Thanks Netgalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rate: 3.75/4

Rose lives in Bath - where Jane Austen lived - and there is an annual festival to celebrate the author. Everything's going well until she finds out Jane Austen managed to time travel and is stuck in the present and as a consequence of that, a new timeline where the author never wrote the books is created.

Since I love everything about Jane Austen, the book's concept really intrigued me. It reminded me of a miniseries I recommend a lot: Lost in Austen, in which the protagonist goes back to the past and the writer to the present.

The writing is good and gripping, so the book goes by very quickly. The characters that I liked the most are the protagonist's best friend, Morgan, and Miss Jane Austen herself. It's almost impossible to know how a historical figure really was, but the authors managed to create an authentic character that gets really close to being the Jane Austen we all imagined she was.

The consequences of a world without Jane Austen are very interesting, since a lot of people were affected by it, even if in small ways and it was really nice to see this metaphor for the power of literature.

My problem with it was mostly the romance, which wasn't well developed since it didn't even have much space, so for me it was pretty much irrelevant.

This is a book almost exclusively for Jane Austen fans, since there are plenty of references, although it still works as a fun book for people interested in time travel.

Originally posted on: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1TiOI2D_0T

This is a time-slip romance which has a comedic edge and yet still manages to give Jane Austen and her devotees, respect. It manages to tread the path between poking fun and giving praise to the author for the huge impact she has had on the national psyche. Imagine a world where Jane Austen had never published her novels! No- it is unimaginable!

Friendship and common interests are important in this story and although there are several budding romances, there is a greater mystery at the core of the novel. The final paragraph definitely leaves you with a 'to be continued' feeling- I certainly hope it will be. Bath features heavily and it is clear that a lot of research into the buildings which have an Austen connection has taken place. It’s a beautiful city and I loved the descriptions of the various places which are visited. Peopled with likeable and credible characters in the present day, you genuinely want to see how it will all pan out. There is a certain historical personage who I found harder to identify with but she certainly was distinct from the others in her style and manner of speaking. A lovely read for anyone who enjoys Jane Austen's books and her life and times.

In short: Time travelling mystery with a literary flavour.

Thanks to the author for a copy of the book.

I’ll admit that it might be forty years since I last read one of Jane Austen’s books, but it really wouldn’t matter if you’ve never been a fan – and I do remember being enchanted by her writing when I was younger (favourite book Emma, I think). I’ve never been such a fan of books that involve time travel, as this one does, but I do always enjoy a well-done time-slip – and if your tastes are similar, I suspect you’ll enjoy this one every bit as much as I did.

If you’re worried about the fact that the book was written by two authors, don’t give that a moment’s thought – you really can’t see the join. I did wonder though which of the authors had more of a hand in the characterisation of Morgan, the American friend visiting Rose in Bath for the Jane Austen Festival. I’ll admit I found her a tad difficult to take to at first – scatty, loud and overenthusiastic – but her edges do soften quite nicely as the book progresses, and I grew to really like her.

Rose, I found simply lovely – her life, her job, her passion for the unattainable Aiden, her enthusiasms, all beautifully captured. And as the book changes tack a little – a mysterious lady in Edwardian dress in the flat above, a feeling of “might it be possible…”, an incident that catapults the action into a different dimension – I was incredibly impressed by both the clever writing and the authors’ imagination.

Jane Austen herself (not a spoiler – it’s in the book’s blurb!) is just wonderfully drawn – her speech patterns, her wry wit, her observations, her connection with sister Cassandra – and I could entirely believe that a pad of post-its might just be her idea of heaven, and that she might find some enjoyment in reading JK Rowling.

This is a both a lovely romance (in two dimensions, and so cleverly brought together) and quite a gripping mystery/adventure, with the real possibility that the world might move on without the joy of Jane Austen’s writing. I do suspect that there might be rather more in the way of links and references to her writing and characters than I could appreciate with my meagre knowledge, but should you be a Janeite you might find even more opportunities for a smile of recognition than I did.

