Jane Austen July 2025 discussion

I thought I'd make a separate discussion board for everyone to chat about their TBRs and reading plans.

I have to ask, would Pride and Prejudice and Zombies be considered a retelling? I’ve heard such great things about it but I don’t know if it would count.

Hi everyone! Tbh I’ve only read one Austen novel in FULL, though as a child I read an abridged version of Pride and Prejudice.

I’m thinking of reading Pride and Prejudice, and Longbourn for this, but I haven’t decided for sure.

Any advice?

Whitney wrote: "Hi everyone! Tbh I’ve only read one Austen novel in FULL, though as a child I read an abridged version of Pride and Prejudice.

I’m thinking of reading Pride and Prejudice, and Longbourn for this,..."

I'd definitely recommend both Pride and Prejudice and Longbourn - definitely finish the former before you start Longbourn though!

So excited to do this challenge! Would Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein count for the “Contemporary of Jane Austen” challenge?

Mike wrote: "I have to ask, would Pride and Prejudice and Zombies be considered a retelling? I’ve heard such great things about it but I don’t know if it would count."

I'd say sure. I remember it being in one of the recommended videos for last year's read-a-thon. The movie is also a lot of fun, and has so many Jane Austen Easter Eggs, for both film adaptations of her books, and referencing her other works as well, including her History of England.

Helloooo,

First time read-a-thon participant here, and quite unplanned at that.

I suppose I'll start off with 'Persuasion' as my re-read, as that was the next one on my re-read list anyway. As for something else written by her, I'll find her letters or her Juvenelia.

'Jane Austen's England' by Atkinson and Atkinson has been on my TBR for quite some time and honestly, I might work on that later this month to give myself a bit of a head start.

I'm a little stuck on what to read as a contemporary work. Maybe 'Evelina' by Burney, but am open to suggestions if anyone has any.

Everything else is up in the air!

Good luck to everyone!

I think I’m being a wee ambitious seeing how I’m also doing a Lonesome Dove read along for July, but my choice for 2 and 5 are slight little books so they shouldn’t take long.

1. Read one of Jane Austen’s six novels
Both Northanger Abbey and Sense and Sensibility

2. Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels
The Beautiful Cassandra (Penguin Little Black Classic)

3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time
Jane Austen’s England: Daily Life in the Georgian and Regency Periods

4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book
Georgiana Darcy's Diary: Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice Continued or Death Comes to Pemberley.

5. Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen
The Haunted Chamber by Ann Ward Radcliffe

6. Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book
The BBC Sense and Sensibility

7. Watch a modern screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book
Clueless maybe? Idk yet.

Mike wrote: "I have to ask, would Pride and Prejudice and Zombies be considered a retelling? I’ve heard such great things about it but I don’t know if it would count."

Absolutely, that counts as a retelling. Anything inspired by Jane Austen's works can pretty much count for this challenge!

Kelsey wrote: "So excited to do this challenge! Would Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein count for the “Contemporary of Jane Austen” challenge?"

Yeah, that can count :) It was published the year after Jane Austen's death, but also in the same year as Northanger Abbey and Persuasion are published. Basically, for this challenge takes Jane Austen's life span as your guide (1775-1817) but if you go 5 years either side, that's absolutely fine as well.

My TBR (still a bit under construction, but I like it so far):

1. Persuasion
The Norton Critical Edition, because there is a ton of extra material in the back of the book, including a different final chapter!

2. Lady Susan
Because she doesn't get the attention she deserves (and demands for herself)

3. Juliette Wells: "Everybody's Jane - Austen in the popular imagination"

4. Joan Aiken: "Lady Catherine's necklace" (a continuation of sorts of P & P)

5. Amelia Opie: "Adeline Mowbray" (from 1804) A woman elopes with a man but has no intention to marry him.

6. Pride & Prejudice
Of course the mini series from 1995, because I have not watched this for a decade at least

7. Lost in Austen

There you go. Can't wait, actually. I was planning to reread all of Jane Austen's novels this year anyway, so this comes just in time. :)

