I wanted to say thank you for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. Once I started, I could not put it down!! I fell in love with Frederrick and felt for him and the pain he had gone through when Anne broke up with him. Anne's character frustrated me because I wanted her to speak up and stand up for herself. I hated that she felt she needed to keep her family together and sacrificed her happiness to help her family. It wasn't until I got to the end of the book where Anne had gotten the role for Elizabeth Bennet that I made the connection that Frederick and Anne were betraying Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice. I enjoyed that the two main characters show progression from being mad at each other to trying to be friends to them realizing that they love each other. Don't even get me started on how Frederrick proposed to Anne. That first scene is my all-time favorite scene of the story, and I would love to have a proposal like that. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Publishing Group, for the amazing opportunity to read an early copy of Give Me a Reason.

I really enjoyed the story! As a big Jane Austen fan I was a bit hesitant but I was proven wrong. I found the dual POV an interesting change. But it didn’t always help because I felt there was little mystery or build up. I enjoyed the tension and build up of the first half of the book. A lot of elements from Persuasion that was incorporated into the story. I enjoyed the romance and whirlwind of it all. A great second chance story and to fight for who you love.

I really enjoyed this book! I think it was a pretty solid modern retelling of persuasion, and it convinced me to give the original book a shot! Although there were points where the book just seemed a little cringy or over descriptive, I don’t think it caused for it to be any less readable!

Give Me a Reason was an easy, enjoyable read with a second-chance romance that kept me turning the pages. The writing flowed well, and I liked the premise, especially as a retelling of Persuasion. The emotional moments landed, and the romance had its sweet moments, but overall, it didn’t leave a lasting impression. While I had fun reading it, I know it’s not a story I’ll be thinking about again. If you’re looking for a quick, light romance, it’s worth picking up—but it won’t stick with you long after the final page.

I'll admit this writing was not for me. Each chapter is an info bomb and I had a hard time relating to the characters. They felt immature and I was more hopeful for them at the beginning. This may be for fans of miscommunication tropes but I am not one of those people.

I've never read Persuasion fully, although I know the basic plot, but I thought this adaptation was an interesting concept and modernization. That being said, I don't know if this book lives up as a retelling, or if it's even needed. It was kind of a struggle getting through this book, and I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that I felt like a lot of the writing was surface level and very tell, not show. I struggled to really connect with the way Anne and Frederick yearned for each other, and really failed to understand how the obstacles in their way were really obstacles to them getting back together.

The cover of this book is so beautiful, and the characters and plot are extremely promising. I loved reading about the sisterly relationships in this book and the overarching theme of family and healing.
The romance itself was frustrating considering that it was built mostly on miscommunication, and the pining took up too much of the book, so there wasn't much tension between Anne and Frederick. I struggled with the info-dumping, and most of the narration relied on telling instead of showing.
The characters and plot had a lot of potential, and I liked the elements of Jane Austen's Persuasion that were woven into the story as well.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC!

3.75 rounding up to a 4 ⭐️

This was one of my most anticipated reads this year! Cause boy this book has everything I want. A Jane Austen retelling? Check. Korean MCs? Check. A stunning cover? Check! And I did enjoy this but not as much as I expected. I would still recommend this to romance lovers but I’d say if you are a true seasoned Austen fan, you might struggle a bit.

The characters, plot, premise all is just as it should be. A retelling of Persuasion. I’ve read and watched multiple adaptations so I know all scenes and even dialogues by heart. I enjoyed the modern twists the author brings in especially eliminating some relationship dynamics that I disliked in the original.

What I struggled with was the intense pining. I absolutely love pining and it’s such a good way to keep us invested but you can’t have too much of something that’s good. This plot unfortunately had too much of it and it can get a bit fizzled out after a while. I also didn’t particularly enjoy some phrases and word use because they are very regency based and this is a modern retelling. I saw some popular phrasings from the original as well as from some pop culture shows which isn’t necessarily wrong but not really appropriate for the modern setting.

That said I think romance readers should take a chance because if you aren’t heavily into Austen and go in with no strong expectations this could be an enjoyable read.

Thank you St Martins for an e-arc. All thoughts my own.