I’m not particularly familiar with Bath, but it’s a really well captured and drawn setting (and the authors’ love for it shines through) – and I’ve never been to the Festival, but it’s certainly something an event I’ll be adding to my bucket list. And for the animal lovers among you, there’s also a small dog that plays a pivotal role (yes, in a couple of time frames – loved that!), and a kitten called Mr Darcy who brings people together.

And I really did love the book’s ending – complete, but bringing a smile and full of promise of more to come. And it’s good to know, should you enjoy this one as much as I did, that there’s now a second book – The Unexpected Past of Miss Jane Austen, published by Canelo on 7th November – to ensure you won’t need to suffer from withdrawal symptoms.

Really different, beautifully done, and very much enjoyed – a definite recommendation from me!

(Review copied to Amazon UK, but link not yet available)

I was intrigued by the ideas behind this story, and after reading it, I can confirm it fulfils its potential.

It begins conventionally with Rose who lives in Bath, loves Jane Austen and doesn't realise what a lovely person she is. Hardworking, she is appreciated by her boss and her long-distance Californian friend Morgan, who is finally coming to Bath. Rose has a long term crush on an archaeologist, she only sees briefly in a professional capacity once a year. She dreams of a happy ever after but doesn't have the self-belief to make it a reality.

Then everything changes, and you have to suspend belief, but if you do the fictional adventure with a historical legend is fun. The setting in Bath is well described and the characters are believable, even if the scenario they are playing is pure fantasy.

This is a good story of friendship, romance, self-realisation and time travel, something for everyone in this tale.

I received a copy of this book from Canelo via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Rose is a huge Jane Austen fan, she has even moved into Bath to feel close to the author. Her whole world revolves around Miss Austen, from her job, to her home, and to her friends. However, lately she has been seeing a mysterious woman around town who bears a resemblance to the famous author.

Jane Austen has become stuck in modern day Bath and the only person who can help her is Rose. The world she is stuck in knows nothing of Jane Austen, and Rose is not ready to live in a world without her in it as her whole life is connected in some way to Miss Austen. Can they figure out a way to get Jane back to her time without anyone suspecting anything strange is happening? And will Rose end up with her own Mr Darcy?

I love that the message is all about finding the courage to be brave. It has been left on a cliff hanger, so I’m keen to read the next instalment.

I had a hard time finished this book. Somehow I could not get the storyline and writing of this author. When I finished this book I was glad I did because it was better than I expected at the end. Saying that, the book is totally not memorable for me! Just 3 stars.

Set in Bath, with a time-travelling Jane Austen and a dishy Mr Darcy style character, this book really shouldn't have worked so hard to sell itself. Instead, I felt like I was dragged into some sort of painfully tedious romp, that went on for far too long, considering the story it was trying to tell. It was also an incredibly fractured novel - the change in story partway through, with an alternate 'what if there was no Jane Austen' universe, made the whole story disjointed and, quite simply, odd. There was the potential for a great Jane Austen retelling, with a cameo appearance from the author herself, but it was clear the authors were trying to do something a little different, but just weren't able to pull it off.

I just couldn't get into this one, unfortunately. The story didn't hook me as I thought it would even though the writing was enjoyable. Wish I could have loved this but maybe I just wasn't in quite the right mindset. I would still encourage others to read it and give it a shot!

Thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for letting me read an ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book was utterly charming. I am a big fan of Jane Austen's work, so this was a treat. I enjoyed all the characters, their stories and personalities. I also enjoyed the authors' narration style. I can not wait for these authors' next book. So lovely!

This was such a fun book! I had high expectations of it after a (frankly, practically perfect) synopsis and my expectations were definitely met.

I loved so many things about this book - the tributes to Jane Austen and her influence on the world around us, the relationship between Rose and her best friend (as well as the beautiful love letter these two tell about how important internet friendships can be!), Rose's relationship with Aiden (swoon, I dare say), and how much wonderful history and facts were thrown in about Jane Austen herself.

