Jan Ashton Books in Order (Updated May 9, 2026)

Jan Ashton writes Jane Austen variations, Regency romance, and contemporary romance. Her best-known work is centered on Pride and Prejudice, often with humor, emotional misdirection, altered courtship paths, and a strong Darcy-and-Elizabeth focus.

Her books are not one single continuous story. Most are standalone Pride and Prejudice variations, so readers can safely choose by premise.

The main reading decision is whether you want modern Darcy and Elizabeth, Regency Pride and Prejudice variations, or short-story collections and anthology appearances.

Best Entry Points

1. A Searing Acquaintance (2016; reissued 2020): The best first choice for readers who want a contemporary Darcy-and-Elizabeth romance with emotional baggage, professional tension, and modern misreadings.
2. Mendacity & Mourning (2017; reissued 2020): The best Regency starting point if you want humor, altered family circumstances, and a very different Meryton arrival for Darcy.
3. Some Natural Importance (2021): A strong early read for readers who want a polished Pride and Prejudice variation with clear emotional stakes.
4. A Match Made at Matlock (2022): A good choice for readers who enjoy multi-author Austenesque house-party stories with several romantic threads.

Date Note

Jan Ashton’s catalogue includes earlier titles published as J. L. Ashton and later editions under Jan Ashton. Some catalogue pages list the newer Quills & Quartos or series edition year rather than the earliest publication year.

Where a title has a clear earlier edition and a later series listing, both are noted.

Modern Mrs Darcy Books in Order

This is Jan Ashton’s modern Pride and Prejudice branch. These books bring Darcy and Elizabeth into a contemporary setting rather than keeping them in Regency England.

1. A Searing Acquaintance (2016; reissued 2020): A modern Pride and Prejudice variation where Elizabeth Bennet, Darcy, and Wickham are recast through publishing, professional opportunity, old wounds, and serious emotional mistrust.
2. Perfectly Right (2025): A modern Darcy-and-Elizabeth variation that belongs after A Searing Acquaintance if you want to stay in Ashton’s contemporary Austen mode.

These can be read separately, but A Searing Acquaintance is the more natural first modern Ashton book.

Dearly Love a Laugh Books in Order

This grouping contains humorous Pride and Prejudice variations. Read these when you want wit, schemes, social absurdity, and a lighter Austenesque tone.

1. Mendacity & Mourning (2017; reissued 2020): Darcy arrives in Meryton under a cloud of mourning after Anne de Bourgh’s death, changing his first impression and pulling the story into grief, rumor, and comic confusion.
2. The Most Interesting Man in the World (2020): Co-written with Justine Rivard, this variation uses a comic premise and heightened social energy to reshape the familiar Darcy-and-Elizabeth path.
3. A Famous Good Marrying Scheme (2022): Jane Bennet’s altered sense and Mrs. Bennet’s scheming create a madcap romantic problem that draws Darcy and Elizabeth into confidence, strategy, and reluctant cooperation.
4. A Delicate Rose (2025): Co-written with Justine Rivard, this sequel-style story follows Darcy and Elizabeth shortly after marriage as Lady Catherine tries to instruct Elizabeth in society and unexpectedly exposes older family tensions.

This group does not need strict continuity, but the order above keeps the humorous branch tidy.

Pride, Prejudice and Romance Books in Order

This is another main Regency Pride and Prejudice variation grouping. The stories are separate variations, not chapters in one continuing plot.

1. One Minute More (2020): A Pride and Prejudice variation where Darcy’s family complications and romantic timing shift the usual courtship before he and Elizabeth can understand each other clearly.
2. Some Natural Importance (2021): A Darcy-and-Elizabeth variation that uses altered circumstances, social expectation, and emotional consequence to move the couple away from their familiar first-impression pattern.
3. A More Agreeable Man (2023): A Regency variation that reworks Darcy’s manner and Elizabeth’s response, making the question of what makes a man truly agreeable central to the romance.
4. A Hopeless Business (2024): Elizabeth gains notoriety for refusing too many suitors, and her father’s ultimatum turns marriage pressure into the force that pushes her back toward Darcy.
5. No Charm Equal (2025): A shorter enemies-to-lovers Pride and Prejudice variation, originally connected to anthology material, where attraction and resistance shape Darcy and Elizabeth’s path.
6. A Gentleman’s Heart (2026): A collection of three Pride and Prejudice variations by Jan Ashton, gathering A More Agreeable Man, A Hopeless Business, and No Charm Equal.
7. Mr Darcy’s Quizzing Glass (2026): A novel-length variation with a touch of magic, in which Darcy inherits a quizzing glass that reveals true character and forces him to question his judgment when Elizabeth does not fit his expectations.

