What do you think?
Rate this book
Silk and Sensibility
Not yet published
Expected 15 Sep 26A charming retelling of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility set in Ming-dynasty China.
Two sisters with conflicting attitudes on passion and restraint must each choose between the traditions that bind their hearts and pursing the love that could save them.
Nineteen-year-old Ailin is torn between duty and desire. Following her father’s death, her family must rely on the wealthy Jiang clan for financial survival. Though Ailin knows she must marry strategically to help her family, her heart has already been captured by the poor but gentle scholar Enze. When his family opposes their union, Ailin knows she must hide her feelings from everyone until she can strengthen her dowry and stand on her own terms.
Meilin encourages her older sister to fight for her personal desires, but Meilin’s romantic ideals conflict with Ailin’s devotion to duty. Meilin believes in being honest about one’s feelings regardless of what others may think, and she unabashedly pursues a charming playwright while also clashing with a frustratingly handsome but gruff army captain.
The sisters would do anything to help the other find happiness, but their assumptions about restraint and passion are as different as earth and sky. Ailin feels honor bound to her family yet is unable to deny her love for Enze, even as circumstances push them further apart, while Meilin grapples with unexpected feelings for Captain Bai and societal restrictions that leave little room for her own hopes.
Silk and Sensibility explores the delicate cultural expectations of womanhood in historical China by following two sisters who must learn to balance loyalty and longing, courage and constraint, to claim their own happiness.
Two sisters with conflicting attitudes on passion and restraint must each choose between the traditions that bind their hearts and pursing the love that could save them.
Nineteen-year-old Ailin is torn between duty and desire. Following her father’s death, her family must rely on the wealthy Jiang clan for financial survival. Though Ailin knows she must marry strategically to help her family, her heart has already been captured by the poor but gentle scholar Enze. When his family opposes their union, Ailin knows she must hide her feelings from everyone until she can strengthen her dowry and stand on her own terms.
Meilin encourages her older sister to fight for her personal desires, but Meilin’s romantic ideals conflict with Ailin’s devotion to duty. Meilin believes in being honest about one’s feelings regardless of what others may think, and she unabashedly pursues a charming playwright while also clashing with a frustratingly handsome but gruff army captain.
The sisters would do anything to help the other find happiness, but their assumptions about restraint and passion are as different as earth and sky. Ailin feels honor bound to her family yet is unable to deny her love for Enze, even as circumstances push them further apart, while Meilin grapples with unexpected feelings for Captain Bai and societal restrictions that leave little room for her own hopes.
Silk and Sensibility explores the delicate cultural expectations of womanhood in historical China by following two sisters who must learn to balance loyalty and longing, courage and constraint, to claim their own happiness.
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 15, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Currently Reading
March 18, 2026First of all: ancient China Jane Austen story?!? Who is looking into my CDrama obsessed brain.
Second: S&S is my second favorite Austen story
Second: S&S is my second favorite Austen story
April 19, 2026
Wonderfully romantic!
This was an ARC.
This was an ARC.
Want to Read
April 8, 2026"A charming retelling of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility set in Ming-dynasty China."
That's all I needed to know.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the advanced reader’s copy! I’m a big sucker for retellings of classic books, and as soon as I saw that my request had been accepted, I couldn’t have been more thrilled!
Silk and Sensibility is a Chinese retelling of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility. We start off very similarly in both novels, with our two FMCs, Ailin (aka Elinor) and Meilin (aka Marianne), falling upon hard times when their father dies and their inheritance is largely taken from them by their greedy step-family. Ailin, being the eldest, feels the pressure the most to provide for her sisters and mother. In going out to seek her uncle's help, Ailin runs into their step-mother's brother Fan Enze (aka Edward) and they begin a cautious yet sincere courtship. When his sister, however, makes certain untoward claims about the nature of their relationship, Ailin's mother is forced to make the decision to leave their home and move in with their uncle's family in Suzhou. From there, we are introduced to the chaotic Jiang family, the charming aspiring playwright Wei, and the gruff military Captain Bai.