Give Me A Reason is a well written contemporary romance with a beautiful cover that will catch many readers’ eyes. It’s a retelling of Persuasion that combines the classic feel of Jane Austin’s original with a more modern feel of K-Drama.
I don’t usually read contemporary romances, but this one grabbed my attention because it explored a bit of the Asian-American culture. I have been trying to read more culturally inclusive books, so I was excited for that aspect!
Give Me A Reason was slow to capture my attention at the beginning, but did eventually have me hooked by the slow burn. The yearning, character dialogue, and tastefully done spice will have romance readers loving the book! I loved watching the characters heal from their past break up and fall in love all over again. The character growth was amazing to see.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

One word to describe this book: YEARNINGGGGGGGGG.

A lesson to be learned: JUST SAY WHAT YOU’RE FEELING MANNNNN.

This was a beautiful story and I thought it was done well for being a Persuasion retelling! It’s like Persuasion meets K-Drama which means a slowwwww burn (iykyk). But I was rooting for Frederick the whole time while my heart was breaking for Anne.

I did find parts to be a little slow only because of the repetitive inner monologues that happen in each POV. Especially when things are written in third-person, I found myself just wanting to get to the actually dialogue between characters.

I would rate this 3.5 stars if I could but rounded up because of the cover, the amount of YEARNING in this book, and the spice being tastefully written.

Give Me a Reason by Jayci Lee is a warm second chance romance that readers familiar with Jane Austen are going to swoon for. I wanted to read this due to Lee being known for her characters, and she absolutely did not disappoint there.

Anne and Frederick were dynamic characters that held so much potential. The choice to use two points of view made it very easy to become attached to them and fall into their story. I appreciated the pacing Lee used. It, in my opinion, made the most sense with Frederick being so hurt and pained by Anne for this to be a slow burn, second chance romance. That said, slow pacing does mean some readers are going to struggle with aspects of this book, especially in the beginning. Feel the added time skips and long lingering conflicts helped with this, though.

There's a few things I feel really came out of nowhere, mainly toward the end, and made me do a double take while reading, but with it being side characters involved, I was hoping it was potentially a set up for something else. I do also feel some doors were left open in regards to Anne's family, however, I can appreciate those did not serve the current plot of the romance at hand.

Overall, this was a good read. I enjoyed Lee's craft and the representation she put into this modern twist on a classic!

I chose to read this book due to the stunning cover and Asian-American representation! Jayci Lee captures California so well and I had a laugh as a current USC student myself! Unfortunately, this book just didn't hit the spot for me. I thought Anne and Frederick were good characters but nothing made them great or compelled their love story for me. The pacing of the book made sense seeing as the hurt ran so deep. However, it is always a hit or miss for me when there is a push and pull and this was a miss. I think a lot of important themes are explored in this book (staying to true yourself, resiliance, growth, leaning on those around you, etc...) and that is what kept me reading and engaging with the story.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Publishing Group, and Jayci Lee for the amazing opportunity to read an early copy of Give Me a Reason: A Novel. I feel incredibly blessed to have experienced this story before its release—it was truly a gift.

Summary:
In this modern Persuasion retelling, K-drama actress Anne Lee returns to Los Angeles and unexpectedly reunites with her first love, Frederick Nam, the man she left behind a decade ago to protect her family. Now a firefighter, Frederick has moved on—or so he thinks. When they’re thrown together in a wedding party, old feelings resurface and neither can deny that their story may not be over after all.

Tropes & Why You Should Read This:

Second chance romance
Exes-to-lovers
Modern Austen retelling (Persuasion)
K-drama meets classic lit
Emotional slow burn with intense payoff
Firefighter hero / actress heroine
Wedding party setting
Found family, ride-or-die friendships
Deep emotional yearning
Personal growth and healing arcs
My Review:
I started Give Me a Reason late at night, telling myself I’d read just a few chapters… but I was hooked. I devoured this book in under 24 hours. It was romantic, emotional, beautifully written, and it lingered with me even after I finished. Anne and Frederick’s story was a masterclass in longing and emotional tension. Their love felt so big and real—like something that had lived beneath the surface for years, waiting to be reignited.

