What Would Jane Austen Do?

The perfect book for Jane Austen fans! It's fun and witty while making connections to everyone's favorite classical author.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great lightheaded read! I had so much fun and recommend it.

This was a five out of five for me. While a lovely gentle story, the witty, observant writing lifts it above the ordinary. It includes a wonderful community of characters, who had me smiling all the way through and I loved the developing relationship between Maddie and Luke. There are lots of subtle nods to Jane Austen's writing and if you're a Janeite, this is a lovely ode to her work. I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful read and I look forward to reading more from Linda Corbett

At the very start of this, I found this a tad far fetched, unexpected dead relative and a grand house to live in. I was cynical. But on meeting Luke, and seeing the village dynamic, all of this seemed to just fall into place. Loved the Jane Austen quotes at the start of every chapter, and liked the backstory of Nigel as well as Maddy's story.

Playful, fun, and a love letter to Jane Austen and her wise words. Glorious.

You know when you read a book and want to start it all over to feel all the feels?
Well, that was my reaction to What Would Jane Austen Do?
I loved Linda Corbett's debut and was excited to get my teeth into this second novel, and I was not disappointed.
Maddy Shaw is reeling after losing her agony aunt column, Dear Jane, in a national magazine. She attends one last interview commitment, meeting an extremely moody crime writer with an extremely simple view of romance. (Topical since so many out there have been trying to rubbish our beloved romance genre!)
Life is not going her way, considering she may have to move out of her flatshare with her best friend in London since she has no income until an unexpected bequest in the will of a deceased relative leaves her with rather a lot more than she could ever have expected, considering she never met the infamous Cousin Nigel.
Armed with her meagre belongings, Maddy moves into Meadowhall, a large house, for the requisite twelve months, fully intending to sell up and leave when the year ends, but you know what? You never know what the future will hold...
I loved everything about this book, from the fantastically appropriate Jane Austen quotes that started each chapter to learning more about the lodger she ends up taking in to keep herself financially afloat. Luke has a lot more about him that I won't mention. You need to read about that yourself!
As the story unfolds, Cousin Nigel is also a dark horse, revealing secret after secret posthumously.
There is the literary festival, which I loved, ghost hunting, and a gorgeous canine hero who will steal your heart!
Many thanks to NetGalley, and Harper Collins, One More Chapter for an ARC.

If you’re looking for a well-written fun read with an interesting plot featuring elements of mystery, romance and comedy (plus a cute dog), I can recommend What Would Jane Austen Do?
There’s so much to like about Linda Corbett’s new book but the main thing was it left me with a smile on my face. It's like the antidote to a bad day (which included the new washing machine arriving but the pipes leaking).
If you’re a Jane Austen fan (as I am) then you will really love the well-chosen quotes that start each chapter and spotting the wisdom included within.
There’s also a fantastic defence of romance as a genre which I would have applauded had the plumber not been in the next room.
All the characters, not just Maddy and Cameron/Luke, were well rounded, including poor Cousin Nigel in the end.
My only slight quibble was about an article Maddy wrote where (unless I’ve misunderstood) she used details from a previous private conversation along with the official interview. As a journalist I would never do that unless I’d asked for and received permission, no matter how good the intentions.
It’s a minor point in a fictional tale and didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of this lovely book.

Thanks to One More Chapter (via NetGalley) for the ARC.

An uplifting humorous read, reminiscent of a modern day Jane Austen novel. I loved the Jane Austen quotes at the start of each chapter. I confess I have not read Jane Austen for a while but nevertheless this works perfectly as a standalone for a good, satisfying enjoyable read.

I absolutely demolished this book! Set in the most adorable country village, Maddy adapts from live in London to life in a rural English village with a wonderful balance between character and plot driven. I found this book witty and entertaining with well developed characters that I was genuinely invested in. If you love romance you’ll love this (whether you’re an Austen aficionado or not)!
Thank you to Netgalley and OneMoreChapter for the ARC in exchange for my feedback!

This is a cute little RomCom, I enjoyed the character dynamic and the meddling small town neighbors. Buster is just the bestest boy though.

