Pride & Prejudice Book Club Podcast

This week, we're still recovering emotionally after devouring The Winter of Our Discontent by Grace Gibson (confession: we both read it in a single night!) From the forced marriage premise to the “delicious angst” that had some of us (*cough* Sharon) crying at 1 a.m., this episode dives deep into what worked, what had us giggling, and what made us certain that we needed at least 200 more pages of this story! We explore Darcy’s resentment arc, Elizabeth’s unflappable dedication to being the best mistress of Pemberley she could be, and a beautifully written sisterhood with Georgiana that gave us all the feels.  Plus: an impromptu fanfic brainstorm session!  Let us know your favorite angsty JAFF picks: we're always ready to cry (happily) over fictional heartbreak ❤️ 🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 Curious what we will be reading next? See a list of upcoming books at prideandprejudicebookclub.com! ➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!

What do you get when you cross Pride and Prejudice with Sarah, Plain and Tall? You're about to find out! This week, we dive into Mr. Darcy’s Mail-Order Bride by J. Dawn King, a variation that moves our favorite couple from Hertfordshire to post–Civil War Oregon and swaps empire-waist dresses and tea rooms for sturdy walking boots and logging camps. We chat about the charm (and chaos) of the mail-order bride trope, what it takes to fall in love after "I do," and how far a variation can stray while still keeping Austen's heart.  We also go off on a big tangent about the upcoming Netflix Pride & Prejudice adaptation, and lay out our "wish list" items for what we hope is included. (Spoiler: Emilie reeeeeally wants a Darcy that smiles and more walks at Rosings!) So grab your bonnet and join us for a fun, thoughtful ride through this Oregon-flavored variation and beyond! 🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 Curious what we will be reading next? See a list of upcoming books at prideandprejudicebookclub.com! ➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!

Have you ever wished you could step into the world of Pride and Prejudice, if only for a day? In Heather Moll’s Nine Ladies, that fantasy comes true... with a time-travel twist that had us completely hooked. Co-hosts Emilie and Sharon are absolutely swooning over this Pride and Prejudice variation with a deliciously Outlander-esque twist! When modern-day Elizabeth finds herself flung back to Regency-era Pemberley, she must navigate corsets, strange customs, and a very compelling Mr. Darcy. But things take an unexpected turn when he follows her back to the 21st century. Now what? Because while they’ve fallen in love across time, reality isn't so easily rewritten. Elizabeth can’t see herself giving up her independence to live in the 1800s, and Darcy, a literal man out of time, can’t just forge a new life in the modern world without consequences. So how can they possibly make it work? We dig into all the juicy details, from time-travel ethics to Darcy’s hilarious discomfort with shorts and spicy food. Heather Moll does an amazing job balancing fantasy with thoughtful realism, especially in crafting an ending that actually earns its happily ever after. Also on the table? Corsets, heartbreak, and whether you’d choose plumbing or a cravat-wearing Darcy. You know, the important things. 📣 Book Clubbers, weigh in: Would you stay in 1812 for love, or convince Darcy to make a new life in your world? 🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 Curious what we will be reading next? See a list of upcoming books at prideandprejudicebookclub.com! ➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter

There are JAFF stories, and then there are JAFF rollercoasters, and Amy D’Orazio's An Offer of Marriage is definitely the latter! Emilie Davis is joined this week by co-host Sharon Cortes to unpack the bonkers-in-the-best-way moments of this wildly entertaining Pride and Prejudice variation, from Anne de Bourgh going full villain mode (with the tantrums, poison, and assassins to prove it) to Darcy’s very public meltdown outside White’s. We dive into the dynamics of Elizabeth and Darcy's enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers arc, their emotional role reversals, and the highlight of Lord Saye being hilariously terrifying at the opera. It’s chaotic, it’s cathartic, and it might just be your new favorite forced marriage variation!   🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 Curious what we will be reading next? See a list of upcoming books at prideandprejudicebookclub.com! ➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter

Before there’s love, there’s friendship, and in Such Persuasions as These by Emilia Stratford, that friendship is genuine, unexpected, and exactly what Mr. Darcy didn’t know he needed. In this week’s episode, Emilie Davis is joined by guest co-host Sharon Cortez to discuss a variation where Elizabeth leads with kindness, not combat, and finds herself at the center of Darcy’s slow, sweet transformation. When Elizabeth claims to be engaged to a certain Captain Wentworth (yes, that Captain Wentworth), she unintentionally clears the emotional runway for something rare in Pride and Prejudice retellings: a sincere and supportive friendship between our beloved leads. Emilie and Sharon dive into why this works so well, what makes this Darcy especially lovable, and how friendship-first stories offer something different than slow-burn romance alone. They also swap personal stories about “fake engagements,” adult friendship struggles, and the sitcom-style friend groups they’ve longed for or found along the way.  If you’ve ever wished for more time with Darcy and Elizabeth simply getting to know one another, this one’s for you!   🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 Curious what we will be reading next? See a list of upcoming books at prideandprejudicebookclub.com! ➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!

