Best Jane Austen Retellings to Read for Her 250th Birthday

Two and a half centuries after her birth, Jane Austen remains one of the most influential voices in literature. Her stories—filled with sharp social insight, unforgettable characters, and timeless romance—continue to inspire readers across generations. As the world celebrates her 250th birthday in 2025–2026, a new wave of creative retellings has brought renewed attention to her beloved novels. Writers across genres have reimagined Austen’s works in bold and unexpected ways, proving that her storytelling still resonates deeply in the modern age.

Today’s Austen retellings go far beyond simple recreations. They transport familiar characters into contemporary cities, diverse cultural settings, and even fantastical worlds. From young adult romances to literary fiction, historical reimaginings, and genre-blending adaptations, these books preserve Austen’s emotional core while offering fresh perspectives for today’s readers. Whether set in Regency ballrooms or modern workplaces, each retelling reflects the enduring power of her themes—love, class, independence, and personal growth.

For longtime Austen fans and new readers alike, these retellings offer a chance to experience her stories in entirely new ways. The following selections stand out as some of the best Jane Austen retellings to read in honor of her 250th birthday, celebrating her legacy while proving that her influence is as vibrant and relevant as ever.

Pride & Prejudice Reimagined

Austen’s first novel, Pride & Prejudice, about Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, has inspired more adaptations than any other. Each retelling offers a new lens on Elizabeth’s quick wit, Darcy’s reserve, and their societal obstacles.

Bridget Jones’s Diary (Helen Fielding, 1996)

This bestselling comedy is explicitly billed as “an iconic, modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice”. Fielding transplants Elizabeth Bennet into 1990s London as Bridget Jones – a single, thirty-something woman tracking her weight, diary, and romantic misadventures. The aloof Mark Darcy is reimagined as a handsome but prickly barrister, and the novel’s episodes (calendar resolutions, awkward encounters) cleverly mirror Elizabeth’s own journey. The tone is hilarious and self-aware: Bridget’s social blunders and snarky narration capture Austen’s humor in a fresh idiom. (The 2001 film version with Renée Zellweger helped popularize this Austen spin-off.)

Longbourn (Jo Baker, 2013)

Instead of the Bennet sisters upstairs, Longbourn follows Sarah, an impoverished servant in the Bennet household. Jo Baker “daringly takes us beyond the drawing rooms of Regency England,” focusing on the household staff whose lives intersect with P&P’s events. When a mysterious new footman arrives, Sarah’s world is “upended”. This historical novel maintains Austen’s social critique but in gritty detail: it highlights class, race, and love among servants. The tone is sympathetic and immersive rather than comic. Sarah’s perspective makes familiar scenes (Mr. Collins’s proposal, Lydia’s wedding) feel new. Longbourn appeals to readers who love Pride and Prejudice but want a more grounded, socially conscious story of Regency life.

Unmarriageable (Soniah Kamal, 2019)

Described as “a charming update” of Pride and Prejudice in rural Pakistan, this novel recasts the Bennet family as the Binats in a Punjabi village. The protagonist Alys Binat (like Elizabeth) is practical and educated, uninterested in the limited marriage prospects around her. When a glamorous engagement in town sets hearts racing, Mrs. Binat scurries to prepare her daughters, echoing Mrs. Bennet’s schemes. Kamal’s setting adds South Asian culture and modern issues (gender roles, education, stigma) while retaining Austen’s incisive look at class and reputation. The tone is witty and heartfelt; reviewers praise its “wry wit and colorful prose”. Fans of P&P will recognize the family dinners and class clashes, but the Pakistani milieu and fresh characters make Unmarriageable feel entirely new.

Ayesha at Last (Uzma Jalaluddin, 2018)

In this Canadian Muslim retelling, Ayesha Shamsi echoes Elizabeth Bennet, and Khalid is her Mr. Darcy. Ayesha’s dreams of being a poet have been sidelined by family debts, mirroring Austen’s theme of financial pressures. Her cousin’s surprise engagement to Khalid forces Ayesha to wrestle with new feelings and family gossip. Jalaluddin preserves Pride & Prejudice’s spirit of pride and misjudgment in a 21st-century suburban community, complete with secret family histories. The novel’s voice is warm and romantic, with tea-talk instead of balls. It won acclaim for its charming characters and timely focus on identity and independence. Like Elizabeth, Ayesha is smart and frank, making the story both respectful of Austen’s wit and resonant for modern readers.

Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice (Curtis Sittenfeld, 2016)

Part of the Austen Project of official modernizations, Eligible is set in contemporary Cincinnati. Here, Mr. Bennet’s health crisis threatens the family’s financial security, so career-minded Liz and Jane Bennet (now in their thirties) rush home from New York to help. Mr. Bingley becomes Chip, a vain alumnus of a Bachelor-style dating show, while Fitzwilliam Darcy is a wealthy doctor whose public image glosses over a social awkwardness. A School Library Journal review calls Eligible “an entertaining modern update of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice”. It introduces smartphones, gym obsessions, and even reality TV (Darcy’s questionably lovable brother starred on a dating show) into Austen’s plot. The tone is still a romantic comedy, with sharp dialogue and social satire — for example, Mrs. Bennet’s fretting has shifted to Club gossip. Eligible appeals to readers who enjoy Bridget Jones and Gossip Girl as much as Austen; the novel preserves key themes (marriage markets, family duty) while injecting them with pop-culture humor and a cast of modern characters.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith, 2009)

In this cult classic mashup, England is beset by a plague of zombies. Austen’s original text is expanded with scenes of “bone-crunching zombie mayhem” and swordplay. When a mysterious plague hits Meryton, the Bennet sisters (trained in martial arts) must still manage balls and suitors amid the chaos. Elizabeth Bennet remains feisty and intelligent, now also a zombie-slayer, and Mr. Darcy is still proud and aloof… except that he’s also the star of military drills against the undead. Quirk Books hails it as “an audacious retelling” complete with “swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses”. The tone is irreverent comedy-horror: witty Regency dialogue sits alongside zombie battles. Fans of Austen enjoy seeing key scenes (Mr. Collins’s proposal, Darcy’s first proposal) played out with levity and bloodshed. This novel sparked many similar genre reboots (see Sense & Sensibility and Sea Monsters below). It’s perfect for readers who love Austen’s characters but crave outrageous fantasy.

Death Comes to Pemberley (P. D. James, 2011)

This novel is a sequel/crime thriller set six years after Pride & Prejudice. When Lydia Bennet and Mr. Wickham arrive at Darcy’s estate Pemberley, Lydia claims Wickham has been murdered. What follows is a classic whodunit within Austen’s world. P. D. James “masterfully re-creates the world of Pride and Prejudice, electrifying it with the suspense of a brilliantly crafted crime story”. The book assumes all of Austen’s social order and characters remain intact, but adds a dark turn. Fans of Darcy and Elizabeth will recognize their married life (and Elizabeth’s jealously protective nature of Lydia) as they become amateur sleuths. The tone is respectful and atmospheric, blending Regency manners with modern mystery pacing. Death Comes to Pemberley is perfect for readers who’ve devoured Pride & Prejudice and want more story – and more danger – in that beloved setting.

Mary B (Katherine J. Chen, 2024)

An up-and-coming YA novel, Mary B spotlights Mary Bennet, the middle Bennet sister from Pride & Prejudice often overlooked in Austen’s story. In Chen’s retelling, Mary is “not beautiful like her eldest sister” and has resigned herself to a quiet life surrounded by books. But a series of mysterious events forces Mary to step out from her siblings’ shadows and draw on an inner strength that even she didn’t know she had. The tone is gentle and warm: this is a coming-of-age story about finding confidence and adventure in quiet courage. By taking a minor character and giving her the spotlight, Mary B feels fresh and inclusive, reminding readers that every Austen heroine has untold potential. Although set in a Regency-like milieu, its emphasis on self-discovery resonates strongly with YA readers today.

Sense & Sensibility Revisions

Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility (1811) has inspired both affectionate updates and wild genre mashups. The original story of the sensible Elinor and passionate Marianne is easily recognizable in these retellings, even when they add unconventional elements.

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters (Jane Austen & Ben H. Winters, 2009)

From the same publisher as Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, this novel literally plunges the Dashwood sisters into danger on the high seas. Austen’s text is expanded with “giant lobsters, rampaging octopi, two-headed sea serpents, and other biological monstrosities”. When the Dashwood sisters are evicted from their home, they settle on a remote, monster-infested island. Elinor still tends Elinor-style reason (falling for Edward Ferrars), while Romantic Marianne’s suitors include a suave cad and a literal man-serpent (Colonel Brandon). Quirk calls it “an uproarious tale of romance, heartbreak, and tentacled mayhem” that blends Austen’s social satire with “ultraviolent depictions of sea monsters”. The result is a rollicking adventure: expected Austen scenes now include swordfights against Cthulhu-esque creatures. Fans who love books like Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter will enjoy this embrace of absurdity, and even Austen purists can appreciate the clever way familiar dialogue plays out amid coral reefs and shark-infested waters.

Sex, Lies and Sensibility (Nikki Payne, 2024)

Aiming at the cozy romance market, Payne’s book is a spicy modern spin on Sense and Sensibility (but recommended here for fans of the Bennett sisters’ dynamics). Set in upstate New York, it follows Nora and Eva, two estranged sisters forced to co-run their late father’s failing inn. A surprise inheritance comes with family secrets that echo Sense & Sensibility’s themes of prudence versus passion. Penguin Random House describes the novel as “inspired by Sense and Sensibility” and “deliciously spicy”. The tone is contemporary romance: there’s witty banter, simmering attraction, and a light touch of mystery amid the innkeeping chaos. While not a direct Austen plot retelling, it shares the spirit of sisterhood and social fallout. Payne’s work shows that Austen’s ideas of duty and love can be reframed in adult romances today, appealing to readers looking for a blend of comfort and spice.

Emma and Other Matchmaking Stories

Austen’s Emma (1815) – about a well-intentioned but meddlesome matchmaker – also offers fertile ground for modern retellings. The protagonist Emma Woodhouse’s confidence and mistakes translate easily into a variety of genres.

Emma: A Modern Retelling (Alexander McCall Smith, 2012)

Smith imagines Emma as a 21st-century interior designer who returns home to launch her business, still “immersed in offering matchmaking advice to her friends” via texting and social gatherings. His version is firmly in the “chick lit” tradition: a light, comedic novel with Austen’s situational humor intact. As the PRH summary notes, Smith “preserves Austen’s comic sensibilities” in a modern setting. Readers will find a familiar social circle (the equivalent of Harriet, Jane, George, and Frank) and Emma’s classic overconfidence, all updated with smartphones and neighborhood cafes. The tone is breezy and witty, making this a comfortable pick for Emma fans who enjoy Jane Austen’s characters in a contemporary rom-com style.

Love, Decoded (Jennifer Yen, 2023)

This YA rom-com follows Gigi, a high-school junior who creates a “friend-making” app after seeing her aunt’s professional matchmaking business in action. According to Penguin, Love, Decoded is “inspired by Emma” and involves Gigi’s app going viral at school, sparking romantic chaos and scandal. Its tone is teen-fueled and humorous: we see a modern Emma’s tendency to play matchmaker, now played out on a social media canvas. Friendships and feelings collide in the hallways instead of the drawing rooms, but the moral (helping others find love with unintended consequences) echoes the original. The style is lively and digital-savvy, appealing to young readers who know Austen via movies like Clueless (itself an Emma adaptation) and enjoy seeing old stories in new tech settings.

Emiko (Chieri Uegaki, 2023)

A North American YA novel set in a Japanese-Canadian community, Emiko is explicitly marketed as “a Japanese Canadian twist on Emma”. The foodie Emiko is happy helping her friends find love through cooking, until her own future comes into question. The novel’s introspective style and cross-cultural setting add depth: Emiko’s struggles with family expectations mirror Emma Woodhouse’s, and her mediation via food and social events gives an original cultural flavor. The tone is warm and culturally rich.

Jane Stays Dreaming (Britnee Meiser, 2024)

Another teen Emma update, this one set in a modern suburban school. The protagonist runs an anonymous blog to manage her school’s gossip, inadvertently meddling in her best friends’ potential romance. Publishers Weekly describes it as “an update of Emma for the social media age”. Its voice is introspective and realistic, capturing how a quiet teen might try to control social dynamics online. It speaks to Gen Z readers with its blog-format storytelling and issues of identity, showing that Emma’s cautionary theme about interfering in others’ lives is timeless.

Why These Retellings Matter in 2026

Jane Austen’s 250th birthday is more than a milestone—it’s a testament to a literary legacy that still “resonates” worldwide. As one critic notes, Austen’s sentences may be long, but her themes of “love, ambition, pride, self-discovery, and the intricate dance of human relationships” are strikingly modern. Contemporary retellings highlight that truth. They show readers that Elizabeth Bennet’s wit, Emma Woodhouse’s boldness, and Anne Elliot’s resolve can thrive beyond early-19th-century England.

These adaptations also reflect 2026 sensibilities. Many include diverse voices and settings (from Canadian-Muslim communities to dystopian futures), addressing issues of class, gender, and race that Austen herself could only allude to. Others play with genre: integrating fantasy, horror, and mystery both honors Austen’s plots and injects novelty that engages new audiences. Importantly, the core stays the same: misunderstanding before affection, family drama that tests personal growth, and a sharp eye on society’s expectations. As The Word Studio writes, filmmakers and writers keep reimagining Austen because “her stories just work—whether in faithful period pieces or clever modern reinterpretations… [Her] core narratives… are endlessly renewable”.

In short, these retellings prove that Jane Austen still matters. For 2026’s readers, they offer comfortingly familiar arcs while also challenging us to see Austen’s world through new lenses. By breathing fresh life into Elizabeths, Emmas, and Elinors, today’s authors ensure that on Austen’s 250th birthday, her spirit of wit and insight not only survives but thrives.