Hi friends! Happy 2024! I’m excited to be starting off my year with some better footing than last year! (this post is only 1 day late instead of 14!) 💪🏼
It’s the season for reflection, analyzing our years, and making goals – all things I love to do. 📊
And today, I’m sharing one of my favorite posts of the year. 🤩
In a year filled with terrific reads and fantastic Austenesque, here are the ones I adored the most! 🏆
Here are my 12 Austenesque Reviews’ Favorites for 2023!
~(drumroll)~
…and the honors go to…
for Favorite Pride and Prejudice Variation
(5 books)
An Accidental Holiday by Melanie Rachel
Thank you, Melanie. Mr. Darcy, mistletoe, and some merriment – what an excellent Christmas gift.
Buy the Book I Read My Review I Add to Goodreads
~~~
Irresistibly Alone by Julie Cooper
Thank you, Julie. The emotions in this story are deeply felt and exquisitely rendered.
Buy the Book I Read My Review I Add to Goodreads
~~~
Prevailed Upon to Marry by Mary Smythe
Thank you, Mary. I’m so delighted you had Mr. Darcy do the unthinkable and whisk Elizabeth off to Scotland!
Buy the Book I Read My Review I Add to Goodreads
~~~
The Last House In Lambton by Grace Gibson
Thank you, Grace. This story is an incredible Austenesque fairytale.
Buy the Book I Read My Review I Add to Goodreads
~~~
Unfounded by Jessie Lewis
Thank you, Jessie. Such an inventive premise. Such deep and challenging emotions.
Buy the Book I Read My Review I Add to Goodreads
~~~
for Favorite Austenesque Modern Adaptation
(1 book)
An Old Acquaintance by Cat Andrews
Thank you, Cat. This book pierced my soul in the best of ways.
Buy the Book I Read My Review I Add to Goodreads
~~~
for Favorite Austenesque Sequel
(2 books)
Never Inconstant by Lyndsay Constable
Thank you, Lyndsay. I am completely enamored with this artful and eloquent story.
Buy the Book I Read My Review I Add to Goodreads
~~~
Shades of Pemberley by Shelly E. Powell
Thank you, Shelly. I loved following the experiences and schemes of the Wickham’s eldest and most responsible daughter.
Buy the Book I Read My Review I Add to Goodreads
~~~
for Favorite Austenesque Fantasy
(2 books)
A Season of Magic by Sarah Courtney
Thank you, Sarah. This wondrous and magical world is one I wish to revisit again and again.
Buy the Book I Read My Review I Add to Goodreads
~~~
Spells and Shadows by Victoria Kincaid
Thank you, Victoria. This enchanting and dark tale completely had me spellbound!
Buy the Book I Read My Review I Add to Goodreads
~~~
for Favorite Austenesque Anthology
(1 book)
An Inducement Into Matrimony by Susan Adriani, Jan Ashton, Paige Badgett, Kay Bea, Gailie Ruth Caress, Amy D’Orazio, Nan Harrison, Michelle Ray, and Mary Smythe
Thank you, authors of Quills and Quartos. Each story in this collection was exquisite.
Buy the Book I Read My Review I Add to Goodreads
~~~
for Favorite Regency Romance
(1 book)
The Work of Art by Mimi Matthews
Thank you, Mimi. I’m completely endeared to Phyllida and absolutely swoony over Captain Heywood.
Buy the Book I Read My Review I Add to Goodreads
Honorable mentions go two books that almost made this list are: A Folly of Youth by Amy D’Orazio and An Appearance of Goodness by Heather Moll.
~~~
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 2023!
- This giveaway is open internationally*
- This giveaway will end January 23rd.
*international winners must be able to receive their prize from an Amazon that easily distributes to their country or receive ebooks through Amazon.com
4 out of the bunch above were my faves.
2023 was a great year and I am so excited for 2024 releases!
That’s great that we have some in common! And same here!
The Late Mrs. Willoughby was excellent and I can’t wait for the third book!!
Yes it was! I am very excited for the third book too!
Wow I read all but I agree but one I didn’t….I have to say last year was an incredible year for the JAFF community so many great books were released …such talent !!!!!
For sure it was! What a great time to be an Austenesque reader!
Thanks for your reviews. I enjoyed Jane and the Final Mystery ( Stephane Barron) …sorry to see the series end.