I only started reading Jane Austen this year but so far I’ve read Northanger Abbey, Pride & Prejudice, Lady Susan, Emma & Persuasion. My current TBR plans for July look like this:

1. Read one of Jane Austen’s six novels - SENSE AND SENSIBILITY (I’m hoping I’ll manage MANSFIELD PARK too)
2. Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels - THE BEAUTIFULL CASSANDRA AND OTHER EARLY WRITINGS (AUDIO BOOK)
3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time - JANE AUSTEN’S WORLD: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ENGLAND’S MOST POPULAR NOVELIST (MAGGIE LANE)
4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book - LONGBOURN (JO BAKER)
5. Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen - A SICILIAN ROMANCE (ANN RADCLIFFE)
6. Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book - PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (2005)
7. Watch a modern screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book - LOST IN AUSTEN

Fingers crossed I can make it through the whole list. I’m not sure what stories are in the audiobook of juvenilia as the Audible description doesn’t include the names of the stories so that will be a surprise!

My TBR is a little bit ambitious
1 persuasion
2 letters of Jane Austen
3 eavesdropping on Jane Austen’s England
4 longbourn , the houseguest , death comes to pemberley, Austenland and an unequal affection
5 Pamela
6 2005 pride and prejudice
7 Lizzie bennet diaries

This challenge is perfectly intersecting with my plan to read all of Jane Austens novels this year so my plans are...

1 Northanger Abbey or Emma
2 Lady Susan
3 I don't often finish non fiction but Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worlsey is on my tbr/ looks intriguing
4 not generally a fan of retellings but if i'm going to go for one i think i would rather read Bridget Jones Diary / Pride and Prejudice and Zombies something a bit ridiculous and campy
5 Evelina possibly though i don't know that i'll get to it
6 i'm re watching the Pride and Prejudice series from 1995 atm and very much enjoying it, i also want to watch the 2009 version of Emma once i read the book is this the best version?
7 Lost in Austen or Clueless or Bride and Prejudice

I hope my choices actually coincide with what we are supposed to do here but these are my choices:

1. Read one of Jane Austen’s six novels
SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

2. Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels
THE BEAUTIFULL CASSANDRA

3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time
EAVESDROPPING ON JANE AUSTEN'S ENGLAND

4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book
UNEQUAL AFFECTIONS

5. Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen
NORTH AND SOUTH BY ELISABETH GASKELL (this is one I wasnt sure about but I think it was a contemporary and I really wanted to read it.)

6. Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book
THE BBC EMMA

7. Watch a modern screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book
LOST IN AUSTEN

Michelle wrote: "I hope my choices actually coincide with what we are supposed to do here but these are my choices:

1. Read one of Jane Austen’s six novels
SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

2. Read something by Jane Austen ..."

So, North and South isn't really by a contemporary of Jane Austen, I'm afraid - Elizabeth Gaskell was only 7 when Jane Austen died and was writing decades later! However, the plotline takes a lot of inspiration from Pride and Prejudice, so if we want to read it for the retelling/inspired by prompt, go for it! I'd highly recommend it.

Mike wrote: "I have to ask, would Pride and Prejudice and Zombies be considered a retelling? I’ve heard such great things about it but I don’t know if it would count."

That's a great question Mike, I own it and would love to read it for a challenge:-)

My TBR is as follows:

√ 1. Read one of Jane Austen’s six novels
Sense and Sensibility

2. Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels
Lady Susan

3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time
Jane Austen at Home

4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book
Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters

5. Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen
A Sicilian Romance

√ 6. Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book
Sense and Sensibility (BBC)

√ 7. Watch a modern screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book
Clueless

Finally figured out my TBR. It’s a little ambitious, but think I can do it.

- Emma
- Sense and Sensibility
- Pride and Prejudice
- Longbourn by Jo Baker
- Marriage by Susan Edmonstone Ferrier
- The Beautiful Cassandra
- Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley

And for the screen adaptations I am going to watch.

- The 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice
- Clueless

This will be my second year participating in Jane Austen July.
It is one of my favorite reading challenges!