Read A Gentleman’s Heart only if you want the collected edition. If you already own the individual stories, it is not a new continuity step.

Shared and Co-Written Austenesque Books

These titles involve other authors or shared Austenesque projects. They are optional unless you are collecting every Jan Ashton appearance.

1. A Match Made at Matlock (2022): Co-written with Julie Cooper, Amy D’Orazio, and Jessie Lewis, this Pride and Prejudice sequel sends Darcy, Elizabeth, friends, and cousins to a Matlock house party full of romance, misunderstanding, and secondary-couple stories.
2. Affections & Wishes (2024): A multi-author Pride and Prejudice variation anthology that includes Jan Ashton among several Austenesque writers and should be treated as supplemental reading.
3. Mr Darcy’s Second Chance (2024): A multi-author Pride and Prejudice variation with J. Marie Croft and Lucy Marin, best read as part of shared variation reading rather than Ashton’s main solo sequence.
4. Happy Christmas Mr Darcy (2025): A multi-author anthology of short Pride and Prejudice variations with a seasonal frame, best saved for optional holiday reading.
5. The Perils of Proximity (2026): A multi-author Pride and Prejudice variation anthology scheduled for July 2026, best treated as upcoming and optional until final publication details are settled.

Collections and Short Fiction

Collections are useful for convenience, but they can duplicate stories you may already own.

1. One Hour, and One Minute More (2018): A short Pride and Prejudice vignette collection or earlier related material, best treated as optional for completists.
2. ’Tis the Season (2021): A multi-author Jane Austen Christmas collection that includes Ashton alongside other Austenesque writers.
3. Happily Ever After with Mr Darcy (2022): A collection of short Pride and Prejudice-inspired stories by multiple authors, useful for readers who want compact Darcy-and-Elizabeth variations.
4. An Inducement into Matrimony (2022): A multi-author collection of romantic short stories inspired by Pride and Prejudice, notable because No Charm Equal was later associated with this material.
5. Darcy & Elizabeth: A Collection of Pride and Prejudice Variations (date varies by listing): A collection that gathers multiple Darcy-and-Elizabeth stories, best counted as a packaging edition rather than a new novel.
6. A Gentleman’s Heart (2026): A three-story collection containing A More Agreeable Man, A Hopeless Business, and No Charm Equal.

Recommended Jan Ashton Reading Order

This order is for readers who want a smooth path rather than a strict catalogue dump.

1. A Searing Acquaintance (2016; reissued 2020): Begin here if you want Ashton’s most distinctive modern Darcy-and-Elizabeth setup before moving into Regency variations.
2. Mendacity & Mourning (2017; reissued 2020): Move next to her comic Regency mode, where Darcy’s Meryton arrival is reshaped by mourning and rumor.
3. One Minute More (2020): Read here for a shorter Regency variation that eases into the Pride, Prejudice and Romance grouping.
4. Some Natural Importance (2021): Continue with one of Ashton’s stronger full Regency variations, built around altered stakes and emotional recognition.
5. A Famous Good Marrying Scheme (2022): Shift to a lighter comic premise with Jane, Mrs. Bennet, Darcy, and Elizabeth caught in a tangled romantic scheme.
6. A Match Made at Matlock (2022): Read here if you want a house-party sequel with multiple authors and several romantic threads.
7. A More Agreeable Man (2023): Return to solo Ashton with a variation focused on manners, perception, and whether Darcy can become the man Elizabeth can accept.
8. A Hopeless Business (2024): Read after the earlier variations because its pressure on Elizabeth’s marriage prospects works best once you know Ashton’s comic-romantic style.
9. No Charm Equal (2025): Add this shorter enemies-to-lovers variation before the collected edition.
10. Perfectly Right (2025): Place this here if you want to return to the modern Darcy-and-Elizabeth line after several Regency stories.
11. A Delicate Rose (2025): Read later because it is a post-marriage Darcy-and-Elizabeth story with Lady Catherine as a major disruptive force.
12. Mr Darcy’s Quizzing Glass (2026): Save this for later if you want a low-angst variation with a magical object and a clearer test of Darcy’s judgment.
13. A Gentleman’s Heart (2026): Read only if you prefer collected editions or missed A More Agreeable Man, A Hopeless Business, and No Charm Equal individually.

