Natasha Fleischman, Valley Booksellers, Stillwater, Minn.
Newbury Honor author Shannon Hale's young adult titles are a mainstay in children's literature, and I was quite excited when I got the ARC of her new adult title, Austenland (Bloomsbury, June). It was absolutely perfect! Jane Hayes 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 three-week vacation to an Austen-like estate in England, where she wears 19th-century clothing and is surrounded by 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 had me wishing for more. I can't remember ever being so swept away by a romance. It's smart, literary and 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.
