Pride & Prejudice Book Club Podcast

Time for a fan-girl SQUEEEEEEEAL!   In this episode, Emilie gets to check another author off her dream guest list as she interviews Amy D'Orazio, a longtime favorite and a true force for good in the Pride and Prejudice variation world. Not only is Amy a talented and beloved author, she’s also the head of Quills and Quartos, an independent publisher that has helped dozens of authors find their footing and thrive in the JAFF publishing world.   In this conversation, we cover everything from Amy's origin story (the 1995 BBC Pride and Prejudice while traveling abroad) to the creation of fan-favorite original character Lord Saye, along with how her writing has evolved and what stories may be coming next.   Grab your hot cocoa and settle in, book clubbers! (Or, if you're driving, keep your eyes on the road...)   And after you listen to this episode, be sure to download Amy's newest release, Officious Interference, available NOW!   🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 See a list of books we've read at prideandprejudicebookclub.com! ➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!

[Big spoiler warning on this episode!] This week we venture into fantasy with Miss Bennet’s Dragon, a gaslamp Regency Pride & Prejudice variation that introduces dragons, mysterious powers, and life or death stakes to the story! Fantasy isn’t typically Sharon’s genre, but she adventurously dove right into the world-building and dragon lore and discovered it was a lot more fun than she thought it would be! We revel in the quieter, slow-burn romance of this variation, and geek out over Darcy's efforts to communicate to Elizabeth (quietly) how much he cares about her. The story packs some big surprises, leading to a discussion on how ambition and power reshape familiar characters, and force Elizabeth into morally complex decisions with far-reaching consequences . If you enjoy Pride & Prejudice variations that take risks, ask big questions, and aren’t afraid to explore darker themes, this episode has plenty to unpack!

This week we're diving head-first into On Equal Ground by Elizabeth Adams, and, surprisingly, we once again find ourselves on very different sides of the emotional fence. Sharon is fully swooning, Emilie is… decidedly not. To be clear, Elizabeth Adams is a phenomenal author, and has penned some of Emilie's favorite stories. This book just happens to combine two of her least favorite tropes 😆 But that's what's great about variations! There's something for everyone! With a premise that includes Elizabeth being married before meeting Darcy, and then finding herself of elevated status after her tragic loss, there’s plenty to discuss. Grief, second chances, blended families, and what it means to honor a great love while still allowing space for another. Expect some strong opinions on this one! And as always, we want to hear what you think 😁 🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 See a list of books we've read at prideandprejudicebookclub.com! ➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!

When we started this podcast back in 2023, we never dreamed that we would one day get to meet one of our favorite authors, Jessie Lewis. So it was a huge shock when Jessie not only reached out to say she'd enjoyed the episodes we'd done on her books, but that she would be happy to answer questions about them, too! And thus, a new type of episode was born. The author interview has now become a bookclub staple (with more great episodes on the way), and our appreciation of authors grows with each and every one! In honor of Jessie's new book, Room for Improvement, which she co-authored with Amy D'Orazio, coming out on January 26th, 2026, we're re-releasing this episode to give some of our newer listeners a chance to discover it, and hopefuly bring joy to our long-time listeners who already know how fun an interview it was. [This re-release also mildly improves on the audio quality of the interview, something that has bugged Emilie for a long time....] We'll be back next week with some more book discussions, but for now, enjoy this throw-back episode of our interview with the amazingly talented Jessie Lewis.   🎵 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 TikTok, or check out our blog and more at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/!  

We had the amazing opportunity to sit down and video chat with beloved narrator Benny Fife, the voice behind hundreds of audiobooks, including many fan-favorite Jane Austen variations. Benny shares how he built a full-time narration career from reading aloud to his kids, how he approaches iconic characters like Mr Darcy, and why dragons, space operas, and alien retellings all have a place in his creative world. We also discuss networking at JaffCon, the struggles of voice acting with a cold, the evolution of his character choices, and even get a peek into the Pride and Prejudice–in–Klingon project he’s crafting as a true labor of love. If you enjoy behind-the-scenes storytelling, audiobook nerdery, or just want to hear from one of the most expressive voices in the JAFF universe, this episode will make your day. 🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason 📚 Curious what we’ll 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 a Pride and Prejudice variation asks you to root for two genuinely good men vying for Elizabeth's heart?  This week on the Pride and Prejudice Book Club, we’re tackling The Unthinkable Triangle by Joanna Starnes, a high-angst variation that puts Elizabeth Bennet at the center of a true love triangle with Fitzwilliam Darcy and Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam. And while Sharon delighted in finally getting a triangle where both men are real contenders, Emilie… really struggled. We dig into why this trope is such a hard sell for Emilie, especially when Colonel Fitzwilliam is written as emotionally present, communicative, and deeply invested in Elizabeth, while Darcy spends much of the story yearning from a distance, holding himself back, and making choices that feel more like restraint than growth.  That tension fuels a lively debate about whether Elizabeth’s emotional “switch” feels earned, whether Darcy’s love is grounded in reality or fantasy, and why the deepest betrayal in this book may not be romantic at all, but the fracture between two cousins who were once as close as brothers. Along the way, we zoom out to talk about fantasy vs. real-life relationships, infatuation vs. love, and why — in the real world — the healthiest choice in a love triangle is often to walk away from everyone. If you love messy emotional questions, debates about tropes, and honest takes on romance in literature, this episode will give you a lot to chew on! 🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason 📚 Curious what we’ll 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 closing out 2025 by looking back at every book we read and every interview we recorded this year… and, for the first time ever, we’re doing it with all three hosts together! Alicia, Emilie, and Sharon are all here to geek out about favorite moments, standout books, and (of course) enjoy a few side-tangent conversations along the way. If you’re new to the podcast, this episode is a great way to get quick summaries of the stories we covered and our reactions as we experienced them. And if you’re a longtime listener, we hope this feels like a fun jaunt down memory lane. As we head into 2026, we just want to say thank you. It’s been such a joy discovering fellow Pride and Prejudice enthusiasts through this podcast, and we’re so excited to step into a new season with you! Happy New Year, 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!

