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Dashed
In this contemporary update of Sense and Sensibility, Margaret Dashwood is setting sail on an adventurous summer cruise—unless love sinks her first.
Margaret Dashwood lives her life according to plan, and it involves absolutely zero heartbreak, thank you very much. Five years ago, love tore her family apart, and since then, she’s kept her own heart as safe as possible. It hasn’t been easy, especially since her sister Marianne—the world’s biggest romantic—has conveniently forgotten that love burned her so badly she literally almost died. So when their oldest sister Elinor invites Margaret along for a Marianne-free summer cruise, she can’t wait to soak up every scheduled moment with sensible Elinor before heading off to college.
But just before they set sail, a newly-single Marianne announces that she’s crashing their vacation. Suddenly, Margaret’s itineraries are thrown overboard, and the ship’s cabin feels even tinier with her sister wailing about her breakup from the bottom bunk. The only solution? Find Marianne a dose of love to tide her over until they reach land.
With help from Elinor, her husband Edward, and Gabe—a distractingly handsome new friend on the crew—Margaret sets out to create a series of elaborate fake dates that will give Marianne the spontaneously curated summer romance of a lifetime. But between a chaotic sister, the growing storm of feelings between Margaret and Gabe, and an actual storm on the horizon, this summer is destined to go off course. Margaret will have to decide what’s more important—following the plan, or following her heart.
Margaret Dashwood lives her life according to plan, and it involves absolutely zero heartbreak, thank you very much. Five years ago, love tore her family apart, and since then, she’s kept her own heart as safe as possible. It hasn’t been easy, especially since her sister Marianne—the world’s biggest romantic—has conveniently forgotten that love burned her so badly she literally almost died. So when their oldest sister Elinor invites Margaret along for a Marianne-free summer cruise, she can’t wait to soak up every scheduled moment with sensible Elinor before heading off to college.
But just before they set sail, a newly-single Marianne announces that she’s crashing their vacation. Suddenly, Margaret’s itineraries are thrown overboard, and the ship’s cabin feels even tinier with her sister wailing about her breakup from the bottom bunk. The only solution? Find Marianne a dose of love to tide her over until they reach land.
With help from Elinor, her husband Edward, and Gabe—a distractingly handsome new friend on the crew—Margaret sets out to create a series of elaborate fake dates that will give Marianne the spontaneously curated summer romance of a lifetime. But between a chaotic sister, the growing storm of feelings between Margaret and Gabe, and an actual storm on the horizon, this summer is destined to go off course. Margaret will have to decide what’s more important—following the plan, or following her heart.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 16, 2024
24 people are currently reading
8691 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews
July 22, 2024
4 solid stars - more "Austen Inspired" - it's not a re-telling, for sure. Here we have the very contemporary Dashwood sisters (of Sense & Sensibility) going on a long family Carribean cruise and the FMC & narrator is little sister Margaret, soon off to college. Elinor is portrayed as the "sense" of course, and Marianne is a flighty flibbertigibbet. Hijinks, Highballs and hurricanes ensue for summer escapist fun. I enjoyed it - but I love both cruising & Austen. While not a typical rom-com, I could see someone unfamiliar with the source material deciding to check it out after this one.
May 30, 2024
I have always wondered what it's like to live on a cruise for days - as a lifestyle, not for an occupation. This Sense and Sensibility-inspired romcom, provides me with a glimpse of that lifestyle and some escapism.
Amanda Quain's writing style is easy to follow, and her characters are distinct. The romance is not over the top. The characters' adventures (plus misadventures) on water and land are fun to read.
Many thanks for the ARC I received in a Goodreads giveaway. Expected publication date: July 16, 2024.
Amanda Quain's writing style is easy to follow, and her characters are distinct. The romance is not over the top. The characters' adventures (plus misadventures) on water and land are fun to read.
Many thanks for the ARC I received in a Goodreads giveaway. Expected publication date: July 16, 2024.
July 9, 2024
Between Quain and J.C. Peterson, it feels like I'll have my Austen-inspired book needs taken care of for a while. Dashed takes on Sense and Sensibility, focused on Margaret—the youngest of the three sisters, rather neglected in the original book.
3.5 stars, and my favorite of Quain's books to date. I admit to some bias here—I fell madly in love with Beatrice, and thus Emma Thompson, in Much Ado About Nothing when I was about eight, and extended that love happily to Elinor in Thompson's adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. (I'm not sure I'd seen a Disney film at that age, but my parents could sometimes be convinced to rent a Shakespeare or Ye Olde British Book adaptation and haul the elderly television out of their bedroom closet.) I've read the book—I'm not a total heathen—but Emma Thompson is forever cemented in my head as Elinor, and anything that manages to be more or less in line with her portrayal is bound to hit the spot.
