This absolutely delightful read was gifted to me via BookishFirst and Gallery Books for review. Julia Sonneborn's modern retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion is the perfect romantic escape for the single gal (or guy) this February. Sonneborn keeps this story light while still managing to touch in on some of the "harder life stuff" that the protagonist, Annie, experiences.
I found Annie extremely likeable, funny, and charmingly awkward - this was a protagonist I found so relatable and genuinely looked forward to picking up my book to keep "hanging out" with her! She feels particularly relevant to today's bookish readers, who are trying to pursue their dream careers, dream partners, and all while time just seems to be slipping away!
Also notable is Sonnenborn's rendering of Adam, her "Frederick Wentworth" here. He is appropriately mysterious, charismatic, and master of the mixed signal - essentially everything you'd want from an Austen leading man. I very much enjoyed her peripheral cast of characters as well, which added great depth and warmth to Annie's story, though their own parallel storylines could have been a bit further developed. Overall, I feel this is a fast and fun read, seeming much shorter than its 384 pages. This would be a particularly fun pick for a book club!
I found Annie extremely likeable, funny, and charmingly awkward - this was a protagonist I found so relatable and genuinely looked forward to picking up my book to keep "hanging out" with her! She feels particularly relevant to today's bookish readers, who are trying to pursue their dream careers, dream partners, and all while time just seems to be slipping away!
Also notable is Sonnenborn's rendering of Adam, her "Frederick Wentworth" here. He is appropriately mysterious, charismatic, and master of the mixed signal - essentially everything you'd want from an Austen leading man. I very much enjoyed her peripheral cast of characters as well, which added great depth and warmth to Annie's story, though their own parallel storylines could have been a bit further developed. Overall, I feel this is a fast and fun read, seeming much shorter than its 384 pages. This would be a particularly fun pick for a book club!