With all the lists I share here on Austenesque Reviews, you might assume that I have an obsession with organization and making lists…that assumption would definitely be correct! 😉
This list is all about Minor Characters in Jane Austen novels. Many authors have taken on the forgotten, unmarried, and unpopular characters in the Jane Austen universe and have fleshed them out and developed fantastic and well-written stories. I love Minor Character stories, I think they are definitely one of my most favorite types of Austenesque novels!
Today’s Top Ten list includes my ten favorite Austenesque novels where a minor character from Jane Austen’s novel is transformed into a hero or heroine of their own novel. So far, I’ve read 35 Austenesque novels the would be considered minor character stories, 15 of them are 5 star reads. It was not easy to narrow this list down!
This is my fifth Austenesque Top Ten list. You can find my other Top Ten lists HERE.
* These lists are based only on the novels I have read and are my top ten favorites.
**These lists are subject to change.
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(in alphabetical order)
Charlotte Collins
Author: Jennifer Becton
Type of Novel: Sequel, Minor Character
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
Conviction
Author: Skylar Hamilton Burris
Type of Novel: Sequel, Minor Character
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
Lydia Bennet’s Story
Author: Jane Odiwe
Type of Novel: Alternate Point of View, Sequel, Minor Character
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
Mercy’s Embrace (Volumes 1-3)*
Author: Laura Hile
Type of Novel: Sequel, Minor Character
My Ratings: Volume 1 (5 stars) Volume 2 (5 stars) Volume 3 (4.5 stars)
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
*yes…I’m sneaking in 3 for 1!
Return to Longbourn
Author: Shannon Winslow
Type of Novel: Sequel, Minor Character
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
Second Glances
Author: Alexa Adams
Type of Novel: Sequel, Minor Character
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
The Other Mr. Darcy
Author: Monica Fairview
Type of Novel: Sequel, Minor Character
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
The Three Colonels
Author: Jack Caldwell
Type of Novel: Sequel, Minor Character
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
The Unexpected Miss Bennet
Author: Patrice Sarath
Type of Novel: Sequel, Minor Character
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
Willoughby’s Return
Author: Jane Odiwe
Type of Novel: Sequel, Minor Character
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
***Because I can’t resist, honorable mentions go to: Caroline Bingley by Jennifer Becton, Jane Fairfax by Joan Aiken, and My Dear Sophy by Kimberly Truesdale!
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Have you read any of my favorite Austenesque Minor Character novels?
Are any of them your favorites?
Hi Meredith
I have read Willoughby’s Return and Lydia Bennet’s story which were brilliant and would recommend also. Thank you for more lists – I love them too!
Looks like you are a fan of Jane Odiwe! 🙂 Willoughby’s Return was the first book of hers I read. It is great to have such a wonderful sequel to S&S!
I haven’t read any of them but some time ago I read your reviews of “Return to Longbourn ” And “The unexpected Miss Bennet ” with Mary being the heroine And I appreciate very much this kind of stories where Mary Bennet becomes a dear character for the readers showing the good qualities that were in some way hidden in P&P. It’s really a very selected top ten, Thanks! 🙂
I have such a soft spot for Mary Bennet. I love stories that bring her into the spotlight! Hope you get the chance to read Return to Longbourn or The Unexpected Miss Bennet soon!!!
I have read six of your ten and loved them too. I love seeing the secondary characters get their stories.
I also liked the little short stories’ Jennifer Becton’s Maria Lucas, Lynne Scott’s Mr. Hurst’s Ambition, and PO Dixon’s Almost Persuaded. And novel-length, Colonel Fitzwilliam’s Correspondence.
I still need to read these that are already on my shelf and e-reader: Jennifer Becton’s Caroline Bingley, Karen Armindra’s Charlotte, Fenella Miller’s Miss Bennet and Mr. Bingley, Lucia Edgerton’s Mrs. Dashwood Returns, Nancy Kelley’s Loving Miss Darcy and Against His Will, Joan Aiken’s Jane Fairfax, Kimberly Truesdale’s My Dear Sophie.
6/10? That’s awesome! 🙂 Thanks for sharing some of your recommendations…I’ve actually never read any of those! That’s a great list of books! I don’t think I could ever get tired of reading minor character stories!
I love Laura Hile’s Mercy’s Embrace series. It’s a must read for Austen fans. She’ll make you like Elizabeth Elliot – no small feat.
So true! It is an amazing series! 😉
I have four of them; Charlotte Collins, Return to Longbourn, The Other Mr. Darcy and The Three Colonels. I’ve only read Return to Longbourn and The Three Colonels so far and you can’t go wrong with any of Shannon Winslow’s or Jack Caldwell’s books. So, apart from thise four, I have six new books for my Wish List!
That’s great that you read some of these books and enjoyed them! Hope you like The Other Mr. Darcy and Charlotte Collins just as much! 😉
What a pleasant surprise! Thanks for including “Return to Longbourn” on your list, Meredith!
Absolutely! It definitely belongs on this list!
LOL. I have all of these!
Woot! That’s awesome! You have great taste. 😉
I have read Charlotte Collins, Return to Longbourn, and The Three Colonels. Thanks for giving me more ideas!
Hope you love them as much as I do! 🙂
Meredith, I’m so thrilled to find my books in this list, thank you!
I love them so much Jane! They belong here, truly excellent!
I love Jennifer Becton’s minor character books. Have to add Dr. George from the Darcy Saga by Sharon Lathan, Mr. Caldwell’s The Three Colonels, and Monica Fairviews The Other Mr. Darcy. I think those are my very fave minors but then again, I love the books based on minors.
Me too, Stephanie! I have her latest novella – Mary Bennet to read soon! Can’t wait! 😉 Great choices in favorites! I hope authors continue to write for minor characters…we need more! Maybe some about Mary or Henry Crawford…or even Frank Churchill. 🙂
Love your lists, Meredith. Some new-to-me authors in this list, and some already favorites too. I just finished ‘The Three Colonels’ and remembered I had read one of Mr. Caldwell’s books previously that I liked so much I’ve read it twice now: ‘Mr. Darcy Comes to Dinner.’ I really like his writing. Of course Ms. Winslow’s books are great but I haven’t read ‘Return to Longhourn’ yet. Some of the other books on the list have moved their way to the top of my wish list now, after reading your reviews.
I’m slowly making my way through your older reviews that you posted before I discovered this lovely blog.
Thanks Meredith.
Hi Meredith,
thanks for this interesting list of books, I’d love to read them all, especially the novels about Charlotte, Caroline, and Sophia Croft!
I haven’t read a lot of books about minor characters, but one of my first austenesque novel was “Charlotte” by Karen Aminadra, and I loved it!