October 14, 2025

Rewriting Jane Austen for the 2020s with Nikki Payne

17 minutes

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Ever wondered what Jane Austen would write if she lived online? Nikki Payne reimagines romance for our era—where identity, love, and culture collide.

In this episode, Laura chats with romance author Nikki Payne, a cultural anthropologist and writer of Pride and Protest, Sex, Lies and Sensibility, and The Princess and the PI. They dive into why Nikki reimagines Austen’s classics through a modern, intersectional lens, how online personas shape our identities, and what makes “weird fic” and “out-of-pocket women” so irresistible. Plus, Nikki shares her must-read recommendations across romance, mystery, and literary fiction.

📚 Books Mentioned

Pride and Protest by Nikki Payne — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅

Sex, Lies and Sensibility by Nikki Payne — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅

The Princess and the PI by Nikki Payne — Buy on Amazon | Mystery Romance | KU ✅ / Audio ✅

August Lane by Regina Black — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅

King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby — Buy on Amazon | Crime Thriller | Audio ✅

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow — Buy on Amazon | Fantasy | Audio ✅

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston — Buy on Amazon | Classic Fiction

💌Where to Find Nikki:

Instagram: @nikkipaynebooks
TikTok: @nikkipayneromance
Substack: The Painful Truth

🕒 Time Stamps

[00:00] Meet Nikki Payne: Cultural Anthropologist & Romance Author

[00:03] Reimagining Jane Austen with Black & Asian Leads

[00:06] The Princess and the PI: Reddit Sleuths & Modern Mysteries

[00:10] Online Personas vs Real Life Identity

[00:11] Exploring Body, Control, and Patriarchy in Fiction

[00:13] Neuroplasticity, Healing, and Finding Love

[00:14] What Nikki’s Reading: Weird Fic & Out-of-Pocket Women

[00:15] Book Recommendations for After The Princess and the PI

[00:16] Where to Find Nikki Online

Mentioned in this episode:

🎧 Try Audible Today

I love Audible for their original novellas, binge-worthy Plus Catalog (like Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series), and their amazing audiobook sales. Currently, Audible is offering a special promotion for new members and returning listeners.

Audible

Advertise with Us

Do you have a book or service that you want to share with our engaged audience? Check out our opportunities to sponsor with us.

Advertise With Us

...more

View all episodes

By Laura R Yamin

6262 ratings