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    Midnight in Austenland
    Midnight in Austenland
    Midnight in Austenland
    Audiobook9 hours

    Midnight in Austenland

    Written by Shannon Hale

    Narrated by Stina Nielsen

    3.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    New York Times best-selling author Shannon Hale has penned numerous award-winning novels. In this follow-up to Austenland, Charlotte Kinder is eager to escape the numbness she feels after her divorce. Deciding to get away, she visits the Regency-themed Pembrook Park resort in England, where talented actors set the perfect scene. But with everyone playing a role, it's hard to distinguish reality from fantasy. So when Charlotte's heart stirs, she wonders if she's simply caught up in the experience-or if her ability to feel is finally returning.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateMay 4, 2012
    ISBN9781464049118
    Midnight in Austenland
    Author

    Shannon Hale

    Shannon Hale is the Newbery Honor–winning and New York Times bestselling author of the Princess Academy series, The Books of Bayern, Book of a Thousand Days, Dangerous, and the graphic novels Rapunzel's Revengeand Calamity Jack, as well as the Ever After High and Princess in Black series, and the upcoming The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl for Marvel. She also wrote three novels for adults, including Austenland, now a major motion picture starring Keri Russell. She and her husband, the author Dean Hale, have four children and live near Salt Lake City, Utah. www.shannonhale.com @HaleShannon

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    Reviews for Midnight in Austenland

    3.5/5

    285 ratings41 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Absolutely delightful. Very fun. A little Austen, a little Gothic and a relatable contemporary heroine.
    • 4/5
      Midnight in Austenland is a very enjoyable book for Austen fans! A funny mystery and romance.
    • 5/5
      Wonderful! Hale's light prose touch and gift for creating rounded, irresistible characters is on full display. This is so much more than a parody of or answer to Austen's oeuvre -- probably enjoyable by readers who have not themselves ever read Austen! I was surprised by how engaging the mystery plot turned out to be, and by how deliciously suspenseful and satisfying the romance plot turned out to be. Genuinely masterful.
    • 5/5
      I liked this book way more than the first in the series!! Bravo!
    • 3/5
      Charlotte is blindsided by her husband's affair and subsequent divorce, and decides a vacation in Regency England will be a nice change. For two weeks she and the other guests at Pembroke Park immerse themselves in the period, acting out love affairs with attractive actors. Charlotte seems like a bit of a sadsack at first, but when she starts suspecting one of the guests is a murderer, her personality starts to shine.
    • 3/5
      Charlotte is a mother in her late thirties who is the founder of several successful online businesses. Her self-esteem, which has never been great, has suffered even more because her husband left her for another woman. When she learns about Austenland, she decides to travel there in order to forget her worries and maybe, to experience a little bit of romance. So she travels from the US to Pembrook Park in England to wear Regency attire, meet handsome actors in costumes, take part in excursions to Gothic abbeys and drive around in carriages. Then a game of "Bloody Murder" turns rather serious and suddenly she might be in grave danger... Or is she just falling prey to her fantasies, like Catherine Morland?My chief problem with this novel was that it tries to be all at once: Jane Austen Pastiche, mystery, modern love story and humorous chick-lit. I liked certain parts of it (especially some parts of the mystery and the chapters that rather seemed like a historical novel), but the change of style and tone did not work for me. It seemed like a puzzle but with mismatching parts. To me, the author tried too much in this novel and accomplished very little. Another problem I have is that the Jane Austen setting is just a prop and it reinforces the stereotype of her novels as historical romance novels written to sell lavender soap and pink tea pots on their backs. This kind of book just doesn't do them justice. Moreover, everything feels just so fabricated - the surnames and place names sound so fake and not British or Regency at all, like someone imagining a historical Disneyland without respect for the real thing. Maybe it is supposed to be funny, but to me it is just annoying. Miss Gardenside? Mrs Cordial and Miss Charming? Grey Cloaks Abbey? No thank you.I do not think that there will be a third Austenland novel because it has been ten years since the last one and the film apparently was quite a flop. If there is ever a third one, I will have a good look at the plot before deciding to read it or not.
    • 3/5
      While not exactly as good as Austenland, this novel pretty good in it's own right.
      It was nice to see a few of the original characters back from the first novel, and I was VERY happy to see that they woman in charge of hiring male actors, found some others to replace those not coming back from the first one.
      I didn't think having a murder mystery was really all that necessary, but I guess Hale couldn't possibly have rewritten the same novel all over again, without incurring the wrath of even more readers out there.

