"The Jane Austen Society"

“The Jane Austen Society”

Written by Natalie Jenner

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

“The Jane Austen Society” is about a small town in England, in which Jane Austen and family lived for some of the time that she wrote some of her hits. In this town, around 12 fictional characters interact, fall in love, befriend each other, and create a society dedicated to her, using her old home as a meeting ground. This tale is a bit fairy-tale like, with characters reflecting some of their favorites from Austen’s work, while making this feel old-fashioned and classic enough to emulate the style of writing that Austen used. This was a very romantic and entertaining book, based on the characters and the setting.

I felt that the characters and the atmosphere were the best parts of this story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading through Adam’s, Adeline’s, Mimi’s, and Jack’s perspective. These characters breathed life into the story. In some ways, the small American town vibes reminded me of one of my most beloved relationships in book and film history, Sam and Kate from “Holes”. Additionally, I also felt lovingly reminded of “King Kong: The Musical” and “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo”, due to the creation of fictional celebrities and the talk of fame in the 40s.

However, this was not plot driven, so I found myself a bit bored in some sections of the story. Without a conflict, the book was purely just a love letter to Austen, with some sweet characters to read about. Additionally, I do have to complain about the character, Doctor Gray. He is easily one of the most self-indulgent and uncomfortable characters to read about. Dr. Gray is inappropriate with his patients, pursuing a romantic relationship with one. I cannot forget to mention that the patient, Adeline, had recently lost her husband in war. The child that they were expecting together also died. Dr. Gray just keeps pushing romance at her and makes her unbelievably uncomfortable.

In conclusion, this book was a really cozy, relaxing read, perfect for fall and winter. I do not think this was the most thought-provoking and astounding book I’ve read this year, but I still really enjoyed it.

I received a complimentary advance reader’s edition from St. Martin’s Press.