Austenesque Lovers TBR Pile Challenge 2024 discussion

I do apologize for posting this up a week late. I was on vacation and forgot to set it up ahead of time. :( Hope many can still participate though this is last minute.

If you are willing to place one of your November 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 October 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 October 31th.

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 November book.

I'm in!

1. Here There Be Dragons by Maria Grace
2. Jane Austen's Remarkable Aunt, Philadelphia Hancock: A Girl of Genius and Feeling' by Jan Meriman
3. The Merry Matchmaker by Sheila Roberts
4. Holidays with Jane: Thankful Hearts by Celia Gray
5. Entwined Magic: A Pride and Prejudice Fantasy Variation by Monica Fairview

1)The Suspicion at Sanditon by Carrie Bebris reread
The Suspicion at Sanditon (Or, The Disappearance of Lady Denham)

2)Stolen Interviews
Stolen Interviews: A Regency Romance Inspired By Jane Austen’s Sanditon
Stolen Interviews: A Regency Romance Inspired By Jane Austen’s Sanditon

3)A Case for the Sea
A Case for the Sea: A Regency Romance Inspired by Jane Austen’s Sanditon
A Case for the Sea: A Regency Romance Inspired by Jane Austen’s Sanditon

4)Sanditon Before and Beyond
Sanditon: Before and Beyond: A suitable ending to the unfinished work by Jane Austen
Sanditon: Before and Beyond: A suitable ending to the unfinished work by Jane Austen

5)Sanditon on Reflection
Sanditon on Reflection
Sanditon on Reflection

1) Entwined Magic: A Pride and Prejudice Fantasy Variation by Monica Fairview
2) Lend Me Leave by Barbara Cornthwaite
3) Thwarted by M.J. Stratton
4) Timing: A Persuasion Story by Ruth Less
5) Respect and Respectability: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Clarissa Joy Thomas

I hope your traveling was good Sophia!

I'm in!

1. Worthy of Her Trust: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
2. Pride or Dignity: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
3. Rewinding Time: A Pride & Prejudice Variation
4. Mr. Darcy's Ship: Pride & Prejudice Reimagined
5. Surviving Thomas Bennet: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
6. The Three Colonels: Jane Austen's Fighting Men
7. A Father's Sins: A Pride and Prejudice Variation
8. The Lost Letter: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

Craftyhj wrote: "I hope your traveling was good Sophia!"

Yes, the Utah mountains were lovely in the autumn.
And, I got to see family. :)

I'm in :)

1 Six Inches Deep in Mud: A Pride and Prejudice variation by Michelle D'Arcy
2 Timing: A Persuasion Story by Ruth Sanger
3Rewinding Time: A Pride & Prejudice Variation
4 Mr Darcy's Persuasion by Cass Grafton
5 Renaissance in Bath by Eightyearsandahalf
6 Persuade Me by Lise

Howdy, everyone! I'm glad you could join in for this month.

I have randomly drawn names from those who submitted a list of books and will put those just below.

For those who are new to this fun activity, here is what you do next:
1. Find your name in the left hand column and then go to the right hand column to see whose name you drew.
2. Go back up in the discussion thread and find that person's list. Choose a book from that list. And, then make a comment to that person of what book you chose for them. Do this by October 31st, please.
3. Watch for the person who drew your name to post their pick from your booklist.
4. Start your books on or after November 1st and feel free to come back and leave a comment of what you thought of the book.
If you want to discuss as you're reading, you can comment on your impressions as you go. Just make sure to mark any spoilery comments at the beginning of your comment.

Sophia > Craftyhj
Kirk > Katie
Craftyhj > Jen
Katie > Sophia
Jen > Kirk

Happy Reading!

Howdy, Heather!

Tough choice between Thwarted and Entwined Magic for you. But, I'll go with Thwarted since I'll be satisfying my curiosity by Entwined Magic soon enough. :)

Hi Katie,
A couple of the choices I read a long time ago.
One I remembered and I did not.
Going w…..

A Father’s Sins

Happy reading!!!

Thanks for the choice Sophia. I am looking forward to it and I will probably find time to sneak your second choice in too!

Jen, I haven't read any of your choices but Mr Darcy's Persuasion has sat in my TBR forever so I shall pick that and look forward to hearing what you think of it.

Hi Sophia!

I'm choosing Entwined Magic by Monica Fairview for you. That series is in my TBR and I'm looking forward to starting it next year.

Katie wrote: "Hi Sophia!

I'm choosing Entwined Magic by Monica Fairview for you. That series is in my TBR and I'm looking forward to starting it next year."

I'll look forward to it, Katie. It's a different take on P&P with the magic, war, and school elements in it.

Hi Kirk

Ah Sanditon - I spent a far too much time during the pandemic reading lots on AO3 :) didn't realize that Suki Blue published that work!

But.. I'll pick this one (as it's on my TBR pile too):
A Case for the Sea: A Regency Romance Inspired by Jane Austen’s Sanditon by Alma Kelleher

Looking forward to see what you think of it.

Jen wrote: "Hi Kirk

Ah Sanditon - I spent a far too much time during the pandemic reading lots on AO3 :) didn't realize that Suki Blue published that work!

But.. I'll pick this one (as it's on my TBR pile to..."

Thx Jen!!!

Kirk wrote: "3)A Case for the Sea
A Case for the Sea: A Regency Romance Inspired by Jane Austen’s Sanditon"
Sanditon: Before and Beyond: A suitable ending to the unfinished work by Jane Austen

I wonder if this was stolen as it is published directly from an AO3 download and is still on AO3 in full here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/225...
I left her a message on the story - we shall see...

Jen wrote: "Hi Kirk

Ah Sanditon - I spent a far too much time during the pandemic reading lots on AO3 :) didn't realize that Suki Blue published that work!

But.. I'll pick this one (as it's on my TBR pile to..."
I enjoyed A Case…a little too much “will they or won’t they”
but otherwise a solid 4.

Ooohhh I totally missed this!
Since I stopped getting notifocations from GR, I can't seem to keep up with the posts

Any chance you need to even things out with an extra dinner partner??

Sam wrote: "Ooohhh I totally missed this!
Since I stopped getting notifocations from GR, I can't seem to keep up with the posts

Any chance you need to even things out with an extra dinner partner??"

Drat that reset on the notifications! I had to hunt high and low to figure out what settings needed to be changed so I could get the group alerts, too.

If you want to do your list, Sam, I can pick one for you. I could use a second pick from my list since I finished my first book already. :)

Katie wrote: "Hi Sophia!

I'm choosing Entwined Magic by Monica Fairview for you. That series is in my TBR and I'm looking forward to starting it next year."

Thanks for the pick, Katie! I loved it. Entwined Magic wrapped up the series so well. :)

Can you remember what changes you made to get the group alerts Sophia? I thought I had done it but I still don't seem to get them all.

Thank you, Sophia!

I would also appreciate how to 'fix' the notification issue.


Here is a list of books that keep getting pushed down my TBR pile.
Fixed Stars: A Pride & Prejudice Vagary
At Last: A Pride and Prejudice Variation: Or, A Tale of Five Ladies & Four Gentlemen, Or, Why Daughters Should Always Be Chaperoned While Out Walking
Prideful & Persuaded
Frederick Weak and Resentful
Tides of Bath: A Retelling of Persuasion

And my pick for your 2nd read is Here There Be Dragons. I thought to keep it along the 'fantasy' lines.

Thank you so much!!

Craftyhj wrote: "Can you remember what changes you made to get the group alerts Sophia? I thought I had done it but I still don't seem to get them all."

Yes, I can. Now, it might be different because I have an author account, but I don't think it will be.
Go to the top far right to your profile picture and click on it. Then scroll down to 'account settings' at the bottom of the list of options. Inside that, edit your user profile. Across the top, there should be some tabs. Click on the 'account and notifications' tab. You should be able to reset all our notifications there.

Sam wrote: "Thank you, Sophia!

I would also appreciate how to 'fix' the notification issue.


Here is a list of books that keep getting pushed down my TBR pile.
[book:Fixed Stars: A Pride & Prejudice Vagary|2..."

Great! I'll look forward to advancing in the dragon series, Sam.

For you, I'm picking Pride & Persuaded. I've been enjoying mashups of the novels lately.

Thanks, Sophia!
I appreciate the pick!

Thanks Sophia.

Oh gosh I missed this quest again. But I might piggyback and read Mr. Darcy's persuasion (because I've got it on my kindle) or the AO3 story.

Sophia - I really enjoyed it!
So interesting to actually read a human-like version of Caroline, instead of a caricature. And Sir Walter.
The whole book was very cleverly done by the author.

Katja wrote: "Oh gosh I missed this quest again. But I might piggyback and read Mr. Darcy's persuasion (because I've got it on my kindle) or the AO3 story."

Yes, please do, Katja! Bummer you missed it.

Sam wrote: "Sophia - I really enjoyed it!
So interesting to actually read a human-like version of Caroline, instead of a caricature. And Sir Walter.
The whole book was very cleverly done by the author."

I really hope she writes more JAFF. I enjoyed both her books.

Thanks for the choice Sophia. I enjoyed Thwarted by M.J. Stratton. A really interesting plot, very unique. A few editing blips but definitely worth reading.

Craftyhj wrote: "Thanks for the choice Sophia. I enjoyed Thwarted by M.J. Stratton. A really interesting plot, very unique. A few editing blips but definitely worth reading."

Glad you enjoyed it. I'm new to her books, but I'm favorably impressed so far. I'll look forward to Thwarted. :)