Guest post written by Dashed author Amanda Quain
Amanda Quain is a writer, indie bookseller, and general life enthusiast. When she’s not shouting about her favorite new books, she loves theatre, baking, rock climbing, marching band, and the overall pursuit of adventure. If forced to choose, Amanda’s favorite Austen hero is Edward Ferrars, though she’ll always have a soft spot for Mr. Bingley. She lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband and their cat. She is the author of Accomplished and Ghosted.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that the world loves Jane Austen adaptations. And who can blame us? Not only are Jane’s stories some of the original romances (and yes, I do call her Jane, we’re obviously on a first name basis at this point), they’re hilarious and cutting commentaries on social structures that often translate beautifully to life as we know it today. You might not be spending all of your time driving in carriages through the English countryside (no shame, I’m not, either), but I bet you know the feeling of the thing you want being just out of reach, or your family being horrifically embarrassing, or being young and in love for the very first time, or wanting to impress a guy so badly you literally throw yourself off a sea wall in an attempt for him to catch you.
Okay, maybe that last one isn’t SUPER universal. But the vibes are there!
As the author of three different Jane Austen adaptations, a frequent consumer of all things Jane, and a certified Enthusiast, I’ve scoured the world of publishing to find the very books to make your summer sing. So if you’re currently looking to get lost in an adaptation of some of the world’s best stories, check out my current favorite Austen adaptations below!
UNMARRIEAGEABLE by Soniah Kamal
This is THE gold standard for PRIDE AND PREJUDICE adaptations – taking all the class issues of the Regency area and placing them perfectly in another time and place where the same structures apply. Set in the early 2000’s in a Muslim community in Pakistan, the book follows the Binat family, who have been ruined by scandal and a vicious rumor that have destroyed their fortune and prospects for desirable marriages. Despite that, Alys, our Lizzie equivalent and the second Binat daughter, loves her life teaching English literature to schoolgirls, giving them a taste of what life can be before marriage and childbirth. But a gigantic wedding in their small town throws her whole family into a tizzy when her sister Jena falls hard for Fahad “Bungles” Bingla – even though his BFF Valentine Darsee is the literal worst. But we’ve got days of wedding parties ahead of us – it’s possible opinions will change!
I mean, BUNGLES? If that doesn’t sell you on the book, I don’t know what else to tell you!
ORDINARY GIRLS by Blair Thornburgh
SENSE AND SENSIBILITY adaptations are few and far between compared to PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, but this lovely book about two sisters finding themselves in the wake of their father’s death is a beautiful homage to one of our favorite stories. Sisters Plum and Ginny couldn’t be more different, and this year – as their family finances hit a snag that sends chaos through the house – the two of them are pulled apart even further. Plum, a self-described social outcast, strikes up a secret friendship with the class jock, while Ginny’s usual high-strung nature escalates to pure hysterics. Their discoveries throughout the year of who they really are can either pull them together again – or drive them even further apart. This one isn’t a direct adaptation but the vibes, as the kids say, are immaculate!
PRIDE AND PROTEST by Nikki Payne
Another stunner of a PRIDE AND PREJUDICE adaptation, Nikki Payne’s debut novel is witty, sexy, and pulls absolutely zero punches. Liza B. is a DJ in a quickly gentrifying DC neighborhood determining to save everything she can – but a planned protest at a corporate event takes a chemistry-filled turn when she mistakes CEO Dorsey Fitzgerald for the waitstaff. Sparks are OBVIOUSLY flying, even as Liza does everything she can to push Dorsey out and Dorsey writes Liza off as performing outrage instead of acting on it – but when Liza’s protest takes off online, their lives are turned upside down, and Dorsey and Liza are forced to reckon with their chemistry and the fact that what they want for the world may not be so different after all. After you inhale this one, make sure to also grab a copy of Nikki’s next book, SEX, LIES, AND SENSIBILITY.
LOLA AT LAST by J.C. Peterson
We can’t help but keep revisiting PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, and J.C. Peterson’s take on Lydia (here, Lola) is absolutely spot-on, a can’t-miss retelling of our favorite troubled party girl sister.
Lola Barnes’s summer is not off to the best start. Fresh off a scandal that tanked her social status, Lola has somehow managed to also alienate her twin sister, lose the friends she thought she had, and put a… fiery end to the first party of the summer. (She sets a boat on fire. It’s fine! Everyone is fine!) She’s forced to spend the summer working with the nonprofit Hike Like a Girl (it’s either that or jail time), and even though Lola is the least outdoorsy person you’ll ever meet, she realizes that there might be something to this hiking thing after all – especially with the friends (and one extremely hot but lovingly down to earth guy) she makes along the way. A gorgeous story about figuring out who you are with a voice that won’t leave your head for weeks afterward. Peterson paints Lola as a nuanced character you’ll adore, and although this is a companion novel to her first book, BEING MARY BENNET (another must-read!), you can read this one first, no problem.
NORTHRANGER by Rey Terciero
I’ll take under-represented Jane Austen novels in retellings for $500, Alex! As a fellow lover of NORTHANGER ABBEY (my second novel, GHOSTED, is a gender-swapped retelling of the novel set at a haunted boarding school), I was thrilled when this book came across my radar, and believe me, it doesn’t disappoint! In this swoony and spooky teen summer romance graphic novel set on a Texas ranch, sixteen-year-old closeted queer Latino teen Cade Muñoz finds himself falling for the ranch owner’s mysterious and handsome son, only to discover that he may be harboring a dangerous secret. I mean, truly, what else do you need? Inspired by the gothic romance of Jane Austen’s NORTHANGER ABBEY and perfect for fans of HEARTSTOPPED and BLOOM comes a modern love story so romantic it’s scary. Even if you haven’t picked up a graphic novel before, this is a must-read!
FIRE ISLAND
For bonus points, I have to mention my current favorite film adaptation of an Austen book – FIRE ISLAND, a retelling of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE set over a week in Fire Island and featuring all the amazing commentary on class and social structure of the original novel applied to the queer community there. With stellar chemistry and a script that doesn’t quit (I literally screamed out loud when Bowen Yang’s Jane character said, “way harsh, Tai”, my favorite quote from my OTHER favorite Austen adaptation, CLUELESS), this movie captures all of Jane’s wit as well as her romance. It’s streaming on Hulu, and even if you have to download a free trial to watch it, it’s worth it.
With an author as timeless as Jane Austen, there’s no shortage of amazing adaptations – I know I missed a few, so let me know your favorites in the comments. I’m always up for reading suggestions! And if you’re craving even more Jane, check out my books, ACCOMPLISHED, GHOSTED, and coming July 16, DASHED, a contemporary sequel to SENSE AND SENSIBILITY following Margaret Dashwood on a summer-long tropical cruise. Happy reading!
