What do you think?
Rate this book
21st Century Austen #1
Modern Persuasion
Emma Shaw is a modern woman with a classic problem. Eight years ago, Emma put her career and family above her own needs. She’s cut out the man she loves, is exhausted from carrying the emotional load for her family, and her dream career as an editor is on the brink of disaster. Now she has to face the man she gave up eight years ago in order to keep her career. When her ex’s book launch is in crisis, her bosses coerce Emma to step in to save it even if that’s no longer her job. Forced to spend a month on the road, Emma has too much time to think about her regrets but also discover new opportunities to make the life she thought she would have, including a second chance with Fredrick. If she can run her life as well as she runs this book tour, she can save her career, be with the man she loves, and maybe tell her family where to stick it. Modern Persuasion is the charming first book in the 21st Century Austen romance series. If you like classics made contemporary, forced proximity, reunited lovers, workplace romance, and road trips, then you’ll adore Sara Marks’ lighthearted modernization of Jane Austen's Persuasion.
Buy now to see how this modern woman gets her happily ever after.
Buy now to see how this modern woman gets her happily ever after.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 29, 2017
300 people are currently reading
1240 people want to read
About the author
Sara Marks
38 books57 followersSara Marks is a modern woman with classic problems, just like the women she writes. Always a rabid reader, Sara has a complicated history with romance books. The only solution was to write the books she wished for as a teen and younger adult.
Sara lives in Massachusetts with her dog Cedric. When not writing she still reads voraciously, knits (often while reading), and spends her adult money on washi tape, planners, and stickers. You can find her at http://saramarks.net to see all her romance books and download Modern Persuasion (book one in the 21st Century Austen series) for free.
Sara lives in Massachusetts with her dog Cedric. When not writing she still reads voraciously, knits (often while reading), and spends her adult money on washi tape, planners, and stickers. You can find her at http://saramarks.net to see all her romance books and download Modern Persuasion (book one in the 21st Century Austen series) for free.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
June 10, 2024
As a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s ‘Persuasion’, this delivers nicely. I read the original only about 2 weeks ago.
The story is very faithful to the original with respect to the characters involved. The circumstances are very different – the entire story being told in a modern professional environment. Walter Elliot has three daughters – Elizabeth, Mary and Ann. His wife has passed away and he is struggling to cope since. This is largely Ann’s story, as with the original. Walter had been a publisher earlier, but since then has wasted quite a lot of money buying art. Elizabeth, on the other hand, has spent a lot of money on shoes & handbags. Mary is married to Tom Musgrave and is doing well. Ann, works in a publication house in NY and is the most practical of the family, shouldering the responsibility of Walter and Elizabeth’s well-being. Frederick Wentworth was earlier Ann’s boyfriend, but Ann felt she could not move with him to LA. She moved to New York for her job, and their relationship broke. Karen is her mentor and boss at work, and also advises her to focus on her career.
Frederick goes on to become a successful screenwriter, with one of his scripts borrowing from their experience. Ann is doing well at work and is highly regarded. As coincidence would have it, her company is to publish Frederick’s latest book. Frederick and Ann run into each other at a publishers’ conference and a book tour is to follow.
The central characters stay very true to their personalities in the original. I liked how the aspect of persuasion was tailored to a more likely scenario in modern times – Ann’s career priorities as compared to family standing. Louisa, Patrick, Seth, Karen & Mary are solid supporting characters. I felt Walter and Elizabeth’s characters behaviours could have been better explained. Overall, a nice & charming retelling, which I liked as much as the original.
My rating: 4.25 / 5.
The story is very faithful to the original with respect to the characters involved. The circumstances are very different – the entire story being told in a modern professional environment. Walter Elliot has three daughters – Elizabeth, Mary and Ann. His wife has passed away and he is struggling to cope since. This is largely Ann’s story, as with the original. Walter had been a publisher earlier, but since then has wasted quite a lot of money buying art. Elizabeth, on the other hand, has spent a lot of money on shoes & handbags. Mary is married to Tom Musgrave and is doing well. Ann, works in a publication house in NY and is the most practical of the family, shouldering the responsibility of Walter and Elizabeth’s well-being. Frederick Wentworth was earlier Ann’s boyfriend, but Ann felt she could not move with him to LA. She moved to New York for her job, and their relationship broke. Karen is her mentor and boss at work, and also advises her to focus on her career.
Frederick goes on to become a successful screenwriter, with one of his scripts borrowing from their experience. Ann is doing well at work and is highly regarded. As coincidence would have it, her company is to publish Frederick’s latest book. Frederick and Ann run into each other at a publishers’ conference and a book tour is to follow.
The central characters stay very true to their personalities in the original. I liked how the aspect of persuasion was tailored to a more likely scenario in modern times – Ann’s career priorities as compared to family standing. Louisa, Patrick, Seth, Karen & Mary are solid supporting characters. I felt Walter and Elizabeth’s characters behaviours could have been better explained. Overall, a nice & charming retelling, which I liked as much as the original.
My rating: 4.25 / 5.
September 9, 2017
She’s Persuaded She Can’t Have It All
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Source: Review Copy from Author
TYPE OF AUSTENESQUE NOVEL: Modern-day Persuasion
SETTING: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago Present-day
MAIN CHARACTERS:
– Emma Shaw (Anne): an editor for a big New York City publishing house
– Frederick Wentworth: a screenwriter who is publishing his first book through Emma’s publishing company
– Emma’s Friends and Family
– Frederick’s Friends and Family
SYNOPSIS:
After earning her degree from Northwestern University, Emma was faced with a big decision – marry her boyfriend of two years and follow him to LA, or break up with him and remain in NYC where her family is and her career can launch and prosper. Knowing that oftentimes relationship don’t last forever, Emma went with the more practical route and stayed in NYC. Eight years later Frederick is brought back into her life and his reappearance induces Emma to reflect upon the decision she made eight years ago. Does she regret it? Was her sacrifice worth it? Would she have found a career and happiness in LA?
WHAT I LOVED:
– Career and Family vs. Relationship: Emma’s struggle to accept Frederick’s proposal isn’t because he isn’t good enough or wealthy enough, it is more because Emma is afraid she won’t have a career or identity. Emma is persuaded a bit by her mentor, Karen Russell, who taught her that women can’t “have it all.” And while Emma enjoys some aspects of her career, she realizes that she isn’t completely satisfied with her life. I think this is definitely a conflict modern-day readers can relate to and understand. I’m sure everyone has had times where they ask themselves: “What do I want out of life?” “What is more important to me?” “What am willing to compromise?”
– Book and Movie World: I love that this story took place in the publishing industry! It was so much fun to attend PubCon, a publishing convention, and tag along on Frederick’s book tour! As an avid reader, I personally loved hearing all the details related to publishing and books! In addition, I loved that Frederick’s career was in screenwriting and that he shared some common interests with Emma.
– Digital Communications and Multimedia: I love how readers were privy to text exchanges between characters, and I thought Ms. Marks found a very clever and fun way to display these exchanges. In addition, I loved Frederick’s half agony/half hope letter (which I’ll divulge isn’t a letter!). It revealed a lot about his feelings, softened the reader’s feelings towards him, and was beautifully heartfelt.
– Fast-Paced and Focused: With short chapters and a quick moving plot this is the type of story you will want to read it one day! 🙂 I really liked how Ms. Marks was selective in her updated retelling of Persuasion. She didn’t utilize every character or event from Jane Austen’s story, she did what worked best for the story she wanted to tell. Some changes I enjoyed were seeing Emma have a little more backbone, Frederick’s gay best friend, and no Penelope Clay.