So Dashed: in which Margaret is relieved to have some breathing room from Marianne for the summer, which she'll be spending on board a cruise ship with Elinor and Elinor's husband Edward...but then Marianne shows up, and those hopes and plans are, ah, dashed.
I won't go too much into the plot here, although I will say that this does not make me regret never having been on a cruise ship. I do wish that Margaret's reluctance to get into a relationship were a little more original (I've seen it many times in YA and romance books...but never in real life), but I appreciate that this is an original spin on a side character rather than a retelling. It gives Quain a lot more room to play with both characters and plot, while also...this:
"Edward accidentally stayed up all night reading the guidebook," Elinor said, as Edward accepted coffee and grinned sheepishly. They were, I realized with some horror, wearing matching button-down shirts, each emblazoned with leaping dolphins on a light blue background. With Elinor's tight bun and bright red hair, she looked like Ms. Frizzle had gone back to school to become a nautical librarian; Edward just looked like he'd wandered into the bargain bin at a Jimmy Buffett concert. (loc. 860*)
Not taking itself too seriously, then, which bodes well if Quain tackles Emma next...
*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
3.5 stars, and my favorite of Quain's books to date. I admit to some bias here—I fell madly in love with Beatrice, and thus Emma Thompson, in Much Ado About Nothing when I was about eight, and extended that love happily to Elinor in Thompson's adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. (I'm not sure I'd seen a Disney film at that age, but my parents could sometimes be convinced to rent a Shakespeare or Ye Olde British Book adaptation and haul the elderly television out of their bedroom closet.) I've read the book—I'm not a total heathen—but Emma Thompson is forever cemented in my head as Elinor, and anything that manages to be more or less in line with her portrayal is bound to hit the spot.
So Dashed: in which Margaret is relieved to have some breathing room from Marianne for the summer, which she'll be spending on board a cruise ship with Elinor and Elinor's husband Edward...but then Marianne shows up, and those hopes and plans are, ah, dashed.
I won't go too much into the plot here, although I will say that this does not make me regret never having been on a cruise ship. I do wish that Margaret's reluctance to get into a relationship were a little more original (I've seen it many times in YA and romance books...but never in real life), but I appreciate that this is an original spin on a side character rather than a retelling. It gives Quain a lot more room to play with both characters and plot, while also...this:
"Edward accidentally stayed up all night reading the guidebook," Elinor said, as Edward accepted coffee and grinned sheepishly. They were, I realized with some horror, wearing matching button-down shirts, each emblazoned with leaping dolphins on a light blue background. With Elinor's tight bun and bright red hair, she looked like Ms. Frizzle had gone back to school to become a nautical librarian; Edward just looked like he'd wandered into the bargain bin at a Jimmy Buffett concert. (loc. 860*)
Not taking itself too seriously, then, which bodes well if Quain tackles Emma next...
*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
August 10, 2025
aaaa jakie to było urocze!! Podczas czytania dosłownie nie mogłam przestać się uśmiechać co już dawno mi się nie zdarzyło. To była lekka i niewymagająca historia, ale także piękna i słodka!
June 10, 2024
Three sisters on a cruise ship for the summer makes for a sweet read.
I had a bit of a hard time connecting with the characters, and finding the premise believable. I wasn’t the most fond of the main character, and her sisters didn’t give me any more reason to become invested.
Overall, I think this could be a better, lighthearted read for someone else. But for me, it was lacking.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
I had a bit of a hard time connecting with the characters, and finding the premise believable. I wasn’t the most fond of the main character, and her sisters didn’t give me any more reason to become invested.
Overall, I think this could be a better, lighthearted read for someone else. But for me, it was lacking.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
October 2, 2024
3.5 stars. A cute popcorn book: Amanda Quain is writing some really cute Austen adaptations and it’s nice to hear from the youngest Dashwood sister in this one.
I enjoy how she imagines them in a modern space. It’s a perfect example of correct vibes - the essence of the Dashwoods and their whirlwind emotions translates well to current day.
Love reading anything by Amanda Quain: it’s always a cute time that brings a smile to my face.
I enjoy how she imagines them in a modern space. It’s a perfect example of correct vibes - the essence of the Dashwoods and their whirlwind emotions translates well to current day.
Love reading anything by Amanda Quain: it’s always a cute time that brings a smile to my face.
November 2, 2024
2.5 starts off pretty slow. Not a bad reading. It’s just not very entertaining.
