The California Dashwoods

by Lisa Henry

Make a new future. Choose your true family. Know your own heart.

When Elliott Dashwood’s father dies, leaving his family virtually penniless, it’s up to Elliott to do what he’s always done: be the responsible one. Now isn’t the right time for any added complications. So what the hell is he doing hooking up with Ned Ferrars? It’s just a fling, right?

Elliott tries to put it behind him when the family makes a fresh start in California, and if he secretly hopes to hear from Ned again, nobody else needs to know. While his mom is slowly coming to terms with her grief, teenage Greta is more vulnerable than she’s letting on, and Marianne—romantic, reckless Marianne—seems determined to throw herself headfirst into a risky love affair. And when Elliott discovers the secret Ned’s been keeping, he realizes that Marianne isn’t the only one pinning her hopes on a fantasy.

All the Dashwoods can tell you that feelings are messy and heartbreak hurts. But Elliott has to figure out if he can stop being the sensible one for once, and if he’s willing to risk his heart on his own romance.

A modern retelling of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Retellings, Queer, Contemporary Romance

216 pages, ebook

First published May 1, 2018

About the author

I like to tell stories. Mostly with hot guys and happily ever afters. They gotta work for it though. No free lunches on my watch.

Reviews

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

Maybe love was choosing to believe that it would all work out in the end.

A modern take on Jane Austen's classic Sense and SensibilityI'm sure most people know the story but even if you don't you won't want to miss this little gem.


When Elliott Dashwood's father dies,leaving his family with barely enough to get by,they find themselves shunned by the remaining(wealthy) Dashwood family.

Elliott,Marianne,and Greta are the product of Henry's second marriage to their one time Au Pair,Abby.Henry and Abby were reckless,in love but didn't forsee the future and provide for their children...so it falls to Elliott to take care of them.


Elliott Dashwood is sensible,always a quiet boy but happy to watch people.Not one to take risks,preferring to keep his feet firmly planted on the ground....definitely not prone to flights of fancy....until he meets Ned Ferrars who comes to visit after his father's death.The two young men share stolen kisses,a brief encounter with Elliott daring to dream of something more.



The story of Elliott and Ned is not the main focus here,as the title suggests it's about the Dashwoods with all their flaws,quirkiness,optimism,and overall love for each other.

You get wonderful characters in,

-Marianne....a bit of a free spirit,she believes in love and romance and throwing caution to the wind to get it.

-Greta,sarcastic,quirky,wonderfully different from the stereotypical 13 year old you would expect.


The relationship between Elliott and Ned couldn't even be classified as a slow burn,because they don't feature together on page much at all BUT, trust me it's quite special as you get inside Elliott's mind with all his feelings and thoughts.

If you've read Sense and Sensibility you'll know to expect twists and turns before the main characters get their HEA.....and this book was a delightful take on the original.


This was just a joy to read from start to finish and I would highly recommend it.


An Arc of The California Dashwoods was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.

My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

[Lisa Henry]

This is a modern take on Sense and Sensibility.

If you give it a try, I hope you enjoy it!

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 stars*

This is one of those times when I think that it isn't the book, it's me.

Why? Because I sort of screwed up.

First of all, I didn't read the blurb very well. I just saw Lisa Henry, who is one of my favorite authors, and just grabbed the book. For some reason, (I think because it said it was a take on Sense and Sensibility), I assumed it was a historical romance, and I was ridiculously excited. However, this is a modern take, as the blurb (*duh*) states.

Also, I haven't actually ever read Sense and Sensibility... which turned out to be a bit of an issue. (I really should catch up on my classic romances...). Once I finished reading The California Dashwoods, I ran over to wikipedia and read the summary of the original. I found out that they VERY closely mirror one another, which ended up being a problem for me.

In this book, and in the original, the love interests actually spend very little time together. Most of the story revolved around family and their struggles, and the grand romance felt, well, not so grand.

I'm someone who loves an epic romance, a real relationship-y romance, where love is slow-burn and built over a long period of time together. The romance in this book bordered on insta-love, and I actually didn't even like Ned that much... okay, at all. I thought he treated those around him like crap, to be honest. I get that he was supposed to be super sweet, but I never warmed to him, and I didn't have the page-time with him to change my mind.

I think if I was a Sense and Sensibility super-fan, I would have enjoyed this one, but it didn't work for me as a romance written now. I liked aspects of the story a lot, and I think Lisa Henry has loads of talent, of course, but I'm going to think VERY carefully before I reach for any more of these classic retelling stories.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally read it!

This is a lovely retelling of Sense and Sensibility with modern twist that makes it relevant. Most of all, it does a wonderful job with the part I love most: Elinor/Marianne's [Eliot/Marianne] friendship and sibling relationship. Marianne's is just as flighty and free-spirited and Eliot/Elinor is much more grounded. And how they work through their wishes and desires and come together again is quite touching.

I think if you're looking for a coming of age story with a strong sibling storyline then this is a win. True to the original, it trumps the romance that is constantly humming around them.

<<>>==<<>>==<<>>==<<>>==<<>>

Sense and Sensibility is actually my favorite Austen novel and Henry writes stories I enjoy, but I'm just not a huge fan of reworked classics. Yeah, there's the occasional one that makes me go - Wow. Then again, it is set in California. *dithers*

Tumblebrain: If someone would write a version of Emma where she gets stabbed in the throat and stuffed into her piano that would be awesome.

[Jewel · Rating 4 out of 5]

​This is not a romance in the modern sense of the genre. It is, however, a classic romance set in modern times. Lisa ​Henry remains faithful to the original in ​this retelling of ​​Sense and Sensibility​, so if you're familiar with the original story, ​and you enjoyed it, you'll surely enjoy this The California Dashwoods!​ I admit, I am more of a Pride and Prejudice kind of girl, but ​​Sense and Sensibility​ isn't too far behind in in my esteem. It's Jane Austen, so both are close to my heart.

