The Austen Escape

by Katherine Reay

When Mary Davies travels to Jane Austen’s Bath for a historical getaway, she expects a luxurious escape from reality. Instead she finds her friendship at a crossroads, her love life upended, and her heart on a journey she never expected.

Mary Davies finds safety in her ordered and productive life. Working as an engineer, she genuinely enjoys her job and her colleagues—particularly a certain adorable and intelligent consultant. But something is missing. When Mary’s estranged childhood friend, Isabel Dwyer, offers her a two-week stay in a gorgeous manor house in England, she reluctantly agrees in hopes that the holiday will shake up her quiet life in just the right ways.

But Mary gets more than she bargained for when Isabel loses her memory and fully believes she lives in Jane Austen’s Bath. While Isabel rests and delights in the leisure of a Regency lady, attended by other costume-clad guests, Mary uncovers startling truths about their shared past, who Isabel was, who she seems to be, and the man who now stands between them.

Outings are undertaken, misunderstandings arise, and dancing ensues as this company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation, work out their lives and hearts.

“Admirers of Jane Austen, especially, will delight in the delicious descriptions and elegant prose as the protagonist is transported to the English countryside, taking readers along for the ride. Both cleverly written and nicely layered, Reay’s latest proves to be a charming escape!” —Denise Hunter, bestselling author of Lake Season on The Austen Escape

“At once sophisticated and smart . . . Clever and classy . . . Whether for the first-time Pride and Prejudice reader or the devotee with an ardent affection for all things Austen . . . The Austen Escape is an equally satisfying retreat into the wilds of Jane’s beloved Regency world. In scenes brilliantly woven with Austen’s classic characterization, Reay goes beyond courtship and manners to explore modern-day scenarios, grappling with themes of brokenness and loss, the weight of decisions and consequences, and the anchor of faith through difficult circumstances. As amiable as an Austen novelist could be—but with a pen just as witty—Katherine Reay proves she’s ready to become Jane to a whole new generation of women.” —Kristy Cambron, bestselling author of The Painted Castle

“Wildly imaginative and deeply moving, The Austen Escape is Katherine Reay at her very best.” —Billy Coffey, author of Steal Away Home

“The Austen Escape has the remarkable ability to be both lighthearted and gripping. The dramatic elements are first rate, the characters even finer. Wonderful writing. Highly recommended.” —Davis Bunn, bestselling author

Sweet and thoughtful contemporary readStand-alone novelBook 80,000 wordsIncludes a discussion questions and an excerpt from Dear Mr. Knightley

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Christian Fiction, Chick Lit, Audiobook, Contemporary Romance

318 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 7, 2017

About the author

Katherine Reay is the national bestselling and award-winning author of several novels and one full length non-fiction work. Her novels have been chosen as “One Book, One Community” reads and her writing has appeared in publications such as Criminal Reads, The Daily Beast, Redbook, and USA Today, among others. She holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University. She lives with her husband and too many dogs in Montana.

You can meet her at www.katherinereay.com or on Facebook: KatherineReayBooks, Twitter: @katherine_reay or Instagram: @katherinereay.

Reviews

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I previously read a book, A Portrait of Emily Price, by Katherine Reay and was completely pulled in by her writing style, the prose, the storyline, the characters. Very well done. I had also seen several friends loving her other Austen style books, so when I saw this available for review I jumped at the chance. I've been waiting for the release date to be a little closer before I read and reviewed it. Well when it hit a month away I couldn't wait any longer. I picked up my kindle and dove right in.

I had noticed that several other reviewers were saying that the beginning was a bit slow but at a certain point in the book, it picked up. I would have to agree with them that, yes it was a bit slow. But, the beginning is crucial for introducing our heroine. Mary, oh what to say about Mary? This story really revolves around a long standing friendship. A complicated, messy, and sometimes one sided friendship. And that one sidedness isn't just delegated to one friend, both friends in this relationship can be accused of being one sided. That's probably not very clear and I'm sorry because, well, it's complicated. What I will clarify with is, kids. Yes, kids. How often as kids did we see everything perfectly clear? No rose colored glasses at all? I'd say rose colored glasses a lot of the time. Most kids only see what's straight ahead, no peripheral vision (understanding) and that, I think, is a great way to describe this friendship. A friendship between Mary and Isabel. A friendship that started way back in elementary school. Two broken little girls, trying to make semblance out of their lives. One more stable than the other, but still feeling like everything around her is falling apart. The other, completely uprooted, degraded, neglected, broken. Again, I know that's vague, but this story is about that relationship and how years later, after this friendship has settled and follows a strict routine, enlightenment comes and it redefines and opens and changes everything.

Ok, enough about that. I really hadn't meant to write about that when I sat to type my review out. But as I've called my reviews before, Julie's rambling thoughts, my thoughts come tumbling out how they may and I just type away happily as they do.

Back to my thoughts about the beginning of this book, and Mary. I love Mary's character. Not to be spoiler-ish but a character in the book (not saying who) says to Mary on a couple different occasions, "what must it be like to live in your head?". I absolutely loved that line, because as the reader, we get to live in Mary's head throughout the whole book. For me, having the book written this way made it feel raw and real, the emotions and the moments of understanding, were that much more real. And I felt the connection to Mary strengthened because of the perspective we see of her life. So, although it might feel slow, it is important. The tidbits of background given, the friends/coworkers introduced in the beginning will play a role throughout the book.

I feel as if I could write forever and ever on my thoughts for this book. I don't want my review to be massively long so I'm trying to pull out some of my favorite points of the story.

Mary ends up going on a trip with her friend, Isabel, to Bath. Or more accurately to an estate located a few miles from Bath, in England. Isabel is an aficionado for all things Jane Austen. The trip is really part of her research for her final project. Live at a manor house, and become immersed in the true lifestyle of the Regency era. Escapism. I really loved the thoughts that the author gave us on this sort of Escapism. Is it real? What happens when the lines of reality and make believe blur? In a way one of the characters could be said to have escaped into her books, into the world of Jane Austen and become so consumed with it all, that she didn't live fully in reality. Now, there is a whole lot more surrounding those thoughts and why the Escapism for this character, and I'm not going to even go there. That is something you must read this book for and discover for yourself. But as I said, I really enjoyed the thoughts that the author showed us through several different scenes of the book, how characters set aside fully living by settling, or living through something else (not all were living in books). It was wonderful to see all the characters' perspectives on this as well, whether they realized it or not. How much of our reality is disillusioned? How much do we have our own sort of Escapism?

Another theme that was throughout the whole book was, our individualism verses allowing others into our lives, not as an opposite of the Escapism I was talking about earlier, but more as relying on them, allowing them to help us. Not fighting battles, or experiencing life isolated, living in our own heads/world, but living and interacting, and making connections with those around us. Even when the connections we have made don't always turn out, or appear as we thought. All of these thoughts I'm talking about are some of the questions that Mary has to work out for herself in this book. Will she be able to take off the rose colored glasses from her youth, or her rose colored glasses that have been protecting her from healing from her losses, or any other rose colored glasses that she has been wearing? Those moments when she makes a choice and watching the unfolding scene after she's chosen were my favorite parts of this book. Some of those choices dealt with people, some with work, some were her personal experiences. But I loved those moments of, I think the best word here would be, Enlightenment.

