book! I loved how our FMC Kestrel, who never felt like she fit in, happened to fit in perfectly alongside Charming and Andrews and Mrs. Wattlesbrook and Edwin and the other Austenland staff.
🎄 I smiled and laughed and guffawed throughout this entire book - the humor and banter these characters had was wonderful (even the dark humor Kestral displayed on occasion).
🫖 Kestrel has lived quite a life! The flashbacks were heartbreaking and insightful and made me feel all the things for her. I found these flashbacks to be particularly masterful.
🎄 This story pulled me in and didn’t let go! I wanted to know more about Kestrel; I HAD to know how her story, and the story of the other characters, was going to unfold. And I needed to know if she would get her HEA.
🫖 Kestrel always felt like she was “too much.” I loved that she stood her ground and didn’t let anymore force her to be smaller to fit into their world. She embodied, “If I’m too much, go find less.”
🎄 I got defensive of our FMC as I watched those who were supposed to love her disappoint her time after time.
🫖 A regency era book in a contemporary setting, PLUS it’s a holiday, second chance romance? It was the best of all of the worlds.
Thanks so much to Shannon Hale and Bloomsbury for the wonderful ARC of this book!
The way I felt for these characters! I enjoyed Kestrel’s story, watching her grow, and seeing her find her romantic second chance.
THOUGHTS 💭
🫖 From the very first chapter, I knew the found family would be a highlight of this book! I loved how our FMC Kestrel, who never felt like she fit in, happened to fit in perfectly alongside Charming and Andrews and Mrs. Wattlesbrook and Edwin and the other Austenland staff.
🎄 I smiled and laughed and guffawed throughout this entire book - the humor and banter these characters had was wonderful (even the dark humor Kestral displayed on occasion).
🫖 Kestrel has lived quite a life! The flashbacks were heartbreaking and insightful and made me feel all the things for her. I found these flashbacks to be particularly masterful.
🎄 This story pulled me in and didn’t let go! I wanted to know more about Kestrel; I HAD to know how her story, and the story of the other characters, was going to unfold. And I needed to know if she would get her HEA.
🫖 Kestrel always felt like she was “too much.” I loved that she stood her ground and didn’t let anymore force her to be smaller to fit into their world. She embodied, “If I’m too much, go find less.”
🎄 I got defensive of our FMC as I watched those who were supposed to love her disappoint her time after time.
🫖 A regency era book in a contemporary setting, PLUS it’s a holiday, second chance romance? It was the best of all of the worlds.
Thanks so much to Shannon Hale and Bloomsbury for the wonderful ARC of this book!
September 27, 2026
Gifted from Uplift Reads
I am a Jane Austen fan and loved this premise. If you haven’t read Jane Austen, you will still enjoy this because the modern-day themes are incredibly engaging.
This is dual POV so the reader can know everything about Kestrel and her relationships. You will be rooting for her to get everything she wants out of life after you read about her background.
Kestrel has lived a tough life and I was so happy that she won a contest in order to make her dream come true of spending Christmas in Austenland. She seemed to fit in right away and finally felt part of friend group.
Part of being a guest was to be matched up with a man what would “fake” want to have a relationship with each of the female guests. The guests were told about their fake suitors as part of their stay. Each day was filled with activity and spending time with everyone. There were some real budding romances and some men that came to see their exes to try to rekindle their relationship. All in all, this book was well paced and kept the plot twists coming!
There was fun banter, holiday festivities, lots of relationship issues, genuine relationships that were formed, lots of references to Jane Austen’s books, and for Kestrel a place she could finally call home. Such a fun holiday read!
#christmasinaustenland #uplitreads #giftedbyuplit
I am a Jane Austen fan and loved this premise. If you haven’t read Jane Austen, you will still enjoy this because the modern-day themes are incredibly engaging.
This is dual POV so the reader can know everything about Kestrel and her relationships. You will be rooting for her to get everything she wants out of life after you read about her background.
Kestrel has lived a tough life and I was so happy that she won a contest in order to make her dream come true of spending Christmas in Austenland. She seemed to fit in right away and finally felt part of friend group.
Part of being a guest was to be matched up with a man what would “fake” want to have a relationship with each of the female guests. The guests were told about their fake suitors as part of their stay. Each day was filled with activity and spending time with everyone. There were some real budding romances and some men that came to see their exes to try to rekindle their relationship. All in all, this book was well paced and kept the plot twists coming!
There was fun banter, holiday festivities, lots of relationship issues, genuine relationships that were formed, lots of references to Jane Austen’s books, and for Kestrel a place she could finally call home. Such a fun holiday read!
#christmasinaustenland #uplitreads #giftedbyuplit
September 28, 2026
The cover screams Christmas Cozy. The blurb teases second chance romance. The reality was Kes working through her trauma and poor coping mechanisms from being raised in a cult. The marketing team definitely should have at least hinted at that little tidbit. Aside from that, the magic of Austenland is officially dead in this book. The Austenland crew break character as often as they can, and the constant trauma flashbacks kill any chance of keeping the modern-regency fantasy alive. Shannon Hale used to be a go-to author for me in creating fantasy worlds of various shapes. But her last few works have been hard to finish. I don't hate realistic fiction. But in that space you can't just leave truck-sized plot holes and hope the reader doesn't notice. I won't give any spoilers, but I also won't be coming back to Austenland.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I work at a small local bookshop and am very grateful that our shop received an Advance Reader's Copy from Bloomsbury Books!
I absolutely adored "Christmas in Austenland". Like main character Kestrel Klein, you'll instantly fall in love with the playacting world of Pemberton Park at Christmastime, as well as the behind-the-scenes of the intricacies of the actors' friendships that Kestrel accidentally falls into. Love is real and flawed and shines like Christmas candles through every interaction. You will genuinely root for every character (watch out for the 22-hour motif. I cried every time it came up). And even though I do not usually believe in second chance romance tropes, this book was the rare exception because both characters actively worked on the reasons why they broke up in the first place for THEMSELVES and not just to get back together - like in Pride and Prejudice... but with cellphones?
I can't wait to read this book over and over again, whether it's cold and snowy outside or the middle of summer.
I absolutely adored "Christmas in Austenland". Like main character Kestrel Klein, you'll instantly fall in love with the playacting world of Pemberton Park at Christmastime, as well as the behind-the-scenes of the intricacies of the actors' friendships that Kestrel accidentally falls into. Love is real and flawed and shines like Christmas candles through every interaction. You will genuinely root for every character (watch out for the 22-hour motif. I cried every time it came up). And even though I do not usually believe in second chance romance tropes, this book was the rare exception because both characters actively worked on the reasons why they broke up in the first place for THEMSELVES and not just to get back together - like in Pride and Prejudice... but with cellphones?
I can't wait to read this book over and over again, whether it's cold and snowy outside or the middle of summer.
October 6, 2026
Okay, I’m giving this 3.5 stars. If I ever re-read it, I would likely rate it higher. I wasn’t quite prepared for what this book was so it took me by surprise and was actually a bit challenging for me. I won’t get spoiler-y in my review, but I will say a couple things so other readers can feel a bit more prepared. This book is much heavier than it lets on. It deals with some very deep trauma. I have dealt with panic disorder in my life and have pretty severe claustrophobia. I’m doing *okay* right now, but this book was fairly triggering for me and would have been way too much for me at times in my life where I’ve struggled more. I had to skim parts that felt like way too much for me to handle. If you’ve suffered deep trauma or have panic disorder or claustrophobia, proceed with caution. The triggering content was very unexpected and really took me by surprise so I wanted to warn others who struggle too!
The other thing that I had to adjust to was the writing style. This is not my first Shannon Hale book. I’ve read many of her children’s books and the other two Austenland books. I really enjoy her writing! This Austenland is more similar to her children’s writing in my opinion. I’m not saying it’s childish, juvenile, or simplistic (children’s literature can be just as “good” or even better than adult fiction). It just felt more exaggerated. More good and evil. A bit like a fairy tale. But that was balanced with some nuance too (e.g. Gussie). It really felt like a blend of adult fiction and children’s literature. If I had known these things going in, I think I would have rated this higher. But I also might have skipped it altogether, which would have been a shame. It’s a good book, but it isn’t a lighthearted romantic comedy.
P.S. I saw a review saying this wasn’t closed door and wanted to throw my two cents in - it’s not entirely closed door, but I wouldn’t say it’s open door either. I’m going with cracked door.