Publication Order Overview

This list is useful for completists, especially because Ashton’s earlier and reissued dates can differ by catalogue.

1. A Searing Acquaintance (2016; reissued 2020): A contemporary Pride and Prejudice variation about professional connection, emotional wounds, and modern Darcy-and-Elizabeth mistrust.
2. Mendacity & Mourning (2017; reissued 2020): A comic Regency variation where Darcy arrives in Meryton as a grieving man tied to Anne de Bourgh’s death.
3. One Hour, and One Minute More (2018): Optional short Pride and Prejudice vignettes connected to Ashton’s early shorter work.
4. The Most Interesting Man in the World (2020): A co-written humorous variation with Justine Rivard that belongs with the Dearly Love a Laugh branch.
5. One Minute More (2020): A Regency variation in the Pride, Prejudice and Romance grouping that changes Darcy and Elizabeth’s timing.
6. Some Natural Importance (2021): A full Pride and Prejudice variation built around altered circumstances and emotional consequence.
7. ’Tis the Season (2021): A multi-author Austen Christmas collection with Ashton among the contributors.
8. A Famous Good Marrying Scheme (2022): A comic Pride and Prejudice variation involving Jane’s altered condition, Mrs. Bennet’s plans, and Darcy and Elizabeth’s reluctant alliance.
9. A Match Made at Matlock (2022): A multi-author Pride and Prejudice sequel set at a Matlock house party with Darcy, Elizabeth, and several secondary romances.
10. Happily Ever After with Mr Darcy (2022): A multi-author collection of short Darcy-and-Elizabeth variations.
11. An Inducement into Matrimony (2022): A multi-author short-story collection inspired by Pride and Prejudice.
12. A More Agreeable Man (2023): A Regency variation about Darcy’s conduct, Elizabeth’s judgment, and the work of becoming truly agreeable.
13. A Hopeless Business (2024): A marriage-pressure variation where Elizabeth’s repeated refusals create public and family consequences.
14. Affections & Wishes (2024): A multi-author Pride and Prejudice variation anthology.
15. Mr Darcy’s Second Chance (2024): A shared Pride and Prejudice variation with J. Marie Croft and Lucy Marin.
16. No Charm Equal (2025): A shorter enemies-to-lovers Pride and Prejudice variation with low-angst romantic movement.
17. Perfectly Right (2025): A modern Pride and Prejudice variation in the Modern Mrs Darcy line.
18. A Delicate Rose (2025): A co-written post-marriage Pride and Prejudice sequel about Lady Catherine’s attempted mentorship of Elizabeth.
19. Happy Christmas Mr Darcy (2025): A multi-author Christmas anthology of short Pride and Prejudice variations.
20. A Gentleman’s Heart (2026): A collected edition of three Ashton Pride and Prejudice variations.
21. Mr Darcy’s Quizzing Glass (2026): A magical-object Pride and Prejudice variation where Darcy’s inherited glass reveals character but complicates his understanding of Elizabeth.
22. The Perils of Proximity (2026): An upcoming multi-author Pride and Prejudice anthology scheduled for July 2026.

Chronological Order

A strict in-world chronological order is not useful for Jan Ashton’s books. Most of them restart Pride and Prejudice from a different point or move the characters into a modern setting.

Use these practical categories instead:

Modern Setting

1. A Searing Acquaintance (2016; reissued 2020): Modern publishing, career pressure, and emotional history reshape Darcy and Elizabeth.
2. Perfectly Right (2025): A later modern variation that belongs with the same broad contemporary branch.

