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Beyond the Cliffs: A Novel of Sanditon
Sussex, 1820
Charlotte Heywood finally has happiness within her grasp. After a string of disappointments, she is engaged to the man she loves and ready to settle down in the seaside town that has captured her heart. But for an independent-minded woman in Regency England, keeping out of gossip is a constant challenge, and her hasty betrothal threatens to taint her with scandal. What's more, her husband-to-be, reserved widower Alexander Colbourne, has a troubled history that rivals her own.
As Charlotte tries to forge a new life, she is caught time and again between the long shadow of the past and the bright future she can imagine. The more she presses forward, the more she is forced to reckon with secrets and strictures that cannot seem to let her go.
Follow Jane Austen's last heroine, brilliantly reimagined in the television series, Sanditon, as she navigates the pressures of society, family, and her own doubts and ambitions, through three pivotal periods of her life that will test her spirit and the love she has fought so hard to find.
Charlotte Heywood finally has happiness within her grasp. After a string of disappointments, she is engaged to the man she loves and ready to settle down in the seaside town that has captured her heart. But for an independent-minded woman in Regency England, keeping out of gossip is a constant challenge, and her hasty betrothal threatens to taint her with scandal. What's more, her husband-to-be, reserved widower Alexander Colbourne, has a troubled history that rivals her own.
As Charlotte tries to forge a new life, she is caught time and again between the long shadow of the past and the bright future she can imagine. The more she presses forward, the more she is forced to reckon with secrets and strictures that cannot seem to let her go.
Follow Jane Austen's last heroine, brilliantly reimagined in the television series, Sanditon, as she navigates the pressures of society, family, and her own doubts and ambitions, through three pivotal periods of her life that will test her spirit and the love she has fought so hard to find.
422 pages, Paperback
Published September 29, 2026
About the author
Elise Delancey
1 bookElise Delancey read Pride and Prejudice at the age of 13 and fell head over heels for 19th century novels. She went on to devour all of Austen and the Brontës, and their many respective screen adaptations. She received her BA in English Language and Literature, which included one glorious year reading English at the University of Oxford. She also has an MS in Library and Information Science, and is passionate about information literacy and all things bookish. She lives in Seattle, Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lovely Sanditon Season 3 continuation..fall in love with Heybourne again
As a longtime, dedicated fan of Sanditon S2/S3, I was so excited to dive into Beyond the Cliffs by Elise Delancey. This is the story of Charlotte Heywood and her relationship with Alexander Colbourne that gives us their story past the events on the cliffs at the end of Season 3.
Without giving too much away the novel tells the story of three different stages of their relationship, showing their love for each other through every phase of their journey. Every era she depicts is done incredibly well, but I particularly loved the courtship section. It beautifully fills in some important missing scenes we never got to see on screen. But you will love seeing them on their entire journey in this novel.
The writing is wonderful, and the interactions between Charlotte and Alexander are just so lovely to witness. Heybourne as a couple is written beautifully. I wanted to just stay with them after season 3 and this book gives you an opportunity to do that. Absolutely loved spending more time with them. What really stands out in this novel is Alexander’s intense devotion and deep love for Charlotte. The author nailed his characterization completely—he really is the perfect fictional man and the ultimate MMC. And Charlotte is her warm loving kind free thinking independent spirited self.
This lovely book is a solid 4 star read and I highly recommend this to any fellow Sanditon fan looking for a wonderful way to spend more time in the company of these characters.
*I received a complimentary Advance Review Copy (ARC) of this book from the author and am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are 100% my own*
As a longtime, dedicated fan of Sanditon S2/S3, I was so excited to dive into Beyond the Cliffs by Elise Delancey. This is the story of Charlotte Heywood and her relationship with Alexander Colbourne that gives us their story past the events on the cliffs at the end of Season 3.
Without giving too much away the novel tells the story of three different stages of their relationship, showing their love for each other through every phase of their journey. Every era she depicts is done incredibly well, but I particularly loved the courtship section. It beautifully fills in some important missing scenes we never got to see on screen. But you will love seeing them on their entire journey in this novel.
The writing is wonderful, and the interactions between Charlotte and Alexander are just so lovely to witness. Heybourne as a couple is written beautifully. I wanted to just stay with them after season 3 and this book gives you an opportunity to do that. Absolutely loved spending more time with them. What really stands out in this novel is Alexander’s intense devotion and deep love for Charlotte. The author nailed his characterization completely—he really is the perfect fictional man and the ultimate MMC. And Charlotte is her warm loving kind free thinking independent spirited self.
This lovely book is a solid 4 star read and I highly recommend this to any fellow Sanditon fan looking for a wonderful way to spend more time in the company of these characters.
*I received a complimentary Advance Review Copy (ARC) of this book from the author and am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are 100% my own*
Review of advance copy received from Author
Beyond the Cliffs: A Novel of Sanditon
by Elise Delancey
Rid of Ralph. Reunited with Alexander. The path to happiness is manifest. Marry the man you love and your troubles will magically fall away. Not precisely so!
In a serene and poetic novel exploring the journey of Charlotte Heywood through engagement, honeymoon and early marriage, Beyond the Cliffs: A Novel of Sanditon, poses the realistic notion that you carry your baggage with you. True to the character and plot established in the television series, Charlotte must wrestle with societal pressures, personal demons and untold truths as she becomes Mrs. Alexander Colbourne.
The book cover sets a proper Regency tone which is held up by well wrought prose. The novel is divided into three sections, each concluded with an emotionally captivating epilogue. References to the television series are deftly woven into the novel in a creative and non-linear fashion allowing a new Sandition reader to enjoy this book as a stand-alone story. An introductory dramatis personae is additionally helpful.
