Hi readers, I’m happy to share another of my Austenesque Top Ten lists with you today!
This list is for one of my favorite sub-genres in the Austenesque sphere, a sub-genre I like to call –Austen-Inspired novels. Now I know all Austenesque books are inspired by Austen, but the books I place in this category are ones that are more inspired by her in general than one of her novels in particular.
These stories have original characters and storylines. They are not sequels, modern adaptations, or variations and don’t focus upon characters that resemble Jane Austen’s characters. Oftentimes these stories center around modern-day heroines who are Janeites, read vociferously, or are in love with Mr. Darcy (definitely my kind of heroines!) 😉
I’ve read many Austen-Inspired books these past years, but here is a list of my Top Ten favorites!
This is my eighth 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 reviewed on this blog and are my top ten favorites.
**These lists are subject to change.
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(in alphabetical order)
According to Jane
Author: Marilyn Brant
Type of Novel: Austen-Inspired, Mature Audiences
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
Austentatious
Author: Alyssa Goodnight
Type of Novel: Austen-Inspired, Fantasy
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
Dear Mr. Knightley
Author: Katherine Reay
Type of Novel: Austen-Inspired
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
Definitely Not Mr. Darcy
Author: Karen Doornebos
Type of Novel: Austen-Inspired, Mature Audiences
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
Echoes of Pemberley
Author: Cynthia Ingram Hensley
Type of Novel: Austen-Inspired
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
Jane, Actually: Or Jane Austen Austen’s Blog Tour
Author: Jennifer Petkus
Type of Novel: Austen-Inspired, Fantasy
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
Midnight in Austenland
Author: Shannon Hale
Type of Novel: Austen-Inspired, Mystery
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
My Own Mr. Darcy
Author: Karey White
Type of Novel: Austen-Inspired
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
The Dashwood Sisters Tell All
Author: Beth Pattillo
Type of Novel: Austen-Inspired
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen
Author: Syrie James
Type of Novel: Austen-Inspired
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
My Review I Add to Cart I Add to Shelf
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Have you read any of my favorite Austen-Inspired stories?
Are any of them your favorites?
Hi Meredith, I have not read any of these books – can you believe that!! Have so much to read at the moment just do not know when I will fit these in. However, good to know that there is plenty of P & P, D & E reading material out there. That you for another brilliant Top Ten List, it is much appreciated.
I’m glad you enjoyed the list even though you haven’t ready any of the stories! I do know what you mean – Darcy and Elizabeth stories definitely keep us busy! I hope of you try any of these that you find them to your liking!
Thanks for posting yet another great list! I haven’t read all of these, but I have read most of them. I’ll have to work on reading these others!
Awesome, Debbie! Do you have any favorites?
Great list Meredith! I have read ‘Definitely Not Mr. Darcy’, ‘Austenland’ and ‘The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen’ which I loved! I have ‘Dear Mr. Knightley’ on my TBR list and the rest on my wishlist!
Thank you, Carole! I’m glad to hear you loved those that you read! I actually liked Midnight in Austenland more than Austenland, which is funny since its the sequel. 🙂
Always live your lists!!
Thanks, Christina! I appreciate it!
Interesting list—and I’m another who has read none of them. When I was first starting to participate in social media, everyone was talking about Austentatious; I should put that on my list, as well as the Syrie James novel, because I really enjoyed Jane Austen’s First Love. Thanks for helping us find our way through the Austenesque thicket!
Thank you, Abigail! Those would be two great ones to start with. 🙂
Oh Meredith I haven’t read any of those. I only read books about Darcy and Elizabeth (luckily there are plenty of those!) However I will definitely check them out as from reading your reviews you seem to have the same opinions on books as I do. Thank you.
I’m honored you would be willing to give one of these books a try based on my recommendation! Since you love Darcy and Elizabeth stories, you might enjoy Definitely Not Mr. Darcy or My Own Mr. Darcy since you will at least get a dose of Darcy! 😉
I’ve read Austentatious, Dear. Mr. Knightley, but I have the rest on my shelf needing my attention.
I enjoy seeing which books make your list.
Hope you get to read some more of them soon, my friend! 🙂 Thanks for checking out my list!
Thank you for this, Meredith. I love lists! I have only read Syrie James’ book (which is FABULOUS) so this gives me plenty to consider (and a few to bump off my shelf and get to reading.)
Happy Monday!
I love making list, Lori! Can’t help myself! I agree Syrie’s book is fabulous! I hope you enjoy any others read just as much!
I also like Alyssa Goodnight’s Emma-Inspired “Austensibly Ordinary” and Beth Patillo’s “Mr. Darcy Broke my Heart.” I was just reviewing my to-read list last night, and “Dear Mr. Knightley was second or third. It looks like I have to add a few.
A book that should go on your to-read list is “My Head on the Ten Pound Note” by Mary Flannery. The author is new to JAFF and doesn’t really know marketing, so there hasn’t been a lot of buzz around her book as a result. Admittedly it starts slow, but it makes up for it. A few folks I recommended it to on Goodreads liked it as well. The ending used half a box of tissues! Thanks, Meredith!
Oh me too, Suzan! Great choices! Those were definitely on my long list (which was 20 books!) Thanks for the rec, Suzan! I appreciate it! I’ll definitely have to check it out!
wonderful list!
denise
Thank you, Denise!
Meredith,
I can’t express how honored I am that According to Jane made your Top 10 Austen-Inspired list! What wonderful company to be in as well… 😉 Thank you for brightening my day so much and for always writing such thoughtful reviews!!
I’m glad it brightened your day, Marilyn! Reading According to Jane was a special experience for me – the book came to me from a beloved friend (who spotted it on my amazon wishlist!) and she gave it to me on the day Mr. Bingley left on a long 2 week trip! Your story and amazing characters helped me forget my sadness and was definitely a bright spot in my summer!
Oh, Meredith, you have given me lots of new books to put on my TBR list! I love Marilyn Brant’s books but have not read this one. Sigh. Plenty of catching up to do!
Yay! I’m happy to help you find new books! I hope you enjoy these as much as I did! Marilyn Brant’s stories are unforgettable (like yours!), this one especially!