This review wouldn't be complete if I didn't mention how much I loved the idea, and the execution of the idea, of the characters who are vacationing at the manor house and dressing up in period costumes choosing characters from Jane Austen's books. They become those characters while staying at the manor home. And let me tell you, I loved Mary's choices. Yes, choices. Because she is on a journey of discovery and what she first believes of herself isn't necessarily what she discovers her true self to be. Happy sigh! I can't quite bring myself to share too much about the love interest. Because yes, there is most definitely a love interest in this book...two actually. And no, not for the same character. It's messy and complicated and perfect all at the same time. Again, happy, happy sigh!!!

The almost end, might just make you say, "What in the world Mary!" But then the end, perfection. At least for me. I loved it! I actually was highlighting like crazy throughout my reading. I might skim through those and share a few with you...as long as they're not spoiler-ish. Hee Hee! If you can't tell already, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book. I know not all readers prefer this genre or style but if you think you might, I suggest you take a chance. Now to go read more by this author!

Here's a handful of quotes for your enjoyment!!! <33333

"You can get these for free on an e-reader. They're in the public domain." "I know and I probably will, but I love books. The weight. The smell. The bigger the better. It's a shame Encyclopedia Britannica doesn't print all those encyclopedias anymore. Weren't those the best?" The woman sighed the equivalent of a Whatever and rang the sale. I patted the book's dark green cover as if to soothe any hurt feelings. I'd gone over the top with the whole Encyclopedia Britannica thing, but books-heavy books-meant something to me...

I stepped into the gallery. Then I felt it-a shock of pure energy. It was noiseless. There was no change in pressure or sound. It simply felt like a charge reverberating through and around me, like when the guys in the lab set off experiments to see if my hair stood on end when I walked in the door. I looked down the stairs and there he was, right below me, looking around but not up. Four hours early. I closed my eyes, thankful for a moment to allow the heat in my face to cool. I shifted my weight to step back when a soft chuckle reached me. "Look at you." The words were soft, almost flirtatious.

"And why not? It's a manual for life-setting right pride, prejudice, misconceptions, and self-illusions. Also some good fun. Right now I'm going to take my cue from Caroline Bingley and sit here and admire you while I pretend to read." I blinked; he laughed. "Well, go on...Get to work."

"Then if you won't go change..." I mustered up a smile and looped my arm through hers. "We shall walk. When there are serious matters to discuss, Austen women walk. And it has the side benefit of keeping our figures so light and pleasing." She choked on a laugh that became a mess of tears before we'd walked five steps.

And those are all the quotes I'm going to share...I have plenty more but this review has already gone on epically long. *shrugs shoulders and blushes* Again, grab the book whether you're a Jane Austen fan or not, a Katherine Reay fan or not. I loved it, I know not everyone else will, but hey I can dream and hope to share something that I loved with others by encouraging you to give it a chance.

Content: Clean and witty and emotional and sad, but all around great fun!

I received a copy from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[Suzanne Leopold (Suzy Approved Book Reviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mary Davies is single and spends most of her time working as an electrical engineer. She has always put her career first and her love life has suffered. Her latest project has been shelved by her new boss and she finds herself questioning her life choices. While Mary is evaluating her situation, she receives a timely call from her childhood friend. Isabel asks her to join her for two weeks in England where she will be completing her dissertation on Jane Austen. With her life in disarray Mary decides a change of scenery would be agreeable.

Mary and Isabel are required to dress in period appropriate attire while maintaining their roles at the Austen retreat. During their stay, Isabel gets unsettling news from her father and suffers a mini breakdown. This all happens while they are in the Jane Austen environment, leaving her stuck in character. Mary has experience with Isabel’s breakdowns from their childhood and is able to provide support. Some secrets are revealed during her care and Mary is forced to reevaluate her future.

This book is a story about a long standing friendship with themes from various Jane Austen books running throughout it. There is a nice mix of romance, historical fiction, and life's daily challenges. This is the sixth book written by Katherine Reay.

[Sarah Monzon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read every single Katherine Reay book written so I know her style. When the beginning started a little slow, I just sat back and got comfortable, knowing she was setting the stage and aligning her characters in a way that was going to stretch my understanding of human emotional journeys through classic literature. The setting of an "Austen Escape" was fun (one I'd love to experience) but that was only the backdrop...this book is so much more than that. It speaks of friendship, of understanding the unspoken and brokenness within us all, of stepping out of shadows and being brace and vulnerable to truly be oneself. True to life, the characters have messy histories and sometimes make huge mistakes that stem from hurts not healed.
I thoroughly enjoyed the insights and reintroduction to beloved Austen characters and books. There were a lot of good quotes, and I wish I'd highlitrd them along the way to save.
I'd recommend escaping a few hours in the pages of this book.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

[Rachel McMillan · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When there are serious matters to discuss, Austen women walk. And it has the side benefit of keeping our figures so light and pleasing."


I have to admit I have been getting a little tired of Austen everything. So many updates. So many re-imaginings--- But, if anyone can do Austen, Reay can. Especially because she doesn't just transpose a story into a new setting, she interweaves a new story with new characters, nuances and worlds with the timeless sensibility and humour of Jane Austen. Even while you are not reading ye olde "Austen Update" that merely parallels Austen heroes and heroines in a modern setting, you are being confronted by an invigorated re-visitation of Austen's wisdom. When this strikes you, midway through the book, you recognize that Reay is far smarter than you initially could have thought. This is not just a nod to Austen, this is a thesis ABOUT Austen (specifically her relationship with Bath and her inter-textual connections about love, wisdom and modern relationships) told in prosaic form.

It's not often that fiction is supplanted with such an academic tenet; but that is what makes Reay one of my favourite writers. With all of her Austen and Bronte and Weber infused prose, she makes a statement about the books she pays homage to. It is this added layer that asserts her as one of the finest contemporary voices.

But while I get all stodgily English major-y on you, what makes Reay a must-read is her natural accessibility. While this certainly offers a grand wink and nudge to fans of Austen's work on a deeper level, so it is a keen and sparkly colourful carousel of characters transplanted into a Regency-modern hybrid in present-day Bath.


Mary Davies is a quiet engineer who works for WATT, a startup in Austin, Texas. Constulant Nathan is one of the brightest parts of her day. While she works to gauge disappointment that her latest optical project Golightly ( yes, THAT is Holly Golightly) didn't take off, she assembles wire animals at her desk and works to decipher the extra attentions Nate gives to her. Work complications and a new manager, however, inspire her to accept her life-long friend Isabel's invitation for a vacation at an Austen-themed estate near Bath. Deciding to escape the everyday and clear her head, she follows Isabel into a world of costumes and balls, of traditional manners and eccentric participants who acquire a personage from the books for their stay.