The other thing that I had to adjust to was the writing style. This is not my first Shannon Hale book. I’ve read many of her children’s books and the other two Austenland books. I really enjoy her writing! This Austenland is more similar to her children’s writing in my opinion. I’m not saying it’s childish, juvenile, or simplistic (children’s literature can be just as “good” or even better than adult fiction). It just felt more exaggerated. More good and evil. A bit like a fairy tale. But that was balanced with some nuance too (e.g. Gussie). It really felt like a blend of adult fiction and children’s literature. If I had known these things going in, I think I would have rated this higher. But I also might have skipped it altogether, which would have been a shame. It’s a good book, but it isn’t a lighthearted romantic comedy.
P.S. I saw a review saying this wasn’t closed door and wanted to throw my two cents in - it’s not entirely closed door, but I wouldn’t say it’s open door either. I’m going with cracked door.
September 30, 2026
I need to admit something, I have always felt like I was too much, and this book gets exactly what that feels like.
Especially at Christmas, the one time of year where being too much is finally allowed to be the whole point.
🔥 Reasons to Read If You Love
🎄 Immersive Austen Worlds
💔 Second Chance Romance
🫂 Found Family Vibes
🧠 Micro Synopsis
Kestrel Klein wins a Christmas stay at Pembrook Park, an immersive Jane Austen experience, right as she is trying to recover from a broken heart. As she finally starts to let her guard down and feel at home, an unexpected visitor shows up and forces her to decide what she actually wants.
This is the third book in the series, but you do not need to read them in order to follow what is happening.
A few recurring characters show up and get mentioned, but it never gets in the way of understanding the story.
This is such a cozy little holiday read.
It is fun seeing people chase the full Jane Austen experience and then completely throw convention out the window.
Usually these books are about getting matched up at Austenland and maybe finding love again.
This one adds a twist, an ex shows up and gets factored into the mix.
I really liked that addition to the series.
I listened to the audio through Libro and it was a great experience.
If you love cozy holiday romance with some real emotional depth, this is worth picking up.
It is a great addition to an already fun series.
The ex or the new connection 👀
October 2, 2026
𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 was my first trip into Shannon Hale’s 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 series. It is a fun, quirky mix of the past and present.
The setting was so charming and cozy; I mean, how perfect is an immersive Austen-themed experience at Christmas! It’s just begging for romance, right?
The characters are a quirky, eclectic bunch verging on silly at times. You have the Regency-era character workers who can’t seem to stay in character. Then you have Kestrel Klein, who won a vacation trip to Pembrook, and she’s kind of a hot mess. She’s working through a lot, and just when she feels at home at Pembrook, her ex shows up!
I really enjoyed the Christmas touches and the Austen nods. Just note, it does explore Kestrel’s background of trauma, so it’s not all happy and jolly. However, it ultimately offers warm feelings of found family, romance, holiday spirit, and self-discovery.
🎧 Thank you @librofm for the gifted audiobook. Patricia Rodriguez did a great job narrating, using different voices and tones for each character. She brought out their personalities marvelously.
3.5 🌟 rounded up
Thank you @uplitreads and @squeetus for these gifted books.
The setting was so charming and cozy; I mean, how perfect is an immersive Austen-themed experience at Christmas! It’s just begging for romance, right?
The characters are a quirky, eclectic bunch verging on silly at times. You have the Regency-era character workers who can’t seem to stay in character. Then you have Kestrel Klein, who won a vacation trip to Pembrook, and she’s kind of a hot mess. She’s working through a lot, and just when she feels at home at Pembrook, her ex shows up!
I really enjoyed the Christmas touches and the Austen nods. Just note, it does explore Kestrel’s background of trauma, so it’s not all happy and jolly. However, it ultimately offers warm feelings of found family, romance, holiday spirit, and self-discovery.
🎧 Thank you @librofm for the gifted audiobook. Patricia Rodriguez did a great job narrating, using different voices and tones for each character. She brought out their personalities marvelously.
3.5 🌟 rounded up
Thank you @uplitreads and @squeetus for these gifted books.
