A review by katieganem
Dashed by Amanda Quain

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Thank you to Wednesday books for the ARC. Sense and Sensibility is my favorite Austen book (and Margaret is my favorite Dashwood sister), so I was so thrilled to see her as the hero to her own story. We meet this modern version of Margaret on a cruise with her family. She is at a point in her life where she’s not sure who she is or who she wants to be: more pragmatic like her sister Elinor, or more spontaneous like her other sister, Marianne. I loved the exploration of family here: something Quain always does well. And while Marianne makes some terribly misguided choices in this book, it only makes her transformation and discovery of self all the more satisfying. I loved the slow burn romance as well (my theatre kid heart loves a techie boyfriend to root for). This book is a perfect summer read: funny, romantic, and heartwarming. And you don’t need to be familiar with Jane Austen’s characters to enjoy it.