But Isabel is not as balanced as she seems and her domineering friend soon begins to show a remarkable mental instability, actually thinking she is Emma Woodhouse and speaking in the sequences and memories of Austen's canon. While Mary struggles to reach her friend, she discovers Isabel's connection to Nathan, who has sparked her life for so long it has flickered into a kind of unending flame. Hurt and confused---mostly by Nathan's own arrival at the estate--- Mary navigates the map of herself while amidst a fresh and inviting, humorous and whimsical world patronized by " clever, well-informed people who have a great deal of conversation."
Human relations and fallacy, the map of the human mind, the friction between literature and art chafing against science and logic and math: all in a carefully constructed waltz.



I have spent some time in Bath and was happy when the resplendently unique city was drawn to colourful life by Reay's consistent canvas. As Seattle, Chicago, Italy and Ha'worth before, Bath becomes a pulsing throbbing city-- the antidote to the surging Austin heat.

While this book may remind readers of Austenland by Shannon Hale, it takes a step further in immersing the reader not just in a surfacely Austen world of Regency mannerisms and dialect; rather a deeper look at the wisdom of Austen and her prodding and poking into the deepest tenets of human nature. There is a particularly profound moment that finds Mary understanding more about Austen's relationship to Bath beyond the lens of Persuasion and Northanger Abbey that made me shoot up and think.


this book glistens.








What makes The Austen Escape different than all other Austen updates and adaptations is that rather than just making a contemporary parallel of an Austen story and Austen characters, she works a profound and meaningful thesis about Austen into prosaic form. And that is why the Austen Escape is an integral companion to the study of Austen in the 21st Century.


[with thanks to Thomas Nelson for the review copy]



A few quotes:

"As the morning rolled up its sleeves and got ready to welcome its friend afternoon, the sunshine held fast in the clear sky."


"And Nathan fished. The silence was light and lovely until I realized it wasn't silence at all. The stream gurgled, birds chirped, something called in the distance."


"Something had been missing and its absence only felt with its return. Nature abhors a vacuum and will fill it but you must create an opening. Music was that opening. It felt as if the universe was expanding right before me, in a ballroom in Bath,"


"And I was diminishing--as one should before the size and unending grandeur of the universe. It wasn't that I was smaller or less significant; it simply felt like I didn't need to fight for a place within it or for my own protection. "


"I waited too and watched the stars. A few flickered and the sky felt like music. Music required honesty."

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

There sure have been a lot of Austen-related in the last few years - books updating the Austen stories in a new setting and books immersing modern people into an Austenesque world (and Katherine Rey has written some of them). In some ways this does both by taking paying house guests into a regency setting, asking them to choose which they character they would most like to be from an Austen novel and then allowing them insights into Austen's novels through thinking and being in her world.

The main character, Mary Davies, is a reluctant participant, dragged along by her (so-called) best friend Isabel, a doctoral student writing her thesis on Austen. She lives in Austin in Texas and works as an engineer for an innovative technology company but has been having problems with her latest invention and fears losing her job. However, she soon falls in love with the charm of Braithwaite House, the regency mansion near Bath where they will spend the next two weeks and and decides to enjoy herself. That is until she becomes worried about Isabel who appears to be too strangely immersed in her character. Mary and Isabel grew up together as children but something has not been right between them lately and their experiences at Braithwaite House will reveal a lot that wasn't clear before.

As someone who has read all Austen's novels, I enjoyed all the guests and the characters they chose to play and the inclusion of many scenes and lines from the novels that were sprinkled throughout the book. There is even an Austen style romance featuring a 'military man'. Definitely one for Austen fans!

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Thomas Nelson for a copy to read and review

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly loved this story of friendship and adopted sisters and a dash of Regency flair...excellent little story.

It was really neat to me to have a lady electrician as a heroine. Her job as an electrical engineer defines who she is, and she's strong and feminine at the same time.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 2018 review:

SO. GOOD.

Really loved this new book from Katherine Reay.

A book from Katherine Reay is a rare delight. I loved this story about the complexities of friendship, the power a nickname can hold, and becoming your true self. The way music is woven into the story is also something I was mesmerized by- how music is connected to memories and the piano is more than just a piano to Mary. To name a few other lovely tidbits that I loved, I must mention the significance of dancing in the quiet stillness, techy devices, rediscovering creativity, cupcakes, fishing, and Nathan. My first read of 2018, and I couldn't love it more.

[Heidi Robbins (Heidi Reads...) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book to add to my top favorites of the year! At first I wondered if this book would be similar to others that have the characters dressing up and playacting in Regency form, but I needn't have worried- while there is a bit of that, it is taken to a higher level by Katherine Reay's unique writing style. This is a book that you just *feel*. While there is a great focus on the complex dynamics of the relationships Mary has with Isabel and Nathan, I loved that it delved just as deeply into her struggles with her job as an engineer and the part of her identity that is tied up in it. I loved her father and the influence he is on her life and creativity, he is such a great addition to the story and made it richer. I could relate to Mary's mixed feelings of resentment and love that she has for Isabel. There's something about growing up with a longtime friend that gives you so many experiences of good, bad, and in between that it's almost like family in how it shapes your personality. It was fascinating to see how Mary becomes more aware of Isabel's struggles and the way that she deals with the fallout of secrets that come to light. The simmering attraction between Nathan and Mary was delicious because the reader can tell how much they like the other but they are unaware of each other's interest... until they slowly become more brave in expressing that interest. It's not without conflict of course, and the anticipation while they worked things out was killing me- I just LOVED it!!! Highly recommend.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

[Faye* · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me preface this review by saying that I wasn’t a fan of this book. However, it seems that a lot of other people really liked this, so as for any other review this is clearly my personal opinion. If you’re interested in reading this, I suggest you check out other reviews as well and make up your own mind.

Mary Davies is an industrial engineer living in Texas. Together with her estranged best friend Isabel, she travels to Bath to experience an authentic Regency vacation, an “Austen Escape”. However, once there Isabel loses her memory and believes she actually lives in Jane Austen’s Bath.
When I read the premise of “The Austen Escape”, I was immediately drawn to this book. I am a fan of Jane Austen’s work and this seemed like a fun and light-hearted read. Unfortunately, I was not as convinced by it as I would have hoped and expected to be. I believe that this story would have worked much better for me as a film adaptation. The story was not only predictable, it also lacked a certain depth, which would have been far more forgivable in a movie.

