About the Book

After years of following her best friend’s lead, Mary Davies finds a whimsical trip back to Austen’s Regency England paves the way towards a new future.

Mary Davies lives and works in Austin, Texas, as an industrial engineer. She has an orderly and productive life, a job and colleagues that she enjoys—particularly a certain adorable, intelligent, and hilarious consultant. But something is missing for Mary. When her estranged and emotionally fragile childhood friend Isabel Dwyer offers Mary a two-week stay in a gorgeous manor house in Bath, Mary reluctantly agrees to come along, 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 that she lives in Regency England. Mary becomes dependent on a household of strangers to take care of Isabel until she wakes up.

With Mary in charge and surrounded by new friends, Isabel rests and enjoys the leisure of a Regency lady. But life gets even more complicated when Mary makes the discovery that her life and Isabel’s have intersected in more ways that she knew, and she finds herself caught between who Isabel was, who she seems to be, and the man who stands between them. Outings are undertaken, misunderstandings play out, and dancing ensues as this triangle works out their lives and hearts among a company of clever, well-informed people who have a great deal of conversation.

Amazon // Goodreads

In My Opinion (Review)

Mary Davies is a little nerdy when it comes to engineering, but she loves her job and creating things. She’s also a little insecure—both in her job due to a new manager and in the potential relationship. When her best friend since second grade invites, then forces, her on a trip to Bath, England, Mary has no idea what she’s in for.

Yes, she’s aware this in an Austenland-esque adventure. She’ll be required to dress up, attend dinners and balls, spend time in the country. What she doesn’t count on is having to care for her friend who believes she’s truly living during the Regency era.

Katherine Reay has done it again. With a story immersed in all things Austen, she manages to not only bring readers along on this adventure in Bath but to examine so much more. Her characters are rich and rounded, people you’d want to hang out with. The setting and descriptions are warm and inviting. I felt like I was along for this vacation at the Braithwaite House.

This book, at its core, is about relationships. Those with potential; those that have survived the hardest trials in life and survived; and those that have taken a turn and are in their final stages. It’s about finding our truest selves and not hiding from those memories where heartache is entwined with happiness.

If you’re an Austen fan, if you’re struggling in a relationship, if you need an escape, or if you love an well written, engaging, and robust story, The Austen Escape is a must-read. In fact, I now have a new favorite Katherine Reay book.

***I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. 

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