From the title, it is clear that this book will have something to do with Pride and Prejudice and, indeed, it does. While this is a book for kids, many adults who like Austen retellings may want to read this as well. It is quite clever in how it situates the original P and P characters into the story which takes place in a time period similar to that of the original.
Those who’ve read P and P know that Lizzie is clever, independent and has her own mind. This is true in this title as well. As the book opens, Lizzie is working in her father’s law firm. She wants her work to be recognized but that is quite difficult for her as a young woman. Rather, the loathsome, Mr. Collins takes credit for her labors. Also working in the office as a secretary is Catherine. These are just some of the old friends who appear in this title.
When a certain Mr. Bingley is accused of murder, the plot line is set. Read along for an enjoyable take off on the original. I found it to be a fun read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collin’s Children’s Books for this title. All opinions are my own.
This title is described as a modern take on Jane Austen’s novel Persuasion. There are definite similarities, starting with the main characters being called Anne and Frederick and some of the relationship history.
Those who loved Persuasion and are open to updates will, I think, enjoy this title. I did. It was interesting to read the familiar novel with a new focus on a different culture.
I also think that this could work the other way as well; perhaps someone will read this and then decide to pick up the classic. Either way, Lee tells her story well.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s-St. Martin’s Griffin for this title. All thoughts are my own.
Pub date: 29 July 2025
About the book:
From the publisher
In this modern retelling of Jane Austen’s PERSUASION, a K-drama actress gets her second chance at love with the man she left to save her family, if only she can work up the courage to risk her heart on forever…one last time.
For ten years, Anne Lee told herself that Frederick Nam was her past. To save her father from bankruptcy, she dropped out of UC San Diego to pursue an acting career in Korea. Anne had to stop Frederick from following her and ruining his future. Breaking up with him was the best way she could love him.
After Anne left him, Frederick spent years loving her, missing her, and hating her until he decided to live his life for himself. He followed his dream and became a firefighter in Culver City. He didn’t need romance. He had his work and his friends.
When she returns to Los Angeles, Anne and Frederick find themselves in the same wedding—she as her cousin’s bridesmaid and he as his friend’s groomsman. Even though he is cold and distant with her, Anne can no longer deny that she never got over him. Not even close. As for Frederick, needing to take care of Anne is a habit he can’t seem to kick, but that doesn’t mean he has to forgive her.
From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Jayci Lee’s Give Me a Reason is a second-chance romance that hits like a gut punch wrapped in a love letter. Anne and Frederick are fire and ash―twin heartbreaks that smolder ten years later with breathtaking heat. It’s a love story that dares to ask what happens after the credits roll, and what it means to fight for the one who once walked away. Tender, aching, and brave―this book gave me all the reasons to believe in love again.” ―Nikki Payne, author of Pride and Protest
“A deeply heartfelt nod to Jane Austen’s iconic second chance romance. Austen’s Anne and Fredrick taught me all I know about how love should be and Jayci Lee’s Anne and Fredrick do them proud. They are magic on the page, the kind of magic that makes you sigh and yearn and smile from your heart.” – Sonali Dev, Bestselling Author of There’s Something About Mira
Love from booksellers! “Endearing and enjoyable. This modern retelling of Jane Austen’s novel Persuasion was lovely. A second chance romance that makes you believe in true love.” ―Tombolo Books
About the author:
From Amazon
JAYCI LEE writes poignant, sexy, and laugh-out-loud romance featuring Korean American main characters. Her books have been in O, The Oprah Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly, Hollywood Reporter, E! News, and Women’s World. Jayci is retired from her fifteen-year career as a litigator because of all the badass heroines and drool worthy heroes demanding to have their stories told. Food, wine and travel are her jam. She makes her home in sunny California with her tall-dark-and-handsome husband, two amazing boys, and a fluffy rescue.
I have read many WWII historical novels so was not certain that I wanted to read another one. However, as Natasha Lester is one of my favorite authors, I decided to go ahead and am so very, very glad that I did. I recommend this book most highly.