Thank you NetGalley and One More Chapter for giving me the chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down. What Would Jane Austen Do? Is about Mandy a journalist who writes advice columns who has just been let go from her job but a death in the family results in her being left a house. Coincidentally also living in the town is crime novelist Cameron Massey who Maddie has previously met before which was not an overly positive interaction. I highly recommend this book and it was easily 5/5 stars! This book is released June 16,2023. Thank you to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and Linda Corbett for a opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

I absolutely flew through this book. It had a very good blend between being character driven and plot driven which I adored and that aspect made it so much easier to get into. The multiple different plot points explored throughout kept the book interesting and kept me enthralled throughout the entire thing.
I loved the small town setting, the people and all the small town things sprinkled throughout.
Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for an eARC of this book.

A perfect read for a day you need a pick me up. I really enjoyed this one, I was hesitant as first, as I seem to be one of those rare people who haven’t actually read any Jane Austen, I know it’s shocking, I have seen some of the films, but I always managed to avoid reading anything. I really enjoyed getting to know Cousin Nigel with Maddy, I loved how she wanted to get to know this mysterious benefactor. You could really lose yourself into this story, and just get wrapped up in Maddy and her lodger’s story. This is a great story to lose yourself in, all about how Maddy changes her life, she lost her job, but she didn’t lose hope thanks to Cousin Nigel, let’s all hope we can move to a village like Cotlington with all its lovely inhabitants.

Witty, funny, and well plotted. I thoroughly enjoyed it and had fun.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

What Would Jane Austen Do? by Linda Corbett is a light-hearted, easy-flowing read that is absolutely perfect for sitting outside in the shade with a cool drink in one hand and the book in the other.
Fans of Jane Austen, or of reading in general, will particularly enjoy this book. The two main characters are Maddy, a former advice columnist, and Luke, a best-selling mystery writer. While anyone familiar with the romance genre will expect, the relationship between the two grows and changes from adversaries to grudging respect to more. But knowing what to expect, as Maddy herself would stress, does not in the least detract from the enjoyment of reading the heart-warming tale. Adding to the fun is the mystery of Maddy's first-cousin's past, and why he left his house to her in his will.
An endearing cast of supporting characters, including an escape artist of a dog, rounds out the book nicely. It is a fun read that is sure to be a favourite of many readers this year.

Linda Corbett set herself up for a fall by putting words into the mouth of her heroine. Maddy waxes lyrical, and at length, on the difficult challenge that is writing a romance novel, maintaining that it is no easy option. She even draws Jane Austen in to help her make the point that, just because there's a guaranteed ending, romances are all different and can all speak to their readers.

Fortunately for Linda, What Would Jane Austen Do? amply demonstrates the truth of the points that Maddy makes. I loved the story with its plot devices of moving somewhere new, making new friends, uncovering the real man behind the grumpy facade of the hero, a gentle mystery, and a book festival. Okay, maybe the latter isn't all that usual but this one was described in such a way that I wanted to set up my own!

The writing is engaging, the plot is well-paced, and the romantic leads behave fairly rationally all things considered. I admit that there is a dog, a trope that drives me mad, but still this is a great book and I'd thoroughly recommend it.

This was a charming, quick read. Great for Jane Austen fans and anyone who likes a cute dog thrown into their contemporary romance.

This was so much fun! I'm not the biggest romance reader but this was a fun story that had me engaged throughout. Was it life changing? No. But it gave me exactly what I needed.

I inhaled this book from start to finish. It’s a beautifully written romance with twists and turns. I couldn’t put it down and the idea of romance can’t be trivialised in this lovely story

A fun contemporary romance with enemies to lovers and many nods to the great works of Jane Austin. This was a cute quick read, and there's a loveable dog involved. What's not to love. Not your typical Jane Austin story retelling. Great for romance lovers.

How is it I've not hear of Linda Corbett before? 'What Would Jane Austen Do?' has everything I love in a contemporary romance - an interesting premise, chemistry and banter between the main chracters and a little mystery.