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
– Some Awkward Moments: Once in awhile I think some of the dialogue felt a little awkward or out-of-character. Like Emma announcing to work colleagues “I have to pee” or her outburst in front of non-family members. I know in our modern world people are more blunt and aren’t afraid to speak their mind, but I guess it felt a little not quite right to me. Emma doesn’t seem the type that would air family drama in front of everyone.
Note: Recommended for Mature Audiences due to the use of profanity in this story.
CONCLUSION:
Modern Persuasion was a wonderfully creative and thoughtful modernization of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. I love how Ms. Marks found a unique way to translate this story to our modern-day world and thoroughly enjoyed my time with her characters! I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what she writes next!
Austenesque Reviews
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Source: Review Copy from Author
TYPE OF AUSTENESQUE NOVEL: Modern-day Persuasion
SETTING: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago Present-day
MAIN CHARACTERS:
– Emma Shaw (Anne): an editor for a big New York City publishing house
– Frederick Wentworth: a screenwriter who is publishing his first book through Emma’s publishing company
– Emma’s Friends and Family
– Frederick’s Friends and Family
SYNOPSIS:
After earning her degree from Northwestern University, Emma was faced with a big decision – marry her boyfriend of two years and follow him to LA, or break up with him and remain in NYC where her family is and her career can launch and prosper. Knowing that oftentimes relationship don’t last forever, Emma went with the more practical route and stayed in NYC. Eight years later Frederick is brought back into her life and his reappearance induces Emma to reflect upon the decision she made eight years ago. Does she regret it? Was her sacrifice worth it? Would she have found a career and happiness in LA?
WHAT I LOVED:
– Career and Family vs. Relationship: Emma’s struggle to accept Frederick’s proposal isn’t because he isn’t good enough or wealthy enough, it is more because Emma is afraid she won’t have a career or identity. Emma is persuaded a bit by her mentor, Karen Russell, who taught her that women can’t “have it all.” And while Emma enjoys some aspects of her career, she realizes that she isn’t completely satisfied with her life. I think this is definitely a conflict modern-day readers can relate to and understand. I’m sure everyone has had times where they ask themselves: “What do I want out of life?” “What is more important to me?” “What am willing to compromise?”
– Book and Movie World: I love that this story took place in the publishing industry! It was so much fun to attend PubCon, a publishing convention, and tag along on Frederick’s book tour! As an avid reader, I personally loved hearing all the details related to publishing and books! In addition, I loved that Frederick’s career was in screenwriting and that he shared some common interests with Emma.
– Digital Communications and Multimedia: I love how readers were privy to text exchanges between characters, and I thought Ms. Marks found a very clever and fun way to display these exchanges. In addition, I loved Frederick’s half agony/half hope letter (which I’ll divulge isn’t a letter!). It revealed a lot about his feelings, softened the reader’s feelings towards him, and was beautifully heartfelt.
– Fast-Paced and Focused: With short chapters and a quick moving plot this is the type of story you will want to read it one day! 🙂 I really liked how Ms. Marks was selective in her updated retelling of Persuasion. She didn’t utilize every character or event from Jane Austen’s story, she did what worked best for the story she wanted to tell. Some changes I enjoyed were seeing Emma have a little more backbone, Frederick’s gay best friend, and no Penelope Clay.
WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:
– Some Awkward Moments: Once in awhile I think some of the dialogue felt a little awkward or out-of-character. Like Emma announcing to work colleagues “I have to pee” or her outburst in front of non-family members. I know in our modern world people are more blunt and aren’t afraid to speak their mind, but I guess it felt a little not quite right to me. Emma doesn’t seem the type that would air family drama in front of everyone.
Note: Recommended for Mature Audiences due to the use of profanity in this story.
CONCLUSION:
Modern Persuasion was a wonderfully creative and thoughtful modernization of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. I love how Ms. Marks found a unique way to translate this story to our modern-day world and thoroughly enjoyed my time with her characters! I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what she writes next!
Austenesque Reviews
May 30, 2017
I followed the blog tour for this book and then in looking at my Wish List on Amazon and realizing this book was available through Kindle Unlimited I borrowed it, not waiting to see if I won it from the raffles on those blogs: I am so glad I went ahead and did so. This book has me on the verge of tears and wanting to motivate others to also read this.
Persuasion is my second favorite Jane Austen book. I adore the "Half Agony/Half Hope" letter in canon and wondered how or even if another author could come close to duplicating that letter without quoting it verbatim. This author met the challenge!
Many of the names are the same BUT Anne becomes Emma. At first I had to keep reminding myself as to who was who as there are new characters also and some with similarities but different relationships or half the name they have in canon, i.e., Lady Russell becomes Karen Russell.
I was amazed at how close to canon's outline/canon's premise this modern adaptation managed to cling. Oh, there are some big differences. For instance: Emma is successful in her career; so much so that authors are demanding that she be written into their contracts as the one with whom they will work. She is nicknamed the Queen of Book Tours.
And it is a book tour that will bring her into contact on a daily basis with her old flame, Fredrick Wentworth, known only by her as Freddy...until Louisa Musgrove, her intern, decides that is what she will call him. Yes, this Louisa is the one he seems to flirt with on that tour while everyone seems to "LOVE" Emma...even one of Fredrick's gay friends/associates. Oh, how I loved that interaction!
We have "Thing 1 & Thing 2", Emma's nephews, who seem to need as much attention as their mother, Mary. Emma's father's family, the Shaws, have owned a publishing company for years, so Emma had been raised learning about publishing and editing books. It is at the PubCon Convention, the largest publishing conference in North America, that she sees Fredrick again and then when his book tour manager, Christi, is injured by a raving fan Emma is forced to replace her on the tour. It is a national tour and the last stop before returning to NYC is in Chicago, where they both attended college, met, became roommates and fell in love. Emma finds the memories she tried for 8 years to bury were not erased.
After their breakup Fredrick screenwrote a movie in which a man dates an actress and she leaves him for another man. Emma "knows" he wrote it to purge his soul of any remembrance of her and to send her a message that he is over her. She refused to move to LA where his career must be based while she refused to leave NYC where her future has always meant to be located...it is the mecca for publishing. There is no middle ground.
Many are those who have observations to make about Emma and Fredrick. And she has had her hands full with managing a father who is just about bankrupt and a jobless sister whose life goal seem to be to fill a room with designer shoes and handbags. So her career and her family tie her to NYC.
The quandary we read of is can she ever cut the apron strings to her family and are there any career possibilities on the west coast? And for Fredrick: can he accept that she has at least one foot planted in NYC? Have careers derailed any possibility of a love life together?
This was a pleasure to read and I recommend it to all.
Persuasion is my second favorite Jane Austen book. I adore the "Half Agony/Half Hope" letter in canon and wondered how or even if another author could come close to duplicating that letter without quoting it verbatim. This author met the challenge!
Many of the names are the same BUT Anne becomes Emma. At first I had to keep reminding myself as to who was who as there are new characters also and some with similarities but different relationships or half the name they have in canon, i.e., Lady Russell becomes Karen Russell.
I was amazed at how close to canon's outline/canon's premise this modern adaptation managed to cling. Oh, there are some big differences. For instance: Emma is successful in her career; so much so that authors are demanding that she be written into their contracts as the one with whom they will work. She is nicknamed the Queen of Book Tours.
