Delighted to include this title in the February edition of Novel Encounters, my column highlighting the month’s most anticipated fiction for the Books section of Zoomer, Canada’s national culture magazine. (see column and mini-review at link)

3.5 stars

Nikki Payne has a knack for writing romcom stories with heft - aided, of course, by the strong plotlines, social commentary, and character studies left by one Jane Austen for all of us to take ample inspiration from. I had read and enjoyed the author's debut, Pride and Protest, last year (a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice). I enjoyed this take on Austen's debut too. My issues with both books were similar - the author seems to take on too much with her plot, and at times it can feel too non-stop with no breathing room from the breakneck intensity when needed, or even when that's there, things do feel a little fast when they occur (important transitions, revelations, epiphanies). The author knows how to craft a compelling story, however, and the stories are genuinely funny and warm-hearted. I also appreciate the author's commitment to authenticity - her research, the care, sensitivity, and nuance she shows towards representation of characters, experiences, and voices not generally seen in mainstream fiction.

I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.

While this one didn’t really work for me, I can see why others love it and is one I would still recommend.

I appreciated the BIPOC cast of characters and the depth of Nora and Bear as individuals. I will say, there were a LOT of characters and I struggled to keep track at times.

This was also one of those instances where the 3rd person POV just didn’t work for me. Between that, the large cast of characters, and the overall slow pace, I struggled to connect with the story.

Overall, I can tell that Nikki Payne is an incredibly talented writer, but I don’t think her writing is for me.

I have really conflicted thoughts about this book. On one hand, I love the representation and laughed out loud quite a few times. I do like that the focus of this book is on the Elinor (Nora) character versus the Maryanne character, mostly because Maryanne annoys me SO much in the original Sense & Sensibility. I do think the spice was written well and made sense in the context of their relationship.

On the other hand...I think this book just really wasn't for me! The characters felt really over the top for me (particularly Nora's sister, Yanne) which lead to me not really being able to connect with them. There was just a lot going on plot wise with this book which I think may have worked for me if we got to know the characters better. But many chapters had at least a week or two jump between them which I think means we missed a lot of relationship growth between Bear and Nora.

I also really struggled with the pacing in this book - the beginning was a slog to get through for me and I contemplated DNF'ing. And then I got to about 50% and I just could not see how these characters were going to get their HEAs given all of the stuff going on in their lives. So I ended up finishing the book that night because I just had to know how they were going to achieve an HEA. And of course, they do! The ending did feel a bit rushed but again, that could be because of my need to finish.

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Sex, Lies and Sensibility is Nikki Payne's Sense and Sensibility retelling featuring two Black sisters, Nora and Yanne struggling to refurbish a beach town inn on Abenaki land.

I quite enjoyed the story of these two sisters, both very different yet their love for each other shines so brightly. I loved the portrayal of community and the exploration on Abenaki culture and heritage. While I very much enjoyed the plot, what quite didn't click for me was the writing - particularly in the dialogue and the sex scenes. Which is quite surprising cause I enjoyed Payne's debut novel Pride and Protest.

In this novel, there is quite a lot more spice, as the title does suggest and here are a few excerpts from my reading experience that while may not work for me, might work for you:
"The sounds her body made were filling her ears, like someone stirring pasta. So loud and wet. She clenched around his fingers."

"He was growling in her ear, kneading her neck, and he was so deep inside her that if he came, she was afraid it would come out of her mouth."

"Bear bucked in her mouth like a bronco.
'Yes.' His eyes were rolling to the back of his head. 'You're sucking it like you love it, woman. Do you love it?'
She stuffed her mouth with all of him and placed his hand on the back of her head."

"Her eyes were all over him -- buttery skin, fat cock glistening and so hard she could hang a winter coat on it -- so engorged the tip shone purple."
"This was the new Good Dick Gold Standard (TM)"

"Her cry was so powerful that a flock of birds exploded out of a nearby tree and shot past her window.
That was it.
Time of death: dick o'clock.
Bear screamed, actually hollered, and dug himself into her."

And finally, from the chapter entitled Advanced Trigonometry:
"She felt Bear everywhere. His tongue, his hair sliding between her fingers, his lips, his teeth, his hands, his smoky cologne, his dick against her belly harder than advanced trigonometry,"

I don't think the book is bad - just not for me. I didn't really connect with the characters at the beginning and had a hard time continuing the book. I also hadn't read or watched sense and sensibility - not sure if that would have made a difference but I didn't really feel like I had much to look forward to so I wasn't compelled to continue reading.

First off, good job to Nikki for really doing her homework in representing the Abenaki people and the African American culture in this book!! It was incredible seeing an author truly doing the homework to make sure everyone was well represented.

