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Once Persuaded, Twice Shy
This modern reimagining of Persuasion is full of witty banter, romantic angst, and compelling characters as it captures the heart of the classic Jane Austen novel.
When Anne Elliott broke up with Ben Wentworth, it seemed like the right thing to do . . . but now, eight years later, she’s not so sure.
In her scenic hometown of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Anne is comfortable focusing on her successful filling her late mother’s shoes as town councilor and executive director of her theater company. She certainly keeps busy as the all-around wrangler of eccentric locals, self-centered family members, elaborate festivals, and the occasional attacking goose. But the more she tries to convince herself that her life is fine as is, the more it all feels like a show—and not nearly as good as the ones put on by her theater company. She’s the always responsible Anne, always taken for granted and cleaning up after other people, and the memories of happier times with Ben Wentworth still haunt her.
So when the nearby Kellynch Winery is bought by Ben’s aunt and uncle, Anne’s world is set ablaze as her old flame crashes back into her life—and it’s clear he hasn’t forgiven her for breaking his heart. A joint project between the winery and Anne’s theater forces both Ben and Anne to confront their complicated history, and as they spend more time together, Anne can’t help but wonder if there might be hope for their future after all.
When Anne Elliott broke up with Ben Wentworth, it seemed like the right thing to do . . . but now, eight years later, she’s not so sure.
In her scenic hometown of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Anne is comfortable focusing on her successful filling her late mother’s shoes as town councilor and executive director of her theater company. She certainly keeps busy as the all-around wrangler of eccentric locals, self-centered family members, elaborate festivals, and the occasional attacking goose. But the more she tries to convince herself that her life is fine as is, the more it all feels like a show—and not nearly as good as the ones put on by her theater company. She’s the always responsible Anne, always taken for granted and cleaning up after other people, and the memories of happier times with Ben Wentworth still haunt her.
So when the nearby Kellynch Winery is bought by Ben’s aunt and uncle, Anne’s world is set ablaze as her old flame crashes back into her life—and it’s clear he hasn’t forgiven her for breaking his heart. A joint project between the winery and Anne’s theater forces both Ben and Anne to confront their complicated history, and as they spend more time together, Anne can’t help but wonder if there might be hope for their future after all.
352 pages, Paperback
First published February 27, 2024
53 people are currently reading
8281 people want to read
About the author
Melodie Edwards
3 books257 followersMelodie Edwards has a BA in English literature from the University of Toronto, a Master’s degree in communications from McMaster University and Syracuse University, and studied comedy writing at the Second City Training Centre.
She believes the importance of tea and biscuits while writing cannot be overstated.
She believes the importance of tea and biscuits while writing cannot be overstated.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 402 reviews
October 6, 2023
The reimagining of Austen’s Persuasion couldn't be more poignant, heartwarming, and sentimental. After Jane Eyre’s amazing modern retelling, I had no doubt that Melodie Edwards would breathe life back into Annie Elliott and Ben Wentworth in possibly the most polished and well-executed way possible. Especially Annie Elliott: that selfless, tough, resilient, smart woman became my idol! I loved her characterization with every fiber of my being.
Annie lives in her small Niagara-on-the-Lake town, taking care of her family after her overprotective mother, who may have changed the course of her life, passed away. She seems to be enjoying the secluded life she's built, working as a town councilor and executive director of her theater company, hanging out with her tight-knit circle of friends, and dealing with her father’s drinking and her sister's misbehavior. She appears content until she crosses paths with her old flame, a man she loved with every fiber of her being but let get away due to insecurities her mother injected into her.
After Kellynch Winery is bought by Ben Wentworth’s uncle and aunt, the same man she broke his heart 8 years ago is back in town, and unfortunately, his cold demeanor proves he never forgave her for what she did. Seeing him dating a younger, ambitious theater actress makes her realize what she lost and breaks her heart once again. Now she’s forced to face their past filled with unaddressed questions they never dared to admit because of a joint project bringing theater and winery together.
As they spend more time together, they start to learn more about their new selves, how they've changed in 8 years, how they've matured, and what they've sacrificed to become the people they are now.
Could Annie take the risk of cracking open the shell she's hiding in to embrace the happiness she's been missing? Against all resentments, misunderstandings, excessive pride, and stubbornness, could they learn to listen to their hearts to find their way back to each other?
I can honestly say that while Persuasion might be my least favorite Jane Austen novel, this book made me enjoy it a little more! This romantic, angsty, tear-jerking, and sensitive story of Annie and Ben is everything romance addicts need. Don’t miss out on this charming small-town, enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this heartfelt book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Annie lives in her small Niagara-on-the-Lake town, taking care of her family after her overprotective mother, who may have changed the course of her life, passed away. She seems to be enjoying the secluded life she's built, working as a town councilor and executive director of her theater company, hanging out with her tight-knit circle of friends, and dealing with her father’s drinking and her sister's misbehavior. She appears content until she crosses paths with her old flame, a man she loved with every fiber of her being but let get away due to insecurities her mother injected into her.
After Kellynch Winery is bought by Ben Wentworth’s uncle and aunt, the same man she broke his heart 8 years ago is back in town, and unfortunately, his cold demeanor proves he never forgave her for what she did. Seeing him dating a younger, ambitious theater actress makes her realize what she lost and breaks her heart once again. Now she’s forced to face their past filled with unaddressed questions they never dared to admit because of a joint project bringing theater and winery together.
As they spend more time together, they start to learn more about their new selves, how they've changed in 8 years, how they've matured, and what they've sacrificed to become the people they are now.
Could Annie take the risk of cracking open the shell she's hiding in to embrace the happiness she's been missing? Against all resentments, misunderstandings, excessive pride, and stubbornness, could they learn to listen to their hearts to find their way back to each other?
I can honestly say that while Persuasion might be my least favorite Jane Austen novel, this book made me enjoy it a little more! This romantic, angsty, tear-jerking, and sensitive story of Annie and Ben is everything romance addicts need. Don’t miss out on this charming small-town, enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this heartfelt book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium.com
March 15, 2024
It may have been a disservice, but I watched the 2007 version of Persuasion (my personal favorite) on TV before I started reading this love story.
I have read many romances over the years and a positive sign, for me, is having difficulty setting the story aside. I’m engaged with the MCs, I enjoy the backdrop and I feel the secondary characters are important. I become immersed in what is happening on the pages and time outside is ignored. Sadly, from start to finish, it took me over 4 weeks to complete Once Persuaded, Twice Shy.
