This time, Quain treats us to a retelling of Sense and Sensibility, from youngest sister Margaret’s point of view—and sets it on a cruise ship!

Once again, Quain’s protagonist is trying to help her family to recover from trauma (again, the loss of a father) by turning herself into the perfect daughter and student, never causing trouble or drama. When her sister Marianne suddenly breaks up with boyfriend Brandon, Margeret is bummed that Marianne has invited herself on a trip that was supposed to give Margaret time with eldest sister Elinor. To fix the problem and get chaotic Marianne out of the way, Margaret decides to set Marianne up with a new romance, and enlists Gabe’s help to do so.

As Margaret and Gabe spend more time together in a fake-romance scenario so Marianne won’t worry about Margaret, they grow closer. Of course, things don’t always go smoothly, usually because of Margaret being so uptight and trying too hard to make things go as she thinks they should.

It takes a hurricane and a near-tragedy for Margaret to learn that many the things she thought about the nature of love and romance were untrue, and how to find love for herself.

As with Quain’s other books, the characters are all well-drawn, with enough similarities to Austen’s examples for us to recognize them, without resorting to sheer mimicry. She gives us a relatively minor character and brings her to life in the modern world, with modern problems.

But here’s the thing: I really hope Quain continues with her Austen retellings. But after three books, the basic premise of a young woman discovering what she really wants in the midst of a broken family is beginning to feel kind of…done. I hope she can find some new stories to tell us.

Possible Objectionable Material:
Swearing, including the F-word. Underage drinking. Kissing. References to sex. Parental death. Dysfunctional families. Same-gender couples.

Who Might Like This Book:
Those who, like me, enjoy a good Austen retelling. Anyone who likes to see characters grow and develop and find their voice.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

This book is also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2024/07/modern-jane-austen.html

I love a re-telling so I was super excited to receive the ARC of this one! The romance was sweet and I loved the idea of the book. But, I felt like something was lacking and felt a little bored. Would still recommend if you love re-tellings though.

3.5 stars rounded up. This was a cute modern take on Sense and Sensibility starring Margaret, the youngest Dashwood sister.

Margaret was a frustratingly relatable characters, often with an emphasis on the frustrating part. Her relationships with her sisters and Edward were the highlight of the book for me. Her romance with Gabe was cute but her actions there were often the frustrating ones I mentioned.

I liked the cruise ship setting and the way the characters were brought into the current era. I felt like the author did a pretty decent job of modernizing them. All in all, I'd say this was a cute, quick read that isn't nearly as good as the original (naturally) but fun to read in its own right.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

A Margaret Dashwood story has been on my TBW (to be written) list for over a decade. I fell in love with her in Austen’s Sense & Sensibility, with her sass, humour, curiosity about the world, and delightful bluntness about the drama swirling around her. While Elinor was suppressing her feelings and Marianne was leaning into them, Margaret called things like they were. I adored her. So of course I had to pick this one up and read Quain’s take on the character. In Dashed, she gives us a Margaret lost in the shadows of her older sisters, only seeing herself through comparisons with one or the other, while not understanding that Elinor is more than her good sense and Marianne is more than her wild romantic nature. While enjoying 6 weeks on a cruise ship that allows for plenty of self-exploration and romantic shenanigans, Margaret learns a big lesson about how to simply be herself. Teen readers with their own identity struggles might see themselves in Margaret’s character, and the cruise ship setting was perfect for a breezy summer read.

I really wanted to like this book because I love Jane Austen. However, I just couldn't get into this story. Margaret's character was difficult for me to connect with. The premise was exciting, though, and I liked the bonding at the end of the book between the three sisters.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the book.

Thank you to @wednesdaybooks @quainiac for my copy of 💓DASHED💓 by Amanda Quain that released this week on 7/16!

🛳️Contemporary Sense and Sensibility retelling
🌅6 week cruise ship setting
🛳️Fake dating
🌅Sisterhood dynamics
🛳️Bahamas and Key West adventures
🌅First love banter, angst, and tension

Blurb: Between chaotic sister dynamics, the growing storm of feelings between youngest Dashwood sister Margaret and her fake boyfriend Gabe, and an actual storm on the horizon, this summer is destined to go off course. Margaret will have to decide what’s more important-following the plan, or following her heart.

💭I adored this YA contemporary romance. Margaret is a great heroine; she’s young, fearful of love, and trying to discover her own identity apart from the one her family/sisters have prescribed for her. Gabe was the perfect unexpected surprise to shake things up for her and push her to start dating “YES” to adventures and potentially love. Great banter and chemistry, a fun cruise ship and island setting, and a perfect blend of external and internal drama made this page turner fly by to a satisfying conclusion. This would make a fantastic screen adaptation!!