Maddy ends up inheriting a country home from an estranged uncle, the black sheep, who was considered the family's joke. The timing is fortuitous as she's lost her job as a an advice columnist using the wisdom of Jane Austen's books. In order to pay for the upkeep, she takes in a lodger, the stanoffish crime writing Cameron, whom she had an on-air stoush over his disdain for romance novels.

I loved watching Maddy settle into village life, having been railroaded into taking her uncle's place as chair of the local literary festival, along with seeing the insecurity of Cameron (aka Luke). The odes to Austen are done perfectly as added flourishes versus being Maddy's whole personality. If I had any quibble it would be that wealthy uncle didn't give any money to fix up the place and do a hard rubbish cleanout as it had been neglected. I wish this was explained/resolved better!

I devoured this gem of a book. It is fun, charming and full of spark and wit set in the English countryside. I was bereft when I finished. Linda, if you ever feel like doing a short story set in this world, take my money please!

Thanks to Harper Collins UK and One More Chapter and NetGalley for the ARC. I have pre-ordered a copy.

I really enjoyed this title! The cover was so cute and drew me in! I also found myself giggling and rooting for these characters the whole way through. As someone who hasn't read anything by Jane Austen (I KNOW) some of the references may have been lost on me, but any Jane Austen people would probably enjoy this even more! Cameron may also be my new book boyfriend! I love true crime so him being a crime writer was so fascinating! The enemies to lovers(ish) banter was so fun to read! Cant recommend enough!!!

A delightful rom com which flows with ease from chapter to chapter. Reading this book brightened my day and made me smile. Totally recommend it - a wonderful way to spend time relaxing.

This book was so fun! I opened this one because of the title and the synopsis seemed like an interesting plot. Going in with little to no expectations, I was pleasantly surprised! It was funny, had things I loved like a grumpy author, a writing theme, and a bunch of other great things too.

It was a clean romance and had cute references to Jane Austen’s works. Overall, super cute read and I’m so glad I signed up for an arc!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 3.75/5
Spice: 0 (one make-out scene and a fade-to-black)
Publishing date: 16 June, 2023

This was absolutely adorable, yet for some reason it kind of feels as though I wanted more...? I don't even know if I can properly explain it.

The story follows Maddy, a Jane-Austen lover, who has inherited an estate in the English countryside from a family member she doesn't even know. She travels out from her home in London to live at the estate for the stipulated year before she wants to up and sell the property. Can the town and it's inhabitants win her over? If she's judging by the surly author who she's had a falling out with, surely not?

I loved reading about Maddy finding her feet in this absolutely gorgeous-sounding estate in the English countryside (can I please move there?). She doesn't have the money to keep the place running and since she doesn't even know anyone there, she's almost at a loss and ready to give up.
But then Myra, one of the village elderly ladies and runner of the local Literary Festival, gives Maddy the idea and the right person to take as a lodger. If only she'd known it was the author she had a falling out with.

Soon they start growing towards each other and the atmosphere turns pleasant between the two. During the story we're getting plenty of opportunities for belly-laughs at the rest of the friends Maddy makes, adorable moments with the lodger's dog, and the growing romance between Maddy and the Author.

The writing is wildly comfortable and it's so easy to sink into the story. I actually had to pace myself while I was reading. Linda has founds a wonderful way to incorporate the wisdoms of Jane Austen into a modern day novel that is great for a sunny day spent reading in the garden.

After all this, can I explain what it is that had me wanting more? No, I can't even put my finger on why I'm left feeling a little unsatisfied with the ending (even though the third-act breakup was resolved). I guess we'll never know!

The novel What Would Jane Austen Do? will appeal to everyone who likes a nice romance with a dash of old mysteries, quirky neighbors, beautiful countryside, dogs, cupcakes, and literature.

Maddy Shaw is forced to go outside of the London rental market after learning that her Dear Jane column has been terminated. She finds out about the death of long-lost cousin Nigel, the family's black sheep, and learns that his gorgeous country home was given to her in his will.

There is, of course, a condition, she has to live one full year in a house. Maddy is appointed chair of the committee for the yearly literary festival in her community, and now she also has to put up with bestselling mystery writer and skeptic of romance Cameron Massey as a new neighbor.