Read one of Jane Austen’s six novel
Sense and Sensibility
Northanger Abbey

Read something by Jane Austen that’s not one of her main six novels
The Illustrated Letters of Jane Austen
Sanditon (First called The Brothers)
Love and Friendship
The Watsons

Read a non fiction retelling of a Jane Austen book
I will most likely just read the first one or two books.
What Matters Most in Jane Austen by John Mullan
Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley
(Eavesdropping on) Jane Austen’s England by Lesley and Roy Adkins
What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew by Daniel Pool

Read a modern retelling of a Jane Austen book
Longbourn by Jo Baker

Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austens
I’m most interested in this prompt and will continue throughout the year so my list is long.
The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliff (1794)
Evelina by Frances Burney (1778)
Marriage by Susan Edmonstone Ferrier
Belinda by Maria Edgeworth (1801)
Helen by Maria Edgeworth
The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne by Ann Radcliff
Adeline Mowbray by Amelia Opie (1804)
The Italian by Ann Radcliff (1797)
A Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliff (1790)
The Romance of the Forest by Ann Radcliff ((1791)
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1818)
Waverly by Sir Walter Scott
Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott (1820)
Emmeline, Orphan of the Castle by Charlotte Turner Smith (1802)
A Simple Story by Elizabeth Inchbald (1791)

If I can get the movies...
Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book
Sense and Sensibility
Northanger Abbey

Watch a modern screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book
From Prada to Nada (a take on Sense and Sensibility)

Happy reading everyone!

1. Read one of Jane Austen’s six novels
---All of the novels are rereads for me, but I think I'll read Northanger Abbey because it's so much fun and since it's one of the group reads.

2. Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels
---Lady Susan (audiobook)

3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time
---What Matters in Jane Austen?

4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book
---Austenland

5. Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen
---Belinda by Maria Edgeworth

Hi everyone! Here's the plan:

1. Read one of Jane Austen’s six novels: Mansfield Park

2. Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels: Lady Susan

3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time: Jane Austen the Secret Radical by Helena Kelly

4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book: I don't tend to enjoy these so this is my lowest priority, but if I get around to it I'll read Longbourn by Jo Baker.

5 Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen: The Absentee by Maria Edgeworth. I love Belinda by Maria Edgeworth, so I'm really excited about this!

6. Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book: BBC Emma with Romola Garai.

7. Watch a modern screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book: Clueless.

After a lot of contemplation and changing around books and such a gazillion times, I think i'm happy with my tbr and tbw so here goes nothing:

1. Read one of Jane Austen’s six novels:
Sense And Sensibility

2. Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels:
Lady Susan

3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time:
Jane Austen A Life by Claire Tomalin

4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book:
Longbourn by Jo Baker.

5 Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen:
The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe

6. Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book:
1995 Sense and Sensibility

7. Watch a modern screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book:
Bridget Jones' Diary

Ok thank you Katie!

I see some people are doing The Mysteries of Udolpho and that one sounds good to me so I will do that one for contemporary instead. :-)

There's nothing I love more than a good TBR list!! I'm much better at making them than I am at sticking to them, but for what it's worth, here's mine:

1. Read one of Jane Austen’s six novels
Sense & Sensibility

2. Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels
I have a Wordsworth Classic edition, Lady Susasn & Other Works, that seems to contain a lot of short stories, so I may dip into some of those.

3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time
Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley

4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book
Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor (Jane Austen Mystery #1) by Stephanie Barron. I know this isn't a direct retelling, but it's Austen-inspired, so I figure it counts.

5. Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen
The Italian by Ann Radcliffe

6. Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book
BBC Sense & Sensibility

7. Watch a modern screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book
Pride & Prejudice & Zombies

Don't think I'll have time to accomplish all of these challenges, but I'm definitely going to have a crack at some. I plan on joining the readathon of Sense and Sensibility, but will also be reading Sandition, The Watsons, and Lady Susan in the month too. And I'll definitely be re-watching Lost in Austen, the BBC series is a favourite of mine. 🙂

So happy to participate this year as well. Last year I read Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley and found it one of the best biographies of my favorite author - insightful, with lots of interesting details previously unknown to me.
This is year it is audiobook of Pride and Prejudice read by Rosamund Pike, "Jane Austen: the World of her novels" by Deidre Le Faye which I read almost 10 years ago and "Marriage" by Susan Ferrier as I heard good reviews. Hope everyone enjoys their time with Miss Jane Austen!

