Nikki Payne has really done something wonderful with both of her Austen re-tellings. They're fresh, fun, modern, hilarious and extremely loyal to the original material without feeling ham-fisted.

Sex, Lies and Sensibility follows Nora, a wealthy socialite who finds out at her father's funeral that a) her family was just one of his families b) she is dead broke c) she has inherited a dilapidated inn in Maine, which could save her from ruin. On a desperate whim, she agrees to take on the challenge of the inn. In Maine she quickly comes across Ennis "Bear" Freeman, an Abenaki native to the area who is trying to keep his family afloat while a power company tries to take over native land.

One of the most wonderful things about this book is how faithful it is to the original but also how high drama Payne manages to keep it WITHOUT careening into absurdity. Her writing overall is so wonderfully engaging that I kept rereading sentences just to appreciate them fully. And Payne writes spicy scenes in a really incredible way where they're not so explicit but incredibly immersive in the emotion.

Despite the chaos of the story, Nora and Bear's romance develops beautifully over the course of the story and you understand how these two stalwarts of their individual families find strength in each other.

I can't wait for more of Payne's books!

I received an eARC as a member of the Berkley Influencer Program, and chose to voluntarily review and rate it.

I always think Jane Austen retellings are always a huge feat so I applaud Nikki for this one! Bear was such an interestingly complex MMC and I LOVED the chemistry between him and Nora. I loved the through line between both of the characters fear of repeating their past mistakes but overcoming that fear to welcome love. I’m not usually a side characters person but Nikki wrote them so well. Loved Yanne!

Thank you to Berkley and Netgally for a copy of this book to read and review- all opinions are my own!

Here's what is bound to happen when you read Sex, Lies and Sensibility:

1. Go on a deep, heavily layered journey of the crippling inner turmoil and high stakes drama that has you turning the pages so fast you may as well wear gloves so as to not get a paper cut and cancel all plans so as to find out how this could possibly all be resolved!

2. Root for Nora finding her way in which she takes back ownership on something that has been gnawing at her innards for 7 years, and getting to the point in which she can let in the good, expel the bad, and live her life how she wants to- nothing in the back of her mind to sully the good things that have now happened through this journey of personal growth.

3. Absolutely scream/cry/throw up at literally anything Ennis Bear Freeman does because that is a man that smells like cinnamon, leather, and roses, is the epitome of if he wanted to, he would, and he /fucks/. I am crazed.

TL;DR: Read this book right now what are you waiting for go right now what the heck do it now!!!!!!!!!!!!

W o w. I am blown away again by the hand of Nikki Payne! I absolutely loved Pride and Protest, and just was so unbearably excited to get to read this story early. My expectations were absolutely blown out of the water. There is something about Payne's writing style that I really cling to- there is a certain cadence to it that is so addictive- and while the themes in this story are at time so heavy and just giving me a lump in my throat from the emotions they are making me feel, she had me gasping and laughing and my jaw hanging throughout. Nikki Payne tackles topics of this nature with such care, love, wit and humor.

The characters in this story!!! I loved them all!!! Our MC's and supporting alike! Just like with P&P, I don't think it is possible for Payne to have a subplot that anyone could find lacking. The level of depth in such a short amount of time that we can get from these characters is just impressive. The stubbornness of Nora and Bear was frustratingly delightful. Yanne had me laughing all the time and her emotionality was something I found really relatable. I will always love a character that wears their heart on their sleeve. Our antagonists really were antagonizing AF and brought so much high stakes tension that I just could not stop reading because I wanted to just tear out my hair! Really had me stressing, and this story never took the easy way to resolution, which I really, really, (underline) really liked.

In the same vein, I feel like Bear wears his heart on his sleeve in a different way. The way in which he speaks to Nora had me swooning all over the place and the love was just palpable from the beginning, but it also had a great build to it. The sense of heavy burden and duty Bear felt throughout the story was, at times, really hard to stomach and I did not think we would get to that happy place for him, but I am so glad we did.

Nora's journey through leaning into her most vulnerable self and taking that power back had me rooting for her so hard, and whether the romance worked out for our leads or not, getting to that place in which she was able to find that power again was something I really enjoyed finding with her in this story!

Speaking of the ~romance~ it was intense and fizzy and had me all aaaah! While it was a "slow burn" type feel to it (my fav), we got some pretty steamy scenes and they are (you'll never catch me using this word again),I must say, quite erotic. Had me shutting my kindle and reopening it a couple times being my god!!! Ugh. I can't. Speak to me again in 3-5 business years when I have recovered.

