Women’s Fiction
Publisher: HQ Digital; Published: 7.18.17
Pages: 384 | Format: eARC | Source: Net Galley
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It is a truth universally acknowledged that working with an ex is a terrible idea…
Annie Elliot never expected her life to turn out this way: living with her dad, working as an accountant – surely the least glamorous job in Hollywood?! – and dodging her family’s constant bickering.
Landing a job as a producer on a new adaptation of Pride and Prejudice seems like the piece of luck she’s been waiting for. Until the cast is announced, and Annie discovers that the actor playing Mr Darcy is Austen Wentworth: the man she’s spent nearly a decade trying to forget.
Not only is Austen her ex – but while Annie’s life has stalled, Austen is Hollywood’s hottest property…and has just been voted World’s Sexiest Man.
With nowhere to hide, there’s just one question. Now the one who got away has come back, should Annie stand by her pride? Or give into Austen’s powers of persuasion?
Annie Elliot never expected her life to turn out this way: living with her dad, working as an accountant – surely the least glamorous job in Hollywood?! – and dodging her family’s constant bickering.
Landing a job as a producer on a new adaptation of Pride and Prejudice seems like the piece of luck she’s been waiting for. Until the cast is announced, and Annie discovers that the actor playing Mr Darcy is Austen Wentworth: the man she’s spent nearly a decade trying to forget.
Not only is Austen her ex – but while Annie’s life has stalled, Austen is Hollywood’s hottest property…and has just been voted World’s Sexiest Man.
With nowhere to hide, there’s just one question. Now the one who got away has come back, should Annie stand by her pride? Or give into Austen’s powers of persuasion?
A modern retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion set against the world of the British Period Drama and the production of Pride & Prejudice sounded like all sorts of fun so this was an easy sell for me after reading the blurb and wanting to try a new to me author.
With modern retellings, I am always keen to discover how Austen's original characters will translate into the modern world and what the author will choose for the modern setting. I thought it was clever to cast the Persuasion characters as actors and actresses and at the same time offer a fun wink at the more popular Austen novel, Pride & Prejudice.
I was all set to love this one to death, but I ended up settling for milder feelings of like.
Maybe my expectations were too high, but for certain, I was anticipating something different and it took me a bit to adjust. See, Persuading Austen is Women's Fiction rather than Contemporary Romance (which was what I thought I was getting). It makes a great deal of difference in expectation obviously to get the genre straight, right Sophia? LOL
However, even if I hadn't tangled up which genre I was reading, I still had a struggle on my hands with the main character. Jane Austen's Anne Elliot had more quiet strength and her reasons for her youthful choice was more understandable, to me, set in the time period when things were different for women. Whereas this didn't come across with modern Annie because the times have changed for women when it comes to status, class, and women's careers. She is a doormat and just under 75% of this story was evidence of that. She spends her time inner monologuing about her dreary personal and family life, being resentful, and jealous, but she will not speak or act to change it.
But...
All hope is not lost. That last quarter of the book began with her epiphany moment and then growth and inner strength happened. Now this Annie, I could get behind and cheer on. Oh, the change was not overnight. She still was uncertain and timid, but at least she was making an effort. The very end came in a rush, but it was definitely sweet and romantic.
The story was easily recognizable as a retelling with several key scenes paralleling the original and works fine for those who are unfamiliar or less familiar with the original story it is based on. Spoiler-non spoiler... there is a 'letter' moment (just putting that out there for those who need to know that important detail).
What was a delightful surprise was the humor. The humor was a great balance for the other emotions and the overriding feel of a woman’s regret for her past. There were a few laugh out loud moments like when Annie discovers a few family secrets that tabloids would love to get their hands on and her oblivious sister Marie the TV personality being a personality off-screen, too.
In summary, this was one I had to be patient with and wait for the paydirt moments nearer the end. I do love a good underdog story and this is indeed that. I also enjoyed my first time encounter with the author's writing and have my eye on a few books on her backlist. This will be for those who enjoy Women's Fiction and Modern Retellings.
I rec'd this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
About Sophia:
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate. Writing has been a compelling need since childhood. Being published is a dream come true.
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Thank you for your review, Sophie. It sound like a book I might like to read.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Deborah! I hope you enjoy it if you get the chance.
DeleteRetellings of Austen are so tricky; I chose the Sittenfeld P & P, ELIGIBLE, last year and my book club hated it.
ReplyDeleteOh man, that stinks that they didn't like it. I've actually heard good things about that retelling and planned to read it eventually. But yes, tricky, tricky, Stephanie, especially when presenting to others to read.
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