Austenesque Reviews’ Favorites of 2020 + GIVEAWAY!!!

January 1, 2021 • Austenesque Lists • 164 Comments

Hello, my dear friends! Happy New Year to you all!! Happy first day of 2021! Hopefully it won’t bear any resemblance to Mrs. Norris! 😜

As you might have seen, earlier this week I shared my 2020 Summary and Stats post. And it was a lot of fun to reflect and analyze what took place in 2020. Yay for it being a year of more reading, more reviewing, and more blogging!  🙌🏼

And while I love my charts and stats, today’s post is all about FAVORITE READS of 2020 – both mine and yours! ❣️

There were soooooo many fantastic new releases in 2020. Out of the 74 books I read this year, I rated 23 of them 5 stars! And they are such a stellar bunch – maybe even more special to me because they represent memorable and happy moments of this year. 🥰

Here are my 12 (ahem! technically 14) Austenesque Reviews’ Favorites for 2020!

~(drumroll)~

…and the honors go to…

for Favorite Pride and Prejudice Variation

(5 books)

Being Mrs. Darcy by Lucy Marin

Thank you, Lucy! The emotional journeys in this one gave me all.the.feels.

Buy the Book   I   Read My Review   I   Add to Goodreads

~~~

Speechless by Jessie Lewis

Thank you, Jessie! The tension, the constraints, the point-of-view…Gah! I loved it all!

Buy the Book   I   Read My Review   I   Add to Goodreads

~~~

Tempt Me by Julie Cooper

Thank you, Julie! This dramatic vampyre tale was epic and compelling!

Buy the Book   I   Read My Review   I   Add to Goodreads

~~~

The Journey Home to Pemberley by Joana Starnes

Thank you, Joana! Your emotive and poignant stories bring endless pleasure to us all!

Buy the Book   I   Read My Review   I   Add to Goodreads

~~~

The Perfect Gentleman by Julie Cooper

Thank you, Julie! I adored this extremely inventive and divergent premise!

Buy the Book   I   Read My Review   I   Add to Goodreads

~~~

for Favorite Austenesque Modern Adaptation

(4 books)

Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev

Thank you, Sonali! This Persuasion adaptation was profound, complex, and completely satisfying!

Buy the Book   I   Read My Review   I   Add to Goodreads

~~~

Sanctuary: Volumes 1-3 by Cat Andrews

Buy the Book   I   Read My Review   I   Add to Goodreads

Buy the Book   I   Read My Review   I   Add to Goodreads

Buy the Book   I   Read My Review   I   Add to Goodreads

Thank you, Cat! Oh how I adore these characters, how I love this setting!

~~~

for Favorite Austen-Inspired Story

(1 book)

Miss Austen by Gill Hornby

Thank you, Gill! I so hope this brilliant work becomes a movie some day!

Buy the Book   I   Read My Review   I   Add to Goodreads

~~~

for Favorite Austenesque Retelling

(1 book)

1932: Pride and Prejudice Revisited (2nd Edition) by Karen M. Cox

Thank you, Karen! I love the time period and the slowly-shifting romantic developments you depict in this story.

Buy the Book   I   Read My Review   I   Add to Goodreads

~~~

for Favorite Austenesque Anthology

(1 book)

Elizabeth: Obstinate, Headstrong Girl Edited by Christina Boyd

Thank you, Christina! This anthology beautifully pays to tribute to all that we love about Elizabeth Bennet.

Buy the Book   I   Read My Review   I   Add to Goodreads

~~~

for Favorite Regency Romance

(1 book)

Lakeshire Park by Megan Walker

Thank you, Megan! This is the Regency house party in England I dream of escaping to!

Buy the Book   I   Read My Review   I   Add to Goodreads

~~~

for Favorite Historical Fiction Novel

(1 book)

The Memory House by Jenetta James

Thank you, Jenetta! This beautifully-nuanced and interwoven tale had me consumed.

Buy the Book   I   Read My Review   I   Add to Goodreads

~~~

And now time to share the Austenesque Reviews Readers’ Choice Favorites!

Thank you to all who voted! I hope voting for 10 books was easier this time!

There were 1️⃣2️⃣1️⃣ different Austenesque books nominated in total for this award!!! And so many that received multiple votes.

The top 5 that received the most votes and are specially recognized as Austenesque Reviews Readers’ Choice Favorites are…

Undoing by L.L. Diamond

Buy the Book   I   Add to Goodreads

~~~

Being Mrs. Darcy by Lucy Marin

Buy the Book   I   Read My Review   I   Add to Goodreads

~~~

A Wilful Misunderstand by A. D’Orazio

Buy the Book   I   Add to Goodreads

~~~

Elizabeth: Obstinate, Headstrong Girl Edited by Christina Boyd

Buy the Book   I   Read My Review   I   Add to Goodreads

~~~

Tempt Me by Julie Cooper

Buy the Book   I   Read My Review   I   Add to Goodreads

Congrats to these 5 ardently admired and loved works!

I’ve read 3 and loved them already, and now I cannot wait to read the other 2!!

~~~

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

We admired and honored, now let’s celebrate! I’d like to offer 2️⃣ of you lovely readers a chance to win one of the magnificent books on either of these lists! (winner’s choice from any of the books listed above, paperback ebook, or audiobook)

All you need to do is comment below and share with us one (or some) of your favorite reads of 2020!

  • This giveaway is open internationally.
  • This giveaway will end January 8th.

~~~

Disclaimer: The Amazon links used in this post are affiliate links. 

164 comments

    1. For 2020 it has to be A Willful Misunderstanding by Amy D’Orzio. The situation and the characters were extreme versions of Canon or the opposite like the cousin Fitswilliam who is usually likable. Darcy’s suspicious nature creates the separation that could have lasted forever but is resolved very near the end.

      Reply

  2. One of my favorites was “Speechless.” I’m currently reading “All That This Entails” and I’m loving it so far.

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  4. I didn’t get to read as much as I would have liked to in 2020, but the P&P variations that I did read and loved were: Their Secret Love by Renata McMann and Summer Hanford, The Rogue’s Widow by Nicole Clarkston, The Longbourn Quarantine by Don Jacobson, and Unintended by Alix James 🙂 Hoping to read more this year, so many great books to choose from!! Happy New Year!

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  5. Three minutes left in 2020 here on the West Coast! Oh my gosh! This is a wonderful way to begin 2021! Thank you, Austenesque Reviews, for naming ELIZABETH: OBSTINATE, HEADSTRONG GIRL as your FAVORITE ANTHOLOGY and thank you to the readers for voting it as a 2020 READERS’ FAVORITE. So many of my favorite authors and books were also honored. And especially excited for Quill Collective anthology series authors who were also honored for their own novels! Cheers to a better 2021 for all!

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    1. Oh yay! That’s fun! I’m glad it was a fun way to end your 2020!! Congrats on the double win! It was so great to have a Quill Collective anthology to brighten our days this year! Thank you for featuring Elizabeth in such a beautiful way!

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  7. So many fabulous, wonderful books this year! I’ve read a lot of the books on these lists and loved so many, including Undoing, Journey Home to Pemberley and Elizabeth, but my very favourite for this year was the Sanctuary series.
    It’s not mentioned here but I also loved When the Sun Sleeps by Alix James, it was short but so emotional.
    Happy New Year Meredith! Here’s to much happy reading in 2021 and an end to this virus please!

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  8. Meredith, you honour me mentioning Speechless in your list, thank you so much. I’m thrilled that it brought you a little bit of happiness. Congratulations to everyone on this list – a collection of very worthy authors with some truly wonderful books. Happy New Year everyone!

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  10. I’m so very thrilled that Being Mrs Darcy made it to both lists. I consider it a true honor. Thank you very much Meredith & the Austenesque Reviews readers! What a way to start 2021!

    Happy New Year!