Sparks flare both on and off the page when Maddy challenges Cameron to write love fiction, which he believes is so simple to do.

Engaging and fun, Corbett's writing captures the spirit of Austen while giving it a contemporary spin (of Pride and Prejudice). The pace is steady, with a good mixture of humorous passages, romantic tension, and literary allusions that keep readers interested throughout.

The several Jane Austen quotations that were included at the beginning of each chapter are nice additional touch to the novel.

A cozy and heart-warming read.

A genre book, entertaining, fast and predictable. A good beach read for this summer or for a lazy afternoon sitting in the shade. Thanks for the opportunity to read.

Mandy is a young journalist, and Jane Austin fan, who losses her job as an agony aunt. Worried about how she can afford to live in London with no income she receives unexpected news about the death of a distant relative and a surprise inheritance. She has been left a country house but there is a catch as she can’t sell it but must live there for a year.

Shortly after moving in she has a lodger imposed on her; he is a bestselling mystery author who she previously disagreed with during a radio interview over the value of romance in mystery novels. Mandy soon has other obligations thrust on her, one being to organise the local literary festival. The planning for the festival, a ghost hunt and trying to uncover more about the past of her dead relative, provide the setting for some amusing events.

The main characters are pleasantly quirky. Overall a delightful read with an engaging and amusing storyline.

A really sweet story thats part love letter to Austen but it is its own story. I enjoyed the setting up of the characters meeting. The cottage and village was dreamy. The romance was sweet but I think it lacked a little depth. I also found some of the revelations about her cousins history a bit lack lustre. Overall a nice time

When Maddy finds out her cousin Nigel (technically, her father's cousin Nigel), the black sheep of the family, has left her a house, she's...well, confused would be a mild way to put it. She's never met cousin Nigel and doesn't know why he would leave her a house.
But she just lost her job, so she plans on taking a quick look at the house and putting it on the market...until she finds out that she has to live in the house for at least a year to inherit it. The house is huge, and gorgeous, and spending the requisite year there so she can sell would set her up for life.
There's just one problem: the upkeep is expensive. And the lodger a local woman finds for her is none other than Cameron Massey, the insufferable crime writer. But she needs the money, and once he and his dog move in it turns out he's maybe not as bad as she initially thought.
Meanwhile, Maddy has been put in charge of running the annual Cotlington Literary Festival--something she knows nothing about and doesn't want to do. But as she befriends the locals and researches her cousin Nigel--the former chair of the Literary Festival committee--she begins to realize there's much more to The Family Disappointment than she ever could have imagined.

What Would Jane Austen do is fun and sweet, with a little thread of mystery at the center, and I loved every minute of it!

My only issue is that, as an American, I wish the American characters had sounded a bit more American, but it was a minor annoyance--not enough to drop a star for.

Linda Corbett's "What Would Jane Austen Do?" is a charming and delightful romantic comedy that will warm the hearts of Jane Austen fans and lovers of light-hearted fiction. Maddy Shaw, a journalist and Austen enthusiast, finds herself living next door to the cynical and handsome crime writer, Cameron Massey, after an unexpected inheritance.

Corbett skillfully weaves together humor, romance, and literary references, creating a delightful and entertaining story. The witty banter between Maddy and Cameron sparks with chemistry, and readers will eagerly follow their journey as they navigate their differences and uncover unexpected connections.

The author's portrayal of the annual village literary festival and the committee dynamics adds a delightful backdrop to the romance. As Maddy challenges Cameron to write romantic fiction, the story takes on an additional layer of playful rivalry, resulting in both humorous and heartfelt moments.

Corbett's writing is engaging and light-hearted, capturing the essence of Austen's spirit while adding her own modern twist. The pacing is well-balanced, with a mix of lighthearted moments, romantic tension, and literary references that keep readers entertained throughout.

"What Would Jane Austen Do?" is a delightful escape into the world of love, literature, and unexpected connections. Linda Corbett's charming storytelling and lovable characters make this a perfect choice for anyone seeking a heartwarming and entertaining read.

