6 YA Novels Perfect for Fans of Jane Austen

For Darkness Shows the Stars, by Diana Peterfreund
This sci-fi duology doesn’t just draw inspiration from a Jane Austen book (Persuasion), it also pulls from The Scarlet Pimpernel in follow-up Across a Star-Swept Sea. In the first, readers are introduced to Elliot, a teen who chose her family over Kai, a servant and the love of her life. And when her family’s estate and fortunes flounder, she finds herself face to face with Kai once again…only now he’s the captain of a fleet of shipbuilders, and a world-renowned explorer.  But a lot about him has changed, and she’ll have to figure out whether to go with him or stay with her family, and consequently determine the fate of the society she has spent so much time clinging to.

The Espressologist, by Kristina Springer
A personal favorite of mine, Springer’s wonderfully charming contemporary YA read is a fresh and funny take on Jane Austen’s Emma. In it, Jane Turner is a barista in a hip coffee shop, and plays matchmaker with friends based on their coffee orders. She has a theory that your steamy beverage can lead to a steamy romance, whether you’re getting a sweet hot chocolate or a plain ol’ coffee, black with no sugar or cream. Things take a turn, though, when her boss runs an in-store promotion surrounding her seemingly magical gift, and her two best friends start dating…and some feelings she didn’t know she had start brewing up.

Prom & Prejudice, by Elizabeth Eulberg
Possibly the absolute perfect name for a YA novel take on Jane Austen. Set at prestigious private school Longbourn Academy, the story centers on a group of students utterly obsessed with their upcoming prom. And while all the girls fuss over incredibly expensive clothes, handbags, and the like, Lizzie Bennett (yes, the characters even share the names and I love it) could not care less. Her best friend, Jane, however? She can’t wait, and wants to setup Lizzie with her date’s best friend…Darcy. It’s Pride & Prejudice set during prom season, and it’s just as delightful as it sounds.

Enthusiasm, by Polly Shulman
This YA contemporary novel was out long before everyone was calling themselves an #enthusiast of this or that in their Twitter profiles. It focuses on two best friends, Julie and Ashleigh, one of whom is an enthusiast through and through. In fact, it’s starting to become a problem for Julie, who gets caught up in every crazy new thing Ashleigh becomes smitten with. And when she sets her enthusiastic eye on Julie’s favorite thing, Pride & Prejudice, she starts to act like her favorite character, complete with manner of dress and pursuit of a certain Mr. Darcy. With elements of performing arts (they’re in a play) and adorable romance, this is a friendship story laced with Austen.

Ivory and Bone, by Julie Eshbaugh
One of the most appealing things about Jane Austen novels is their era. The clothing, the customs, the traditions, the homes…it’s a magical thing, really. Getting transported back in time, if only for a moment and just a blink ago in history. “But those books took place in the 1800s,” you say? Well, that’s but a blink of an eye compared to the time travel you’ll do when you read Julie Eshbaugh’s debut, Ivory and Bone, which is a prehistoric novel with some serious splashes of Jane Austen. Warring tribes and forbidden love set against a backdrop of prehistoric clans? It’s one of the most unique novels of last year. Get it.

Another Little Piece of My Heart, by Tracey Martin
This contemporary read is perfect for anyone who loves rock-and-roll tinted YA, like For the Record, by Charlotte Huang, or The Sound of Us, by Ashley Poston. Another retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, it introduces readers to two teens wrestling with heartbreak in the wake of their breakup. One rides the breakup to become a newly minted rockstar, singing about his loss. The other has to deal with hearing about it again and again on the radio. When the two of them come back together…will they end up a couple again? Rock and roll and the one who got away. So much to love here.