Huzzah! It has been a banner year for Jane Austen-inspired books in 2013. The bicentenary of Pride and Prejudice motivated many authors to take up their pens in celebration resulting in a fabulous selection of new titles. From historical and contemporary novels to non-fiction and scholarly, Austen-inspired books were present in several genres making our favorite author even more popular than ever.
We reviewed 76 books and short stories in 2013. Here is our annual list of top favorites .
Top 10 Austenesque Historical Novels:
- Return to Longbourn, by Shannon Winslow (5 stars)
- One Thread Pulled: The Dance with Mr. Darcy, by Diana J. Oaks (5 stars)
- Loving Miss Darcy: The Brides of Pemberley, by Nancy Kelley (5 stars)
- The Pursuit of Mary Bennet: A Pride and Prejudice Novel, by Pamela Mingle (4 stars)
- Longbourn: A Novel, by Jo Baker (4 stars)
- The Passions of Dr. Darcy, by Sharon Lathan (4 stars)
- Falling For Mr. Darcy, by KaraLynne Mackrory (4 stars)
- Darcy’s Decision: Given Good Principles Volume 1, by Maria Grace (4 stars)
- When They Fall in Love: Darcy and Elizabeth in Italy, by Mary Simonsen (4 stars)
- Young Mr. Darcy in Love: Pride and Prejudice Continues (The Darcys and the Bingleys) (Volume 7) by Marsha Altman (4 stars)
Top 5 Austenesque Contemporary Novels:
- Pride, Prejudice and the Perfect Match, by Marilyn Brant (5 stars)
- Undressing Mr. Darcy, by Karen Doornebos (5 stars)
- My Own Mr. Darcy, by Karey White (4 stars)
- Sense & Sensibility (Austen Project), by Joanna Trollope (3.5 stars)
- Finding Colin Firth: A Novel, by Mia March (3.5 stars)
Top 5 Austenesque Paranormal/Fantasy Novels:
- Jane, Actually, by Jennifer Petkus (5 stars)
- Project Darcy, by Jane Odiwe (4 stars)
- Austensibly Ordinary, by Alyssa Goodnight (4 stars)
- Attempting Elizabeth, by Jessica Grey (4 stars)
- A Jane Austen Daydream, by Scott Southard (4 stars)
Top 5 Austen-inspired Nonfiction Books:
- Among the Janeites: A Journey Through the World of Jane Austen Fandom, by Deborah Jaffe (6 stars)
- The Annotated Northanger Abbey, edited by David Shapard (5 stars)
- Walking Jane Austen’s London, by Louise Allen (5 stars)
- Mr. Darcy’s Guide to Courtship: The Secrets of Seduction from Jane Austen’s Most Eligible Bachelor, by Fitzwilliam Darcy (5 stars)
- The List Lover’s Guide to Jane Austen, by Joan Strasbaugh (4.5 stars)
Top 5 Austen-inspired Scholarly Books:
- The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things, by Paula Byrne (5 stars)
- Jane Austen’s England, by Roy and Lesley Adkins (5 stars)
- Sense and Sensibility: An Annotated Edition, edited by Patricia Meyer Spacks (4 stars)
- Matters of Fact in Jane Austen: History, Location, and Celebrity, by Janine Barchas (4 stars)
- What Matters in Jane Austen: Twenty Crucial Puzzles Solved, by John Mullan (4 stars)
Top 3 Austenesque Young Adult Novels:
- The Trouble with Flirting, by Claire LaZebnick (4.5 stars)
- Emmalee (Austen Diaries), by Jenni James (4 stars)
- For Darkness Shows the Stars, by Diana Peterfreund (4 stars)
Top 3 Austenesque Self-published Novels:
- Return to Longbourn, by Shannon Winslow (5 stars)
- One Thread Pulled: The Dance with Mr. Darcy, by Diana J. Oaks (5 stars)
- Loving Miss Darcy: The Brides of Pemberley, by Nancy Kelley (5 stars)
Top 3 Austen or Austenesque Audio Books:
- Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, read by Emilia Fox (5 stars)
- Mr. Darcy’s Diary, by Maya Slater, read by David Rintoul (5 stars)
- Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World (A Pride and Prejudice Variation), by Abigail Reynolds, read by Rachel E. Hurley (4 stars)
Top 3 Regency Romance Novels:
- The Tutor’s Daughter, by Julie Klassen (5 stars)
- The Passion of the Purple Plumeria: A Pink Carnation Novel, by Lauren Willig (5 stars)
- Blackmoore: A Proper Romance, by Julianne Donaldson (5 stars)
Debut Austenesque Author:
- Diana J. Oaks, One Thread Pulled: The Dance with Mr. Darcy (5 stars)
Our thanks and congratulations go out to all of the authors and their publishers, whose endeavors entertained us so aptly. A very grateful thank you to all of our loyal readers.
