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Quick answer: If you loved Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, try Persuasion and Emma by Jane Austen, North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld and Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding.
Pride and Prejudice is one of the most beloved novels ever written, and it has inspired countless retellings. Whether you love the original’s wit or want a modern twist, the books below include more Austen, other classics, retellings and sequels. Most are appropriate for teens and adults, and each pick notes who it suits best, from first-time Austen fans to devoted Janeites.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love Pride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice has delighted readers for over 200 years. Jane Austen’s story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy is a romance, a comedy of manners and a sharp look at class and marriage in Regency England. Elizabeth’s wit, Darcy’s slow change and the hilarious Bennet family make it endlessly rereadable. If you loved the banter, the slow burn or the social satire, these picks capture the same spirit.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick below shares at least one thing readers loved about Pride and Prejudice: its characters, its mood, its setting or the questions it raises. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious choices, and we noted the genre and who each book suits best in the table, so you can scan for the right fit before you read the blurbs.
We kept every description spoiler-free and flagged mature content where it matters, since some of these books are written for adults and others suit teens. If you’re not sure where to start, the tips near the end of this list match each pick to what you loved most. The FAQ at the bottom answers the questions readers ask most often.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Genre | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persuasion | Jane Austen | Classic novel | Second-chance romance |
| Emma | Jane Austen | Classic novel | Witty heroines |
| North and South | Elizabeth Gaskell | Classic novel | Darcy-like heroes |
| Jane Eyre | Charlotte Brontë | Classic novel | Independent heroines |
| Eligible | Curtis Sittenfeld | Modern retelling | Modern Bennets |
| Pride | Ibi Zoboi | YA retelling | Teen readers |
| Bridget Jones’s Diary | Helen Fielding | Romantic comedy | Modern Darcys |
| Longbourn | Jo Baker | Historical fiction | The servants’ story |
| Death Comes to Pemberley | P. D. James | Mystery | Sequels |
| Unmarriageable | Soniah Kamal | Modern retelling | Pakistani retelling |
| Sense and Sensibility | Jane Austen | Classic novel | Sisters and love |
| Middlemarch | George Eliot | Classic novel | Ambitious classics |
| A Room with a View | E. M. Forster | Classic novel | Romantic comedy of manners |
| Mr. Malcolm’s List | Suzanne Allain | Historical romance | Clean Regency romance |
| Ayesha at Last | Uzma Jalaluddin | Modern retelling | Muslim Canadian retelling |
1. Persuasion by Jane Austen
Anne Elliot meets the man she was persuaded to reject eight years earlier. It’s Austen’s most romantic novel.
2. Emma by Jane Austen
A matchmaking heiress meddles in everyone’s love life except her own.
3. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
A southern woman clashes with a northern mill owner. It’s like Pride and Prejudice with factories.
4. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
An orphaned governess falls for her mysterious employer.
5. Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld
The Bennet sisters in modern Cincinnati, with reality TV and CrossFit. It’s funny.
6. Pride by Ibi Zoboi
A Brooklyn teen clashes with a wealthy new neighbor. It’s a fresh, modern take.
7. Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
A single woman in London meets a Mr. Darcy. It’s a hilarious retelling.
8. Longbourn by Jo Baker
The Bennet household told from the servants’ point of view.
9. Death Comes to Pemberley by P. D. James
A murder at Pemberley six years after Elizabeth and Darcy’s wedding.
10. Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal
Pride and Prejudice set in modern Pakistan. It’s witty and warm.
11. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Two sisters navigate love and money.
12. Middlemarch by George Eliot
Life, marriage and ambition in an English town.
13. A Room with a View by E. M. Forster
A young Englishwoman in Florence falls for an unconventional man.
14. Mr. Malcolm’s List by Suzanne Allain
A gentleman’s list of wife requirements leads to a scheme.
15. Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
A poet and a conservative young man clash in Toronto.
How to Pick Your Next Read After Pride and Prejudice
- Want more Austen? Persuasion and Emma.
- Want Victorian classics? North and South and Jane Eyre.
- Want modern retellings? Eligible, Bridget Jones and Unmarriageable.
- Reading as a teen? Pride by Ibi Zoboi.
- Want a mystery? Death Comes to Pemberley.
- Watch the adaptations. The 1995 BBC series is a classic.
Why Pride and Prejudice Still Inspires So Many Books
Austen’s story works because its pieces are universal: a sharp heroine, a proud hero, first impressions that turn out to be wrong, meddling families and the pressures of money and class. Those elements translate easily to modern settings, from Cincinnati to Lahore to Brooklyn, which is why retellings keep appearing. Reading a few of them is a fun way to see how different writers update the same characters, and it often sends readers back to the original with fresh eyes.
Related: books like Bridgerton and best romance books for book clubs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I read after Pride and Prejudice?
Try Persuasion, North and South, Jane Eyre or Eligible.
What is the best Pride and Prejudice retelling?
Bridget Jones’s Diary, Eligible and Unmarriageable are popular retellings.
Which Jane Austen book is most like Pride and Prejudice?
Emma and Persuasion share its wit and romance.