Regency Courtship Variations

1. Mendacity & Mourning (2017; reissued 2020): Begins around Darcy’s altered arrival in Meryton.
2. One Minute More (2020): Uses changed timing and family complication to redirect the courtship.
3. Some Natural Importance (2021): Works as a standalone altered-circumstances variation.
4. A Famous Good Marrying Scheme (2022): Uses Jane’s changed situation and Mrs. Bennet’s plotting to alter the courtship.
5. A More Agreeable Man (2023): Focuses on Darcy’s manners, self-presentation, and Elizabeth’s judgment.
6. A Hopeless Business (2024): Begins from Elizabeth’s unusual notoriety for refusing suitors.
7. No Charm Equal (2025): A shorter enemies-to-lovers variation.
8. Mr Darcy’s Quizzing Glass (2026): Adds a light magical device to Darcy’s problem of judgment.

Post-Engagement or Post-Marriage Material

1. A Match Made at Matlock (2022): Follows an engaged Darcy and Elizabeth into a house-party sequel.
2. A Delicate Rose (2025): Follows the newly married Darcys as Lady Catherine tries to shape Elizabeth’s public role.

Latest Jan Ashton Book

As of May 9, 2026, the latest current Jan Ashton novel-length listing is Mr Darcy’s Quizzing Glass (2026).

The latest collection is A Gentleman’s Heart (2026), which gathers three previously available Pride and Prejudice variations.

The next confirmed upcoming anthology listing is The Perils of Proximity (2026), scheduled for July 2026.

Do You Need to Read Jan Ashton in Order?

No, not for most books. Jan Ashton’s Pride and Prejudice variations are usually separate versions of Darcy and Elizabeth’s story.

Read by series branch if you want organization. Use Modern Mrs Darcy for contemporary settings, Dearly Love a Laugh for comic Regency variations, and Pride, Prejudice and Romance for her main Regency variation line.

The co-written and anthology titles are optional unless you are collecting all of her Austenesque work.

Best Jan Ashton Book to Start With

1. Start with A Searing Acquaintance if you want modern Pride and Prejudice.
2. Start with Mendacity & Mourning if you want a humorous Regency variation.
3. Start with Some Natural Importance if you want a balanced, straightforward Regency entry.
4. Start with A Match Made at Matlock if you like multi-author house-party sequels and several couples in motion.

FAQ

Are Jan Ashton and J. L. Ashton the same author?

Yes. Earlier or alternate listings may show J. L. Ashton, while current catalogue pages commonly use Jan Ashton.

Are Jan Ashton’s books connected?

Mostly no. Her Pride and Prejudice variations usually stand alone, even when catalogues place them inside a named grouping.

What is Modern Mrs Darcy?

Modern Mrs Darcy is the contemporary branch of Ashton’s Pride and Prejudice-inspired work, including A Searing Acquaintance and Perfectly Right.

What is Dearly Love a Laugh?

Dearly Love a Laugh is a humorous Pride and Prejudice variation grouping. It includes Mendacity & Mourning, The Most Interesting Man in the World, A Famous Good Marrying Scheme, and A Delicate Rose.

Is A Match Made at Matlock a Jan Ashton solo book?

No. It is a co-written Austenesque novel by Jan Ashton, Julie Cooper, Amy D’Orazio, and Jessie Lewis.

Should collections be counted as new books?

Only if they contain material you have not read. Otherwise, collections such as A Gentleman’s Heart are convenience editions.

What is Jan Ashton’s newest book?

The newest novel-length listing is Mr Darcy’s Quizzing Glass (2026). The newest collection is A Gentleman’s Heart (2026).

Conclusion

Jan Ashton’s books are easiest to navigate by format and setting. Begin with A Searing Acquaintance for modern Darcy and Elizabeth, Mendacity & Mourning for comic Regency variation, or Some Natural Importance for a balanced Regency entry point.

For most readers, the best path is A Searing Acquaintance, Mendacity & Mourning, One Minute More, Some Natural Importance, A Famous Good Marrying Scheme, and then the later Pride and Prejudice variations by premise.