Thanks so much for sharing! And yes, that was a terrific read – I am sorry to see it end too!
Great list, must admit there were 3 on the list that passed me by.
Can’t wait to see what releases we have in 2024
Thanks! I’m glad to hear you’ve enjoyed many of the same stories as I did!
I agree with your list of favorites. There are three I haven’t read but will put on my list to read. Happy New Year!
That’s so great! I’m glad to hear we shared a lot of favorites with each other!
I loved An Accidental Holiday too, I’ve read it multiple times, it’s so cheerful even if it starts with an accident.
Unfounded was great too.
I’m still waiting to read Prevailed upon to Marry and Irresistibly Alone, I don’t think I can handle such high angst at the moment.
I’m definitely going to read The Last house in Lambton next, I love Grace Gibson’s books.
And both fantasy variations were great too, actually I haven’t read any fantasy JAFF I haven’t liked yet.
And a big shout to Frances Reynolds and her great books which didn’t make to this very short list: In Sickness and in Health and The Wallflower. I just adore her first novel Not Just a Pretty Face which was published in 2022.
I’m looking forward to this year great JAFF releases.
I hope you love all of them when you read them in the future! I have In Sickness and in Health in my TBR, but your rec makes me want to pick it up sooner!
What a great list of books, Meredith. I haven’t read two from your list but I agree with the placement of the ones I have read. It’s so hard to narrow it down. I almost didn’t read Unfounded because I couldn’t deal with the idea of Mrs. Reynolds actively disliking Elizabeth, but I’m so glad I did. I loved The Last House in Lambton too, read it then got the audio as soon as I could. I agree with KateB. about Frances Reynolds, In Sickness and in Health was in my top faves for the year. I would add Doubt Not, Cousin which isn’t for the faint of heart but brilliant. I’ve come to appreciate a couple of authors this year I hadn’t really explore much previously and due to that I’d add Laraba Kendig’s Elizabeth’s Inheritance to my best of ’23 list. Also Christine Coombe. Heather Moll’s Loving Miss Tilney was a favorite this year, and now I will stop because oh boy, I could go on and on.
Mimi Matthews. Oh my goodness that woman really writes the most wonderful Regencies.
Happy New Year, Meredith…and Fezik too.
I love hearing all your remarks about Unfounded and The Last House in Lambton. And that is deciding it – I need to read In Sickness and in Health! I appreciate the rec for Doubt Not, Cousin and Elizabeth’s Inheritance.
And I absolutely agree about Mimi Matthews – I absolutely adore her writing!
Great Favorites list!
Jane and the Final Mystery was wonderful.
denise
Thank you!
Agreed!
Very nice list! It is one of my favourite moments of the new years – the lists! I agree with many of your choices, although Irresistibly Alone is the #1 for me. And I have never considered Shades of Pemberley to read…. I shall do so now that it comes so highly recommended… Here’s hoping for more wonderful books this year! Bonne année to all!
Same! I love making my list and I love looking and hearing about others.’
Yes, Irresistibly Alone was an absolute gem. And I do recommend Shades of Pemberley highly!
Thank you so much, Meredith, for including An Old Acquaintance in your always-anticipated list of favorites for the year! It’s in such wonderful company. Here’s to more fabulous reads in 2024!
Thank YOU for sharing this amazing story with us. It is a wonderful gift to us all!
I loved a wound deeper than pride and anything by mimi Matthew’s.. happy new year
Yes! I agree!
It’s always hard to narrow it down when there’s such high quality in JAFF, and I enjoyed several of your top ten books, so I agree with you there! Because some were last-minute books this year, we were lucky to get them for our lists!
For sure! I know there are many fantastic reads from 2023 that I need to catch up on.
Several of these were favorites too. “The truth about family” by Lucy Marin along with “The Seven Sins of Fitzwilliam Darcy” and “Irresistibly Alone” by Julie Cooper and “Remember, I Love You—Always” by Debra-Ann Kummoung were some of my top picks for this year. The book came out last year but the audiobook came out this year and was amazing with the two narrators in “A Gentleman’s Honor” by Melanie Rachel.
There were so many fantastic ones!! ~ Glory
Ooh! Yes, I loved The Truth About Family too I have The Seven Sins of Fitzwilliam Darcy on my TBR list. And I definitely need to check out A Gentleman’s Honor.