In Persuasion, during the early 1800s, I understood to some extent why the original Anne Elliot behaved the way she did. Before the definition of enabler became popular, Anne enabled her sisters, BIL, father and even a neighbor. And all along, she was dependent on her father’s judgment.
Unfortunately, I struggled with the contemporary Once Persuaded, Twice Shy. When Anne and Ben Wentworth met again after eight years, I expected a fair amount of awkwardness and distance, which there was. I didn’t expect not to care whether they got back together but that was how I felt. I thought the last chapters with Anne and Ben forgiving past decisions with a quick resolution a bit unreal.
My thanks to Berkley Publishing via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
I have read many romances over the years and a positive sign, for me, is having difficulty setting the story aside. I’m engaged with the MCs, I enjoy the backdrop and I feel the secondary characters are important. I become immersed in what is happening on the pages and time outside is ignored. Sadly, from start to finish, it took me over 4 weeks to complete Once Persuaded, Twice Shy.
In Persuasion, during the early 1800s, I understood to some extent why the original Anne Elliot behaved the way she did. Before the definition of enabler became popular, Anne enabled her sisters, BIL, father and even a neighbor. And all along, she was dependent on her father’s judgment.
Unfortunately, I struggled with the contemporary Once Persuaded, Twice Shy. When Anne and Ben Wentworth met again after eight years, I expected a fair amount of awkwardness and distance, which there was. I didn’t expect not to care whether they got back together but that was how I felt. I thought the last chapters with Anne and Ben forgiving past decisions with a quick resolution a bit unreal.
My thanks to Berkley Publishing via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 27, 2024
Highlights:
Persuasion retelling
Second chance romance
Small town romance
Slow burn
Longing and angst
I read Jane & Edward by Melodie Edwards last year, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. So I was excited to get a chance to read her new book, Once Persuaded, Twice Shy. I haven't read the original, but it's on my TBR. Second-chance romance is my favorite trope. And it's executed exquisitely in Once Persuaded, Twice Shy. It's full of angst, longing, and unresolved feelings. I don't always enjoy small-town romance, but I loved the picturesque setting of Niagra-on-the-Lake, where Anne Elliot is the executive director of the theater company and the town's counselor. Her past crushes back into her life when Ben Wentworth appears in town after his aunt and uncle buy a property in Niagra-on-the-Lake. I loved Anne and Ben's romance and how their relationship grew and evolved. I loved the longing and the angst. They had to do some work on themselves before they could be together. Several entertaining secondary characters made me laugh, especially the town's wild goose, who was quite the troublemaker.
I couldn't put down Once Persuaded, Twice Shy, and read it in two days. I highly recommend the book to Jane Austen fans and those who enjoy second-chance or small-town romance.
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley
Persuasion retelling
Second chance romance
Small town romance
Slow burn
Longing and angst
I read Jane & Edward by Melodie Edwards last year, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. So I was excited to get a chance to read her new book, Once Persuaded, Twice Shy. I haven't read the original, but it's on my TBR. Second-chance romance is my favorite trope. And it's executed exquisitely in Once Persuaded, Twice Shy. It's full of angst, longing, and unresolved feelings. I don't always enjoy small-town romance, but I loved the picturesque setting of Niagra-on-the-Lake, where Anne Elliot is the executive director of the theater company and the town's counselor. Her past crushes back into her life when Ben Wentworth appears in town after his aunt and uncle buy a property in Niagra-on-the-Lake. I loved Anne and Ben's romance and how their relationship grew and evolved. I loved the longing and the angst. They had to do some work on themselves before they could be together. Several entertaining secondary characters made me laugh, especially the town's wild goose, who was quite the troublemaker.
I couldn't put down Once Persuaded, Twice Shy, and read it in two days. I highly recommend the book to Jane Austen fans and those who enjoy second-chance or small-town romance.
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley
October 13, 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
Though maybe a little worried before starting this book that Melodie Edwards would not pull off another wonderful revisionist treatment of a classic romantic story, no need for concern here. I found Once Persuaded, Twice Shy even better than her first book, the lovely Jane & Edward, and that surprised me a bit, not just because of the potential of the dreaded sophomore slump, but because Jane Austen's Persuasion is a tricky novel to reimagine, especially in a modern context. Some of the elements did not seem readily applicable to our contemporary moment; but I found it all worked. I had one small reservation, which I'll address below, but otherwise, this is a wonderful romance with a lovely heroine. It even made me rethink some of my past criticisms of Anne Elliot, a heroine who I feel more compassion for now than ever, as well as fully realized in our world today.
The basic Austen plot structure is intact here for this contemporary reimagining. Anne Elliot and Ben Wentworth had a passionate love affair as young people, but Anne's family intervened and persuaded Anne to walk away from what her mother felt would be an unhappy and unfulfilling relationship for her daughter. Fast forward a number of years, and Ben is back in Anne's small town, the beautiful Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario. Ben has used his lonely years without Anne by his side to make a success of himself, and he has returned apparently unscathed by the breakup and flaunting his status and insouciance in Anne's face. It's hard to like Ben in the first chapters of the book, just as it's hard to appreciate Frederick at times in Austen's version.
We see how kind Anne is, how hard she strives to do right by others, how much pain she carries with her for her past mistakes. She's dutiful to a fault to everyone - her employees, her family, her neighbors and townsfolk, and even the wild goose terrorizing the community. She is on the surface difficult to identify with early in the novel because she is so willing to subsume her own desires in place of serving others that she risks disappearing on the page. But just as Austen never tells us to value Anne but shows us why she is so worthy of hero status, this modern version shows us all the ways in which Anne Elliot is such a wonderful character. I loved all the small moments that build on each other to create a full portrait of a strong woman, but also a woman in need of honoring herself more than she has. The book captures the hidden toll caretaking has on women's lives. For the women who nurture children and care for aging relatives while trying to earn a living, I think this modern story will resonate with how exhausting this unpaid labor is on a person. The moments when Anne reassesses her worth are just downright celebratory. Some of this reflective work is done by her alone, and some of it is inspired by Ben, who has to do his own reassessing of the past and come to a more mature understanding of the flaws in young love as well as the value of someone you might want to spend your entire life with as you age. This is indeed a fully-realized mature love affair, and there are parts of it that are just exhilarating to read.
I loved the portrait of this place too. It's a smallish-town story, but it's never mawkish and overly sentimental. I genuinely grew to care for nearly all the characters, and even the more villainous ones felt alive to me. I love too the way in which the novel centers around community theater and the arts. My only criticism is that Anne is so developed as a character that it made Ben feel maybe a bit less so.