      Light and breezy, this novel requires little to make it work for you, if you are able to sit back and enjoy the carriage ride. But I do think the ending was a little... forced.

      The only problems I had with the novel were: the main character would definitely have been noticeable, walking around in her dresses without a proper corset for at least two days, especially after having two kids.. unless she was very flat-chested. The singer who was hiding out while recuperating, would not have gotten better with the health issue she was having, I.e. drug-dependency, without more doctors, more rest, and possibly with some kind of medication. (I don't know, I've never suffered from this affliction. But I am almost positive it doesn't just get better in a couple of weeks...?) And I don't think the antagonist would have waited around to have the type of closure he did, in the end of the book... which the main character kept trying to reason out. Nor would he have kissed her. He seemed a little nuts, and most nutso-people don't kiss someone, and then practically turn themselves in.

      Even though, I found Midnight in Austenland a nice, pleasant time, while recuperating in my own bed, for the afternoon. I would not mind reading another one, if Hale should choose to write one, and the publishers would do their part.

      The dedication in this novel was almost as hilarious as the first one, by the way.
    • 3/5
      As cute and silly as expected...
    • 3/5
      Cute story, fun quick read.
    • 5/5
      After her marriage breaks up, Charlotte begins to read Jane Austen's works. When she decides to have a vacation, just on her own, where else would be better than Austenland? But all is not as it seems, and when midnight comes around, mystery is left in its wake.I enjoyed this one much more than the first book. Don't get me wrong, Austenland was entertaining but some scenes were a little too hot for my taste. This one strikes the right tone for romance, and has the added bonus of a mystery.Charlotte's character is relatable and endearing. Her conversations with her Inner Thoughts had me grinning on many occasions. She is kind and nice, but comes into her own as the novel progresses. A true heroine at her best.The pacing of the novel is just right, leaving hints as to the true villain of the tale well before we know we ought to be watching for a murderer. The supporting cast is a delight with some familiar faces from the first book.For Austen fans who wish they could go back in time themselves, this is a must read.
    • 3/5
      After reading Austenland and only liking it, not loving it, I didn't have high hopes for this sequel. In fact, I even thought about just skipping it altogether. But it was a pretty short book so I decided to just read it anyways. The main character, Charlotte, was incredibly irritating to me. She was such a pushover! Only when she became more comfortable with the actor playing her character's brother did she begin to grow and step out of her pushover ways. I was really bored with this book until she was actually at Pembrook Park and Captain Andrews decided to make his own entertainment for the guests. Captain Andrews made up spooky tale of Mary Francis and the nuns from the nearby abbey that died under very suspicious circumstances. Even though it was a made up story, there were some creepy elements to it. Which paired with what was actually going on under their noses made the last half of the book very engaging. The parallels between Charlotte and Catherine Morland from Austen's Northanger Abbey are very obvious and at one point Charlotte makes the comparison herself. Still, it wasn't enough to make me love this book. I liked it but like the first book will never buy it and probably never read it again.
    • 4/5
      No connection beyond setting and some minor characters to the first book. No mention of what happened there... I suppose so that readers can read this first, without fear of spoilers for the other. I liked this quite a bit. More romance/ chick lit than mystery - but a bit more thoughtful than either.
    • 3/5
      This book was fun and light. Charlotte is a successful business woman whose husband leaves her and their two teenage children for another woman. She discovers Austen’s work and takes a vacation to Austenland. This one tends more towards Northanger Abbey than Pride and Prejudice, but don’t expect too much from the mystery in the book. You should definitely not be reading this series for depth. It works as a standalone novel, but I’d recommend reading Austenland first. It’s the better of the two books and introduces the place and quite a few of the returning characters. BOTTOM LINE: Pure fluff, but enjoyable fluff. **Sidenote: Have you guys seen the Austenland movie? I loved it!