And it is a book tour that will bring her into contact on a daily basis with her old flame, Fredrick Wentworth, known only by her as Freddy...until Louisa Musgrove, her intern, decides that is what she will call him. Yes, this Louisa is the one he seems to flirt with on that tour while everyone seems to "LOVE" Emma...even one of Fredrick's gay friends/associates. Oh, how I loved that interaction!
We have "Thing 1 & Thing 2", Emma's nephews, who seem to need as much attention as their mother, Mary. Emma's father's family, the Shaws, have owned a publishing company for years, so Emma had been raised learning about publishing and editing books. It is at the PubCon Convention, the largest publishing conference in North America, that she sees Fredrick again and then when his book tour manager, Christi, is injured by a raving fan Emma is forced to replace her on the tour. It is a national tour and the last stop before returning to NYC is in Chicago, where they both attended college, met, became roommates and fell in love. Emma finds the memories she tried for 8 years to bury were not erased.
After their breakup Fredrick screenwrote a movie in which a man dates an actress and she leaves him for another man. Emma "knows" he wrote it to purge his soul of any remembrance of her and to send her a message that he is over her. She refused to move to LA where his career must be based while she refused to leave NYC where her future has always meant to be located...it is the mecca for publishing. There is no middle ground.
Many are those who have observations to make about Emma and Fredrick. And she has had her hands full with managing a father who is just about bankrupt and a jobless sister whose life goal seem to be to fill a room with designer shoes and handbags. So her career and her family tie her to NYC.
The quandary we read of is can she ever cut the apron strings to her family and are there any career possibilities on the west coast? And for Fredrick: can he accept that she has at least one foot planted in NYC? Have careers derailed any possibility of a love life together?
This was a pleasure to read and I recommend it to all.
February 26, 2018
Austen's Persuasion translated into the 21st century quite easily with a good old-fashioned second chance romance full of the usual miscues, sizzling glances across the room, and lots of regret and bittersweet memories of the past all set against the world of book publishing.
Each time I get my hands on a modern retelling, I think what hooks me in initially is my overwhelming curiosity of how the author will describe the characters and what will be the setting. The book publishing industry was an interesting choice here and one not entirely unfamiliar especially when they were out on the book tour. Emma (aka Anne) is an accomplished editor and has all the makings of a brilliant publisher if her boss would only loosen up on the reins and let her follow her head. She has the gift of picking bestsellers and making an author golden. Her parents were industry legends though her dad is not doing well since his wife's death. And... neither is Emma, really, as she is content to tread water indefinitely.
On the flip side, there is Fredrick, the guy Emma walked away from when he wanted her to follow him to LA and live a life together. He went on to screenwrite a popular movie and now is a bestselling author on a book tour through Emma's publishing house. Oh my, that reunion meet cute was as cringe-worthy as you imagine and the awkward tour was a test in fortitude for both Freddy and Emma.
Overall, I thought this was a great tribute to the original story while also proving it was a solid original piece of its own. It has Persuasion nuances, but it didn't take long for me to realize that Emma is no self-effacing Anne who is loaded down with regret all around. Emma has one regret, but also has lots of non-regrets, too. She followed her dreams and is good at what she does with quite a bit of respect and admiration in the world she inhabits. Fredrick might be the Hollywood writer, but really, it is Emma who is the success story here that everyone in the book industry is buzzing about. I say that because this is the dynamic that is the domino effect changing things all the way through.
This is a romance, but it is also very much a women's fiction. This is Emma's story of what she does when she gets the chance at a reset. She is confronted with her past in a visceral way and spends a great deal of time pondering if she made the right decision back when she was twenty-two and fresh out of college, if the past should be left in the past, or, as many are hinting, is this a new opportunity eight years later because she is in a different place in her life as is Fredrick and what does it matter if he still hates her.
I think this more put together Anne figure will appeal to more people. Those who adore Persuasion and don't mind it set in modern day will read it and have a good time, but I think this is also for those who might not have liked the meeker Anne of Austen's novel, but would enjoy her 2.0 version in Emma. And drunk Emma is really quite the woman to be reckoned with, let me tell you.
So, yes, I was well pleased with Modern Persuasion and feel it has strong appeal for contemporary romance and women's fiction fans alike whether or not the reader has read or watched a tv adaption of Austen's Persuasion or not.
My thanks to Lola's Blog Tours and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Each time I get my hands on a modern retelling, I think what hooks me in initially is my overwhelming curiosity of how the author will describe the characters and what will be the setting. The book publishing industry was an interesting choice here and one not entirely unfamiliar especially when they were out on the book tour. Emma (aka Anne) is an accomplished editor and has all the makings of a brilliant publisher if her boss would only loosen up on the reins and let her follow her head. She has the gift of picking bestsellers and making an author golden. Her parents were industry legends though her dad is not doing well since his wife's death. And... neither is Emma, really, as she is content to tread water indefinitely.
On the flip side, there is Fredrick, the guy Emma walked away from when he wanted her to follow him to LA and live a life together. He went on to screenwrite a popular movie and now is a bestselling author on a book tour through Emma's publishing house. Oh my, that reunion meet cute was as cringe-worthy as you imagine and the awkward tour was a test in fortitude for both Freddy and Emma.
Overall, I thought this was a great tribute to the original story while also proving it was a solid original piece of its own. It has Persuasion nuances, but it didn't take long for me to realize that Emma is no self-effacing Anne who is loaded down with regret all around. Emma has one regret, but also has lots of non-regrets, too. She followed her dreams and is good at what she does with quite a bit of respect and admiration in the world she inhabits. Fredrick might be the Hollywood writer, but really, it is Emma who is the success story here that everyone in the book industry is buzzing about. I say that because this is the dynamic that is the domino effect changing things all the way through.
This is a romance, but it is also very much a women's fiction. This is Emma's story of what she does when she gets the chance at a reset. She is confronted with her past in a visceral way and spends a great deal of time pondering if she made the right decision back when she was twenty-two and fresh out of college, if the past should be left in the past, or, as many are hinting, is this a new opportunity eight years later because she is in a different place in her life as is Fredrick and what does it matter if he still hates her.
I think this more put together Anne figure will appeal to more people. Those who adore Persuasion and don't mind it set in modern day will read it and have a good time, but I think this is also for those who might not have liked the meeker Anne of Austen's novel, but would enjoy her 2.0 version in Emma. And drunk Emma is really quite the woman to be reckoned with, let me tell you.
So, yes, I was well pleased with Modern Persuasion and feel it has strong appeal for contemporary romance and women's fiction fans alike whether or not the reader has read or watched a tv adaption of Austen's Persuasion or not.
My thanks to Lola's Blog Tours and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 17, 2024
The plot's structure is an overall okay modern adaptation of JA's Persuasion. But I'm personally not a fan of Emma and Frederick barely interacting at all and their one major interaction before getting together just happens to be them fighting. Pining for a lost love from afar works in regency era but not in a modern setting where we don't have to follow weird rules of decorum. I guess I'm also not a fan of this high and alcoholic Frederick Wentworth. Could have worked if it was fleshed out more to give his character more complexity but it was just mentioned as a coping mechanism and was easily shrugged off. I'm honestly surprised I was able to finish this despite wanting to DNF it as early as chapter 2.
January 1, 2025
As a huge fan of Austen I was stepping into this story with a half a heart because I felt that it wouldn't be as much as good. Don't! Just don't compare! And dive in! Yes it is a retelling but I loved the slow burn with a modern twist. And though I LOVE Pride & Prejudice, Persuasion had always an appeal to me that I can't resist. Maybe I'm more into the unrequited love trope? As a mood reader I can't even answer. Anyway, this one story is a must for any Austen fan or not out there.