MILD SPOILERS AHEAD

The writing style
Personally, I felt the writing was very clumsy. The beginning felt very confusing and rushed. I couldn’t really get into it because I felt there were just too many names and I didn’t feel like it was set up well. There was nothing that made me care about the characters.
Throughout the book, the author kept describing and repeating certain parts that felt completely unnecessary to the story. To me, this felt very info-dumpy without being real information, as if the author just wanted to hit a certain word count. At the same time, I felt that other parts were not fleshed out enough and the story and characters lacked a certain depth.
Basically, I was constantly aware that I was reading a novel, there was just too much telling and not enough showing. Also, everyone’s eyes were constantly either widened or widening. Seriously, is this the new “she released a breath she didn’t know she was holding”?

Duncan followed Nathan. I followed Duncan. We rounded the stables and found a door on the other side. I stepped through.

Nathan stared at me as if I was yummy. There was no other word or feeling to describe it.

The main character
Mary promised to be an interesting character: an industrial engineer with a love for Jane Austen. Translation: A multi-dimensional female protagonist, who kicks butt in a “boy’s career” but is still into supposedly “feminine” stuff like reading Austen? Yes, please! Unfortunately, as intelligent and geeky as Mary was, she basically kept being admonished by Isabel and then apologising for being smart. On the other hand, she was also unbelievably stupid sometimes. The best worst example to me is how nervous she was about the maid knowing that they tried on the dresses that were prepared for them. I mean, that’s what they’re there for?! It really didn’t make any sense AT ALL. And she comes back to this point several times, I just didn’t understand her, and it made her seem ridiculous.
Isabel, on the other hand, just seemed like a horrible person and although I did empathise with her for what she went through with her own family, it doesn’t justify the way she treats Mary, who was more like an adopted sister than a friend. And whenever they were close to actually facing their issues, Mary would ignore or brush the conversation aside and just forgive Isabel as if nothing had happened. (They do have a short conversation at the end, where Isabel sees that she was wrong but on the whole, I felt no real confrontation took place. Everything was resolved within 3 lines.)
The love interest, Nathan, on the other hand did seem like a nice guy. A cardboard cut-out of the perfect nice guy (seriously, no flaws), but at least he was likeable.

The Plot
Okay, again: I really liked the idea of the plot. Austen escapism vacation, memory loss by the best friend who then believes she is actually living in Austen’s Bath. This sounded fun. Unfortunately, it was just rather boring. First of all, the whole England experience wasn’t as great as I had imagined it to be. The other characters fell just short of being interesting, and the whole “Austen vacation” was done very inconsistently. The characters would keep falling in and out of their roles as their Austen characters, which kind of defies the whole purpose of an “escapism vacation”. If you pay that amount of money (and it was mentioned several times how expensive this whole trip was), why not go with it fully? It seemed to defy the purpose of the whole vacation.
Secondly, there really wasn’t any logic to the whole “memory loss” incident. Isabel didn’t hit her head, fall from a horse, or live an especially traumatic experience. Nothing really serious happened to her to bring this mental episode on. Yes, the author tries to explain the whole experience by a previously similar period but was there really logic behind it? It didn’t feel like it. Especially, when they a) did not bring her to a doctor (apparently, doing daily phone check-ins with a doctor who knew Isabel 10 years ago was enough), and b) she was back to being normal after her 3 day deadline like a clockwork. The whole mental health aspect was almost completely brushed aside, only mentioned in passing.
And finally, all in all, the whole story seemed created from a mold:
part 1: introduce characters ✓
part 2: send them on adventure ✓
part 3: create conflict ✓
part 4: hero to the rescue ✓
part 5: separate the lovers ✓
part 6: tie everything up in a neat little bow ✓

I do have to say, though, that I did like the ending better than the rest of the book. Mary stands up for herself, she becomes more eloquent, and the conflict focuses on real issues.

Again, this just wasn’t my book. I have many other things not mentioned above that I wasn't happy with but I didn’t hate it; and I can see how this could work a lot better as a movie but in book form it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free review copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it! This is one of my favorites reading this year! The story started a bit slow at the beginning but once the two besties arrived in Bath, the story got interesting and I was completely drawn in through the end of the book. I felt lots of emotions going on with relationships (friendships and love-ships?), which seemed to be the emphasis of the whole book. Thank goodness, everybody got their happy endings in the end! Happy endings are always good!

[Katherine Reay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't believe it took me so long to get to this! I read all the others much more quickly. ;) I thoroughly enjoyed it and hold out great hopes for Mary and Isabel's future friendship... And Nate was adorable.

[Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Many Of Life’s Woes, Escaping into Jane Austen is an Infallible Cure!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

TYPE OF AUSTENESQUE NOVEL: Austen-Inspired Original

SETTING: Modern-day Austin, Texas and Bath, England

MAIN CHARACTERS:

- Mary Davies: an industrial engineer for WATT who is introverted, processes things internally, is pragmatic, and thinks with a mathematical mind.
- Nathan Hillam: an intelligent consultant hired by WATT that has worked close with Mary this past year. Doesn’t know Mary is in love with him.
- Isabel Dwyer: Mary’s childhood friend who is completing her dissertation on Jane Austen by going on a two week “costumed Austen-style adventure” in Bath, England. Isabel has a terrible father, whose negligent behavior and indifference has left some scars.

SYNOPSIS:

Mary is coerced by Isabel and her father (who thinks of Isabel as a second daughter) to join Isabel on her Austen-style adventure in Bath. Even though Mary isn’t an ardent Austen fan herself, she goes because she knows Isabel needs her support. Also, Mary could use an “escape” from her work troubles and her new boss. She has a sneaking suspicion that her days with WATT are numbered… But what happens when Isabel “escapes” firmly into the the Regency period and doesn’t remember her present day life? And what will Mary do when discovers a secret about Isabel that devastates her? Can their friendship survive the past, the secrets, and the changing dynamics?

WHAT I LOVED:

- Some Austen Fun: The two immediate draws for me were that this book was by Katherine Reay (an author I’ve read and thoroughly and enjoyed before) and the connections to Jane Austen (I have a tiny fondness for stories about Jane Austen’s characters and novels ;)). And while the costumes, daily activities, and assumed identities harkened back a little to Shannon Hale’s Austenland, this tale is a little more serious as both Mary and Isabel deal their own issues and learn more about themselves and each other. I loved seeing how Ms. Reay would allude to Jane Austen’s characters, and the clever way some scenes would echo scenes in Jane Austen’s books. Seeing beloved characters like Mrs. Jennings, Admiral Croft, Catherine Moreland, and Mr. Bingley in Katherine Reay’s creations was lovely. And those moments where a character found a perfect Austen quote for the occasion always made me smile. 😉

- Hard Issues: One of things I appreciate most about Ms. Reay’s writing is that she isn’t afraid to tackle difficult issues and sad realities. Whether it is growing up in the foster system, watching a love one battle cancer, or having an emotionally abusive and negligent parent. Her stories tell of these hard times and personal struggles in a beautifully sympathetic, sensitive, yet honest way. However, these are not stories that will leave you feeling raw and wretched, they uplift and inspire.