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed this novel though not as thoroughly as the first. The main character, Jane, was well developed but I feel the mystery she was trying to solve was too forced. Instead of letting her experience Austenland she was too centered on a mystery that no one else seemed to realize (or acknowledge) was real. It took me by surprise when she suddenly had feelings for the character she ended up with as it didn't seem like there was enough interaction to illicit romantic feelings. There was too much modern day in what was supposed to be a vacation back in time. I will however look forward to a third in this series based on Austenland if Hale writes it!
    • 4/5
      Charlotte is divorced and has two kids. She has recently read all of Jane Austen's books and needs to get away, so she heads to "Austenland" in England for two weeks, where she can live as if in one of Austen's novels. What she doesn't expect is the real life mystery she stumbles upon while she's there. I quite liked this, though not as much as Austenland. It did travel back in time to Charlotte's "real life", as well, which I initially found a little jarring, but I got used to it. There was some humour, and I thought this really picked up in the second half. With the extra mystery happening, I didn't think it was quite as chick-lit-y as the first book.
    • 1/5
      Oh man, the title makes me mad. It's like the author attempted to write a cosy mystery/ romance novel but thought by adding in Jane Austen's name a few times, she could market it as some sort of tribute. The protag goes on a vacation to a place which is never properly explained, where people sort of act like it's the 1800s, and a romance may or may not have been set up for her. Unfortunately, this setting feels nothing like "Austenland", provides no insight into Austen's work and fails to impact in any way. The romance is one of those one's where the characters' declarations of love, though completely predictable, are almost unexpected because absolutely nothing romantic has happened.
    • 5/5
      Before we begin: I am not a Jane Austen fan. I have not read all her books. Of the ones I have read, my favorite is Mansfield Park. I do tend to like the various Jane Austen spin-offs and adaptations.I am a fan of Shannon Hale. I have not read all her books. My favorite of her books is Calamity Jack. I really wish she'd write another graphic novel. But that's neither here nor there.Midnight in Austenland is a follow up to Austenland. It's not exactly a sequel in that it's the location (Austenland) that's the same, not the main characters. While Austenland is an homage to Pride and Prejudice, this one is in the style of Northanger Abbey (review coming).A successful business woman recently divorced turns to Jane Austen's novels as a means of coping. When that isn't enough, it's suggested that she take some time off from her business (affordable landscaping). She goes to Austenland, playing an older widow. She's not looking for romance, even though that's technically part of the package.Instead of finding romance, Charlotte finds murder. Although there is a secret of the family estate type mystery built into the fortnight retreat, she believes there has been an actual murder. With the help of other guests and the man hired to play her brother, Charlotte does her best to solve the fictional mystery and prove that there was an actual murder.It was a fun read with greater depth in both plot and character creation than the first Austenland. In terms of themes and in Charlotte's back story, I was favorably reminded of Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella.
    • 2/5
      I'm just a few pages in,but I have a preliminary opinion. I am fearful it won't change too much.

      I enjoyed the first Austenland, even though there were some challenges in it. It was light and frothy and fun.

      This book so far shows few signs of froth and fun. That could change, though. This is a good thing. But there are lots of cliches so far - and I'm just on page 7 or 8. They're cliches and they are not done well, either. You understand what Hale is getting at - for example in the magazine excerpts - but it doesn't ring true. It's not convincing. The characters don't seem to have their own voices. The daughter is 13 on one page and 14 three pages later. That's not a big deal, but didn't Austenland have an inconsistency or two, also? This reminded me of that. Don't publishers have proofreaders?