In this novel readers meet Marie-Madeleine Meric who was a true historic personage. Readers follow her in the 1920s in Morocco and later during WWII when, with bravery, she faced unimaginable risks.
Marie-Madeleine married her husband somewhat impulsively thinking that they would have a life of great adventure. He went to Morocco to gather intelligence and relied on MM to translate for him. However, it also turned out that he was quite controlling and MM eventually left him to go to France.
Readers should know that even when Edouard tried to control her, MM had a mind of her own and for example twice took part in a famous road race, had her own friends and helped in a women’s clinic. Also,unlike her husband, MM was compassionate and deeply loved her son and daughter.
When WWII was brewing and came, MM became involved in the intelligence gathering process, eventually becoming the head of the Mademoiselle Alliance. Through this work, readers meet a wide cast of characters with whom she worked. Two of the most important were Leon and Navarre. They and many others faced unimaginable danger and heartache in these pages.
Natasha Lester is a writer who animates history. She vividly describes setting sand imbues her characters with life. This author made me care so much for MM and those she cared for.
Note that some readers may find resonance with present day life in the rising of Hitler as a dictator who used the military to achieve his ends and who persecuted untold millions. This adds extra resonance to this story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House-Ballantine for this title. All opinions are my own.
My first impression is that Kate Atkinson must have enjoyed herself when writing this book. In this novel, she has created unique, over the top and idiosyncratic characters who often, in my opinion, require some suspension of disbelief on the reader’s part. The plot here includes a number of tropes, including the murder mystery weekend, the small English village, the snowstorm that isolates characters, stolen art, family relationships and more.
Readers who have read other Jackson Brodie mysteries will be delighted to meet up with him, his family and his police contacts once again. This time, he has been hired to look into stolen art but stumbles on much more.
There were times when I felt that Atkinson was going for the comic, even farcical, effect. That said, some of her portraits of the characters, were quite moving. While many jokes were made, often by Ben, about his war experiences, he is very sympathetically presented. Ben reminded me of Strike in the JK Rowling series. Their situations are similar in dealing with the loss of a limb. He is just one among a group that includes a vicar, actors, down on their heels aristocrats and others.
This book just gallops along. Events and situations pile up on one another. Atkins fans will rejoice!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for this title. All opinions are my own.
There are many quotes in this title. They are divided by subject. To name a few, there are quotes about Change, Courage, Creativity, Hope, Kindness, Saying Good-bye, Siblings and Thankfulness, among others.
Along with the quotes, those who pick up this book will, I think, enjoy the illustrations. Some are whimsical, all are engaging.
This book’s audience is children but I think that many adults will enjoy it as well. It will remind them of some of the books that they treasured when they were younger.
Many thanks to Sourcebooks Kids for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 04 November 2025
About the book:
From the publisher
A delightful treasury of quotes to spark joy and imagination while growing up!
This beautifully illustrated collection offers quotes from historical and modern classics for today’s kids. Centered around helpful themes, such as courage, kindness, and self-confidence, these inspirational words from some of the most creative minds in children’s literature offer readers timeless wisdom for growing up in today’s world.
Over 170 beloved children’s books are found in this treasury, including:
The Velveteen Rabbit
The Wizard of Oz
Coraline
Ramona the Pest
James and the Giant Peach
Tar Beach
A Long Walk to Water
Last Stop to Market Street
Looking for Alaska
“We are born to dream and make the things we dream about.” — The Sun Is Also a Star, Nicola Yoon
“Courage is if you knew where there were some mountains, you would definitely climb them.” — Courage, Bernard Waber
“You can’t run away from who you are, but what you can do is run toward who you want to be.” — Ghost, Jason Reynolds
About the author:
From Amazon
About the Author
Hannah Barnaby was a children’s book editor, independent bookseller, and reviewer before becoming the first children’s writer-in-residence at the Boston Public Library. She holds an MA in Children’s Literature an MFA in Writing. Her books have earned awards and starred reviews. Hannah lives in Virginia with her family and dogs. You can visit her online at http://www.hannahbarnaby.com.