Put on your bonnet and gloves and escape to the seashore with this sweet Charlotte centered tale of Sanditon.
by Elise Delancey
Rid of Ralph. Reunited with Alexander. The path to happiness is manifest. Marry the man you love and your troubles will magically fall away. Not precisely so!
In a serene and poetic novel exploring the journey of Charlotte Heywood through engagement, honeymoon and early marriage, Beyond the Cliffs: A Novel of Sanditon, poses the realistic notion that you carry your baggage with you. True to the character and plot established in the television series, Charlotte must wrestle with societal pressures, personal demons and untold truths as she becomes Mrs. Alexander Colbourne.
The book cover sets a proper Regency tone which is held up by well wrought prose. The novel is divided into three sections, each concluded with an emotionally captivating epilogue. References to the television series are deftly woven into the novel in a creative and non-linear fashion allowing a new Sandition reader to enjoy this book as a stand-alone story. An introductory dramatis personae is additionally helpful.
Put on your bonnet and gloves and escape to the seashore with this sweet Charlotte centered tale of Sanditon.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Beyond the Cliffs is a beautiful extension of the television series Sanditon, featuring Jane Austen's last heroine Charlotte Heywood. Charlotte is newly engaged to Alexander Colbourne, a wealthy and reclusive widower. Just off the heels of a broken engagement to a childhood friend, her seemingly impetuous marriage to a man with a shadowy past smacks of scandal and might set the gossip mongers' tongues wagging.
Charlotte is a study in independence, free thinking, fierce spirit, and quiet tenacity in a time when those qualities in females were unheard of and discouraged. She navigates the trials of life with such grace and self reflection. Having been a huge fan of the television series and lobbying for more Sanditon, Beyond the Cliffs serves exactly what fans have been starved for. This was a seamless transition into "what happened after" (no spoilers here). I believe that Sanditon fans will be clambering to get their hands on this.
This was a solid 4.25 star read for me. As a Jane Austen fan, I felt like it was in keeping with her work and with the television series that we all loved. I cannot say enough wonderful things about Beyond the Cliffs! If you are a Sanditon fan, this is for you.
Thank you to the author, Elise Delancey, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.
Charlotte is a study in independence, free thinking, fierce spirit, and quiet tenacity in a time when those qualities in females were unheard of and discouraged. She navigates the trials of life with such grace and self reflection. Having been a huge fan of the television series and lobbying for more Sanditon, Beyond the Cliffs serves exactly what fans have been starved for. This was a seamless transition into "what happened after" (no spoilers here). I believe that Sanditon fans will be clambering to get their hands on this.
This was a solid 4.25 star read for me. As a Jane Austen fan, I felt like it was in keeping with her work and with the television series that we all loved. I cannot say enough wonderful things about Beyond the Cliffs! If you are a Sanditon fan, this is for you.
Thank you to the author, Elise Delancey, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.
Read
September 20, 2026Beyond the Cliffs: A Novel of Sanditon by Elise Delancey offers an elegant sequel to the Sanditon TV series, bringing Charlotte Heywood back to the stage. Fresh off her breakup with her childhood friend Ralph and newly engaged to the wealthy and reserved Alexander Colbourne, Charlotte discovers that love does not erase problems by magic: becoming Mrs. Colbourne means facing social pressures, lingering past issues, and unspoken truths.
Charlotte confirms her status as an independent, tenacious, and thoughtful protagonist, set within a vivid and immersive Regency environment. The three-part structure, complete with a helpful initial dramatis personae, naturally integrates references to the TV series, making the story enjoyable even for new readers.
The novel's only real limitation lies in its pacing: the writing occasionally feels a bit too wordy and overly introspective. A dash more dynamism and a few more exciting events would have helped streamline the narrative.
Overall, Beyond the Cliffs remains a delightful foray into the world of Jane Austen and a recommended read for fans nostalgic for the TV series—an atmospheric tale for a getaway to the cliffs of Sanditon.
Charlotte confirms her status as an independent, tenacious, and thoughtful protagonist, set within a vivid and immersive Regency environment. The three-part structure, complete with a helpful initial dramatis personae, naturally integrates references to the TV series, making the story enjoyable even for new readers.
The novel's only real limitation lies in its pacing: the writing occasionally feels a bit too wordy and overly introspective. A dash more dynamism and a few more exciting events would have helped streamline the narrative.
Overall, Beyond the Cliffs remains a delightful foray into the world of Jane Austen and a recommended read for fans nostalgic for the TV series—an atmospheric tale for a getaway to the cliffs of Sanditon.
September 30, 2026
(4.5 rounded up to 5!) This was a beautiful continuation of the ITV sanditon series, a TV show that holds a close place in my heart. Sanditon is one of my favourite Austen texts, and I have written about it a lot in my academic work so far. The characters that Elise portrayed were amazing, I felt like I was reading an Austen novel/series adaptation. I adored Charlotte and Alexander especially, and Leo already had my heart but this was absolutely amazing. An amazing blend of the familiar characterization we know and love and an independent, flourish of future Charlotte and Alexander. It felt like such a comfort as an Austen lover to read this. It was well researched, well presented and I could tell how much heart Elise put into this. My only wish was that Georgiana (Miss Lambe) was in it as a fully appearing character, but I understand that wouldn't necessarily have worked with the narrative. Cannot recommend this to Austen fans enough, thank you to Elise for asking me to be an ARC reader, it really means a lot.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews