Jane Austen died too young.
She was only 41 years old when she died of what was probably Addison's disease or Hodgkin's lymphoma. She died with several works started but not yet completed and we can only guess at how many more stories were in her heart, that she never got to put on paper.
I have spent many years lamenting the fact that we only have a handful of her stories. I would have loved many, many more. Luckily, there are other writers who have picked up her mantle and endeavor(ed) to bring even more Austen-esque stories into the world. Hers is a legacy that will not be denied or forgotten.
If you, like me, are looking for your next Jane Austen fix - even though you've already read everything she's written - then might I suggest these books for your reading pleasure.
The following contains four kinds of books
1) Books that have an Austen-feel to them
2) Retellings of Austen's stories
3) Prequels, sequels or variations to Austen's stories
4) Books that feature Jane Austen herself as a main character
Books that have an Austen-feel to them
Romance, family, satire and wittiness. Those are the words I would use to describe Austen's works. And those are some of the words I would use to describe the following books too.
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Margaret Hale has been uprooted from her life of comfort and moved to the industrial town of Milton. At first she is repulsed by the town's ugliness, but as she becomes aware of the poverty, struggle and strife all around her, she develops a keen sense of social justice. The mill-owner and self-made man John Thornton intensifies this feeling - and others - in her.
John Thornton will give you major Mr. Darcy vibes - he is wealthy, proud and sets himself apart from others. And Margaret is one of best the Victorian heroines. The relationship between Thornton and Margaret will make you root for love.
Read it if you like: self-made men, women who find their voice, social injustice
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jane Eyre was orphaned and had to find her courage at an early age. Another test of courage comes to her in the form of Edward Rochester, whose charge, Adele, she has been hired to tutor. She gradually falls in love with the brooding Rochester, but not all is what it seems at Thornfield Hall.
If you're looking for the Gothic Jane Austen, I would suggest this book. Jane is a courageous, out-spoken woman, Rochester is brooding and closed off. Sounds like anyone you know? Fun fact, Charlotte Brontë was not a fan of Austen or Pride and Prejudice. Later on, after reading Emma, she slightly changed her mind about Austen but not P&P.
Read it if you like: Gothic novels, brooding heroes, Cinderella stories
Middlemarch by George Eliot
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dorothea showed a lapse in judgment when she married the pompous scholar Edward Casaubon. His jealousy and insecurity follows her even after his death, when a provision in his will reveals, that if Dorothea marries his cousin, Will Ladislaw, whom he has always suspected of wanting to court Dorothea, she will disinherit. But the attraction between her an Ladislaw is not to be dissuaded so easily.
I think this book comes the closest to giving me those Austen-feelings. Aside from Will and Dorothea, there is a host of other lovable characters, who have their own ups and downs in love. It really captures the romance of Austen, though perhaps not much of her wittiness or cutting commentary.
Read it if you like: lovers overcoming obstacles, many lovable characters, optimism
Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
As a foster kid Samantha escaped into books, especially the works of Jane Austen. After the college the mysterious 'Mr. Knightley' gives her an extraordinary opportunity - a full scholarship to earn her graduate degree in Journalism. The only condition? That she must keep Mr. Knightley informed of her progress.
Samantha has a hard time navigating the world - books, and especially Jane Austen, helps her figure out the world. I really liked her as a character and sympathized a lot with her plight. And there are so many Austen quotes and references in this one, it was like a homecoming - Mr. Knightley himself is, of course, from Emma!
Read it if you like: epistolary novels, hidden identities, overcoming challenges
Retellings of Austen's stories
A retelling is a book that borrows a familiar and well-loved story and gives it new life - like swapping the genders of the characters, giving it a modern setting etc.
Jane of Austin by Hillary Manton Lodge
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
After their father's business scandal uproots their lives, the three Woodward sisters decide to leave behind their home in San Fransisco and move to Austin, Texas. Here, the middle sister Jane wants to open her tea shop and re-find her old rhythm, but a romance with the charming Sean and a steady friendship with retired Marine Captain Callum shows Jane another way of life.
This was such a sweet nod to one of my favourite Austen books, Sense and Sensibility. Here we follow the Marianne character, Jane, when she has to chose between fiery passion or steady affection.
Read it if you like: Austen Easter Eggs, perfect heroes, southern charm
Coming Up Roses by Staci Hart
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Bennet brothers have returned home to help their mom save the flower shop. Luke, the youngest, is usually a bit of a womanizing flake - or so Tess thought. Working alongside him at the flower shop is proving to be a bit of an eyeopener for her, and him as well, as they learn that hating each other might just lead to more.
Very loosely inspired by Pride and Prejudice (it's pretty much only the Bennet family), this book really grew on me fast and the main reason was Luke! I would be hard pressed to name a more perfect romantic hero. If you're tired of the men who run away from love, then Luke will catch your heart - because he isn't afraid to tell a women that he loves her.
Read it if you like: crazy but loving families, enemies to lovers, swoon-worthy heroes
Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin' Cornbread by Mary Jane Hathaway
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
After the death of her mother, Lucy's family home is falling into disrepair and her father is gambling their money away. The only way Lucy can see to save their home is to rent some of it out to the local free clinic. But while the deal saves her home, she gets more than she bargained for - because the new doctor in town is her ex-boyfriend and love of her life, Jeremiah.