      Also, the tone of the book so far is, of course, trying to mimic Northanger Abbey but it seems out of place. As far as plot goes, it's strange to have a grown woman sneaking through bushes trailing her young daughter's equally young boyfriend, and then hiring a detective to do the same. That's not balanced, and it's almost ignored that it's, in so many different ways, so very highly dumb to do that, even if a mother is worried about her daughter. I don't believe, either, that the main character would read so much Austen in a weekend. And, I can't respect a character who has never read a novel in her adult life that wasn't Agatha Christie. This is a person who just launches into Jane Austen's works? It doesn't feel real.

      I'm surprised at all the great ratings here. Perhaps that means it's going to get better.

      I will say that I love that Hale had this idea of a Jane Austen-themed resort and that she seems to be using it for more books. I hope she continues, but with more levity and,maybe, a tone that makes me believe she's an Austen afficionado. I like also that her books seem to be sweet and stay away from silly, unnecessary vulgarity that so many people often mistake for sophistication. Hale just wants to tell a good story in an inoffensive, entertaining way, and I think that's great. I hope the writing gets better, though.

      I know it seems silly to write so much after just a few pages, but I was reading today and had so many thoughts about the book!
    • 3/5
      In Austenland, Hale played with the characters of Pride and Prejudice, a rather obvious place to start, what with P&P's popularity. Honestly, I was disappointed by Austenland. Hale is one of my favorite authors, because of the originality of her characters and the...honesty of her stories. Austenland read like any Jane Austen spinoff, but I wanted it to be special. Plus, as an Austen-obsessed girl myself, I somewhat wonder whether nurturing our desires for a hero is a wise course.

      With that knowledge, I came to this one with slightly lowered expectations. Expecting just a fun Austen-inspired romp, I was pleased with the results. I was not, however, astounded by its quality. This series does not rank anywhere near the Bayern books or The Actor and the Housewife. However, they are fun little guilty pleasures for those who like to think they may get a hero of their own someday.

      I definitely liked this one better. For one thing, the novel Hale primarily drew her inspiration from for this one is Northanger Abbey, which is warring with P&P to be my personal favorite. The opening lines and the gothic content, perfectly mirror Northanger Abbey, although the murder mystery and the hero are quite changed.

      There is not much Northanger Abbey inspired fiction out there, largely because Catherine is a less interesting heroine. Like Catherine, Charlotte does not have the makings of a heroine. She also has the tendency to let her imagination carry her away. However, Charlotte is much more mature than Catherine, both in age and intelligence. Charlotte is capable of some serious business acumen. Actually, this was one of the weak points of the novel, since the character of Charlotte seemed to switch back and forth between the brainless heroine and the logical, clever woman. The two parts of her character did not mingle well, and she seemed rather more like two women or like she has identity dissociative disorder, a suspicion enhanced by her constant discussions with her Inner Thoughts.