January 20, 2024
A cute read! I think it has potential, so it could’ve been stronger, but still enjoyable. Romance was sweet especially with setting. Overall it was a fun read.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 20, 2025
3.5
o dziwo nie było to złe. bałam sie znowu sięgać po romans, ale nawet z braku innych opcji, nie wyszło tragicznie. przyjemnie mi się czytało, nie znienawidziłam głównej bohaterki (no może na parę stron), bawiłam się całkiem nieźle. przyjemna opcja na wakacje.
o dziwo nie było to złe. bałam sie znowu sięgać po romans, ale nawet z braku innych opcji, nie wyszło tragicznie. przyjemnie mi się czytało, nie znienawidziłam głównej bohaterki (no może na parę stron), bawiłam się całkiem nieźle. przyjemna opcja na wakacje.
April 30, 2024
I'm sorry, but.....I could not stand Margaret. She kept acting like her life was SO hard and.....it really wasn't. She was on a cruise for crying out loud.
Margaret made it seem like her sister joining her was the worst thing in the world, her excuse? "I don't want to get roped into her drama", and yet....she would stick to her like glue, not letting Marianne do ANYTHING alone. And she had to nerve to call Elinor suffocating? Ugh.
Elinor was nothing but sweet and I just hated how Margaret would go on and on about how her sisters made her life hard when it did it all to HERSELF!
The novel was so repetitive! The amount of times Margaret would be all "I'm making myself into Elinor", "I'm trying to channel Marianne", "I'm copying my sisters" while also "They don't let me be me booo" smh
The book gets two stats though. One for Gabe, who was WONDEFUL and the best part of this book, and the other for Elinor and Edward, who I can't believe Margaret dismissed as "sensible couple" just because they lacked PDA smh
This is the 21st century, people don't actually (or rarely) do marriage of conveniences. And she knew Marianne could be toxic but decided to copy that instead? All while using and abuse a boys heart? Gabe took all of it like a champ and she didn't deserve him.
She was purposely hurting others supposedly so SHE wouldn't get hurt, but she was the only one hurting herself! Her life approach was very unrealistic and illogical and dumb smh
Yeah....I've had enough of Margaret and glad it's over 😅
Such a shame because I really REALLY loved Gabe. Also the family moment they had in the end? Good! Unfortunately it came way to late, with Margaret being annoying for 85% of the book 😮💨
Margaret made it seem like her sister joining her was the worst thing in the world, her excuse? "I don't want to get roped into her drama", and yet....she would stick to her like glue, not letting Marianne do ANYTHING alone. And she had to nerve to call Elinor suffocating? Ugh.
Elinor was nothing but sweet and I just hated how Margaret would go on and on about how her sisters made her life hard when it did it all to HERSELF!
The novel was so repetitive! The amount of times Margaret would be all "I'm making myself into Elinor", "I'm trying to channel Marianne", "I'm copying my sisters" while also "They don't let me be me booo" smh
The book gets two stats though. One for Gabe, who was WONDEFUL and the best part of this book, and the other for Elinor and Edward, who I can't believe Margaret dismissed as "sensible couple" just because they lacked PDA smh
This is the 21st century, people don't actually (or rarely) do marriage of conveniences. And she knew Marianne could be toxic but decided to copy that instead? All while using and abuse a boys heart? Gabe took all of it like a champ and she didn't deserve him.
She was purposely hurting others supposedly so SHE wouldn't get hurt, but she was the only one hurting herself! Her life approach was very unrealistic and illogical and dumb smh
Yeah....I've had enough of Margaret and glad it's over 😅
Such a shame because I really REALLY loved Gabe. Also the family moment they had in the end? Good! Unfortunately it came way to late, with Margaret being annoying for 85% of the book 😮💨
December 10, 2023
I won an advanced copy of this book Goodreads, but all views are my own.
4.5/5 stars.
I thought this was a great book, with discussions of how grief and love can change the way you view your life. I also liked the setting of a cruise ship, it made things seem more chaotic and fun.
Dashed follows the three Dashwood sisters, who in the last few years has lost their dad. Margaret is tagging along as her brother in law (who is married to sister Elinor) works as a cruise ship chaplain. When Margaret’s other sister Marianne seemingly crashes the trip because she’s broken up with her boyfriend, things go into chaos. And Margaret hates chaos. As Margaret tries to fix up Marianne with a new guy, she begins to fall in love herself.
I like Amanda Quain’s writing style, I think she knows how to craft a story that’s fun but also full of hope. And while there is some pop culture references made, they aren’t too much that the story gets bogged down.
4.5/5 stars.
I thought this was a great book, with discussions of how grief and love can change the way you view your life. I also liked the setting of a cruise ship, it made things seem more chaotic and fun.
Dashed follows the three Dashwood sisters, who in the last few years has lost their dad. Margaret is tagging along as her brother in law (who is married to sister Elinor) works as a cruise ship chaplain. When Margaret’s other sister Marianne seemingly crashes the trip because she’s broken up with her boyfriend, things go into chaos. And Margaret hates chaos. As Margaret tries to fix up Marianne with a new guy, she begins to fall in love herself.