This delightful take on Persuasion is set in modern day Mississippi, which really works well for the story. Lucy and Jeremiah are characters to fall in love with as they themselves rediscover their lost love.
Read it if you like: second chances at love, Southern cooking and history, racial diversity
Seeking Mansfield by Kate Watson
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
After loosing her father and being scarred for life by her mother, Finley is taken in by her godfather's family, the Bertrams. Here she find a new family and forms a particularly close bond with their son, Oliver. And while everything is not rosy, it is a comfortable life - until the Crawfords, Emma and Harlan, move in next door and disrupt everything. Now Finley might lose the thing she loves the most - Oliver.
This was a very cute YA retelling of Mansfield Park. Many people find Fanny a slightly boring character, at least compared to Austen's other heroines. Those people will definitely take delight in Finley, who has a great character arc throughout the story!
Read it if you like: meek girls who become independent, friends to lovers, theater
Prequels, sequels or variations to Austen's stories
Prequels and sequels might be pretty self explanatory - they take place before or after the original story. A variation retells the story with some sort of twist - for example from another character's angle or with a 'what if' built into the story.
Georgiana Darcy's Diary by Anna Elliot
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐
After the marriage of her brother, Georgiana Darcy is content to live quietly. She believes that marriage isn't for her, as the one man she carries a torch for has never looked her way. However, her aunt Catherine de Bourgh is determined to see her married - but who has genuine interests and who are only after her brother's money?
Georgiana Darcy is one of those characters that is given very little room to bloom in her original story. Therefore, it is nice that she here gets to have her own story told in her own words. I really enjoyed how her character evolved.
Read it if you like: diary format, great character arcs, hidden love
The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mary Bennet is not pretty like her four sisters; a fact that she has been made to feel all her life. Her mother shuns her and her sisters never include her. So she must make do with herself, her piano and her books. As her sisters all get married the question remains - what is to become of Mary, the ugly sister?
In my opinion, Mary was always a bit of a question mark. Who is she? What does she dream of? Here is a plausible answer! Showing us Mary's life and experiences all the way from birth till the ending of P&P and beyond. And if you need another reason to dislike (maybe even hate) Mrs. Bennet, here you have it!
Read it if you like: unhappy childhoods, unlikely heroines, love in unlikely places
Mr. Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐
After foiling the attempt of his former friend, Mr. Wickham, in running off with his younger sister, Mr. Darcy finds himself in a quaint little town in Hertfordshire with his friend, Bingley. At first there seems to be nothing of value in that town - at least not until he sees her, Elizabeth Bennet. Suddenly, she takes up all his thoughts and his entire diary. But how does he win her?
If you've ever wanted to read P&P from Darcy's POV, this is a perfect opportunity. Even though I am not a fan of the diary format, it was still very enjoyable to get an insight into Darcy's thoughts and feelings.
Read it if you like: hero's POV, confused feelings, before and after P&P
Outmatched by Jayne Bamber
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐
What if the Dashwoods of Sense and Sensibility were actually related to the Bertrams of Mansfield Park? And what if John Dashwood was actually the secret son of Thomas Bertram, the result of an affair? All the questions you never thought to ask are here answered!
This was a very interesting and one-of-a-kind read! At first it was a bit overwhelmed by the sheer multitude of characters - all from both original novels - but as the story progressed it was interesting and fun to see how the characters diverged from their original stories and paved new paths for themselves.
Read it if you like: villains getting what they deserve, alternative endings, cross-overs
Books that feature Jane Austen herself as a main character
It isn't just Jane's novels, that have inspired multitude of stories - also her own life has been turned into the subject of many, varied novels.
The Jane Austen Project by Kathleen A. Flynn
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rachel and Liam are timetravelers. They are going back in time to 1815 to fulfill an important mission - to save one of Jane Austen's unpublished manuscripts as well as some of her correspondence. But while the mission seems straight forward, it proves to be challenging when they come face to face with Jane herself.
You wouldn't think that time travel and Jane Austen works together... But it strangely does! I liked both the personal aspect of getting to know Jane as a character as well as the time travel angle with its implications on reality and present time. Thought provoking, indeed.
Read it if you like: time travel, brain twisters, secret missions
The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jane Austen has given up writing when she meets the charming Mr. Ashford. They quickly strike a report and chemistry is felt between them. Finding support and encouragement in Mr. Ashford, Jane takes up her pen again and begins revising Sense and Sensibility.
What if Jane Austen wrote a memoir that had been lost to us? That is what this book attempts to answer. It is written as if by Jane herself and does a remarkable job of imitating her voice. And as an added bonus, it postulates that Jane derived inspiration for her books from her own life, giving us many enjoyable Easter Eggs.
Read it if you like: "memoirs", blending of fact and fiction, clean romance
Miss Austen by Gill Hornby
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Two decades after the death of her sister, Cassandra Austen finds herself elderly, alone and increasingly frail. She comes to live with the family of her ex-fiancé, the Fowles, where she goes on the hunt for letters from her sister, Jane. Cassandra wants to preserve her sisters legacy as well as her own, and getting her hands on those letters is paramount in that regard.
Here, Jane is a secondary character that we don't really get close to except through her letters. Cassandra is the true heroine of this story. We follow her both as a young woman, when her sister was alive, and in 1840 when she's in her sixties. This gives a very different insight into Jane's story and legacy.
Read it if you like: dual timelines, lost love, unlikely heroines