Austen Lovers TBR Challenge 2021 discussion

I've broken us out of the regular rotation of activities because, hard to believe, we have arrived at the last month. I've chosen to revisit the same activity we did last December. Enjoy!

Austen Gold Group Read is a two part activity that will wrap up our year of activities and hopefully give readers more books to consider while fitting in one last book for the year.

Time to award your GOLD winners!
The first section of the challenge is easy. LIST your favorite Austenesque books read during 2021- release year does not matter and try to keep it under ten. Makes sure both title and author are listed because we definitely want others to peruse and maybe find their next favorite, too. You're welcome to share why the book made your list, if you like. Leave your lists any time between now and the end of the year though, preferably, by Dec 1st.

Read another GOLD Winner!
Once you leave your list, peruse the other lists and choose to read a book from someone else's list that you think sounds good. Even better if it's already on your own pile. If you don't spot one from another list that you already have access to, try choosing one from your own list that you know a group member has given a five-star rating.

Because it's the holiday season, feel free to start reading early. Happy Reading, fellow challengers!

I had a fabulous reading year so this was a tough list to narrow down. And, at this point, there is a possibility that a late year book might slip in under the wire as a real gem so my list might change as I go. :)

1. Susan, a Jane Austen Prequel by Alice McVeigh
Captured the youthful Susan well.

2. Miss Bennet's Dragon by M. Verant
Fantastic Worldbuilding and intrigue

3. Dangerous Magic: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Monica Fairview
Clever plotting and complexity blending magic with P&P

4. Fanny, A Mansfield Park Story by Amelia Marie Logan
Followed the 'what if' well and close to the Austen writing spirit. MP cast came alive.

5. The Year in Between: A Sense and Sensibility Variation by Christina Morland
Dug deep into the characters and plot showing wonderful growth and satisfying culmination.

6. Sons of Pemberley: A Pride & Prejudice Reimagining by Elizabeth Adams
Loved seeing a variation that included the previous Darcy generation and a playful spirit in the later time line.

7. Sketching Character by Pamela Lynne
I sync with her writing and character relationships so well.

8. Silver Buckles by Grace Gibson
Playfulness, New path for the couple that engaged me from the get go

9. So This Is Love: An Austen-Inspired Regency by Laura Hile
A wide variation, but well worth it for Charlotte's romance. Writing is fab.

10. Miss Price's Decision: A Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey and Pride and Prejudice variation by Eliza Shearer
I've become a fan of melding together the characters and some plot threads from multiple Austen novels. Particularly these ones!


If you need more options, I had several more that were five stars for me and you can find them on my group challenge shelf here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

The Year In Between by Christina Morland


The Austen Girls by Lucy Worsley


Camp Jane by Susan Andrews


Incense and Sensibility by Sonali Dev


Mr Darcy's Persuasion by Cass Grafton

What a lovely idea, Sophia! A celebration of what gave us all the most pleasure. I’m already seeing some favorites emerge. I’ve only read about ten Austenesques this year, but fortunately I really enjoyed most of them. Here they are, in no particular order:

1. Incense and Sensibility by Sonali Dev. Another original and well-written entry in this series, set in present-day San Francisco in a South Indian–American family.

2. The Heiress: The Revelations of Anne de Bourgh by Molly Greeley. A book that transcends the Austenesque genre to appeal to anyone who reads women’s fiction.

3. The Year in Between: A Sense and Sensibility Variation by Christina Morland. A deep dive into the lives of Marianne Dashwood and Elinor Ferrars, full of humanity and the richness of everyday life.

4. Being Mrs Darcy by Lucy Marin. A sensitive portrait of two strangers who have to get to know each other after marriage.

5. Jane and the Madness of Lord Byron by Stephanie Barron. A reread for me, one of the best entries in this mystery series featuring Jane herself as sleuth. Worth it for the high-stakes battle of wits between Austen and Byron! I don’t think the series needs to be read in order, though there are continuing characters.

Sorry! I crossed the set limit while choosing my list, my only excuse being I've had a really good year. I still very reluctantly and regretfully had to leave behind many other books which were equally good. But I'm happy to give you all more great options to choose from.

1. Elizabeth and the hiding gentleman https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13538500... 5+ stars.
Very good story, great banter between Darcy and Elizabeth.
2. The Journey Home To Pemberley: A Pride and Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... Beautiful story with the right balance of angst and happiness. Ms. Starnes's Darcy is always loyal to a fault and more so in this book.
3. Letters from the Heart https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... 5+ stars. Beautifully written novella and a guaranteed tearjerker. The Bennet sisters are so loveable.
4. Wild Goose Chase: A Pride and Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4... 5++ stars. A very funny and enjoyable book.
5. A Gentleman's Honor : A Pride and Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5.... A really good story in which Elizabeth is used for revenge on Darcy and that makes her realise his honorable character.
6. The Madness of Mr. Darcy https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... A very touching story that actually takes place 20 years after lydia's elopement .
7. The viscount's Goddaughter https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13788875/0 A verybfun story in which Elizabeth is connected to all the Fitzwilliams and that connection comes to bite Darcy in the back when he insults Elizabeth and thinks her beneath him.
8. Play with Fire: A Pride & Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5.... A very delightful funny novella narrated by Darcy.
9. Dear Nameless Stranger: A Pride and Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4.... A really touching story with one of the sweetest Darcy ever depicted.
10. Friends and lovers https://www.fanfiction.net/s/2958471/0. This is another fun story with many LOL moments. 
11. A Timely Elopement: A Pride and Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... . Ms. Starnes is one of my favourite JAFF author. This is a comparatively low angst story of hers.
12. The Last Waltz: . . . another pride and prejudice journey of love https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... 5+ stars. A very touching story.
13. A Good Memory is Unpardonable https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5.... A very enjoyable Elizabeth.
14. The Mysteries of Pemberley https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5.... Gothic style story.
15. Misgivings & Mistletoe: Variations on a Jane Austen Christmas https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... A very emotional novella.
16. Speechless https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4.... Beautiful story. A definite re-read in the future.
17. Tempted: A Pride and Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5.... Great story spanning 3 continents in a different time line. British Darcy and American Elizabeth and a triangle love story with the Colonel.

will edit this once home for names, why, etc

1. all that this entails
best book I think I've read in a long time. my top pick for the year

2. an ivy hill Christmas. Julie klassen
see traces of p and p in it.

3. finally Mr Darcy
lovely different take on it. so many characters I've liked

4. lies Jane austen told me
love this take of modern austen. wish there was a sequel that we know characters up to post book


5. a secret suitor



honorable mention
1) dashing into disaster. nice modern sense and sensibility take

Abigail wrote: "What a lovely idea, Sophia! A celebration of what gave us all the most pleasure. I’m already seeing some favorites emerge. I’ve only read about ten Austenesques this year, but fortunately I really ..."

Re #5....on a Zoom w Denver/Boulder yesterday she confirmed that there will be one more JA book after Year Without a Summer. She is currently working on a Folger Mystery so perhaps several years down the road. One can only wonder how she will deal with 1817...cue the tears!! Laugh at myself...I read them way way out of order although I read the first one soon after it came out thanks to a friend's wife...the same friends who brought me to S&S 95...my first Austen!!! Lol part the 2nd...I'll have to reread the first book soon.

abmom wrote: "Sorry! I crossed the set limit while choosing my list, my only excuse being I've had a really good year. I still very reluctantly and regretfully had to leave behind many other books which were equ..."

LOL, yes, it would be more complicated when you read Austenesque in the triple digits. I guess we can cut you some slack (besides, I cheated last year, LOL)

Gosh, I don't know how I am going to pick just 10...

Love Unsought

An Angel in her Pocket: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

I Never Knew Myself: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

The Price of Pride: A Pride & Prejudice Variation

Accusing Mr. Darcy

The Long Journey Home: A Pride & Prejudice Variation

Forgotten Betrothal

Not a Bennet

Bound by Love

Compromise & Consequence

Letter Interrupted

The Kidnapping of Elizabeth Bennet: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

Kirk, your news is daunting to hear! When she spoke to my JASNA group this spring she said The Year without a Summer was coming out this coming February! It feels like a will o’ the wisp, dancing forever out of my grasp.

Abigail wrote: "Kirk, your news is daunting to hear! When she spoke to my JASNA group this spring she said The Year without a Summer was coming out this coming February! It feels like a will o’ the wisp, dancing f..."

Ugh sorry to confuse...The Year Without is coming out in Feb but the final one is well off in the distance.

Another?? Well, that IS good news! Sorry I didn’t read your post carefully enough. I had thought Year was going to be the last.

You lost me, which author is this?

Sorry, we’re talking in code! Speaking of Stephanie Barron, her series in which Jane Austen is a sleuth.

Ahhh. Thanks for clarifying.

1. Dear Nameless Stranger: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
2. Darcy By Any Other Name
3. Gentlewoman Urgently Seeks Husband
4. The Olive Branch: A Pride and Prejudice variation
5. Mr. Collins' Will: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

As you can tell, I like books that sometimes focus on secondary characters.
Anonymous Murders: A Variation on Pride and Prejudice
Mr. Bingley's Bride
Reckless, Headstrong Girl: A Pride & Prejudice Variation
A Lady's ReputationAn Unwitting Compromise
Mr Bennet leaves his study : A Regency Romance based on P&P

I think I will read Fanny, a Mansfield Park story. Hopefully it won’t end in Fanny marrying Henry Crawford, an outcome I would hate!

Abigail wrote: "I think I will read Fanny, a Mansfield Park story. Hopefully it won’t end in Fanny marrying Henry Crawford, an outcome I would hate!"

Not going to lie, it does go that direction, but not before a long journey of growth and change takes place. The author doesn't romanticize much of what Austen put out there about her characters. I reviewed it if you want to see. :)

I quite liked another version of that variant that I read (Henry and Fanny: An Alternate Ending to Mansfield Park by Sherwood Smith), but I do wish folks would take the harder (for modern readers) road! I’ll check out your review, thanks!

Abigail wrote: "I quite liked another version of that variant that I read (Henry and Fanny), but I do wish folks would take the harder (for modern readers) road! I’ll check out your review, thanks!"

Some do, but yes, most of the variations on MP are to pair Henry and Fanny.

Sophia wrote: "Abigail wrote: "I think I will read Fanny, a Mansfield Park story. Hopefully it won’t end in Fanny marrying Henry Crawford, an outcome I would hate!"

Not going to lie, it does go that direction, b..."

I'm with Abigail! Looking forward to your review. I only read it(knowing how it basically would turn out) as a favor to a JASNA Zoom friend, who is a personal friend of the author. Ugh...the author contacted me directly at Austen in Boston(grrrrrr) to find out why my rating was the first non-five rating(the ending and another plot point).

Oh dear, authors should only contact reviewers directly, if ever, to say thank you!

Abigail wrote: "Oh dear, authors should only contact reviewers directly, if ever, to say thank you!"
Yes!!!

Kirk wrote: "Sophia wrote: "Abigail wrote: "I think I will read Fanny, a Mansfield Park story. Hopefully it won’t end in Fanny marrying Henry Crawford, an outcome I would hate!"

Not going to lie, it does go th..."

Oh my, that wasn't professional of her. Readers can think what they like. Nice of you to read it for a friend. :)

Sophia wrote: "Kirk wrote: "Sophia wrote: "Abigail wrote: "I think I will read Fanny, a Mansfield Park story. Hopefully it won’t end in Fanny marrying Henry Crawford, an outcome I would hate!"

Not going to lie, ..."

Thank you!!!

I'm going to try reading one book from everyone's list for this challenge. Let's see how many lists I'm going to cover!

abmom wrote: "I'm going to try reading one book from everyone's list for this challenge. Let's see how many lists I'm going to cover!"

😲 WOW!!!!

That is amazing, abmom! Go!!!!

I decided to go with Mr Collins will Jeannepw

so far I'm enjoying it now than I thought I would :)

Fabulous that it's really good, Patricia!

I am enjoying Fanny—you’re right, Sophia, the author’s prose style is very accomplished!

Yay, glad it is satisfying so far. :) I'm still stuck deciding between two books so hopefully I get that ironed out before I run out of time.

Got 2 in - Angel in her pocket and The kidnapping of Elizabeth Bennet.

Might go for these over the weekends

The Price of Pride: A Pride & Prejudice Variation

Accusing Mr. Darcy

The Long Journey Home: A Pride & Prejudice Variation

Amazing, Sam! Love your mini-challenge to read from each list. Way to go on already reading two. :)

Finished Fanny, A Mansfield Park Story. Accomplished writing and character development, but the novel it’s jumping off from, Mansfield Park, is so thematically rich that this felt a bit thin to me in its exclusive focus on relationship.

Yay for finishing your Gold read, Abigail!

I am reading like insanity the books that have come out this year that I think might be on whose top ten lists will show up on a couple of blogs I follow. Because they have already been so highly rated. I'm behind. And it makes me feel bad when there is one or more books on lots of people's lists I haven't read yet. I don't know why but it does. Anyway, I already have a top (gulp) 20 list and wanted to add more so 20 was hard enough. If I didn't exclude the books that weren't published this year I'd be totally lost, and ripping my hair out btw. So here goes...

1. Fallen, by Jessie Lewis

2. Determination, by C. P. Odom

3. Blinded by Prejudice, by Karalynne Mckrory

4. So Material a Change, by Amy D'Orazio

5. A Gentleman's Honor, by Melanie Rachel

6. Nameless, by Julie Cooper

7. Dragons Beyond the Pale, by Maria Grace

8. Forgotten Betrothal, by L. M. Romano

9. Dare to Refuse Such a Man, by Mary Smythe

10. Sons of Pemberley, by Elizabeth Adams

11. For the Deepest Love, by Mary Anne Mushatt

I so wish I could go on and on with this list. It's been a great year. And they all go on my reread list.

Sophia wrote: "I had a fabulous reading year so this was a tough list to narrow down. And, at this point, there is a possibility that a late year book might slip in under the wire as a real gem so my list might c..."

I really want to read Miss Bennet's Dragon before the end of the year, among many.

Jeannepw wrote: "1. Dear Nameless Stranger: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
2. Darcy By Any Other Name

I loved Dear Nameless Stranger! And I want to read another on your list Mr. Collin's Will.

Sam wrote: "Gosh, I don't know how I am going to pick just 10...

Love Unsought

I've seen The Kidnapping of Elizabeth Bennet on multiple readers' highly rated list so I want to read that one, Sam.

MichelleH wrote: "I am reading like insanity the books that have come out this year that I think might be on whose top ten lists will show up on a couple of blogs I follow. Because they have already been so highly r..."

You got some good ones here!

Getting more of my reading in. Forgot some of the lol scenes in Compromise and Consequences. Not a big fan of the author, but this one was ok.

MichelleH wrote: "I am reading like insanity the books that have come out this year that I think might be on whose top ten lists will show up on a couple of blogs I follow. Because they have already been so highly r..."

For those of you who read a ton of Austenesque, I imagine narrowing to ten would be tough. I read a fraction of your stacks and I struggled keeping it to ten. :)

the long journey home
letter interrupted

Done!

Interesting- I got a little bored with the long journey and liked Letter interrupted more in my second reading.

Doing great on your quest to read one from each list, Sam. Glad at least one was a pleaser.

Hi all!

I've had a request to see all the books that people have read for the December Austen Gold challenge. If it wouldn't be too much trouble, let's see those listed below here.

Here are the ones already read that I culled from the comments above:
Angel in her pocket - Sam
The kidnapping of Elizabeth Bennet- Sam
Fanny, A Mansfield Park Story - Abigail

1/4 of the way into Susan: A Jane Austen Prequel by Alice McVeigh. So far.... it's ok.

Love Unsought

An Angel in her Pocket: A Pride and Prejudice Variation - Read

I Never Knew Myself: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

The Price of Pride: A Pride & Prejudice Variation - Read

Accusing Mr. Darcy - Read

The Long Journey Home: A Pride & Prejudice Variation - Read

Forgotten Betrothal

Not a Bennet - Read

Bound by Love

Compromise & Consequence - Read

Letter Interrupted - Read

The Kidnapping of Elizabeth Bennet: A Pride and Prejudice Variation - Read

Is this ok? I can delete it, if you wanted something else