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Jane Austen’s 250th birthday falls on December 16th. The year has been an excellent celebration, with multiple retrospectives and deep dives into her work being released. The Morgan Library curated an exhibit about how she grew into the world-famous figure she’s remembered as today. In a stroke of coincidence, the Joe Wright adaptation of Pride & Prejudice hit its 20-year anniversary and returned to theaters. As Austen fans, we are spoiled for choice.
People who love to read Jane Austen are also often moved to write like her. There are plenty of romances inspired by Jane Austen plots to celebrate her long legacy. On the romance side, yearning and unrequited love are timeless. Jane Austen is also the queen of the comedy side of the romcom. Her plots about miscommunication and quirky families are perfect for the contemporary moment. Here are four recent examples to get you started!
Austen in New Contexts
Give Me a Reason by Jayci Lee
After years of acting in Korean dramas, Anne Lee is ready to return to Los Angeles. Her lucrative career may have saved her family from financial ruin, but it meant she had to leave her true love behind. Frederick Nam works as a firefighter back in Los Angeles, and is totally over Anne and the concept of romance ever since he was rejected. When they’re reunited, old feelings come to the surface.
All Access members, read on for three more recent Jane Austen romance retellings.
Northranger: A Modern Graphic Novel Retelling of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey by Rey Terciero, illustrated by Bre Indigo
One of Jane Austen’s later, more mature works comes to life in this YA graphic novel. Cade Muñoz moves to work as a ranch hand for the summer, and he falls quickly for fellow ranch worker Henry. But their love connection isn’t entirely acceptable in their situation, and not everything is what it seems.
Emma by the Sea by Sarah G. Levine
Adaptations of Emma are iconic, and this modern, sapphic take on the story is especially fun. Emma Wilson spends the majority of her time caring for her aging father, and hasn’t thought about love in years. She’s fallen hard for her neighbor, Georgia, but she’s unwilling to pursue the connection and lose their friendship. Georgia’s younger cousin, Cora, forces Emma to face up to her feelings.
Austen Remixed
Ladies in Waiting: Jane Austen’s Unsung Characters by Adriana Trigiani, Sarah MacLean, Eloisa James, Elinor Lipman, Audrey Bellezza, Karen Dukess, Emily Harding, Nikki Payne, Diana Quincy
One of Jane Austen’s many strengths is her ensemble of interesting characters. From the villains who tear the lovers apart to the precocious younger sisters, there are whole exciting universes to explore. In this collection, a bunch of beloved romance writers gave their take on fan-favorite characters, like Georgiana Darcy and Margaret Dashwood.
If you’re looking for more Jane, you can start with books she may have read during her life. To keep the excitement going, you can also dive into new retellings and queer retellings.
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