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kjnrose's review
4.0
This would have probably been more of a 5 star for me if it had been dual POV, sometimes I feel as if we are missing something when it's just one person's POV. I loved this book and thought the writing was wonderful. It was really nice to have a book written so well for a step-brothers relationship without making it so forbidden.
ellebibliotecario's review
3.0
This is an honest review in exchange for an ARC.
A Mansfield Park contemporary retelling. Finley and his mother move into his new home in Mansfield to live with her mom's new beau and new beau's son, Ethan. From there, a sullen, resistant-to-change Finely begins to see Mansfield as home with a lot of help with the support and company of his new step-brother. Of course, more than familial bonding forms between Ethan and Finely as they both try to resist their attraction to each other.
The story follows Finley and Ethan's relationship through their teenaged years well into their adulthood. The attraction between them felt almost two instantaneous to me, but the slow build of yearning between the two was torturous journey to take with these two, especially with the challenges and distractions thrown their way. This type of forbidden relationship is a first for me to read about, and I was invested in it more than I expected I would be. It was also a delight to see how the Anyta integrated plot points of Austen's Mansfield Park into this retelling.
Despite this book's good points, this was not my favorite in the series. And this is for sure due to my reading preferences and also the themes inherited from its source material. Finely came off as very insulated within his world Mansfield or focused in feelings for Ethan, to the point that any chance for him to leave Mansfield to see more of the world or experience new things is met with resistance and then grudging acceptance because Ethan pushed him to do so. Finely hardly has an real friends or a life outside of Mansfield that doesn't revolve around Ethan in some way. Which was frustrating and sometimes claustrophobic to read, especially since the story is told in Finley's perspective. And the side characters were all for the most part obnoxious, or seemed, like Bennet, mainly there as a plot device making the story a bit more tedious to get through for me. I get it though, the themes explored is around home, hearth, family, and romance centered around a specific household, and I think Anyta portrayed those themes well. And in a more enjoyable fashion than Mansfield Park did in my lowly opinion.
All in all, a solid addition to the Love, Austen series. This book did make me excited for the Sense & Sensibility retelling considering some appearances by the Dashwood family!
A Mansfield Park contemporary retelling. Finley and his mother move into his new home in Mansfield to live with her mom's new beau and new beau's son, Ethan. From there, a sullen, resistant-to-change Finely begins to see Mansfield as home with a lot of help with the support and company of his new step-brother. Of course, more than familial bonding forms between Ethan and Finely as they both try to resist their attraction to each other.
The story follows Finley and Ethan's relationship through their teenaged years well into their adulthood. The attraction between them felt almost two instantaneous to me, but the slow build of yearning between the two was torturous journey to take with these two, especially with the challenges and distractions thrown their way. This type of forbidden relationship is a first for me to read about, and I was invested in it more than I expected I would be. It was also a delight to see how the Anyta integrated plot points of Austen's Mansfield Park into this retelling.
Despite this book's good points, this was not my favorite in the series. And this is for sure due to my reading preferences and also the themes inherited from its source material. Finely came off as very insulated within his world Mansfield or focused in feelings for Ethan, to the point that any chance for him to leave Mansfield to see more of the world or experience new things is met with resistance and then grudging acceptance because Ethan pushed him to do so. Finely hardly has an real friends or a life outside of Mansfield that doesn't revolve around Ethan in some way. Which was frustrating and sometimes claustrophobic to read, especially since the story is told in Finley's perspective. And the side characters were all for the most part obnoxious, or seemed, like Bennet, mainly there as a plot device making the story a bit more tedious to get through for me. I get it though, the themes explored is around home, hearth, family, and romance centered around a specific household, and I think Anyta portrayed those themes well. And in a more enjoyable fashion than Mansfield Park did in my lowly opinion.
All in all, a solid addition to the Love, Austen series. This book did make me excited for the Sense & Sensibility retelling considering some appearances by the Dashwood family!
iam's review
4.0
NGL, I wasn't thrilled when I saw this book was about stepsiblings falling in love. But I enjoyed the rest of the series, and I trust Anyta Sunday to write a good romance, so I gave it a chance.
It was a good book. The writing style flowed easily and it was quick to read.
What I enjoyed about it most was the various relationships, and how bittersweet so many of them were: there was so much love and affection, but also so much hurt and pain between the various members of the past. They are all so in love, and loving, and close and dear to each other, and yet they keep hurting each other without intent. This applies to all sorts of relationships, family, friends, and romantic ones.
All these relationships were handled incredibly well, and I really am impressed with how much the book made me care for all these characters, even the ones who on first glance don't seem like good people, or the ones that weren't actually all that important to the plot. They still all got a personality and were unique and well-rounded, no matter their on-page time.
Nevertheless, I am torn about the whole stepbrother thing. I wish it hadn't been there, but it was also such an integral part of the plot that without it this wouldn't really have been possible. It's a hard thing to get over, but also handled rather well in the end.
As usual, I cannot comment on the actual retelling part, as I have not read Mansfield Park (or any other of Jane Austen's works). The book can absolutely be read on its own, however, and while character(s) from previous books in the series appear, it can definitely stand on its own.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
It was a good book. The writing style flowed easily and it was quick to read.
What I enjoyed about it most was the various relationships, and how bittersweet so many of them were: there was so much love and affection, but also so much hurt and pain between the various members of the past. They are all so in love, and loving, and close and dear to each other, and yet they keep hurting each other without intent. This applies to all sorts of relationships, family, friends, and romantic ones.
All these relationships were handled incredibly well, and I really am impressed with how much the book made me care for all these characters, even the ones who on first glance don't seem like good people, or the ones that weren't actually all that important to the plot. They still all got a personality and were unique and well-rounded, no matter their on-page time.
Nevertheless, I am torn about the whole stepbrother thing. I wish it hadn't been there, but it was also such an integral part of the plot that without it this wouldn't really have been possible. It's a hard thing to get over, but also handled rather well in the end.
As usual, I cannot comment on the actual retelling part, as I have not read Mansfield Park (or any other of Jane Austen's works). The book can absolutely be read on its own, however, and while character(s) from previous books in the series appear, it can definitely stand on its own.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
tankytoon's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Whoever put that "funny" tag on this book is lying. I was in the mood for something light-hearted, slapping-knee-hard hilarious but this book made me cry buckets.
Ethan and Finley are two wandering souls finding each other, but resisting the urge to succumb to their illicit desires.
Their unspoken love speaks volumes mostly through their actions, both sacrificing themselves to make others happy, following social norms and familial expectations.
After getting used to the time skips in the beginning, each chapter closes and begins with a new realization, or a new truth, or a new understanding.
The narrative in Finley's point of view renders a constantly shifting sea of emotions, from elation at Ethan's proximity to agonizing heartache at Ethan's withdrawal.
We see Finley pleading for a short reprieve, those moments he could steal with Ethan, although brief, are all he could allow himself to enjoy. Not asking for too much but just enough.
And it's all those nuances that Anyta Sunday excels in her writing, that made this rendition of Mansfield Park a beautiful love story between two people who aren't supposed to be together, but are.
Ethan and Finley are two wandering souls finding each other, but resisting the urge to succumb to their illicit desires.
Their unspoken love speaks volumes mostly through their actions, both sacrificing themselves to make others happy, following social norms and familial expectations.
After getting used to the time skips in the beginning, each chapter closes and begins with a new realization, or a new truth, or a new understanding.
The narrative in Finley's point of view renders a constantly shifting sea of emotions, from elation at Ethan's proximity to agonizing heartache at Ethan's withdrawal.
We see Finley pleading for a short reprieve, those moments he could steal with Ethan, although brief, are all he could allow himself to enjoy. Not asking for too much but just enough.
And it's all those nuances that Anyta Sunday excels in her writing, that made this rendition of Mansfield Park a beautiful love story between two people who aren't supposed to be together, but are.
skienight's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
itssarahc's review
5.0
Anyta Sunday has once again hit it out of the park with the latest in her Love Austen series.
This is the story of Finley and Ethan, starting when they are fifteen and spanning into their early twenties. They meet when Finley and his mom move into Mansfield, the estate Ethan and his father share. Their parents are engaged and looking forward to them all being one big happy family. Finley is determined to not get along with Tom (Ethan's dad) or Ethan himself, but Ethan is simply too kind for that to happen.
He wavers within a week.
From there, we have a story spanning years as these two boys go from strangers to friends and then fluctuating between friends and lovers in a will-they-won't-they slow burn that leaves you thirsting for more. This book is moderately high angst, but the angst is very well deserved and amazingly well written. There are several scenes that made me tear up and one scene in particular that had me actually crying - which is not an easy thing to do for me with books.
The book also had a bit more steam than some of the other Love Austen books, with their relationship turning physical a bit sooner than I would have thought while still managing the will-they-won't-they aspects. The side characters of this book were good, though I kind of found some of them to be a bit annoying at times. The most grounding part of this book though, aside from our lovely main characters and their relationship, was the redefinition of family over the course of the book.
This book was amazing and I definitely recommend.
** ARC PROVIDED BY GRR FOR UNBIASED REVIEW **
This is the story of Finley and Ethan, starting when they are fifteen and spanning into their early twenties. They meet when Finley and his mom move into Mansfield, the estate Ethan and his father share. Their parents are engaged and looking forward to them all being one big happy family. Finley is determined to not get along with Tom (Ethan's dad) or Ethan himself, but Ethan is simply too kind for that to happen.
He wavers within a week.
From there, we have a story spanning years as these two boys go from strangers to friends and then fluctuating between friends and lovers in a will-they-won't-they slow burn that leaves you thirsting for more. This book is moderately high angst, but the angst is very well deserved and amazingly well written. There are several scenes that made me tear up and one scene in particular that had me actually crying - which is not an easy thing to do for me with books.
The book also had a bit more steam than some of the other Love Austen books, with their relationship turning physical a bit sooner than I would have thought while still managing the will-they-won't-they aspects. The side characters of this book were good, though I kind of found some of them to be a bit annoying at times. The most grounding part of this book though, aside from our lovely main characters and their relationship, was the redefinition of family over the course of the book.
This book was amazing and I definitely recommend.
** ARC PROVIDED BY GRR FOR UNBIASED REVIEW **
heathers_books's review
4.0
It’s the ✨YEARNING✨ for me. I was so stressed this entire book y’all, these two idiots had me in a chokehold from the second they met and the time jumps had me actually slowly dying inside. I absolutely adored this pairing and honestly I wanted to spend so much more time with them (Them as in Ethan and Fin. Cress and Ford can get WrEcKeD).
jeyjey's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75