In Lisa Henry's retelling, Elliot Dashwood is our guy through whose eyes the story unfolds. After the death of his father, The Family (capitalized so as to not confuse them with people that matter) kicks his mother, him, and his two sisters to the curb. The Family are a vile bunch who are more concerned with pedigree and money than they are family that was born of a 20+ year love affair with *gasp* a commoner. Never mind that Henry Dashwood married and loved Abby.

Ned Ferrars is Elliot's brother-in-law. Ned's shrew of a sister is married to Elliot's oldest brother (from his father's first marriage). Ned seemed different than his sister or The Family and Elliot was drawn to him and they had "a thing" until Elliot and his mom & sisters moved to California.

If you're not familiar with ​Sense and Sensibility, you might be wondering why I say it isn't a romance in the modern sense. Well, that would be because Elliot and Ned get very little page time together. They are together for a bit in the beginning, but then are apart for 80% of the book. Elliot's sister Marianne honestly gets more action than he does!

I loved the recasting of Elinor as Elliot as well as the recasting Colonel Brandon as a woman. The latter, especially made me cheer! We kind of get two stories for the price of one, here, because not only does Elliot get his HFN with Ned, but Marianne finds a little happiness, too.

I truly enjoyed this adaptation of one of my favorite Jane Austen novels. Well, done Lisa Henry!


-------------------
ARC of The California Dashwoods was generously provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.

[Sara]

5 Hearts

This was everything I could have hoped for when I heard that Lisa Henry would be writing a retell of my favorite Austen novel, Sense and Sensibility. I know most love their Pride and Prejudice but I’ve loved the Dashwoods for years both in the written form and in moving pictures. This was such a beautiful homage to the original work while taking it and making it its own modern blend of Austen-esque romance with a strong family bond and a fresh queer take on the story.

“Know your own happiness.” – Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen

It wasn’t hard for me to get lost in this story and I read it in two ways; one as a brand new story about a young man who carries the weight of his late father’s legacy and the responsibility of taking care of the women in his family all while trying to find himself and fall in love. And the other was seeing all the witty ways Henry twisted each character and place to make them become the players of her own author stage as she gives us the tale of Elliott Dashwood and his family.

Let me just take a fangirl moment and say how much I loved the name play in this book as well as the names that weren’t changed – like Marianne – because there was no need. Each time a character appeared on the page I let out a small squee at my desk because it tickled me in the best way. From Lucy becoming Lucien, Elinor becoming Elliot, Edward being Ned and when we meet Colonel Brandon, I was ridiculously happy seeing everyone show up and blend into a new beloved story.

“Dashwood? […] As in the Massachusetts Dashwoods?”
“That’s us, Well, that’s them. I guess we’re the California Dashwoods now […]”
The California Dashwoods.
It didn’t sound so bad.

Told entirely from the POV of Elliott Dashwood, we meet the 20 yr old as he is losing his father to cancer and having everything he’s ever known torn from him. Elliott and his sisters; Marianne and Greta are the children of his father’s second marriage, the second scandalous marriage where Henry Dashwood married his eldest son’s much younger au pair, Abby. The haughty side of the Dashwoods are known as the Family – with the capital F – and Elliott and his family are the more laid back side who found it normal to have an artist for a father who proudly displayed a nude painting of his wife, with her vulva front and center. Elliott and his sisters have spent their formative years living in Norland Park and routinely interrupting the business of the day to pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the sunshine on the lush grounds of the estate. But family and Family don’t mix and when Elliott’s older brother John does what his wife wants and not what his father asked on his death bed, the lower case family is tossed out of the only home they’ve ever know without a penny to their Dashwood name.

I adored this book from the beginning. I loved each character with Greta and her stabbiness, Abby defending her babies and the memory of her late husband, Marianne being a hopeless romantic with a sharp wit and Ned Ferrars and his gentle ways of stirring up a stubborn and stoic Elliott. It was pure calamity as Elliott tries every way he can to basically beg John not to throw them out of their home and then it falls on Elliott and Ned to drive the final nail into the lid of nothing that has now become Elliott’s life. That sounds dour doesn’t it? Well, this is based on Austen and if you’ve read her work, you know all must fall to be uplifted once again.

This is truly a romance and goodness but I crushed on Ned and Elliott hard. It was difficult to read the story knowing what happens between the characters initially and I read this with so much angst that it made the story even better. Ned is so sweet and awkward when he lends an ear to a grieving Elliott that it’s impossible not to fall in love with him. The chemistry between the two was off the charts and each intimate encounter between them made me swoon hard. Elliott and his sisters have been raised with the epic love story of their parents and Marianne is a complete product of that, while Elliott wonders if it would ever exist for him. When the family moves to Barton Lake, California to stay with their mother’s cousin John, Elliott leaves all hope for what he feels and what he hoped Ned felt for him behind while Marianne and an unfortunate accident welcomes the insta-love of someone who will break her heart and find the one she never knew she’d want or need.

And that was love, wasn’t it? Maybe it wasn’t chemistry, or fate, or the adventure of a lifetime. Maybe love was, at its simplest, optimism. Maybe love was choosing to believe that it would all work out in the end.

I can go on forever with this review and just tell you what I loved because I loved this story almost as much as the original. For me, having read Sense and Sensibility so many times it is hard to separate the two timelines but I honestly love how Henry brought this into modern times and made everything work. This just proves that Austen is timeless and Lisa Henry is talented.

I will say though it may seem that Elliott and Ned are not together on page much, don’t let that deter you from thinking this isn’t a romance. This is more than a boy meets boy and falls in love story. This is a story about finding who you are through love, both the good and the bad, while coming out ahead of where you started. It’s a story about family, about acceptance, about seemingly sensible actions that can cost you what you desire most and the pure sense to do something about it.

Wow.

This. Was. So. Good.

But I’ll stop rambling now.

I lied.