Read
November 3, 2017Modern Persuasion by Sara Marks takes Jane Austen’s Persuasion into the present day. Emma Shaw (Anne Elliot) is an editor at the publishing house run by family friend Karen Russell, who is grooming Emma to take over the imprint run by her father, Walter Shaw. Somehow Emma manages to sort out her father’s and sister Elizabeth’s financial troubles, cater to her needy sister Mary, and get everything in order for PubCon. She’s hit hard by the appearance of Frederick Wentworth, who is there to promote his new book before going on tour.
Circumstances conspire to put Emma in charge of Frederick’s book tour, which makes for some awkward situations given that they haven’t been in touch since she turned down his marriage proposal eight years ago. Emma holds it together the best she can as she and Frederick, accompanied by his friend Patrick and her assistant Louisa, go from city to city barely speaking to one another, and definitely not addressing their unresolved feelings.
Marks’ knowledge and appreciation of Austen’s novel shines through in her retelling. I recognized Anne and Captain Wentworth in her Emma and Frederick (though I wonder why her name was changed to Emma). I liked the setting of the novel, the various cities on the book tour and then in Cape Cod, and how Marks translated the obstacles faced by the characters into modern times and made them feel real and relevant. However, some of the scenes could’ve been fleshed out with some dialogue, and some of the repetitive elements at the end could have been eliminated.
Even so, I enjoyed Modern Persuasion. It was fresh and fun, a fast-paced read, and I always enjoy when authors are inspired by an Austen novel other than Pride and Prejudice.
Review posted on Diary of an Eccentric
Circumstances conspire to put Emma in charge of Frederick’s book tour, which makes for some awkward situations given that they haven’t been in touch since she turned down his marriage proposal eight years ago. Emma holds it together the best she can as she and Frederick, accompanied by his friend Patrick and her assistant Louisa, go from city to city barely speaking to one another, and definitely not addressing their unresolved feelings.
Marks’ knowledge and appreciation of Austen’s novel shines through in her retelling. I recognized Anne and Captain Wentworth in her Emma and Frederick (though I wonder why her name was changed to Emma). I liked the setting of the novel, the various cities on the book tour and then in Cape Cod, and how Marks translated the obstacles faced by the characters into modern times and made them feel real and relevant. However, some of the scenes could’ve been fleshed out with some dialogue, and some of the repetitive elements at the end could have been eliminated.
Even so, I enjoyed Modern Persuasion. It was fresh and fun, a fast-paced read, and I always enjoy when authors are inspired by an Austen novel other than Pride and Prejudice.
Review posted on Diary of an Eccentric
January 4, 2018
I have never read any Austen other than Pride and Prejudice, but this chick lit retelling of Persuasion was easy to get into despite never having read the original. I liked the setting in the publishing world and enjoyed Emma's character and having her thrust back into traveling on a book tour with Frederick, whose proposal she rejected 8 years before after being persuaded by her family and mother-figure Karen.
As far as the audiobook goes, the narration was great for Emma and Frederick, but some of the secondary character voices ranged from stereotypical (the ditzy valley girl portrayal of Luisa), to downright offensive (the overly dramatic lispy portrayal of Patrick).
As far as the audiobook goes, the narration was great for Emma and Frederick, but some of the secondary character voices ranged from stereotypical (the ditzy valley girl portrayal of Luisa), to downright offensive (the overly dramatic lispy portrayal of Patrick).
January 2, 2018
You can look at my review that goes more in depth in the following link: https://thehufflepuffnerdette.wordpre...
April 21, 2020
Let's write it!
4.5 stars out of 5
Very nice modern variation of "Persuasion".
A nice setting and good characters.
I like how Wentworth ends up in LA and Emma (Anne Elliot) in NYC. I really like Patrick and even if she is very annoying, Louisa too.
Mary Musgrove is a good character but Elizabeth is always Elizabeth.
I love the way that Wentworth expresses his feelings :D
4.5 stars out of 5
Very nice modern variation of "Persuasion".
A nice setting and good characters.
I like how Wentworth ends up in LA and Emma (Anne Elliot) in NYC. I really like Patrick and even if she is very annoying, Louisa too.
Mary Musgrove is a good character but Elizabeth is always Elizabeth.
I love the way that Wentworth expresses his feelings :D
July 6, 2024
DNF.
This was quite possibly the worst writing I have ever read. The irony— the main character was an editor, and this book was in desperate need of an editor. 0/10 recommend.
This was quite possibly the worst writing I have ever read. The irony— the main character was an editor, and this book was in desperate need of an editor. 0/10 recommend.
July 22, 2018
I can never get enough of Jane Austen and enjoy reading the fan fiction to get more of Austen in my life. Most of the fan fiction of read has been based on P&P so when I saw Persuasion I jumped at the chance to try one of her other works.
When I read fan fiction I like it to stay true to the style of JA and tend to prefer those written in the Regency Era to modernizations but I've read some modern ones I've really liked too. This modernization had good bones in that the financial ruin and the separation of Emma and Frederick made sense in a modern world. But after that it lost me. For one, why change her name to Emma Shaw and why ever call him Freddy instead of Frederick? I had a hard time getting past that from the start. But really what ruined the book for me was that it no longer sounded like an Austen book. Between throwing around the F-bomb and Emma trying to get Freddy in bed when they were both roaring drunk I was completely put off and had no desire to attempt reading the rest of the book. I am not even sure how far along I was when I pushed delete on my Kindle but it wasn't terribly far.
Disappointing but this was not enough like Austen for me.
When I read fan fiction I like it to stay true to the style of JA and tend to prefer those written in the Regency Era to modernizations but I've read some modern ones I've really liked too. This modernization had good bones in that the financial ruin and the separation of Emma and Frederick made sense in a modern world. But after that it lost me. For one, why change her name to Emma Shaw and why ever call him Freddy instead of Frederick? I had a hard time getting past that from the start. But really what ruined the book for me was that it no longer sounded like an Austen book. Between throwing around the F-bomb and Emma trying to get Freddy in bed when they were both roaring drunk I was completely put off and had no desire to attempt reading the rest of the book. I am not even sure how far along I was when I pushed delete on my Kindle but it wasn't terribly far.
Disappointing but this was not enough like Austen for me.
Read
October 15, 2019The best thing about Jane Austen is her stunning social critique. All retellings always focus on the love story with nothing really providing any delight but the eventual happy ending. This one is short, employs about a total of 1,000 words, does not develop the characters, and messes up the feminist message that most Austen books carry so persuasively.
June 2, 2023
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I love anything and everything Austen!
This modernisation of a classic was a really great read. I loved the original so was most definitely intrigued when I saw it available via BookSprout.
The authenticity of this variation was something I really found comforting. It can sometimes be an intimidating thought to dive into classics made modern but this book did not disappoint. I have to be honest and say my expectations going into this we’re not exceptionally high, Persuasion is not my favourite Austen story ( I love them all don’t get me wrong ) but I enjoyed this refreshing take on it. There were plenty of classic references that I think for Austen fans makes this a much more accessible read.
I found the dynamics of the characters really interesting. Although I didn’t quite understand the need to change the female MCs name from the classic Anne to Emma, she seems to be a strong willed woman which is different to that of Anne Elliot in the original. She is confident in the decisions she has made for herself which gives the MC a much more positive attitude, which reinforces Austen’s portrayal of self assured heroines in her books faithfully.
There was a great feeling of self awareness in this book that made me almost proud to be reading it.