Beach Read meets The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

*

Pick up "What Would Jane Austen Do?" for:

• Surprise inheritance
• Slow burn & fade-to-black romance
• Prejudice and Pride
• Cozy mystery
• Small town character shenanigans
• Dog plays matchmaker

Safe to say many a reader will be drawn to the Jane Austen inspiration, and WWJAD? will not disappoint. Lovely to read that the inspiration is truely all of Austen's works, and not just Pride & Prejudice. A note, sometimes a scene or character may have been more successful as a nostalgia note rather than serving the plot. I was still impressed with the how well multiple Austen elements blended into the story of Maddy & Cameron.

Thank you Netgalley & HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed Love You From A-Z. I might have jumped up and down when a new novel by Corbett.

What Would Jane Austen Do? by Linda Corbett is a sharp-witted, bubbly and beautifully told. I loved it. Utterly heartwarming.

I enjoyed this book from start to finish. The characters are well developed and personable, the chemistry between them was on point. The story line flowed smoothly from the beginning to the end and made the reader want the best for each of them.
Maddy and Cameron, even the side characters were seriously great company.
Adorable and clever, bursting with love and laughter. Linda Corbett wrote a new

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and One More Chapter for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

1st Chapter had me intrigued. Sat down to read a couple more chapters yesterday and couldn't put it down. Ended up finishing the book. It's every thing I want in a book with a title called What Would Jane Austen Do? Jane Austen quotes at beginning of each chapter, country village setting, and enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story. I particularly like while there were nods to Pride and Prejudice, it wasn't a retelling.

Pride and Prejudice, I think is the hardest Jane Austen to modernize. Nobody's going to starve in the hedgerows these days because they didn't get married.

This is definitely one I will purchase a print copy for my All Things Austen collection.

*Note for Publisher.*The so called endorsement from Katie Fforde on the cover is so incredibly bland that it does nothing. Get a better one or just let book stand on the strength of it's title.

What Would Jane Austen Do? is a warm and lovely enemies to lovers romance that proves first impressions are not always correct. The story follows agony aunt, and Jane Austen enthusiast, Maddy Shaw as she moves into Meadowside, a house bequeathed to her by her distant relative. But living in the house comes with rules and Maddy finds that she is now the chair of committee for the local village’s literary festival. When she meets local, best-selling crime author, Luke Hamilton, they disagree and argue about novels and their favourite genres. As they spend more time together, could attraction be brewing between them and is their initial impression of each other incorrect?

As a big fan of Jane Austen’s novels, I was instantly drawn to the title and it didn’t disappoint. There’s a nod to all six of Austen’s novels throughout the story as well as lots of twists and turns that made this novel an interesting read. Sometimes the dialogue was a bit wordy in parts, but on the whole I enjoyed this story.

I'm left with one question: why didn't I read anything by Linda Corbett before? She's an author I will check out in the future.

A fun chick lit romance for taking with you to the beach this summer, for everyone who wished they were an Austin heroine and are still in search of their Mr Darcy

Linda Corbett’s WHAT WOULD JANE AUSTEN DO perfectly blends themes of love, family and self-discovery in a story about finding yourself with the help of others. (Like Austen herself — kind of.)

Full disclosure — I’m not a big Austen fan, and yet that still didn’t stop me from adoring this book. That’s largely due to the characters themselves. First up we have Maddy — a down-on-her luck journalist who is a huge fan of romance reads. (Relatable.) She’s an extremely likable protagonist who ends up inheriting a huge, downtrodden house from a relative she’s never even met.

Enter Luke, aka Cameron Massey — a grumpy, somewhat famous crime author, who definitely does not believe in love, both in the form of literature and in real-life. As luck would have it, Cameron ends up needing to rent a room in Maddy’s new place. (Plus, he brings along housemate number three Buster, who I’m convinced is just the world’s best fictional dog.)