      The romance herein is not a sweep the reader of her feet vicariously kind of deal. That works here, I think, even if it's not as exciting necessarily. The right decisions were made for the characters. Nor was the end result surprising, at least to me. Once the characters were assembled, I wondered what I would have done as an author, and I was right. High-fiving a million angels.
    • 4/5
      Overall, I thought the book was very well done. Absolutely loved the fact that Hale had the gumption to make the bad guy who she did. Most, I think, would have chickened out on that. The only weak spot for me was the very end; it just didn't seem to quite fit. Other than that, an excellent book.
    • 3/5
      At times the plot of this Austenland book got a little hard to follow and the villain a little hard to fathom. But I did like the main character and it put me in the mood for a good old Gothic novel.
    • 4/5
      This companion to Hale's hilarious romance 'Austenland' loses a little from the fact that the core conceit is no longer new; the reader is no longer entertained by the sheer novelty of the Austen-esque vacation house and its Guest-esque cast of characters (there are a few familiar faces in this sequel as well as several new ones). Much of the silliness, this time around, seems overly ridiculous, even for a hard-core Austen fan. And yet...And yet, the fact remains that this is a delightful novel. When I started it, I was concerned that we readers would be stuck with a repeat of the "lonely woman finds romance on an Austen reenactment vacation" plot from the first book, and that certainly is a thread here, but this time Hale has taken her inspiration more from 'Northanger Abbey' than from 'Pride and Prejudice' -- with a little bit of Agatha Christie thrown in to round out the mystery angle -- and the result is just plain fun. Yes, it is ridiculous, but so was Austen's fling with the Gothic. And yes, there are plenty of overwrought moments, but it is also true that I lost track of how many times I laughed out loud and by the end I was practically cheering out loud for our protagonist.So, the final conclusion is that this is a charming bit of fluff, thoroughly within the "chick lit" category but clever enough in its sensibilities and its fandom to escape the usual pitfalls of romance sequels. Frankly, I was tearing through the pages like a giggling teenager; that kind of giddy escapism can make your day. Leave your expectations behind and give this book a try when you need a chipper pick-me-up. You won't regret it.
    • 4/5
      It's time for another trip to Austenland - this time for a different character . Charlotte Kinder hasn't taken a vacation since her divorce and, after a discovering a love of all things Austen, she decides on Austenland for her two week trip. The manor house at Pembrook Park provides an immersion experience in all things Austen - from hair to clothing to food to speech to pastimes, everything guests do, say, hear, eat and touch is expected to replicate the regency period. Actors are even hired to play gentlemen from that period and help the guests play out their Austen dreams.But after some time Charlotte worries their parlor games of Bloody Murder and their ghost stories are becoming too real. Did she really find a dead body in that hidden room upstairs? What really has Miss Greenside ill? And is someone there an actual murderer or just a very good actor? Or both?If you read Austenland but haven't decided whether or not to read Midnight in Austenland, yet, here is your answer: Do it! While Austenland was definitely a fun, quick read, Midnight in Austenland is so much more. I liked Austenland okay, but I really, really liked Midnight in Austenland. I don't know if it the little bit of added length (it's hard to compare paperback and hardcover length) or the difference in the main characters or what, but Midnight in Austenland just clicked more.Lovers of Austenland need not fret, though. Everything fantatbulous about Austenland is back - and in spades. There's still the regency traditions that no one - at least those that aren't Austenland actors or regulars - can grasp at first and the Austen-era dress and formality. And, of course, the gorgeous actors hired to play love interests.The beginning has quite a bit of Austen sounding narration. I don't know if it falls off as the book progresses, there's less need for it or I just got used to it - but it's definitely noticeable and well done in the beginning.This time, however, there's a bit of a mystery - possibly a murder and maybe some ghosts - thrown in, too. It doesn't make the book hokey at all and everyone keeping things Austen while also playing games of 'find the murderer' or 'is there a ghost?' makes for unbelievable fun. It also helps make it incredibly hard to tell whether everything is fake - part of Austenland - or if there's really something nefarious happening.Charlotte's also a great main character. She has a background - and a 'why' she came to Austenland - that propel the story forward well. The parts of her 'before' that we get interspersed with the Austenland parts really help to make her a likable and sympathetic character.Overall, this book focuses less on romance than Austenland did - there's a whole extra intrigue angle thrown in - but the relationships that are built are strong and well written.
    • 4/5