October 6, 2026
Shannon Hale has been one of my favorite authors, but like Kiersten White before her, leaving the LDS church has changed her writing. Christmas in Austenland, unlike the first two books in the series, is sexually explicit. The main character is interesting and struggling to love herself despite childhood abuse and an ugly breakup, but she comes to some false conclusions that I feel I need to address. Promiscuity is a dangerous coping mechanism, not a core personality trait. Discussing one's sexual history around young children is harmful, not some irrepressible and charming candor. Abruptly asking for sex from someone you just met (and whose job it is to be agreeable to you) is highly disrespectful, if not illegal. And the sexual content in this book is unavoidable; it is startlingly sprinkled throughout and so very gratuitous. I loved the deeply flawed characters, though, and was invested in their story. I also really appreciated how Ms. Hale called out types of familial and marital abuse that aren't always recognized. Had it not been for the explicit sexual content and misguided moralism, I would have loved it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Christmas in Austenland by Shannon Hale is the perfect holiday escape for anyone who loves Jane Austen! I absolutely loved being able to take a trip back to Austenland and experience the Christmas season there through Kestrel's eyes.
I really enjoyed Kestrel's journey throughout the story. Beneath the fun escape, she is struggling with questions about who she is and where she truly belongs. I loved watching her slowly let down her defenses and discover who she really is.
Having the story take place during Christmas made it even more special. Experiencing Christmas Regency-style was an added bonus to this fun and charming rom-com. The combination of holiday magic, romance, and the world of Jane Austen made this such an enjoyable escape.
Shannon Hale has created a charming Christmas story that combines the magic of Jane Austen with the warmth and romance of the holiday season. Christmas in Austenland is a wonderful choice for readers. A must-read for Austen fans and anyone looking for a little Christmas magic!
I really enjoyed Kestrel's journey throughout the story. Beneath the fun escape, she is struggling with questions about who she is and where she truly belongs. I loved watching her slowly let down her defenses and discover who she really is.
Having the story take place during Christmas made it even more special. Experiencing Christmas Regency-style was an added bonus to this fun and charming rom-com. The combination of holiday magic, romance, and the world of Jane Austen made this such an enjoyable escape.
Shannon Hale has created a charming Christmas story that combines the magic of Jane Austen with the warmth and romance of the holiday season. Christmas in Austenland is a wonderful choice for readers. A must-read for Austen fans and anyone looking for a little Christmas magic!
September 26, 2026
Thank you so much to Bloomsbury for the gifted physical copy and LibroFM for the gifted ALC!
Christmas in Austenland by Shannon Hale
Austenland book 3 (standalones)
Narration by Patricia Rodriguez
Patricia did a great job with this! I really enjoyed the different voices she has for all the characters and she added a lot of emotion to an already emotional story! Audio note: My brain needs faster speeds for audio and this narration/recording sounded great at higher speeds.
FMC who has always been told she is too much
Lovable cast of characters
Found family
Traumatic history
When Kestrel wins an immersive regency Christmas vacation, she is very hopeful she will actually have a magical holiday season! She meets friends right away but is warned not to fall in love! I really felt for Kestrel with her history and how she feels that she is unlovable. I enjoyed the silly antics of the new friends she makes and was cautiously cheering for the guy I wanted things to work out with. Very cute story and I will have to go back and read the other two!
Christmas in Austenland by Shannon Hale
Austenland book 3 (standalones)
Narration by Patricia Rodriguez
Patricia did a great job with this! I really enjoyed the different voices she has for all the characters and she added a lot of emotion to an already emotional story! Audio note: My brain needs faster speeds for audio and this narration/recording sounded great at higher speeds.
FMC who has always been told she is too much
Lovable cast of characters
Found family
Traumatic history
When Kestrel wins an immersive regency Christmas vacation, she is very hopeful she will actually have a magical holiday season! She meets friends right away but is warned not to fall in love! I really felt for Kestrel with her history and how she feels that she is unlovable. I enjoyed the silly antics of the new friends she makes and was cautiously cheering for the guy I wanted things to work out with. Very cute story and I will have to go back and read the other two!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
✨𝒜𝑅𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌✨
When Kestrel wins a trip to Pembrook Park for the holidays, she hopes to bask in all the holiday cheer and romantic Regency backdrop. But when the past comes calling, she must reevaluate the pieces of herself she left behind.
Tropes:
✨Heartbroken heroine
👒Modern romance with Regency Era vibes
🎩Austen themed vacation
🎄Christmastime Romcom
The author pens an introspective narrative exploring Kestrel’s insecurities and heartache. She’s always held back for fear of being too much yet not enough. Her journey is an emotional one as she unwraps her past and opens her heart to new beginnings, fortifying friendships, and unexpected romance.