If you’ve been around the JAFF world for more than five minutes, chances are you’ve already read a forced proximity book that takes place in a cottage during a snowstorm. You've also probably read a book by Abigail Reynolds. But have you read them both together? Alone with Mr. Darcy is one of those books that everyone seems to have read, and has quietly set the standard for snowstorms, forced proximity, and Darcy doing his very best while being deeply attracted to Elizabeth (and more than a little confused). In this episode, we talk about what Abigail Reynolds does so well as an author: creating deep emotional intimacy without leaning too hard on the tropes that drive us all a little crazy. The forced proximity, miscommunication, and snowstorm are all there, but they’re used to build tension without turning Darcy or Elizabeth into people you want to yell at. At the heart of it all is a Darcy who is deeply honorable, quietly persistent, and determined to do the right thing—even when he has no idea what went wrong. Whether this was one of your first JAFF reads or the first time you've been snowed in with Mr Darcy, this is a cozy, nostalgic conversation about a book that has clearly earned its place on the OG JAFF bookshelf. 🎵 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!

Bookclubbers, this one’s a treat! A fun conversation with Harry Frost, the narrator whose voice has become synonymous with Mr. Darcy for countless Jane Austen fan fiction readers and listeners.  Harry shares how The Darcy Monologues launched his narration career, the techniques he uses to differentiate an ever-expanding cast of characters, and some of the nitty-gritty details of the narration business. If you love Darcy, audiobooks, or just hearing people geek out about how breath and emotion impact the voice, you’re going to feel right at home in this conversation!   🎵 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 Darcy wishes he’d never been born…and Elizabeth accidentally gets dragged into the fallout? In this episode, we dive into The Difference of a Darcy by Tiffany Thomas, an engrossing Pride and Prejudice variation that surprised us in all the best ways. What begins as an It’s a Wonderful Life–style premise turns into a rich exploration of partnership, forgiveness, identity, and the road not travelled. We're giddy over all the Darcy and Elizabeth time (it's amazing!), devastated by Georgiana’s alternate-universe life, and stunned by a particularly shocking Bingley twist. Grab some hot cocoa and settle in. This is going to be fun!   🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 Curious what we’ll 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!  

Strap in, book friends, we’re heading to the stars! Longbourn Crater, to be precise. This week we unpack Pride and Prejudice and Planets, the wildly imaginative sci-fi variation that turns Elizabeth into a spaceship mechanic, Darcy into a tightly wound captain, and Bingley into the galaxy’s most affable (and capable)  diplomat. We explore the rich world-building, the political layers we didn’t expect, and the fun character interpretations that made this book stand out. We also talk about Caroline’s radicalization, Wickham as a ship thief, and why this story deserves mad respect (even if we wish it had a little more romance!) If you've been waiting for us to read a sci-fi Pride and Prejudice variation, this one's for you! 🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason 📚 Curious what we’ll 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 makes us come back to Pride and Prejudice again and again? That's a very important question, and one that Emilie explores this week with Emilia Stratford, the author of Such Persuasions as These and Some Particular Evil. The result is a delightful deep-dive into all things Darcy, Elizabeth, and the creative world of Pride and Prejudice variations! Together we unpack Darcy’s (slow!) decision-making process, the challenge of writing a believable Elizabeth, favorite tropes and hard passes, the joys of AO3, and Emilia’s deliciously angsty new WIP.  We honestly can't wait to see what she comes up with next!   --- 🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 Curious what we’ll 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!    

Picture this: two friends on a long car trip across a (seemingly) endless desert, with nothing but some Red Vines and a JAFF Audiobook to keep us going... This week, we listed to More Than a Pretty Face by Francis Reynolds (as narrated by Stevie Zimmerman), and we're here to tell you allll about it! We recap our road-trip audiobook experience, dig into the book's expanded characterization of Jane, swoon over Lord Lyfford's charm and emotional depth, and explore the nuances of how male POV is written in JAFF. We also indulge in the pure joy of being surrounded by fellow Austen fans, because this episode was recorded live at JaffCon! Please note, there’s a little more background noise than usual this week, but a whole lot more fun, too!