I loved this book, and it's one of my favorite reads this year. I'm very excited to see what Melodie Edwards does next. Will she continue revisiting classics, or will she develop her own unique novel?
Though maybe a little worried before starting this book that Melodie Edwards would not pull off another wonderful revisionist treatment of a classic romantic story, no need for concern here. I found Once Persuaded, Twice Shy even better than her first book, the lovely Jane & Edward, and that surprised me a bit, not just because of the potential of the dreaded sophomore slump, but because Jane Austen's Persuasion is a tricky novel to reimagine, especially in a modern context. Some of the elements did not seem readily applicable to our contemporary moment; but I found it all worked. I had one small reservation, which I'll address below, but otherwise, this is a wonderful romance with a lovely heroine. It even made me rethink some of my past criticisms of Anne Elliot, a heroine who I feel more compassion for now than ever, as well as fully realized in our world today.
The basic Austen plot structure is intact here for this contemporary reimagining. Anne Elliot and Ben Wentworth had a passionate love affair as young people, but Anne's family intervened and persuaded Anne to walk away from what her mother felt would be an unhappy and unfulfilling relationship for her daughter. Fast forward a number of years, and Ben is back in Anne's small town, the beautiful Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario. Ben has used his lonely years without Anne by his side to make a success of himself, and he has returned apparently unscathed by the breakup and flaunting his status and insouciance in Anne's face. It's hard to like Ben in the first chapters of the book, just as it's hard to appreciate Frederick at times in Austen's version.
We see how kind Anne is, how hard she strives to do right by others, how much pain she carries with her for her past mistakes. She's dutiful to a fault to everyone - her employees, her family, her neighbors and townsfolk, and even the wild goose terrorizing the community. She is on the surface difficult to identify with early in the novel because she is so willing to subsume her own desires in place of serving others that she risks disappearing on the page. But just as Austen never tells us to value Anne but shows us why she is so worthy of hero status, this modern version shows us all the ways in which Anne Elliot is such a wonderful character. I loved all the small moments that build on each other to create a full portrait of a strong woman, but also a woman in need of honoring herself more than she has. The book captures the hidden toll caretaking has on women's lives. For the women who nurture children and care for aging relatives while trying to earn a living, I think this modern story will resonate with how exhausting this unpaid labor is on a person. The moments when Anne reassesses her worth are just downright celebratory. Some of this reflective work is done by her alone, and some of it is inspired by Ben, who has to do his own reassessing of the past and come to a more mature understanding of the flaws in young love as well as the value of someone you might want to spend your entire life with as you age. This is indeed a fully-realized mature love affair, and there are parts of it that are just exhilarating to read.
I loved the portrait of this place too. It's a smallish-town story, but it's never mawkish and overly sentimental. I genuinely grew to care for nearly all the characters, and even the more villainous ones felt alive to me. I love too the way in which the novel centers around community theater and the arts. My only criticism is that Anne is so developed as a character that it made Ben feel maybe a bit less so.
I loved this book, and it's one of my favorite reads this year. I'm very excited to see what Melodie Edwards does next. Will she continue revisiting classics, or will she develop her own unique novel?
January 2, 2025
4.5 Stars
Oh, I just loved Once Persuaded, Twice Shy, a modern reimagining of Persuasion! It captured the essence of the original story, a classic second-chance romance, while bringing it into the present world and injecting some fun!
I immediately adored this version of Anne Elliot, smart, utterly capable, but also a little sad. Her father and sister treat her more like a servant, only acknowledging her when she’s useful to them. And her biggest mistake, breaking up with her first and only love, Ben Wentworth, is front and center in her mind as he’s back in town. Ben’s gorgeous, smart, and successful and seemingly unaffected by her presence. It hurts her heart every time she sees him.
It hurt my heart for Anne, especially when she has to witness him dating another woman, like the original. While I had the tendency to get upset with Ben over this, like I do every time I watch one of the many film adaptations of Persuasion, I have to remind myself that Anne broke it off with him, shattering his heart so of course he’s going to want her to think he’s happily moved on with his life. Also, he has no idea Anne regretted her decision, almost immediately after.
Anne and Ben are thrown together over and over, we see hints of Ben’s true feelings come out, indications that he may not be as indifferent to her as he’d like her to think. I enjoyed the situations Ms. Edwards came up with to bring them together, opportunities for Anne and Ben to see how much they still love each other. There were some fun hijinks brought on by a crazy resident goose, and an outspoken, no-filters kind of assistant and several quirky supporting characters. The setting, Niagara-on-the-Lake sounded magical, with its historic charm, it’s a place I now want to visit!
It filled my heart with joy to see Anne recapture her identity, set some boundaries, and get her HEA! A definite recommend!
A copy was kindly provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.
Oh, I just loved Once Persuaded, Twice Shy, a modern reimagining of Persuasion! It captured the essence of the original story, a classic second-chance romance, while bringing it into the present world and injecting some fun!
I immediately adored this version of Anne Elliot, smart, utterly capable, but also a little sad. Her father and sister treat her more like a servant, only acknowledging her when she’s useful to them. And her biggest mistake, breaking up with her first and only love, Ben Wentworth, is front and center in her mind as he’s back in town. Ben’s gorgeous, smart, and successful and seemingly unaffected by her presence. It hurts her heart every time she sees him.
It hurt my heart for Anne, especially when she has to witness him dating another woman, like the original. While I had the tendency to get upset with Ben over this, like I do every time I watch one of the many film adaptations of Persuasion, I have to remind myself that Anne broke it off with him, shattering his heart so of course he’s going to want her to think he’s happily moved on with his life. Also, he has no idea Anne regretted her decision, almost immediately after.
Anne and Ben are thrown together over and over, we see hints of Ben’s true feelings come out, indications that he may not be as indifferent to her as he’d like her to think. I enjoyed the situations Ms. Edwards came up with to bring them together, opportunities for Anne and Ben to see how much they still love each other. There were some fun hijinks brought on by a crazy resident goose, and an outspoken, no-filters kind of assistant and several quirky supporting characters. The setting, Niagara-on-the-Lake sounded magical, with its historic charm, it’s a place I now want to visit!
It filled my heart with joy to see Anne recapture her identity, set some boundaries, and get her HEA! A definite recommend!
A copy was kindly provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2024
When I read the author's note at the beginning, I immediately had a good vibe about this book. It was clear to me that the author was very passionate about Persuasion and was determined to do justice to the story and its characters.
I'm a big Persuasion fan and I've been on a mission to read as many Persuasion retellings as possible. As you can imagine, it's not easy to find solid retellings. So I'm happy that Once Persuaded, Twice Shy ended up being such a pleasant surprise. I honestly didn't expect to love it as much as I did.
Set in the small Canadian town of Niagara-on-the-lake, Anne is a town councilor and the executive director of her late mother's theatre company. As the original story goes, society treats Anne as the responsible problem-solver. She not only takes care of all the problems at the theatre, but she's also the only responsible member of her family, stuck in a rut taking care of her narcissistic father and sister.
Anne's mundane life turns upside down when her ex Ben shows up in town to help his aunt and uncle, who are the new owners of Kellynch Winery. Ben, whose heart Anne broke 8 years ago. Ben, who's now made a name for himself as a venture capitalist. Anne and Ben are forced to confront their complicated feelings while working together on a joint project between her theatre and the winery. Cue tension, pining, and jealousy. Delicious. Truthfully, the beginning is a bit slow. Anne and Ben meet again at the 21% mark, which was a bit late for me. But the wait made me as anxious and as nervous as Anne LOL.
There are certain arcs that most retellings butcher, but Melodie Edwards does such a great job executing these arcs in her own retelling. For example, this adaptation makes sure that Anne and Ben's respective third-party love interests are not the centre of attention, and clearly emphasizes that the romantic interest doesn't go beyond a light flirtation. For some reason, other authors tend to focus all of their attention on developing the love square against the second chance romance between the main leads. I don't know why they do that, but Melodie Edwards is clearly wiser than these authors and I am glad for it. Instead of falling into that love square trap, Melodie Edwards puts all of her time and energy on developing Anne and Ben's second chance romance. She pushes them together into circumstances that parallel the original story and force them to slowly confront their complicated feelings and understand their past choices. She does such a great job of translating the classic Anne and Wentworth moments into a contemporary setting that fits her own version of the characters.
Out of all the adaptations I've read, this one has the best retelling of the Louisa Musgrove arc. It was brilliantly executed. Other adaptations either go overboard with this arc, or they rewrite this arc with moderation. This retelling strikes the perfect balance and it is written in such a way that it pushes Anne and Ben into even closer proximity. Brilliant!! It lives rent free in my brain!! It was at this point that I knew this would be one of my favourite retellings.
We don't get in-depth details about how Anne's family had previously treated Ben, but we get enough to understand where things had gone wrong. There is no growth for Anne's sister and father, but neither did the original story have any sort of redemption arc for these two characters. The only character who's missing is Wentworth's sad friend, James Benwick. But I respect the author's choice to exclude him because to be honest, I always thought his marriage to Louisa was so sudden. And this is something that most retellings struggle to make sense of in a contemporary setting.
The moment when Anne reads Ben's letter and runs to find him. When she finally sees him and makes her move. It's soooo good. Ben's reaction is everything I expected it to be. This is a sweet romance that fades to black and I know this is a turn off for some readers. But trust me when I say that the build up is soooo romantic and steamy in its own way. There is a healthy dose of pining, secretive looks, and angst, all leading up to when they finally get back together. I most definitely swooned.
My only gripe with this book is that Jane Austen exists as an author in this world. We know for sure that Pride and Prejudice exists in this world because Elizabeth and Darcy are mentioned. But...I'm assuming Persuasion doesn't exist because otherwise Anne would have definitely drawn parallels. I really wish retellings would just not mention Jane Austen lol. It gets too meta and takes me out of the story. But overall, this is my only complaint in an otherwise solid Persuasion retelling.
I'm a big Persuasion fan and I've been on a mission to read as many Persuasion retellings as possible. As you can imagine, it's not easy to find solid retellings. So I'm happy that Once Persuaded, Twice Shy ended up being such a pleasant surprise. I honestly didn't expect to love it as much as I did.
Set in the small Canadian town of Niagara-on-the-lake, Anne is a town councilor and the executive director of her late mother's theatre company. As the original story goes, society treats Anne as the responsible problem-solver. She not only takes care of all the problems at the theatre, but she's also the only responsible member of her family, stuck in a rut taking care of her narcissistic father and sister.
Anne's mundane life turns upside down when her ex Ben shows up in town to help his aunt and uncle, who are the new owners of Kellynch Winery. Ben, whose heart Anne broke 8 years ago. Ben, who's now made a name for himself as a venture capitalist. Anne and Ben are forced to confront their complicated feelings while working together on a joint project between her theatre and the winery. Cue tension, pining, and jealousy. Delicious. Truthfully, the beginning is a bit slow. Anne and Ben meet again at the 21% mark, which was a bit late for me. But the wait made me as anxious and as nervous as Anne LOL.
There are certain arcs that most retellings butcher, but Melodie Edwards does such a great job executing these arcs in her own retelling. For example, this adaptation makes sure that Anne and Ben's respective third-party love interests are not the centre of attention, and clearly emphasizes that the romantic interest doesn't go beyond a light flirtation. For some reason, other authors tend to focus all of their attention on developing the love square against the second chance romance between the main leads. I don't know why they do that, but Melodie Edwards is clearly wiser than these authors and I am glad for it. Instead of falling into that love square trap, Melodie Edwards puts all of her time and energy on developing Anne and Ben's second chance romance. She pushes them together into circumstances that parallel the original story and force them to slowly confront their complicated feelings and understand their past choices. She does such a great job of translating the classic Anne and Wentworth moments into a contemporary setting that fits her own version of the characters.
Out of all the adaptations I've read, this one has the best retelling of the Louisa Musgrove arc. It was brilliantly executed. Other adaptations either go overboard with this arc, or they rewrite this arc with moderation. This retelling strikes the perfect balance and it is written in such a way that it pushes Anne and Ben into even closer proximity. Brilliant!! It lives rent free in my brain!! It was at this point that I knew this would be one of my favourite retellings.
We don't get in-depth details about how Anne's family had previously treated Ben, but we get enough to understand where things had gone wrong. There is no growth for Anne's sister and father, but neither did the original story have any sort of redemption arc for these two characters. The only character who's missing is Wentworth's sad friend, James Benwick. But I respect the author's choice to exclude him because to be honest, I always thought his marriage to Louisa was so sudden. And this is something that most retellings struggle to make sense of in a contemporary setting.