I have to add one last thing. The bit with Ned and Elliott made me feel exactly the way it did with Elinor and Edward and I may have made that extraordinary noise Emma Thompson did in the film when I read it. If you haven’t seen that bit, I recommend watching it and then watch the clip from The Vicar of Dibley as Dawn French makes fun of the scene and then has her very own Elinor moment with dreamy Richard Armitage.

“I come here with no expectations, only to profess, now that I am at liberty to do so, that my heart is and always will be...yours.” – Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen

[Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wealthy, privileged, Henry Dashwood ran off with the au pair 20 years ago to build a happy, carefree life.

The Dashwoods have never forgiven him or accepted his new famiy. So when he dies of cancer, he leaves behind his wife Abby and his 3 children, Elliott-20, Marianne-18, and Greta-13, not entirely destitute, but certainly in dire straights.

As the new man of the family and the most practical of them all, Elliott assumes the mantel of responsibility. Does that leave any room in his life for romance? Does he have the courage to take a chance when everything else in his life screams out for responsibility?

He was twenty years old, and he wasn't ready for this. He closed his eyes as he hugged his mom, and tried to feel stronger than he was. ~Elliott

At the very bottom of the blurb, Lisa Henry says this book is a modern retelling of Sense and Sensibility. It's true that this novel is very different than the typical MM Romance read. The focus is not on two main characters falling in love. In fact, I have a hard time describing what it's really like since it's not a trope I tend to read. It's family saga, overcoming tragedy, coming of age and so much more.

I have never read Sense and Sensibility. In fact, I'm not a fan of classic Romance. I'm not of fan of retellings at all. I even steer clear of the ones that are retellings of fairy tales. So, my bad, because I didn't read the blurb to the end where it was spelled out this was a modern retelling of a classic Romance. I wish that statement had been at the top. But it wasn't, and I missed it, and accidentally read a book I wouldn't have otherwise.

That is not a bad thing. Reaching outside of my comfort zone is a good thing. Lisa Henry is also a great author. Overall, I liked this book. Maybe it wasn't really "my thang" but it is well written, flows well and will be a big favorite for fans of the traditional Romance genre.



Review ARC graciously provided by Indigo Marketing and Design

[Tess · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

If you came to the romance genre by way of Jane Austen (as I did way back when), then you're probably going to like this a lot. Sense & Sensibility is not my favourite Jane Austen by a long stretch but I enjoyed it m/m style.

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this modern take on Sense and Sensibility. The story focused on Elliot Dashwood who has recently lost his father to cancer. His father is from a wealthy family who dislike Elliot's mother and all three of the children. The Family show up to take back the house and most if it's belongings, uprooting Elliot's life. In the midst of the chaos Elliot finds himself attracted to Ned, his sister-in-law's brother. Both men are shy and reserved and they have an immediate and strong chemistry.

The story is told from Elliot's point of view and much of this book is his coming of age story. He has a lot of things to work through. His grief over the loss of his father, his anger at his parent's irresponsibility and the subsequent pressure it puts on him, and his feelings over a man who doesn't seem to love him back.

The book was relatively short and I read it in one sitting. I really enjoyed all of the characters and Elliot was a charming narrator. I liked him immediately. There were a host of good side characters, my favorite being his younger sister Greta. Greta stole every scene she was in and found myself laughing out loud at her more than once.

According to other reviewers this book closely mirrors the original story. (I wouldn't know because I haven't read S & S.) The romance was a not on page much and I imagine that was how the original read. Despite that, the author does a great job showing the two men's connection and I liked how things worked out for them in the end.

This is the first book in the on going series that has multiple authors taking classic literature tales and turning them into m/m romance stories. I hope that the rest are as good as this one.


***ARC received through IndiGo Marketing in exchange for an honest review***

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars rounded up

Full disclosure: I only know Austen's works through their screen adaptation -- and I love most of them. I don't read the original (in books version, I mean) and you can't make me. Sorry, but I don't even have the patience to read my OWN language of the yesteryear much less a foreign one. Anyway, so my memory recall of the Dashwoods from Austen's Sense and Sensibility is taken from the movie starring Emma Thompson & Kate Winslet.

This is the first queer re-telling of the classics collection I read (I have my eyes on a couple more down the road) and UNFORTUNATELY, it's not a very good experience for me. Maybe Lisa Henry is trying to stick to the original plot -- only switching the genders of some of the characters -- but I feel that it restrains her writing.

I wish Henry takes a wilder path, makes it completely different (maybe all brothers instead of having one brother and two sisters) ... because all in all, this is pretty boring for me.

And if the romance between Elliot and Ned might translates better on screen, in print like this, it feels underwhelming and not convincing at all. Like Elliott said it himself, "he’d known Ned for days"

“But Elliott, you love him.”
He somehow kept his voice steady. “Mar, I don’t know him.”
And that was all there was to it.

Yes, there is all there is to it *shrugs*

The only thing that helps this book to at least rated in my so-so category is that I ADORE Deanna Brandon. I wish there are more times of her spending time with Marianne. But then again, even on the movie, that part doesn't have much on-screen time.

Oh and knowing that this is based on a "historical" context, the contemporary setting feels WEIRD. It took me out of the pages several times over when there words like "Grindr" popped on page.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

5 stars

Love and the betrayal of love are themes often found in Jane Austen’s work, and this — a new take on Sense and Sensibility — is a wonderful exploration of that. In this story, Henry didn’t just take a second wife, he abandoned his first wife and his first son. That pain stands between John and his father’s other family, explaining the distance and the cruelty of simply casting them out without assistance. Francesca, too, has reasons for her dislike of the family beyond just being greedy for the estate. She sees the pain John feels at a father who never loved him. Henry turned away from John, his own son, to fall in love with the au pair and the children he had by her. And then to see Elliot with her own brother only cements her idea of Elliot as someone who would do anything to hold on to the house, someone who would use her brother as a tool or weapon against her and her husband. Even though she has very few scenes, barely more than John, I appreciated this take on the Francesca and John. It gave them depth and humanity and a reason behind their cold hostility.