- Important Messages: While on this trip, Mary does a lot of reflecting on her life, her work, and her relationships. She is struggling to figure it all out and stop the cycle of “letting things happen to her” and running away/retreating. I really enjoyed how this story showed that relationships aren’t set in stone and it takes courage to go after what you want. Mary’s actions at the end were truly inspiring!

- Nathan: Nathan Hillam wonderfully embodies a modern-day Jane Austen hero! He notices and falls for the quiet girl like Captain Wentworth, is adorably charming like Henry Tilney, solves problems intelligently like Mr. Darcy, and hesitates to declare his love like Mr. Knightley. I absolutely adored the man! I love all that he did in this story – his tender attentions to Mary, his steadfast support, and above all, how he knew and understood Jane Austen! 😉

WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:

- A Little More: I loved all aspects of this story especially the pivotal moment where characters evolve and relationships change. However, I did feel that some of this could have been drawn out a little more. With regards to Isabel’s relationship with Mary and Isabel’s emotional well-being, I wish we saw more. In addition, I wouldn’t have minded a more private/lengthy discussion between Mary and Nathan.

CONCLUSION:

The Austen Escape is a delightfully immersive and insightful adventure that will be sure to enchant and entertain readers who are inspired by genuine heroines, have a fondness for adorable and compassionate heroes, and yearn for the chance to escape into Jane Austen’s world on a daily basis! 😉

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m always impressed by how Katherine Reay’s stories begin. One moment, I’m wondering when I’m going to start feeling the story and the characters, then the next I’m completely into everything. She has this way of bringing a character, their unique qualities, and their circumstances to life. While I have read several of Jane Austen novels, I did wonder if I would be lost in some of the details about her characters and how they connected with this story. While The Austen Escape is permeated with Jane Austen in the best of ways, it doesn’t simply regurgitate one of her stories. Instead, Reay creates something entirely new and fresh, with a charm all its own.

One of my favorite things about this story is the focus on Mary’s friendship with Isabel. Although I didn’t actually like Isabel very much, the complexity of their relationship and the development it undergoes throughout the story held my attention. Their shared history is explained in such a way that made me feel invested, despite my misgivings about Isabel. Mary herself is an endearing character, even when I wished she would stand up for herself. Her occupation, engineering, is something I know basically nothing about, but Reay makes it exciting and relatable, and dare I say, almost poetic. Engineering and Austen are two things that I would never put together, but leave Katherine Reay to do it with ease and style.

I also must mention the fairytale-like quality of Mary’s time in Bath. The descriptions of the attire, the customs, the manor house, and Bath itself had me enthralled and add such an authentic feeling to the story. Just the whole idea of an immersive Austen experience is fascinating, and I loved experiencing it along with Mary. The romance is secondary, in my opinion, to Mary’s personal growth, although it certainly adds a sweet layer to the story, and I would have missed it had it not been included.

The Austen Escape is another winning novel by Katherine Reay. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment reading it. Fans of her previous novels are sure to find another gem in this story. For those who haven’t read any of her books, start with this one or start with another – all of her novels have a unique twist, and there’s no wrong place to start.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel, which I chose to review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that you never know what you are going to get in a Katherine Reay book as far as storyline. But you do know that you will get good story. I loved this story. I mean, I really did. And it is not just because I am someone that loves Jane Austen. Her way of giving us story while addressing serious life issues without any type of feeling traumatized is a gift. 

For one, I would love to go on one of these excursions. It would be so much fun to be able to embrace that and experience it, but I, like the characters in the book, would need the internet to keep up at work. 

I loved how topics like disassociation, abusive parents, issues with relationships were all part of this novel, but not the focus of the novel. If you did not relate to it, you likely would miss it. Many people would totally not see it at all. But for those that need it, it was there. 

If you are an Austen lover, this has to be on your Christmas gift list. It is available from Amazon and wherever books are sold. 

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read all of Reay's other novels and being a Reay fan, I'm not sure why her latest has been lingering on my bookshelf. Then The Austen Escape got nominated for the INSPY Short List for General Fiction and I moved it up on my TBR.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Austen Escape. The whole idea of dressing, behaving, eating, etc. as they did back in Austen's day was fabulous. I wasn't as interested in Isabel's story as I was Mary's. However, I can see that Isabel was a necessary part of the novel. I loved Mary's focus on things analytical and electrical. It seemed completely plausible to me that Nathan had zero idea she was in love with him. Oh so rewarding to have a novel at least partially set in a place the reader knows well. The mention of ZTejas makes me hungry for sure. My favorite part...the ending with Mary and Craig at WATT.

Another lovely Reay novel. While this doesn't surpass my favorite, Dear Mr. Knightly, The Austen Escape is now my second favorite.

My gratitude to publisher Thomas Nelson for a complimentary copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Austen Escape, even though I didn't expect to considering I'm not a huge Jane Austen fan. I liked the characters and I didn't expect some of the things that happened in the story, so the book definitely held my attention and kept me reading.

I loved the setting and the whole character acting aspect. It made for some humorous moments. ;) The romance was okay -- I didn't particularly love or hate it.

All in all, an enjoyable read and if you've read other Reay books, I think you will like The Austen Escape.

*I received a complimentary eBook copy of this book for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed the author's Dear Mr. Knightley, a modern take on the old story Daddy Long Legs, with its depth of plotting, characters, and background so when I spotted The Austen Escape, I was eager to escape into another of Reay's stories.

It seems so fun and frivolous- two besties headed off to Bath, England for a couple of weeks of dressing up and pretending they're Jane Austen heroines at an old country estate. But no, this is a book about two women who have drifted apart, both having painful pasts, and complications in their present. This trip is Isabel's idea and she wants Mary to come along for a chance to reconnect. Little does Mary know that she needs this trip as much as Isabel. Mary's a scientist and electrical engineer so she doesn't get into the whole dress up and pretense at first, but then the setting, the other guests, and her own circumspection begin to work on her. She has some choices to make about how her life has been going and will she continue to keep a rigid hold of it so that nothing new, including a chance with a wonderful man, from touching (aka hurting) her.

This was a gently paced story with many subtleties. It reminded me so much of a friendship I had back in childhood through high school. We were close and shared so much, but we were also rivals in so many ways and hurt each other at times. This is Isabel and Mary, too, just on a deeper more complicated scale.

I loved the story and was caught up in it all just hoping Mary would heal and finally move on with her life. The romance was sweet, but was secondary to the women's friendship and need for personal growth. It did come on more strong toward the end and was the promise of the big prize for Mary if she made it through all her growing in time to appreciate the fantastic guy who was steadily waiting for her to get past her fears and confusion.

I listened to this book and found new to me, Emily Sutton-Smith, a grand choice for this book. She got the Texas twang of Mary, the British accents and the other European accents of the larger cast of characters down well. She infused warmth and understanding, tone and perfect pacing into this story so that I lost myself in it each time I clicked it on. I'll definitely be going back for more of her work.