About the Illustrator:
From Amazon
About the Author
Hannah Barnaby was a children’s book editor, independent bookseller, and reviewer before becoming the first children’s writer-in-residence at the Boston Public Library. She holds an MA in Children’s Literature an MFA in Writing. Her books have earned awards and starred reviews. Hannah lives in Virginia with her family and dogs. You can visit her online at http://www.hannahbarnaby.com.
Ruth Burrows is a British illustrator and designer currently working worldwide from her studio in sunny Lincolnshire, UK. She studied Theatre Design before computers were invented. Drawing, painting, and fixing things keeps her young, and she usually has her best ideas while out walking the dog.
I have enjoyed other novels by Eliza Knight including The Mayfair Bookshop and The Queen’s Faithful Companion. So, when I see her name on a book cover, I am excited.
This time, Knight explores the world of publishing in the early 1960s. To say that women were not highly valued for their skills is an understatement.
As this story opens, Bernadette is working on editorial tasks but is not respected for this. Rather, she is asked to bring her boss’s dirty laundry to the cleaner. Understandably, Bernadette does not appreciate this and wants more. Will she succeed? Will friends that she makes at the New York Public Library help her? Find out in this enjoyable read that also features a likeable editor who has fallen for Bernadette. I recommend it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks-Landmark for this title. All thoughts are my own.
So, this novel has the perfect title for a read at this time of year. It will be enjoyed by both her new and old readers of this author. They will find an involving story about characters, families and the choices that people make.
Robyn’s life involved always being there for her husband and children. In order to do this, she ruled out options like going to college. Now, in her forties, Robyn’s husband and she are divorced. He has had a series of relationships, some of which are questionable. Robyn’s daughter, Harlow, is planning to marry young, while her son has decided not to go to college. Oh, by the way, Robyn also has to figure out how to support herself when the payments from her former spouse stop. Yes, she has a lot to think about.
While Robyn is in Florida, her great aunt Lillian (aged 94 or so) is in California. Lillian is getting to know the former Marine (and current writer) Mason to whom her husband left her eccentric home. It will pass to him when Lillian dies. There is also a bequest to Robyn.
Robyn decides to leave family behind for a trip to California and Lillian. Will her family stay behind? What will happen out West? How will Robyn’s life change as a result? Readers will find out over the course of this story.
In addition to following Robyn, there is also a secondary plot about Robyn’s best friend and her marriage. Robyn has worked part-time in this friend’s antique business. So, two families that readers get to know.
This book will be enjoyed by those who read women’s fiction. They will most likely then eagerly await the author’s next book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 15 Mar 2022
Editorial Reviews
Review
PRAISE FOR THE SUMMER GETAWAY
“The Summer Getaway is a reflective and moving tale of family ties.”—New York Journal of Books
“Mallery’s latest contemporary romance has the family dynamics, heartfelt introspection, and emotional truths that keep readers coming back. The perfect escape for readers wanting to get away.”—Booklist
PRAISE FOR SUSAN MALLERY
“Susan Mallery never disappoints.”—Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Mallery is one of a kind.”—RT Book Reviews
“Mallery is an expert at writing about strong women, their friendships, and their romances.”—Booklist
I have read two other books by this author and love her imagination and ability to tell a story. Seeing Jurczyk’s name on this title and the beautiful cover drew me right in.
Take a train ticket, hop on, think that things will happen one way only to find how wrong an assumption that is when the train breaks down and there is a murder in this closed environment. Will Agatha, whose husband had purchased a ticket for her for this Canadian rail journey, emerge unscathed? Why was there a murder? What are Agatha’s connections to those on the train? How will the story unfold? Pick this one up to find out. You will be glad that you did.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 23 September 2025
Mystery & Thriller
352 pages
Also by this author:
Note that I have reposted here and do not know if either of these titles is currently an e book bargain
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 