Austenland Reviews
- A Book Sense pick for June
- A Wall Street Journal notable book for summer
- The Salt Lake County Library System Reader's Choice Award winner
- Over six months as the Amazon #1 bestseller in "Single Women"
- Featured on NPR's Morning Edition with Linda Wortheimer and in Newsweek magazine
- A Glamour magazine "7 Things You're Going to Love this Month"
Reviews
"The best Austen tribute since Karen Joy Fowler’s The Jane Austen Book Club....chick lit with soul..., there’s a laugh on nearly every page — Hale, like Austen, is adept at subtly skewering the ridiculous..."
Bookpage
"...Austen addicts will love."
Kirkus
"Endlessly charming..., intriguing setup and abundant wit."
Publisher's Weekly
*"This is perfect summer beach listening for fans of chick lit, romance or Jane Austen."
Publisher's Weekly STARRED REVIEW for the audio book
"A clever confection for fans of contemporary Austen knockoffs."
Booklist
"This book is a pure joy."
Liz B., A Chair, A Fireplace, and a Tea Cozy
"It's just adorable. Definitely my favorite modern take on Austen. Hooray, hooray, hooray."
bookshelves of doom
"Sharp writing, a wry heroine....an utterly enjoyable tribute."
Miami Herald
"Imagine a place where Austen fans could live like their favorite Austen heroines. Austenland features this deliciously weird yet plausible concept...The ending is funny, moving and a real surprise."
Deirdre Donahue, USA Today
"Cheeky irreverence"
Ella Taylor, LA Times Book Review
"Another Austen retread that'll become a classic a la Bridget Jones' Diary: Shannon Hale's sharp book Austenland...it's so gloriously satisfying."
Glamour
"An homage to Austen and Fielding….Austenland offers hope that after years of fruitless searching for a companion, just when you're ready to give up on love, it will find you all on its own."
Houston Chronicle
"Tantalizing, funny, absolutely satisfying, and surprising to the last page, this delicious confection will be devoured by die-hard Austen fans."
Linda Hillegass, Lee Booksellers, Lincoln, NE, for Book Sense Picks
"I own three copies--one to keep pristine and beautiful, one to read, and one to force on my friends."
Stephenie Meyer
"A charming world that provides an entertaining diversion from the hustle and bustle of modern life."
Calgary Herald
"Hale is a superb storyteller. This book is hilarious...So, pull up your beach chairs, ladies, and enjoy this gem."
Estella's Revenge
"Enchanting and funny...Hale's clever books just get better and better."
Deseret Morning News
"I am SO in love...this is exactly the kind of thing I needed and wanted to read."
Robin Brande
"The book is well written, quite readable, and the myriad characters, especially those working at the resort, are quirkily funny. Given the immense popularity of Jane Austen’s novels among teen girls, this book definitely has cross-over appeal."
School Library Journal
"Delightful"
Buffalo News
"When I saw that Shannon Hale was a Newbery Honor Medalist, I thought: Aha! A novelist who can write well! And I wasn't disappointed. An enjoyable story right up until the final page is turned. If you like contemporary chick-lit with an Austen twist, AUSTENLAND wins, hands down."
bookreporter.com
"Newbery Honor author Shannon Hale’s young adult titles are a mainstay in children’s literature, and I was quite excited when the ARC of her new adult title, Austenland (Bloomsbury, June), arrived in my mailbox. It was absolutely perfect! The 21st century woman in the novel has been waiting for years for her own Mr. Darcy to appear after having been enchanted by Jane Austen’s novels. When her wealthy great aunt dies, she is granted a 3-week vacation to an Austen-like estate in England where she wears 19th century clothing and observes 19th century social customs while surrounded by character actors who make the experience feel real. I devoured it with a smile on my face the entire time. I loved every character, every twist and the ending kept me wishing for more. I cannot ever remember being so swept away by a romance. It is smart, it is literary and it is a page turner. By the end you are rooting for the characters to get together. Jane Austen herself would be impressed. Hale has opened the door to a whole new audience! I can’t wait to see what comes next from her!"
Galley Talk in Publisher's Weekly
Natasha Fleischman, The Valley Bookseller, Stillwater, MN
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