All in all, The Austen Escape offered some fun and lovely moments, touched me like the earlier book, and left me well satisfied with the story of friendship and romance. I think it will best suit those who enjoy a blend of women's fiction and romance.

My thanks to Brilliance Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Amanda Tero · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story opens with Mary, content in her job helping engineer new inventions. Trouble begins to brew at work the same time she accepts her best friend’s invitation to England for two weeks in an Austen home.

Jane Austen was literally peppered through the pages through quotes, historical facts, and references to her books and movies. It almost felt like you took an Austen Escape with the characters.

The plot with Isabelle and her trouble was very interesting and added a depth to the story and valuable lesson for Mary. To be honest, Isabelle’s part of the story was kind of my favorite.

Besides a reference or two of God and hymns, this book held very little open Christianity or a Christian theme. There were lessons of forgiveness woven into the plot, but it was moral and clean without Christ.

The romance was very evident throughout the story, Mary’s desires, anger, and passion. There were quite a few kisses and then a few comments that seemed better suited for an above-teen audience.

There were elements of this book that I really liked, but for some reason, it just wasn’t my cup of tea. However, if you’re an Austen fan and like modern fiction, I definitely suggest you give it a try!

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delightful read. The characters are well developed and likable, or (some) pitiable once you learn more about their history. I liked Mary's character. She faces tough decisions and trials throughout the book. She may not be perfect, but the way she handles each trial is a credit to her character. Her friend Isabel is one of those girls you kind of want to hate, but there's so much pain in her past that you are reminded that everyone needs kindness and love in their lives, and we all need forgiveness. There are other characters in this book that were also so interesting and while they were not main characters I liked that Katherine Reay gave them page time. Many of them had discoveries of their own along the way that made me feel that happy endings weren't just for the main characters. I don't want to give any spoilers so I'm avoiding naming all the characters. Nathan, the man that stands between Isabel and Mary is a sweet but strong type. He doesn't come in like a storm and sweep anyone off their feet. He has sweet steadiness is so endearing.
The way the setting is described in this book makes you want to book a stay at this gorgeous manor in England. Is it a real place? If not it should be! From the setting, to the costumes, to the Austen references. I enjoyed every bit of this book. Even if you aren't a die hard Austen (Jane, of course) fan this is a fun, clean romance.

Would I read it again? Yes.
Would I recommend it? Yes.
Clean read? Yes.


I received this book from NetGalley. I was under no obligation to give a positive review. All opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Andrea Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

by Andrea Renee Cox

The beginning chapters of The Austen Escape provided a steady, gentle tug into the story, but before I knew what was happening, I found myself ensnared by this beautiful, vulnerable tale of tender hope and broken friendships wrapped in a contemporary-Regency setting. I love Ms. Reay's trademark inclusion of vulnerability and insecurities in not only the lead but also the supporting cast. Honestly, I think she's one of the best at incorporating these qualities in a way that makes her characters and stories incredibly easy to relate to... and ones that will always have a place on my bookshelves.

Content:
alcohol and bars

I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, authors, and sites like Netgalley, Litfuse Publicity Group, and Blogging for Books. They do not require me to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the reader progresses through Reay's latest, the venture into Austen's world becomes increasingly magical. This is not a retelling of Austen's tales through modern eyes. It is placing present-day characters into those stories and telling them through a different focus. Reay's exquisite phrasing will resonate with readers and provide much fodder for pondering. At times, the portions of the book dealing with electrical engineering and Mary's job get a little complex and drag the pace slightly. The romance storyline is not as meaningful as is the one dealing with Isabel and Mary's friendship and their various family relationships. Overall, this is a beautifully written novel and one to be savored and enjoyed.
Mary Davies is an engineer for a startup design company. She likes the stability of her life and is stymied when a project she is working on is stuck. Against her better judgment, she accepts a trip to accompany her childhood best friend Isabel to Bath, England, so that Isabel can complete her doctoral thesis on Jane Austen. They arrive at an English manor house for a complete immersion into Austen's books and culture — complete with costumes, dialogue, games and parties. Mary begins to get into the swing of things, but it soon becomes apparent that something is not quite right with Isabel, and Mary must decide what to do about her friend, as well as her future.

[Patricia Beal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! When I finished college I swore I would never read the classics again. But seeing Austen through Katherine's eyes and the eyes of her characters changed my mind. There's more to discover now that I'm older...

The Austen Escape was such a unique experience. I think this is my new Katherine Reay favorite. Even the "slow opening" some pointed out works in the story's favor because when you escape to England the reading experience changes completely. It's elevated. The story becomes achingly beautiful. Full of music, beauty, dreams, depth, and surprises. Lots of surprises. So I wasn't merely reading about an escape. I participated. I felt it. I escaped too. Katherine's writing is absolutely splendid here - her best ever in my opinion - tremendous sensibility. When the trip ends, reality and escapism merge beautifully to create a new normal that's bright and full of hope for all involved.

But something tells me they will always go back to Austen. Not because they need to--not anymore, but because they want to. I know I will :)

I received a complimentary copy of this novel. This review is my honest opinion, and I was not required to write a review.

[E.F. Buckles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katherine Reay has a new fan. I'm so picky about contemporaries. Ones that are too close to normal, every day life, or too focused on romance can sometimes get boring for me, or just feel like I've read them too many times. I need a twist of some kind. The twist here was that the characters spend much of the story on an escapist vacation in a mansion in Bath, England where everyone dresses in Regency costume and pretends to be Jane Austen characters for two weeks. To add to this unique setting, the main character's friend loses her memory and starts to think she's Emma. That was more than enough twist for me. :)

Part of what pulled me in is that the writing was so strong. The description was excellent, the story itself well crafted, and the characters so well developed and vivid. I especially liked that, while romance was a factor, it didn't take over the plot. The story was much more about Mary as a whole person and especially her friendship with Isabel and all the complexities of that.

Also, I want to point out that when I first picked up this book I was a little nervous about how the memory loss would be handled. Fiction gets amnesia wrong so often (how many of us have seen a character lose memories due to a blow to the head only to suddenly regain it all due to some trigger, or worse, another blow to the head? *raises hand* Yeah, it doesn't work that way irl.) so I was very glad to find that Reay managed to make this situation with Isabel feel like something that could happen in real life.

The only thing I can think to critique is that Mary works in a corporate environment in her normal life and the corporate speak got close to going over my head at the beginning of the story. I have zero personal experience in such a setting, so reading about one took some getting used to. I did get used to it eventually, though, so that's a minor critique.

Overall, I truly loved this book. It relaxed me, it made me smile, and it touched my heart. I will definitely check out Reay's other books.

Content:

No language.

Sexual: About three or four kisses on the lips, only briefly described, or not described at all. A few kisses on the cheek. Several instances of holding hands. A few instances of noticing that someone's good looking. The woman who cares for the mansion where the "Austen Escape" vacation happens cautions that occasionally guests get a little carried away while pretending to be their Austen character and gives an example of a previous guest who ended up messing up their real life marriage by behaving a little too much like the flirtatious character she was playing.

