If I love Jilly Cooper....

[teddybearsbear]

So lockdown has seen me reread all my beloved Jillys for the umpteenth time and I would love to find another series in the same style although I doubt anything can ever be as good as Queen JC!

I have tried Fiona Walker and Tilly Bagshaw but they just don't compare

Can anyone recommend a good book or series of books that ticks the Jilly boxes? Set in English countryside a beastly hero and lots of horses oh and preferably some rolling in the hay?!!

TIA

[Oyyoucow]

Oh I’m here for this content

RCB was my first and everlasting crush the complete bastard

[LaMarschallin]

I remember Fiona Walker being heralded as the new JC - to paraphrase "Pretty Woman":
Big disappointment. Huge!
Tend to avoid anyone purporting to be "the new Jilly Cooper" now as they never are.

I haven't really found anything to quite match la Cooper and it's a bit of worry that all the publicity about "Tackle!" has gone quiet.

Have you read her "name" books? Emily, Bella, Imogen etc?
Her collections of journalism are very good too, imo, although not all are in print.
I've got a few second-hand over the years.

As a JC fan, I enjoy reading Marian Keyes books over again and also Eva Ibbotson.
For some reason "Cold Comfort Farm" comes to mind too.
Though they very much have their own styles: as good as JC, not the same as, iyswim.

[Standrewsschool]

Jackie Collins -

Jackie C

Brigerton - not so well written as Jilly, but good, saucy escapism

The Thorn Birds

Lace

Can’t guarantee the horses, but lots of rolling in the hay!

[GetHappy]

Jackie Collins

or jo Carnegie are really good. There’s about 3 or 4 that link together

[Rattysparklebum]

I just got a copy of The Court by Elizabeth Walker from EBay, I read it years ago and loved it, just as good this time around and in a similar vein to Jilly Cooper I think

[ILoveAnOwl]

I adore Jilly and also love Penny Vincenzi. Lengthy books, great characters, lots of villains. Not as characature as Jilly, but a good read none the less.

[DwangelaForever]

Penny Vincenzi

[LApprentiSorcier]

Not a countryside setting but Caro Fraser's Caper Court books always remind me a little bit of Jilly - lots of rich people shagging round, love-triangles and bad behaviour, but they're all barristers based in London. If you find barristers' bewigged regalia a bit of a turn on you will like them.

[percheron67]

Penny Vincenzi. Wonderful characterisation and compelling story telling.

[Palavah]

Reminds me of this article...

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/books/2021/jan/31/what-trashy-novels-taught-me-about-life

[Shantotto]

Jackie Collins for sure, start with Chances. Absolutely brilliant. I’d also recommend Lace, that’s fab!

[Jfw82]

Penny Vincenzi for sure try old sins or the no angel trilogy

[teddybearsbear]

Some great suggestions on here thanks everyone
Also outside of the thread I have been recommended the Oxford blues series by pippa Croft as a potential Jilly substitute so I have plenty to go at!

[doodlyfiddly]

Have a look at the Rebecca Chance books. They always remind me of Jackie Collins/Jilly Cooper, but are much ruder sometimes!

[Jezzballs2000]

I was directed here off the mail out saying JC fans will love the other JC. A great suggestion, I am going to procure. I remember a time when every charity shop was filled with both authors. I wonder if it's still the same (after lockdown obviously).