SOME OF THE LOVELY BOOKS JANE AUSTEN INSPIRES
When it comes to the name Jane Austen, everyone has heard of the literary scribe and her works are inspiration for countless creators and storytellers. From contemporary to the era she penned them during, the stories are endless. So much so that some people are annoyed to see more works inspired by her. This thought is what drives curating this list. So, the questions we have is what are some books Jane Austen inspires? And how many would you read?
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SOME OF THE LOVELY NOVELS JANE AUSTEN INSPIRES. #JaneAusten #Austen #Fiction #Books #Reading #Read #HistoricalRomance @JillianCantor, @Jennieke_Cohen, @JoanneBischof Share on XLet’s see how many books we can find. Something I say knowing I’ll miss some really good ones because this simply cannot be an exhaustive all-encompassing list. But this may serve as a starting point or reference if you want to enjoy some Austen-esque reading. So, let us begin.
BOOKS JANE AUSTEN INSPIRES
SENSE and SUITABILITY, PEPPER BASHAM
This is by a long time favorite author who, of course, writes contemporary fiction. This novel is a foray into the Regency era in a novel that is “perfect for fans of Tessa Dare and Eloisa James” with a story about a woman named Emmeline who is tired of trying to snag a good match during the “season.” Fate soon brings back the man she thought she’d marry, but will they earn a happy ending? Aside from the obvious title wordplay, I don’t think this book is very Sense and Sensibility like, but we’ll run with it since it is a regency. Goodreads
Note; this novel publishes October 14
LONGBOURN, JO BAKER
This is a kind of “extension” if you will of the Pride and Prejudice universe or a variation that makes the story into a Downton Abbey concept. The heroine here is Sarah, a house maid who thinks Elizabeth Bennet would be more careful with her petticoats if she were the one doing the washing! The story claims to go “beyond” the drawing rooms of Austen stories. Goodreads
THE CODE for LOVE and HEARTBREAK, JILLIAN CANTOR
A young adult romance, this one is, as the title suggests, about a math genius who relies on numbers over people. Then her Coding Club co-president is assigned alongside her to work on a new project, and so they develop a matchmaking app. This one is a retelling of Emma with a heroine who even has the iconic name. Goodreads
DANGEROUS ALLIANCE, JENNIEKE COHEN
This one is described as a “Jane Austenish historical romance with a dash of mystery!” and we’re curious, right? Lady Victoria Aston is our heroine, a woman who must now marry or see her family’s future in possible. She arms herself with the knowledge of Jane Austen only to be quite overwhelmed with how best to choose the ideal mate. Goodreads
ROSEWOOOD, SAYANTANI DASGUPTA
Bringing “trademark wit” to the story, this follows Eila Das who isn’t one to often follow her heart… until she meets a handsome fellow summer camper. Everything changes during their time together at this camp which is scouting for TV talent. The story is a Sense and Sensibility retelling. Goodreads
PRIDE, PREJUDICE and OTHER FLAVORS, SONALI DEV
A modern retelling, this is the first novel in Dev’s The Rajes series, all of which take on an Austen plot. This first is obviously a modern Pride and Prejudice which reverses the genders from the classic story. This time it’s the proud and confident Dr. Trisha Raje who meets DJ Caine, a chef who has worked hard to get where he is, and isn’t about people like Trisha who “judge him” just because he doesn’t have the pedigree. Goodreads
THE HEART of BENNET HOLLOW, JOANNE BISCHOF DEWITT
The year is 1904 in this Appalachian retelling about a farmer’s daughter and a wealthy businessman who find a “surprising love” only to have division between them. Lizbeth Bennet is the heroine in need of providing a secure future for her sisters and William Drake is the wealthy man who arrives to town striving to keep distance. Goodreads
Note: This novel publishes October 7
BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY, HELEN FIELDING
The novel is the inspiration for the iconic film adaptation and is commonly thought of as inspired by Austen. I don’t really see this (through the lens of the film) however the hero’s name IS Mark Darcy so there is that. Goodreads
THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB, KAREN JOY FOWLER
Also a film adaptation (which is pretty dang cute), this novel is about Jocelyn and her friends who form a book club to help distract the friend who is going through a divorce. Of course their author of choice is Austen’s six novels and each character (at least in the film) somewhat mirrors one or more of Austen’s characters. There is one story that is, well, not wise, but everything ends well (because of a right choice). Goodreads
