📚I Read All of Jane Austen's Novels. Here's How They Rank.
See how Jane Austen's novels stacked up with me and other readers, and learn what adaptations are worth your time, reading tips, and what to buy a fan.
To celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, I committed to finishing reading and ranking her entire catalog of novels. It’s what any Gilmore would do!
This famous female author features heavily in our Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge, so finishing her works helped me kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. Max Medina loves to teach her work, Rory read it in the Stars Hollow gazebo, Jess and Paris debated it, and even Dean admitted to trying it and liking it!
First, See Jane Austen’s Books in Order of Publication
I want you to get a quick sense of what novels we’re talking about and the order in which they were published before we dig deeper.1
Sense and Sensibility (1811)
Pride and Prejudice (1813)
Mansfield Park (1814)
Emma (1816)
Northanger Abbey (1818)
Persuasion (1818)
Jane Austen’s Books Ranked by Other Readers
While I did a minor in English, I consider myself to be an ordinary reader with just an inclination for the classics. So, I’m including other readers’ preferences, too. Austen produces a variety of passionate opinions, so let’s also hear yours!
GoodReads Ranking in Order of Star Rating
Pride and Prejudice: 4.29 out of 5; 4.7 million ratings
Persuasion: 4.15 out of 5; 770k ratings
Sense and Sensibility: 4.09 out of 5; 1.3 million ratings
Emma: 4.05 out of 5; 974k ratings
Mansfield Park: 3.86 out of 5; 378k ratings
Northanger Abbey: 3.85 out of 5; 450k ratings
These rankings really don’t surprise me. Obviously, Pride and Prejudice is both widely read and well-loved. Readers also love the deep passion in Persuasion. I do wish to inspire more readers to pick up Northanger Abbey, an accessible delight Rory read! It does surprise me that only two of Austen’s books received over a million ratings.
Friday Night Readers
I also took to Instagram to get your insights. A few comments:
“Sense and Sensibility has been my long time favorite!”
“Mansfield Park and Sense and Sensibility (but the brother’s wife annoys me massively…)”
“You can’t beat Wentworth’s letter from Persuasion”
“Sense and Sensibility! I relate to the quirky characters and dysfunctional family dynamics”
I find it interesting that no one picked Pride and Prejudice! I think that what it says about our community is that we are avid readers of the classics and branch beyond an author’s most famous work. This kind of stuff always makes me feel proud of this community.
Jane Austen’s Books Ranked by Me
Presented in my humble opinion.
#6 Mansfield Park ★★★☆☆
“I was quiet, but I was not blind.”
One Sentence Plot: The timid but principled Fanny Price grows up among wealthy relatives and quietly resists moral corruption while finding her place and her partner.
Quick Review: Mansfield Park was my final Austen novel, and it was my least favorite. While the plot and the protagonist are interesting, I found the audio boring, and it took me weeks to read. I hope to read it in print again someday. I do think I will grow to appreciate Fanny more on a second round. I recommend this book to Enneagram 1s and maybe even 9s, too.
Notable Adaptations: The 1999 movie starring Hugh Bonneville of Downton Abbey is on my list.
Fun Fact: It’s considered to be Austen’s most autobiographical novel and earned her more money than her other novels.
#5 Emma ★★★☆☆
“I may have lost my heart, but not my self-control.”
One Sentence Plot: Confident, but often misguided, Emma Woodhouse meddles in others’ romances until she realizes her own feelings and limitations.
Quick Review: I know many scholars consider Emma to be Austen’s best work, but I’m sorry to say I was a bit bored by the full text. For me, it dragged, so I preferred the faster-paced movie adaptations. I listened to the audio and hope to read it in print again after I learn more about it. Sorry, Austenites! (And, yes, that’s who I’d recommend this to.)
Notable Adaptations: I struggled to enjoy Gwyneth Paltrow’s 1997 movie, but the 2020 movie starring Bill Nighy and Anya Taylor-Joy was two hours of the most luscious eye candy. And, sorry to the traditionalists, but the 1995 retelling, Clueless, is a perfect rom-com, a cultural moment, and one of my all-time favorite movies. I will die on that hill.
Fun Fact: This was Austen’s final work, published during her lifetime, and was dedicated begrudgingly to a fan she didn’t like—the Prince Regent—upon his request.
#4 Northanger Abbey ★★★★☆
“There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.”
One Sentence Plot: Naive Catherine Morland’s love of Gothic novels leads her to comedic misunderstandings as she matures and discovers genuine affection.
Quick Review: If I could describe Northanger Abbey in one word, it would be “fun.” It doesn’t take itself too seriously and brings so much youthful charm to the narrative. It would work well for fans of Young Adult novels or those who want a classic that feels uplifting.