Elliot and Marianne have lengthy talks about love, both the first flush of it and the pain of its absence, both in dealing with the loss of their father and dealing with their own personal lives. Marianne grabs love with both hands and hopes for the best; Elliot is cautious, watchful — not that he’s scared of love, but he wants a chance to see it, examine it, and think about it before he allows himself to believe in it.

Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.

[Kazza]

Jane Austen's best novel being reimagined. Lisa Henry writing it. Fingers crossed this is a complete ripper.

[⚣Michaelle⚣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this because I needed a book on that Under-rated Listopia list, and yeah...this one is under-reviewed as well as under-rated.

It's not your typical Lisa Henry. Or Cari Waites. Or DiscontenedWinter.

The author mentions that it's a modern take on Sense and Sensability, but since I haven't read that I can't tell. BUT, it had the same kind of feel as those books I remember reading for school. (The ones I liked.) I've been racking my brain for which ones specifically, but all I'm coming up with is A Separate Peace and I don't think that's it. Or maybe it is.

It's also not really a romance. It's sort of coming of age with a big dose of life-lessons and loss. Elliot is nothing like the rest of his family; he's practical, a little boring, dependable and the peacemaker. He's the one that figures out a plan to pay the bills. The others are more than a bit self-involved and flighty, but he wouldn't have them any other way. And it takes some work before he realizes that, in the end - maybe when it comes to love - he is just like them.

Loved how the author drew a line between the family being privileged and being wealthy. Also, how the pursuit of happiness isn't always easy, and sometimes the pursuit of love can be selfish and have unintended consequences.

And while I'd love to catch up with the California Dashwoods at a later time, that HFN ending was perfect for the tone of the book.

[Leanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded down

True to the Goodreads definition of two stars, this was just an okay read for me.

Full disclosure, I love all Austin adaptations on the screen, but I've never actually read her books.
I think this would have worked if it were pared down a bit and made tighter. The two leads don't get enough time together and the story meanders around a bit with a sad and depressed Elliott trying to hold the fort while his awful family abuse his good nature and are so busy being 'free spirits' they never really see how hurt he is. His manic pixie dream girl of a sister, Marianne, got on my nerves. Actually, most of the cast of characters in this book did. Lol! I feel some apologies and grovelling needed to happen, at the very least some recognition of the sacrifices he was making for them and they all remained blithely unaware right till the end.

[Cadiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not your typical romance, more an examination of what makes us human, what keeps families together, and what sets them apart.

And how we should never let what other people do or think influence our own behaviours or thoughts.

This modern retelling of Austen's Sense & Sensibility doesn't stray from the original's formula, it just switches up Elinor Dashwood for the masculine Elliott and gives Marianne a bit of a twist with her Colonel Brandon (Alan Rickman in the Oscar winning adaptation is still my benchmark ;) which was a nice surprise.

If you liked the original, you're not going to be disappointed with Lisa Henry's switch to an MM contemporary romance.

#ARC kindly provided by the author in return for an honest and unbiased review

[Eugenia]

I CAN’T wait to read this!!

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

As far as Sense & Sensibility retellings go, it was nice. It stayed pretty true to the original, and I liked the idea of the Dashwoods being children of the hippie/black sheep of the family.

But the romance was a bit of a letdown for me. Elliot and Net met once, hooked up, hardly talked, and then spent most of the book apart and not talking at all. So for me, when they finally reunited, it felt like the beginning of their romance, not a satisfying ending.

As for Brandon and Marianne, it was. Ok? I was a bit surprised when someone said, "Brandon has a huge crush on Marianne!". They had one really short conversation before that, and also didn't spend much time together.

I just didn't feel a connection between either couple (I did actually buy the Marianne/Willoughby connection more, which is just sad), and I felt more like they were in like because Jane Austen said so?

I also had a problem with the Lucien/Ned part of the story, because while that conflict was valid in Jane Austen's time, I really don't see why they stayed secretly engaged all the time. Yes, they were waiting for the Dashwood's to come around, but Ned says he hadn't been in love with Lucien for a long time. So why did he not break it off before he got involved with Elliot? Or at least right after? It just didn't really like them, and it made no sense to me why Lucien just eloped with the other brother.

All in all, I wish the romance had been more developed and the characters had more time together.

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will this book be a series? If so, I want to read the entire series - NOW. I am a little confused by this story. Not the story itself, but who wrote this story. For me, Ms. Henry is known for her dark, gritty sometimes depraved tales. Sometimes it is alien craziness that keeps hinting at kinky sex yet fades to black when it could get interesting. In California Dashwoods, I kept expecting a terribly traumatic sexual violation scene. Maybe there is kinky shenanigans. Half way through the story, I realize I've been snookered. There are no sexual deviants or violations here. Should I continue on with this book? Because New Adult or Young Adult is not my thing. Still, I'm intrigued with where this story is going.

Elliot is the main character and he's a dutiful sweet boy. His father is a loving if naïve and a bit selfish artist type. The story starts on a sad note with a death of Elliot's father. The aftermath of Elliot's survival sans his father is frightening for me. Specifically so many things were left unprepared which leaves Elliot in charge of his two sisters and a mother who is reviled by her father's family. It's a drama I'm drawn into because Ms. Henry writes it so well. I feel for Elliot. He may come across as a mild manner boy who never gets angry or rails at the unfairness to life. His inner thoughts are deep and his devotion to family and loved ones is even stronger.

There are many secondary characters in this story and they all cry out for attention. Not in a bad way. In a way that makes me want to learn more about them. Will we get their own story? I want to know what happens to Elliot's younger sisters. Will we get the pre-story about his mother and father? What is up with his father's side of the family? There are so many questions. This world Ms. Henry's built is filled with unique characters and a complicated life based on socio-economic status mismatching. It is an elegant soap opera captured in the written word, bringing a vivid story to life in a reader's mind. I loved this book. The only regret I have is waiting so long to read it.