As someone who has never read Sense and Sensibility, I found it incredibly sad that Margaret had no life of her own. As Gabe pointed out to her, she did live in a cage she made. But thankfully she and her sisters got it together, and survived 6 weeks on a cruise ship together. That in itself seems like a feat.

A lighthearted YA that touches on deeper topics such as death, near death experiences, and natural disasters. I would recommend this to fans of Beth O’Leary and Kate Clayborne.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my opinions.

I love Quain's twists on Austen classics! Dashed is a Sense and Sensibility modern retelling. Margaret saw the damage love can do and wants no part in it. Her sister Marianne LOVES love. Margaret finds it frustratingly annoying. I loved the cruise setting-it creates isolation at times that leads to character development. I really liked the sister bond you get in the story; they are all different, but they are able to find commonality and understanding for each other. One thing I enjoy about Quain's writing is that her main character always overcomes her struggle. For Margaret, being in control of everything is her defining characteristic. I love that in the summer spent with her sisters and love interest Gabe she sees the value in the unknown and uncontrolled. Overall, this was a delightful read that charmed me! I continue to enjoy Quain's books!

DNF @ 38%. I was really hoping to like this one! I love the idea of 2 people falling in love while trying to conduct a silly little scheme and experiencing their mishaps along the way. Also life on a cruise ship! The characters are fun too conceptually. I think my issue was that everything felt very 1-dimensional. The characters only felt like they had one trait, Margaret included even though she was the narrator. And these beautiful tropical destinations also fell flat. I may pick it up again one day to finish but I’m not invested 1/3rd of the way in so not sure.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Dashed: A Margaret Dashwood Novel: -a standalone

By Amanda Quain-a new to me author

Published 7-16-24, Read 7-17-24

E-book 320 pgs.

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for this ARC💛! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Genre: YA, Contemporary Romance/Rom-Com

Tropes: Jane Austen retelling-Sense and Sensibility, a family cruise, sisterhood

Summary: Margaret Dashwood is going cruising this summer to get away from her dramatic and hopeless romantic sister Marianne before college. She'll be with her other sister Elinor and Elinor's husband Edward, but all Margaret's carefully made plans are crushed when Marianne shows up. To keep her busy until they reach land, Margaret schemes to find Marianne a new love with help from Elinor, her husband Edward, and Gabe Monteiro—a handsome Brazilian crew member.

🤔My Thoughts: I loved the movie with Emma Thompson (Elinor) and Kate Winslet (Marianne). Margaret played the matchmaker planning fake dates for her sister and Gabe, but Margaret falls instead. Marianne was captured beautifully as the emotional, chaotic sister stung by love yet, willing to try again. They all go on some funny adventures that show true sisterly love, and made Margaret a believer.

⭐Rating: 4/5

I was drawn in by the setting and the promise of a fun summer read, but I was left wanting. I was looking forward to the cruising and the fake-dating.
I adored (our main love interest). he was, quite frankly the best part of the book and the story could have benefitted from even more of him. The lack of his presence made Margaret’s falling completely in love with a bit insta-love even though she refuses to fall in love. Why he decided to go along with the ruse is beyond me, since the main character proved to be rather annoying at times. She spent the entire book trying to be like one of her two older sisters. At least, she does go through a considerable amount of character growth by the end, but her constant refusal to give Gabe a chance because of the possibility of heartbreak got to be a bit much. She constantly pushed him away instead of just having fun. I loved that this book was about family and how close the sisters were and became again. I saw the mini twist from the very beginning (I knew it!), so no surprise there for me.
If you’re looking for a book that has a character dealing with an existential crisis, then this is a good read for you. I can see how this book could be quite relatable to a number of people. Margaret really is trying to figure out who she is and she learns a lot in the process. The end of the book and the realizations she makes were worth continuing to read the story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an e-arc. The opinions expressed are honest and my own.

This book is so adorable I couldn’t get enough, what Mags does to help her sister and try to make her happy, her love for her brother in laws when her family needed it most, and her growing love to Gabe was a breath of fresh air. I felt the book was a bit of a slow burn and it kept being repetitive and I as getting a little tired of the book at times, but will I recommend this read to others? YES.

“The best part of loving someone, and loving them for a long time, is that you forget where you end and the other person begins.”