Read this book if you like:

- ANGST!
- Jane Austen re-imaginings
- Slow burn romance

<b>“I want forever with you, starting today. This is the beginning of the rest of our life together. I want to marry you.”</b>
This took me a while to read but I think it’s a cute read. I liked the main characters and the romance. The main character Nora and her sister inherited a run down estate and are set to restore it to get their inheritance and avoids foreclosure. She meets Bear the mmc who helps her and her sister and they develop feelings for each other. I haven’t read any Austen classics so I don’t know about the reimagination aspect but I thought this was solid with a good plot and side characters. I wanted the romance to move a little faster but overall it was cute with a couple steamy scenes!

Tropes/tropes:
- Interracial romance
- Opposites attract
- Found family
- Renovation fun
- A smidge of angst
- Native American mmc/African American fmc

While this book explored intriguing themes, I had a hard time connecting with the story. However, that is obviously on me and not the book. I recognize that it has great potential to appeal to other readers and I encourage others to try it out!

This was such a deeply layered romance, with two dynamic main characters—a high drama, high stakes story all within a fascinating Maine setting, seen through an Indigenous lens. But even beyond the drama, the romance and attraction between Bear and Nora was so strong. Payne is such an important and wonderful voice in modern romance; I loved the experience of reading this book.

This was a great read that made me laugh and also broke my heart, often within the span of a few pages. I loved Nora and I was rooting for her the entire time. Ennis I kept going back and forth on - I loved him but then the reveal of his secret made me swing the other way.

Thank you so much for an advanced copy of this book! I love Nikki Payne's writing, and this is one of my most anticipated 2024 releases.

I love a good Jane Austen reimagining, and Nikki Payne did a wonderful job crafting this story. There are enough elements of the original to pay homage to the inspiration and also enough new elements to make Sex, Lies, and Sensibility stand on its own as a new, exciting book. Nikki Payne just has a really special way of writing, and I think her skills are truly underappreciated. I also really enjoyed the way I kept guessing how the story would end, which I think is a testament to her spinning a new tale with a reimagining!

I loved the characters in this story; they gave me enough reflections of the originals while also standing on their own! I also was really intrigued by all the intricacies of the story, the relationships, etc...it all formed together into a seamless story I could not put down!

Thank you again for an advanced copy of Sex, Lies, and Sensibility. I enjoyed it a lot!

Rating: 4 stars

+ Indigenous rep
+ Multi-trope in the best way possible (slow burn, friends- to lovers, small town, sports romance, Instalove, etc. and it works!!)

I’m a simple woman. You tell me there’s a Jane Austen retelling/adaptation, and my interest is piqued. I loved Nikki Payne’s debut, Pride and Protest, and spoiler alert: I loved Sex, Lies and Sensibility.

Shenora “Nora” Dash is a former track star who dropped out of school because of a college sex tape scandal. She finds out that she was a part of her father’s “secret” family at the reading of his will. She and her free-spirited sister, Marianne (Yanne), are given a rustic - read: rundown- inn in the middle of nowhere (Maine) and 10 months to make it profitable to pay off the foreclosure or they lose the inn and their inheritance.

When the women arrive in Maine, they meet Native Abenaki eco-tour guide Ennis “Bear” Freeman. Renovations, friendships, and romance follow, but it’s not smooth sailing.

I consume a lot of media and the portrayal of people of color can be harmful, if not taken seriously and done with extreme care. The care and reverence of Nikki Payne weaving culture, identity, and experience into this story is evident. In fact in her author note she writes: “While the tale I tell is not an Abenaki story (at its heart, it is still a story about two Black women who are forced to make a new way for themselves), my endeavor to write about a romantic hero from such a community was guided by a profound sense of respect, humility, and a deep ethnographic engagement.” The experiences of all of the characters felt thoughtful and honest and truthfully some may find it triggering, but imagine what folks deal with in real life.

I loved the chemistry between Bear and Nora - and honestly, Bear is likely going to be my favorite book boyfriend of 2024. I’ll braid your hair, Bear!! Their banter was top-notch and made me smile. Also, I loved the basketball references which felt as if they were written for me: “When LeBron moved to Miami, he had better infrastructure, a stronger team, and he dominated the championships. Sometimes you win by stepping outside of fears of people’s expectations.”

The secondary characters are well-written and well-developed. Tarot pulling Yanne is a highlight and I would love a spin-off story for her. Elder Wilkes is a personal favorite as well.

You don’t have to be a Jane Austen fan or know the original to enjoy this book. Nikki Payne weaves a compelling story for all.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the eARC! Sex, Lies and Sensibility publishes February 13, 2024! Pre-order it today!!

This was just ok for me. I felt like it took a long time for the story to pick up. And I know what she was going for with Yavonne but I could never quite get with her character. I did love the Maine setting and I loved how the reservation and their culture was incorporated into the story.