Ms. Henry surprised me with the sweet romance in this book. She still added sorrow and pain in a vanilla manner that will touch a romance reader's heart. The last time I felt this kind of poignancy was watching a Nicholas Sparks movie. I can easily see this book turned into a movie. Ms. Henry always delivers a well written story which moves me. Sometimes in horror and sometimes in bittersweet romance. This new adult book is recommended to romance readers who love youthful romance and first heartbreaks.

[WMD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charmed!

I am skeptical of these rewrites of classic favorites (to the point of ranting about horrific products that are out there)...but to me this book is really an enjoyable tribute, renovation, and modernization of Sense and Sensibility. The author picks out some themes to build on, offers much more extensive background then the original, and takes advantage of familiar events and tropes while refreshing and modernizing the conversations and thought processes. Elliott is our hero and we follow the story from his point of view. He is loyal, responsible and distraught over the death of his father. Events contrive against his immediate family, as the extended family descends like buzzards. Elliott, his mother and sisters retreat in short order and with very limited funds to California. The story line is familiar, and I don't want to disclose all the ways that the original is respected but re-casted, given depth, tweaked and massaged into a very satisfactory tale. In modernizing the tale, many of the reasons for characters' decisions needed to be reworked and explained more extensively than in the original. In Sense and Sensibility many plot points were shaped by societal norms that needed no justification. Lisa Henry does excellent work in providing explanations for most behaviors that fit smoothly within a well written story. I would say that the only exception for me is explaining the behaviors of Ned Farrars, the main love interest. I enjoyed the happy ending for Elliott, but Ned gets his happy ending way more easily than he deserves in this version of the story.
Variety of intriguing characters, particularly the amazing youngest sister Greta...a mere shadow in the original and something of a scene stealer here.
One sexually intimate mm scene. Humor both in Elliott's way of thinking, his over the top Bohemian immediate family, and the dialogue. Angst from the grieving family, from details of Elliott's grief and need to shoulder all challenges for his family who actually denounce his diligence and then Elliott lovelorn and unable to share his sadness.

Spoiler: for some readers, an incidence of cheating can mar their entire read of a book and make them bitter in their review. Don't read this if you are one of those.

Like the sound of The California Dashwoods? It's pretty unique in my experience, but I can recommend some other mm takes on historical reads/in the style of historical reads
Think of England by KJ Charles
Alexsey's Kingdom by John Wiltshire
And a book about working through grief and finding love (with humor and characters)
How To Be A Normal Human by T. J. Klune

[Isabella ~Mikku-chan~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

*~~*ARC kindly provided by the author to me in exchange for an honest review *~~*

I can't tell how joyous I was when I've heard about this retelling, a modern adaption of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, with a M/M cast and set in California, not England this time. :D

I am a huge fan of retellings and - since I've read the original - took a particular close look of the things that were changed and which were still there.

First we have a change in the gender of the - in the original - heroine. So here we have Elliott instead of Elinor; Marianne and Margaret (here Greta) aren't changed.
Edward is changed to Ned, the surname is the same.

I really liked the change of setting, first, in the modern times, because this way it could include technology and was a interesting change in the way of manners, behaviour and of course when it comes to the accpetance of a same-sex relationship. The second change in setting it from England to California, USA was a nice one too, gave different insights.
The most aspects, the core of the original story was kept, so if you know what kind of rough start the Dashwoods had, how they are forced out of their house, it's pretty much what you can read here; except a few twist and turns. ;)

So, as a fan of the original I was of course pretty curious how the chemistry between Ned and Elliott was displayed, and over the whole book we have a pretty slow-burn, simmering attraction. Partly the book is spiked with a few explicit scenes, sometimes hot, sometimes sweet and adorable, but most at all it's a slow burn.

I really liked how Elliott was displayed. Similar to his "alter ego" Elinor in the original he's the caretaker of the family, the one who's rational, rather than romantic or illusional (and therefore the total opposite of his sister Marianne). He has a calm attitude and is not impulsive, at least not on the surface. ;)
Elliott tries to do what's best for the family, even if it means to sacrifice himself; and to hide his feelings and emotions.

Ned isn't that different from Elliott, but both have differences; Ned is as well as Elliott a shy, timid character. He is not particular handsome but not ugly, his appeal comes from his inside and his character, which is a nice change not to have a "perfect" character.
He is also observing the situation and has often a gentle smile on his lips and isn't pompous or proud, in fact he is modest and kind. His attraction to Elliott is visible and palpable in the book in the first scenes they are together and the slow burn makes the book a great experience.

I was also really entertained by the side characters; Marianne and Greta are as charming - and sometimes, I dare to say it, as annoying and particularly obnoxious - as in the original. The mother of them, Abby, is also a character with a pretty unique attitude and the way how the use of substances like weed were discribed or talked about in such a nonchalant mannor was pretty surprising but was in some parts also funny and hilarious. :D Definitely an unexpected turn. :D Not to mention the pretty... uh, unconventional painting, but read it yourself. ;)

The book has a really good pace, has a close connection to the original work and for lovers of this it must be a pretty entertaining read, at least I was dearly engrossed.
But for those who just want to read a nice retelling, a romance which is spiked with interesting characters, a funny, sometimes hilarious cast of side characters, sometimes annoying, sometimes totally insufferable (mainly the other part of the Dashwoods) will get it with The California Dashwoods. 5 out of 5 stars for it. :)

Review originally posted on my blog with added content Mikku-chan / A world full of words

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a modern take on Jane Austin's 'Sense & Sensibility' by one of my favorite authors, Lisa Henry. I had the chance to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review and took it, even though I have not read 'Sense & Sensibility', because I have enjoyed many other books by this author.

First I want to mention that I never felt like I missed something, because I had not read the classic this modern take is based on. I could thoroghly enjoy the story without any prior knowledge of S&S, the modern setting felt authentic and the story and characters really worked for me. Having said that, given how much I enjoyed this story, I am planning to read 'Sense & Sensibility' and want to re-read 'The California Dashwoods' after that. I think it will be fun and give me a new perspective about the book - but it is not necessary in order to enjoy the book.

So, I had no idea what kind of story to expect. I am glad that it ended up working so well for me, but I am sure that this kind of story will not be for everyone. It felt more like gay fiction than a gay romance to me. There is a romance and a happy ending, but the romance is not the focus of the book and the love interests never actually spend that much time with each other. The ending made me happy more because I wanted Elliot to be happy than that I particularily wanted him to end up with this one, specific guy. The romance works for me, though, because while the ending is happy, the MC knows that it is just a beginning. The love interests have a special connection, but they still have to learn a lot about each other and there is a very complicated family situation that will make things difficult for them. They are willing to risk their hearts to explore their special connection.

For me the actual focus of the story is the very likable MC Elliot Dashwood as he deals with his grief about his recently deceased father and tries to take care of his mom and sisters. I LOVE Elliot. He has such a good heart and kind soul. I instantly connected to him, even though he is very different to me in many ways. He is responsible and stable, keeping his free-spirited family together and grounded. He has a lot of respect for others and tries to understand their perspectives.

The setting of the story was very interesting to me. Elliot's father came from old money, had a wife and a son, John. He left them to start a new life with the much younger and free-spirited au-pair Abby. That is usually the bad guy of a story, but here we see it from the perspective of someone completely innocent in this situation. Elliot's dad was a great father to him and his two sisters. The dad made an arguably very selfish decision, left his old life (and most of the money that would have come with it) behind to start over new.

But that selfish decision also came from a place of love, which is hard to control. Most members of that family he left behind seem mean-spirited and only interested in making more money. In his new life, Eliot's dad became an artist and had a wonderful, free and privileged life. They were happy. But Elliot has always seen that not all members of the family were bad people. His half-brother John was in a very difficult situation, was robbed of a real father. He seems like a good guy and another innocent in the complicated family situation. I did not know what to think. It seems terrible to imagine a father cheating and leaving his old family behind, but seeing the situation from Elliot's perspectives changes things. I love that he realizes that his dad was deeply flawed, even though he loved him and that he respects his half-brother and knows what has been taken from him. He is very observant and fair.

The story is not really fast-paced and full of action or an epic love story. If that is what you are looking for, I do not think you will find it. But it is a wonderful exploration of emotions and complex family relationships with very interesting and likable characters and I can highly recommend it. I have to highlight Elliot's sisters Marianne and Greta. Marianne is a ray of sunshine. She is beautiful and endlessly optimistic. She sees so much beauty and hope in the world and helps Elliot to be more open to that as well. Greta is their younger sister and a total scene stealer. She is very intelligent and quirky and it was impossible not to love her.

Usually, if I love a story, I don't want to say goodbye to the characters. I love series, where readers can follow the same characters as their relationship changes over time and they overcome different challanges together. The journey of Elliot and his love interest has just started, so of course a continuation of that would be interesting to me, though very unlikely given that it is a modern take on a classic story without sequel. However, while I am already dreaming of things I want that I will not get, I would so love to read John's side of this story.

Elliot has so much compassion for his half-brother and he seemed like a great guy in a difficult situation after being dealt a shitty hand. Elliot grew up in a loving, free-spirited family that always accepted him and openly showed their love and support for him. His sexuality was never an issue. John wanted to be part of that, but his dad never fought hard for him and seemed to have moved on. He was never a part of that new family. He has the money, but grew up with unkind and repressed people for whom money and appearance is everything. He's the other side of the coin and this book made me wonder what his story is.

As I was reading this story on my kindle, I highlighted a ton of awesome quotes. I almost wanted to highlight the whole book. Even though the plot and characters of this story strongly resemble those of S&S (as per Wikipedia :P), The way Lisa Henry has modernized them and brought them to life makes her take wonderful and unique in its own right. The California Dashwoods was a wonderful & quick read with amazing characters that managed to make me care a lot about what happened to Elliot and his family and completely captured me.

My Rating: 9/10 Pots of Gold (90% Recomended) - Compares to 4.5/5 stars

[Annie Maus · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first chapter of Lisa Henry's The California Dashwoods, convinced me her novel would merit five hearts. In a few fascinating phrases she presents a houseful of quirky characters, coexisting in a precarious situation.

"In the awkward silence that descended over the dining room, Great Uncle Montgomery muttered over non-existent mold spores, and Greta turned her steak knife over and over in her palm in a thoughtful manner that made Aunt Cynthia shuffle her chair a few inches further away. Happy families." Wow!

To set the plot, readers learn Henry Dashwood left his first wife and son, to marry the nanny, Abby. Their passionate marriage lasted the twenty years until his death. Though Henry became a successful painter who raised three children, Elliot, Marianne and Greta, the uber-wealthy Dashwood family was not amused he had absconded with “the help.” While they granted his use of a Massachusetts mansion and a small allowance, Abby and the children’s financial rights were blocked.

The California Dashwoods starts after Henry Dashwood's demise, when he asked his two sons to look after the family, i.e., John, from his first marriage, (who he essentially abandoned) as well as Elliot, Henry and Abby’s overly responsible eldest. Elliot knows no provisions have been made for him or his sisters, and has always acted as his parent’s parent, reminding Henry to pay bills, and giving up college to nurse his father through cancer for three years.

In exchange, Henry was a terrifically loving and wise father, if somewhat selfish and childish. In fact, the author weaves incredible acceptance between family members, an unconditional support that left outsider’s helping hands suspect. Or was it that Henry and Abby created walls to insulate their embattled relationship, walls their children must now learn to drop?

In the shock of a funeral and stillness of early mourning, Elliot has a quick, yet emotionally empathetic hookup with Ned, the wealthy brother of John's wife. It's discovery hastens his family's ejection from the only home they’ve ever known.

Lisa Henry can shoot dread through readers with the sunniest of statements. For example, when the Dashwoods insist Abby’s family leave the mansion, Elliot argues for time, that they can't survive without a plan. "'Oh Honey...Of course, we can. All we need is each other,'" Abby replies. And when he disagrees, she cuts him short. "'You worry too much.'"

Abby’s cousin, still living in their California lakeside hometown, comes through, offering a cramped apartment over his store, in exchange for their time manning the shop. While Elliot finds work as a lowly waiter and attempts to hold the family together financially and emotionally, he envies Marianne’s quick emergence into her own passionate love affair. And he we wishes he connected with his emotions as well as Greta, who verbalizes the family’s fury.

Meanwhile, Abby stays pollyannishly optimistic that she'll support her daughters making fifteen dollar bracelets. Does Abby even accept her husband is dead?

Told as Elliot's story, "The California Dashwoods" is less a romance than a breathtaking examination of how desire, attraction, and longing distort pragmatic thought, until lovers can’t distinguish the truth of their relationships. Despite the bleakness of his existence, Elliot is surprised by the persistence of rescue daydreams starring Ned. Their moment together had felt profound. “And suddenly that stupid crawling hope was back, beating in his chest like a second heartbeat,” Ms. Henry informs us.

While Elliot knocks the impracticality of romance, the three women in his family urge him to find himself. I love how Ms. Henry describes that peculiar insanity foisted on us by lust. Can Elliot emerge as a man who takes care of himself, as well as others, a man who knows his mind?

“Not everything was a technicolor extravaganza, and that was fine too. It was all right to find small joys in small moments. It was all right to have small dreams. Those held a comfort that his mother and sisters would never understand. That his father never had. It was all right,” Elliott thinks to himself.

Rescue does come, in the form of Henry's manager, who asks the family to arrange a retrospective art show…. The proceeds can help the family enormously. But, in New York, Elliot and Marianne discover many deceptions they must both overcome. Elliot’s reaction? “This wasn’t heartbreak. This was the humiliating realization that he’d been stupid.”

Ms. Henry’s off-hand observations are a sensory delight. “A thin sliver of light spilled through a tiny gap, lying across the floor like the blade of a knife.” But her wisdom spins a web of hope through Elliot’s desolate grief. “And that was love, wasn’t it? Maybe it wasn’t chemistry, or fate, of the adventure of a lifetime. Maybe love was, at its simplest, optimism. Maybe love was choosing to believe that it would all work out in the end.”

Using same/similar names, The California Dashwoods updates Austen’s Sense and Sensibility for current readers with modern financial, gender, and sexual values. Rather than examine appropriate conduct, Ms. Henry focuses on our skewed emotional logic, the distorted sense that pleasure is fleeting while pain endures forever.

Lisa Henry’s prose, her plot, her characters’ eccentric imperfections, and her faith in humanity give readers perspective. We are encouraged to transcend grief’s tediousness, and to renew faith in our spirits’ resilience. In an age when truth is suspect, when grief swells while hope waivers, this transformation was an amazing feat! If you doubt your ability to risk love, this five heart book is for you.

[Neve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is absolutely delightful. As a huge Austen fan and a queer person, as soon as I saw this I desperately coveted reading it, and it has not disappointed! I identify with Elliott to quite a significant degree and the way Lisa Henry has handled the finer points of the plot - true to the sentiment and the major events, but also giving it a gorgeous modern twist - is incredibly impressive. I cannot recommend this book enough! It was a true joy to lose myself in.

[WhatAStrangeDuck]

Huh. I'm not quite sure I actually can rate this because though I never really disliked Jane Austen, she was not an author whom I encountered in a natural way, i.e. I had to read her books for university not for fun. So. I have a shedload of knowledge about things that these days amount to trivia you can amuse people with at a party (if you are a weird person like me and go to weird-person parties (if you ever actually go to parties)). I kind of learned to appreciate Jane Austen because I learned how intricately layered and super clever her books are (and they are! I'm in awe!) but I didn't inherently love them.

Lisa Henry did a very good job about translating the story into a modern day story but it still didn't give me the feelz. Now, I'm not usually structuring my reviews about the feelz, but I still have them.

So, disregarding the source material, I feel it is quite insta-lovey and neither of the characters (main and secondary cast) spend enough time with each other to say (or even think) the L-Word. Of course the author recognises that and sort of scrambles back at the end but...

I don't know. I think it's a well done book but remakes are always tricky.

Zero stars means that once again the star system fails and NOT that it's a terrible book.

[Lindsay M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet take on Sense and Sensibility, which happens to be my favorite Jane Austen! I absolutely adored the characters, especially Elliot, Greta, and Lucien (LOVED HIM). If you are an Austen fan, please don't sleep on this one!

[空 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ohhh I hate this novel so much. The entire story revolves around Elliott’s sad sack feelings, his hippie floaty parents who never concerned themselves with the future, and at least 3 cheating assholes. There is not a single character I like in this story. I hate them all.


Henry Dashwood (father) is a dick who cheated on his wife with another woman, left his first son behind, and then asked his son to help take care of the family he was leaving behind, sort of penniless, because he and his wife never fuckin’ learned how to save. I wouldn’t even have gone to see Henry at his deathbed if I were John, to be honest.

Jack Willoughby was engaged but led Marianne Dashwood (Elliott’s sister) on a merry chase. This, you could see from about a mile away. He got what was coming to him, but mostly at the expense of Marianne, who was humiliated in public and also got injured. Then he showed up at the hospital pretending to be sorry, when all he was sorry for was that 1) he got caught and 2) he was feeling guilty. Eat a bag of dirty dicks, Willoughby. Eat them and CHOKE ON THEM.

Ned Ferrars had been engaged for at least 2 years to another man when he showed up for Henry Dashwood’s funeral and fooled around with Henry Dashwood’s son Elliott, and also showed up in California later on to like … I dunno, confirm to himself that he still loved Elliott and he was still unavailable? And then 95% into the book he shows up and Elliot forgives him when Elliot hears the magic words: “Lucien eloped with Robert.”

How convenient! And also super convenient that Elliott still “loved” Ned Ferrars to let him back in? When they barely spent any time together? When the only proof of Elliott’s feelings is that for some reason he kept mooning and sulking over Ned? What the fuck? And that goddamned fucking bullshit ending:

“I wanted you, Elliott. I wanted you all over again.”