This book is an enjoyable experience. Speaking from one Jane Austen fan to another (which I’m assuming you are because you are reading this review) I would recommend this as an enjoyable ride to embrace the joys of Austen whilst exploring a different interpretation of the classic.
I love anything and everything Austen!
This modernisation of a classic was a really great read. I loved the original so was most definitely intrigued when I saw it available via BookSprout.
The authenticity of this variation was something I really found comforting. It can sometimes be an intimidating thought to dive into classics made modern but this book did not disappoint. I have to be honest and say my expectations going into this we’re not exceptionally high, Persuasion is not my favourite Austen story ( I love them all don’t get me wrong ) but I enjoyed this refreshing take on it. There were plenty of classic references that I think for Austen fans makes this a much more accessible read.
I found the dynamics of the characters really interesting. Although I didn’t quite understand the need to change the female MCs name from the classic Anne to Emma, she seems to be a strong willed woman which is different to that of Anne Elliot in the original. She is confident in the decisions she has made for herself which gives the MC a much more positive attitude, which reinforces Austen’s portrayal of self assured heroines in her books faithfully.
There was a great feeling of self awareness in this book that made me almost proud to be reading it.
This book is an enjoyable experience. Speaking from one Jane Austen fan to another (which I’m assuming you are because you are reading this review) I would recommend this as an enjoyable ride to embrace the joys of Austen whilst exploring a different interpretation of the classic.
May 31, 2017
I'm a confirmed Janeite and a member of JASNA! This author know Jane's Persuasion very well. She used her knowledge of the original novel to create this modern rendition! A delightful book to read!
I'm not always enamored with retellings of Austen's work but this book is an exception! The author subtly included key storylines from Austen to her modern story with clever twists. It wasn't at all awkward or ridiculous. Rather, the new novel was most enjoyable and fun to read especially if one is both a Jane fan and one who likes second chances.
The story came together nicely and has a satisfying conclusion.
My only question for Sara is why she chose the name, Emma, for the protagonist? I understand why she didn't name her Anne Elliott. However, since Emma is the main character and title of another Austen novel, it would seem that another name could have been chosen for this character.
Thanks for writing this book! I look forward to reading your next novel!
Gail H.
I'm not always enamored with retellings of Austen's work but this book is an exception! The author subtly included key storylines from Austen to her modern story with clever twists. It wasn't at all awkward or ridiculous. Rather, the new novel was most enjoyable and fun to read especially if one is both a Jane fan and one who likes second chances.
The story came together nicely and has a satisfying conclusion.
My only question for Sara is why she chose the name, Emma, for the protagonist? I understand why she didn't name her Anne Elliott. However, since Emma is the main character and title of another Austen novel, it would seem that another name could have been chosen for this character.
Thanks for writing this book! I look forward to reading your next novel!
Gail H.
August 25, 2025
This book was kinda mid!
I took me soooo long to finish just because it wasn't very interesting.
The writing was good but the plot seemed to add up to nothing. It was just a full book of nothing and then after one chapter everything changed and suddenly they loved each other again.
This is truly a great example of my complicated relationship with romance books and it just wasn't for me, I fell like it added nothing to my life and I've forgotten most of it already.
I took me soooo long to finish just because it wasn't very interesting.
The writing was good but the plot seemed to add up to nothing. It was just a full book of nothing and then after one chapter everything changed and suddenly they loved each other again.
This is truly a great example of my complicated relationship with romance books and it just wasn't for me, I fell like it added nothing to my life and I've forgotten most of it already.
December 17, 2025
Persuasione in chiave moderna ambientato nel mondo dell'editoria (un mondo dell'editoria molto americano, a mio avviso). Emma Shaw ha studiato a Chicago e negli ultimi due anni ha convissuto con il suo coinquilino, Frederick Wentworth, che è diventato qualcosa di più. Dopo la laurea lui le chiede di sposarlo e di seguirlo a Los Angeles, ma Emma è una newyorkese che punta a lavorare nella casa editrice del padre e - dal momento che sono ancora tutti molto prostrati per la morte della madre - sa di non poter deludere la sua famiglia. In particolare, Karen, l'amica del cuore della madre, la dissuade dall'accettare la proposta, perché tutto il mercato editoriale è concentrato su New York. Il padre, nel frattempo, ha fatto spese folli in oggetti d'arte non sempre di valore e non è più riuscito a lavorare come un tempo, mentre Elizabeth, che non lavora, continua a spendere una cifra esorbitante in scarpe e borse.
Frederick, invece, appena tornato a Los Angeles, scrive di getto una sceneggiatura che diventa un film famosissimo, in cui viene raccontata la loro storia, anche se Emma è trasformata in una vera str...ega. Ora - dieci anni dopo - Frederick è una persona di successo e ha pubblicato un libro proprio con la casa editrice di Emma, ma - sebbene Emma sia la editor più ricercata dalla sua casa editrice - il compito di revisionare il romanzo è andato a Christie, un'altra editor.
Frederick dovrebbe partire per un tour promozionale del libro in tutti gli Stati Uniti con Louisa Musgrove e Christie, ma quest'ultima si infortuna e così è Emma a partire con Frederick, che la fa ingelosire flirtando con Louisa. La tensione tra i due ex è palpabile tanto che, a un certo punto, arriva da Los Angeles Patrick, il migliore amico di Frederick. Eh sì, perché, mentre sulla East Coast nessuno sa che Frederick è l'ex ragazzo di Emma, a Los Angeles lo sanno proprio tutti che il personaggio di Anne del film è basato proprio su Emma. Quando giungono a Los Angeles, Emma conosce l'ambiente in cui avrebbe vissuto se avesse accettato la proposta di Frederick. Inoltre, ha un colloquio con un vecchio amico di suo padre, che ha messo su una casa editrice abbastanza valida, anche se non ha come sede New York. Emma si rende conto che il mondo dell'editoria sta cambiando e valuta di prendere seriamente in considerazione la proposta dell'uomo di lavorare per lui, anche perché, pian piano, a mano a mano che il tour procede, scopre che Karen non si è comportata benissimo con lei, e che le sue scelte di tenerla all'oscuro di alcune dinamiche rischiano di mettere a repentaglio la carriera di Emma.
Lyme Regis
Questo romanzo mi ha fatto vedere la scelta di Anne/Emma e la persuasione di Lady Russell/Karen sotto un nuovo punto di vista. Le eroine austeniane appaiono come ragazze ostinate per l'epoca perché hanno una volontà propria e, malgrado la società pretendesse che fossero delle persone miti e ubbidienti ai dettami del padre o del loro tutore legale - maschio, naturalmente - volevano poter compiere le loro scelte per trovare la felicità, o comunque la serenità domestica (dal momento che era l'unica che potevano raggiungere). Per Anne Elliot, invece, la scelta viene inficiata grossolanamente dalla persuasione della donna a cui vuole bene come a una madre, che però ha una visione molto limitata delle opzioni che Anne avrebbe e che la trattiene egoisticamente al suo fianco senza lasciarle la possibilità di fare una scelta forse sbagliata, ma comunque indipendente. Per otto anni, Anne (dieci per Emma, in questo caso), ha avuto modo di rimpiangere la scelta fatta, di rendersi conto che forse la rifarebbe, perché non era una scelta tanto sbagliata, ma che, se potesse tornare indietro, avrebbe comunque fatto in modo da lasciarsi uno spiraglio aperto a quella possibilità, facendo in modo che non tutti i rapporti con Frederick venissero recisi. In questo romanzo, però, Karen influisce sulla scelta di Emma non per il bene della sua pupilla, ma per egoismo, per il desiderio di ricreare con Emma quel bellissimo rapporto che aveva con sua madre. Ma Emma non è sua madre, anche se le somiglia tantissimo nell'intelligenza e nel carattere! E questo mi ha davvero indignata, facendomi pensare che anche Lady Russell in Persuasione non abbia influito sulla scelta di Anne per il suo bene ma che, anche in quel caso, ci sia stato un pizzico di egoismo, proprio come quando Emma fa rifiutare a Harriet Smith la proposta di Robert Martin perché così sarebbe troppo umile per lei e non potrebbe più frequentarla per snobismo.
Frederick, invece, appena tornato a Los Angeles, scrive di getto una sceneggiatura che diventa un film famosissimo, in cui viene raccontata la loro storia, anche se Emma è trasformata in una vera str...ega. Ora - dieci anni dopo - Frederick è una persona di successo e ha pubblicato un libro proprio con la casa editrice di Emma, ma - sebbene Emma sia la editor più ricercata dalla sua casa editrice - il compito di revisionare il romanzo è andato a Christie, un'altra editor.
Frederick dovrebbe partire per un tour promozionale del libro in tutti gli Stati Uniti con Louisa Musgrove e Christie, ma quest'ultima si infortuna e così è Emma a partire con Frederick, che la fa ingelosire flirtando con Louisa. La tensione tra i due ex è palpabile tanto che, a un certo punto, arriva da Los Angeles Patrick, il migliore amico di Frederick. Eh sì, perché, mentre sulla East Coast nessuno sa che Frederick è l'ex ragazzo di Emma, a Los Angeles lo sanno proprio tutti che il personaggio di Anne del film è basato proprio su Emma. Quando giungono a Los Angeles, Emma conosce l'ambiente in cui avrebbe vissuto se avesse accettato la proposta di Frederick. Inoltre, ha un colloquio con un vecchio amico di suo padre, che ha messo su una casa editrice abbastanza valida, anche se non ha come sede New York. Emma si rende conto che il mondo dell'editoria sta cambiando e valuta di prendere seriamente in considerazione la proposta dell'uomo di lavorare per lui, anche perché, pian piano, a mano a mano che il tour procede, scopre che Karen non si è comportata benissimo con lei, e che le sue scelte di tenerla all'oscuro di alcune dinamiche rischiano di mettere a repentaglio la carriera di Emma.
Lyme Regis
Questo romanzo mi ha fatto vedere la scelta di Anne/Emma e la persuasione di Lady Russell/Karen sotto un nuovo punto di vista. Le eroine austeniane appaiono come ragazze ostinate per l'epoca perché hanno una volontà propria e, malgrado la società pretendesse che fossero delle persone miti e ubbidienti ai dettami del padre o del loro tutore legale - maschio, naturalmente - volevano poter compiere le loro scelte per trovare la felicità, o comunque la serenità domestica (dal momento che era l'unica che potevano raggiungere). Per Anne Elliot, invece, la scelta viene inficiata grossolanamente dalla persuasione della donna a cui vuole bene come a una madre, che però ha una visione molto limitata delle opzioni che Anne avrebbe e che la trattiene egoisticamente al suo fianco senza lasciarle la possibilità di fare una scelta forse sbagliata, ma comunque indipendente. Per otto anni, Anne (dieci per Emma, in questo caso), ha avuto modo di rimpiangere la scelta fatta, di rendersi conto che forse la rifarebbe, perché non era una scelta tanto sbagliata, ma che, se potesse tornare indietro, avrebbe comunque fatto in modo da lasciarsi uno spiraglio aperto a quella possibilità, facendo in modo che non tutti i rapporti con Frederick venissero recisi. In questo romanzo, però, Karen influisce sulla scelta di Emma non per il bene della sua pupilla, ma per egoismo, per il desiderio di ricreare con Emma quel bellissimo rapporto che aveva con sua madre. Ma Emma non è sua madre, anche se le somiglia tantissimo nell'intelligenza e nel carattere! E questo mi ha davvero indignata, facendomi pensare che anche Lady Russell in Persuasione non abbia influito sulla scelta di Anne per il suo bene ma che, anche in quel caso, ci sia stato un pizzico di egoismo, proprio come quando Emma fa rifiutare a Harriet Smith la proposta di Robert Martin perché così sarebbe troppo umile per lei e non potrebbe più frequentarla per snobismo.
October 1, 2023
bad retelling
I normally love persuasion retelling, but I just really did not like this one. I hated the male lead for 90% of the book. He spends the time he should be showing off drowning his misery in drugs and alcohol - not an admirable character. No sex, but language and lots of drug and alcohol use. I couldn’t understand why she was even in love with him, and honestly him either. Just basically pick up where they left off - they didn’t seem like a good match despite having an ENTIRE book to do so.
I normally love persuasion retelling, but I just really did not like this one. I hated the male lead for 90% of the book. He spends the time he should be showing off drowning his misery in drugs and alcohol - not an admirable character. No sex, but language and lots of drug and alcohol use. I couldn’t understand why she was even in love with him, and honestly him either. Just basically pick up where they left off - they didn’t seem like a good match despite having an ENTIRE book to do so.
June 29, 2017
Loved this retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion. The characters are re-worked well into the modern day American culture.
The setting was especially fun as it is in the world of publishing with behind-the-scenes book tour and author event details as well as romance shenanigans thrown in.
It was amusing to read the description of experiences at the fictional publishing convention, PubCon. Anyone who has attended BEA can relate.
The romance pacing was similarly and properly drawn out.
The setting was especially fun as it is in the world of publishing with behind-the-scenes book tour and author event details as well as romance shenanigans thrown in.
It was amusing to read the description of experiences at the fictional publishing convention, PubCon. Anyone who has attended BEA can relate.
The romance pacing was similarly and properly drawn out.
June 23, 2017
Read this book in one sitting. I loved how the author dropped Persuasion into the modern world of book publishing! So cool. While I think there are some things that could use a bit of work, the book was a fun and enjoyable read, and great for fans of Jane Austen's Persuasion.
March 18, 2022
I have read this at least 3 times... not including the time I wrote it. My review is probably biased...
May 12, 2020
Why did she actually cried throughout the entire thing???
November 21, 2020
I actually hate myself for thinking I might like this.
February 14, 2025
A modern version of Jane Austen’s Persuasion that takes place in the publishing world, including a large conference and a book tour. Emma and Frederick were a couple that routed for throughout the novel. I did not appreciate the way the family handled their grief. The family dynamics of the Shaw family was a lot.
Page 29 - He had given no thought to me when he entered the world I left him to be part of.
Page 33 - The first person to read it, an ex-girlfriend, provided the encouragement I needed when I needed it the most. Even though the book sat untouched for almost ten years, the support she gave me has fueled my entire career. Even now, I don't think I would be so successful if it hadn't been for her."
Page 75 - I have to say the number one barrier in a lasting relationship with me is a weakness of character. If a woman can easily be persuaded by her friends and family to do something she doesn't really want, then she and I won't make a good pair."
Page 75 - my career seemed to be taking five steps back. I was supposed to be working with authors to create the best version of their books and publish them. Now I was babysitting a celebrity author, who also happened to be my ex, on his book tour with his publisher and an intern.
Page 106 - "I always know I'm in control of how awesome I am. If I make a wrong decision, I don't regret it. I just change things. It's never too late to change things, Emma."
Page 120 - but you two are having a passive-aggressive-off." "What does that mean?" "You're brooding, moping, and constantly emotionally overwhelmed. This is not healthy for anyone. He's doing that too, but with pot and beer.
