I read Jane & Edward by Melodie Edwards last year, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. So I was excited to get a chance to read her new book, Once Persuaded, Twice Shy. I haven't read the original, but it's on my TBR. Second-chance romance is my favorite trope. And it's executed exquisitely in Once Persuaded, Twice Shy. It's full of angst, longing, and unresolved feelings. I don't always enjoy small-town romance, but I loved the picturesque setting of Niagra-on-the-Lake, where Anne Elliot is the executive director of the theater company and the town's counselor. Her past crushes back into her life when Ben Wentworth appears in town after his aunt and uncle buy a property in Niagra-on-the-Lake. I loved Anne and Ben's romance and how their relationship grew and evolved. I loved the longing and the angst. They had to do some work on themselves before they could be together. Several entertaining secondary characters made me laugh, especially the town's wild goose, who was quite the troublemaker.

I couldn't put down Once Persuaded, Twice Shy, and read it in two days. I highly recommend the book to Jane Austen fans and those who enjoy second-chance or small-town romance.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley, and Ms. Edwards for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

Persuasion is my 2nd favorite Austen. I'm extra basic, apparently, and I'm not ashamed to admit that Elizabeth Bennett is my spirit animal, amen, so P&P is easily my all-time fav. However, there's something so deeply satisfying about seeing underappreciated Anne Elliott come into her own. This iteration of Anne Elliott is excellent. If anything, this one is more accomplished than the original. I really loved the way Ms. Edwards adapted the original Persuasion here, with a good mixture of snippets of original scenery and language and new additions.

I LOVED Anne's assistant. I HATED the entire Double-Oh-Goose story thread. Everything else in-between, I gobbled up with a smile on my face. (Shout-out to the sort-of cameo by a certain Edward Rosen from Jane & Edward!) I really enjoy Ms. Edwards' writing style and will be first in line for her next adaptation and/or original novel, either way.

Thank you Berkley Romance and PRH audio for my gifted copies. All opinions are my own. I absolutely loved Jane & Edward so I was really excited for this despite’ never having read Persuasion, although now I want to. Anne and Wentworth’s story is the ultimate slow burn.

Anne is known as the do-good, always has her act together member of her family as well as leader of the theater and one of the town’s leaders. She’s thrown off her axis when she hears her old love is the nephew of new winery owners and will be staying in town for awhile. They are both wrapped up in his family’s sale of some land to the theater company. There are several moments where he steps in to help her where you have to wonder if his feelings have changed.

This book is such a slow burn with so much mutual pining. I wanted to clap or shout with joy when Anne stood up for herself and made decisions to make her happy! I enjoyed this enough that I now want to read Persuasion and I can’t wait for what’s next from this author.

Eight years ago, Anne Elliott broke up with the love of her life. Ben Wentworth was a free spirit, one she never stopped thinking about. Life has moved on and so have Anne's hopes and dreams. With her mother now deceased, a drunk father who relies on her constant care, and a sister who has absolutely no boundaries, Anne still finds time to be a town councilor and director of the local theater company.  Sure, there's the occasional goose attack, but the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is her life. When the Kellynch Winery is purchased by Ben's Aunt and Uncle, she hopes desperately that it won't mean the reemergence of Ben. Unfortunately, that's exactly what it means. Torn between a complicated history and doing what's right for the town (and her theater company) Anne finds herself back in Ben's life. The question is, will they destroy each other in the process.

Author Melodie Edwards has created a charming small-town romance using a beloved Jane Austen framework. Ben Wentworth is stand-offish but sweet. Anne is highly accomplished, but unhappy.  Once Persuaded, Twice Shy is a cute lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers story that keeps the charming nature of Persuasion but updates it for the modern reader. This book is a cheerful afternoon read.

Once Persuaded, Twice Shy is available February 27, 2024.

3.5⭐️

I have never seen or read Persuasion so I went into this completely blind. There were some parts I enjoyed and some parts that were just okay. I loved Anne's friendships and overall work ethic. The way she handles her family was so inspiring and definitely a long time coming which made it even more epic.

I didn't really care for Anne and Ben's romance. We didn't really see their relationship from 8 years ago so seeing their relationship now wasn't really anything memorable to me. I did love how much they changed the others' lives though. It goes to show you that something devastating could come back around as something amazing, even if it takes almost a decade. ♡

Persuasion by Jane Austen is, hands down, my favorite Austen novel. I read it for the first time in my thirties, and I’m glad I waited as long as I did. As a younger woman, I don’t think I would have connected as deeply with Anne, who is by far Austen’s most mature heroine. The slow burn, second chance romance is quite possibly Jane’s best work, and I don’t say that lightly because P&P is, admittedly, practically perfect.