The moment when Anne reads Ben's letter and runs to find him. When she finally sees him and makes her move. It's soooo good. Ben's reaction is everything I expected it to be. This is a sweet romance that fades to black and I know this is a turn off for some readers. But trust me when I say that the build up is soooo romantic and steamy in its own way. There is a healthy dose of pining, secretive looks, and angst, all leading up to when they finally get back together. I most definitely swooned.
My only gripe with this book is that Jane Austen exists as an author in this world. We know for sure that Pride and Prejudice exists in this world because Elizabeth and Darcy are mentioned. But...I'm assuming Persuasion doesn't exist because otherwise Anne would have definitely drawn parallels. I really wish retellings would just not mention Jane Austen lol. It gets too meta and takes me out of the story. But overall, this is my only complaint in an otherwise solid Persuasion retelling.
March 29, 2024
man I wish Canada was a real place 😔
March 15, 2024
When town councilor and local theatre director Anne Elliot comes face to face with her long lost ex-love Ben Wentworth, her world is thrown on its axis. As the two begin work on a number of joint projects for the town, they are forced to confront their painful history.
Melodie Edwards is two for two in her Jane Austen retellings. After a phenomenal debut, I was excited to see if her sophomore novel would shine just as bright. Turns out, she is no one-hit-wonder. While I have not (yet) read Austen’s Persuasion, I imagine I will love it if it is anything close to the world Edwards creates in Once Persuaded, Twice Shy.
If you love small town settings with quirky little communities, if you love the angst of a second chance romance, or if you are someone who loves the complexities of emotion that women’s fiction books often brings, this book is for you. I cannot wait to see what Edwards has up her sleeve next.
🎧 I went back and forth between reading with my eyes and reading with my ears (via the audiobook) and although I don’t think the narrator did a horrible job, I did find myself distracted by her narration at numerous times. The shifts in volume and tone combined with moments that seemed overly emotional in pitch, broke my concentration more often than not.
As an audiobook lover and a PRH audio fan, it pains me to say - I’d say go with the physical or ebook over the audio.
Read if you like:
•women’s fiction
•Jane Austen retellings
•second chance
•small town romance
•Taylor Swift references
•closed door romance
Thank you Kaye Publicity, Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
Melodie Edwards is two for two in her Jane Austen retellings. After a phenomenal debut, I was excited to see if her sophomore novel would shine just as bright. Turns out, she is no one-hit-wonder. While I have not (yet) read Austen’s Persuasion, I imagine I will love it if it is anything close to the world Edwards creates in Once Persuaded, Twice Shy.
If you love small town settings with quirky little communities, if you love the angst of a second chance romance, or if you are someone who loves the complexities of emotion that women’s fiction books often brings, this book is for you. I cannot wait to see what Edwards has up her sleeve next.
🎧 I went back and forth between reading with my eyes and reading with my ears (via the audiobook) and although I don’t think the narrator did a horrible job, I did find myself distracted by her narration at numerous times. The shifts in volume and tone combined with moments that seemed overly emotional in pitch, broke my concentration more often than not.
As an audiobook lover and a PRH audio fan, it pains me to say - I’d say go with the physical or ebook over the audio.
Read if you like:
•women’s fiction
•Jane Austen retellings
•second chance
•small town romance
•Taylor Swift references
•closed door romance
Thank you Kaye Publicity, Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
March 4, 2024
Jane Austen’s Persuasion with its bittersweet recriminations, family and friends interfering, and second chance romance lends itself to being a heartfelt contemporary romance. Melodie Edwards carefully places the story in the culturally-rich scenic area of Niagara with her heroine working with the theater and her hero helping with his family’s new winery. I was eager to finally give this new to me author and her modern Persuasion rendition a go.
Like with most modern retellings, the fun and excitement is seeing how the characters and the plot is translated into our contemporary world balancing the heart of the original with necessary updates. Right away, I was very taken with Melodie Edward’s version of Anne. I saw Anne Elliot the same way- capable, dependable, and a woman of quiet strength and slow to voice her thoughts. This modern version who stands on the town council and heads the theater production company fit this so well. This Anne’s flaw is mistakenly believing she is indispensable and she works hard to be seen as irreplaceable. She feels she has to keep proving her worth when others see her so much better than she does herself. Her self-absorbed family doesn’t help matters.
But, I was glad to see Ben arrive from Toronto and rattle her. Of course, she rattles him, too. He was convinced that the pain she dealt out when she rejected him years before was in the past, but people who are over someone don’t remain hurt and flaunt a new date in their old flame’s face just to take a jab at them and show that someone at least thinks he’s great.
I loved seeing the little things that showed he wasn’t as indifferent and over Anne as he wanted the world to believe. The pacing on their revived romance was good and the conflict was just enough. I wasn’t a fan of extra angst, but it wasn’t excessive and there were lots of comic moments to balance that a bit. It’s Canada so the crazy Canadian goose was a must. Miscommunication hounded these two and I was muttering at them both, but also cheering them on to get to know each other anew and realize that maybe this time was actually the perfect time when before might not have been. And, yes, *fist pump* there is a modern version of the swoony Wentworth letter.
Smalltown coziness, seasonal autumn activities in pretty settings, and a modern retelling of a classic that hit all the right notes. This is for the contemporary romancers who like a clever second chance romance that gives a respectful nod to a class.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley and a finished print via Berkley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer Feb 21, 2024.
Like with most modern retellings, the fun and excitement is seeing how the characters and the plot is translated into our contemporary world balancing the heart of the original with necessary updates. Right away, I was very taken with Melodie Edward’s version of Anne. I saw Anne Elliot the same way- capable, dependable, and a woman of quiet strength and slow to voice her thoughts. This modern version who stands on the town council and heads the theater production company fit this so well. This Anne’s flaw is mistakenly believing she is indispensable and she works hard to be seen as irreplaceable. She feels she has to keep proving her worth when others see her so much better than she does herself. Her self-absorbed family doesn’t help matters.
But, I was glad to see Ben arrive from Toronto and rattle her. Of course, she rattles him, too. He was convinced that the pain she dealt out when she rejected him years before was in the past, but people who are over someone don’t remain hurt and flaunt a new date in their old flame’s face just to take a jab at them and show that someone at least thinks he’s great.
I loved seeing the little things that showed he wasn’t as indifferent and over Anne as he wanted the world to believe. The pacing on their revived romance was good and the conflict was just enough. I wasn’t a fan of extra angst, but it wasn’t excessive and there were lots of comic moments to balance that a bit. It’s Canada so the crazy Canadian goose was a must. Miscommunication hounded these two and I was muttering at them both, but also cheering them on to get to know each other anew and realize that maybe this time was actually the perfect time when before might not have been. And, yes, *fist pump* there is a modern version of the swoony Wentworth letter.