JANE in LOVE, RACHEL GIVNEY
This one is a kind of alternate reality that asks what if Jane Austen did find love? In this case, she meets the “clever and kind-hearted” Fred, brother of a woman she befriends when Jane is – quite unexpectedly, transported to present day London where she learns she’s actually quite famous! Goodreads
THE OTHER BENNET SISTER, JANICE HADLOW
If you ever wonder what happened to Mary Bennet, well, this story offers a scenario! It’s a story about her as she “emerges” as her own person. Correct me if I’m wrong, but this one is getting an adaptation if I’m not mistaken. Goodreads
AUSTENLAND, SHANNON HALE
This follows a modern-day heroine obsessed with Mr. Darcy who goes to an all-exclusive Jane Austen experience. I own the book, but haven’t read it however Kerri Russell’s Jane in the adaptation is all kinds of fun. Goodreads
MISS AUSTEN, GILL HORNBY
The basis for the Masterpiece Theatre production, this novel is about Cassandra Austen and her story in the years after the death of her sister, Jane. Goodreads
DEATH COMES to PEMBERLEY, P.D. JAMES
A sequel to Pride and Prejudice (in a way), this is set six years after Elizabeth and Darcy marry as they settle into life living at Pemberley and building a life together. Of course, James also sprinkles a bit of a mystery into the plot, too! Goodreads
THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY, NATALIE JENNER
Set in the aftermath of WWII, this one takes place in a small English village and is a FAVORITE for readers. I unfortunately didn’t love the book but it’s a nice kind of cozy read if that’s what you’re looking for. The multi-character story follows “a laborer, a young widow, the local doctor, and a movie star” as they try to come together, in spite of vast differences, to unite in their love of Austen. Goodreads
EPIC FAIL, CLAIRE LAZEBNIK
The first young adult novel is a small group of Austen-esque inspired titles, this book (from 2011!) is about a “Hollywood royalty” heir (he is the “prince” of school, after all) and Elise Benton, the daughter of the school’s new principal. A not-exactly-made-in-heaven pair who must get along with Elise’s sister falls for the prince’s best friend. Goodreads
SOME OF THE LOVELY NOVELS JANE AUSTEN INSPIRES. #JaneAusten #Austen #Fiction #Books #Reading #Read #HistoricalRomance #RegencyRomance #RomanceFiction Share on X
JANE of AUSTIN, HILLARY MANTON LODGE
This is a novel I read years ago in a read-along and is one I read in print and partially listened to the audio. At the time (the book published in 2017), I adored this novel which retells the story of Sense and Sensibility in modern day Austin. The sisters here are Jane and Celia, former tea shop owners who must reinvent themselves and make a new life for their kid sister Margot. There is also Sean and Captain Callum Beckett playing interesting but very different men in the life of Jane. Goodreads
FIRST and THEN, EMMA MILLS
Described as “Pride and Prejudice meets Friday Night Lights,” this 2015 title is in the YA genre and follows a girl named Devon who crushes on perhaps the wrong boy! Some reviewers note that this is not a Pride and Prejudice retelling while others say they totally picked up on the comparison. So, to each their own! Goodreads
DATING MR. DARCY, KATE O’KEEFFE
A reality TV romance about a woman who, looking to promote her new business, goes on a TV show where a Mr. Darcy-wannabe frustrates her. Goodreads
FOR DARKNESS SHOWS the STARS, DIANA PETERFREUND
A novel that has been on my shelf for, well, years, this 2012 publication says it’s inspired by Persuasion and is a love story that takes place in a kind of futuristic world. Or this is my impression. It’s about Elliot North, a woman who four years ago made a choice not to run away with Kai, her sweetheart. Now Kai is back as Elliot’s estate is decreasing, his name is now synonymous with success. Goodreads
IN WANT of a SUSPECT, TIRZAH PRICE
This one gives us a Lizzie Bennet who is the first female solicitor and a Mr. Darcy who too is a solicitor with whom she “steals” a kiss or two with! The plot is a mystery that investigates a warehouse fire. Also, doesn’t this one just look way fun?? Goodreads
PRIDE and PREMEDITATION, TIRZAH PRICE
The prequel books to Tirzah’s “A Lizzie and Darcy Mystery” series (see title above), this introduces us to the sixteen-year-old Lizzie as she dreams of being a solicitor. When trying to get her foot into the world of law, she goes toe-to-toe with Fitzwilliam Darcy, the lawyer already representing the accused. This is the first of three books in this introductory series. Goodreads