I enjoyed reading Spirited Pursuits. Thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks for sharing. I will be sure to check it out!
Thank you so much, Meredith! I’m honored to be on this list (technically twice!!). ❤️
Thank YOU for all the joy your stories bring! I cannot wait to read A Case of Some Urgency!
I’ve lately been reading, Riana Everly’s “Miss Mary Investigates”, all of Austen’s characters with a Sherlock mystery. I highly recommend.
Yes! I’m two books into that series and I cannot wait to read the third!
AN ACCIDENTAL HOLIDAY made my list too. I have not read some on your list. Added to mine now.
Fantastic! So glad to hear it!
Love seeing your favs, Meredith! I put Last House in Lambton and Unfounded on my favs list, too. I’ve only read four of these so I’m looking forward to getting to the rest.
Congrats to all the authors!
Excellent! I’m so happy to hear you loved them too!
What a great list of favorites. I see a lot that I haven’t read yet. Some of my favorites were Unfounded, Prevailed Upon to Marry, Irresistibly Alone, Never Inconstant and The Shades of Pemberley. I would also add Mr Darcy’s Valentine.
Oh wonderful! I love your list – I’m so glad they were your favorites!
Fabulous choices! I always look forward to your annual list. Happy to say I read most of these, so I concur! I’m looking forward to what all these wonderful authors have in store for 2024 and also anticipate seeing their cover reveals on your blog!
Thank you! I’m so happy to hear you enjoy this post. I’m excited for the 2024 reads and cover reveals too!
I definitely agree about Unfounded; I am just finishing another reading of it; I think I’ve read it at least five times this year, and it’s absolutely brilliant every time!!
I have only read two on your list (Spells and Shadows is the other), and this list is absolutely compelling!! Thank you so, so much for compiling it for us each year!!
Do you have a specific selection process, given how many books your read and review each year? I’m very curious as to your methodology, Meredith!! 😀
Wishing everyone a healthy and truly Happy New Year!!
Warmly,
Susanne 🙂
It is brilliant! I’m so glad to hear you love it so much.
Thanks so much for your question – I generally look at the list of books I’ve read, reflect about the ones that gave the most pleasure, and see which books I gave the highest rating to.
I hope that if you read any others from this list that you love them as much as you did Unfounded!
I have not read “Shades of Pemberley” or “Never Inconstant” yet but I absolutely enjoyed the other selections you chose. I will have to ad those to my tbr list.
Yes! They are very special. I hope you love them!
Thank you, Meredith, I’m delighted that you enjoyed Unfounded. Thank you for your continuing support of the JAFF and wider writing community. Wishing you a very happy New Year!
Thank YOU, Jessie. This story was incredible and so unique. I love the journey you took us on.
Some great books on your list although I haven’t read them all. I’ve read so many books but I also spend much time rereading favourites so I’m struggling to pick from this year. I definitely loved An Old Acquaintance and The Last House in Lambton. Also Interwoven by Melanie Rachel and Snowbound by Joana Starnes were definite favourites this year, among many, many others.
Isn’t it such a great problem to have?
I have not read Interwoven, I will need to add it to my TBR pile!
Wonderful list of favourites! I read all five P&P and two fantasy variations and agree that they would have made my list as well. With so many people making year-end lists, I tried to do one. Unfortunately, I have not been able to narrow my favourites list to a reasonable number. I know that I would like to include Melanie Rachel’s Interwoven, and In Sickness and In Health by Frances Reynolds on my list.
Thank you!! I’m so happy to hear that you share 7 favorites with me.
Love your recs – thank you! Those are two I didn’t read in 2023.
Thanks for this list, I’ll definitely adding these to my KU list.
Wonderful! Happy reading!
Thank you for this wonderful list. Interestingly I found that I had read many of the books that you have listed as favorites. Unfortunately, my reading was severely restricted during 2023 as some personal issues took priority and I found that some days I just couldn’t bring myself to open a book. I am very optimistic that 2024 will be much better. Of the books that I did read, I found “Irresistibly Alone” by Julie Cooper to be a favorite. Elizabeth’s sadness jumped off the page; I was so very glad when a HEA was achieved. Thank you for continuing to provide your recommendations and thoughts on stories. Happy New Year!
That’s so great we read the same books!
You chose very well – Irresistibly Alone is very special and beautifully written.
Wishing you a happy 2024!