Smalltown coziness, seasonal autumn activities in pretty settings, and a modern retelling of a classic that hit all the right notes. This is for the contemporary romancers who like a clever second chance romance that gives a respectful nod to a class.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley and a finished print via Berkley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer Feb 21, 2024.
November 23, 2024
Persuasion is my favourite Austen novel. While this was never in danger of upstaging the original, it was a commendable modern take on the classic. I wasn't too keen on Ben's prolonged dalliance with the young actress when he was distracted by Anne all along. He used and hurt this young girl in order to soothe his own reopened wounds. I do like that Anne was a very self-sufficient and capable woman. The letter was a bit of a let down. Probably because the author knew she could never compete with the original letter (best love letter ever!), so she didn't even try.
February 29, 2024
3.5⭐️
I have never seen or read Persuasion so I went into this completely blind. There were some parts I enjoyed and some parts that were just okay. I loved Anne's friendships and overall work ethic. The way she handles her family was so inspiring and definitely a long time coming which made it even more epic.
I didn't really care for Anne and Ben's romance. We didn't really see their relationship from 8 years ago so seeing their relationship now wasn't really anything memorable to me. I did love how much they changed the others' lives though. It goes to show you that something devastating could come back around as something amazing, even if it takes almost a decade. ♡
I have never seen or read Persuasion so I went into this completely blind. There were some parts I enjoyed and some parts that were just okay. I loved Anne's friendships and overall work ethic. The way she handles her family was so inspiring and definitely a long time coming which made it even more epic.
I didn't really care for Anne and Ben's romance. We didn't really see their relationship from 8 years ago so seeing their relationship now wasn't really anything memorable to me. I did love how much they changed the others' lives though. It goes to show you that something devastating could come back around as something amazing, even if it takes almost a decade. ♡
March 12, 2024
austen's persuasion is one of my favorite books, so when i see a persuasion retelling, i automatically what to read it and think that i would love it. i think that my love of persuasion actually works in the opposite way, i love that book and so i think anything else is not as good and really why am i not reading the original!! so i am not a good judge of this book, it was probably better than my 2 stars and the writing was nice, though for me everything was a little bit also boring and bland. but also it could be only me, and this book is probaby way better for a non-fan of persuasion.
February 11, 2024
3.5⭐️While I have never read an Austen book (I know I know), this was a charming and cleverly written second chance romance. There was a lot of pining and tension and the cast of side characters brought a lot of comic relief. There were some plot points I know I would have enjoyed more had I read the original Persuasion. Narrated by Rachel Perry, this was also great on audio.
Read if you like:
-Second chance romance
-Jane Austen retellings
-All the tswift references
-Forced proximity
-Small town
Read if you like:
-Second chance romance
-Jane Austen retellings
-All the tswift references
-Forced proximity
-Small town
February 27, 2024
Once Persuaded, Twice Shy is an absolute delight. Known for Jane & Edward, Edwards is back with a new reimagining – this time of Persuasion. And it is fantastic!
If you loved Persuasion, or even if you love an excellent contemporary romance novel or Taylor Swift (the book includes a Swift playlist), this one is worth checking out. It stays true to Austen while putting a modern, believable spin on the classic story.
Expect to put the unique setting of Niagara-on-the-Lake on your travel bucket list, too!
Overall, I was impressed with how true the book is to Austen and the Persuasion characters. Plus, the romance is extra swoony. It’s my favorite retelling to date, and I can’t recommend it enough.
Content Note: The book has some swearing and mild implied sensuality.
Overall Rating: 5
Romance Rating: 5
Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
If you loved Persuasion, or even if you love an excellent contemporary romance novel or Taylor Swift (the book includes a Swift playlist), this one is worth checking out. It stays true to Austen while putting a modern, believable spin on the classic story.
Expect to put the unique setting of Niagara-on-the-Lake on your travel bucket list, too!
Overall, I was impressed with how true the book is to Austen and the Persuasion characters. Plus, the romance is extra swoony. It’s my favorite retelling to date, and I can’t recommend it enough.
Content Note: The book has some swearing and mild implied sensuality.
Overall Rating: 5
Romance Rating: 5
Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
October 26, 2024
Once Persuaded, Twice Shy combines many things that I love:
- Jane Austen adaptations
- Second-chance romances
- The Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, which I've attended sporadically since my preteens, though it gets a different name here
- Niagara-on-the-Lake itself, which is a beautiful jewel box of a town
- Backstage perspectives on how work gets done
I liked it a lot, but not quite as much as Melodie Edwards' first book, which adapts Jane Eyre in a modern-day legal setting. Edwards does a good job of finding modern analogues in Anne Elliott's story, particularly in showing her as a competent person who is forever putting her own oxygen mask on last.
For this adaptation, however, the intensity in the closing third isn't quite as heightened as either that book or the original story of Persuasion. Ben Wentworth and his pining didn't land have the same emotional punch as his counterpart in Austen's work, and there was a bit too much goose for my taste. YMMV.
The writing is strong, the storytelling is assured and I'm game to read whatever Edwards writes next.
- Jane Austen adaptations
- Second-chance romances
- The Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, which I've attended sporadically since my preteens, though it gets a different name here
- Niagara-on-the-Lake itself, which is a beautiful jewel box of a town
- Backstage perspectives on how work gets done
I liked it a lot, but not quite as much as Melodie Edwards' first book, which adapts Jane Eyre in a modern-day legal setting. Edwards does a good job of finding modern analogues in Anne Elliott's story, particularly in showing her as a competent person who is forever putting her own oxygen mask on last.
For this adaptation, however, the intensity in the closing third isn't quite as heightened as either that book or the original story of Persuasion. Ben Wentworth and his pining didn't land have the same emotional punch as his counterpart in Austen's work, and there was a bit too much goose for my taste. YMMV.
The writing is strong, the storytelling is assured and I'm game to read whatever Edwards writes next.
September 28, 2023
2.5 stars
While I liked the first book by Melodie Edwards, I didn't like this one as much as I hoped. While this was fast read, I was missing chemistry between leads. I just find girl pinning for guy years, inherently unromantic.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
While I liked the first book by Melodie Edwards, I didn't like this one as much as I hoped. While this was fast read, I was missing chemistry between leads. I just find girl pinning for guy years, inherently unromantic.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 30, 2024
While this unfortunately didn’t work for me at all as a Persuasion retelling, it’s an enjoyable enough romance when taken on its own.