On the surface, Maddy and Cameron don’t have enough in common to root for, but life — and perhaps a bit of fate — has other plans. Throw in a looming literary festival, ghost-hunting TV star, unsolved mysteries of an old rock band, ex-fiancé’s and a wildly important manuscript deadline, and Austen’s many immortalized words of wisdom get plenty of screen-time in Corbett’s latest novel.

WHAT WOULD JANE AUSTEN DO is a simple but satisfying summer read. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys sitting down with a good story about family — both old and found.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.*

I absolutely loved this book!!! Maddie draws you in with her optimism and wit! I am a huge fan of the classics and understand her obsession with Jane Austen and how simple life used to be. All of the twists and turns of this novel are so well written and just keep adding layers of the mystery and love story plot. You will fall in love with the village of Cotlington!

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I loved this book.

Maddy no longer has a job as an advice columnist and no money either.

Then she finds out that her cousin Nigel has left her Meadowhall in his Will, but there are conditions attached. This news couldn’t have come at a better time for her.

So off she goes to her new home. Afterwards Cameron arrives, he’s a crime writer and Maddy had a not too good conversation with him about romance novels before his arrival.

She then dares him to write one, over time, they start to form a relationship.

As the author writes, I inhaled this book from start to finish. It is just lovely with enough romance, nagging mother and bounding buster the dog to make me smile as I read. A brooding Jane Austen hero, a gothic mansion and a smattering of Austen quotes make this a fabulous read.

Meadowhall is an unexpected inheritance for Maddy- she wasn't close to cousin Nigel- but it couldn't come at a better time, even if there are conditions. Maddy's just lost her job as an advice columnist and her purse is empty so off she goes to country, And then Cameron turns up- a crime writer she argued with over the value of romance novels. She challenges him to write one and the two of them slowly build a relationship. It's a good rom com but it's also about learning about yourself. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Relaxing read,

This was the perfect book to read for a pick me up. It was absolutely delightful. I quickly tore through this book and I loved every word of it.
I just reviewed What Would Jane Austen Do? by Linda Corbett. #NetGalley
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I INHALED this book. It was absolutely too enjoyable. It helps that I love Jane Austen and my dream is to live in a big English manor walking distance to a small village. Oh and I’d love to be on the committee for a flailing literary festival. Every single decision this author made felt like it came directly from my own brain it was so perfectly what I wanted.
My absolute only criticism is that the “third act break up” felt super trite and sloppy.

I hope this author makes this a series of Jane Austen inspired or adjacent romances with a focus on the literary world. I will pre order all of them right now. Take my money.

This is a well-written and hugely entertaining book! I wasn’t sure it would be quite my cup of tea as I don’t normally read or enjoy romance novels, but this is exceptional – and it always helps when a beautiful dog is ‘one of the characters’. The plot was great, and I’m now on the lookout for more of this author’s books. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this uplifting and heart-warming tale.

This is the most fun, entertaining, upbeat novel of the year! It is so well written and just flows with charm, wit and wisdom from one page to the next. I was barely conscious of time because I was so engrossed in the characters and events. Anyone who loves Jane Austen will adore this novel. Each chapter begins with various Austen lines plus there are many others woven throughout the text that work well with the characters’ thoughts and actions.

The Jane Austen phrases correspond beautifully with the plot and show how relevant her words are today. This timeless quality proves that human nature never changes, no matter what century we are in. What Would Jane Austen Do? is a breath of fresh air in its originality. Even though it draws upon Austen's creative works, it uses her lines in a way that puts a modern spin on them. This novel is just perfect, perfect, perfect!

What Would Jane Austen DO? has a brilliant cast of characters and each one is fully realised. Maddy Shaw has a popular Dear Jane column but out of the blue it is cancelled. Maddy is shocked, of course, and she doesn’t learn until later why this has happened. By then she is in a new life, after inheriting Meadowhall, a grand size house from a relative she never knew. Jobless, she sees this an excellent opportunity for income and plans to sell it and get on with her life. But things are not so simple. There is a stipulation in the will. She has to live in it for a year to keep her inheritance. Otherwise, the house goes to another person. She considers the options and decides to stick it out for the twelve months. But what she does not count on is how she will feel about the place once she has lived in it for a while. And the people she will meet in the community that will get inside her heart, including a certain crime writer she crossed swords with before. In the last interview she hosted for her column, she had a heated debate on the writing of romance novels with this author Cameron Massey. He thinks they are simple to write but she begs to differ. She argues it takes skill to compose a quality romance story. (And yes, I believe this is a direct shot to the naysayers of the world who think it is not a valid form of literature.) When Luke (pen name, Cameron Massey) lands on her doorstep needing a quiet place to rent with a dog who cannot stand the noise of construction work, (his house is undergoing renovation) you know there is going to be lots of heated action between Maddy and Luke!