So when I saw that @melodiewritesedwards had written a Persuaion retelling? I may have actually squealed. Out loud. A little bit. Once Persuaded, Twice Shy is an absolutely incredible reimagining of the original, updated perfectly for the 21st century.

Set in the small Canadian town of Niagra-On-The-Lake, Anne Elliot runs the local theater, while also shouldering the weight of familial responsibilities. Her father drinks too much, and her sister takes advantage of her generosity, and since her mother’s death, she’s been the one holding everything together.

But then a sweet older couple buys one of the local wineries, and their nephew is coming into town to help them get things up and running. Their nephew–Ben Wentworth. The man whose heart she broke eight years ago. Who she hasn’t see or talked to since. The man she’s never been able to forget.

The way Melodie modernized this classic story while at the same time honoring all the things that made the original so special left me speechless. The small town setting works perfectly–delivering Stars Hollow vibes. And the goose! The bits of humor sprinkled throughout were the perfect balance to the more serious notes.

If, like me, you can’t get enough Austen retellings, you’re going to LOVE Once Persuaded, Twice Shy. 10/10. No notes. I can’t wait to get my hands on a finished copy so it can sit on my shelf next to its inspiration.

Persuasion is such a favorite of mine second only to Pride and Prejudice and this adaptation was so good. I loved figuring out which characters represented who and seeing all the beats of the story. I have always loved the second chance trope and Anne and ben had great tension and chemistry. There were great side characters in this as well. Overall a lovely book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This retelling of Persuasion was full of moments that had me smiling and laughing.

Anne Elliott is known in her town for being dependable. She can always be counted on to fix mistakes, take care of others, and put herself very last. She is the director of a theater company, and is schmoozing with wealthy clients one evening when she realizes she is talking to the uncle of her ex, whose heart she broke years ago, breaking her own in the process. The ex in question, Ben, pops up as a business arrangement is discussed between his relatives and the theater company, and the exes are forced to spend time together.

There were so many things to love in this book, from the town to the quirky characters to the angst as Anne fought her feelings for Ben. I loved watching Anne take charge of her own life, telling her slacker family that it is time for them to take care of things themselves and getting back to the hobbies that she loves. Her character’s growth and development over the course of the story were fantastic. Her inner monologue could be quite funny as well, and I loved her interactions with her hilarious assistant and best friend. The romance is a slow burner, with other partners and things getting in the way time and again but plenty of longing and angst along the way.

In all honesty, I don’t think I have actually read Persuasion so I was coming at this one not knowing the origin story. I don’t think I needed to know the story to enjoy this clever retelling though, so don’t fret if you haven’t read your Austen either!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Jane Austen’s Persuasion with its bittersweet recriminations, family and friends interfering, and second chance romance lends itself to being a heartfelt contemporary romance. Melodie Edwards carefully places the story in the culturally-rich scene area of Niagara with her heroine working with the theater and her hero helping with his family’s new winery. I was eager to finally give this new to me author and her modern Persuasion rendition a go.

Like with most modern retellings, the fun and excitement is seeing how the characters and the plot is translated into our contemporary world balancing the heart of the original with necessary updates. Right away, I was very taken with Melodie Edward’s version of Anne. I saw Anne Elliot the same way- capable, dependable, and a woman of quiet strength and slow to voice her thoughts. This modern version who stands on the town council and heads the theater production company fit this so well. This Anne’s flaw is mistakenly believing she is indispensable and she works hard to be seen as irreplaceable. She feels she has to keep proving her worth when others see her so much better than she does herself. Her self-absorbed family doesn’t help matters.

But, I was glad to see Ben arrive from Toronto and rattle her. Of course, she rattles him, too. He was convinced that the pain she dealt out when she rejected him years before was in the past, but people who are over someone don’t remain hurt and flaunt a new date in their old flame’s face just to take a jab at them and show that someone at least thinks he’s great.

I loved seeing the little things that showed he wasn’t as indifferent and over Anne as he wanted the world to believe. The pacing on their revived romance was good and the conflict was just enough. I wasn’t a fan of extra angst, but it wasn’t excessive and there were lots of comic moments to balance that a bit. It’s Canada so the crazy Canadian goose was a must. Miscommunication hounded these two and I was muttering at them both, but also cheering them on to get to know each other anew and realize that maybe this time was actually the perfect time when before might not have been. And, yes, *fist pump* there is a modern version of the swoony Wentworth letter.

