Jane of Austin: A Novel of Sweet Tea and Sensibility by Hillary Manton Lodge

Coffee has been my beverage of choice for a long time, but I have been getting more interested in teas this winter. Preparing and drinking tea feels like a ceremony, even on the most ordinary of days. That feeling of enjoying something special is so needed on these winter days during the pandemic. And this book, Jane of Austin by Hillary Manton Lodge, explores the nuances of tea through a retelling and reinvention of Sense and Sensibility.

As this story opens, Jane and Celia Woodward need to leave their home in San Francisco including their beloved tea shop. Their father’s scandal has forced them to leave and Celia, the oldest sister, is insisting they move to Austin, Texas. The sisters and their younger sister, Margot, move taking Jane’s beloved tea plants with them.

Once they settle into Austin, Jane meets a charming musician, Sean. Everyone is charmed by Jane’s new boyfriend except for the retired Marine, Callum. The Sense and Sensibility plot continues, so if you enjoy Jane Austen, you can fill in the basics of the story.

I really enjoyed this retelling of Jane Austin’s classic tale. It was interesting to read the story from the second oldest daughter’s POV, instead of the oldest. The details related to growing, drying and brewing tea were delightful to read. As a bonus, there were recipes included in the book that sounded mouth-wateringly enticing!

Check out Jane of Austin by Hillary Manton Lodge at the Library (https://catalog.lclibs.org/polaris/search/title.aspx…).