The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell @bymadelinebell @snemethparker @macmillan.audio @macmillanaudio.bsky.social #TheAustenAffair

the setup…
Tess Bright and her single mother had a strong bond, more like best friends. Her mother’s obsession with all things Jane Austen became hers, influencing Tess’s decision to be an actress. She signed onto a TV series, Chuck Brown, and it became a surprise hit, allowing her to buy her mother a home. She was ready to take care of her for a change, but soon lost her to cancer. Devastated and bereft, Tess gets replaced on the show but not before getting the dream role as Catherine in the movie adaptation of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. But Hugh Balfour, the esteemed British method actor who is playing Henry in the lead role, isn’t impressed with her and his behavior puts her job in jeopardy. Their explosive confrontation leads to an electrical accident that ends in a truly “shocking” situation…they awaken to find themselves in 1815 Regency England at Hugh’s ancestral home!

the heart of the story…
Once Tess and Hugh figure out what’s happened, they quickly determine how to adapt until they can find a way back home. This was the best of two worlds, historical and contemporary. I enjoyed the Regency period and all the entanglements these two encountered but loved that they were looking through a modern lens. They were forced to work together, developing a bond and an appreciation for each other.

the narration..
Stephanie Németh-Parker had to manage the same character speaking with American and British accents at will and she was excellent. And, her handling of male voices was so good I often thought it was a male narrator performing those roles. She was excellent in every way.

the bottom line…
This was a delightful experience, one I hadn’t expected since I’ve never read Jane Austen. No matter as the story brought whatever education I needed about the writer. Tess is a great character, well crafted and developed. She brought Hugh to life and the romance had the perfect fusion of modern and tradition. I just wish I hadn’t waited so long to listen to the story.

Book Info

• Release Date: September 16, 2025
• Narrator: Stephanie Németh-Parker
• Audio Length: 10 hours, 31 minutes
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio

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(Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)