Smalltown coziness, seasonal autumn activities in pretty settings, and a modern retelling of a classic that hit all the right notes. This is for the contemporary romancers who like a clever second chance romance that gives a respectful nod to a class.

After reading Nikki Payne’s retelling of a Jane Austen I debated either reading Jane Austen or check out another “reimagining”.

Persuasion

It’s a fun word. I like the way it feels in my mouth.

Once Persuaded, Twice Shy

I really liked the title.

Jane Austen was going to have to wait, Melodie Edwards, was up next and I was way too excited to do anything other than dive right in…

Some books you zip through because you can’t wait to “find out” fast enough.

Other books you want to go slow in fear of the emotions that will rush you when it’s “over”

I’m there

I’m devastated my book is over but I’m swooning in love .

Thank you Melodie Edwards, Berkley and NetGalley from allowing me to read and review prior to the big release on February 27!!

Check out this teaser:

This modern reimagining of Persuasion is full of witty banter, romantic angst, and compelling characters as it captures the heart of the classic Jane Austen novel.

When Anne Elliott broke up with Ben Wentworth, it seemed like the right thing to do . . . but now, eight years later, she’s not so sure.

In her scenic hometown of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Anne is comfortable focusing on her successful career: filling her late mother’s shoes as town councilor and executive director of her theater company. She certainly keeps busy as the all-around wrangler of eccentric locals, self-centered family members, elaborate festivals, and the occasional attacking goose. But the more she tries to convince herself that her life is fine as is, the more it all feels like a show—and not nearly as good as the ones put on by her theater company. She’s the always responsible Anne, always taken for granted and cleaning up after other people, and the memories of happier times with Ben Wentworth still haunt her.

So when the nearby Kellynch Winery is bought by Ben’s aunt and uncle, Anne’s world is set ablaze as her old flame crashes back into her life—and it’s clear he hasn’t forgiven her for breaking his heart. A joint project between the winery and Anne’s theater forces both Ben and Anne to confront their complicated history, and as they spend more time together, Anne can’t help but wonder if there might be hope for their future after all.

major novels during the first year (two months per novel) and then spent 2023 reading the author’s short works, diving into a biography, and then devoting our buddy reads to retellings of Austen’s books. Once Persuaded, Twice Shy ranks with the best of those retellings.

Melodie Edwards begins her novel with a note to the reader about the way she approached this modern reenvisioning of Anne Elliott’s story, about the challenges she faced because of modern conventions in comparison to those of Austen’s time. She navigated those beautifully, resulting in a compelling second-chance romance filled with humor (there’s a recurrent goose wreaking havoc in the town).

Anne Elliott has no work-life balance: she’s all work and obligation. After her dear mother convinced her, nearly a decade ago, to break up with Ben Wentworth because he wasn’t reliable and wouldn’t be a strong, supportive partner, Anne devoted herself to caring for her mother, soon stricken with cancer, and replacing her. She stepped in for her mother at work, as town councilor and executive director of her theater company, and at home, where she took care of her impulsive, irresponsible father and beautiful, selfish sister. She doesn’t date and has few friends, outside of Vidya, who works at the theater, and her assistant, Emmie, who is more mentee than friend.

Then, a new older couple moves to Niagara-on-the-Lake, purchasing Kellynch Winery, which used to belong to Anne’s family. And with them comes (of course) their nephew, Ben Wentworth, now a successful, conservative, straight-laced businessman.

Whether you’ve read Persuasion or not, I imagine you can see where this is going. What sets the story apart for me is the way Edwards takes the notes of Persuasion and recasts them—Wentworth’s romance with a young actress at the theater, Anne’s determination to show that she moved on from Ben, the extravagant carelessness of Anne’s family: it’s all there. It resonated for me, but I suspect it will also resonate even for those who have never read Austen because the story’s characters are so beautifully realized.

This is Edwards’s second novel—she also wrote Jane & Edward: A Modern Reimagining of Jane Eyre—and the strength of Once Persuaded, Twice Shy means that Jane & Edward is now waiting on my TBR.

YESSS!!! the persuasion retelling of my DREAMS!! down to the LOVE LETTER!!! wentworth....that man is so fine in all forms, retellings, and this is no exception

After absolutely loving Jane & Edward, I was so excited for this! I have to say, this just lacked that spark for me. I struggled to stay engaged with the story and found the pacing to be a big slow.

