Something like I capture the castle

[Iknownothing]

DD (17) has post gcse rediscovered her passion for reading. I gave her ‘I captured the castle’ which she loved. Also loved Little women. She’s asked for similar vibe books for Christmas- any recommendations? I was thinking some Jane Austen?

Persephone books, Penelope Lively, Dorothy Whipple.

A Little Love Song
Cold Comfort Farm
The Whalebone Theatre
The Square Root of Summer
A Moment in Time (HE Bates, it’s out of print but well worth finding second hand on Abe Books)
The Greengage Summer (I actually prefer this to Castle, sacrilege I know)
Summer of Salt
We Are Okay

She might also enjoy Barbara Trapido for that chaotic bohemian family feel.

Can’t remember the name of Laura Wood’s YA novels but they’re very Castle influenced. Also Eva Ibbotson!

She would enjoy Laura Wood’s historical YA novels, which definitely have an I Capture the Castle vibe. https://www.lauraclarewood.com/ya

Another recent YA novel that fits the bill is A Calamity of Mannerings by Joanna Nadin.

A very recent book I read that reminded me of ICTC is Absolutely And Forever by Rose Tremain.

I think other people have already suggested everything else I thought of!

Maybe some Mary Renault.. I loved the chamomile lawn when I was late teens..

Also came to say Rebecca and the The Cazalet Chronicles

Eva Ibbotson is perfectly in this zone - A Song for Summer
The Morning Gift

Try Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier or Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher. Both great books

I came to say the Laura Wood books but several people beat me to it! So another vote for them, great stories!

I was going to suggest A Calamity of Mannerings too. Lots of I Capture the Castle vibes I thought.

Also, a couple more recent titles she might enjoy are from Sally Nicholls

Yours From the Tower and The Silent Stars Go By

I'd forgotten about Frost in May, I loved it.

Also...not entirely on theme but I loved it at her age...Brideshead Revisited.

BigDahliaFan I adored Brideshead in my teens. Haven’t read it again since and I’m not sure how well it will have held up!

@bookworm14 I listened to an adaptation a wee while ago...and I think it probably does stand up. Though they may have taken out any particularly jarring bits!

I was going to come on here to suggest Persephone Books in general, and also Eva Ibbotson (The Secret Countess/A Countess Below Stairs is my favourite) but I see that my people are already posting on this thread.

Also good are Frost in May, The Girls of Slender Means, The Blue Castle, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, and The Death of the Heart.

Frost in May and both the Mitford books for me.

I tried Dusty Answer but wasn’t that impressed and both me and SIL who loves I Capture The Castle couldn’t get on with Cold Comfort Farm at all and SIL likes to finish books!

I tried and failed to like Brother of the More Famous Jack (Trapido). Maybe too chaotic bohemian family feeling for my liking!