The Austenprose review staff
Related posts
- Top 20 Jane Austen Books for 2009
- Top 20 Jane Austen Books for 2010
- Top 20 Jane Austen Books for 2011
- Top Jane Austen-inspired Books of 2012
Laurel Ann Nattress © 2013, Austenprose.com
Austenprose 
Woo hoo! What a great way to end 2013 with When They Fall in Love landing in the Top Ten! Thanks, Laurel Ann. You are a great friend and wonderful supporter of Austenesque novelists. All the best in 2014. (Psst: I have a time-travel novel coming out in January.)
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You are welcome. Happy Holidays Mary. I look forward to reading your next novel!
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Sadly I have only read 14 of these. Must. read. More. Happy Christmas!
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What a lovely surprise! I’m humbled to have my first book, “One Thread Pulled” included among so many other stellar works, and I’m so honored to be recognized for my debut work. Thank you Laurel Ann for all you do! Thank you Jeffrey Ward for reviewing my book! Merry Christmas!
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You are welcome Diana. Happy Holidays. I look forward to reading the sequel next year!
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Thank you so much, Laurel Ann (and again to Katie for the lovely review last spring). This definitely made my day!
Christina, you’re doing better than me–I’ve only read two books on the list beside my own! That’s made even more shameful by the fact that I own several of them and simply have not had the time.
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You are very welcome Nancy. Happy Holidays!
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Nancy Kelley- My goal this year is to keep track of the books I read. I have no idea the numbers… but it has to be a lot, LaurelAnn?
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Thanks, Laurel Ann — it’s an honor to make your list!
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My pleasure Deborah. Great job. You made me laugh, exceedingly. Happy Holidays.
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MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!
Finding this site has definitely been a gift to me. I’m a fan for life. :D
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Wonderful list Laurel Ann! – I concur completely! – another banner year for Jane Austen everything – thank you for all your insights and for sharing all things Jane Austen with the rest of the world and making us all feel like a family…
Happy 2014 to you good buddy!
Deb
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What an honor to be included on this list!! Many thanks to Laurel Ann, to Kim for a review that I cherish, and to everyone at Austenprose! Happy, Happy Holidays, one and all :).
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You are welcome Marilyn. Job well done.
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Yay! I’m so thrilled to make the list (and #1 at that!) with “Return to Longbourn.” I appeciate your continued support so much, Laurel, and thank you also, Kim, for the lovely review!
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Congrats Shannon. Really loved your new novel. Keep up the great work.
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Great list! I’ve read several of these and agree wholeheartedly (The Pursuit of Mary Bennet, Project Darcy, and Among the Janeites, to name a few), and many are on my wish list.
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Thanks for your continued support in the genre Anna. Love your reviews.
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It was a particularly good year for Austen-inspired works. Loved Jane, Actually and The Pursuit of Mary Bennet, both by JASNA friends from my region, as well as Among the Janeites, which was a treat from cover to cover.
Currently reading and loving Longbourn.
Excellent list, btw.
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Thanks for your interest and support Jane. Can I encourage you to write a novel this year???
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Congratulations to everyone named! Many of my fav Austenesque authors are listed here! So proud!!
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