As mentioned, the characters are well drawn with standout individual personalities. Even Cousin Nigel who has already passed away when the book starts, has a presence as large as his manor. As Maddy learns more about him from the neighbours and from the possessions in his house, she develops a connection and a desire to make his memory and legacy better known to her family. We soon learn his backstory with the rock band: a fascinating mystery twist that adds another layer of depth and intrigue to an already fascinating novel. There are so many wonderful threads to this story that keep you interested. There is never a dull moment with this well-developed cast!

One activity in the centre of this novel is a literary festival that pulls the community together. It was started and led by Cousin Nigel. Maddy inherits this task, too, which is somewhat daunting at first. In many ways it stirs up and exposes the various personalities but also provides healing and restoration where needed. Then there’s a ghost hunter with his own issues. And a canine matchmaker who initially pulls Maddy and Luke together on common ground. They both share a love of this furry roommate.

I adored everything about this novel from start to finish. The cast is unforgettable and delightful. There are some intelligent conversations and playful banter. It’s a comprehensive Jane Austen literary feast, covering topics of community, love, friendship and literature to name a few. What Would Jane Austen Do? is no ordinary novel. It is a priceless gift to Jane Austen lovers. Uplifting fiction, cleverly devised, highly observant and exquisitely delivered. If I could give it more than 5 Stars I would! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I highly recommend it. Cannot wait to read more of Linda Corbett’s works!

Thanks to HarperCollins One More Chapter and Netgalley for my review copy.

Maddy Shaw loves her job as an agony aunt with her Dear Jane column, where she gives advice which draws on the insights of Jane Austen through her books. Suddenly fired from her job, Maddy doesn’t know what to do. At the same time, her dad’s cousin Nigel, notoriously the black sheep of their family, passes away and leaves his countryside home to Maddy in his will.

Unfortunately for Maddy, the will also states she must live in it for at least a year to qualify for the inheritance. With no other choices available, she takes up the offer and moves to cousin Nigel’s village and tries to find herself some work. Soon she becomes embroiled in the village life as she discovers another unexpected inheritance – the role of chair of the village literary festival! And as the cost of upkeep on the house and running the festival gets on top of her, Maddy jumps at the chance to welcome a lodger, who turns out to be challenging and unexpected in equal measures!

After a slightly slow start for me, this book really won my heart! From the loveable characters to the will-they-won’t-they love story and the intrigue around cousin Nigel’s past, there was a lovely balance of cosy and mystery – just like our two battling main characters’ favourite fiction genres!

The Jane Austen quotes really added to the story more as it got going, and I enjoyed how the quotes were woven into Maddy’s tale and how her love of Jane was such a big part of her personality. Equally if you’re not interested in Jane, they don’t get in the way of any enjoyment of the book. I will be snapping up a copy for my mum’s birthday as soon as it is out as I know she will love this as a big Jane Austen fan!

Delightful Spin..
A rather joyous and delightful modern day spin on Austen and her heroines. Maddy Shaw and her column are about to be axed when she unexpectedly receives a welcome inheritance - the trouble is that it comes with some very stringent requirements indeed. Let the games begin. Romantic and witty with a well drawn and engaging cast of delicious characters, this is a smile inducing and uplifting read.

This was a great combo of mystery and romance...it puked me in from the start and kept me captivated the whole ride. I immediately could picture the characters, a true sign of a well written book. I loved the interplay between Luke and Maddy, and the town characters added another level of fun to the story. It was quick movining and delightful. I recommend it!