Anne’s character really struck a chord with me. Her journey to reclaim her voice and finally begin to prioritize herself felt deeply personal. Watching her evolve—slowly but surely—was both satisfying and relatable. I do wish we’d seen even more of that growth on the page. I wanted her to fully take up space, to own her worth in every room. And as for Frederick, I wanted him to fully understand the depth and complexity of Anne’s home life—the sacrifices she made and the quiet burdens she carried. There was so much there, and I found myself wishing we could’ve spent just a little more time in that emotional space.

That said, what we did get was phenomenal. Their awkward reconnection, their undeniable chemistry, the moments where they couldn't help but fall into old rhythms—it was all so real and romantic. It was clear they were never truly over each other. Their love story felt epic, like the kind that imprints on your heart.

The supporting characters added so much charm and levity, especially Katie—an absolute standout and the definition of a ride-or-die friend. She had me laughing and cheering from the sidelines the entire time.

Jayci Lee’s writing is lyrical and immersive—it had the soul of an Austen classic but with the vibrancy of a modern K-drama. She blended the two worlds beautifully, and I was all in. I’m already looking forward to reading more from her. Give Me a Reason was one of those reads that left me wanting more in the best way. I’ve already preordered a finished copy and can’t wait to revisit this love story again and again.

A new modern retelling of Jane Austen’s PERSUASION, from author Jayci Lee, GIVE ME A REASON is a second chance romance filled with ample pining and family drama romance readers will want to keep on their radar.

The novel borrows from the main storyline of Austen’s novel, however, Lee includes two POV’s, one for Anne, and one for Frederick. It’s very clear early on that these two still harbor feelings, but awkwardly tip-toe around each other. Lee includes the family dynamics, Anne’s father, sisters and extended family, with the love triangles (which, I’m never a fan of, but it works, since I knew the reasoning from the original), the unposted letters, and all the unrequited feelings that go unsaid because Anne and Frederick haven’t found a way to fully express how they feel, until close to the very end.

For those readers in need of a second chance love story that includes some spicy chapters, with a new version of Austen’s PERSUASION, try GIVE ME A REASON for your next summer read.

I’ve been so picky about contemporary romance lately! I was hoping this one would stand out to me, but from the get go I wasn’t feeling the writing style or vibes. One of the first things that bothered me was the “second grade classroom” full of “twenty-some” kids (she says twenty-some like 20 times). As an elementary school educator, things related to elementary school bother me when they’re not right, and literally nothing reminded me of the second graders, curriculum, or classroom styles I’ve seen. It sounded like a kindergarten classroom but I DIGRESS.

The slow burn, angst, yearning, and inner monologues just didn’t do it for me, but I know that there are people out there who will eat this up!

Based on the stunning cover, I was really, really hopeful for a story filled with tension and yearning, and unfortunately that fell a little flat for me. I loved the idea of Persuasion retelling. This was an overall quick and easy read, but lacked a bit of the substance I was hoping for.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this eARC and share my honest feedback! This book was an incredibly fun and addicting read, with characters I quickly grew to adore. I was hooked from the very first page and simply couldn't put it down. Anne, Frederick, and the rest of the cast were not only entertaining but also layered and hilarious. I was constantly eager to find out what would happen next, and the spice was just right—not too over the top, but perfectly fitting for the story.

The exploration of family dynamics and the theme of found family added a beautiful depth to the narrative. I highly recommend this book to fans of Korean television dramas and romance readers alike.

This one was so close to breaking into the 4 star rating for me, but I had a bit of trouble getting hooked in the beginning and never felt like my interest peaked throughout my read. Give Me a Reason is an emotional read full of yearning and growth. The two characters are thrust together to be in a mutual friend's wedding after a messy break up that separates them for many years. Throughout the book, they heal themselves, which in turn helps them heal their relationship and paves a way for a future together.

You'd like this book if you enjoy:
- kdrama level angst and love triangles
- lots of inner monolgue
- dual pov
- men who yearn
- a persuasion retelling
- lots of Austen easter eggs
- slowwwww burn

It was sold me to when it was compared to Persuasion and honestly it delivered that. It had yearning and was a read I could not put down. IT was a solid romance read and cannot wait to read more from this author.

Jayci Lee you keep getting me!!! Persuasion is one of my favorite classics so I knew I had to read this as fast as possible. I adored their chemistry and the significance placed on small, tender moments between them. I'm such a huge sucker for second chance romance