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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
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:
Complicated
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
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
I've never read Persuasion, so I don't know how much of my beef with this book is because it's built on shaky foundation. But I just couldn't force myself to like this novel.
It starts off innoccuously. The characters were interesting, if a little flat. There is a fun lesbian who loves to remind people that she is fun and lesbian, but Donne avoids the most tired cliches. The groundwork is laid for some plot twists that are visible from a mile away, but that's probably Jane Austen's fault. I was perfectly ready to rate this book 4 stars.
But the writing degrades quickly after page 100. In the middle, Donne puts the plot aside to reflect on alcohol, marriage, angst, and parties. The will they/won't they at the center of this novel is drawn out unnecessarily, so much so that the reader begins to wonder if the main characters actually won't be together in the end.
But the worst comes at the end, when logic dissolves. Leo discovers that Elliot is stealing from her. Rather than, like, reporting him to the police, she keeps his secret because she is afraid of getting in trouble for helping Elliot steal her stuff. Again, maybe that's just how it went in Persuasion, but Donne should have known to take that out. It's not unfaithful to the original to correct the plot holes. Afterwards, Leo gets back on the dating scene and finds a guy who has the money she needs, but of course she still wants to be with the guy who was stealing from her because they have ~history~.
All in all, this was an entertaining read despite the plot holes.
It starts off innoccuously. The characters were interesting, if a little flat. There is a fun lesbian who loves to remind people that she is fun and lesbian, but Donne avoids the most tired cliches. The groundwork is laid for some plot twists that are visible from a mile away, but that's probably Jane Austen's fault. I was perfectly ready to rate this book 4 stars.
But the writing degrades quickly after page 100. In the middle, Donne puts the plot aside to reflect on alcohol, marriage, angst, and parties. The will they/won't they at the center of this novel is drawn out unnecessarily, so much so that the reader begins to wonder if the main characters actually won't be together in the end.
All in all, this was an entertaining read despite the plot holes.
Persuasion is tied for ny favorite Austen story, but something about this adaptation really was not lovable for me.
There's only so many times you can retell Persuasion but add space, gowns and intrigue and it works.
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Ugh, I’m seriously in a 3-star slump. The characters were so flat and most of the plot was predictable. I enjoyed the sci fi/fantasy crossover worldbuilding, but the story was bland at best. I had no reason to find Elliot or Leo likable so I didn’t really find myself rooting for them. I love retellings but this is a piss-poor example. You have to be prepared to do the work yourself as an author to establish and explain relationships rather than lean so heavily on the source material. Also, why, why, why does this read like YA when most of the main characters are 19+?
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-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:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Murder
**Review will be posted on my blog http://pastmidnight.home.blog on January 21, 2020**
**3.5 stars**
Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley for giving me chance to read this eARC.
I did not realize this was a retelling of Persuasion, by Jane Austen, until almost the end.
**3.5 stars**
Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley for giving me chance to read this eARC.
I did not realize this was a retelling of Persuasion, by Jane Austen, until almost the end.