If you’ve ever found yourself lingering in the car just to finish an audiobook chapter, there’s a good chance Stevie Zimmerman had something to do with it. In this special episode, we sit down with the incredibly talented Stevie Zimmerman, an audiobook narrator with over 340 titles on Audible and a voice many of our Book Clubbers will instantly recognize. Stevie shares how she found her way into narration, what it’s really like behind the mic, and which kinds of stories she loves to bring to life. (Spoiler: Jane Austen may come up once or twice…) From home recording setups to character accents and everything in between, this is a fascinating peek into a world most of us only hear (but rarely see).   🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 Curious what we will be reading next? See a list of upcoming books at prideandprejudicebookclub.com! ➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!

What happens when you drop Elizabeth Bennet into a Cinderella-style nightmare, including an evil stepmother, scheming stepsisters, and a slipper clue that changes everything? And more importantly, if you were in Elizabeth's shoes, would you stand your ground like her or keep the peace like Jane? This week, Sharon and Emilie explore why this variation’s fairy-tale nods work without feeling like a Disney remake, and how the slow build of trust between Darcy and Elizabeth might be even more satisfying than the classic enemies-to-lovers arc. We dig into the book’s take on Mr. Bennet’s willful ignorance and how it hit a little too close to home in our own reflections on fathers and family. And of course, we reveal our final verdict: is this “Fun While It Lasted” or officially “Our Jam”? 📢 Trigger warning: this one gets more intense than most Austen variations—tread carefully if depictions of abuse are difficult for you.   🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 Curious what we will be reading next? See a list of upcoming books at prideandprejudicebookclub.com! ➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!

What a treat this week, Book Clubbers! 🎉 We're joined by the incredibly talented Tiffany Thomas, author of Fine Eyes and Beastly Pride and one of Sharon's absolute favorites! Whether you've devoured her books already or if they're still on your TBR list, this conversation is a can't-miss! Tiffany shares how she found her way into the world of JAFF, what inspired her unique take on Darcy and Elizabeth, and why kindness from internet strangers may just be the secret weapon to writing that next draft. We were so honored that she answered our random Tik Tok message, and that we can share this interview with you! Who should we interview next?? -- Author Website: https://authortiffanythomas.com/ 🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 Curious what we will be reading next? See a list of upcoming books at prideandprejudicebookclub.com! ➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!

This week, guest co-host Sharon joins Emilie to dive into Fine Eyes and Beastly Pride by Tiffany Thomas, an imaginative Pride and Prejudice variation inspired by the classic Disney Beauty and the Beast animated movie.  Sharon especially loved the way Darcy’s transformation into the “Beast” was reimagined through a laudanum addiction: dark, dramatic, and surprisingly effective. Both she and Emilie appreciated Elizabeth’s steady presence as a source of support, and how that relationship gave emotional weight to Darcy’s recovery arc. Do you have your own "head canon" for characters? It turns out that we (Emilie and Sharon) have very different versions of Wickham in our heads! We also had strong opinions about the use of direct quotes from the Disney movie. For one of us, it was a fun nod; for the other, it was a bit jarring. You’ll have to tune in to hear who felt what! (and we’d love to know where you land, Book Clubbers!) --- 🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 Curious what we will be reading next? See a list of upcoming books at prideandprejudicebookclub.com! ➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!

What happens when Elizabeth Bennet is kidnapped, locked in a tower, and forced to marry Mr. Darcy by a completely unhinged Lady Catherine de Bourgh? This book is what happens! This week, Emilie Davis and guest host Sharon Cortez (filling in for Alicia) dive into In the Tower With Mr. Darcy by Valerie Lennox, a bold, fairy tale–tinged Pride and Prejudice variation that had us texting "What is HAPPENING?!" practically every other chapter. We’re unpacking: The Rapunzel-meets-Regency plot that *somehow* works What "Primal Darcy" looks like Whether trauma bonding counts as romance The surprisingly touching moment Darcy (not Elizabeth) laments their stolen "wedding" night A strange pattern we've noticed with twins... If you love fairy tale retellings, forced proximity, or just need something unpredictable to distract you from reality, this book’s for you!   🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 Curious what we will be reading next? See a list of upcoming books at prideandprejudicebookclub.com! ➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!

