The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay

Last week I told you about the Book of Dust Volume 1: La Belle Sauvage. Today I’m telling you about another book I would recommend The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay. Back in 2015 I read The Bronte Plot, also by Katherine Reay, which I really loved. so I was pretty excited to hear she’s written another book as I really enjoyed her style.

I received a copy of The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay via NetGalley. I had trouble downloading it initially but had another go and read it in a few days. Sometimes I forget just how much I love to get lost in a good book, but when I find a good book, I love reading!

The Austen Escape was published in November 2017. Here’s the blurb:

Falling into the past will change their futures forever.

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.

I love Austen so was interested to see how Regency Bath and several well-known Austen characters would be woven around the story. It was an easy read, I think I read it in a couple of days. Overall I enjoyed it, but not as much as The Bronte Plot. I didn’t like the twist where Isabel lost her memory, it seemed a little far-fetched, and Mary was just so silly, I really wanted to give her a good shake! I enjoyed the last few chapters where the action was a little faster paced.

Overall a great read and a fun take on the small world of Jane Austen. I can’t wait to re-read my favourite Jane Austen novels again after reading The Austen Escape. I should mention that if you’ve never read an Austen novel you shouldn’t be put off by the title, it’s still a fun read.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me a copy to read