I've recently gotten into T Kingfisher (who writes fantasy, usually with strong romance elements). She is really good at getting me super invested in the characters very early on, and I think it's for similar reasons that Austen does - not so much the pacing of the plot, but how quickly she establishes that (i) this character is very relatable and (ii) there is significant tension between their personality and their living situation, so something has to give, and fast. Then it's just a matter of waiting with bated breath to see what gives and how soon - in some sense the books are very predictable in that you know you're getting your happily-ever-after, but the journey is truly the point.