ACCOMPLISHED, AMANDA QUAIN
This title is inspired by young Georgiana Darcy who is given her own modern story in this retelling! The setting is an academy and the “incident” with Wickham is still hanging over Georgie’s head. She sets out to prove to everyone she is a “perfect Darcy” which even includes distracting her brother Fitz by playing matchmaker between him and Lizzie! Amanda also wrote retellings of Northanger Abbey with Ghosted and Sense and Sensibility as Dashed! Goodreads
DEAR MR. KNIGHTLEY, KATHERINE REAY
Katherine Reay has plenty of novels inspired by literary works and they are charming. This one isn’t really a retelling, which I appreciate, but it has lots of Austen-esque references and is a delightful novel about the two characters penning letters to each other. Goodreads
A MOST AGREEABLE MURDER, JULIA SEALES
As the title tells us, this one is a murder mystery and it does sound pretty fun! The heroine here is the “feisty” and “passionate” Beatrice Steele who has never quite fit society’s definition of a lady. Her secret? She is obsessed with crime! Then the family must make the best impression on Edmund Croaksworth (can we discuss this name?) whom they plan to wed Beatrice’s sister Louisa to in order to secure their family’s future. Then they become trapped with a killer… and a handsome detective is there to solve a curious case! Goodreads
ORDINARY GIRLS, BLAIR THORNBURGH
Plum and Ginny are the sisters in this novel that reviewers categorize as good for fans of Austen or Bronte. Its Amazon page also categorizes this as a modern Sense and Sensibility retelling about two very different sisters who never cease to get on “each other’s nerves.” Goodreads
AUSTEN Series, DEBRA WHITE SMITH
I read these years ago and they’ve been reprinted (in 2018) with newer more (aka illustrated) modern covers. The colors are gorgeous and I did reread First Impressions (book one and the Pride and Prejudice retelling) and didn’t love it quite as well as I did the first time through, but it was still cute. The series has six novels in total. Goodreads
MORE to CONSIDER
- PREJUDICE meets PRIDE, Rachael Anderson
- SUITORS and SABOTAGE, Cindy Anstey
- JANE AUSTEN MYSTERIES Series, Stephanie Barron
- AUSTEN ADDICTS Series, Victoria Connelly
- WHAT WOULD JANE AUSTEN DO?, Jane Corbett
- PRIDE and PREJUDICE and MISTLETOE, Melissa de la Cruz
- PROM and PREJUDICE, Elizabeth Eulberg
- THE SECRET DIARY of LYDIA BENNET, Natasha Farrant
- THE JANE AUSTEN PROJECT, Kathleen A. Flynn
- I WAS JANE AUSTEN’S BEST FRIEND, Cora Harrison
- AUSTEN TAKES the SOUTH Series, Mary Jane Hathaway
- PRADA and PREJUDICE, Mandy Hubbard
- MISS CAROLINE BINGLEY, PRIVATE DETECTIVE, Kelly Gardiner + Sharmini Kumar
- THE CLERGYMAN’S WIFE, Molly Greeley
- ATTEMPTING ELIZABETH, Jessica Grey
- PERSUASION: A LATTER-DAY TALE, Rebecca H. Jamison
- A WEALTH of SUITORS, Beatrice Langford
- THE TROUBLE with FLIRTING, Claire LaZebnik
- SHADES of MILK and HONEY, Mary Robinette Kowal
- 21st CENTURY AUSTEN Series, Sara Marks
- INFLUENCE and TOLERABLE, Ruth Mitchell
- DESPERATELY SEEKING MR. DARCY, Becky Monson
- MR. DARCY BROKE MY HEART, Beth Patillo
- WITHOUT PRIDE and PREJUDICE, Jennifer Peel
- DASHED and GHOSTED, Amanda Quain
- LIZZY and JANE, Katherine Reay
- ELIGIBLE, Curtis Sittenfeld
- I’M NOT CHARLOTTE LUCAS, Kasey Stockton
- PRIDE and PREJUDICE and ZOMBIES, Seth Grahame-Smith, Jane Austen
- THE EPIC ADVENTURES of LYDIA BENNET, Bernie Su
- THE SECRET DIARY of LIZZIE BENNET, Bernie Su
- SEEKING MANSFIELD, Kate Watson
- MY OWN MR. DARCY, Karey White
- UNLEASHING MR. DARCY, Teri Wilson
- A TASTE for LOVE, Jennifer Yen
Note: Many of these are secular fiction titles and according to reviews, there are adult themes explored in many (this can include emotional as well as sexual content). So if adult content bothers you, make sure to read reviews first.
Have you read any of these titles? Do you agree with the titles we added? Which ones would you add? Which ones would you not have included? What books Jane Austen inspires do read (or watch) time and again? Comment all of your thoughts below!
PS; don’t forget to enter the giveaways which we extended for one more day (the ninth). Enter the Jane Austen inspired giveaway or the Downton Abbey inspired giveaway. Through September 9th. Or our latest giveaways running through the 18, the September New Release Giveaway or the NCIS: Tony and Ziva inspired giveaway.
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