Alcohol: Mary and her coworkers go to a bar every Friday after work. Social drinking occurs at other times as well and various alcoholic beverages are named, but no one ever imbibes to the point of becoming inebriated.

Spiritual: There are a couple passing mentions of God and IIRC, the author is a Christian, but this is not a Christian fiction book.

Other: Isabel can be mean sometimes and yells at a child once. We also learn of some mean nicknames she gives people she knows. We learn that Isabel's father was very neglectful and emotionally abusive. He continues to be unkind to his daughter even now that she's an adult.

[Les · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I read this book I was trying to figure out how did it end up on my wish list? 10 of my GR friends had added it as 'To Read', but none of them actually read it. (Hmmmm). And it was on sale for $1.99 and I'd pay $1.99 to watch ... well never mind.

You will also note I didn't add this to shelves such as Austenesque because despite some character analysis I really didn't find this to be an Austen inspired book.

This is book about an awkward young woman, who is an electrical engineer in or around AustIn (with an I) Texas. She has a shit load of baggage from her childhood that she drags around with her; a sickly now dead mother, an overbearing friend, and an general lack of self esteem. Her pet work project has been cancelled because she can't seem to ask for help. She has a crush on the consultant but can't seem to act on it. She has been extracting herself for a childhood friendship with Isabel; a needy young lady. Isabel is trying to finish her doctoral dissertation on all things Austen (with an E) and is going to Bath to finish her research. She wants Mary to go with her and Mary is hesitant. But Mary's father twists her arm and Mary is soon packing.

Mary is really kind of a downer. She doesn't want to dress up in Regency clothes, she doesn't want to ring for the maid. The maid has a job, she's not a slave. If you go to a restaurant do you walk into the kitchen and make your own food? No so why would this make you uncomfortable. It is repeated several times that Isabel's father is paying a ridiculous amount of money for the trip so use the facilities FFS.
On their first night 'in country' Isabel has a psychotic break upon receiving unpleasant news from her father. This would be alarming except it happened before when she was a child and her father failed to come home. Then Mary's parents where there to take care of her now it falls upon Mary.
And while I am not liking people I really don't like Isabel. She is annoying, deceitful, demanding and self centered. And for some reason, Mary who didn't want to 'bother' the maid sets herself up as Isabel's apologist and path clearer.

There are some decent secondary characters but I really can't recommend this book.

[Sarita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating 3.5

This was an interesting contemporary novel with the focus on the love of all things Austen. I still need to read all of Jane Austen’s books, but I didn’t feel lost since there was a summary of all the different characters.

I was a bit conflicted while reading this story, because I really disliked Isabelle, but I liked Mary, and they were best friends, so there should be a reason why Mary connected with Isabelle, right? But as the story continued and we learned more about Isabelle’s background, I understood her more, even though I did not agree with her actions.

I loved the dashing gentlemen. The way they acted towards the ladies was sweet and lovely.
I enjoyed seeing the growth in Mollie. From where she just went along with everything to standing up for what she deserves.

*I listened to the audiobook on Scribd.*

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually I devour stories that I love this much, but there’s just something about Katherine Reay’s writing that makes me want to pause and deliciously savor every. single. word. This story was so good I think I might have changed my mind about which of her books is my favorite! But I suppose it’s to be expected considering how big a fan of Jane Austen I am, huh? ;) This story is DELIGHTFUL. And glorious! Well worth your time, my friends.

At its heart is a friendship. I am always blown away by how Ms. Reay seems to have such a clear understanding of how to write relationships between characters which depict the real, messy, and complicated emotions that we human beings deal with. Our relationships with the people around us aren't always easy, and so, likewise, Mary and Isabel's friendship is struggling mightily when we first meet them. The problems between them are barely understood by either, yet as they are forced into constant proximity, Mary begins to realize there is so much more to the story than just what she's seeing and experiencing. Thus by getting a change in perspective, it allows her eyes to truly be opened to her own abilities and flaws. And the growth that begins to transpire as the story builds to the climax is so beautifully written!

From the very first page, I instantly liked Mary. I understood so many of her emotions and inability to fully express them properly. I related to the fact that she feels so very much! But Isabel, on the other hand? She isn't nearly so likeable. Yet that did not deter me from wishing to see these two friends restored, somehow, because, of the many things Ms. Reay excels at, taking seemingly unlikeable characters and infusing them with humanity and heart (even if hidden deep) is certainly one such! Isabel seems to have the setup of a villain in the story, yet we understand that she isn't one. Don't get me wrong, she really does make some awful choices and acts pretty terrible several times, yet there was just something intriguing about her that made me want to change my mind. Consequently, I spent so much of her time on the page simultaneously wishing she'd go away, yet wanting to understand her better! :D

Then there's Nathan. Ah, my heart! I was so pleased whenever he'd show up. Watching he and Mary tiptoe around each other is super adorable! Especially when they stop tiptoeing and finally begin being honest. Let's just say there was many a swoonworthy moment! ;) Yet for all the cute he brings, he is also a catalyst for change. He brings abrupt change to Mary and Isabel's relationship, as well as causing Mary to begin to understand herself better. In fact, they both challenge each other in all the best (and sometimes uncomfortable) ways! I can truly root for a couple who inspire each other to growth within themselves. Their relationship balances so well between the adorable and the complicated and messy.

One of the most fascinating things about Ms. Reay's writing is her innate understanding of people. I always seem to relate to her characters, even when we have completely different tastes and opinions! Somehow I always see bits of myself in them, or even of real people I know. She interprets real life so well that we instantly connect and relate! Plus I had several instances where I had to reread certain passages numerous times, just to allow the beautiful words time to really sink into my heart. Whenever that starts happening, I know the book is truly something special!

I read and reread so many paragraphs, I was thoroughly swept up into Mary's life and dearly wishing such an Austen-themed experience actually existed! I fell in love with the sweetness of the romance, and not to mention the side characters...! Oh, how could I forget how much I adored Benson and Moira and Gertrude! Especially Gertrude. I loved how one true conversation with her created this instant connection that was a refuge for Mary during some distressing moments. So true of real life, how some people we just feel a kinship with immediately.

All this to say that I clearly have FEELINGS for this wonderful story! I can say nothing else but that you should read it immediately! Don't wait, don't hesitate, just read it. I can't imagine you being disappointed. :)

**I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Iola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read and enjoyed all of Katherine Reay’s books, some more than others (isn’t that always the case?). I am an Austen fan, so I was looking forward to reading The Austen Escape. But after meeting Isabel and the other characters I suspect I’m less an Austen fan than someone who has read all her books a few times. “Fan” is apparently short for “fanatic”, and these characters are fanatics. They know their Austen.