Maybe I’m too demanding when it comes to adaptations of one of my favourite novels, but so many choices in this modern day version killed the magic of the original and any interest I had in seeing Anne and Ben find their HEA. A real missed opportunity.
Maybe I’m too demanding when it comes to adaptations of one of my favourite novels, but so many choices in this modern day version killed the magic of the original and any interest I had in seeing Anne and Ben find their HEA. A real missed opportunity.
March 3, 2024
I loved this book so much that I’m rereading it now. I love second chance romances and I rooted for Anne and Ben! I could also picture the beauty of this small town and all of its attributes. This book has all of the beautiful parts of Persuasion retold for a modern audience.
March 25, 2024
last month i DEVOURED melodie edwards’ latest jane austen retelling “once persuaded, twice shy”, a “persuasion” retelling. a modern retelling set in niagara-on-the-lake, ontario, the book follows anne elliot, the executive director of a local theatre company. when the nearby winery is bought by her ex ben wentworth’s aunt & uncle, anne’s life is turned upside down as she has to content with the man whose heart she broke 9 years ago who hasn’t forgiven her. but the two are forced together when a joint project between the winery & theatre is proposed, and as they spend more time together, anne realizes there may still be hope for their future.
this was swoony & lush & everything i wanted from this book. i loved the local ontario setting, and thought it was a very apt representation of the source novel. tbh i think melodie edwards is a ‘must read’ author for me now, i had such a fun time reading this.
this was swoony & lush & everything i wanted from this book. i loved the local ontario setting, and thought it was a very apt representation of the source novel. tbh i think melodie edwards is a ‘must read’ author for me now, i had such a fun time reading this.
February 8, 2024
I love the second chance romance trope and when you combine it with a Jane Austen retelling like this one of Persuasion and I just couldn't get enough!! Even better was that the book was set in small town Niagara on the Lake, Ontario with a full of a cast of quirky characters, a crazy goose and oodles of charm.
Great on audio, this was a fun, cleverly written adaptation that is sure to satisfy Austenites! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
Steam level: closed door
Great on audio, this was a fun, cleverly written adaptation that is sure to satisfy Austenites! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
Steam level: closed door
January 6, 2025
3.75 stars
A very acceptable CR.
If I had to pick holes in what was a thoroughly enjoyable read, I'd say that the book's unbalanced, in a way that it wouldn't have been if it hadn't been a riff on Persuasion. That's evident in the way that the MCs are presented: one distinctly underwritten, one more 3-D, but made to act C19th not C21st.
In the original, Austen doesn't have to work hard to persuade (sorry) the reader that Frederick Wentworth is a catch: she drops in "navy", "Captain" & "prize money" and the spirit of her times provides "heroic", "leadership", "rich" and is satisfied with his worthiness.
Edwards offers by way of substitute: "Venture Capitalist". But in the C21st we've become a little more ambivalent about venture capitalism; it's acquired overtones (possibly unjustified) of "asset stripping", "taking control", "rooking the little guy". We don't see Frederick (here "Ben" for...reasons?) being a VC—it's something that happens in Toronto.
In the book, Ben spends most of his time eating brunches, and (possibly) shagging a pretty blonde.
We hear more about what he wears than what he reads. To be fair there is is a passage where he acknowledges that, as a younger man, he didn't bother trying to understand why Anne would have been worried about him. But it's a page or two, and then we're back to taking it on trust that he's a worthy "hero". I think I'm saying Ben's quite shallowly characterised.
OTOH, that's a fairly natural consequence of Anne's being the only PoV character, as in the original. Edwards creates a thoroughly rounded and sympathetic Anne: she's diplomatic, emotionally aware, in control, incredibly efficient, financially savvy, and in all external matters, highly successful.
Where that goes slightly off course is in the public recognition Anne gets—everyone tells Anne she's great, and looks up to her. If this were a "real" CR, Anne would be empowered, and would have kicked her useless family into touch ages ago. But because she's got to fit into the mould of the Austen original, she is made to dither around not altogether convincingly. The only reason she changes things, Edwards implies, is because she sees herself reflected in Ben's comments. And that is at odds with the kick-ass woman she is in all other aspects of her life.
Having said all that, Edwards creates a highly engaging set of friends, family & neighbours, which (together with an awkward goose) leavens the story with charm and good humour. I'd love to have heard more about the tiny background m/m romance, and to have seen more of Anne's awful family. I read this in a sitting with great pleasure.
PS Edwards has also successfully re-imagined Jane Eyre in Jane & Edward. Same structural weaknesses, same enjoyable read.
PPS Edwards wrongly prefers the 2007 film of Persuasion to the 1995 dramatisation with Amanda Root's eyes & Ciarán Hinds' cheekbones.
Cover design by Sarah Oberrender; cover illustration by Emma Leonard
A very acceptable CR.
If I had to pick holes in what was a thoroughly enjoyable read, I'd say that the book's unbalanced, in a way that it wouldn't have been if it hadn't been a riff on Persuasion. That's evident in the way that the MCs are presented: one distinctly underwritten, one more 3-D, but made to act C19th not C21st.
In the original, Austen doesn't have to work hard to persuade (sorry) the reader that Frederick Wentworth is a catch: she drops in "navy", "Captain" & "prize money" and the spirit of her times provides "heroic", "leadership", "rich" and is satisfied with his worthiness.
Edwards offers by way of substitute: "Venture Capitalist". But in the C21st we've become a little more ambivalent about venture capitalism; it's acquired overtones (possibly unjustified) of "asset stripping", "taking control", "rooking the little guy". We don't see Frederick (here "Ben" for...reasons?) being a VC—it's something that happens in Toronto.
In the book, Ben spends most of his time eating brunches, and (possibly) shagging a pretty blonde.
We hear more about what he wears than what he reads. To be fair there is is a passage where he acknowledges that, as a younger man, he didn't bother trying to understand why Anne would have been worried about him. But it's a page or two, and then we're back to taking it on trust that he's a worthy "hero". I think I'm saying Ben's quite shallowly characterised.
OTOH, that's a fairly natural consequence of Anne's being the only PoV character, as in the original. Edwards creates a thoroughly rounded and sympathetic Anne: she's diplomatic, emotionally aware, in control, incredibly efficient, financially savvy, and in all external matters, highly successful.