I wanted to hug Bear in his stubbornness to support everyone. I also wanted to help Nora complete this house because her sister was a hot mess! This book read more like fiction than romance to me. Don't get wrong. There definitely is romance and SPICE, but it seems to be on the outskirts of two people really trying to accomplish their goals.

This was a hard book to follow. There were so many characters that it was hard to read who was speaking, and I often had to go back and re-read lines, making this book more frustrating than enjoyable. I do want to listen when the audio comes out to really put myself into this book. The book had two big things going at the same time(renovations and track), which to me didn't blend well and made the book feel a bit messy.

Pride and Protest by Nikki is still one of my all-time favorite reads, so I loved the tie-in! Overall, I did like this book it had some humor, and Nora and Bear are super loveable!!

Thank you for Netgalley for this advanced copy♡

“I’m yours, Nora. Body and soul, I’m yours. If you’ll have me.”

I love Jane Austen retellings, but every once in a while you read one that is particularly remarkable. Nikki’s retellings are god tier. Pride & Protest was one of my top reads last year, so reading this one, I was nervous I wouldn’t like it as much. But truly, this is a masterpiece from start to finish.

Nikki has this incredible ability to weave intelligent, complex, love stories that are not only socially relevant and tackle important topics, but they stay true to the original story they are inspired by, and have all the butterfly inducing moments that we all love in romance books. And her smut? Idk how she does it, but it’s always so intense in the best way.

I will be thinking about this book for a long, long, time. Absolute perfection.

*I received this arc from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*

A book with potential but wasn't for me. The language in parts did not sit well with me. I loved that it was a romance story between two interracial people, and not just black and white. The setting for the story was unique and intriguing. Plus the idea of quaint B&Bs appeals to me. I like that there are chapters from Nora's and Bear's POV. Yanne was an interesting character too. Definitely not your typical side character but someone that gave something extra to the story.

Side note, I hate her college ex that posted that video online. I haven't read Sense and Sensibility yet, so I can't say how it compares for a retelling.

I liked the layered, diverse characters, the setting and renovation storyline. But ultimately this was just too slow for me and it was hard to stay interested.

I've read a lot of Pride and Prejudice retellings but this might be buy first Sense and Sensibility retelling and it was truly fantastic. I can't speak to the Abenaki rep but I found the exploration of their culture and heritage very interesting. I adored Nora and Yanne, their sisterly relationship was really beautiful and complicated. The book addresses some really dark topics in a way that feels wholly modern and yet alludes to the original work as well. I adored the slow developing relationship between Nora and Bear though there was a moment towards the very end when I got a little nervous about how exactly this was going to play out. I did not care for Lucy or Basil but that's ok, the main attraction was Nora and Bear and also Yanne. Also, Felicia getting what she deserved made me so happy.

Content Notes: revenge porn, online bullying, toxic family relationships

I really enjoyed Nikki Payne’s debut Pride & Protest last year, so I was super excited to read Sex, Lies, and Sensibility. It’s a modern retelling of Sense and Sensibility, but you don’t have to be a fan of the original story to appreciate this one. It pays homage to Austen’s classic while integrating fresh and relevant characters and situations that make for a layered and engrossing read.

Nora and her sister inherit an abandoned beach house in rural Maine and have a deadline to turn a profit. They meet Bear and his cousin, who are tour guides in the area and use the abandoned house as their unofficial headquarters. Bear assumes the city girls won’t last more than a week, but Nora and Yanne are there to stay. What begins as a bit of animosity and distrust between Bear and Nora slowly turns to friendship and more as they work together and realize they can both profit from a combined venture. But secrets in their personal lives threaten the blossoming feelings they have toward each other. 

The characters in this story are fantastic! I love Nora and Bear. Each has an interesting and traumatic backstory, and they have to deal with so much. Duty to his community, a past relationship, a fledgling business, and so much more plague Bear, and Nora faces the shocking revelations learned at her father’s funeral, family troubles, a dilapidated inheritance on the brink of foreclosure, and a viral video from her past that continues to haunt her. They and their stories are dynamic and nuanced, as is their love story.

The secondary characters are compelling too, and I particularly liked Nora and Yanne’s relationship. Nora and Yanne have a strong sisterly bond even though they’re very different, and I like how the author explored the benefits as well as the difficulties that come with a close-knit sibling relationship. These women are very different in personality, goals, and ambitions, and I didn’t always like or understand Yanne, but I loved how she served as kind of a foil to Nora. It made both of their personalities really shine. Even the antagonists are super fun to hate, and there are a few to choose from. 

