I’ve made no secret of my love of Jane Austen spin-offs, or retellings, and I am really excited to share Linda Corbett‘s new Jane Austen-themed novel What Would Jane Austen Do?

If you like heroines who love Austen, family intrigue, blossoming relationships and a celebration of literature, I think you will really like this book!

Thank you to HarperCollins UK and Austenprose for sending me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

---

Maddy Shaw is an Agony Aunt in charge of her own Dear Jane column. Maddy is one of Austen’s biggest fans, and the words of her favourite writer always help her to give her readers advice. But when she is sacked from her column, her life is turned upside down – and even more so when she discovers the black sheep of her family has inexplicably left her the most beautiful country house.

So Maddy picks up her life and temporarily moves to the countryside, where she discovers one of her neighbours is none other than the crime writer, and passionate romance hater, Cameron Massey. Sparks fly as Maddy and Cameron regularly cross paths, and Maddy is handed the task of running the village literary festival as a condition of inheriting the house.

What I really loved about this novel – without revealing any spoilers! – is that although there is a lovely, wonderful romance, it isn’t the only plot in the book.

Don’t get me wrong – I am a hopeless romantic, and I love any carefully crafted following of an Austenesque romantic plot, but one of the best parts of the story is the journey Maddy goes on. She is at a crossroads – in work and in life – and is also presented with a very compelling family mystery.

This is where my love of rock music pulled me in. Cousin Nigel, who left Maddy the house, had barely any contact with the Shaw family ever since he left for America decades before. As Maddy tries to find out why exactly he left, and how he ended up living back in England with a huge and gorgeous historic country house, she discovers a link to a famous 1970s band which has her on the trail of music history as well as consulting her beloved Jane Austen for life advice.

Linda Corbett manages to pull together lots of fascinating characters, a mystery and a romance (and a very nice Lizzy and Darcy-style enemies to lovers relationship, my absolute kryptonite!), and I found myself finishing the book in one lovely evening spent sitting on my back patio with a glass – or two – of wine.

What Would Jane Austen Do? is the perfect cosy romance to enjoy reading on the beach this summer.

---

You can find the novel here on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, HarperCollins, Goodreads and Bookbub.