Review: The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell

The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ALC and ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

I loved this time travel, historical romantic comedy!  This follows Tess Bright, a Teen Choice Award winning actress who has recently been cast in an adaptation of Northanger Abbey opposite very serious method actor Hugh Balfour.  Hugh is classically trained, and wants nothing to do with Tess.  He has heard the rumors of why she was fired and believes all of them and doesn't believe she is qualified to star in this production.  Little does he know that Tess is actually a very good actress and Jane Austen has been part of her life for a very long time, and this is her chance to be taken seriously as an actress.

When an accident at craft services sends Hugh and Tess back 200 years, they will get to test their acting skills in the actual Regency period.  They find themselves on the Balfour estate with Hugh's ancestors, and they must put all of their knowledge of the time to use to fit in and find a way to get back to their own time.  As they navigate the Balfour estate and the social customs of the Regency era, Hugh and Tess slow down and really get to know each other.  With time to put away external gossip, hair and makeup, and call times for the movie, they learn they have much more in common with one another than they ever thought.  Quickly a bond forms and sparks start to fly.

I really loved all of the characters and getting to know them.  I love a good enemies to lovers and this was just that.  This had good banter, a unique plot, great side characters, and was just fun overall.  This touches on grief and ailing parents, I thought that was portrayed in a sensitive yet believable way.  Both of the characters were dealing with grief in  different ways but were able to connect with their feelings on the topic.

This was a wonderful debut and I really enjoyed it.  

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