I have to say, my favourite part of the book is how smoothly Mengxi Seeley took the social, cultural, and historical differences between 18th century England and Ming Dynasty China and made them work so well for this new adaptation. Fan Enze's career as a studious scholar preparing for the state exam seems like the natural choice for the reserved and intelligent Edward Ferrars; Master Wei's predisposition for the romanticism of the stage and playwriting fitting in with his alluring and untrustworthy counterpart Mr. Willoughby; and, perhaps most genius of all, having Captain Bai train his soldiers in fighting pirates (a well known issue during the Ming Dynasty) where Colonel Brandon fought in the East Indies. Every choice in the story is well thought out and intentional. Instead of the piano, Meilin is very talented with the zither and teaches Bai’s daughter. Ailin not only takes an active role in the management of their family and home but also contributes through selling her paintings. The concept of her being a talented but unsure artist who uses her skills to get her family out of difficult situations, both financially and socially, gave her so much more agency and really solidified her in my mind as a well-developed and interesting character. Enze's unsent letters too at the beginning of every chapter gave us a better look into his character which might’ve otherwise been one-dimensional.
I think the one small disappointment I found in the book was over the fact that Meilin already knew about what Ailin was going through in being away from Enze and having to watch him being matched with Shen Lusi. It diminished the emotional impact from the of novel when Marianne realized how selfish she had been to make others worry about her when her own sister suffered in silence. I also find that some parts of the book have very on-the-nose writing, making it harder to feel properly involved in the story.
Other than this, however, I really did enjoy Silk and Sensibility. The themes of family and especially of sisterhood, of loss and grief, and of the importance of the delicate balance between the emotional and rational were discussed in a way that clearly shows Seeley’s love for Jane Austen and respect for the original work. Thank you again Netgalley for the arc!
Silk and Sensibility is a Chinese retelling of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility. We start off very similarly in both novels, with our two FMCs, Ailin (aka Elinor) and Meilin (aka Marianne), falling upon hard times when their father dies and their inheritance is largely taken from them by their greedy step-family. Ailin, being the eldest, feels the pressure the most to provide for her sisters and mother. In going out to seek her uncle's help, Ailin runs into their step-mother's brother Fan Enze (aka Edward) and they begin a cautious yet sincere courtship. When his sister, however, makes certain untoward claims about the nature of their relationship, Ailin's mother is forced to make the decision to leave their home and move in with their uncle's family in Suzhou. From there, we are introduced to the chaotic Jiang family, the charming aspiring playwright Wei, and the gruff military Captain Bai.
I have to say, my favourite part of the book is how smoothly Mengxi Seeley took the social, cultural, and historical differences between 18th century England and Ming Dynasty China and made them work so well for this new adaptation. Fan Enze's career as a studious scholar preparing for the state exam seems like the natural choice for the reserved and intelligent Edward Ferrars; Master Wei's predisposition for the romanticism of the stage and playwriting fitting in with his alluring and untrustworthy counterpart Mr. Willoughby; and, perhaps most genius of all, having Captain Bai train his soldiers in fighting pirates (a well known issue during the Ming Dynasty) where Colonel Brandon fought in the East Indies. Every choice in the story is well thought out and intentional. Instead of the piano, Meilin is very talented with the zither and teaches Bai’s daughter. Ailin not only takes an active role in the management of their family and home but also contributes through selling her paintings. The concept of her being a talented but unsure artist who uses her skills to get her family out of difficult situations, both financially and socially, gave her so much more agency and really solidified her in my mind as a well-developed and interesting character. Enze's unsent letters too at the beginning of every chapter gave us a better look into his character which might’ve otherwise been one-dimensional.
I think the one small disappointment I found in the book was over the fact that Meilin already knew about what Ailin was going through in being away from Enze and having to watch him being matched with Shen Lusi. It diminished the emotional impact from the of novel when Marianne realized how selfish she had been to make others worry about her when her own sister suffered in silence. I also find that some parts of the book have very on-the-nose writing, making it harder to feel properly involved in the story.