Notable Adaptations: I struggled to watch the 1987 movie. I would absolutely love for a modern version to be made, either a classic interpretation like 2020’s Emma or a culturally astute retelling like 1995’s Clueless. I think either could work really well.
Fun Fact: This book was published posthumously after Austen’s death at 41, though it was completed much earlier in her lifetime.
#3 Persuasion ★★★★☆
“You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope…I have loved none but you.”
One Sentence Plot: Years after being persuaded to reject him, Anne Elliot is reunited with Captain Wentworth and given a second chance at enduring love.
Quick Review: Persuasion felt the most passion-driven of all Austen’s novels, and the exquisite prose reflects that. The bittersweet nature of love lost and yearning for its return deeply captures your emotions. It’s for fans of the beauty of the written word and the kind of books that have the power to make you feel big feelings.
Notable Adaptations: Many Austenites despised Netflix’s 2022 movie starring Dakota Fanning for playing fast and loose with the original text, essentially dumbing it down. I didn’t mind it, personally, and was glad I watched it. The visuals remained stunning, and the movie helped me understand the plot as well. The 1995 movie is an award-winner, but I haven’t seen it.
Fun Fact: This book was published posthumously, with a biographical notice by Austen’s brother, who identified all her works. (See #2 for more details on why.)
#2 Sense and Sensibility ★★★★☆
“The more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much!”
One Sentence Plot: Two very different sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, navigate love, heartbreak, and social expectation as they learn how to balance reason with emotion.
Quick Review: Sense and Sensibility surprised me— in a great way. I loved how different the sisters were and was fully invested in their love lives. I think it’s the perfect follow-up for those who already read and loved Austen’s most popular work, Pride and Prejudice.
Notable Adaptations: The 1995 movie starring Kate Winslet and Emma Thompson won an Oscar and is an excellent watch, in my humble opinion. It would be the perfect comfort watch for late winter, in anticipation of spring (which feels like Austen’s season to me).
Fun Fact: This debut was published “By a Lady” when Austen was 35.
#1 Pride and Prejudice ★★★★★
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
One Sentence Plot: Heroine Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy must overcome their mistaken first impressions and personal flaws to recognize their mutual love.
Quick Review: Could a Jane Austen book ranking end any other way? Pride and Prejudice is simply the greatest love story of all time. No notes.
Notable Adaptations: The 2005 movie starring Keira Knightley is an all-time favorite. I regularly rewatch and listen to the classical soundtrack while I work. However, many are still partial to the 1996 BBC series starring Colin Firth. It’s often split, so share where you stand!
Fun Fact: Elizabeth Bennett was Austen’s favorite heroine in this book, originally titled “First Impressions.”
Quick Recap
Reading Tips
As a longtime fan of the classics, going into my 6th year of reading the books on Gilmore Girls, here’s how I recommend tackling Austen.
Accept that reading older classics like Austen is a challenge. It’s not you! And it is worth it.
Use internet summaries and guides to help you understand the plot and context. I usually use SparkNotes.
Watch the adaptations mentioned or read modern retellings to help you better enjoy and understand the original text.
Read a uniquely accessible edition. I love Audible Originals narrated by famous actors because their skilled performances make the books so much more immersive. I also like the Handwritten Classics.
Gifts For Jane Austen Fans
I also curated a Jane Austen gift guide for super-fans to shop from. Many are longtime faves I’ve collected over a few years of searching for Austen goodies for readers!
mug | boxed set (the one I have) | candle | socks | bookstack ornament | Pemberley sweatshirt | Persuasion (handwritten classics, which I own) | felted wool ornament | purse | puzzle | vase | game | bookends
Related Post
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Jane Austen’s Sanditon was not completed before her death. Love and Friendship is a satirical novella that she wrote as a teenager and published posthumously. Here, I’m only talking about her completed novels.
Great post! Lots of good information and honest opinion. The list of adaptations is helpful to me
I agree! How can P&P not come out on top? 😂 my next fave is Emma - I’m convinced this would have been my favorite if I didn’t read P&P first! Then Sense & Sensibility, Mansfield Park, Persuasion, and then Northanger Abbey. I also really enjoyed Sanditon, how I wish to know what direction Jane Austen herself would have gone to complete it.
I feel like Persuasion is ranked so low and I’m due for a reread now that I’m older. I read S&S not too long ago and I liked it much more than I did when I first read it. I’m also curious how I would feel about Mansfield Park now. Although I’ve only read Northanger Abbey once it’s quite clear to me and I got some book recs from it (hoping I can finally get to them next year) because it had a very different feel to her other novels.