I really enjoyed this novel it was a great blend of vintage and modern story telling. there was several twists in the plot that I didn't see coming. If I had to chose I would say that I preferred the parts of the novel set in Austenland however I get that the back story was essential to get the thorough benefits of the main parts of the novel.

I'm hoping that I can go back and read Austenland after reading this as I'm sure I will enjoy it too! ( )

You don’t NEED to read the first one but it’s better if you do. It’s fun to see all the parallels to Austen and other period works, but you can still enjoy it without being familiar with any other book.

SPOILERS BELOW






Totally knew Mallory was the murderer when he pulled the short straw, but had fun anyway. ( )

The premise sounded fun and started off okay, but by the middle Charlotte's self blaming became so tiresome and all the characters were one dimensional. The plot was thin and the cobbled together mystery made no sense really. Pretty awful and disappointing. At least I finished it quickly. I doubt I would read this author again. We can't really blame poor Jane for inspiring such mediocrity. ( )

Same flaws as the first one but still very fun... ( )

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. ( )