I like Amanda Quain’s writing style, I think she knows how to craft a story that’s fun but also full of hope. And while there is some pop culture references made, they aren’t too much that the story gets bogged down.
July 27, 2025
Wątki romantyczne nie są moimi ulubionymi, ale miło się zaskoczyłam, bo był to uroczy romans młodzieżowy. Jest tu trochę trzymania się za ręce i pocałunków, ale nic więcej, więc książka jest idealna dla młodszych czytelników, mimo że główna bohaterka ma 18 lat.
✨ Opis:
Akcja toczy się wokół Margaret. Jej szwagier dostał wakacyjną pracę jako kapelan okrętowy na Queen Mab, a Margaret postanowiła spędzić lato z nim i swoją starszą siostrą Elinor, zanim jesienią wyjedzie na studia. Margaret od kilku lat naśladuje Elinor, mimo że jej cechy charakteru bardziej przypominają cechy ich średniej siostry Marianne. Margaret nie jest do końca pewna, kim tak naprawdę jest, ponieważ zawsze stara się być beztroską, impulsywną Marianne lub praktyczną i zrównoważoną Elinor.
✨ Opinia:
Książka miała duży potencjał. Jednak Margaret nie była moją ulubioną postacią. Przede wszystkim nie podobało mi się, jak traktowała Gabe’a, mimo że ewidentnie był nią bardzo zainteresowany. Rozumiem, że jej decyzje wynikały z przeżytej traumy, ale to nie tłumaczy tego, dlaczego za wszelką cenę próbowała rozwiązać problemy Marianne, na siłę szukając jej nowego faceta.
Absolutnie uwielbiałam Gabe’a i przez długi czas uważałam, że jest dla Margaret za dobry. Rozumiem jednak, co autorka chciała osiągnąć, tworząc jej postać. Była najmłodsza w rodzinie i przeszła prawdziwą traumę, i wygląda na to, że nigdy w pełni jej nie przepracowała.
Ta nowa wersja historii sióstr Dashwood z „Rozważnej i romantycznej” jest zdecydowanie dla młodszych odbiorców i jestem pewna, że będzie idealna właśnie dla nastoletnich czytelników!
✨ Opis:
Akcja toczy się wokół Margaret. Jej szwagier dostał wakacyjną pracę jako kapelan okrętowy na Queen Mab, a Margaret postanowiła spędzić lato z nim i swoją starszą siostrą Elinor, zanim jesienią wyjedzie na studia. Margaret od kilku lat naśladuje Elinor, mimo że jej cechy charakteru bardziej przypominają cechy ich średniej siostry Marianne. Margaret nie jest do końca pewna, kim tak naprawdę jest, ponieważ zawsze stara się być beztroską, impulsywną Marianne lub praktyczną i zrównoważoną Elinor.
✨ Opinia:
Książka miała duży potencjał. Jednak Margaret nie była moją ulubioną postacią. Przede wszystkim nie podobało mi się, jak traktowała Gabe’a, mimo że ewidentnie był nią bardzo zainteresowany. Rozumiem, że jej decyzje wynikały z przeżytej traumy, ale to nie tłumaczy tego, dlaczego za wszelką cenę próbowała rozwiązać problemy Marianne, na siłę szukając jej nowego faceta.
Absolutnie uwielbiałam Gabe’a i przez długi czas uważałam, że jest dla Margaret za dobry. Rozumiem jednak, co autorka chciała osiągnąć, tworząc jej postać. Była najmłodsza w rodzinie i przeszła prawdziwą traumę, i wygląda na to, że nigdy w pełni jej nie przepracowała.
Ta nowa wersja historii sióstr Dashwood z „Rozważnej i romantycznej” jest zdecydowanie dla młodszych odbiorców i jestem pewna, że będzie idealna właśnie dla nastoletnich czytelników!
October 7, 2024
Dashed focuses on the tumultuous family bond between 3 sisters. Margaret feels like if they all stick to their lanes and what is expected of them, it will keep them all safe and together. This is way easier said than done when it comes to Marianne. While this book really packed in the crazy rom-com antics, it was unfortunately not for me. I had a hard time connecting with all the characters, the repeated miscommunications, the strained sisterly relationships, Margaret's type A personality, and the need to control everything.
June 22, 2024
2.75 ⭐️
Cute, and started off strong. About halfway through I started to get bored, and found myself skimming quite a bit through the rest. Margaret felt unrealistic as a character, and got progressively more annoying. I know she was eighteen; but she came across as extremely childlike.
I did like the evolution in the relationship between the sisters, though. Their love for each other was much more interesting than their relationships with their “love interests.”