Nora Dash is a former track star trying to live a quiet life away from the infamy spotlight a certain salacious recording of her has brought. But, when her father and business mogul dies she discovers that her mother, sister, and herself are left near destitute as her father's wife inherits most of his fortune. Left with only a rundown property in Maine, Nora packs up herself and her sister Yanne to revitalize the old property and turn it into the inn her father had dreamed of. Once there she partners with Bear, a member of the local Abenaki tribe, who carries his own burdens. Together they must find a way to not only save their businesses but also retain their own integrity and find a way to trust and love each other.

This retelling of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility has it all. BIPOC characters, mental health and disability rep. Friends to lovers. Instalove. Sports romance. Small Town.... you name it. I enjoyed Nikki Paynes take on this classic.

3.75 out of 5 stars (rounded to 4) and 2 out of 5 spice. This book didn't quite make the 4-star rating because one of the jokes the main characters make bothered me and struck me as oddly incongruous for two characters so aware of and against historical stereotypes. <spoiler> for edification it was the Spotify Serf reference </spoiler>.

After the death of their father, Nora and her sister are shocked to find that he had another family. All they are left to inherit is a dilapidated inn. In order to be able to keep the inn, they must turn a profit and pay off the loan by Labor Day. When Nora and her sister arrive at the inn, they find Ennis "Bear" Freeman and his partner running a tour out of their inn. She offers him a deal - he can continue using the inn for his tours if he helps them renovate the inn. As the two spend time together on the project, it's clear that they have a connection and chemistry that is breathing new life into them.

I read Sense and Sensibility and watched the movie a long time ago. I didn't remember much of the storyline before I starting reading this book but it started to come back to me as I read this one. I really enjoyed this retelling of the story.

There is something about Nikki Payne's writing that is special and I am in awe of her talent. The book had lyrical prose and dialogue that was raw and real. Even though the storyline was familiar, I felt like I didn't know where she was going to take us in this story.

Bear was a complex character and it took a while to unpack all of his baggage. He had carried the weight of the world on his shoulders and his sense of responsibility and guilt forced him into this empty life of doing things for others. His connection with Nora forced him to really think about what he wanted in life and pushed him into a journey of dismantling life as he knew it.

The intensity between Nora and Bear is what I live for! They had this very fiery chemistry but their story was a slow burn. But don't get me wrong, when Nikki Payne gave us little snippets of those steamy scenes, she slayed it! That scene where he was talking about impregnating her - I couldn't believe how hot that was!

Nora and Bear's love was messy because of all the external factors that kept them apart. When they thought they couldn't be together, their heartbreak was visceral. I am SO GLAD that they were able to find an HEA.

Pick up this book for a retelling of Sense and Sensibility that will get you in your feels!

Steam level: 🔥🔥🔥
⚠️: death of a parent, mention of robbery

RATING: 3.75/5 STARS

It is a truth universally acknowledged that I cannot resist a modern adaptation of Jane Austen. This one caught my attention with cover art similar to Melodie Edwards' Reimagining series, which I love. Nikki Payne is a new-to-me author, so I was pleasantly surprised by this book! There was a lot of angst and drama with Bear and Nora having to overcome a lot of obstacles to be together, but the ending is resolved nicely. I liked this diverse take on a classic and would read further novels in this series!

This fabulous riff on Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility updates the story of the trials and tribulations of two sisters dealing with the complications of family inheritance and other relationships.
Nora and her sister Yanne have inherited a rundown inn in Maine and have a deadline to get it up and running at a profit within a year or else lose it to foreclosure. Ennis "Bear" Freeman is an Abenaki tour guide who has seen plenty of tourists come and go, and expects the sisters to follow suit. But Nora and her free-spirited sister are made of sterner stuff, and soon the sparks are flying between Bear and Nora, although both of them are hiding secrets that could derail everything. These fully developed characters and the realistic challenges they face as Black and Indigenous people makes this a winning and very satisfactory story well worth reading.

I absolutely LOVED this book goodness gracious. Nora is so complex: uptight, rich girl who loses all her money, older sister who feels like she has to take care of her sister. She is too proud - and that pride leads her to trying to fix up a bed and breakfast in Maine without any experience. Also her experience of have a sex tape leaked by an ex-boyfriend made me so mad because it is stuff that happens to this day. And it was something she carried with her -being the butt of jokes. I wanted her to just be able to be soft and vulnerable, supported to live a life where she can be free and happy. I also love her sister - she is HILARIOUS and I want her to get a book.

Bear was such an interesting character and I think he mirrors Nora - being weighed down by things that feel out of his control but aren't really. I was ready for him to get his life together, say no to some things, push back, take a stand.

