Romantic

Modern Jane

by Ruth Mitchell

A modern twist on Sense and Sensibility—Marianne's story

Annie Greenwood believes in love at first sight. A self-professed hopeless romantic, Annie has long known that she will recognize her true love the moment she meets him. After all, that’s how it was for her parents.

But now that she’s 27, single, and still struggling to settle on a viable career, Annie’s reconsidering all her romantic ideals. She loves living in Big Sur and couldn’t be happier working at Norland Park with her beloved mom and sister. But money is tight, and Annie knows that she could contribute more. It’s high time she gives up her dream of being a poet and finds a desk job. And as long as she’s shelving dreams, maybe she should stop waiting for some romantic hero to show up and give Brandon James a chance.

The wealthy widower might not be Annie’s usual type, but somehow he and his ten-year-old daughter, Pepper, have wormed their way into her heart. Everyone says Brandon has a thing for Annie. But after the tragic death of his first wife, the single father moves cautiously, making Annie wonder if he has any interest at all.

Just when Annie begins to see Brandon in a new light, fate steps in and sends a handsome stranger, Jack Willoughby into her life. A chance meeting, a dramatic rescue, and instant chemistry! What could be more romantic than that?

Dual POV
Closed Door
Single Dad
Small Town
Pining

233 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 10, 2026

About the author

Ruth Mitchell strongly believes the world needs more happy endings. She aims to write “hospital waiting room” books, stories that cheer and distract readers when their world is crumbling, make them laugh and sigh, and finish with a little more hope. All of her books are love stories with plenty of banter, and sizzling chemistry, but no spice. (Just kissing.)
Ruth and her husband live in San Diego, where their four mostly-grown children visit often. She loves long rambling conversations, baking (she makes the best pie), hiking, and running (slowly) along the coasts and canyons of Southern California.
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Reviews

[Dee Blankenship]

“Meeting him wasn’t the lightning bolt I expected. No, this is the slow steady love of spending many ordinary hours together. It’s more like the gradual change in the woods each spring. At first, you don’t even notice the new buds on the branches-and then suddenly everything is covered in flowers.”

As a huge Jane Austen fan and with a special place in my heart for modern day retellings, you already know I love Ruth Mitchell’s Modern Jane series. But I’m going to go out on a limb here…and say this is my favorite book in the series!

Modern day Marianne is Annie Greenwood, a poetry writing dreamer and hopeful romantic. She is just starting to acknowledge her feelings for Brandon James, a single father with a reserved manner (but a secret love for Annie), when, enter Jack Willoughby.

Those who know the story know where this is going but Ruth makes it so much fun getting there.

My favorite things in a romance; dual pov, humor, pining and lots of angst…this one checked all the boxes!!

If you enjoy modern Austen retellings check out her other books in the series: Tolerable, Influence, Desperate and
Unromantic.

[bluerose]

"From a very young age, I knew that when I fell in love it would be...my own lightning bolt moment. Lately, though, I've been entertaining the possibility that love could sneak up on me."

I am on record as being very picky about my Austen adaptations. Ruth Mitchell's Modern Jane series has been a pleasure to read as she clearly understands the assignment, invoking all there is to love in the original works and paying homage to what came before while reshaping the stories in new and creative ways.

Mitchell has divided Sense and Sensibility into two books: Unromantic, told from Elinor's point of view and released earlier this year, and Romantic, Annie's (Marianne in S&S) story. In this version, Annie is a poet and a dreamer who is beginning to wonder if it's true that her love story might be different than she imagined....and if she will need to readjust her thinking in other areas as well.

When I reviewed Unromantic I said it was my favorite in the series so far. And since I sort of thought I knew where the story was going....well, I expected to enjoy Romantic but I assumed I wouldn't really be surprised. I am, after all, a Janeite and I know the story backwards and forwards.

Well. Surprise.

By wrapping up Elinor's story in the first book, Annie's story is given room to deepen and unfold in ways that I hadn't expected. Brandon's family dynamics (past and present) are fleshed out in ways that feel lived in and authentic. And, much like the previous installment, the switch back and forth between his-and-hers perspectives is a perfect way to tell the story. (I can't wait for audio versions.)

Also--the jackalope bit was hilarious.