Where that goes slightly off course is in the public recognition Anne gets—everyone tells Anne she's great, and looks up to her. If this were a "real" CR, Anne would be empowered, and would have kicked her useless family into touch ages ago. But because she's got to fit into the mould of the Austen original, she is made to dither around not altogether convincingly. The only reason she changes things, Edwards implies, is because she sees herself reflected in Ben's comments. And that is at odds with the kick-ass woman she is in all other aspects of her life.
Having said all that, Edwards creates a highly engaging set of friends, family & neighbours, which (together with an awkward goose) leavens the story with charm and good humour. I'd love to have heard more about the tiny background m/m romance, and to have seen more of Anne's awful family. I read this in a sitting with great pleasure.
PS Edwards has also successfully re-imagined Jane Eyre in Jane & Edward. Same structural weaknesses, same enjoyable read.
PPS Edwards wrongly prefers the 2007 film of Persuasion to the 1995 dramatisation with Amanda Root's eyes & Ciarán Hinds' cheekbones.
Cover design by Sarah Oberrender; cover illustration by Emma Leonard
January 17, 2025
Jane & Edward was WAY better.
I mean, I should have liked this. I loved the author's other book I read. I love Persuasion. It's actually my favorite Jane Austen novel. So, I should have loved this retelling.
But I didn't. I didn't like the mentions of the pandemic, first of all. Look, I read to escape. I don't want to read about that stupid, fake event. It was absurd and I don't want to be reminded of it when I read.
Also, and more annoying, was the author's continued use of the word "clock" as a synonym for "notice." My God, I despise that slang term, and it wasn't just in one sentence. It was there continually, throughout the book. By the end, I was so tired of characters "clocking" things that I could scream.
It's a pity. With some more judicious editing, this could have been decent.
I mean, I should have liked this. I loved the author's other book I read. I love Persuasion. It's actually my favorite Jane Austen novel. So, I should have loved this retelling.
But I didn't. I didn't like the mentions of the pandemic, first of all. Look, I read to escape. I don't want to read about that stupid, fake event. It was absurd and I don't want to be reminded of it when I read.
Also, and more annoying, was the author's continued use of the word "clock" as a synonym for "notice." My God, I despise that slang term, and it wasn't just in one sentence. It was there continually, throughout the book. By the end, I was so tired of characters "clocking" things that I could scream.
It's a pity. With some more judicious editing, this could have been decent.
March 6, 2024
A modern retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion that lived up to the original. Loved the different relationships it explored as well as Anne's personal journey along the way. The fun, madcap moments blended in well. And of course, then there's Ben. *sigh* Always there for Anne when needed, steadfast and in awe of her capabilities. Full review to follow.
April 22, 2024
Melodie Edwards' books are underrated
April 19, 2024
4.5 stars
Anne is fundamentally needed by everyone she's in contact with between her family, the town council, and her job running the theaters. An average fundraiser party gives her a crushing flashback to eight years ago when she said goodbye to Ben Wentworth, her youthful love who was so wrong for her on paper. Ben isn't too pleased to see her either, but small town life forces them into the same social circle as he visits his aunt and uncle.
@melodiewritesedwards wrote such a beautiful novel and I'm a sucker for the inclusion of Ben's notes written on random scraps of paper. She did a great job of showing how Anne is manipulated by those who are supposed to love her, her forebearance, and her ultimate personal successes. I loved the setting and twists she gave to modernize my well beloved Persuasion. I also adored the little cameo from Jane & Edward!
Thanks to @kayepublicity & @berkleyromance for the #gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.
Anne is fundamentally needed by everyone she's in contact with between her family, the town council, and her job running the theaters. An average fundraiser party gives her a crushing flashback to eight years ago when she said goodbye to Ben Wentworth, her youthful love who was so wrong for her on paper. Ben isn't too pleased to see her either, but small town life forces them into the same social circle as he visits his aunt and uncle.
@melodiewritesedwards wrote such a beautiful novel and I'm a sucker for the inclusion of Ben's notes written on random scraps of paper. She did a great job of showing how Anne is manipulated by those who are supposed to love her, her forebearance, and her ultimate personal successes. I loved the setting and twists she gave to modernize my well beloved Persuasion. I also adored the little cameo from Jane & Edward!
Thanks to @kayepublicity & @berkleyromance for the #gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.
January 19, 2025
don't hate me but i still haven't read persuasion (i will one day!)
however, i have seen adaptations (i know it's a sin to watch adaptations before reading the book), so i know the general idea of the book and characters!
with that being said, i actually really enjoyed the reimagining! i loved the small town filled with zany side characters. the romance had my heart hurting a little bit. for the most part, the modern reimagining worked.
4 stars.
however, i have seen adaptations (i know it's a sin to watch adaptations before reading the book), so i know the general idea of the book and characters!
with that being said, i actually really enjoyed the reimagining! i loved the small town filled with zany side characters. the romance had my heart hurting a little bit. for the most part, the modern reimagining worked.
4 stars.
February 5, 2024
If there is a Persuasion modernization, you know I will be reading it. I always have so much fun trying to figure out who the side characters are in relation to the JA book and this one was no exception. Even if I have read the story millions of time in different variations, I still have anxiety until they are reunited at the end. Anne is more accomplished in this story than in the original version and that was refreshing. She often gets looked over, but she was in a role of power here and I liked that addition. When Ben comes back into the picture, he is the one who has changed to be almost unrecognizable. Gone is the boy with no direction and in his place is a man who built a business from the ground up and is very successful.
We see a lot of the same events and even some of the same "quotes" are thrown in for good measure. I really enjoyed seeing Ben get a taste of his own medicine with Sabrina, even if it irritates me each time. I loved Ben's aunt and uncle in this version too, they made the story so much more well rounded.
Thanks to Melodie Edwards, Netgalley and Berkley for an early copy.
We see a lot of the same events and even some of the same "quotes" are thrown in for good measure. I really enjoyed seeing Ben get a taste of his own medicine with Sabrina, even if it irritates me each time. I loved Ben's aunt and uncle in this version too, they made the story so much more well rounded.
Thanks to Melodie Edwards, Netgalley and Berkley for an early copy.
March 13, 2024
I really enjoyed her first book and this one was even better! It's a modern retelling of Austen's Persuasion complete with all the longing and small town hijinks.
June 26, 2023
Review to come.
February 1, 2024
5 stars just because Persuasion is my favourite Austen novel and this was actually an incredible adaptation.
The yearning, the pining, the "do they still hate me?" UGH so so good!!!
The yearning, the pining, the "do they still hate me?" UGH so so good!!!
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