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  11. I’m so pleased and honored that Sanctuary made your list! Thank you so much Meredith! It’s in excellent company. I’m starting 2021 with a huge smile on my face. All the best to you in 2021!

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  12. Gah, so many great books this year…they really helped us through these hard, Mrs Norris-esq times. All the titles and authors here are so deserving of recognition for stellar work!

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  13. I’m honored, ecstatic, and humbled that “1932” made your list, Meredith! And that the “Elizabeth” anthology was a favorite for you and for readers. So much love and devotion went into that project 🙂 Congratulations to all the authors on the list, and thanks for all you do here at AR to support the world of Austen-inspired fiction.
    As a reader, let me second your choice for “The Memory House” – Jenetta James’s writing is, as always, sublime 🙂
    Happy 2021 to us all!

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    1. Thank you, Karen! I loved working with both you and Jenetta on your books! Favorites of mine. Congratulations!

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    2. Thank YOU for sharing this beautiful updated version of 1932 with us this year! I loved it even more than I did when I read it 10 years ago!

      I’m so pleased to hear your praise for The Memory House! I love following Austenesque authors into any genre they want to write!

      Reply

  14. Happy New Year! 2020 was a horrible year, but we had some great reads to help pass the time. I have read a few and plan to read the others. Thanks Meredith for helping me find so many wonderful books and authors.

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  15. I absolutely LOVED Tempt Me by Julie Cooper and Being Mrs. Dracy by Lucy Marin. So much angst and romance in those 2 books. Vampire Darcy is such a heart-throb.One of my favorite scenes was when he sang to Elizabeth while she was sleeping. I have such a long TBR list for 2021 with loads of Jane Austen variations, especially P&P. I also read a lot of fantasy this year and stories involving humans and fae are a hit. It would be lovely to read a Darcy-Elizabeth such story. I hope somebody will take the challenge 🙂

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much! I read Being Mrs Darcy, and then listened to the Audible. So many great hours of entertainment. It’s a best of all-time for me.
      My daughter has already cast her vote for fae D&E tales, I may just take you up on that challenge. Thank you so much for reading!

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    3. Indeed! I love the beautifully rendered angst! That great that you have a long list for 2021! I hope you enjoy them all!

      Have you read Mr. Darcy’s Enchantment that story has fae in it and I absolutely loved that one!

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  16. I read just about all of the JAFF ones and those are also favorites of mine. Glad to see them here. Happy New Year to all. Here’s to a safe and healthier one.

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  17. Being Mrs. Darcy is one I read twice so I have to put it at the top. Hate to just select one as they were all so good. I did not read Recipe for Persuasion, Lakeshire Park, or Miss Austen.

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  19. So many amazing variations this year my top 3 were: The Perfect Gentleman, The Price of Pride by Abigail Reynolds and Darcy’s Paramour by MA Sandiford. Julie Cooper’s Tempt Me is definitely on my TBR list now as well!

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  20. This year I read so many Austen variations and sequels it’s hard to narrow down. I loved Rose Cottage, Undoing, Being Mrs. Darcy, The Price of Pride and Journey Home to Pemberely. I’m currently reading A Tacit Engagement which is wonderful.

    Reply

    2. HI Christie! Thanks so much for sharing your favorites – out of the 6 you mentioned I’ve only read 2 – so it is great to know what others have loved!

      Reply

  21. There were so many really great books published this year. I personally enjoyed the Sanctuary series, Being Mrs. Darcy, Speechless and anything by Nicole Clarkson/Alix James just to name a few. Keep writing dear authors–from a very grateful reader…

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    1. Thank you so much mentioning Being Mrs Darcy. I’ve read the others you mentioned (and many more! Lol), and you’ve placed it in fantastic company. Happy New Year.

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  22. Excellent list! There were so many wonderful books released in 2020. I’m happy to see so many were on my favourites list as well. Thank you to all the brilliant writers who keep us all entertained so well! All the best in 2020!

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  24. The Journey Home to Pemberley was my favorite this year. Anything Joana writes ends up on my favorites list! Thanks for the chance to win another great book from 2020!