I loved the cozy and festive atmosphere and the chaotic and endearing cast of Austenland. Christmas in Austenland is bursting with holiday cheer, humor, and a heartwarming HEA.
Huge thanks to the author and Bloomsbury Books for the #gifted review copy. This is my honest and voluntary review.
When Kestrel wins a trip to Pembrook Park for the holidays, she hopes to bask in all the holiday cheer and romantic Regency backdrop. But when the past comes calling, she must reevaluate the pieces of herself she left behind.
Tropes:
✨Heartbroken heroine
👒Modern romance with Regency Era vibes
🎩Austen themed vacation
🎄Christmastime Romcom
The author pens an introspective narrative exploring Kestrel’s insecurities and heartache. She’s always held back for fear of being too much yet not enough. Her journey is an emotional one as she unwraps her past and opens her heart to new beginnings, fortifying friendships, and unexpected romance.
I loved the cozy and festive atmosphere and the chaotic and endearing cast of Austenland. Christmas in Austenland is bursting with holiday cheer, humor, and a heartwarming HEA.
Huge thanks to the author and Bloomsbury Books for the #gifted review copy. This is my honest and voluntary review.
October 1, 2026
CHRISTMAS IN AUSTENLAND by Shannon Hale
Kestrel lives with energy, too much for some people, but is determined not to be put in a box, literally or figuratively. A dance marathon win secured her two weeks of Regency fantasy in Austenland, finding friendship, hoping for love, and going all-in for the festivities. Can the experience help heal old traumas and mend her broken heart? Can she learn to be happy being herself, or perhaps find someone who’ll love her for who she is? Descriptions are lush, the dialogue is witty, and there’s suspense and intrigue worthy of Jane Austen herself, with some improbabilities stretching one’s suspension of disbelief, but “impossible things are happening every day.” Some scenes are a bit spicy (fair warning). I found myself unwilling to put the book down, as the TV stayed off and bedtime was pushed much later than my norm.
Oh, and she uses my new favorite word, niblings for the offspring of one's siblings. ;-)
Kestrel lives with energy, too much for some people, but is determined not to be put in a box, literally or figuratively. A dance marathon win secured her two weeks of Regency fantasy in Austenland, finding friendship, hoping for love, and going all-in for the festivities. Can the experience help heal old traumas and mend her broken heart? Can she learn to be happy being herself, or perhaps find someone who’ll love her for who she is? Descriptions are lush, the dialogue is witty, and there’s suspense and intrigue worthy of Jane Austen herself, with some improbabilities stretching one’s suspension of disbelief, but “impossible things are happening every day.” Some scenes are a bit spicy (fair warning). I found myself unwilling to put the book down, as the TV stayed off and bedtime was pushed much later than my norm.
Oh, and she uses my new favorite word, niblings for the offspring of one's siblings. ;-)
October 6, 2026
Kestrel Klein has always been too much. Too much for her mother to manage or for any path in life to actually work out. Too much for her sweet Hank–the guy she thought was her soulmate, before he broke her heart. Itching for a big change, Kestrel enters a contest and wins a vacation to Pembrook Park, an immersive Austen experience. Bonus: it’s during Christmas, the one holiday where being too much is the whole point.
This is part of a series. I have not read any of the books in this series. That may have been part of my problem with this story. It is good. It just has quite a few characters and it tends to have quite a bit of repetition.
I did enjoy the setting of the manor and, of course, it is full of Christmas cheer!
If you love Jane Austen and holiday reads…this is the book for you. Grab your copy today!
I received this novel for a honest review.
This is part of a series. I have not read any of the books in this series. That may have been part of my problem with this story. It is good. It just has quite a few characters and it tends to have quite a bit of repetition.
I did enjoy the setting of the manor and, of course, it is full of Christmas cheer!
If you love Jane Austen and holiday reads…this is the book for you. Grab your copy today!
I received this novel for a honest review.