Seeing everyone's tbrs is making me long for July!
My tbr is mostly complete. Challenges 4 and 5 I can't seem to make a choice!

1. One of the six major novels: Emma/ Northanger Abbey readalong

2. Not one of the six: The Mystery; The Three Sisters; Sanditon

3. Non-fic: Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsely

4. Retelling: Can't decide but probably First Impressions by Debra White Smith

5. Contemporary: I was thinking something by Walter Scott or Maria Edgeworth's Belinda, or something by Fanny Burney or Udolpho, but the size scares me a wee bit.

6. Direct adaptation: Probably Emma 2009

7. Modern adaptation: Lizzie Bennet Diaries. It's been too long!

Hello everyone! Here is my TBR:

1-One of Jane Austen’s six novels.
I’ll reread Persuasion. I love it.

2- x

3- A non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time.
A memoir of Jane Austen by J. E. Austen Leigh
Jane Austen at home by Lucy Worsley

4- A retelling of a Jane Austen book.
Longbourn by Jo Baker
Unequal affections by Lara S. Ormiston

5-A book by a contemporary of Jane Austen.
Evelina by Fanny Burney

6- A direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book.
Persuasion 1995 and 2007

7- A modern screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book.
Pride and prejudice and zombies

Last year was my first year and I completed all the challenges. I will probably take it easier this year as July will be a busy month for me. I'm definitely going to do the read along of Sense and Sensibility and Northanger Abbey. I'll probably watch a screen adaptation. One of my favorites is the Gwenyth Paltrow version of Emma, but I might try some different adaptations this year as there are several I haven't seen.

I have so many I want to read, lol, so little time. :) These are for sure (crossing fingers) I want to complete during the month.
Challenge #1 Read one of Jane Austen’s main six novels.
The Annotated Persuasion
The Annotated Mansfield Park
Challenge #2 - Read one of Jane Austen's non-main novels.
✔ The History of England ★★★★★
Challenge #3 - Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time.
Jane Austen: A Life by Claire Tomalin
A Memoir of Jane Austen and Other Family Recollections
Challenge #4 - Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book.
First Impressions: A Tale of Less Pride & Prejudice
An Assembly Such as This
Letters from Pemberley: The First Year
Pride and Prescience: Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged (a re-read)
Challenge #5 Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen.
(I am not sure if Jane Austen ever read this novel written by Samuel Richardson. I know she read his, "The History of Sir Charles Grandison" but hopefully this can count.) Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady I am hoping to get to page 1000. :)
Challenge #6/#7 - Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book/ a modern adaptation of Austen's books.
I am going to skip, to read more. :)
✔ Manga Classics: Pride & Prejudice ★★★★★
✔ Manga Classics: Sense and Sensibility ★★★★★
Group Reads:
Sense and Sensibility I already read in March of this year
Northanger Abbey

I'm probably going to do audiobooks for Sense & Sensibility and for Northanger Abbey. Are there any AB editions that you would recommend? I've heard good things about the Rosamond Pike version of S&S

Fred wrote: "I'm probably going to do audiobooks for Sense & Sensibility and for Northanger Abbey. Are there any AB editions that you would recommend? I've heard good things about the Rosamond Pike version of S&S"

Yes! I loved Rosamond Pike's version of Pride and Prejudice so I imagine her S&S is delightful as well. :)

Katie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I hope my choices actually coincide with what we are supposed to do here but these are my choices:

1. Read one of Jane Austen’s six novels
SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

2. Read somethin..."

Michelle wrote: "I hope my choices actually coincide with what we are supposed to do here but these are my choices:

1. Read one of Jane Austen’s six novels
SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

2. Read something by Jane Austen ..."

Yea, North and South is definitely not a contemporary of Jane Austen, but I vote you read it anyway! It's a stupendous book and I feel that there are many similarities between its story and Pride and Prejudice.