      Midnight in Austenland is the companion-novel to Austenland - same place, different heroine. Different story. Charlotte Kinder, a successful business woman and divorced mother-of-two in her late thirties, has recently discovered Jane Austen.Charlotte doesn't go to Pembrook Park because she's looking for Mr Darcy: she's looking for herself. However, like Jane in Austenland, Charlotte begins to wonder about the boundaries of this fantasy make-believe. Everyone is pretending, playing a part, but where does reality begin? The guests at Pembrook have embarked on solving a mystery, but are the clues Charlotte is uncovering part of that pretence or another mystery altogether?Northanger Abbey is one of my favourite Austen novels so I really enjoyed the ways Midnight in Austenland is a contemporary retelling. A Gothic mystery.Was this predictable? Possibly more than Austenland. Do I care? Not in the slightest.Midnight in Austenland brought depth to ‘Austenland’: it looked at the realities behind maintaining such a fantasy, and the people involved. (Character development! I love character development.)I expect that the narrative voice would annoy some readers exceeding. Personally, I love it. It's different. It can both view Charlotte objectively, and be inside her head (where Charlotte has conversations with her Inner Thoughts). It is witty and contemporary, without trying to do the unachievable - that is, mimic Austen. It is homage, not mimicry. And it makes me laugh.I’d like Mr. Mallery to rescue me, Charlotte suddenly thought.That’s a weird thought, said her Inner Thoughts. You’d never catch me thinking stupid thoughts like that.Charlotte didn’t lash back, because it was, frankly, a stupid thought. She didn’t need saving. And why would a woman fantasize about being rescued at all?
    • 4/5
      Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale is the companion book to Austenland which debuted in 2007. If you've not read Austenland yet, don't worry about it. Midnight in Austenland could be considered a stand alone novel. If you're not familiar with these books at all, allow me to set the scene for you. Austenland is in an English resort of sorts. It's a place where Jane Austen fans can come and live out their Austenesque fantasies for a price. Everything from the clothes to the food is authentic. Actors are hired to portray characters of that time to give guests the full Austen experience. Charlotte Kinder is the heroine of Midnight in Austenland. She is a mother of two children, who love her one minute and hate her the next, a successful business owner, and she's also divorced. After her children leave to spend the summer with their father and his new bride, Charlotte decides to take matters into her own hands and go on the trip of a lifetime. Getting into the spirit of Austenland is as easy as she thinks it will be. After all the actors are paid to like you. Witty conversation doesn't come as easy to her as some of the other guests. However when one of the guests suggest a game of intrigue things start to get more interesting. Charlotte has to decide what is real and what is not. Midnight in Austenland is a perfect book to read on a lazy weekend or holiday. Shannon Hale's quirky characters, humor, an intriguing plot, dashing heroes, and corsets make a fantastic read. This book reflects the Gothic feel of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey. Hale takes several aspects from Northanger Abbey that translate well. Catherine Morland the heroine of Northanger Abbey is naive and gullible while Charlotte, who is intelligent but she is also a gullible. She puts her trust in people very easily. However during this book, she learns to trust herself. Overall this is a good read. If you love Jane Austen or if you've ever wanted to get lost inside a book, this book is for you.
    • 4/5
      I wasn't sure how Ms. Hale was going to take the same idea she used in "Austenland" and make it fresh and different. But this sequel to the first book manages to be just that. There is a definite flavor of Ms. Austen's work "Northanger Abbey" with its gothic mystery and its rollicking fun. I liked the juxtaposition of Charlotte's earlier life with the experiences she is having in Austenland. The best part of this novel is Ms. Hale's funny and quirky style of writing. She's always tossing in the odd comment or comparison that turns what could be overly sentimental into humorously real. Definitely a successful sequel that stands alone but takes fans back to the loveliness of Austenland.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale more than I thought I would. It was cute, light, and funny. Let me start by saying that I have not read Hale's original Austenland, but it really didn't matter at all as I read this one.In her fiction, Hale has created an upscale vacation immersion called Austenland. People (mostly women) can pay big bucks to sign up for this exclusive vacation package and spend two weeks inside Jane Austen's world. They stay in a grand manor, wear period clothing (including corsets!), and eat period food. They create fictional names and back stories. They even have a "love match" assigned to them - an actor whose job is too woo and compliment throughout their stay, culminating in a (pretend) marriage proposal on the night of the big ball.In Midnight in Austenland, Charlotte Kinder goes to Austenland for some me-time after a rough divorce, leaving her two teenagers with her ex-husband and his new, young wife Justice. Shedding her ex-husband's name at the door, she becomes Mrs. Charlotte Cordial, a young widow visiting Pembrook Park with her brother Edmund (one of the actors). She soon finds that Mr. Mallery is to be her love match - a brooding, dangerous (and dangerously sexy) man in a top hat, but Charlotte feels more comfortable around her safe "brother". When mysterious and spooky things start happening at Pembrook Park, Charlotte wonders whether she should trust her instincts, or if she's following in the footsteps of Catherine Morland of Northanger Abbey.As I mentioned, the book is cute and fun. The writing tries a bit too hard to be witty, which is funny at first, but gets annoying after a while. Case in point: Charlotte's "inner voice": "Oh my word! That's what's bothering you, her Inner Thoughts accused. You have a crush on Mr. Mallery and want his attention constantly! I do not, she thought back. That's silly. He's just an actor. Mm-hm, and how often do you watch a movie and get a crush on an actor? Like, all the time? Charlotte pondered for a moment why her Inner Thoughts tended to sound like a teenage girl. Fine, that's true, she thought, but I never expect an actor on the screen to fall in love with me. That's your prob, isn't it, Charlotte? You never expect anything! You're, like, paying actors a lot of money to make you feel all swoony and romantic, and you still don't expect it. For a 'nice' girl, you're totally a pessimist" (pg. 118).Or this silly passage: "Colonel Andrews clasped his hands together, his face aglow. Charlotte was so elated by his happiness that she wanted to squeeze his cheeks. His face cheeks, that is. Not that he didn't look great in breeches, but she didn't dwell on it" (pg. 155).Midnight in Austenland is a good novel for what it is - quick, light reading entertainment. I'd like to read Austenland and any other additions to this series, but I won't be camping out in front of the store to buy them.
    • 4/5
      As a fan of both Austenland and mysteries, this seemed right up my alley, and it definitely was.I loved the idea of a mystery within a mystery, where you are not quite sure who and what are real and true, a concept the author played with really nicely with all the men being actors playing at Austen gentlemen, and all the women taking on false names and backgrounds so as to be more a part of the fantasy.The heroine was clever and fun, and it was great to see her transformation from beginning to end. I also really enjoyed how the ending managed to be satisfying without being ridiculous or out of character in any way. They mystery itself, while definitely not on par with, say, an Agatha Christie, was still a good one, and did a great job of advancing the plot and characters.
    • 2/5
      I find myself utterly perplexed as I consider Shannon Hale’s Midnight in Austenland. I really have no idea how to write a review for this book. No idea. There are just so many things wrong with it that I don’t even know where to begin. I mean I could start with how the author seems so astounded by her own cleverness that she feels she must include every (supposedly) witty line, even if its totally awkward and out of place in the narrative. I could also start with how the main character so little resembles a real person that I wanted the murderer to kill her just so I could spend more time with the more likeable, if not more realistic, characters. Overall, this book was just so, soooo dumb. I didn’t expect it to be brilliant, but I did expect to enjoy it as a fluffy and fun read. This book was fluffy, but it was not fun. I wanted to fling it across the room by the end. Will you please tell me who stops to look at books when you are wandering around in a burned out building looking for a murderer? Who kisses a murderer just so he will not have the bad memory of trying to kill you (for the second time!!!) when he is in prison? And, most importantly, who would not have fun at Austenland? Why are all Shannon Hale’s heroines so unhappy there? This is the place most Janeites would call the happiest place on earth! I know I would. I disliked her from the beginning because she was all nervous and snarky about Austenland. I’m like, come on! Its like being on Regency House Party! What wouldn’t be fun about that? Basically, if you are a Jane Austen fan, I recommend reading something else (anything else), because why would you want to waste your time reading a book in which circumstances force the heroine to utter: “It needs to be said that we’re not really brother and sister”?
    • 4/5
      Shannon Hale takes on both Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park in this fun romp! If you've read Austenland you'll know that Hale does a great job at creating light-hearted modern takes on classic Austen novels. She accomplishes this and more with Midnight in Austenland! Hale had me biting my nails on the edge of my couch with all of the fun plot twists and turns. I enjoy modern spins on either Northanger or Mansfield, as they are often overlooked for their more popular counterparts (shout out to P&P and S&S!). Mansfield Park happens to be one of my favorite Austen novels so I really enjoyed Hale's updated version.I highly recommend this not only to Austen lovers but to anyone in the mood for a fun and lighthearted mystery/romance!