The time travel aspect was done very well, in my opinion, and I feel that the authors did a great job making Jane Austen in the 21st century totally believable (although her dialogue was sometimes stilted in a believable, yet occasionally annoying to read, kind of way).

The ending definitely felt a bit rushed, until I got to the very last page and realized it was totally a set up for a sequel - which I will definitely be picking up when the time comes!

I received an advance digital copy of this book from the authors, publisher and Netgalley.com. Thanks to all for the opportunity to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book is a delight to read. The perfect combination of humor, romance, adventure and charm. Science fiction enough for sci fi fans, Austen enough to please an Janeite. All around fun.

5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed the Partucular Charm of Miss Jane Austen. The book was a little different than I expected, but the writing was excellent. I always worry when a book is Co-written, but it was seemless and kept me hooked!


I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Jane Austen has become trapped in modern day Bath and Rose Wallace is the only person who knows this.

Rose is an avid Jane Austen fan and as she befriends Jane, she realises that she needs to help her to return to her own time or the world will never know her words and can you imagine a world without Mr Darcy?

I look forwrard to reading the next instalment.

While I love Jane Austen (with P&P being one of my all-time favourite books), I was completely torn when reading this book. I’m not a huge fan of time slips so perhaps this was inevitable...

First we have our heroine Rose who finally meets her online friend Morgan and they have some jolly japes in Bath at the Austen festival... then we have the parallel life where she’s forgotten everything except where she lives and oh, Miss Jane Austen just happens to have landed in her life!!

Some elements were really lovely - the tension with Aiden and the blossoming relationship between Morgan and Rose’s boss, James. However I found elements rather cringeworthy and unrealistic... you really have to suspend reality.

That said it’s a fun read and definitely one for the fans of JA!!

Whenever I see the name Jane Austen I just can't control myself and I have to have the book. In this case luckily I wasn't disappointed, this is such a gem. Is there going to be a sequel I wonder.

Thanks to Canelo for the ARC! I apologize that I wasn't able to publish my review before the publication, but I certainly will do now. This was a very enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to the next volume.

The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen by Ada Bright & Cass Grafton is exactly the kind of book any janeite could love. This book is filled with romance, the love of self, and family and friends. The authors use real locations and history to create perfect fantasy. The book is perfectly paced, right when you are desperate for something amazing to happen, it does. The authors create clearly motivated and enjoyable characters. The particular charm of this book creates an amazing read, I highly recommend.

An interesting storyline about Jane Austen. Fantastic description of Bath and other locations connected to this author. I believe once reading this book, you'd want to visit Bath especially during the Jane Austen week and possibly to read or re-read her classics.
I really enjoyed the book and the main characters; it was an easy to read.

I loved the first line, it really drew me in. Although I don't usually read time-travel novels, the chick-litiness of it and the fact that it was a story about Jane Austen, meant that it was more or less compulsory. And what great fun it was too. 

The one thing that I found difficult to reconcile was that it was only Rose, out of everyone in the whole world, who remembered Jane; it's entirely possible, though, that I missed the bit in the novel that explained why her memories of everything Jane Austen remained intact. But once I just accepted it (isn't it odd that I had no problem with the time travel element itself?) I settled down to enjoy the ride, and what a thoroughly enjoyable one it was. What made the story so delightful for me was Jane herself, and all the references to her and her work. The romance was pretty good, too - a slow burner, but worth it!

Rose is an avid fan of Jane Austen and gets to relish in her love for the author living in modern-day Bath. As the annual Jane Austen festival approaches, Rose realizes that the woman living above her is not a fan of the Regency era but is actually Jane Austen. After a mishap, Jane become trapped in Rose’s time, but she hasn’t written any of her novels yet in her own time, which means no one have ever heard of Jane Austen! Rose finds herself in a different job, different home, with different friends, all because Austen’s work never brought her together with the people from her former life. Rose must figure out a way to get Jane Austen back where she belongs and get back to the life she misses so much. This is a fun read for Jane Austen fans.