Other than this, however, I really did enjoy Silk and Sensibility. The themes of family and especially of sisterhood, of loss and grief, and of the importance of the delicate balance between the emotional and rational were discussed in a way that clearly shows Seeley’s love for Jane Austen and respect for the original work. Thank you again Netgalley for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Ailin and Meilin are two sisters facing the death of their father and the change in circumstances it has brought them. Ailin is dutiful down to her bound feet and Meilin has her head in the clouds. This story is inspired by Austen's Sense and Sensibility. I have read this book and seen a TV adaptation but to be honest, I never remember what happens. So, reading this story was rather new. I am a sucker for all things Ming dynasty so this book was right up my alley though I would prefer if the names used tones. I also thought the text could use more pronouns. Names are repeated a lot.
As far as the characters go, I felt Ailin was the better developed of the sisters. She is the most like me and ended up being my favorite by the end. She stands out from so many FMC written today because while she is reserved she has her own strengths. I also am impressed that the author chose a main character to have bound feet yet not make that the center of who she is. I enjoyed her story so much!
The chapters probably do not need to be named after the character’s point of view as the passages are very much third person and I did not feel each chapter reflected one sister’s view more or less.
The romance was also too instant for what I like, but I did like Enze. I liked that he was shy and unremarkable. This added a real element to the story as most people are average and there are enough Gastons out there. So, while he wasn’t handsome beyond redemption he was a realistic character and someone a person like Ailin would be attracted too. Fan Eze is a wonderful MC. He is not proud or brooding. So, he is a relief. Honestly, it is not that hard to write a gentleman and not a man-child. I also liked that he is not actually engaged, which is something I disliked about Edward. Thank you, Mengxi Seeley.
Meilin. I’m not sure why I struggled to get close to her, but I had the same experience with Marrianne. I did not dislike her though. Her character development was wonderfully written and I was surprised at her bravery. Also, as a writer of a character that plays the guqin, I liked reading about her zither playing. Bai was okay, and he did grow on me by the end of the story. To be honest, I think I only despised one character out of the entire set and that one should be obvious.
All and all, I liked this book and wish for more like this. My favorite scene was probably the sibling row that happens at about the hallway mark. Not because I like fighting, but because it is very well written. I would read this author again.
As far as the characters go, I felt Ailin was the better developed of the sisters. She is the most like me and ended up being my favorite by the end. She stands out from so many FMC written today because while she is reserved she has her own strengths. I also am impressed that the author chose a main character to have bound feet yet not make that the center of who she is. I enjoyed her story so much!
The chapters probably do not need to be named after the character’s point of view as the passages are very much third person and I did not feel each chapter reflected one sister’s view more or less.
The romance was also too instant for what I like, but I did like Enze. I liked that he was shy and unremarkable. This added a real element to the story as most people are average and there are enough Gastons out there. So, while he wasn’t handsome beyond redemption he was a realistic character and someone a person like Ailin would be attracted too. Fan Eze is a wonderful MC. He is not proud or brooding. So, he is a relief. Honestly, it is not that hard to write a gentleman and not a man-child. I also liked that he is not actually engaged, which is something I disliked about Edward. Thank you, Mengxi Seeley.
Meilin. I’m not sure why I struggled to get close to her, but I had the same experience with Marrianne. I did not dislike her though. Her character development was wonderfully written and I was surprised at her bravery. Also, as a writer of a character that plays the guqin, I liked reading about her zither playing. Bai was okay, and he did grow on me by the end of the story. To be honest, I think I only despised one character out of the entire set and that one should be obvious.
All and all, I liked this book and wish for more like this. My favorite scene was probably the sibling row that happens at about the hallway mark. Not because I like fighting, but because it is very well written. I would read this author again.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5/5
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book.
Huge fan of Jane Austen, and I'm always down to read Austen-inspired spin-offs or retellings. Strictly speaking, Sense and Sensibility is not my favorite Austen romance. But like the author mentioned in her notes, I did find Elinor to be a more compelling and relatable character compared to Marianne. So one thing I did appreciate especially was how Silk and Sensibility gave her emotional struggle a stronger presence in the narrative.
