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savvyrosereads's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
A retelling of SENSE AND SENSIBILITY about Nora Dash and her sister Yanne, who learn they were their father’s second family and move to Maine to renovate the inn that is their inheritance.
This was so much fun and I was captivated from beginning to end. Nikki Payne writes with so much humor and I found myself laughing out loud so many times, while simultaneously so impressed by the way she handled difficult topics like race, colonization/the treatment of Native Americans, and sexual exploitation. I loved Nora and Bear and loved watching their journey unfold. All the small moments between them (“Nora Dash, I would love for you to braid my hair one day.”) grabbed my heart and refused to let it go.
As with Payne’s debut PRIDE AND PROTEST, this book is also an excellent retelling, hitting all the best notes of the source material and adding smart and entertaining twists for the modern era and the style of the new story.
Basically, I’m a huge Nikki Payne fangirl now, and I can’t wait to see what she does next. I can’t recommend her books highly enough!
CW: Classism; colonization; sexism/misogyny; sexual harassment; mentions of infidelity
A retelling of SENSE AND SENSIBILITY about Nora Dash and her sister Yanne, who learn they were their father’s second family and move to Maine to renovate the inn that is their inheritance.
This was so much fun and I was captivated from beginning to end. Nikki Payne writes with so much humor and I found myself laughing out loud so many times, while simultaneously so impressed by the way she handled difficult topics like race, colonization/the treatment of Native Americans, and sexual exploitation. I loved Nora and Bear and loved watching their journey unfold. All the small moments between them (“Nora Dash, I would love for you to braid my hair one day.”) grabbed my heart and refused to let it go.
As with Payne’s debut PRIDE AND PROTEST, this book is also an excellent retelling, hitting all the best notes of the source material and adding smart and entertaining twists for the modern era and the style of the new story.
Basically, I’m a huge Nikki Payne fangirl now, and I can’t wait to see what she does next. I can’t recommend her books highly enough!
CW: Classism; colonization; sexism/misogyny; sexual harassment; mentions of infidelity
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Infidelity, Racism, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Medical content, Sexism, and Classism
literaryintersections's review
emotional
funny
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? Yes
5.0
I absolutely LOVED this book goodness gracious. Nora is so complex: uptight, rich girl who loses all her money, older sister who feels like she has to take care of her sister. She is too proud - and that pride leads her to trying to fix up a bed and breakfast in Maine without any experience. Also her experience of have a sex tape leaked by an ex-boyfriend made me so mad because it is stuff that happens to this day. And it was something she carried with her -being the butt of jokes. I wanted her to just be able to be soft and vulnerable, supported to live a life where she can be free and happy. I also love her sister - she is HILARIOUS and I want her to get a book.
Bear was such an interesting character and I think he mirrors Nora - being weighed down by things that feel out of his control but aren't really. I was ready for him to get his life together, say no to some things, push back, take a stand.
Bear and Nora together? HAWT. I was just WAITING for them to get it on and their chemistry was STELLAR. I do think some of the twists felt obvious, but that didn't take away from the story for me.
My favorite part was how obvious it was that Nikki did so much research for this book. Like her research in Abenaki culture and experience, the ways that indigenous and Native people have been pushed from their land, even in Maine. It felt realistic and true and extremely frustrating. But also felt thoughtful and honest. I hope that Native reviewers feel that Bear and his families experiences are well represented.
Bear was such an interesting character and I think he mirrors Nora - being weighed down by things that feel out of his control but aren't really. I was ready for him to get his life together, say no to some things, push back, take a stand.
Bear and Nora together? HAWT. I was just WAITING for them to get it on and their chemistry was STELLAR. I do think some of the twists felt obvious, but that didn't take away from the story for me.
My favorite part was how obvious it was that Nikki did so much research for this book. Like her research in Abenaki culture and experience, the ways that indigenous and Native people have been pushed from their land, even in Maine. It felt realistic and true and extremely frustrating. But also felt thoughtful and honest. I hope that Native reviewers feel that Bear and his families experiences are well represented.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation and Racism
Moderate: Sexism and Sexual harassment
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