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Cute, and started off strong. About halfway through I started to get bored, and found myself skimming quite a bit through the rest. Margaret felt unrealistic as a character, and got progressively more annoying. I know she was eighteen; but she came across as extremely childlike.
I did like the evolution in the relationship between the sisters, though. Their love for each other was much more interesting than their relationships with their “love interests.”
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 19, 2025
Naprawdę przyjemna młodzieżówka 12+!
August 12, 2025
This was a FANTASTIC modern YA Sense & Sensibility retelling set on a summer cruise. I am a HUGE Amanda Quain/Jane Austen fan and this latest DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!
Excellent on audio narrated by Allyson Morgan and one not to miss for Austen fans. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
Excellent on audio narrated by Allyson Morgan and one not to miss for Austen fans. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
January 29, 2024
Think Sense and Sensibility on a contemporary cruise with Margaret Dashwood as main character. A blast!
Read
February 8, 2024It should not come as a surprise to you that I love a good Jane Austen retelling, and I have read many over the years. I decided that I wanted to reread all of Austen’s work in 2023, and I’ve gotten through five of her six books so far. (I am dawdling on picking up Mansfield Park again…). I fell in love with Accomplished and Ghosted, the first two books in the series of Austen retellings by Amanda Quain. I was so excited to pick up Dashed.
Quain does an excellent job flipping the script on the Austen novels she’s retelling. I loved that Accomplished took a “side character” of Pride and Prejudice, Georgiana Darcy, and refocused the story on her, and Ghosted is a gender bent version of Northanger Abbey. Margaret Dashwood is the younger sister of the central Marianne and Elinor Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility, but she is the protagonist and narrator of Dashed. I loved getting to know Margaret and to get a different point of view on the story.
I’ve always loved the way Sense and Sensibility centers the sibling relationships just as much as the romantic ones. As a younger sister myself, I thought Quain captures what it means to look up to your older sibling perfectly. Without spoiling too much, there is a beautiful scene at the end of the book where Margaret tells Marianne and Elinor how much she wanted to be like them, which leads to a moment of deep connection between them.
Fake dating is one of my favorite romance tropes, and I found its use in Dashed so much fun. Margaret starts the book claiming she will never date, but she ends up pretending to date Gabe, a member of the ship’s crew, as part of a scheme to set up Marianne. I loved Gabe pretty instantly. He compliments Margaret so well, and he is willing to call her out when necessary. They are easy to like and root for as a couple.
Austen’s novels end with the happily ever after. Elinor and Marianne end Sense and Sensibility each having found their perfect match. I loved that Dashed addressed what happens after that. Marianne and Brandon begin this story having broken up after being together for a long time. There is also exploration of what it means for Elinor and Edward to be in a happy marriage. I loved that expansion of the narrative for these beloved characters.
I’m already eagerly awating the next installment of this series. Emma is my favorite Austen novel, and I’m hoping Quain tackles that one next. Wednesday books, if you’re listening?
Quain does an excellent job flipping the script on the Austen novels she’s retelling. I loved that Accomplished took a “side character” of Pride and Prejudice, Georgiana Darcy, and refocused the story on her, and Ghosted is a gender bent version of Northanger Abbey. Margaret Dashwood is the younger sister of the central Marianne and Elinor Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility, but she is the protagonist and narrator of Dashed. I loved getting to know Margaret and to get a different point of view on the story.
I’ve always loved the way Sense and Sensibility centers the sibling relationships just as much as the romantic ones. As a younger sister myself, I thought Quain captures what it means to look up to your older sibling perfectly. Without spoiling too much, there is a beautiful scene at the end of the book where Margaret tells Marianne and Elinor how much she wanted to be like them, which leads to a moment of deep connection between them.
Fake dating is one of my favorite romance tropes, and I found its use in Dashed so much fun. Margaret starts the book claiming she will never date, but she ends up pretending to date Gabe, a member of the ship’s crew, as part of a scheme to set up Marianne. I loved Gabe pretty instantly. He compliments Margaret so well, and he is willing to call her out when necessary. They are easy to like and root for as a couple.
Austen’s novels end with the happily ever after. Elinor and Marianne end Sense and Sensibility each having found their perfect match. I loved that Dashed addressed what happens after that. Marianne and Brandon begin this story having broken up after being together for a long time. There is also exploration of what it means for Elinor and Edward to be in a happy marriage. I loved that expansion of the narrative for these beloved characters.
I’m already eagerly awating the next installment of this series. Emma is my favorite Austen novel, and I’m hoping Quain tackles that one next. Wednesday books, if you’re listening?
August 7, 2024
I read S&S not too long ago, and I really loved it, so I was looking forward to a sequel of sorts, this time focusing on the youngest daughter, Margaret. However, they modernized it and brought it into the 21st century, and I had a hard time with that until I decided to treat it as S&S inspired rather than a true sequel and that worked a lot better. After the disaster of the events in the original, Elinor and Edward were happily married, Marianne was safely happy with Brandon (or so they thought), and Margaret was getting ready to go to college but was still trying to figure out who she was.
