Austenesque Lovers TBR Challenge 2022 discussion

If you are willing to place one of your August reading choices in the hands of another person, leave a comment here with at least five books and no more than ten from your TBR shelf. Participants need to leave comments no later than July 25th.

Here's how it will work:
Sophia will match people up and leave a comment with a list of who will choose for whom.
When you see the person you are to pick for, then just look at their list in the above comments and leave a new comment with their name and the book you chose for them by July 31st.

You also need to watch and see what book your person chose from your list for you.
You have the rest of the month to read the book.

So if this sounds like something you would like to do, just comment below leaving your name and list of book choices for someone to pick your August book.

Okay here's mine:

1. Susan Adriani: Darkness falls upon Pemberley
2. Jayne Bamber: Happie in her friends than relations
3. Linda Beutler: My Mr. Darcy and your Mr. Bingley
4 Nicole Clarkston: Nefarious
5. Christine Combe: The reintroduction of Fitzwilliam Darcy
6 Jenetta James: Suddenly Mrs. Darcy
7Jennifer Joy: Accusing Elizabeth
8 KC Kahler: A case of some delicacy
9 Lory Lilian: A man with faults
10 Abigail Reynolds: Conceit and concealment

1)Nothing But Patience: A Modern Retelling of S&S



2)Camp Jane Volume Two


3) Captive Hearts


4)Anne and Wentworth


5)Celestial Persuasion

Beating the summer heat with...

1. A Stronger Impulse: A Variation of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice by Julie Cooper
2. Mr. Darcy's Seaside Romance: All Go to Brighton: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Violet King
3. Jane Austen in Boca by Paula Cohen
4. Kiss Me Good Night, Major Darcy by Georgina Young-Ellis
5. Dance the Tide: A Modern Pride and Prejudice Variation by Cat Andrews
6. Summer of Love by Melissa Buell
7. It's Always Been You by L.L. Diamond
8. The Suspicion at Sanditon (Or, The Disappearance of Lady Denham) by Carrie Bebris
9. London Holiday by Nicole Clarkston
10. A Summer in Brighton by Jann Rowland

My big Austenesque confession is that I have never read a non-regency variation. It feels like time to change that so here are some non-regency books that have been in my TBR for a while,

1. Longbourn's Songbird by Beau North
2. It's Always Been You by L L Diamond
3. Sanctuary: Volume 1 by Cat Andrews
4. When He Comes Back: A Pride & Prejudice Variation by Anniina Sjoblom
5. The Best Laid Flight Plans by Leigh Dreyer
6. A Matter of Chance by L. L. Diamond
7. Headstrong: Book One: Improvise by Melanie Rachel
8. A Searing Acquaintance: A Modern Pride & Prejudice Variation by Jan Ashton
9. Reflections: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Linda Gonschior
10. Boots and Backpacks: Pride & Prejudice on the Appalachian Trail, Roughly by K. C Kahler

Eeek…. It’s going to be a new adventure whatever the choice

"never" would be a lie but I'm also far more likely to pick up a regency jaff than a modern... I have most of those same books in my TBR but it's harder to start.
I don't really know why... I did like When he comes back though

Variety is the spice of life! Personally, I tend to prefer modern versions to period ones. For me, the change in manners and circumstances forces the writer to think more about themes, so the modern books tend to feel truer to the core of the original. So many of the period Austenesques focus only the romance, which for me is only the shell of the book; and I get bounced out of the story when modern expressions are used or Regency manners flouted.

I think I first realized the potential of modern adaptations when I watched Clueless and realized it was my favorite version of Emma!

Clueless was great! Haven't seen it in years.
But the reverse also goes... If people act too Regency in a modern it's jarring. Sometimes authors do this with Darcy especially.. The things he disapproves are too much like what the prim and proper master of Pemberley would disapprove

Here's my batch:

Rereads in PB:
So Material a Change: A Pride & Prejudice Variation
Wickham's Second Attempt

KU:
Cindereliza: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
The Colonel's Cousin: A Pride & Prejudice Variation

K:
Total Want of Propriety, Volume 2: Georgiana's Reclamation : A Pride and Prejudice Variation

FF:
Bonded Hearts https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12486751/1/
Hidden Stitches https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13467083/1/

It's funny, I used to love modern versions. Now I find I don't have patience for them.

Sam wrote: "It's funny, I used to love modern versions. Now I find I don't have patience for them."

Interesting! I'm mostly moderns except one-shots.

Here's my list -

1. Boots and Backpacks: Pride & Prejudice on the Appalachian Trail, Roughly https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
2. Mr. Darcy's Seaside Romance: All Go to Brighton: A Pride and Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
3. Obsession https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
4. Romancing Mr. Darcy https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
5. The Colonel https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
6. Mistress of Netherfield https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
7. A Short Period of Exquisite Felicity https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
8. Follies and Vices: A Pride and Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
9. The Re-education of Mr. Darcy: A Pride & Prejudice Variation https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
10. Elizabeth in the New World https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

Hey guys! Been a spell since I've done my favorite game of russian roulette💜I haven't been able to read much of the new JAFF releases of this year so that is what my list theme is, and whoever gets me, if you have a favorite JAFF release of this year, that is not on my list, please feel free to overrule my selections and recommend that ! 🤓

1. Threads of Magic: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

2. More Than a Pretty Face: A Variation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

3.A Most Excellent Understanding: A Humorous Pride and Prejudice Variation

4.The Peculiar Talent of Miss Elizabeth Bennet

5.Cindereliza: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

6.A Little Magic : A Pride and Prejudice Variation

7.A Frankness of Character: A Pride and Prejudice Variation : A Darcy & Elizabeth Story w/ a Matchmaking Colonel Fitzwilliam

8.A Stronger Impulse: A Variation of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice

I shuffled the names and here are the picks. Go through your person's book list above and leave a comment with your pick by August 1st. Don't forget to see what someone picked for you. Feel free to return with thoughts on your reading.

Katja > Sam
Kirk > Patricia
Sophia > abmom
Craftyhj > Shifra
Sam > Craftyhj
Patricia > Sophia
abmom > Kirk
Shifra > Katja

Happy Reading, all!

Howdy, abmom!

I'm picking Boots and Backpacks by KC Kahler because that seems like a great outdoorsy, summery read.

Hi Patricia!!!

What a challenging list w so many theories
of choosing ie my read books(2), new, rarely read....
but going w the team's reviews w...

Being Mrs Bennet!

Enjoy!!!

Hi Shifra

An excellent list but I’m going to suggest,
A Stronger Impulse: A Variation of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice

I’m going to read it next month so we can compare notes

crafty, I debated between It's always been you - which got great reviews, and Headstrong- Melanie Rachel is one of my favorite authors.
Gonna go with Headstrong-. Hope you like it!

Sam wrote: "crafty, I debated between It's always been you - which got great reviews, and Headstrong- Melanie Rachel is one of my favorite authors.
Gonna go with Headstrong-. Hope you like it!"

She’s one of my favourites too so I should be in safe hands

Katja, for me its a no brainer! A Case of Some Delicacy is in my top ten JAFFs of all time list, its hilariously witty & with a ton of Darcy x Lizzy romantic interaction. I wish I could read it for the first time again, I hope you love it as much as I do🤓 Happy reading✨

Thank you, Crafty, looking forward to trading notes!😆

I'll have to get back to you on your choice. you have so many that sounds good,it is hard to decide!

Thanks Shifra, that was a glowing recommendation so I'm looking forward to it!

Sam, I am only familiar with two books on your list. IIRC Hidden stitches had an interesting premise but it was a very long story so may have dragged a bit here and there. Do feel free to read or re-read any D'Orazio book, she is one of my fave authors and that was a five star book for me.

But I am going to go with The Colonel's Cousin because I just added it on my TBR pile too.

Excellent! The Colonel's Cousin it is! Thanks ;)

Thanks Sophie! That book had been in my TBR list for a long time.

Kirk! I choose Captive hearts for you! Hope you enjoy it!

abmom wrote: "Thanks Sophie! That book had been in my TBR list for a long time.

Kirk! I choose Captive hearts for you! Hope you enjoy it!"

Great, thank you!!

I have yours narrowed down to 4

dance the tide

london holiday

stronger impulse (looks to not be released yet)

mr Darcys seaside romance

Ｓｈｉｆｒａ wrote: "Katja, for me its a no brainer! A Case of Some Delicacy is in my top ten JAFFs of all time list, its hilariously witty & with a ton of Darcy x Lizzy romantic interaction. I wish I c..."

I finished it in one day... you were right, it was a great read. Some hilarious exchanges and the grieving bit in the end was quite touching, and very well written all around.

I don't know why i thought this would be a murder mystery. Maybe just because it says case in the title?

Katja wrote: "Ｓｈｉｆｒａ wrote: "Katja, for me its a no brainer! A Case of Some Delicacy is in my top ten JAFFs of all time list, its hilariously witty & with a ton of Darcy x Lizzy romantic interact..."

Haha I can see why you would assume that! Glad it was a hit 😁

have it down to me Darcys seaside romance and dance the tide.

both sound good. I am going through personal stuff At the moment. if you want to read both that's fine with me

Patricia wrote: "have it down to me Darcys seaside romance and dance the tide.

both sound good. I am going through personal stuff At the moment. if you want to read both that's fine with me"

No worries, Patricia! Take care of real life. I'll toss a coin. :)

Sophia wrote: "Patricia wrote: "have it down to me Darcys seaside romance and dance the tide.

both sound good. I am going through personal stuff At the moment. if you want to read both that's fine with me"

No ..."
or you can read both ;)

Haha! I can try.

I finished "Boots and Backpacks" and loved it. It was a very different and enjoyable variation. Thanks Sophia for your pick.

abmom wrote: "I finished "Boots and Backpacks" and loved it. It was a very different and enjoyable variation. Thanks Sophia for your pick."

Yay! I thought it was an interesting setting for a retelling.

abmom wrote: "Thanks Sophie! That book had been in my TBR list for a long time.

Kirk! I choose Captive hearts for you! Hope you enjoy it!"

Thanks again!!! I enjoyed the first half.

Patricia wrote: "have it down to me Darcys seaside romance and dance the tide.

both sound good. I am going through personal stuff At the moment. if you want to read both that's fine with me"

I picked Dance the Tide and whew, that was an emotional one. Thanks, Patricia!

I finished the Colonel's cousin.
Enjoyed it, although it did lag in the middle a bit. I really liked the lead up to the ending.

I am 25% through my challenge book, Headstrong: Book One: Improvise, my first ever non-regency read. I AM LOVING IT! A whole new range of books for me to explore …

Glad that you're enjoying your book Kirk. I haven't read that book but I did read Accusing Darcy by the same author which I enjoyed.

abmom wrote: "Glad that you're enjoying your book Kirk. I haven't read that book but I did read Accusing Darcy by the same author which I enjoyed."

Yes! The first half was very good. The 2nd half...not as enjoyable to me.

Finished!

Headstrong: Book One: Improvise by Melanie Rachel.

I am so glad this group gave me the nudge I needed to try a modern variation. I loved it. It was great fun finding the twists to being the original forward 200 years whilst remaining authentic.

Melanie Rachel is a great writer and I shall definitely be back for parts 2 and 3 as well as trying other moderns in the future.

Craftyhj wrote: "Finished!

Headstrong: Book One: Improvise by Melanie Rachel.

I am so glad this group gave me the nudge I needed to try a modern variation. I loved it. It was great fun finding the..."

I am so glad, Craftyhj. I don't reach for the moderns as often, but I do like them now and then for a switch up. And, yes, she is a fab writer. :)

Sophia wrote: "Craftyhj wrote: "Finished!

Headstrong: Book One: Improvise by Melanie Rachel.

I am so glad this group gave me the nudge I needed to try a modern variation. I loved it. It was grea..."

I suspect a modern variation might find it harder to hide less good writing.

Craftyhj wrote: "Finished!

Headstrong: Book One: Improvise by Melanie Rachel.

I am so glad this group gave me the nudge I needed to try a modern variation. I loved it. It was great fun finding the..."
Great!!!

Craftyhj wrote: "Sophia wrote: "Craftyhj wrote: "Finished!

Headstrong: Book One: Improvise by Melanie Rachel.

I am so glad this group gave me the nudge I needed to try a modern variation. I loved ..."

Now, that is an interesting thought. I'm not a contemporary romance fan in general so I am careful which ones I do pick up and usually setting or the character/s background have to really grab me. That said, I tend to be more nitpicky about historicals when they feel too modern.