Read both of these wonderful books! And if you want an even richer experience, read Sense and Sensibility too!

I was thrilled to receive an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Michelle Quinn]

What a satisfying read. I stayed up so late finishing it. I absolutely loved it. Brandon is my 2nd favourite Austen man (Tilney is my #1) and Ruth Mitchell's Brandon hit every note of the original. He is the best. I loved his perspective, back story and his relationship with Pepper. Annie is lovely and Willoughby was the perfect level of jerk. Thank you to the author for the ARC. My opinions are entirely my own.

[Collette]

4.5 - It was just fun and happy and light and such a nice escape. Love is good.

[J]

*I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the author*

I've had a couple of Ruth Mitchell's books on my reading list for a while. "UnRomantic" and "Romantic" are Books 4 & 5 in the "Modern Jane" series, which are books inspired by Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility. If you are planning to read Romantic, I would highly encourage you to read "UnRomantic" first! While Brandon and Annie are the main characters of "Romantic", you can see the beginnings of their friendship/relationship in the background of "UnRomantic". It also gives some additional context to the events that occur in "Romantic", and increases the anticipation for the main characters to get together.

*SPOILERS ahead*
Romantic revolves around Annie and Brandon. Annie is the youngest daughter of the Greenwood family, who run and manage the Norland Park. She has been pursuing a career as a poet, but she has not had much momentum. In the meantime, Annie has been working at the resort. However, she has been feeling stagnant and has started considering options beyond writing and the resort. She is also a romantic at heart believing that when she meets "The One" she will just know, inspired by her own parents' love story.

Brandon is a widower and a father to nine-year old Pepper. His wife died while Pepper was still a baby; since his wife's death, he has not had much interest in dating and re-marrying. Instead, he has been pouring his energy into raising his vivacious and spunky daughter. In addition, he is 7 years older than Annie, works in real estate and has recently become the owner of Norland Park.

Brandon and Annie met while Brandon and Pepper were on a summer vacation at Norland Park. Brandon and Annie's friendship & feelings towards each other grew that summer and the months following, since Pepper was enamored by Annie and would invite her on their activities. When Brandon finally decides to ask Annie out (at Pepper's insistence and pestering lol), he misses his window when he chickens out. Annie starts dating Jack, a man who seems to be her ideal type and who she appreciates is actively pursuing her. She also hopes to overcome her feelings towards Brandon, who she believes is not interested in her. This leads to a lot of misunderstood feelings, longing, and shenanigans from Pepper to get her dad and Annie together.

I'm usually weary of Austen-inspired stories, but overall I enjoyed this one. It has just enough cheesiness. Brandon and Annie are so sweet. I was also a fan of their vulnerability and communication with each other towards the end of the book. Pepper is hilarious and she is the #1 hype girl for her dad and Annie to get together. Her shenanigans get her into hot water, but it's sweet to see her care so much about her dad's happiness. Pepper's antics provide not only comedic relief, but also brings up a bit of tension between Brandon and Annie, which was interesting to see play out.

The only thing I didn't love was the love triangle. Love triangles can be tricky because sometimes the emotional lines can get blurry. I don't usually like when a significant other(in this case, Jack) is viewed as possessive when they are simply trying to protect their relationship(but it's only reasonable up to a certain point) and/or they are villainized to justify the main couple getting together. However, ultimately, compatibility was an issue for Jack & Annie. Also, most of Jack's true character was only revealed after his relationship with Annie ended, so this issue wasn't too big for me. So, for that reason I give this book a 4.5, but rounding it up to 5 for the rating. :)

[Britt Galbraith]

IAfter finishing Unromantic, I could NOT wait for Romantic to be released! I was already rooting for Annie & Brandon. And let me tell you, this book was everything I’d hoped for and more.

We get everything we loved about the original Sense & Sensibility, plus some beautiful twists & lovely surprises (like plenty of Anne of Green Gables references). I absolutely adored it.

