A review by valsometimesreads
Persuasion by Jane Austen

lighthearted reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

for my people pleasers out there fr

Summary: great as a character study, good as a romance in regency era, meh as a romance in 2024

Anne might be my favorite main character because she is literally an angel on earth WOW

I think where this book really shines is in its introspection of the main character; Anne’s situation of being stuck is really relatable and I really loved her depth of character and also her interpersonal relationships. 

Where this lacks more is the romance aspect, if Jane Austen can’t get me as a second chance lover fan then no one can i fear…wentworth just needed to give more in the first half and I didn’t FEEL the chemistry beyond Anne’s yearning. But tbh idk if this is just a consequence of the historical era in which Austen existed like I bet the girlies at the time were clutching their pearls 

That being said the last 50 pages and Wentworth’s letter had my shit rocked with romance and whimsy that is a new core memory. Also the tension and longing maintained through the novel was very well done considering it is very slow 

Compared to P&P this is a very soft and tender love story, and I did love the more mature vibes. Need to reread P&P and come back to this!!