I recently saw the new Sense & Sensibility movie, and it absolutely blew me away. Sense & Sensibility has been tied with Emma for my least favorite Austen novel since high school, so my expectations were low, but wow. Well done!
I have a complicated relationship with Jane Austen retellings. Some are wonderful, like the YouTube web series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and Clueless. Others are considerably less so, like Dakota Johnson’s Persuasion on Netflix or my high school’s production of Emma! A Pop Musical (please don’t ask further questions).
Austen’s works have influenced contemporary media for more than two hundred years, so there are a lot of books, films, shows, and more to sort through. Still, I’ve put together a list of some of my absolute favorite Jane Austen retellings. If you want to see what all the Austen hype is about but aren’t sure you have the mental capacity to tackle the original novels (or just want to spice things up a little!), check out these retellings.
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Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
A classic in the Jane Austen retelling world. Both the book and its film adaptation are loosely based on Pride and Prejudice, with Bridget Jones stepping into the role of our beloved Elizabeth Bennet. Instead of navigating Regency-era society, Bridget is trying to survive modern dating, career troubles, and the general chaos of being a woman in her thirties. And, of course, there’s Mark Darcy. If you love a good enemies-to-lovers romance, a little romantic angst, and a heroine who is wonderfully imperfect, this one is a must-read.
Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price
What happens when you combine Pride and Prejudice with a murder mystery? You get Pride and Premeditation! In this young adult retelling, Elizabeth Bennet dreams of becoming a lawyer and gets the chance to prove herself when a murder case lands on her doorstep. Unfortunately, she has to work alongside the infuriating Mr. Darcy to solve it. This is a fun pick for readers who love Austen’s sharp social commentary but would rather have a murder investigation alongside their romantic tension.
Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev
In case you couldn’t tell from the title, this book is inspired by Persuasion. Sonali Dev brings Austen’s story of second chances and lost love into a contemporary Indian American family, following chef Ashna Raje as she reunites with her first love on a reality cooking show. Between complicated family dynamics, cultural expectations, and unresolved romantic feelings, this retelling captures the emotional heart of Austen’s original while giving it a fresh setting and perspective. If you’re a fan of second-chance romance, add this one to your list.
Jane of Austin by Hillary Manton Lodge
As an Austin girl (and an Austen girl), this might just be my dream book. Inspired by Sense and Sensibility, Jane of Austin follows two sisters who leave their home in California and start over in Austin, Texas, where they attempt to save their family’s business. Naturally, there are complicated relationships, new beginnings, and plenty of opportunities for romance along the way. I’m always a sucker for a book that combines a familiar literary classic with a setting I know and love, so this one feels especially close to home.
The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray
This book is what every fan fiction writer aspires to create. Jane Austen’s most notable couples gather under one roof, including the daughter of Catherine and Henry Tilney and the son of Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy. Then, naturally, Mr. Wickham turns up dead.
Who killed him? Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy are on the case!
This historical mystery brings together characters from across Austen’s novels in a way that feels like an absolute treat for longtime fans. You get familiar faces, plenty of interpersonal drama, and a murder mystery that gives everyone a reason to start pointing fingers. If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if Austen’s characters all ended up in the same room, this is the book for you.
Kamila Knows Best by Farah Heron
Jane Austen’s titular heroine Emma would probably love this retelling of her story because, for most of the book, Kamila really does think she knows best. Inspired by Emma, this contemporary romantic comedy follows Kamila Hussain, a successful Toronto event planner who is convinced she can help her friends find love while keeping her own life perfectly under control. You can probably guess how that goes.
This is a great choice if you love a confident, meddling heroine who needs to learn that other people’s lives aren’t always as easy to figure out as she thinks. It captures the fun of watching Emma’s good intentions turn into romantic chaos, all with a modern twist.
Pies & Prejudice (The Mother-Daughter Book Club, #4) by Heather Vogel Frederick
I’ll admit that a fair amount of nostalgia went into including this middle-grade novel, but I stand by the choice! Part of The Mother-Daughter Book Club series, this installment draws inspiration from Pride and Prejudice and follows a group of girls whose lives begin to mirror the classic story they’re reading. Between friendships, crushes, and the usual middle-school drama, it offers a fun introduction to Austen’s world for younger readers.
If you grew up loving books that made classic literature feel accessible and entertaining, this one is worth revisiting. And if you’re introducing a younger reader to Jane Austen, it’s a lovely place to start.
Central Park by Debra White Smith
With “Park” in the title, this book can only be inspired by none other than Mansfield Park (I’ll admit that the naming convention makes this one pretty easy to figure out). Debra White Smith’s contemporary retelling brings Austen’s classic into a modern setting, revisiting themes of family, relationships, and social expectations.
While Mansfield Park isn’t always the first Austen novel people reach for, it’s worth exploring its retellings if you’re interested in seeing how its more complicated family dynamics and moral questions translate to contemporary life.
What Jane Austen retelling should I read next?
Unfortunately, not many retellings have been written for one of my favorite Austen novels, Northanger Abbey, so I couldn’t include one here. I’m still holding out hope for more contemporary takes on Catherine Morland’s love of Gothic novels and her tendency to let her imagination run wild.
In the meantime, this list is a good place to start whether you’re a lifelong Austen fan or someone who wants to explore her stories without diving straight into the original novels. From murder mysteries and contemporary rom-coms to nostalgic middle-grade reads, there’s a retelling for just about every kind of reader.
And if the new Sense & Sensibility movie has reminded me of anything, it’s that even a story you think you know (or, in my case, a story you thought you didn’t particularly like) can surprise you with the right adaptation.
Now I want to know: What’s your favorite Jane Austen retelling? Have I missed a must-read? And, most importantly, does anyone have a Northanger Abbey retelling I should add to my TBR?