Jayna' wrote: "Hey yall.

Very excited!

My birthday is in June and I always reread Pride and Prejudice and watch the 2005 adaptation with Keira Knightley for my birthday, but this will be awesome because it wil..."

I started reading The Jane Austen Diet before a trip and had to set it down, but I was really enjoying it!

My tentative TBR:
1. Emma
2. Letters of Jane Austen
3. Jane Austen at Home - Lucy Worsley
4. TBC
5. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley

Okay so right now my TBR stands as:
Novel by Jane Austen—The Annotated Sense and Sensibility
Non-novel by Jane Austen—The Beautiful Cassandra
Nonfiction book dealing with Jane Austen—A Jane Austen Education
Jane Austen retelling—Pride and Prometheus
Jane Austen contemporary—The Castle of Wolfenbach
(Those last two might change)
As for the movie challenges I just watched the “Sense and Sensibility” from the 90s so maybe the more recent miniseries and “Lost in Austen” for the retelling; I’m playing those by ear, maybe something great will pop up on streaming.

I'm not sure how many I'll actually get through, but this is my TBR!

1. Persuasion

2. The Watsons

3. The Improvement of the Estate: A Study of Jane Austen's Novels by Alistair M. Duckworth

4. (Hoping that picture books aren't considered too much of a cheat! And because it's the only retelling I own) A Guinea Pig Pride & Prejudice

5. Evelina by Frances Burney

6. Emma (2009)

7. Bride and Prejudice (2004)

Still need to think a little more about it, but this is my provisional TBR.
1. Will be joining the readalongs of Sense & Sensibility and Northanger Abbey.
2. Jane Austen's letters
3. Non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time : ???
4. Retelling of a Jane Austen book : ???
5. Book by a contemporary of Jane Austen : probably something by Walter Scott
6. Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book:i'll try to find any I haven't seem yet, but seems difficult :)
7. Watch a modern screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book: ???

My TBR for the readathon is;
1) Sense and Sensibility (Audiobook)
2) History of England
3) Jane Austen's England by Roy Adkins (Thanks Katie for the rec!!)
4) For You Alone By Susan Kay (Persuasion from Wentworth's perspective)
5) Castle Rackrent By Maria Edgeworth
6) 2005 Pride and Prejudice
7) Clueless maybe? Might just end up watching Lizzie Bennet Diaries

Hello! So I’m planning to probably read Persuasion and then Northanger Abbey with the readalong.
But I’m just wondering: I’ve heard Northanger Abbey is a satire of sorts of the gothic (romance) novel but I can’t say that I’ve read many, if any gothic novels (horror yes, but not romance).

So are there any novels that one would recommend to read as a primer for this one? I was thinking of something like Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights but not sure if that’s accurate; also if anyone has any more recommendations that would be much appreciated :)
(Preferably something shorter that I can squeeze into the first half of this month, but I understand that may not be likely.)

*that may be unlikely I mean

I'm very excited to join.

There might be minor changes as the month goes along but so far my TBR is:

1. Read one of Jane Austen’s six novels
It has not been long since I read Northanger Abbey and Sense and Sensibility so I won't be participating in the group reads. I have decided to read Emma instead which I have not yet read and have a feeling I will thoroughly love.

2. Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels
I hope to read Lady Susan, The Watsons, and Sanditon. Should I not have enough time I might drop Lady Susan and save it for another time.

