Time Travel, Fake Dating, and Austen-Inspired Hijinks? Say Less!
As a lifelong Jane Austen fan (and a staunch defender of Northanger Abbey), I was so ready for a story like The Austen Affair. A rom-com with time travel, enemies-to-lovers tension, and two actors trapped in the Regency era? Yes, please
Book Summary
In The Austen Affair, we meet Tess Bright, an actress with a heart full of hope and a career teetering on the edge. After a scandalous firing from her last job, Tess sees her casting in a Jane Austen adaptation of Northanger Abbey as a shot at redemption. It’s more than just a career move; it’s also a deeply personal tribute to her late mother, a die-hard Austen fan.
But there's a catch. Her co-star is the infuriatingly serious Hugh Balfour, a British method actor with BAFTA nominations and a complete lack of tolerance for Tess’s bubbly chaos. Their chemistry on screen is nonexistent which is a bit of a problem when you're supposed to be the romantic leads!
Everything changes when a freak electrical accident on set sends them spiraling back in time specifically, into Jane Austen’s Regency England. With corsets, candlelight, and courtship rules galore, Tess and Hugh must work together (no matter how reluctantly) to survive the era, avoid messing up the timeline, and hopefully find a way home.
Review
This book is exactly what it promises: a riotously funny, fast-paced, and heartwarming ride through time, full of nods to Austen’s work and tropes we know and love!
The enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Tess and Hugh is an absolute treat, with plenty of banter, reluctant teamwork, and yes, slow-burn tension set against the romantic backdrop of the Regency period.
One of the standout elements is how the book balances genuine homage with modern sensibility. Tess isn’t just a quirky heroine; she’s also navigating grief, personal reinvention, and a strong desire to matter. Hugh, with all his rigid seriousness, slowly peels back his layers, and it’s deeply satisfying to watch him evolve as he learns to let go.
As a big Northanger Abbey fan myself, I was thrilled to see this Austen novel finally get some attention! The parallels are clever, but this book stands on its own as a clever rom-com with a time travel twist!
That said, you do have to suspend some (or a-lot of) disbelief when it comes to how they time travel and how easily the characters roll with the concept of time travel. It’s the kind of plot where you're not here for scientific accuracy you’re here for the vibes, the witty dialogue, the petticoats, and the swoon-worthy slow burn.
And if that’s what you want? You’re in for a good time.
Final Thoughts
I devoured this book in two days. If you're a fan of:
- Time travel romance
- Enemies to lovers
- Books about books
- Behind-the-scenes actor drama
- Or anything Austen adjacent...
Then The Austen Affair is worth adding to your TBR. Don’t expect it to change your life but do expect it to brighten your week!
Read This If You Liked:
▶ To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
A delightfully witty and chaotic time-travel novel about a historian sent back to the Victorian era and the trouble he gets into while trying not to change the past. Think Evelyn Waugh meets Doctor Who with a heavy dose of farce and heart.
▶ Jane and the Year Without a Summer by Stephanie Barron
A fictionalized Jane Austen becomes a clever amateur sleuth in this cozy mystery set during the real “year without a summer.” It’s a smart blend of historical fiction and whodunit for fans of Austen and murder mysteries alike.
▶ A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Manda Collins
A Regency-era journalist and a grumpy detective team up to solve a murder and accidentally fall for each other in this hilarious and high-stakes historical romance. Fans of Bridgerton and feisty heroines will love it. Collins is one of my must buy authors!
▶ Mr. Malcolm’s List by Suzanne Allain
When a handsome bachelor with a secret list of wifely qualifications gets a taste of his own medicine, sparks fly in this sweet, witty Regency rom-com. A perfect pick for fans of Emma and enemies-to-lovers banter!
▶ Georgiana Darcy's Diary by Anna Elliot
Shy Georgiana Darcy has been content to remain unmarried, living with her brother and his new bride. But Elizabeth and Darcy's fairy-tale love reminds Georgiana daily that she has found no true love of her own. And perhaps never will, for she is convinced the one man she secretly cares for will never love her in return. I enjoyed this series so much but Georgiana was my favorite!
This debut is smart, funny, and full of heart and while it’s absolutely a love letter to Austen, it also stands firmly on its own two well-heeled feet. If you're in the mood for something playful and romantic with just the right touch of absurdity, you're in the right place!