September 30, 2026
I really wanted to love this book. Another chance to visit Austenland? Yes! And it's Christmas? Sign me up! And while I did enjoy many of the aspects of this book (I still gave it 3 stars), it felt like the author allowed a bit too much of her personal life to leap onto the pages. It sounds like she has some real trauma and resentment to work out with her own religious upbringing. All the talk of cults and obedience were a little too on the nose. It took a lot of the fun out of a place I've really enjoyed visiting in my imagination in the previous books.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thanks Bloomsbury US for my free ARC. These opinions are my own:
This book was everything I didn’t know I was waiting for. It deals with some really heavy themes (childhood trauma, abuse), but in a thoughtful and kind way, woven into a love story. Kestrel is an extremely sympathetic heroine who thinks she is “too much” and doesn’t have value. She learned early to disregard her instincts and not trust herself, but she longs to find belonging and safety with someone so she can be herself. The plot was very well-paced and the character development was beautiful. I also loved the pacing of the central romance as well as the found family and side characters. This was a perfect third book in this series!
Triggers: gaslighting, grooming, infidelity, cult, gaslighting, abuse, abandonment
This book was everything I didn’t know I was waiting for. It deals with some really heavy themes (childhood trauma, abuse), but in a thoughtful and kind way, woven into a love story. Kestrel is an extremely sympathetic heroine who thinks she is “too much” and doesn’t have value. She learned early to disregard her instincts and not trust herself, but she longs to find belonging and safety with someone so she can be herself. The plot was very well-paced and the character development was beautiful. I also loved the pacing of the central romance as well as the found family and side characters. This was a perfect third book in this series!
Triggers: gaslighting, grooming, infidelity, cult, gaslighting, abuse, abandonment
September 26, 2026
I loved the other Austenland books and eagerly picked up this one. In the end, it was a disappointment. The witty dialogue was missing, character and plot development felt thin. There were a few lovely moments but in the end it felt flat.
Note: This book is more erotic compared to previous Austenland novels. If they were Downton Abbey, this one is Bridgerton.
Note: This book is more erotic compared to previous Austenland novels. If they were Downton Abbey, this one is Bridgerton.
October 6, 2026
I loved the found family in this story, but I was fairly infuriated by the many missteps and miscommunication between Kestrel and Hank. Then I figured this was a conscious choice to reflect an Austenesque plot line, and it became more tolerable.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
[Thank you Bloomsbury for the gifted ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.]
I think the magic of this story is the escapism. Being able to leave your real life and live in a fantasy for a little while. It occurs over the 12 Days of Christmas, each with their own regency tradition, which helps bring some lightness and humor to heavier topics.
Kestrel is an interesting character. She considers herself to be “too much” but I liked her. No matter what’s been thrown at her, she keeps going. And when she’s at Pembrook Park, it feels like she can finally exhale.
(Speaking of which, it was so fun going back to Pembrook Park and getting to see how some of my favorite characters were doing!)
Flashbacks to Kestrel’s life before Austenland show us how she and Hank began and ended. TBH I was not initially sold on Hank. He’s not my cup of tea, but I appreciate that he worked on himself post-breakup and set boundaries with his family before trying to win Kestrel back. Bonus points for being okay with walking away if that was the thing that would make her happiest!
One of my favorite parts was seeing the women really going after the story they wanted, be it getting a second chance at love, throwing out the trash, starting over with someone new, deciding if it was time to do things solo, or just prove that they could be successful at a new challenge.
I think the magic of this story is the escapism. Being able to leave your real life and live in a fantasy for a little while. It occurs over the 12 Days of Christmas, each with their own regency tradition, which helps bring some lightness and humor to heavier topics.
Kestrel is an interesting character. She considers herself to be “too much” but I liked her. No matter what’s been thrown at her, she keeps going. And when she’s at Pembrook Park, it feels like she can finally exhale.
(Speaking of which, it was so fun going back to Pembrook Park and getting to see how some of my favorite characters were doing!)
Flashbacks to Kestrel’s life before Austenland show us how she and Hank began and ended. TBH I was not initially sold on Hank. He’s not my cup of tea, but I appreciate that he worked on himself post-breakup and set boundaries with his family before trying to win Kestrel back. Bonus points for being okay with walking away if that was the thing that would make her happiest!
One of my favorite parts was seeing the women really going after the story they wanted, be it getting a second chance at love, throwing out the trash, starting over with someone new, deciding if it was time to do things solo, or just prove that they could be successful at a new challenge.
September 29, 2026
Respectfully... what happened here? I was definitely invested in finishing but this was not the book I expected or like the others.
Did Not Finish
October 4, 2026DNF at 27% 👎🏼
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