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  25. Fortunately, there were so many well-written,well-plotted,close-enough to canon variations in 2020,of which I read most, that I can’t begin to select even my top three.

    Thank you, all the authors of the books meeting this criteria. You made the year more tolerable for me.

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  26. I did not read as much JAFF in 2020, (although it was intentional, as I was challenging myself to branch out), but of what I did read I enjoyed, ‘Tempt Me’.

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  27. So many great books! Sanctuary is wonderful. There are so many of the others I haven’t read yet but hope to! Happy New Year to all!

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  28. Obstinate Headstrong Girl, Speechless, Willful Misunderstanding are just a few of the books I have read this year. I am always, absolutely amazed at the talent and art of each author to weave words into feelings which evoke tears, laughter and strong emotions of protection and even strong dislike. Hats off to each and every one of you.

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  29. Happy New Year Meredith!!
    You’re right: 2020 was Mrs Norris! (for me, she’s the worst character of Jane Austen’s villaines!) so…if 2021 were a person, I would like it to be Jane Bennet: sweet, kind and beautiful (at least it’s what I wish to be 2021).
    I was looking forward to this “golden” post (The Oscars of JAFF, LOL) and it has surprised me in a positive way as well of reminding me about some good novels of 2020 I almost had forgotten.
    One of my favourite reads in 2020 has been “The Dragons of Kellynch” by Maria Grace: you know I have a soft spot for fantasy 😉
    And what a wonderful way of beginning 2021 with such a giveaway!! Thank you so much, it’s so thrilling to have the chance of winning one of these remarkable books of both lists!
    Wishing the best for you and your loved ones 🙂

    Reply

    1. Happy New year!! I so agree! And yes, hopefully 2021 will be more like Jane Bennet!

      You are wonderful – I love that you are likening this post to the oscars! There were a fair share of votes for The Dragons of Kellynch – which I was thrilled about since it is Persuasion and fantasy!

      Wishing you a very happy 2021, my friend!

      Reply

  30. My personal favorites are Being Mrs. Darcy, The Journey to Pemberley and Elizabeth Obstinate Headstrong Girl. I liked Speechless too. I’m looking forward to reading Sanctuary and the other books on the list.
    Congratulations to all the authors and thank you for a great pleasure their books brought us. ❤️❤️❤️

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  32. Hi Meredith – Happy New Year!! Thanks for your year-end favorites list which I always look forward to. I have so many of these books on my TBR and look forward to lots of reading in 2021!! Thanks for the giveaway!! –Leslie

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  33. Great books, great stories, and great writers… they earn their great reviews. Well done all Wishing you a safe and happy New Year. Thank you as ever for the generous give-away.

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  34. Happy New Year! So many great books. One of my favorites was the 2nd edition of 1932. Thanks for all of your hard work in encouraging JAFF folks to read more!

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    1. I second that sentiment! 1932! I have read it countless times and listened to it twice already!
      Jennifer, I hope you are recovering and have a healthful 2021! x

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    2. Happy New Year to you, Jennifer! I’m so happy to hear it was one of your favorites too!

      Thank you for all your support and friendship, you offer such kindness with every comment!

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  35. I got the readers choice Undoing in the Jolabokaflod and I heartily agree, it was unputdownable!

    Much can be said about 2020 but it was a fabulous book year and thank you, Meredith, for adding to the pleasure with your great lists and the invitation to the jolabokaflod.
    Happy new year!

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  37. It Happened at Christmas a while you were sleeping ya retelling and The Light in Hidden Places based on a true story

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  38. While I enjoyed reading your reviews and readers’ comments, this year I caught up on pre-2020 JAFFs along with re-reading the canon, and doing more non-Jane-related reading, which I have neglected for quite some time. I am looking forward to re-reading P&P via my new Xmas-gift version with the Hugh Thompson illustrations. Eventually I’ll catch up on 2020 JAFFs, and will likely start with the stories above.

