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A review by happyeverabigail
Once Persuaded, Twice Shy by Melodie Edwards
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
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? Yes
5.0
Such an underrated Jane Austen storyline re-told amazingly! Okay, I must admit I have only watched Persuasion so I was aware roughly of the plot but I haven’t read the original yet and I still really enjoyed this. This had so much yearning and that specific kind of Jane Austen angst. In our current world I feel like this definition of angst is not the same. I felt twists in my gut at their emotions multiple times!!
So, I need to be honest this does contain one of my bookish pet peeves in that the main characters are with other people and not each other for a large chunk of it but in this specific case this actually didn’t bother me for several reasons. This is written in solely the FMC POV and she’s with her alternate man very briefly and distantly so you never get POV of any level of intimacy with another person besides the main love interest. I don’t want to spoil anything but after so much not talking they do air all of this out in a way that satisfied me. If I had gotten an inkling of his POV during some of that time I would not have been happy.
The second chance romance aspect of this made so much sense. And this is truly one of those times where 1 you understand why they broke up and 2 you very well may feel that it was actually necessary for them to come back together healthier in current times. I strongly feel that it was all how it was supposed to happen which makes me love this all the more because with most second chances I feel so sad for the lost time. But (again preventing spoilers) it was all for their own paths.
There’s just so many sweet moments of this and the heart of Jane Austen’s world is in this as well. Caricature family members, kooky townspeople, and the YEARNING galore. Thank you to Berkley for the ARC, I loved this.
So, I need to be honest this does contain one of my bookish pet peeves in that the main characters are with other people and not each other for a large chunk of it but in this specific case this actually didn’t bother me for several reasons. This is written in solely the FMC POV and she’s with her alternate man very briefly and distantly so you never get POV of any level of intimacy with another person besides the main love interest. I don’t want to spoil anything but after so much not talking they do air all of this out in a way that satisfied me. If I had gotten an inkling of his POV during some of that time I would not have been happy.
The second chance romance aspect of this made so much sense. And this is truly one of those times where 1 you understand why they broke up and 2 you very well may feel that it was actually necessary for them to come back together healthier in current times. I strongly feel that it was all how it was supposed to happen which makes me love this all the more because with most second chances I feel so sad for the lost time. But (again preventing spoilers) it was all for their own paths.
There’s just so many sweet moments of this and the heart of Jane Austen’s world is in this as well. Caricature family members, kooky townspeople, and the YEARNING galore. Thank you to Berkley for the ARC, I loved this.