Modern Jane Austen?

I'm in a sappy girl mood and am looking for something to read that's a little romantic, a little classic Pride and Prejudice-y. I'm ashamed, but I need a fix! This is what happens when you read too many books in a row revolving around death.

I tried Philippa Gregory out of curiousity and she wasn't for me. To be fair, though, I did read only a couple chapters before giving up. The characters seemed too cartoonish.. Maybe I just picked the worst of the bunch?

Any recommendations for historical fiction, regency, or the like? Please... don't make me resort to Lifetime Television for Women movies...... I'll try anything!

You can't go wrong with a classic HF author like Anya Seton. Especially if you start with Katherine. That novel is the one that inspired many readers to begin a lifetime's worth of HF reading. BTW - Katherine de Roet is the longtime mistress of John of Gaunt during the 14th century and the novel is a wonderful story of their love and the historic times in which they lived. The Tudors were some of their descendents.

You may want to read Gwen Bristow as well, and start with Celia Garth. Jubilee Trail and Calico Palace are also classics.

Check out historicalfiction.org for tons more recommendations.

I'd suggest reading Pride & Prejudice, but (a) you may already have done so and (b) it's not a romantic novel. But if (a) does not apply and you don't want a romantic novel as such, then go for it!

Just finished P&P

I just finished reading Pride & Prejudice, my first Austin novel. I'm a guy, and I realize it's a "girl's book," but I have to admit I don't think it was too bad. A bit tedious at times (the unabridged version), but I enjoyed the story-lines and the development of the characters; the situations they're put in, the way you can watch them walking right into mistakes, but you realize they haven't got a chance of realizing it themselves.

I'm not sure I'll be reading anything similar any time soon, though... I prefer non-fiction, and honestly, I feel like reading fiction is something like a waste of time (not meaning to start a flame-war!). Non-fiction is just more informative.

Cassandra fl said:

I'm in a sappy girl mood and am looking for something to read that's a little romantic, a little classic Pride and Prejudice-y. I'm ashamed, but I need a fix! This is what happens when you read too many books in a row revolving around death.

I tried Philippa Gregory out of curiousity and she wasn't for me. To be fair, though, I did read only a couple chapters before giving up. The characters seemed too cartoonish.. Maybe I just picked the worst of the bunch?

Any recommendations for historical fiction, regency, or the like? Please... don't make me resort to Lifetime Television for Women movies...... I'll try anything!

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For Regency novels, you cannot do better than Georgette Heyer.

Jane Eyre could work for you. . .
I'm reading a HF right now called The Red Queen's Daughter. It's about Queen Elizabeth's court, and there is a romantic plot line mixed in there too.