    Wishing you and all your readers a very happy, healthy, and successful 2021 (however y’all define success).

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    1. Good for you, Janis! I love reading older JAFF and sadly it was something I did not do a lot of this year!

      Thank you so much for sharing, I love hearing what everyone is reading and their reading goals. 😉

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  39. Happy New Year. I enjoy reading your reviews even though I do not comment much. There are so many books I have enjoyed reading but if I must pick a favorite or 2 they would be the Kellynch Dragon books by Maria Grace. After all, of course there were dragons.

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  42. Happy new year Meredith! Thank you for including the memory house in this lovely and quite august list- I look forward to it every year and it is a real honour to be included. Hugs for 2021:-)

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    2. Jenetta, I am so happy for you. The Memory House was my favorite book of 2020. You deserve every good thing!

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  43. I love seeing your best of the year list. I’ve read a few and look forward to more. I was so curious how the vote would go. Congrats to all the well-deserved winners.

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  44. What a wonderful and sweeping list of books! I’ve read nearly all of them, had a hand in editing or publishing quite a few of them, and I second every word of praise you, the commenters, and JAFF readers have said about these great books. Thank you, Meredith, for compiling this list and asking readers to vote, and for compiling monthly and annual stats on the JAFF market, and for spotlighting books and authors within this community, Meredith! 2020 was an awful year but at least JAFF shone brightly, and you helped ensure we saw the best of it!

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    1. Thank you, Jan, for all your work on many of these books and all that you and everyone at Q&Q are doing to bring such wonderful Austenesque gems into the world!

      Your kinds words are so lovely! I’m very thankful for this community, the wonderful authors, and all the reading friends being brought together through Jane Austen!

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  45. I have to point out that this was Julie’s year. I remember offering to help her get “Tempt Me” published back before Q&Q was a sparkle in its parents’ eyes. I could have predicted this! She’s one of the most talented writers I know.

    The book I’m most proud of is “Undoing” because I have a special personal affinity to that novel. Way to go, Leslie! We’ll see this book on more “Best of Year” lists yet. I can hardly wait to get my hands on your next one.

    Some of the books released near the end of the year may not have gotten their fair share of notice for a list like this–it happens every year. I just read “Silver Buckles,” which deserves to be on this list, but alas, I finished it too late to vote for it.

    Congratulations to all who were listed above as well as the five-star reads this year and all those runners-up whose names were forwarded to Meredith. You did good!

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    1. That’s lovely, Suzan! I love hearing snippets of the history of these stories and the boards they lived on before. 😉

      I’m very happy for Leslie too! She is such a talented writer and I’m so excited to read Undoing and fall in love with it myself!

      I will say that Silver Buckles was a high contender for the top 5! It was very popular, which is super exciting considering it is a debut release!

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  46. I’ve read all but 5 of these books. I really enjoyed them all. I am especially thankful that Julie Cooper and Lucy Marin finally began to publish their stories this year that were previously available as online fanfiction. I certainly hope more of them will follow.

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    1. Thanks, Gayle. Julie and I talked about publishing years ago, and at the time, neither of us wanted to take our hobby the next step into the publishing world. My opinion on it was changing for a variety of reasons, and then opportunity (a.k.a. Q&Q publishing) came knocking and… You’ll be seeing more of my work. 🙂

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  48. Such a great list. Congratulations on the winners. It is really hard to pick from all the books last year. Amy glad my constant companion (as an audiobook) whenever I am driving is the Journey Home to Pemberley made the list

    For the modern day, love the series Sanctuary.

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  49. There were so many great books this year. The Sanctuary trio were a wonderful modern series and man talk about blessed for choice for Regency. So many stories this year to savor and enjoy! There are still a few on your list I have not read yet but I am looking forward to getting there eventually.

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  50. “Being Mrs. Darcy” and “The Perfect Gentleman” are among my favorites! Most of the others on this list are still on my to-be-read list, so I have some good reads to look forward to!