Recorded in front of a LIVE audience...it's the Pride and Prejudice Book Club Podcast at JAFF Con 2025! Over the weekend we had the amazing opportunity to participate in JAFF Con, an annual get together of writers and readers who love and all adore all things Austenesque! We were invited to record an episode live in front of the conference attendees, and it was electrifying to be able to not only talk about what we love and adore (Pride and Prejudice Variations), but also get validation from fellow junkies about our thoughts and opinions in real time. Since some attendees were unfamiliar with the podcast, we give a bit of backstory, and then dive right into what we love to read, where we find our books, and which books live rent free in our heads. We also uncovered the root of some of Emilie and Sharon's differences of opinion when it comes to JAFF, and tried to name-drop as many authors as possible without sounding crazy... 10/10, A+, 5 stars, definitely recommend JAFF Con to anyone who loves Jane Austen Fan Fiction, and loves our amazing, talented, and generous authors! As always: Thank you for writing!!!     🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 Curious what we’ll 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 continuing our recent trend of forced marriage scenarios with Jenetta James' delightful story, Suddenly Mrs. Darcy (one of Sharon's all-time favorite books!) We get into: Why this trope is such a fan favorite (and why it sometimes makes people deeply uncomfortable) Whether this version of Elizabeth is being true to character (or just stupidly stubborn) The depiction of Georgiana (and what is or isn't cannon!) Plus: Which Austen heroine are YOU most like? (Sharon says she's a Jane Bennet — what about you?) If you’re in the mood for a softer Darcy, good banter, and some disagreements over cannon, this one’s for you! 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, and let us know what you thought of the book! 👇 🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason. 📚 Curious what we’ll 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 we’re joined by a true gem in the JAFF world: J. Dawn King herself (also known as Joy D. King and Christie Capps)! Throughout the episode, Joy reflects on the vibrant JAFF community, the unexpected joys of becoming a writer, and the incredible story of how a doctor’s advice after a stroke led to a whole new life as a beloved author with over 30 books to her name. We also get a tease for Joy’s most ambitious project yet: a sweeping Mediterranean treasure hunt that brings together Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Bennet in a globe-trotting, clue-solving adventure inspired by movies like National Treasure and Indiana Jones. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to her work, you’ll walk away with a fresh appreciation for the heart behind these beloved variations, and maybe a little bit of inspiration to write your own! 🎵 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!

How do you build a relationship when the past won’t leave you alone? This week on The Pride and Prejudice Book Club, Emilie and Sharon discuss Mr. Darcy and Mr. Collins’s Widow by Timothy Underwood, a variation that explores Elizabeth Bennet’s emotional healing after a traumatic early marriage to an awful Mr. Collins. When she becomes a widow and takes over Longbourn, Elizabeth isn’t looking for love… but a surprising friendship with Mr. Darcy begins to change everything. One co-host is ready to be buried with this book, while the other wrestles with why this variation didn’t quite click for her. Their conversation dives into how personal taste shapes reading experiences, and why there’s room for every kind of reader (and variation) in the P&P universe! We don’t always agree on enjoyment of books we read, but that’s half the fun. Whether you’re Team “Bury Me With This Book” or Team “I'm Not Mad At It,” we hope you’ll enjoy the ride. 🎵 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 a single rumor about a duel that never happened was enough to upend Elizabeth Bennet’s life and tie her fate to Mr. Darcy? In this episode, we dive into Betrothed to Mr. Darcy by Lin Mei Wei, a variation that begins with a scandal and unfolds into a surprisingly tender (and occasionally bonkers) love story. With a marriage rooted in obligation, Elizabeth’s feelings build slowly but hit hard. And as for Darcy, he’s already quietly smitten...but definitely feeling insecure! We explore the novel’s unique blend of romantic tension, high society intrigue, and emotional depth, including covert letters, generational trauma, and one very memorable library scene. Plus, we reflect on the sprawling (and messy) Darcy family, the burden of guardianship, and how sheltered both Elizabeth and Georgiana really are. Also: fanfic tangents, spicy scenes, and Sharon’s head-canon Lizzy in all her confident glory. 🎵 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 made Lady Catherine into the formidable force we meet in Pride and Prejudice? This week, we're diving into Paige Badgett’s novel The Making of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and guess what? Alicia's baaaaack! After her summer break, she’s rejoining us to unpack this villain origin story and all the surprising tenderness inside it. Together, we explore the dynamics of sisters, the long shadows cast by grief, and the very Rhett-Butler-esque qualities of Sir Lewis de Bourgh. It’s a fascinating reminder that a woman we love to hate might just be more complicated than we ever gave her credit for.   🎵 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, 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!