…

“Okay,” [Elliott] said, lifting the corner of his mouth in a wry smile.

Ned’s brows drew together. “Okay?” he asked, sounding puzzled.

Ned, you will be surprised, but — I, too, understand your puzzlement, for I, too, am puzzled. I am puzzled by the fact that I spent an hour reading this bullshit story. You think name-dropping weeaboo animes in this story is going to make me like this better? I AM STRONGER THAN ANY MENTION OF SAYONARA ZETSUBOU-SENSEI. If you’d name-dropped Oofuri or Fukigen na Mononokean on the other hand, then I might’ve borne grudging respect for you. As it is, Sayonara Zetsubou-sensei and Assassination Classroom are barely a tier above Naruto or Boruto.

Half-hearted apologies and the author’s desire to wrap up this story led to all hurts and grievances being resolved with zero begging or grovelling. I hate Ned Ferrars, and I hate Elliott Dashwood. I hate them both.

In the wake of the ending this one thing is nothing more than a mere blip on the radar of my annoyances — I dislike the almost two-decade age gap between Marianne and Deanna. If Marianne had been older it would’ve been whatever for me. But she’s like 18 or something and that puts Deanna at 38/almost 40. Like, can you fuckin’ at least wait until she’s like 25 or something. Jesus on a stick almighty.

If he cheated on Lucien, he’ll cheat on you, Elliott, you dumbshit. I have no sympathy for you and I hate your romance.


In the end, I cannot express how glad I am that this was on Kindle Unlimited so that I didn’t have to pay for this. J-e-s-u-s.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Sense and Sensibility and I love basically anything Lisa Henry writes, so I knew going in I'd more than likely love The California Dashwoods. And I so did.

Lisa Henry does a great job of being very true to the original S&S while also adding in some new elements and exploring some themes that Jane Austen's book doesn't (note that in any comparisons, I'm not critiquing S&S - they're different stories from different authors and different times). This story is, sure, a romance, but the overwhelming theme for me was healing. There's a lot of discussion, introspection and time dedicated to Elliott, his mother and his sisters healing from his father's death. There's the healing of broken familial relationships, Elliott getting to know and forming a tentative relationship with his brother, John, in a way that isn't explored in S&S. There's Marianne, who has physical and emotional scars of her own that have to heal. Abby, who's been dealt the hardest blow of losing her soul mate when she was convinced it wouldn't happen. And Elliott, who thinks he holds the weight of his family's happiness on his shoulders, and his happiness, whatever that might be, comes second. It was full of emotion and honesty.

When looking at this as a romance, especially a contemporary romance, it is lacking. Elliott and Ned's relationship follows Elinor and Edward's almost to a T (modern details notwithstanding). Meaning, there's very little of it. But what I loved is that Henry doesn't try to force an HEA out of them. This book ends with a very solid HFN. I'm normally kind of anti-HFN. I want those happy ever after butterflies. But for Elliott and Ned, it fit perfectly and left me feeling much better than if an HEA had tried to be forced in. I wouldn't say no to a follow up short story later down the road though (hint, hint, wink, wink). I will say, I think my favorite character (aside from Elliott of course) is probably Lucien (Henry's version of Lucy Steele). He took my heart. I would love to know more about him. Since I'm already requesting short stories in my review that no one will read, let me go ahead and put in a request for a story about Lucien and Robert. I bet they'd burn up the pages.

All in all, I absolutely adored this book. Would I have loved it so much if I wasn't already a huge fan of Sense and Sensibility? Probably not. But that's not the point. This book is part of a series retelling classics with a queer twist, and that's exactly what Lisa Henry did, and did well.

[Ellie Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A seamless modern retelling of Sense and Sensibility. As I've always had a fondness for Elinor Dashwood, I was completely on board with her modern counterpart, Elliot, the practical worrier in a household of impetuous emoters!

The transposing of Regency mores onto immensely wealthy corporate families worked perfectly, and my heart ached for Elliot and his tight-knit family, having to leave their home after the death of his family and start anew in another state. I thoroughly enjoyed the interpretations of characters from the original story and loved the new supporting cast as well. And I felt the central romance was an improvement on the original! A really delightful story.

[Henna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love M/M Austen retellings and aim to read all that I come across. While The California Dashwoods was an alright read for me and I certainly devoured it quickly, some things there just didn't work. Sense and Sensibility is brilliant and it works in the time it is set. Modernizing it needs more than what happened here. Henry's retelling follows the original very closely when it comes to Elliott and Ned's romance; there's barely enough interaction and it's very insta lovey. It also doesn't make sense here why Ned keeps his engagement to Lucien secret. I wished more romance and more fleshing out Elliott and Ned's romance.

One thing that made me mad was Elliott's mother. She was an au pair who ran off with Henry Dashwood and then apparently didn't work for twenty years. And when her husband dies and they are left with barely nothing, Abby's children find jobs to support the family while Abby does barely anything. She's been a bad parent for so many years and failed to step up when her children needed her. It all makes my blood boil when Elliott does so much for his family and they don't do anything for him in return.

Overall, it was a quick and okay read but I hoped for more. In my opinion, this would have been much better as historical instead of modern version.

[Ruthie Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~

Anyone who has read Austen's Sense and Sensibility will recognise this modernisation of the tale, but actually anyone at all will enjoy the story. I am not always a big fan of rewrites, but there are enough twists to make this a unique reading experience.

There are elements which I am not convinced translate well to the modern day. In fact the behaviour of the upper class in Regency England switched to the 'royalty' of New York do leave a few issues of disbelief, even if Henry and Abby were bohemian hippies. Elliott's role in the family is also a strange one, although I loved being inside his head - it felt like the transfer to a male in the role of sensible did work well in certain aspects more than others. Interestingly Colonel Brandon was a delight.

I am looking forward to seeing what others think of this book, I am glad that I read it.