But that being said, the central tension between the two sisters in Sense and Sensibility stems from their different personalities and, importantly, miscommunication (particularly on Elinor's side) about the depth of her feeling for Edward Ferrars. Giving Meilin the knowledge of Ailin's heartbreak while also having her oscillating between understanding her sister's grief and accusing her of being unfeeling seems just a bit contradictory. Still, I think the sibling relationship between Meilin and Ailin has its time to shine, and it's all really quite sweet. Silk and Sensibility especially makes Meilin more sympathetic and understanding towards Ailin's struggles, which gave a deeper sense of connection between the sisters. (And let's not forget Mingming, either. She was super cute haha)
The prose sometimes read a little awkwardly. Some phrases in particular sounded a bit too literally translated from Chinese and ended up kind of clunky ("dumb melon" for, presumably, 傻瓜 comes to mind).
I really liked the letters written by Fan Enze in between each chapter, to get more of his perspective—because if there's one thing I could have used way more of in the original novel, it was Edward grovelling for Elinor's forgiveness—and I think, ultimately, this is Silk and Sensibility's most effective addition to the love story. In Austen's S&S, I do feel like Edward gets relegated to the background for most of the book, and his story is told solely through Elinor and Lucy's conflict. I also quite liked the way that this story was interwoven in a historical Chinese context, with the provincial exams being Enze's way of establishing himself/his living. I think it was a really nice spin-off of what happens in S&S.
Overall, a charming story, though I found the prose awkward at times.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book.
Huge fan of Jane Austen, and I'm always down to read Austen-inspired spin-offs or retellings. Strictly speaking, Sense and Sensibility is not my favorite Austen romance. But like the author mentioned in her notes, I did find Elinor to be a more compelling and relatable character compared to Marianne. So one thing I did appreciate especially was how Silk and Sensibility gave her emotional struggle a stronger presence in the narrative.
But that being said, the central tension between the two sisters in Sense and Sensibility stems from their different personalities and, importantly, miscommunication (particularly on Elinor's side) about the depth of her feeling for Edward Ferrars. Giving Meilin the knowledge of Ailin's heartbreak while also having her oscillating between understanding her sister's grief and accusing her of being unfeeling seems just a bit contradictory. Still, I think the sibling relationship between Meilin and Ailin has its time to shine, and it's all really quite sweet. Silk and Sensibility especially makes Meilin more sympathetic and understanding towards Ailin's struggles, which gave a deeper sense of connection between the sisters. (And let's not forget Mingming, either. She was super cute haha)
The prose sometimes read a little awkwardly. Some phrases in particular sounded a bit too literally translated from Chinese and ended up kind of clunky ("dumb melon" for, presumably, 傻瓜 comes to mind).
I really liked the letters written by Fan Enze in between each chapter, to get more of his perspective—because if there's one thing I could have used way more of in the original novel, it was Edward grovelling for Elinor's forgiveness—and I think, ultimately, this is Silk and Sensibility's most effective addition to the love story. In Austen's S&S, I do feel like Edward gets relegated to the background for most of the book, and his story is told solely through Elinor and Lucy's conflict. I also quite liked the way that this story was interwoven in a historical Chinese context, with the provincial exams being Enze's way of establishing himself/his living. I think it was a really nice spin-off of what happens in S&S.
