Publication: 16th June 2023 – HarperCollins UK
It’s a truth often acknowledged that when a journalist and Jane Austen fan girl ends up living next door to a cynical but handsome crime writer, romantic sparks will fly!
When Maddy Shaw is told her Dear Jane column has been cancelled she has no choice but to look outside of London’s rental market. That is until she’s left an idyllic country home by the black sheep of the family, long-not-so-lost Cousin Nigel.
But of course, there’s a stipulation… and not only is Maddy made chair of the committee for the annual village literary festival, she also has to put up with bestselling crime author –and romance sceptic – Cameron Massey as her new neighbor.
When Maddy challenges Cameron to write romantic fiction, which he claims is so easy to do, sparks fly both on and off the page…
Happy Sunday everyone! Today, it’s my turn on the blog tour for What Would Jane Austen Do?, the fantastic latest novel by Linda Corbett.
I must admit that I was first drawn to this novel because I am a huge Jane Austen fan, having read all her novels many many times and also owning multiple editions of her books. And I really enjoyed What Would Jane Austen Do?, an engaging and immersive story with a wonderful heroine who often channels her inner Elizabeth Bennett or Emma Woodhouse to solve situations and a grumpy hero who perfectly reminds of Mr. Darcy. I loved the many Jane Austen references and how each chapter starts with a quote from one of her novels. I also enjoyed the slow-burn romance adorned with witty verbal sparring and an only-one-bed situation, the mysteries to solve, and the fantastic supporting cast of villagers that make things quite entertaining.
The story starts on Valentine’s Day, which wouldn’t be so bad for single Madeleine “Maddy” Shaw if she hadn’t first been fired from her job as agony aunt “Dear Jane” at UpClose magazine and then she spent the afternoon arguing live on radio with the handsome but arrogant crime writer Cameron Massey about the importance of romance in novels and Jane Austen. However, things take a turn for the better when she discovers she’s inherited a house from long-lost cousin Nigel, who she never met and considered the black sheep of the family. The only problem is that to claim total ownership of the house she must live in it for the next twelve months, so Maddy packs her things and leaves London to move to the countryside. Maddy is quickly welcomed in the small community of Cotlington with its own newsletter of gossip and its own literary festival of which she is the new chair, having inherited the title from Nigel. Busy as she is ghost hunting in her new huge house, organizing the Cotlington Literary Festival, and finding out more about cousin Nigel’s past, Maddy has certainly no time for romance, except that her new neighbor is none other than the crime writer who doesn’t believe in romance Cameron Massey and their chemistry is undeniable.
What Would Jane Austen Do? is an heart-warming, witty, and well-written novel, perfect for all those who love romance, Jane Austen, enemies-to-lovers and grumpy vs sunshine tropes, and, if that’s not enough, there is an adorable dog called Buster that will keep you quite entertained!
A huge thank you to Laurel Ann at Austenprose for inviting me to join the blog tour and to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of the novel.
Linda Corbett lives in Surrey with her husband Andrew and three permanently hungry guinea pigs. As well as being an author, Linda is treasurer and fundraiser for Shine Surrey – a volunteer-led charity that supports individuals and families living with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. For many years she also wrote a regular column for Link, a disability magazine, illustrating the humorous aspects of life with a complex disability and she is a passionate advocate of disability representation in fiction. Love You From A-Z is her first published novel.
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PRAISE FOR WHAT WOULD JANE AUSTEN DO?
- “Witty, sharp and beautifully observed – I feel sure Jane would approve.”— Julie Caplin, author of The French Chateau
- “Sparkling romance, secrets from the past…Witty and romantic, I couldn’t stop myself from turning the pages.”— Alison Sherlock, bestselling author of The Village of Lost and Found
- “…sheer fun from beginning to end, beautifully written, and with a real touch of originality.”— Anne Williams, Being Anne
- “What a lovely book! It also fills my need to see British colloquialisms on occasion. Yes! I highly recommend this book!”— Michelle, Tales Untangled
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