If you can’t get enough Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, then these Jane Austen-inspired books may be just what you need. From contemporary adaptations to variations, here’s a list of some great Austen-esque novels definitely worth reading.
For a long time, I just didn’t get the whole Jane Austen thing. I steadfastly avoided reading her books for years, despite how much other readers praised them.
I think I have a dislike for doing what other people are doing (I grew up when Titanic was in the theaters and that fervor kept me from watching it for 20 years). And so I let my copy of Pride and Prejudice collect dust on a high shelf on my bookcase.
But last year, I decided to focus more on my love of reading. I joined a book club and started exploring new authors. I also started reading more classics.
Which is how I came to read Pride and Prejudice. And then Sense and Sensibility. Then Emma and Persuasion. After all these years, the Jane Austen bug had bitten me.
Jane Austen-inspired books: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
No book has ever been remade or adapted as many times as Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen’s other books have gotten some variations, too (did you know the 90s teen classic Clueless was based loosely on Emma?), but not nearly as many as P&P.
And not all of them are good. And some are just bad. You’ve been warned.
So, while reading Austen-esque novels over the last couple of years, I have come across some seriously not good reads. I’m sure you have, too. But this list sticks to clean adaptations that lean toward funny.
Jane Austen herself was very good at poking fun at society while injecting tongue-in-cheek humor. Some of these catch that style quite well. Others just extend our most beloved characters into new roles.
I hope you enjoy this list and find some favorites to curl up with this season.
The Best Jane Austen-inspired Books to Read
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Death Comes to Pemberly by P.D. James
A murder mystery sequel to Pride & Prejudice with sleuthing by Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. The characters were still close to the originals and the mystery is a great bonus.
The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay
Among others by this author, you get a lot of Austen in a modern story. What happens when you visit a friend who believes she is living in Bath in the days of Jane Austen?
Austenland by Shannon Hale
I love the premise of this book: a Darcy-loving modern girl spending a few weeks living in Austen-immersion. Pretty light and fluffy, but good fun.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith
This uses actual dialogue from the original and adapts it to a zombie premise. Even though I don’t like zombies, I found this adaptation witty and entertaining.
Mrs. Darcy’s Dilemma by Diana Birchall
Normally, I would avoid any “next generation” sequels, but this one is written with just the right amount of Austen-esque dialogue and engrossing plot to make me change my mind.
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
Part romance, part intimate look into this time in history, this novel isn’t so much Jane Austen-inspired as Austen-adjacent. But Pride and Prejudice lovers will enjoy the relationship and dialogue between Margaret and Mr. Thornton, as if it were Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy themselves.
Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
I feel I would be remiss if I didn’t mention this favorite, both in book and in movie form (ah, Colin Firth…). This modern-day Pride & Prejudice adaptation is still fun and funny.
Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal
Billed as “Pride and Prejudice in Pakistan,” you can probably make some guesses on what this is about. But the dual layers of fun and social commentary make the reality much better.
There’s no way I could possibly list all the amazing Jane Austen-inspired books and adaptations out there, so please list any favorites I miss in the comments here or on my Facebook and Instagram, so we can all enjoy them! It was so much fun putting this list together, I hope you enjoyed it, too.
Happy reading!
Looking for more on books and reading lists? Check out these posts:
How I Read 80 Books Last Year… and Why I Wouldn’t Do it Again
How to Encourage Variety in Your Reading Life
[Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission, at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own and I never recommend anything I haven’t used myself and loved.]
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