Once Persuaded, Twice Shy was a great retelling of Persuasion. Anne was strong independent woman who had to grow too fast after her mother’s passing and take care of her family. She was a pillar to her community and her job, always fixing everything and making sure things were done to almost perfection. But by becoming that person she had to let go of a part of herself that starts to rediscover when her true love, Ben Wentworth, returns to her hometown.
The entire book is from Anne’s POV, so we get to know her very well, but Ben was a very mysterious character. If you don’t already know Persuasion and you’re reading this for the first time, you won’t know where he stands when it comes to his feeling for Anne up until halfway through the book, even then, its the little moments that help you understand him. This is obviously a very slow burn, you won’t see much of the romance blossom until after the 80% mark, but there are breadcrumbs through the entire book that readers can feed of and be hopeful about.
The story is set in a small town and has all the funny and quirky characters we love to see, including a crazy goose. There’s not a lot of spice in the book, it’s a fade to black intimacy scene. There were obvious differences from the original story but all the main elements that characterize the story were there: the egotistical sister, the connection to the military with Ben’s family, the accident (IYKYK), Wentworth’s letter, and more.
I really enjoyed this book! Despite the slow burn, there is a lot of growth we witness from Anne and lil the moments we get to her interact with Ben, the story never got boring.

Thanks for the free book @berkleyromance @netgalley #berkleypartner #berkley #berkleybookstagrammer !!

So, this book was mostly good for me. I'm a Jane Austen fan, and this book definitely kept very tightly to the source material while making it modern. Anne Elliot is a badass, take no prisoners, executive director of a theater collective. Ben Wentworth is a venture capitalist. They broke up when they were 24 and 26, respectively, because Anne let her mother persuade her that Ben had no direction when he was a long haired, flannel wearing fifth year senior more interested in hiking and Anne than picking a major. Anne never truly dealt with the breakup, having to handle her mother's cancer and caring for her altogether too selfish, lazy, partygoing father and sister. She takes over for her mother as executive director, and for us as readers, it's clear she just slid directly into her mom's conservative, designer pumps.

Ben's aunt and uncle move to Niagara-on-the-Lake because they've bought the winery that used to belong to the Eliotts (until the bank repossessed it, her father is terrible with money). Anne's theater collective wants to buy a parcel of land from the winery, and Ben is suddenly back in her life. And so are her feelings for him.

This book is from Anne's POV, and it's a bit slow and somewhat densely written. Ben isn't super fleshed out, except that he's sexy, he's changed from his hippie lackadaisical self into a serious Banking Man. There's some love triangling like in Persuasion, some clear villains, and overall I liked it.

There's also probably something I missed because I am not a Swiftie. I know her radio hits, for the most part, but I'm a Geriatric Millennial Midwest Punk n'Emo, 90s alt rock kinda lady, so the references went over my head and they seemed to be important to Anne's state of being. Romance is for everybody, even if you don't know T Swift's discography, so this was kind of a bummer for me because I don't want homework.

Funnily enough, a character going through a breakup listens to NIN, and yeah, I'm the problem it's me, because that makes more sense in my head for a breakup. Look what you made me do, even I'm quoting her!

Once Persuaded, Twice Shy by Melodie Edwards is a captivating novel that skillfully captures the essence of a classic Jane Austen tale. Filled with clever banter, romantic tension, and a cast of compelling characters, this book is a delightful blend of wit and charm.

I really enjoyed “Jane & Edward” so this was no surprise for me. This was just as lovely, if not more so. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

I love the second chance romance trope and when you combine it with a Jane Austen retelling like this one of Persuasion and I just couldn't get enough!! Even better was that the book was set in small town Niagara on the Lake, Ontario with a full of a cast of quirky characters, a crazy goose and oodles of charm.

Great on audio, this was a fun, cleverly written adaptation that is sure to satisfy Austenites! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Steam level: closed door

Love, love, love! A perfectly light reimagining of Jane Austen's Persuasion. I loved that this was a fairly chaste romance--it's so refreshing. I honestly loved Double Oh Goose and all of Emmie's antics. Anne and Ben are endgame. I think a lot of library readers are going to love this one.

Once Persuaded, Twice Shy is a reimagining of the novel, Persuasion, which I have never read. I really struggled to believe this romance, especially Ben's quick to date someone else when he arrives to help his aunt and uncle. The slow-burn was a little bit too late by the time it happened.

I loved Jane and Edward, but this novel left me longing for more. For fans of the book Persuasion, this novel may resonate better with those readers.

Thank you, Berkley.