Page 129 - "Yeah, I don't care. What I find amusing," Louisa said. "Every time you say it, Freddy mouths it along with you in perfect time and then laughs to himself."
Page 146 - She often told me her life hadn't begun until she thought it was over.
Page 181 - In my experience, women suffer more when a relationship ends. Men just seem to move on."
Page 181 - Women may know how to emote better, but we hold on to each broken heart. When we have loved someone, we compare every person to them. How many women stay in bad relationships because they're in love? Even if there is no chance in the world for a reunion with the one she loves, a woman will always live in a state of hope that it could happen and agony that it hasn't.
Page 198 - The reason Abby and I broke up was the reason I broke up with every other woman in the past eight years. None of them was the one woman I wanted.
Page 208 - Louisa shook her head. "No, she's a house daughter." "What the hell is that?" Seth said, laughing. "Like a housewife, except she is the daughter and doesn't even cook or clean."
Page 208 - Plus, my nephews are all types of adorable, but we call them Thing One and Thing Two for a reason. It's total Cat in the Hat chaos with them.
Page 218 - You watched your father grieve the death of your mother for the past fifteen years, and you can't even see my grief over losing you.
Page 218 - If you have read this far, please end my suffering. I am half agony, half hope.
Page 29 - He had given no thought to me when he entered the world I left him to be part of.
Page 33 - The first person to read it, an ex-girlfriend, provided the encouragement I needed when I needed it the most. Even though the book sat untouched for almost ten years, the support she gave me has fueled my entire career. Even now, I don't think I would be so successful if it hadn't been for her."
Page 75 - I have to say the number one barrier in a lasting relationship with me is a weakness of character. If a woman can easily be persuaded by her friends and family to do something she doesn't really want, then she and I won't make a good pair."
Page 75 - my career seemed to be taking five steps back. I was supposed to be working with authors to create the best version of their books and publish them. Now I was babysitting a celebrity author, who also happened to be my ex, on his book tour with his publisher and an intern.
Page 106 - "I always know I'm in control of how awesome I am. If I make a wrong decision, I don't regret it. I just change things. It's never too late to change things, Emma."
Page 120 - but you two are having a passive-aggressive-off." "What does that mean?" "You're brooding, moping, and constantly emotionally overwhelmed. This is not healthy for anyone. He's doing that too, but with pot and beer.
Page 129 - "Yeah, I don't care. What I find amusing," Louisa said. "Every time you say it, Freddy mouths it along with you in perfect time and then laughs to himself."
Page 146 - She often told me her life hadn't begun until she thought it was over.
Page 181 - In my experience, women suffer more when a relationship ends. Men just seem to move on."
Page 181 - Women may know how to emote better, but we hold on to each broken heart. When we have loved someone, we compare every person to them. How many women stay in bad relationships because they're in love? Even if there is no chance in the world for a reunion with the one she loves, a woman will always live in a state of hope that it could happen and agony that it hasn't.
Page 198 - The reason Abby and I broke up was the reason I broke up with every other woman in the past eight years. None of them was the one woman I wanted.
Page 208 - Louisa shook her head. "No, she's a house daughter." "What the hell is that?" Seth said, laughing. "Like a housewife, except she is the daughter and doesn't even cook or clean."
Page 208 - Plus, my nephews are all types of adorable, but we call them Thing One and Thing Two for a reason. It's total Cat in the Hat chaos with them.
Page 218 - You watched your father grieve the death of your mother for the past fifteen years, and you can't even see my grief over losing you.
Page 218 - If you have read this far, please end my suffering. I am half agony, half hope.
August 24, 2023
Most of the principal characters of Persuasion are here in this story although some are partly renamed. But I found it surprisingly disorienting that Fredrick Wentworth ends up together with Emma Shaw. My brain has been programmed to expect that Wentworth pines for Anne, and every time I am reminded that this Wentworth romances Emma it's like one of those wrong turns when your navigator tells you they're recalculating the route. It took me out of the story so many times, wondering why the author chose to keep his name but change hers. (There may be a clue at the end of the story.)
Fredrick is a writer whose first brush with fame was a movie he wrote about his failed relationship with Emma. Now he's published a novel. Emma is a pretty successful editor. Years ago, they broke up because he wanted to live in LA and her career and family were in NYC. Now they have to do a book tour together. For most of the story, they either avoid each other or sulk and make passive aggressive comments. Which makes it rather difficult for me to see why they love each other. The Anne-Emma thingy ties into that I think. Based on all the previous evidence, my brain assumes Frederick and Anne to be the stars of a great, longing love story. You pierce my soul, etcetera. But Fredrick and Emma are an entirely unknown quantity and they'd have to do something more to show me that they're good together.
Steam level: Some sexual activity is implied but I wouldn't call it steamy.
I received a Booksprout copy and this is a voluntary review.
Fredrick is a writer whose first brush with fame was a movie he wrote about his failed relationship with Emma. Now he's published a novel. Emma is a pretty successful editor. Years ago, they broke up because he wanted to live in LA and her career and family were in NYC. Now they have to do a book tour together. For most of the story, they either avoid each other or sulk and make passive aggressive comments. Which makes it rather difficult for me to see why they love each other. The Anne-Emma thingy ties into that I think. Based on all the previous evidence, my brain assumes Frederick and Anne to be the stars of a great, longing love story. You pierce my soul, etcetera. But Fredrick and Emma are an entirely unknown quantity and they'd have to do something more to show me that they're good together.
Steam level: Some sexual activity is implied but I wouldn't call it steamy.
I received a Booksprout copy and this is a voluntary review.
September 24, 2025
This modern-day Austen retelling of my favorite Jane Austen book is.....not great but somehow not exactly terrible either.
It's dry and the main couple spend almost no time together and it has no steam... all things true to the original, really. In fact, I do think it is a faithful re-telling of Persuasion, with interesting modern-day changes.
It is much, much more telling than showing and yet I didn't mind the voice doing all the telling, and read it very quickly (for me these days, anyway) because despite everything I consider a negative about it I did find that voice and the nods to a comfort favorite story compelling enough to knock it out in short order (it is only just over 200 pages).
It needs editing/proofreading with errors/tense issues, and the re-treading of previous scenes from the hero's POV in the form of a "manuscript" sent to the editor heroine at the end was very clunky and didn't quite work as the romantic letter from Wentworth that it was meant to, and all of the family issues were wrapped up a little too quickly, but I am not mad I read it. I'm not sure if I will continue with the rest of this author's Austen-inspired modernizations as overall I think the negatives outweigh the positives but I haven't completely ruled out trying one more at least.
It's dry and the main couple spend almost no time together and it has no steam... all things true to the original, really. In fact, I do think it is a faithful re-telling of Persuasion, with interesting modern-day changes.
It is much, much more telling than showing and yet I didn't mind the voice doing all the telling, and read it very quickly (for me these days, anyway) because despite everything I consider a negative about it I did find that voice and the nods to a comfort favorite story compelling enough to knock it out in short order (it is only just over 200 pages).
It needs editing/proofreading with errors/tense issues, and the re-treading of previous scenes from the hero's POV in the form of a "manuscript" sent to the editor heroine at the end was very clunky and didn't quite work as the romantic letter from Wentworth that it was meant to, and all of the family issues were wrapped up a little too quickly, but I am not mad I read it. I'm not sure if I will continue with the rest of this author's Austen-inspired modernizations as overall I think the negatives outweigh the positives but I haven't completely ruled out trying one more at least.