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    1. Thank you for this list! ( And thanks to the people who left comments mentioning additional favourites as well.) I live in a third world country where books and ebooks are very expensive so I find your list extremely helpful!!

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  51. Happy New Year everyone, I haven’t been able to read as much as I wanted this year. So there are many stories on my tbr list, thanks to you Meredith! But my favorite book of the ones I did enjoy is Miss Austen by Gill Hornby!! I loved Cassie she had such a fantastic personality that made me feel like I was getting to know Jane through her sister even better 😀

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  53. WOW! Congratulations to all the winners! I have read all but 5 of these novels . I have Cat’s books on my Kindle to read for 2021 and will also read “Being Mrs. Darcy’ this year as well. Happy New Year to all!

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  54. Have any of you read “Confined with Mr. Darcy” by L.L Diamond. If you have not, it’s a fast read for a cozy afternood. Set in the pandemic, Darcy invite Elizabeth to stay at Pemberly to remain closer to Jane who is already married to Mr. Bingley. Will they have they happy ending?
    If you have not read this book in 2020, it’s not to late to start it in 2021!!
    Hope you enjoy it as I did.
    ENJOY!!

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  55. Three of the Reader’s Favorites were on top and close to the top on my list I submitted. I read a lot of JAFF this year so I had to double check each one to be sure it was published in 2020. I knew I’d want to kick myself when I saw the results of the vote, there are some I haven’t read yet, darn. From your top 12, Julie Cooper’s, Joana Starnes, and Jessie Lewis’s books are ones I reread in 2020, and listened to the audios. So, definitely favorites of mine too.

    I hope it’s not too late to wish everyone a Happy New Year….may it be better in every way for you.

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  56. I was grateful to have so many Austen-inspired books to get me through the quarantine. At the top of my list this year was “Mr Darcy and the Murder at Rosings” by akin Mei Wei; “Two More Days at Netherfield” by Heather Moll; and “When Duty Calls” by Belén Paccagnella. Happy new year to all!

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  57. I love the favorite book season because we are able to obtain the best book recommendations, and after seing your list I am convinced there are many books on my TBR I need to hurry to read. I haven’t read 5 of your favorites, and 2 of them were part of my favorites list last year, which means our favorites this year are very different Meredith! (I’ll only post mine tomorrow). That was a surprise for me because I thought we had read many of the same books, but I guess it wasn’t exactly so 🙂 This is a good thing beacuse it means we will have much to talk about my friend 🙂
    Thank you for putting together this list, for organising the readers favorites and for the giveaway 🙂
    Happy New Year Meredith!

    Reply

    1. It is such great fun to share and compare favorites, isn’t it? I enjoyed your list, Rita, there are 5 books on your favorites list that I haven’t read yet! 😉

      Knowing that we have read and agreed on so many books, I’m really eager to read those 5 on your list that I haven’t read!

      Hoping you enjoy a wonderful 2021, friend!

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  58. I read too many to keep them all straight. Greatly enjoyed Speechless and have read Tempt Me 5+ times while it was on the boards, so glad that it was published. I need to finish Sanctuary, and Being Mrs Darcy and Joanna’s newest book have been on my TBR list for awhile.
    Happy New Year!

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  59. Loved so many of these books, but The Journey Home to Pemberley was probably my favorite, closely followed by many others!

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  60. Thanks so much, Meredith! I’m SO happy and honoured that ‘The Journey Home to Pemberley’ is among your 2020 Favourites!!!! Fabulous way to start the year! Thank you!! Lots of hugs and have a wonderful New Year!

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  62. My 2020 reading year was a little less than normal, however I did read an amazing book called Margaret of Milton which was a reimagining of North and South by Elaine Owen and honestly, that book blew me away. It was so, so good.

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  63. This is a great list to remind me that I should read more Austenesque books. Having said that I love reading books with illustrations like Be Your Own Heroine by Sophie and Charlotte Andrews. If I do win this giveaway, I would love to own the paperback copy of Elizabeth: Obstinate, Headstrong Girl. Thank you for your generous contribution, Meredith.

    Reply

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