Well friends, we have made it through the worst of Summer {hopefully!}, and the ‘Ber months are finally here! Before I dive headfirst into all the cozy things, it’s time to wrap up my Summer of Jane. While I did not manage as many Austenesque reads as I hoped, the ones I did read were fabulous. {If you missed my midpoint check-in, those can be found here}.
Worse Than Strangers | Kyleigh Leddy | 🩷🩷🩷🩷1/2
This must be my year for Persuasion retellings: I think this was the 3rd I’ve read! I discovered this one from BOTM, and of course had to snag it with my birthday month box. It was a such an entertaining mix of Austenesque retelling and Summer beach read; Nantucket is the perfect setting for the drama. In this version, we jump ahead 30 years – after Rose and Tommy {the Anne and Wentworth figures} have lived whole lives – and I feel like that made the story so much more relatable. I also really appreciated the way most of the story is through the eyes of Rose’s daughter Lily – and her struggle to reconcile the past with an uncertain future.
Sense & Suitability | Pepper Basham | 🩷🩷🩷🩷
While this one is technically not an Austenesque read {it is neither a retelling of an Austen novel nor deals with Jane directly}, there is such an overwhelming Austen feel to the novel that I’m counting it. Plus the characters are contemporaries of Jane and discuss her novels. Moving on: this was such a fun read, and all the younger siblings absolutely make it. Actually, the “family” aspect in general, because Aunt Bean? She’s totally a Lady Catherine.
I may have only read 4 books this Summer, but I’ve read 9 so far this year. With so many still on my TBR, and upcoming release radar, I feel it’s a safe to say the Austenesque reading isn’t over. I even have some Christmassy Austenesque options that would count for My Christmas is Booked!
Did you read any Austenesque books this Summer?
Did you watch any adaptations? I fully intended to, but it never happened. I will remedy that as the weather cools and the days shorten … and new adaptations hit the screen!