But The Austen Escape will be fun even for those readers like me who can’t find an appropriate Austen quote for every situation. (I’ve even refused to even watch the Keira Knightley version of Pride & Prejudice, because no one can top Colin Firth’s Darcy). Once the characters arrive at Braithwaite House, they not only dress in Regency costumes but take on the identities of Austen’s characters.

This has the potential to get confusing. However, the novel starts with a useful summary of all the main Austen characters mentioned in the book—which I glossed over, and shouldn’t have. If I’d been reading a paper copy rather than a Kindle review copy, I’d probably have been flicking backwards and forwards to keep up. As it was, I also glossed over some of the identities the characters took on, and focused on Isabel and Mary.

Mary is an intelligent and competent woman, an engineer with a small start-up in Austin, Texas, designing I didn’t understand what (but it didn’t matter). I liked her passion for her work, and her quirks such as using electrical wire to tie her hair back. She’s facing conflict at work from a new boss who wants to professionalise and systematise her workplace. She doesn’t exactly jump at the offer of a two-week all-expenses-paid first-class trip to Bath, England, with her best friend, but she does agree to go.

The story lost impetus for me at this point. I’d enjoyed seeing Mary in her home environment, even with the conflict from her boss, and the not-conflict from her avoiding the consultant she had a crush on. But when they got to England, there were a couple of things which made me lose interest.

Isabel lost her memory (really, that’s a spoiler. But it’s in the book description so blame them, not me), Mary receives a phone call, and the story picked up again … and kept going full tilt until the finish. I loved the end—so much I read those last few chapters three times. The end definitely made up for the middle, and it had all the aww! factor required for a romance.

I enjoyed visiting Bath through Mary’s eyes—she didn’t have the parking problems or the disinterested husband I had when I visited. Mary also didn’t have the jetlag most of us experience after trans-Atlantic flights.

One maybe-complaint is that The Austen Escape is published by Thomas Nelson, so some readers may pick it up expecting Christian fiction. It isn’t. I didn’t notice as I was reading, but there was no faith aspect to the story—something which in hindsight seems odd, as Austen was a minister’s daughter and church played a major role in the lives of several of her characters.

On the other hand, Austen was never overt about her faith in the way many readers expect of modern Christian authors. In this way, Reay reflects Austen, and I’m sure many readers will see that as a good thing.

Overall, recommended for Austen fans and Katherine Reay fans. That should pretty much cover most people. Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

[Sherwood Smith]

I'm wary of Austen-related books, some of which read to me like cash-ins, without much awareness of what makes Austen so great. Kind of as if the book is trying to connect with the Keira Knightley P&P film, which I pretty much loathe, as it distorts the period and misses all the wit.

I saw that it was set in modern times, then contemporary people going back for an Austen experience, a la Austenland, which I was vastly disappointed with: though I love Shannon Hale's fantasy, the many errors in the period, and the Austen-related material, kept me from enjoying that book. Mileage varies, of course.

But Reay surprised me. First of all, Mary (whose name is Mary Davies, and I wondered if that was a sly salute to Mary Davys, one of the first female novelists, writing potboilers in the early 1700s) is a tech engineer, and no Austen fan, though her mother was. Her mother shared the Austen love with Isabel, Mary's bestie since childhood.

Long-term friendships can go sour before at least one of the friends is aware of it, if not both. Like some marriages, sheer habit can keep them together, or a wish for the golden days of the friendship. Isabel pretty much drags Mary onto this Austen trip, and Mary goes, partly from emotional blackmail, but also to get away from her job, and her antagonistic boss. Also, to get away from the freelancer, Nathan, who is there to evaluate the company--and for whom she has had the secret hots. But of course workplace romances are not comme il faux--and then Mary discovers that Isabel has been dating Nathan without telling Mary. Though Mary has been talking about him for months.

It's that competition and emotional undercutting that drives the book, with all kinds of character grace notes with the rest of the cast to both complement the emotional journey, and contrast with it.

Mary is a go-getter engineer, but emotionally she is curiously passive. Of course there is a reason she doesn't call Isabel on her behavior, as Isabel increasingly is demonstrating some disturbing signs that remind Mary of events in their childhoods. Mary's dad has been a mainstay for both, something Mary needs to come to terms with.

The Austen experience is interesting, the side characters lovely. I loved the elegant, vivid descriptions of the house the event is held in, and its story as it gradually comes clear. I think there was only one weak moment (Isabel's about-face is both sudden and convenient, so not quite convincing), but that did not ruin the read for me. The climax is richly satisfying, and the fact that I could be lured into following a protagonist whose interests are pretty much the opposite of mine was testament to the author's skill.

Copy provided courtesy of NetGalley

[Halee · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best way I can describe Katherine’s writing is it’s like a dessert-it has layers of diverse textures. It’s sweet, with other complimentary flavors mixed in as well.
There’s a lot of talent, hard work, and research poured into her books; that’s clear. But I did have a few personal problems with it. First off-Katherine’s style of genre IS New Adult, not YA. Books targeted to 20-30 year olds is not normally my range of interest, so I do understand that some of my negative opinions are really that. Personal opinions on genre.
With that being said, I had two issues with this book. (Other than these two things, The Austen Escape was a very entertaining book and I enjoyed it! It was fun.) I didn’t quite appreciate the amount of physical affection portrayed in this book with the main character and her “interest”, and I don’t believe that just because I’m a fifteen year old reading about adult relationships. I believe that everyone should save physcial affection for their future spouse, no matter the age. So, the amount of kissing did take a couple stars off of my rating. :/
Lastly, I want to address the spiritual themes. Or rather, the lack of them. I am not one of those Christian readers who thinks that every book should be preachy and beat you over the head with the Bible, but I DO think that showing the Gosepl in the way we write is not only very important, but also very possible to accomplish in a subtle way. I recognize this may not be Katherine’s style to write much spirituality into her stories, but I think if you’re a Christian you should include themes to the storyline. Dear Mr. Knightley was a wonderful example of that! Katherine wove in faint threads of redemption; I loved that one.

I don’t want to end this review on a negative note, because I didn’t hate it. I really didn’t. ^_^ It was very good, the character development was spot on, the setting was so beautifully well-written, and overall the plot was super interesting. I liked it! It just wasn’t my favorite Reay book. :)
 
The Austen Escape was sent to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thanks, Katherine Reay and Thomas Nelson Publishing!
 
~Halee Westbrook

[Emilee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katherine Reay has a beautiful talent for writing characters that come alive in the pages of her books. This particular genre is my favorite. In The Austen Escape you feel the vulnerability, heartaches and the self doubt Mary and Isabel face as well as the joy, wonder and excitement they experience. The story really comes together and has a satisfying ending. I love the cover. I rated this book 4 stars instead of 5 because it seemed more like a clean secular book than a Christian book and although it is an Austen retelling I felt like there was a bit too much mention of Austen characters but I am sure Jane Austen readers will appreciate that!