I love retellings especially if it’s Jane Austen. When I saw Dashed was a contemporary reimagining loosely based on Sense and Sensibility, I knew I had to read it!! The Dashwood sisters on a cruise ship? That sounded like a cute take on the classic… and it was. Similar enough to feel familiar but original in itself to be a fun new adventure with known characters.

Elinor, Edward, and Margaret are leaving for a cruise when their sister Marianne shows up and surprises them. She decided to join them in their cruise. It’s awkward because It isn’t quite the welcome surprise. From here we get a journey metaphorically and physically of three sisters navigating life and love.

At first I felt Margaret was a bit selfish in her thinking and outlook of her sister Marianne. As the story progressed I could somewhat understand her point of view. Her older sister’s actions and decisions greatly affected her. The heart of this story is family and you will feel that. It’s a beautiful nod to sisterly love and its unbreakable bonds. This rom-com will give you all the warm fuzzies at the end. The setting is a cruise ship where sisterly bonds are tested, there’s fake dating, a hurricane that brings them all together, and admissions of love. It’s a well rounded story!! Sense and Sensibility will always be a favorite for me. If you love Austen or just rom- coms in general don’t pass this fun seaside adventure up! Perfect poolside or beach read! ⭐️⭐️

This book was so amazing. I have loved Amanda Quain's Austen inspired retellings so much and this one did not disappoint. Getting to finally "know" Margaret was such a surprise but I have to say when Marianne ran on the page and declared she broke up with Brandon I immediately yelled NOPE and shut the book. Not even an option for me ;)

After a day of mild panic I was finally brave enough to reopen and finish the book. I LOVED the dynamic, Margaret's growth and giving Edward the growth and strength I wish he had gotten previously. HIGHLY recommend!

Favorite Quote: "The way that you all love people...it isn't a bad thing, It's not some curse, to love boldly. It's your greatest strength. The way that the three of you care for one another, and the people in your lives, that's the best thing about you"

loved this romance and her mom wants her to date this guy she has these amazing friends who are all dealing with different relationship issues . loved that she found her way in the job and found love

This book was fun to read. The 3 Dashwood sisters are so flawed, in so many ways, but they all have the biggest hearts.

Familial love is so important, and can be life-changing, if you let it. Romantic love can, as well, but it's different.

I like that this book explores both those kinds of love. I'd recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Dashed

A cute, modern retelling of Sense and Sensibility.

It was so fun reading this story with modern Dashwoods. I loved the take and think it fits pretty solidly in the YA category. If you’re looking for mature characters this probably isn’t it.

The setting pulled me in and made such a nice summer read. I’ve never been on a cruise but I loved the antics the sisters got up to on this one.

The romance was sweet. I enjoyed how it came about but even more I enjoyed the exploration of sisterhood.

This was a FANTASTIC modern Sense & Sensibility retelling set on a summer cruise. I am a HUGE Amanda Quain/Jane Austen fan and this latest DID NOT DISAPPOINT!! Excellent on audio narrated by Allyson Morgan and one not to miss for Austen fans. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

This ended up being really disappointing, although I think it could just be me as it looks like most others enjoyed it. I thought a Sense and Sensibility retelling set on a cruise ship sounded incredible, instead I ended up slogging through. I thought the characters were so unlikeable and dull, there was a slight redemption arc at the end, but by that point I felt it was too late.

Dashed by Amanda quain is supposed to be a modern day cruise ship retelling of sense and sensibility so let me just start off by saying I don’t know where Margaret came in? I know she was the main focus of this book and wanted to help her sister Marion who just broke up with boyfriend Brandon because Margaret knows Marianne does not do well by her self. Let me just say Margaret is a walking contradiction because she was so distraught when she learned Marianne was going on the cruise with her, Eleanor her brother-in-law Edward and the reason for their five week free cruise. Margaret acted as if her main aim was to steer clear of Maryann but the first night on the cruise she gets a fake boyfriend so she can go on double dates with Marianne and the guy Margaret and her fake boyfriend Gabe found for her. I did like the fact that Margaret wanted to be independent of her sisters but yet every time she was in a new or awkward situation she channeled one of them
I did like that it was set on a cruise ship and I did see the similarities between Ellanore and Marion I also found some very funny moments but there was just something about Margaret that rub me the wrong way I didn’t totally dislike her because she was written as a 18-year-old girl but I DK I would still recommend this book because I think teens and young adults would probably truly enjoyed this book I don’t think it should be compared to sense and sensibility although I did get the comparison it’s just not enough to put that claim on this book but overall this was really a fun read and one I definitely recommend.#SaintMartin’sPress, #NetGalley, #AmandaQuain, #Dashed, #AMargaretDashwoodNovel,