My favourite reads were Mr Malcolm’s List, Lockwood and Co and Stay with Me by Jody Hedlund
Thanks so much for sharing! I’ve not read any of those.
I am honored that Spells & Shadows is among this year’s favorites! Thank you!
It is a very deserving of its place on this list. Thank YOU for such a magical story!
So many wonderful books this year – my absolute favorite is Never Inconstant! Persuasion is my most loved Austen work, and Never Inconstant is such a lovely enhancement to the original story. My thought is that Lyndsay wove a fine silk of a story that enriched our understanding of the Wentworths and their love – after reading this, could anyone ever doubt that Anne did indeed pierce Frederick’s soul? 😉
Thank you, Meredith, for again sharing your list – I so look forward to seeing your favorites and adding to my “must read” list in case I’ve missed some – Happy New Year to all!
Oh wonderful choice, Jean! It is exactly that – an enhancement. I love that it made me like and understand Wentworth more.
Happy New Year to you!
I love seeing all the “favorites” lists this time of year. Yours gave me some new books to put on my TBR list. 🙂 Thank you and Happy New Year!
Me too! Hope you enjoy a wonderful 2024, Janet! Thank you so much for checking out this post.
Wow Meredith, I’m so pleased to be on this list in such fine company! Thank you so very much, and to everyone who read!
Thank YOU for your incredibly moving story, Julie. Elizabeth’s experiences are so moving.
Hi Meredith,
I always look forward to seeing your Best Of lists. My favorites that I read this year (although they may be older than 2023 releases) were Faults of Understanding by Jennifer Altman, Godmersham Park by Gill Hornby, Longbourn by Jo Baker and Captain Wentworth’s Persuasion by Regina Jeffers. I have so many JAFF variations on my TBR and hope to make a big dent for 2024. We’ll see… –Leslie
Oh yes! I had Faults of Understanding on my list last year – I’m thrilled to hear you loved that one too! Excellent list of faves – thanks for sharing! Godmersham Park was such a fascinating read!
I always love when this list comes out- I always find a new gem or two! I enjoyed ‘Unfounded’ thanks to your recommendation.
I love making this list. I’m so glad you loved that one too!
Happy New Year! I love and agree with your selections! I always find it hard to make up my top 10 list as there were so many I loved! There are 5 on your list I have yet to read, though one of them is on my Kindle. I agree with others who have commented about ‘Doubt Not, Cousin’ by Barry S. Richman – amazing book and those by Frances Reynolds. Don Jacobson’s ‘The Sailor’s Rest, ‘Worthy’ by Julia Winter, ‘The Darcy Files’ by Cat Gardiner, ‘A Far Better Prospect’ by MJ Stratton, ‘The Crimes of Elizabeth Darcy’, by Sophie Turner, ‘Snowbound’ by Joana Starnes, ‘Emma’s Dragon’ by M. Verant, ‘Traces of Magic’ by Monica Fairview, and ‘Mrs. Gardiner Takes a Hand’ by Jeannie Peneaux are also ones I absolutely loved!! Thank you for the giveaway!
It IS hard when you have so many wonderful books to choose from!
Thank you so much for sharing your list of favorites! There are several that I haven’t read or are ones that I don’t have on my TBR. I do have The Darcy Files, A Far Better Prospect, and Snowbound in my soon TBR pile – so I’m extra excited to read those books!
My favorites were
From another perspective
Lucy marin A Matter of prudence
I’m not charlotte Lucas Kasey Stockton
Summer Hanford once upon a time in pemberley
Victoria Kincaid when charlotte became romantic
The 26th of November by Elizabeth Adams
Love it! Thanks so much for sharing! You have a great group there!
I have From Another Perspective and A Matter of Prudence in my TBR pile.
I haven’t been able to read much in 2023, but I have more than doubled my wishlist. So many great reviews, I so enjoy them. Would love to be entered for a paperback of The Work of Art by Mimi Matthews.
Excellent choice! Hope you are able to read more in 2024!
I haven’t had time to read much for last year as work has kept me extremely busy. But I have added these Austenesque books to my ever growing to-be-read list. Thanks for sharing your favourite reads with us, Meredith.
If I were to choose which book to read from the list, it would be An Inducement Into Matrimony. So please enter my name for the paperback copy. The nearest Amazon site is Amazon Singapore.