3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time
A Visitor's Guide to Jane Austen's England by Sue Wilkes:

"Immerse yourself in the vanished world inhabited by Austen’s contemporaries. Packed with detail and anecdotes, this is an intimate exploration of how the middle and upper classes lived from 1775, the year of Austen’s birth, to the coronation of George IV in 1820. Sue Wilkes skillfully conjures up all aspects of daily life within the period, drawing on contemporary diaries, illustrations, letters, novels, travel literature, and archives." (description from Amazon website)

4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book
Haunting Mr. Darcy by KaraLynne Mackrory:
"What happens to the happily ever after when the ever after has already happened? A "spirited" courtship indeed! Jane Austen's much adored Pride and Prejudice is transfigured in this Regency adaptation. That fickle friend Fate intervenes when an unexpected event threatens the happily ever after of literature's favorite love story. The gentlemen from Netherfield have left, winter is upon the land, and after a horrifying carriage accident, Elizabeth Bennet finds her spirit transported as if by magic into Mr. Darcy's London home. Paranormally tethered to the disagreeable man, it doesn't help that he believes she is a phantasm of his love-struck mind and not the real Elizabeth. Somehow they must learn to trust, learn to love and learn to bring Elizabeth back to her earthly form before it is too late." (description from Amazon website)

I have read 3 other of this author's Pride & Prejudice variations. Two have rather bored me but one was simply amazing (Yours Forevermore, Darcy) and so I'm curious if I will like Haunting Mr. Darcy.

5. Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen
Evelina by Frances Burney. I bought a copy of this book last Christmas in London and Jane Austen July seems like the perfect time to read it.

6. Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book
I have a few waiting that I have not yet watched. At the moment I'm strongly leaning towards the BBC Sense and Sensibility version of 2008 and I think I will also re-watch the 2005 Pride & Prejudice adaptation.

7. Watch a modern screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book
Clueless and I will also give Lost in Austen a try. If there is still time I would also like to watch Pride & Prejudice & Zombies.

Veronica wrote: "Hello! So I’m planning to probably read Persuasion and then Northanger Abbey with the readalong.
But I’m just wondering: I’ve heard Northanger Abbey is a satire of sorts of the gothic (romance) no..."

I read Northanger Abbey without reading or knowing anything about the gothic stories of the time period and I understood the references just fine (more similar to modern Harlequin novels than Jane Eyre which was published after). The Mysteries of Uldolpho by Anne Radcliffe are mentioned in the novel but from my understanding its quite a long novel.
Hope this helps!

Veronica wrote: "Hello! So I’m planning to probably read Persuasion and then Northanger Abbey with the readalong.
But I’m just wondering: I’ve heard Northanger Abbey is a satire of sorts of the gothic (romance) no..."

I'd recommend an older Gothic novel, in terms of relating to Northanger Abbey - something by Anne Radcliffe, as Helen suggests, is a good choice!

My very ambitious list. We will see how it goes...

1. Read one of Jane Austen’s six novels
Sense and Sensibility (audiobook)
Northanger Abbey
Pride and Prejudice

2. Read something by Jane Austen that is not one of her main six novels
Lady Susan

3. Read a non-fiction work about Jane Austen or her time
Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley

4. Read a retelling of a Jane Austen book
Longbourn by Jo Baker
Unequal Affections by Lara S. Ormiston
Out, Proud, and Prejudiced by Megan Reddawa

5. Read a book by a contemporary of Jane Austen
Waverley by Walter Scott

6. Watch a direct screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book
Sense and Sensibility BBC
Northanger Abbey
Pride and Prejudice BBC
Love and Friendship

7. Watch a modern screen adaptation of a Jane Austen book
Before the Fall
Northbound
From Mansfield With Love

I'm planning on joining in on both of the group readalongs and since they're rereads I'll probably listen to the audiobook of both of them.

Then planning on reading Jane Austen at Home for the non-fiction and Loungbourn or the retelling.

Might reread Lady Susan if I have time because I love that one.

Planning on watching Sense and Sensibility and Lady Susan (if I read it) and Austenland.

I'm so excited now it's July!

Northanger Abbey. I might try and get a few more books in, but am in research and writing mode for Mythcon so that takes priority.

Just watched Clueless which was excellent but funniest thing is my son thinks Jane Austen is rubbish and he wouldn’t read/watch it but has just watched clueless with me!

I'm starting with Pride and Prejudice then moving onto sense and sensibility. that's as far as I have gotten in my list.