I’m probably about to get in big trouble with Jane Austen fans… but is it bad that I think this author improved upon the original story a tiny bit? ☺️

I mean- we ALL love Colonel Brandon and he is pretty much perfect. But making him a single (billionaire) dad with a fiesty 10 year old daughter who keeps trying to matchmake him with Marianne? Pure genius.
The shenanigans that little girl gets into trying to “parent trap” the two of them was pure comedic gold. I might have laughed so hard I snorted. 😂

And as if Brandon wasn’t already swoony enough, we get his POV. I repeat, WE GET BRANDON’s POV! I might never recover. 🫠

The yearning!!!! The pining!!!! The slowburn!!!! 🔥 It was *chef’s kiss*! 😘

Yes, there is a happy ending! 💛

Expect:
💕 Best friends to more
💕 Single dad (billionaire)
💕 Matchmaking & parent-trapping
💕 He owns the park where she works
💕 Dual POV (1st person)

My favorite parts:
❤️ Pepper (the 10 year old daughter of Brandon)
❤️ New years predictions & the Lucky Duck
❤️ She puts flowers in his beard 🌸
❤️ Brandon’s secret talents 🫠
❤️ “Project Eliminate Willoughby” 🕷️🍪🚽
❤️ Narnia wardrobe
❤️ He braids her hair
❤️ The apron incident
❤️ That first kiss 💋🔥🫠

🚪 The book is closed-door (epilogue) and never goes beyond kissing on page.

[Petra Raising3Bookworms]

This spring Annie Greenwood just sprung of the page in Unromantic, the book dedicated to the romance of her level-headed sister Elinor and her would be beau Edward.
Feisty, flower-loving poet Annie and Edwards best friend Brandon were just too cute to be a footnote to that romance, especially with the addition of Brandon’s adorable daughter Pepper.
Re-entering the world of the Greenwoods in ‘Romantic’ feels like slipping in a comfortable pair of slippers, sitting down with a hot drink while you pull up a blanket and settle in.

The battle for Norland was won at the end of Unromantic, leaving Brandon with the perfect excuse to visit it frequently. Allegedly he bought the park because Pepper loves it, but underneath the presence of Annie might have been a factor as well.
Just as he is about to finally put his reservations about dating as a single dad aside, when Annie is (literally) swept of her feet by Jack Willoughby. Handsome and glib Jack knows all the right moves and all the right words, and an frustrated Annie (why won’t Brandon date me?) is ripe for the picking.
The agony, the torment – the emotions felt by both Brandon and Annie are worthy of the classic definition of Romanticism. Add to that the frustration Pepper feels at these idiot adults who clearly have no idea what is good for them, it seems a pity not to use those matchmaking skills that Annie demonstrated to an eager Pepper in book one.

Knowing Sense & Sensibility you know it is all going to end well, but the journey to the happy end is such fun. On the way we learn more of Brandon’s background and first marriage, and meet his lovely parents. He is a lovely hero, and a great dad – who wouldn’t want a Narnia wardrobe with reading room as a child? In fact, I would even love one now.

You can step into the wonderful world of Norland Park, Big Sur, from 15 September 2026.

[Julie]

I was gifted a copy of this book from the author. This is a voluntary review. All opinions are my own.

I love all things Jane Austen and this book is a modern twist on Sense and Sensibility. Marianne's (Annie's) story.

Marianne's is a ray of sunshine. Beautiful inside and out. Sometimes she doubts how amazing she is.

Brandon is a widower with a 10 year old daughter he adores. He has also learned to keep his feelings close, so comes across as grumpy and serious.

There is a bit of an age gap but not too much. I love the friendship that Annie, Brandon and Pepper(his daughter) share.
Pepper is a delightfully mischievous girl. Her pranks are next level genius. I laughed out loud several times.

I loved this book. Highly recommend.

[Jess]

I had the delightful privilege of editing this book for Ruth Mitchell. It's a joy when you're editing and loving every minute of the book itself!

Ruth has paid beautiful homage to both Elinor and Marianne from Austen's original, Sense and Sensibility. I loved Unromantic, and I think I may love this one even more! Brandon and his daughter Pepper have the sweetest relationship, and the slow burn between Annie and Brandon kept me turning pages.

You're going to love this book, and you'll enjoy it to its fullest when you read Unromantic first.

[Sarah Hawk]

I’ve loved all of the modern Jane books, but this one was my fave! Always wanted more of Marianne and Col Brandon’s story so glad to have this version!