Jane Austen-Inspired Romance Novels to Read Now

The sparky dynamic of Lizzie and Mr. Darcy in Pride & Prejudice is the perfect formula for this story of love, family, and romantic drama in modern-day Toronto.

Jalaluddin’s rom-com is fresh, vibrant, and one of the smartest translations of the social mores of Austen’s time. Ayesha is a Muslim woman who dreams of being a poet. Khalid is smart, handsome, and utterly infuriating. It's hate at first sight, but soon they realize that there's something else blossoming between them.

Persuasion is one of the most heart-aching tales of second chance romance, and Sonali Dev’s reimagining captures its mood.

Ashna Raje is a chef trying to save her restaurant from closure. A cooking reality show might be her savior, but it means reuniting with Rico Silva, a now-famous footballer and her first love who she still pines for. Can they let go of the past to survive reality TV hell, and possibly find love once more?

Do you know what Austen’s work was missing? Murder! Tirzah Price's Jane Austen Murder Mystery series brings a touch of crime to the Regency romance.

Fanny Price is growing up as an unwelcome guest at her uncle Sir Thomas Bertram’s estate. When he dies under suspicious circumstances, it falls upon her shoulders to uncover the culprit. Luckily, she has help in the form of her secret crush Edmund and some local legends in the form of Lizzie Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy!

How about a Pride & Prejudice rewrite that keeps the action in the 1810s but focuses on a trans protagonist?

Oliver Bennet is desperate to live his life as his true self even as the world views him as a girl. One night, when he sneaks out to dress as his gentleman self, he meets Darcy, who had been so rude to "Elizabeth" earlier. Love is powerful but can it withstand the cruelties of the world? You'll cheer on Oliver and Darcy in this beautiful retelling.

Another Pride & Prejudice retelling here, this time with a sapphic twist and a dash of Bridget Jones.

Darcy Lowell is sick of blind dates. Elle Jones is an astrologer who dreams of finding her soulmate. They're all wrong for one another. But when Darcy's brother is convinced that the pair are meant for one another, they end up playing along with a fake romance. It must end on New Year's Eve. They'll definitely still dislike one another by the end, right?

It’s Sense & Sensibility on a boat! Margaret Dashwood wants to avoid drama following past heartache. Her sister Marianne is a desperate romantic. They're spending the summer together with their older sister Elinor on a fancy cruise. What else is there to do but find love, flirt with the crew, and fall into a series of increasingly elaborate fake dates that could create the ultimate summer of love?