Bear and Nora together? HAWT. I was just WAITING for them to get it on and their chemistry was STELLAR. I do think some of the twists felt obvious, but that didn't take away from the story for me.

My favorite part was how obvious it was that Nikki did so much research for this book. Like her research in Abenaki culture and experience, the ways that indigenous and Native people have been pushed from their land, even in Maine. It felt realistic and true and extremely frustrating. But also felt thoughtful and honest. I hope that Native reviewers feel that Bear and his families experiences are well represented.

This was a amazing follow up to NIkki's debut. She is totally in her bag with the Jane AUsten retllings. I love the diversity of the characters and the representation

A modern take on Sense and Sensibility with Black and Indigenous MCs Two sisters inherit a rundown inn. They have to get it up and running and make a payment in arrears or they’ll lose it and the rest of their inheritance. It is told from Nora’s sensible perspective and it involves a swoon-worthy man named Bear. Of course, the other sister is Yanne, short for Marianne!

And it is so worth it. The author did her best to ensure neither Nora or Bear is a caricature and they are both such sympathetic characters. Nora has been the victim of a cybercrime. Her ex-boyfriend recorded them having sex and put it on the internet. She is hounded by this, by others who cyber bully her, and even by her own father. (If this is a trigger for you, you may want to skip this book.) Bear is haunted by an event in his past and the years he’s hidden it - both perpetuated by himself and by everyone around him. Quiet desperation.

A secondary character is Yanne, short for Marianne, of course. She’s impulsive, loves Tarot and falls in love uncritically. The sisters and are very like Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen in a very modern setting. However, you really don’t need to have read the Austen book in order to enjoy Nikki Paynes’s romance.

There is plenty of angst for those who enjoy that special tension between MCs! Watching them fall in love in spite of the fact that they are so guarded about their pasts is engaging and even beautiful. Plus there’s plenty of sexy times for all of us who love that!

There’s so much more to this complex and well-crafted tale. It is the second in a series of retellings of Austen novels-a fact that adds even more richness. Enjoy!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wow. I need Nikki Payne's version of every classic in the English language. This book had so much heart (and heat). This is a nuanced romance that touches on topics ranging from race, identity, economic and financial barriers, social standing and reputation. All these topics were woven together using humor to bring levity to the highly emotional subject matter. Nora and Bear felt real. 5 stars.

First of all, thank you so much to Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to be an early reader. It's definitely a roll I take seriously. And because I take it seriously, I'm a bit torn about how to rate this book.

On one hand, it is a very clever idea to modernize and retell Sense and Sensibility with characters of color while highlighting indigenous culture and history. I think a lot of what was represented in the book was hugely important and it definitely gave this book a more serious undertone compared to many romance books. But, it was also very funny in parts and the spicy scenes were extremely hot.

But, I did find it to be a bit of a slog to get through. It was just difficult to read. Sometimes I'd want MUCH more explanation and detail because it seemed like a lot of relationships were of the "now-you-see-it-now-you-don't" variety. People got together and split up so fast it never gave me time to connect to the pairing. It was also tough to follow the Lu storyline, and it didn't really ring true that Bear would be acting as he was about it. There was a lot of drama, but so much was only partly fleshed out. People got so mad so fast and yet I wasn't able to relate to why. The dialogue was short and stilted; I think this might be the author's writing style, so anyone who adored her first book will probably adore this one as well.

I do love the author's humor and she reallllly knows how to write spice... but its the other storytelling that I don't quite vibe with. This one wasn't an all-time favorite for me, but I'm sure it will find an audience.

Wow! I had high expectations because I LOVED Pride and Protest but wow did this one blow me away. Nikki Payne did an incredible job taking the soul of Sense and Sensibility and making it relevant for modern readers. Nora has Eleanor’s strength, character and ability to should burdens without complaint. Yanne has Marianne’s emotionality and sense of distain for societal expectations. I loved that this book was duel POV so we got to see more of Bear’s life than we do of Edwards in the original. Nikki Payne did an incredible job showing his sense of duty and how much he wanted Nora even knowing he couldn’t have her. I also really appreciated the care Nikki took with showing experience of being Abenaki as well as black in the United States. One of the reason I love to read is that I love to see how other peoples experiences are different from my own. I love that romance genre is becoming more inclusive and giving me more opportunities to learn about other racial and cultural groups while reading my favorite genre. I would love to read more romance books with characters of color. I am someone who really struggles with favorites. I usually can’t even pick my favorite book for a month but I am going to say that this book is my favorite book I have read this year. I can’t wait to see what Nikki Payne writes next! I’d love to read more Austen retellings but Nikki if you want to go a different direction that’s fine too. If you write it I’ll read it! Everyone should read this one and please don’t expect me to stop talking about this one anytime soon. I’ll be recommending it for years!