Of course, my favorite part of the story is the romance. Bear is a delight. He’s so tortured and lovely, and his sense of loyalty, duty, and selflessness is incredible. Nora is a strong woman with a tremendous amount of grit and perseverance. And the two of them together have so much chemistry! I loved their friends-to-lovers, slow-burning romance and so rooted for this couple to take a chance on each other. They both have secrets and things that hold them back from being completely vulnerable with each other, but they both grow and change because of their relationship with each other. I loved it. On top of that, something I really liked was how Bear respected Nora’s privacy and never pushed her to give more than she wanted. I love that and the way their love story unfolds. And their sexy times are STEAMY!!! I may have swooned a time or two. lol

A fresh spin on Jane Austen’s Classic Sense and Sensibility, Sex, Lies, and Sensibility includes powerful themes especially the messages about sexuality, gender roles, the exploitation of women, preserving culture and the environment, and the healing power of community. It also includes diverse characters, and mental health and disability rep. It’s a thoughtful and thought-provoking read that is balanced well with humor, heart, and a swoon-worthy romance.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Books for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

I may be one of the few Romance readers that has never read any Jane Austen or seen any of the movie adaptations (with no plans to!), so I can't judge this book based on the re-telling aspect. I can say that if you love chaotic families, drama and MESS...this book is giving you all the over the top soap opera realness. If you're a reader that enjoyed The Art of Scandal by Regina Black,you'll want to get your hands on Nikki Payne's Sex, Lies and Sensibility. Nora and Bear were surrounded by all manner of personal, professional and familial drama and were doing their level best to fight their attraction. Reader: it did not work. But it was a ride watching them try!

This is a fun retelling with spice!! Granted, I’ve never read the original 🙈 oops. But this was a fun read and you won’t want to miss it!!

Thank you Berkley for the eARC!!!

Laugh out loud good. I adore this modern retelling and really felt connected to the main characters. Such a fun read.

A beautiful, contemporary retelling of Sense and Sensibility with the spice turned up to ten!

Slower paced, brimming with romance, comedy, and finding yourself, this is sophomore tale from Nikki Payne is a delight.

This book has great themes of community and family and how to support them, especially throughout tough times. It also had some delightful steamy scenes.

Despite this, I struggled with the book a bit. I liked Bear and Nora individually, but I had a hard time believing their romance. It was nice to see how much Bear cared for Nora and how he would do pretty much anything to help her, but I feel like I missed something in the development of their relationship and how they came to be so in love. I felt like I was being told things were happening rather than seeing them. I think the writing style may have just not been for me.

I did enjoy, though, seeing Nora regain her confidence throughout the story, resulting in what she hoped to accomplish with the inn at the end. However, I do wish we saw more of the renovation process of the inn because it almost felt like a background in the story when that was the only reason Nora was in Maine.

I think this could be the perfect book for someone else and I do look forward to reading other books from this author in the future!

As far as Jane Austen's retellings go, I have yet to read one that starts as dynamically as Sex, Lies and Sensibility. After Nora and Yanne find out that they’re their father’s “other family” at the funeral, they’ve bequeathed an inn in Maine that are tasked to fix up. If they fix it up, they can pay it and get 3 million. If they don’t, it goes to their wicked stepsister, and from there, it’s on.

The only problem is that once they arrive, the two are greeted by Native Abenaki cousins who are putting on a tour. While they don’t get along at first, it’s clear the sparks are flying for Bear and Nora. Eventually, the two agree to make the inn a mutually beneficial partnership and begin renovating.

As you might imagine, the inn needs many repairs, causing Bear to end up at the inn and be forced to be around Nora. While it takes a while for them to warm up to each other, the tension between them is so hot. I don’t know how Nikki Payne did it but those long looks and random kisses were enough to get me invested and want them to be together.

As with most romance, everything that can go wrong for these two does. Whether it’s repairs at the house, Bear being tethered to his duties, or Nora trying to do everything on her own, it feels like we’ll never get to see them happy. While the plot didn’t go the way I imagined, I will say that it was well worth the journey to get there.

Even though I’ve never read the source material, I can imagine that the drama is dialed up in the original. Regardless, Nikki Payne made it her own and put such a unique spin on a classic that you need to add it to your TBR. Whether you’re pulled in by the cover, the title, or the pitch, Sex, Lies and Sensibility will surprise you in more ways than one.

This was lovely. I liked the writing style. I liked the story and characters. I started off with a bang and I cried a few times. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.

This was a very cute book! I really liked reading this story and all of the characters. Bear and Nora's relationship was a slow burn for sure, but worth it in the end. I felt like the miscommunication plot was heavily used here, which was somewhat annoying, Otherwise, I thought this was quirky, deep, funny and I read it within a few hours. I will definitely be reading more books by Nikki Payne in the future.