There was a lot of potential here, but I feel like Margaret was not the most likable of characters. I mainly did not like how she treated Gabe, even though he clearly was very into her. While I understand that her choices came from the trauma that she endured with Marianne, I didn't quite understand why she felt like she had to solve Marianne's problems for her. I think it was her motivation that annoyed me--she wanted to solve Marianne's problem of romance (automatically assuming that she needed a guy to be happy) not because it would help Marianne, but so that she could have the summer that she felt she deserved. Also her desire to keep everything secret from Elinor just rubbed me the wrong way. I loved Elinor and Edward, and I guess I wish that Margaret would have talked to her instead of keeping everything hidden.
On the other hand, I do like how Margaret did realize at the end how wrong she had been about everything--her sisters (yes, plural), Edward and Elinor, and about herself and how she treated Gabe. I absolutely loved Gabe and thought for the longest time that he was too good for her. But I think I understand what the author was trying to do with her character. She was the baby of the family and had endured real trauma, and it doesn't sound like she ever fully processed it--with the modernization of this novel, I would have thought they would have gotten her therapy after the fact--and what she thought was her proper role in her family was so limiting, not just for her, but also for her family and her relationship with them. I really appreciated that about this novel.
Overall, I thought this was a decent "inspired-by" novel, and I would be open to reading more books by this author. It didn't quite meet my expectations, but I did enjoy parts of it, including the ending and I also liked where the main protagonist ended up. I would rate this a solid 3 stars.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
There was a lot of potential here, but I feel like Margaret was not the most likable of characters. I mainly did not like how she treated Gabe, even though he clearly was very into her. While I understand that her choices came from the trauma that she endured with Marianne, I didn't quite understand why she felt like she had to solve Marianne's problems for her. I think it was her motivation that annoyed me--she wanted to solve Marianne's problem of romance (automatically assuming that she needed a guy to be happy) not because it would help Marianne, but so that she could have the summer that she felt she deserved. Also her desire to keep everything secret from Elinor just rubbed me the wrong way. I loved Elinor and Edward, and I guess I wish that Margaret would have talked to her instead of keeping everything hidden.
On the other hand, I do like how Margaret did realize at the end how wrong she had been about everything--her sisters (yes, plural), Edward and Elinor, and about herself and how she treated Gabe. I absolutely loved Gabe and thought for the longest time that he was too good for her. But I think I understand what the author was trying to do with her character. She was the baby of the family and had endured real trauma, and it doesn't sound like she ever fully processed it--with the modernization of this novel, I would have thought they would have gotten her therapy after the fact--and what she thought was her proper role in her family was so limiting, not just for her, but also for her family and her relationship with them. I really appreciated that about this novel.
Overall, I thought this was a decent "inspired-by" novel, and I would be open to reading more books by this author. It didn't quite meet my expectations, but I did enjoy parts of it, including the ending and I also liked where the main protagonist ended up. I would rate this a solid 3 stars.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 25, 2024
I was provided an ARC of this book via the publisher and Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
This was a cute YA romance. It is super clean if you are looking for something a little more on the innocent side. This has some hand holding and kissing but nothing more than that, so it is perfect for younger readers despite the main character being 18. This follows Margaret or Mags as people close to her call her on her summer vacation. Her brother-in-law has landed a summer job as ship's chaplain on the Queen Mab and Margaret has decided to tag along for the summer with her older sister Elinor before she heads off to college in the fall. Margaret has been emulating Elinor for the past few years, despite her personality traits more aligning to those of their middle sister Marianne. Margaret isn't really sure who she really is because she is always trying to be care free, impulsive Marianne or practical, level headed Elinor. Their family was rocked by a year of tragedy several years ago and to cope with her trauma Margaret has decided she is going to do everything Elinor does.
Margaret has her entire cruise planned out, when Marianne crashes the cruise. Margaret does what she thinks is best and develops an elaborate plan to create dates for her sister to make her happy. While she is crafting this grand plan, she develops a friendship turned fake relationship with Gabe a member of the crew. They hit it off immediately and he and Mags spend lots of time hanging out and planning dates for themselves and Marianne. Margaret is determined to keep her feelings locked up tight, but Gabe is slowly breaking down her walls. When a hurricane derails the entire cruise Margaret has to face her feelings not only for the boy she has gotten to know over the last few weeks but all of the feelings she has kept bottled up about her sisters and her place in their family.
I really liked the character development in this. Margaret was slow to figure out what she needed to, but she eventually gets there. This read a little young for my tastes, but this will be perfect for younger readers. I loved Edward (the brother in law) he gave great advice and was an unlikely sounding board for our girl when she really needed it.