Overall, a charming story, though I found the prose awkward at times.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First I'd like to thank the publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. I feel like it has been a long time since I read a novel that I loved as much as I did this book. I always have a soft spot for Jane Austen inspired stories but I also have high expectations in that regard because of how much I love her works. I have seen Austen retelling done well and I have seen Austen retellings done poorly. This is without a doubt my absolute favorite. The setting works perfectly for a retelling of Sense and Sensibility while making the story feel fresh, new and interesting, while still having that wonderful coziness of familiarity. The characters of Elinor and Marianne, in this story it's Ailin and Meilin, worked perfectly. I adored them both, even though they both had their frustrating moments. But so did the original sisters and it's all part of their growth as the story progresses. I could relate to parts of both of their personalities, Ailin's more reserved nature and Meilin's romantic nature. And of course we can't forget our male leads! They were both done so wonderfully, they were sweet, gentle, kind, strong and dashing. I loved every time they were on page and interacted with our two female leads! Perfect for anyone looking for a sweet, clean read that will still have you grinning and kicking your heels. I loved every moment of this story and I plan on pre-ordering this the next time I place a book order! I look forward to what else this author had in store! I would honestly read a retelling of all of Austen's works set in this time and location!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was so good! Sense and Sensibility in Ming Dynasty China was such a fascinating choice; I loved seeing the story reimagined as taking place before it was written, in a different setting yet with similar constraints and responsibilities. Fan Enze was a perfect reimagining of Edward Ferrars - I'm not sure I've ever come across an adaptation that so completely encapsulates Edward's complicated character as a worthy love interest notwithstanding his glaring shortcomings. The other characters were similarly done well, although this version does miss a little of the jovial sociality that exists with the Middletons and Mrs. Jennings in the original; but, then, the political subplot we get instead is arguably even a better fit to show how different Ailin/Elinor and Meilin/Marianne are from each other and yet still how closely they are tied together. The beginning scene of Ailin and Enze with the umbrella was super powerful, and the strong emotions continued through the epigraphs - so then when he gave the letters to her I was so moved (it felt like a Wentworth moment). I highly recommend this gorgeous historical romance!
Thank you to Shadow Mountain and Netgalley for the ARC; all opinions are my own.
Thank you to Shadow Mountain and Netgalley for the ARC; all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review!
Silk and Sensibility is a retelling of Jane Austen’s classic, Sense and Sensibility, set in Ming-dynasty China.
I'd like to preface my review by stating that I never read Sense and Sensibility, so I have nothing to offer on how I think it compares with the original.
I loved this book! It's obvious how much care and research went into making the story as historically accurate as possible. Even though I wasn't familiar with the original story going in, I was surprised by how well everything fit together, since I knew that the original setting was very different. Touching on filial piety pressures, feet binding, wokou raids, and other expectations from women of a higher class in Ming dynasty China was fascinating to read about.
The longing between Ailin and Enze was top tier. I loved the unsent letters from Enze that started each chapter. Most of my highlights from the book came from his letters. They're so romantic and poetic. Meilin and her determination to fight for her family was lovely. I had so much fun learning about the zither through her. Her love story was much more lively, which I also highly enjoyed.
Silk and Sensibility is a retelling of Jane Austen’s classic, Sense and Sensibility, set in Ming-dynasty China.
I'd like to preface my review by stating that I never read Sense and Sensibility, so I have nothing to offer on how I think it compares with the original.
I loved this book! It's obvious how much care and research went into making the story as historically accurate as possible. Even though I wasn't familiar with the original story going in, I was surprised by how well everything fit together, since I knew that the original setting was very different. Touching on filial piety pressures, feet binding, wokou raids, and other expectations from women of a higher class in Ming dynasty China was fascinating to read about.
The longing between Ailin and Enze was top tier. I loved the unsent letters from Enze that started each chapter. Most of my highlights from the book came from his letters. They're so romantic and poetic. Meilin and her determination to fight for her family was lovely. I had so much fun learning about the zither through her. Her love story was much more lively, which I also highly enjoyed.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
1550s Ming China, like 1800s England, is a world with strict limits for women so Austen's Sense & Sensibility transfers over well with many of the same issues facing women, particularly all the protocols around their interactions (or permitted lack theirof) with men.
This is a solid retelling with a number of subtle changes from Austen's original due to the different location/time period. It must have been the point of view selected but I felt I was watching players on a stage rather than utterly inhabiting each of the characters (chapters are from either Ailin or Meilin's points of view). Nevertheless, an enjoyable read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a solid retelling with a number of subtle changes from Austen's original due to the different location/time period. It must have been the point of view selected but I felt I was watching players on a stage rather than utterly inhabiting each of the characters (chapters are from either Ailin or Meilin's points of view). Nevertheless, an enjoyable read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 10, 2026
I enjoyed this book.
I love Austen. I love Asian themed books. This was a win for me.
I do think it was a bit slow, and at times it was confusing with names and relationships but it is atmospheric and lovely.
I love Austen. I love Asian themed books. This was a win for me.
I do think it was a bit slow, and at times it was confusing with names and relationships but it is atmospheric and lovely.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews