title: Give Me a Reason
author: Jayci Lee
publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
publication date: July 29, 2025
pages: 352
peppers: 3 (on this scale)
warnings: one scene in a hospital, a fall leading to a concussion
summary: This modern adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion follows Korean television star Anne after she quits her career to move back to California near her family. Once there, she crosses paths with her true love, Frederick, whom her aunt convinced her to leave ten years earlier.
tropes:
- Austen remake
- second-chance romance
- cousin's wedding
- same wedding party
- family drama
what I liked:
- family dynamics
- wedding prep scenes
- pining
what I didn’t like:
- dual point of view works better when the two main characters have substantially different inner monologues. In this adaptation, they had the same basic longings, hopes, and fears.
- Many of their issues could have been solved with actual conversations instead of jumping to conclusions.
overall rating: 3 (of 5 stars)