Overall this was a super sweet YA romance. It is a perfect summer read!
This was a cute YA romance. It is super clean if you are looking for something a little more on the innocent side. This has some hand holding and kissing but nothing more than that, so it is perfect for younger readers despite the main character being 18. This follows Margaret or Mags as people close to her call her on her summer vacation. Her brother-in-law has landed a summer job as ship's chaplain on the Queen Mab and Margaret has decided to tag along for the summer with her older sister Elinor before she heads off to college in the fall. Margaret has been emulating Elinor for the past few years, despite her personality traits more aligning to those of their middle sister Marianne. Margaret isn't really sure who she really is because she is always trying to be care free, impulsive Marianne or practical, level headed Elinor. Their family was rocked by a year of tragedy several years ago and to cope with her trauma Margaret has decided she is going to do everything Elinor does.
Margaret has her entire cruise planned out, when Marianne crashes the cruise. Margaret does what she thinks is best and develops an elaborate plan to create dates for her sister to make her happy. While she is crafting this grand plan, she develops a friendship turned fake relationship with Gabe a member of the crew. They hit it off immediately and he and Mags spend lots of time hanging out and planning dates for themselves and Marianne. Margaret is determined to keep her feelings locked up tight, but Gabe is slowly breaking down her walls. When a hurricane derails the entire cruise Margaret has to face her feelings not only for the boy she has gotten to know over the last few weeks but all of the feelings she has kept bottled up about her sisters and her place in their family.
I really liked the character development in this. Margaret was slow to figure out what she needed to, but she eventually gets there. This read a little young for my tastes, but this will be perfect for younger readers. I loved Edward (the brother in law) he gave great advice and was an unlikely sounding board for our girl when she really needed it.
Overall this was a super sweet YA romance. It is a perfect summer read!
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July 20, 2024A Margaret Dashwood story has been on my TBW (to be written) list for over a decade. I fell in love with her in Austen’s Sense & Sensibility, with her sass, humour, curiosity about the world, and delightful bluntness about the drama swirling around her. While Elinor was suppressing her feelings and Marianne was leaning into them, Margaret called things like they were. I adored her. So of course I had to pick this one up and read Quain’s take on the character. In Dashed, she gives us a Margaret lost in the shadows of her older sisters, only seeing herself through comparisons with one or the other, while not understanding that Elinor is more than her good sense and Marianne is more than her wild romantic nature. While enjoying 6 weeks on a cruise ship that allows for plenty of self-exploration and romantic shenanigans, Margaret learns a big lesson about how to simply be herself. Teen readers with their own identity struggles might see themselves in Margaret’s character, and the cruise ship setting was perfect for a breezy summer read.
July 9, 2024
At this point I've read more of Amanda Quain's retellings of Jane Austen than I have actual Austen books. Oops.
Dashed is (apparently) a Sense and Sensibility retelling. It follows Margaret, the youngest Dashwood sister, as she spends the summer before college on a cruise ship with her sisters. While she tries to save her middle sister from heartbreak, she also grapples with her own avoidance of romance and whether doing so has actually helped her or hurt her.
Even for someone who hasn't read the original text, the story was pretty predictable, but enjoyable nonetheless. The romance was sweet, but I felt the exploration of the sisters' relationships had more depth and nuance. Both romantic and familial relationships were explored well and given equal treatment, which I appreciated.
Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC.
Dashed is (apparently) a Sense and Sensibility retelling. It follows Margaret, the youngest Dashwood sister, as she spends the summer before college on a cruise ship with her sisters. While she tries to save her middle sister from heartbreak, she also grapples with her own avoidance of romance and whether doing so has actually helped her or hurt her.
Even for someone who hasn't read the original text, the story was pretty predictable, but enjoyable nonetheless. The romance was sweet, but I felt the exploration of the sisters' relationships had more depth and nuance. Both romantic and familial relationships were explored well and given equal treatment, which I appreciated.
Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC.
August 2, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.
I really enjoyed "Ghosted" by this author. This one, however, didn't connect with me as much. I just didn't get our main character, Margaret. In fact, she was not a very likeable character. She used to want to be like her free-spirited sister Marianne until the accident. Then she avoided that sister and became obsessed with being like her sensible sister, Elinor. Margaret's whole plan on the cruise ship to me seemed cruel. Marianne's long-term relationship just ended, and she was going to force her into dating situations...not to mention how she treated Gabe.
Fast forward six weeks, and after everything that occurred there is an "aha moment" and a declaration of love. I just didn't feel very invested in the storyline. I still will check out future writings...
2.5 stars
I really enjoyed "Ghosted" by this author. This one, however, didn't connect with me as much. I just didn't get our main character, Margaret. In fact, she was not a very likeable character. She used to want to be like her free-spirited sister Marianne until the accident. Then she avoided that sister and became obsessed with being like her sensible sister, Elinor. Margaret's whole plan on the cruise ship to me seemed cruel. Marianne's long-term relationship just ended, and she was going to force her into dating situations...not to mention how she treated Gabe.
Fast forward six weeks, and after everything that occurred there is an "aha moment" and a declaration of love. I just didn't feel very invested in the storyline. I still will check out future writings...
2.5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2024
3.5*
Dashed was entertaining, albeit a little frustrating. I liked Margaret, but she was hard to take at times. She was caught between her sisters, not really knowing which one she wanted to be like more, or less when it really came down to it, when she should have been concentrating more on finding herself. Which, to be fair, by the end of the book she had.
I've never read S&S so I didn't have much to go on, when it came to the idea this book was based on, but like the other books by Ms. Quain, I don't think that matters much. They can be enjoyed for what they are.
Dashed was entertaining, albeit a little frustrating. I liked Margaret, but she was hard to take at times. She was caught between her sisters, not really knowing which one she wanted to be like more, or less when it really came down to it, when she should have been concentrating more on finding herself. Which, to be fair, by the end of the book she had.
I've never read S&S so I didn't have much to go on, when it came to the idea this book was based on, but like the other books by Ms. Quain, I don't think that matters much. They can be enjoyed for what they are.
September 29, 2024
I almost did not finish it and it almost brought me in a reading slump.
The story itself is boring and very foreseeable. You definitely know how the book ends and there is literally not a single surprising thing.
But I have to admit that the characters, especially Gabe, was likable and had boyfriend potential.
The story itself is boring and very foreseeable. You definitely know how the book ends and there is literally not a single surprising thing.
But I have to admit that the characters, especially Gabe, was likable and had boyfriend potential.
September 30, 2024
This is a cute and fast-paced story following Margaret as she tries to help her sister get over heartbreak on a cruise ship. I thought the setting was fun and the three sisters had an interesting relationship. Seeing their sibling bonds be tested and grow throughout the book was definitely my favorite part.
November 27, 2024
Thank you Wednesday Books.
Dashed is a retelling/update to the Dashwood sisters from Sense and Sensibility (you don’t need to read the source material to get this book, Quain gives you the cliff notes). Margaret is desperate to be like eldest sister, Elinor and looking forward to six weeks on a cruise ship with just Elinor and Edward. But then middle sister, Marianne shows up and Margaret decides to keep her distracted with random dates.
What I liked: This is no-steam YA and while there is a romance a lot of the book focuses on Margaret trying to find who she is outside of her sisters.
The setting provided an opportunity for on ship and island excursions.
What didn’t work for me: at times it felt repetitive with Margaret debating how to be more like either sister, pushing Gabe away and trying to find herself. I think it could have been maybe 50 pages shorter.
Who should read it: you enjoy updated retellings, no-steam romances. Perfect for late middle school to early high school readers.
Dashed is a retelling/update to the Dashwood sisters from Sense and Sensibility (you don’t need to read the source material to get this book, Quain gives you the cliff notes). Margaret is desperate to be like eldest sister, Elinor and looking forward to six weeks on a cruise ship with just Elinor and Edward. But then middle sister, Marianne shows up and Margaret decides to keep her distracted with random dates.
What I liked: This is no-steam YA and while there is a romance a lot of the book focuses on Margaret trying to find who she is outside of her sisters.
The setting provided an opportunity for on ship and island excursions.
What didn’t work for me: at times it felt repetitive with Margaret debating how to be more like either sister, pushing Gabe away and trying to find herself. I think it could have been maybe 50 pages shorter.
Who should read it: you enjoy updated retellings, no-steam romances. Perfect for late middle school to early high school readers.
December 14, 2024
Huge miss for me. I was vibing with the first part of the book, but it ended up being so repetitive and motivations were so thin and I didn't feel anything between the MCs. I also just didn't like some of the "lessons" about love that ended up being the takeaway of the book. I did like some of the sister fighting/disagreements towards the end of the book where they talk things out, but then the conclusions they came to were baffling, so...
April 1, 2024
Very strong attempt at a modern spin on an Austen classic. Sometime I get annoyed by these types of books, but Quain really add a nice, YA spin to it. Def recommend to my local library.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for an honest review.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for an honest review.
August 12, 2024
I have read all of Amanda Quain's Austen re-imaginings, and so far this one is my favorite. Which is interesting because Sense and Sensibility is not my favorite Austen. But I liked the quick pacing and rom-com energy (on a cruise ship!) of this one. Keeping much of the sensibility of its source material alive, this update is a fun take on the Dashwood sisters -- that puts Margaret in the leading role.
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