July 19, 2018
I have always found it tough to decide which of the Austen books is my favourite. And 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'Persuasion' were the top two contenders. I haven't resolved it yet, still, the latter is a book I keep close to my heart. So I jumped at the opportunity to review this modern version and as expected it was mesmerising.
The author has retained the names of the original characters except that of the heroine, who is addressed as Emma instead of Anne. The story is set in the background of the publishing industry and that is what captivated mostly. Who could put away a book that talks about writing and publishing and book tours?
Emma is an admirable protagonist who turns down Fredrick's proposal, not because she is persuaded but for her career. And she came up as a successful editor too. A level-headed heroine who is not looking for her Prince Charming to rescue her, I must admit, gives due justice to Austen's lead role.
I did love the narration and the way the story progressed quite freely without any digressions. What it offers us is a peek to the publishing world and the delicate way books are judged and promoted. If you are looking for an enjoyable to read to finish in one sitting, then this is just your pick.
The author has retained the names of the original characters except that of the heroine, who is addressed as Emma instead of Anne. The story is set in the background of the publishing industry and that is what captivated mostly. Who could put away a book that talks about writing and publishing and book tours?
Emma is an admirable protagonist who turns down Fredrick's proposal, not because she is persuaded but for her career. And she came up as a successful editor too. A level-headed heroine who is not looking for her Prince Charming to rescue her, I must admit, gives due justice to Austen's lead role.
I did love the narration and the way the story progressed quite freely without any digressions. What it offers us is a peek to the publishing world and the delicate way books are judged and promoted. If you are looking for an enjoyable to read to finish in one sitting, then this is just your pick.
April 29, 2023
An authentic modern variation of the Austen classic
4.5* from me.
Of all the Austen books, Persuasion is perhaps the best suited to a modern variation as the central plot point has more to do with the uncertainties of a young woman that it does early 19th century values and behaviours.
This variation is set in the publishing world and the central characters separated and went their own way after college to pursue their own careers, Frederick (Wentworth) in LA and Emma (Anne Elliott) in New York. Frederick wrote a screenplay about their breakup which was rather scathing of Emma and they have had no contact for 8 years as in the original.
The publishing house where Emma works is to publish Wentworth's new book and so they find themselves in each other's company again. This is made worse when, due to an accident to a colleague, Emma finds herself running the book tour.
Fans of the original will be able to spot many scenes from the Austen classic and will enjoy the clever ways in which they have been modernised. I particularly liked Emma's father hoping to spot a Kennedy at Cape Cod.
Emma has much more strength of character than Anne Elliott and is sufficiently aware to know that the decision she made 8 years earlier was the correct one to enable her to pursue her career. Frederick takes rather longer to come to the same understanding.
This is a novel about self-awareness and is far more than just a modern romance, as is the case with Austen's original. For this the author is to be highly commended as few modern authors are willing to embrace this simple truth.
My only bugbear was the decision to change the name of the lead character from Anne to Emma. This just seemed unnecessary to me. Nonetheless this I an excellent book which I recommend to fans of the genre and to those who enjoy a good book.
4.5* from me.
Of all the Austen books, Persuasion is perhaps the best suited to a modern variation as the central plot point has more to do with the uncertainties of a young woman that it does early 19th century values and behaviours.
This variation is set in the publishing world and the central characters separated and went their own way after college to pursue their own careers, Frederick (Wentworth) in LA and Emma (Anne Elliott) in New York. Frederick wrote a screenplay about their breakup which was rather scathing of Emma and they have had no contact for 8 years as in the original.
The publishing house where Emma works is to publish Wentworth's new book and so they find themselves in each other's company again. This is made worse when, due to an accident to a colleague, Emma finds herself running the book tour.
Fans of the original will be able to spot many scenes from the Austen classic and will enjoy the clever ways in which they have been modernised. I particularly liked Emma's father hoping to spot a Kennedy at Cape Cod.
Emma has much more strength of character than Anne Elliott and is sufficiently aware to know that the decision she made 8 years earlier was the correct one to enable her to pursue her career. Frederick takes rather longer to come to the same understanding.
This is a novel about self-awareness and is far more than just a modern romance, as is the case with Austen's original. For this the author is to be highly commended as few modern authors are willing to embrace this simple truth.
My only bugbear was the decision to change the name of the lead character from Anne to Emma. This just seemed unnecessary to me. Nonetheless this I an excellent book which I recommend to fans of the genre and to those who enjoy a good book.
February 12, 2018
This is such a sad story of lost love to a second chance. Years ago Emma chose her career and family over love for many different reasons. Now she comes face to face with her past love that has a book and movie out. This book she did the editing years ago she knows this story by heart and the changes she knows are about her. Spending time with him she isn’t sure she made the right choice. As they get to know each other again, working through their past dealing with the anger and the people today it is a long road that they might not ever over come.
I loved this narrator she brings so much to the audio you can hear the laughter and sadness in her voice. Giving pause where it is needed to let it all sink in. Her emotions are outstanding as well as her character voices. Her male voices sound so manly, strong and real. They really fit the character so well even the one with the gay man it was just wonderful. Her female voices are just as good soft sweet to the older women and the one that acts so much younger than she is. There are no background noises, no repeating of words and no volume changes. If any breaks were taken I could not tell. Her normal voice was just as great as her character voices. She really adds so much to this audio. She has a way of changing her tones to really pull the reader in giving you a wonderful listen. There were times I felt like crying and others where I couldn’t help but chuckle.This is the first time I have listen to this narrator and it sure will not be the last.
What a touching and emotional read that really grabs you from the characters to their emotions. You never really know if things will work out until the end. You are held spellbound until the end as you watch people’s hearts break others trying to control people and how it all affects them. I loved the humor and emotions that went with this story. Yes it was sad and emotional but it also makes you chuckle. I have not read the Austen classic but this book was just a wonderful listen that really held my interest. I had trouble putting it down.
I loved this narrator she brings so much to the audio you can hear the laughter and sadness in her voice. Giving pause where it is needed to let it all sink in. Her emotions are outstanding as well as her character voices. Her male voices sound so manly, strong and real. They really fit the character so well even the one with the gay man it was just wonderful. Her female voices are just as good soft sweet to the older women and the one that acts so much younger than she is. There are no background noises, no repeating of words and no volume changes. If any breaks were taken I could not tell. Her normal voice was just as great as her character voices. She really adds so much to this audio. She has a way of changing her tones to really pull the reader in giving you a wonderful listen. There were times I felt like crying and others where I couldn’t help but chuckle.This is the first time I have listen to this narrator and it sure will not be the last.
What a touching and emotional read that really grabs you from the characters to their emotions. You never really know if things will work out until the end. You are held spellbound until the end as you watch people’s hearts break others trying to control people and how it all affects them. I loved the humor and emotions that went with this story. Yes it was sad and emotional but it also makes you chuckle. I have not read the Austen classic but this book was just a wonderful listen that really held my interest. I had trouble putting it down.
November 1, 2025
While I can appreciate retelling Persuasion in a modern context, I honestly couldn’t get behind the writing at all.
It felt like the author was trying too hard to substitute all the events of Persuasion with a modern twist, which made some situations just not make any sense?
Maybe a looser adaptation would’ve fit better…all I know is I let out a sigh of relief when I got to the end.
It felt like the author was trying too hard to substitute all the events of Persuasion with a modern twist, which made some situations just not make any sense?
Maybe a looser adaptation would’ve fit better…all I know is I let out a sigh of relief when I got to the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews