Reviews - Persuasion | The StoryGraph

16.5k reviews for:

Persuasion

Jane Austen

4.11 AVERAGE

silviaxx's review against another edition

4.25

relaxing slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

charlotte16274's review against another edition

5.0

emotional reflective relaxing slow-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

rosiejune's review against another edition

5.0

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense slow-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

imogen3232's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

An Imogen favourite

akanetomori's review against another edition

5.0

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

nothingforpomegranted's review against another edition

4.0

This was my second time reading Persuasion. I remember not having loved the plot, nor did I have much recollection of specific plot points. This time around, I read it as part of my 2025 Jane Austen project, and while I really enjoyed tracking themes and appreciating Austen’s more mature writing, it’s still lower on my rankings.

I found Anne Elliot to be quite melodramatic, and I didn’t see the appeal that had Wentworth pining for her for years. I loved all the humor about vanity and the social commentary integrated into this novel, and it was filled with humor and sarcasm. I go back and forth about if I liked the build up to the reunion between Anne and Wentworth, culminating with the drama of Wentworth’s letter, which is certainly dreamy.

I was struck by the theme of privacy within a crowd, though I’m not sure I have anything profound to say about that at this point. I think I will have to come back to this novel as an older reader because I keep hearing about the greater appreciation that comes with maturity for Persuasion.