Just when you thought you'd seen every twist Pride and Prejudice fanfiction could offer, along comes Mr. Bingley: Just as a Gentleman Ought to Be, a book so wild, we had to call in backup. Emilie is joined by returning guest co-host Sharon Cortez for a deep dive into a version of Bingley that moonlights as an assassin on a righteous mission. Yes, you read that right. Together, we unpack the ethical gymnastics of vigilante justice, the surprisingly delightful voice performance by the “Pride and Prejudice TikTok Guy” Ben Fensome, and whether Jane Bennet would really say “I do” after hearing her fiancé has a body count.  Turns out, Bingley’s sunshine disposition pairs unexpectedly well with a secret life of crime. Who knew?    🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 Curious what we will be reading next? See a list of upcoming books at prideandprejudicebookclub.com! ➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!

Is love a fancy or a feeling...or fate? In Julie Cooper’s Only Mr. Darcy, a young Elizabeth Bennet asks her beloved grandmother who she’ll marry, and receives a cryptic answer just moments before the woman passes away. The name? Charles. The result? Absolute certainty that her fate is intertwined with her new neighbor, a handsome man named Charles Bingley…even as he clearly falls for Jane. This week, we're joined by guest host and longtime Book Clubber Sharon Cortez (Alicia is off on a well-earned summer break!) and we had the best time giggling, blushing, and swooning over this surprisingly tender and low-angst variation. We get into fate vs. free will, the charm of quiet fishing scenes, and why we love a Mr. Darcy who is good husband material. Plus, we debate Bingley’s character and swap stories of how our own Austen obsessions started. An enjoyable and satisfying read that’s perfect for anyone who loves a smart twist on canon, delicious one-on-one time with Darcy and Elizabeth, and sweet yet swoon-worthy kisses! 🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 Curious what we will be reading next? See a list of upcoming books at prideandprejudicebookclub.com! ➡️ Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Tik Tok, and sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!

This week on the Pride and Prejudice Book Club, we’re thrilled to welcome our new co-host Sharon Cortez as she joins the podcast for an interview with author Summer Hanford! If you’ve devoured The Bennett Gang Duology and Mr. Darcy’s Bookshop, you already know Summer’s work is delightfully creative and full of heart. We chat about everything from her writing origins (in a surprise twist, she did NOT always love Jane Austen!) to her development process with longtime collaborator Renata McMann. Summer also teases three wildly different upcoming projects: one swashbuckling, one magical, and one including unexpected guests at Longbourn. Plus, we get a behind-the-scenes look at JAFFCon, the Jane Austen Fanfiction conference being held in November, and hear what it's like having her words brought to life by legendary narrators Stevie Zimmerman and Benjamin Fife. It’s a discussion that reminds us why we keep returning to this world, and offers a rare peek behind the curtain at how JAFF authors like Summer build the stories we love to share as a community. Enjoy! Links 🔗:  JAFFCon: https://jaffwriterreadergettogether.org/ Books by Summer Hanford: https://amzn.to/4kjBJRE 🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 Curious what we will be reading next? See a list of upcoming books at prideandprejudicebookclub.com! ➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!

We’re diving back into the world of Summer Hanford’s Bennet Gang Duology with Gentleman of Honor, the second and final installment in this imaginative Pride and Prejudice variation.  The overall feel of this book was different from the first, with a greater emphasis on Lydia's perspective and some mustache-twirling villains causing mayhem for our band of bandits. But it also wrestled with some difficult questions, such as "What do you do if the one you love is living a lie? A BIG LIE?"  This book may not have captivated us quite like book one, but it still brought intrigue, action, and character development that kept us turning pages. Aaaaand...some swoon-worthy moments with Darcy and Elizabeth (and that's really what we're here for, right?) 🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 Curious what we will be reading next? See a list of upcoming books at prideandprejudicebookclub.com! ➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!

We are absolutely buzzing after diving into Dishonorable Gentlemen, the electrifying opener to Summer Hanford’s Bennett Gang Duology, and we can't wait to bring you along! Without giving too much away, we’ll admit: we were hooked early. The story kicks off with highway robbery (literally) as Hanford reimagines the Bennett sisters as Robin Hood-like figures with some surprising talents and a desire to bring justice to the people of Hertfordshire. With simmering tension between Darcy and Elizabeth, and a Mr. Collins more fun to despise than ever, this story goes full-throttle from beginning to end!  If you’re drawn to Austen retellings that balance adventure with character depth, and you love seeing how familiar faces respond to fresh challenges, this is one you’ll want to experience for yourself. Tune in for our full take on Book 1, then join us next week when we dive into Gentleman of Honor! -- 🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 Curious what we will be reading next? See a list of upcoming books at prideandprejudicebookclub.com! ➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!

What if Pride and Prejudice had a touch of magic…and a lot fewer pages? This week, we dive into Her Charms To Recommend Her by Mary Smythe—a delightfully short reimagining where women wield magic in the form of charms, and men help amplify them. Elizabeth’s ability to grow flowers in her hair seems laughable…until it’s not. And Caroline Bingley? Let’s just say her magically produced perfume smells suspicious. We unpack the charm-based society, explore the romantic and magical chemistry between Elizabeth and Darcy, and reflect on how partnership can amplify our strengths—both magically and in real life. We also share some (unsurprising) empathy for Caroline and the outsized consequences she faces for simply doing what society told her she should do. If you're looking for a quick, clever read to kick off your summer, this episode is for you! --- 🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 Curious what we will be reading next? See a list of upcoming books at prideandprejudicebookclub.com! ➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!

Set sail with us, Book Clubbers! This week we’re talking Pirates and Prejudice by Kara Louise, a swashbuckling Austen variation that is exactly as bonkers as the title suggests. We’ve got Darcy going full emo post-rejection, Elizabeth getting stranded on an island, a wildly convoluted pirate impersonation plot, and yes…plenty of over-the-top swashbuckling pirate antics! We had a lot of fun unpacking this intentionally silly, trope-heavy adventure, even if the only thing really Austen about it is the names. Along the way, we chat about the limits of leadership (does being a good landowner qualify you to captain a ship?), the question of whether men and women can be “just friends,” and the difference between regret and curiosity when we look back at our life choices. This book might not be packed with depth, but it gave us plenty to talk about! So grab your eyepatch and suspend your disbelief—this is going to be fun! --- 🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 Curious what we will be reading next? See a list of upcoming books at prideandprejudicebookclub.com! ➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!

It’s hard to surprise us with a book premise, but this week’s story pulled it off! We’re discussing More Than You Know by Jennifer Altman, a Pride and Prejudice variation with a twist we’ve never seen before: Elizabeth is paired with Bingley (!!), and Darcy is hiding a mysterious secret that had us eagerly turning the pages. The setup felt fresh and full of promise, and honestly, that kind of originality is getting harder to come by 😜 But oh, Darcy. Even with a sympathetic backstory, his relentless stubbornness in the second half of the book really wore on us. We unpack what worked, what left us a little frustrated, and what felt emotionally authentic for the character. Plus, a brief detour into Sense and Sensibility, where Emilie’s teenage daughter challenges the moral integrity of Edward Ferrars (and… we might just have to agree with her). 🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 Curious what we will be reading next? See a list of upcoming books at prideandprejudicebookclub.com! ➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!

Is it ever okay to lie to "protect" someone? That’s the big question we wrestle with this week as we dive into Amy D’Orazio’s Done for the Best. In this Pride and Prejudice variation, Darcy makes a very bold choice: after Elizabeth loses her memory, he lets her believe they’re engaged—even though they’re not. Cue all the ethical dilemmas. Was it selfless? Was it selfish? And is “done for the best” ever really a good enough excuse? Along the way, we veer into real-life relationship territory—when is omission just privacy, and when is it actually deception? Emilie shares her personal litmus test for honesty (kind, true, and necessary), while Alicia opens up about the tricky gray areas of trust and how much we really owe people in terms of full disclosure. We also dive into the awkward social minefield of pregnancy etiquette (please don’t ask unless you know), reflect on maternal instinct versus medical advice, and detour through ’90s movie nostalgia, featuring everything from While You Were Sleeping to Flubber. Turns out, memory loss isn’t the only thing that’s complicated. 🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 Curious what we will be reading next? See a list of upcoming books at prideandprejudicebookclub.com! ➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!

We couldn’t wait to welcome Elizabeth Adams back for her third visit to the podcast, and trust us—she did not disappoint! This time, we dive deep into her epic reimagining Sons of Pemberley, a richly layered story that explores what might have happened if Lady Anne Darcy had survived. Spoiler: everything changes. In this conversation, we cover everything from character arcs and alternate timelines to the surprising ways a book can take on a life of its own. Emilie and Elizabeth swap insights about Lady Anne’s transformation into the emotional center of the story, Lady Maryanne’s unexpected emergence as a featured character, and how friendship, adoption, and beauty are intricately woven throughout the narrative. There’s also a healthy dose of behind-the-scenes author talk—deleted scenes, writing during toddler nap times, and the pressures of crafting a dual-timeline novel with dozens of characters. Whether you’ve read Sons of Pemberley once or five times, you’ll love this peek into the heart and mind behind the story. And if you haven’t read it yet… consider this your sign! --- 🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 Curious what we will be reading next? See a list of upcoming books at prideandprejudicebookclub.com! ➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!