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bessadams's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War
cyberhavok's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Ableism
Moderate: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail
clevermird's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Jane Austin is kind of my classical literary nemesis. I really like the plots of her books and I find her ability to draw engaging characters in just a few sentences amazing. But somehow I never find myself quite loving the result.
Anne Elliot is the middle child of minor British nobility and still unmarried in her late 20s. Her whiny younger sister has been married for years, but calls on her whenever she feels short on attention, while her father and older sister are both too concerned with their own shallow flaunting of their petty title to pay much attention to her. Her only companion is her late mother's closest friend, who many years ago talked her out of an engagement due to fears that the man's dangerous profession and lack of familial wealth would leave her a penniless widow. But now the Elliots are in dire financial straits, their estate is being rented out, and who should come to visit the new tenants than her ex-fiance, still single and looking?
As I mentioned in the intro, the prose is typically nice, with witty commentary and really amusing characterization. I really enjoyed seeing a romantic story with an older (relatively speaking) protagonist and the premise was great. Anne was a nice girl and I found myself genuinely rooting for her to succeed.
However, the book is quite slow and definitely drags in places. Not that I was expecting the end of the world, but even compared to Pride and Prejudice, there's relatively little that happens. I feel like for as much as the relationship between Anne and her ex-fiance is the focus of the book, we see comparatively little of them together until (spoiler alert) they decide that they are okay with each other again at the end - there was buildup there, for sure, but it would have been more satisfying if we'd seen more of them together. Similarly, the antagonist is solved by a sudden revelation from a character introduced in the third act, and while again, it all makes sense and fits with what we know, it would have worked better if we'd seen more of said character before that moment.
I don't know, this one just didn't quite work for me despite me really wanting it to.
Anne Elliot is the middle child of minor British nobility and still unmarried in her late 20s. Her whiny younger sister has been married for years, but calls on her whenever she feels short on attention, while her father and older sister are both too concerned with their own shallow flaunting of their petty title to pay much attention to her. Her only companion is her late mother's closest friend, who many years ago talked her out of an engagement due to fears that the man's dangerous profession and lack of familial wealth would leave her a penniless widow. But now the Elliots are in dire financial straits, their estate is being rented out, and who should come to visit the new tenants than her ex-fiance, still single and looking?
As I mentioned in the intro, the prose is typically nice, with witty commentary and really amusing characterization. I really enjoyed seeing a romantic story with an older (relatively speaking) protagonist and the premise was great. Anne was a nice girl and I found myself genuinely rooting for her to succeed.
However, the book is quite slow and definitely drags in places. Not that I was expecting the end of the world, but even compared to Pride and Prejudice, there's relatively little that happens. I feel like for as much as the relationship between Anne and her ex-fiance is the focus of the book, we see comparatively little of them together until (spoiler alert) they decide that they are okay with each other again at the end - there was buildup there, for sure, but it would have been more satisfying if we'd seen more of them together. Similarly, the antagonist is solved by a sudden revelation from a character introduced in the third act, and while again, it all makes sense and fits with what we know, it would have worked better if we'd seen more of said character before that moment.
I don't know, this one just didn't quite work for me despite me really wanting it to.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Chronic illness
racheleb's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This is my favorite JA novel so far, and unless I really fall in love with Emma, I don’t think that’s going to change. I love how despite being a second chance romance on the surface, I think it’s much more about learning to trust yourself and your own judgment, which is something that resonated with me a lot. Also Wentworth’s letter had me giggling and kicking my feet. Love you Jane, you’ve never released anything but bangers 😘😘
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Sexism
peggy_racham's review against another edition
4.0
Though a bit slow I loved it. All the love struck moments from both Anne and Frederick are so cute. His letter was so emotional and beautiful.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
christinewonder's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Medical trauma, and Emotional abuse
paigeinabook's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Dementia, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Cursing, Gaslighting, Body horror, Physical abuse, Chronic illness, Classism, Grief, Medical content, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Stalking
cleotheo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Abandonment, Grief, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Colonisation and War
Minor: Sexism and Incest
hspfost's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is a book about people talking each other into stuff. Everyone takes turns persuading other people and getting persuaded themselves, and it usually turns out poorly to some extent. Nevertheless, it's a good read with a lot of heart.
Content Warnings
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
catherinedsharp's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
DISCLAIMER - I read this text as a set text for university meaning I did not pick this up for myself. It does not necessarily fit my usual reading selection so my review may be rather biased.
Of all of them I’ve read, this is my second favourite Austen. A beautiful story of love and loss and complex emotions, with an older and somewhat more mature set of characters. I enjoyed the simplicity of the story and the declarations of love were believable yet poetically written.
Enjoyed this read!
Of all of them I’ve read, this is my second favourite Austen. A beautiful story of love and loss and complex emotions, with an older and somewhat more mature set of characters. I enjoyed the simplicity of the story and the declarations of love were believable yet poetically written.
Enjoyed this read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexism