3.25 🌟

#NETGALLEYARC

I totally judge a book by the cover and yes. I'm a sucker for this cover. this was cute, with alot of angst and slow burn and then wham, bam thank you mam and back again.

👨‍🚒🚒🎬🇰🇷🇬🇧

3.5/5

The opening didn't quite pull me in, it felt a bit juvenile and slightly awkward, almost like something from a much younger voice. That said, the story absolutely delivers on the K-drama vibes, with plenty of moments that played vividly in my mind like scenes from a television drama. I especially enjoyed Fredrick and Anna's dynamic; their chemistry was undeniable, even if their inability to communicate was infuriating at times. The level of miscommunication here is truly next-level. Overall, it's a light, engaging read that could just be the thing to help you out of a reading slump.

When a fire captain and a K-drama actress have a chance encounter that leads to even more since they’re friends and family are all close and also involved in an upcoming wedding between her cousin and his lieutenant, the two are forced to confront their lingering feeling from their relationship that ended 10 years ago and maybe have a second chance at having each other forever.

This book was so full of longing, it made me want to put them in a room together until they actually talked out their feelings, but it really was the best slow burn (true slow burn) that I’ve read in a long time. They pined from across rooms in group settings for basically the whole book and I was so there for it. It was so obvious that they had so much chemistry that honestly the only thing that bothers me about this book is how long it takes their friend group to realize what is between them.

Overall, this was a great second chance romance, with just the smallest side of K-drama tied in.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Speaking as someone who has never enjoyed Jane Austen, Jayci Lee's modern-day retelling of Austen's Persuasion had me hooked! I was drawn in by the premise of Korean-American characters and the modern setting, and the character development and Lee's overall writing style kept me reading--I couldn't help but finish it in one sitting!

Anne Lee has led a successful career as a K-drama actress, and has just returned home to LA when she falls face-first into a second chance with her first love, Frederick Nam. The story follows Anne and Frederick as they navigate their roles in the wedding party of their two best friends, learning how to process their sudden reunion and renewed feelings for one another.

If you're looking for a sweet story reminiscent of a slow-burn K-drama (second-chance romance absolutely included), then this is the book for you!

Thank you, St. Martin's Press and Jayci Lee for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy on NetGalley!

ok audio wise this is great. I would said the narrators are doing an amazing job . You can feel all the emotions thru the audio and that is on my opinion the best audios . easy to understand even with foreign words.
on the plot side I would said I enjoy the longing of this two characters . I like the road they have to take to find each other again . not only to find each other but to let go of the past to start their new future. overall really enjoy and like always love Jayci books.

This book was fully of secret pining, longing, and angst. Our two main characters dated when they were young, but broke up when Anne had to move to Korea for an acting opportunity. In present day, she has just moved back to the States when she runs into Frederick--and continues to run into him.

There was perhaps a little too much angst for me at times. I just wanted these characters to sit down and have an adult conversation, instead of making assumptions! I couldn't get over Anne assuming that Frederick wanted to be with Anne's cousin when he obviously wanted Anne. (And it wasn't important to the plot, but the cousin got engaged in the two weeks that Anne was in England for work?? Two weeks??).

I'm not a K-drama consumer, but fans of K dramas will love the hints to that industry that this book provides.

It is both easy and hard to write a retelling of an Austen romance. Easy because the backbones of a good, solid plot are already there, and the characters are well-defined. All you have to do is add a touch of the modern world and keep the style witty and proper (easier said than done).It's also very, very hard to write it , because you are bound to go against strong opinions related to the original books. Persuasion seems to be either absolutely adored for its quiet, subtle elegance or secretly hated for it's 'spineless, weak-willed' protagonist. Your feelings towards the original novel will probably colour the way you read Give Me a Reason.
All I can say the way Jayci Lee approached this timeless family duty versus unconditional love worked for me. I was drawn in immediately and couldn't stop turning the pages re-living Anne and Frederick's second chance at getting their own happiness. Of course, part of the fun is seeing whether the modern setting is plausible and whether the overall tone is right- it is! Even the hot and spicy scenes seemed appropriate in this new version of the story.
If you are an avid reader of romance, love the second chance trope, and, above all, recognise that Persuasion has its own timeless appeal exactly because it still has so much to offer to modern readers, then don't miss this sweet and entertaining story.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-book copy!

I really struggled to get through this book so I did end up DNF'ing it around 50% in. I found both the leads to be very immature while also purposely not communicating with each other. I lasted as long as I did because I believed it would get better once they confess to each other or have a proper conversation. However, neither was happening at that point and I didn't want to get to the end and be even more disappointed. I would check out more from this author in the future but this release just did not work for me.

This was a lovely book. I'm a huge nerd for a Persuasion retelling, I think I've read almost a dozen. But this one felt really fresh and it was altered enough that a few times I wondered about what would happen next.

Anne Lee is back in America. After going to Korea and becoming a famous K-Drama actress, she's back with her family. Her older sister and father... well they're maybe, kinda, ok indifferent to her being back. Her younger sister? Super busy at school.

So its her extended and sweet cousins and aunt who are definitely glad she's back. And in a round about way someone else is back in her life. Her ex, Fredrick. Fredrick, who's now a firefighter (and Captain!). Far from the young man she knew.

The pining is all here. The family dynamics are a little different but I liked how female friendships were shown here. In the OG book Anne just had a bunch of people telling her what to do.

I liked how we got both sides of the story. Frederick was a really kind guy and it was so evident why Anne would still be missing him. And of course Anne was a sweetheart who EVERYONE counted on. Even when they should have been giving her a break.

Again, lovely novel.

Anna left her family for Korea to become a K drama actress and support them. She also left Frederick behind. When Anne returns home to California for her cousin’s wedding, she does not expect her cousin’s finance to be a firefighter working alongside Frederick. As Anne and Frederick dance around each other and their past, they’re drawn together once again. As Frederick and Anne work through their past and personal vulnerabilities they must decide if they will take another chance at love or let each other go.

I am always interested in a modern Austen retelling, and I very much enjoyed this new vision of Persuasion.

This was such a cute read! I was instantly hooked from chapter one and couldn't wait to finish the rest of the book. The artwork was gorgeous, and I absolutely adored the romance.

Give Me A Reason by Jayci Lee is a beautifully emotional story that dives deep into the complexities of love, trust, and second chances. Jayci’s writing is tender and raw, capturing every vulnerable moment with honesty and grace. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, making you root for their healing and growth every step of the way. This book reminded me why I love contemporary romance — it’s all about the imperfect, real connections that make us human. A definitely recommend if you’re in the mood for a heartfelt, page-turning romance.

I love K-dramas and Give Me a Reason was the perfect read for me. Lee does a great job of drawing the reader into her story and holding their interest. The plot is predictable, but that makes the novel more enjoyable. The main reason to read Give Me a Reason is that it's entertaining.

“A Korean drama actress gets her second chance at love with the man she left in order to save her family--if she can work up the courage to risk her heart on forever…one last time.”

While this wasn’t one of my favorite contemporary romances that I’ve read this year, it wasn’t all bad. First off, the cover is EVERYTHING. But that just goes to show you really can’t always judge a book by it’s cover. I love the second chance romance aspect of this book, but if the miscommunication trope is not your thing, I probably wouldn't bother with this book. It’s a huge part of it. I expect it more in YA books, but not necessarily books with adults.

A very special Thank You to NetGalley, St. Martin’s, and the author for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A modern retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion. An enjoyable, quick read. Gave a lot of K-drama feels, with tons of yearning and brooding, so much so that it takes up 60-70% of the book. There's family drama, misunderstandings, plenty of overthinking, and a lot of memorable side characters (loved Katie!). It's a delicious second chance romance that will keep you thoroughly entertained. Did I mention the male main character is a firefighter?? He's a firefighter that ALSO writes the sweetest letters, not at all afraid of telling his girl just how much he loves her. The female main character, Anne, is strong, dependable, kind, and always puts everyone else before herself. I loved seeing her growth in the story to finally choosing herself and placing her own needs first, including fighting for the love that she'd lost. The cover art is also one of the most beautiful I've seen! Thank you NetGalley, Jayci Lee, and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for the eARC!

Give Me a Reason by Jayci Lee is a sweet second-chance romance and a Persuasion retelling by Jane Austen

This story is a contemporary second-chance romance with beautiful settings and likeable characters. The first half of the book has a yearning tension between Frederick and Anne.

Frederick and Anne were once in love, until Anne left for Korea to pursue a career as a K-drama star. She left Frederick brokenhearted. Anne finds herself back after a decade away. Feelings still linger between them.

There were times the miscommunication in this book was frustrating, and a lot more “telling” instead of “showing”.

If you are in the mood for a story that has a lot of pining and longing this is the book for you!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ebook arc in exchange for an honest review

“Give Me a Reason” feels like it was made to be a K-drama adaptation: filled with emotional tension, longing, and the kind of second-chance romance that pulls at your heart. The setup is immediately compelling, and Jayci Lee definitely captures the complex feelings of revisiting a love that once meant everything.

What stood out most was the yearning that ran through nearly every page. The emotional stakes between the two leads are clearly felt, and their interactions are rich with unspoken history. However, I found myself wishing for more insight into who these characters were beyond their relationship. Their inner worlds, individual lives, and growth apart from one another could have used more exploration to make their reunion even more impactful.

The pacing also proved challenging. While the slow burn worked in building anticipation, it eventually began to feel prolonged. The emotional momentum stalled at times, and I hoped the story would evolve beyond the central conflict to dig deeper into other themes.

Some elements, like sudden emotional shifts or reactions, felt out of sync with the characters’ personalities. Moments of tension didn’t always feel grounded in the information the reader was given. And while the intimacy added heat, it sometimes clashed with how analytical or reserved the characters had been up to that point.

On the other hand, I appreciated the alternating POV's, which gave a fuller perspective and balanced emotional insight. The secondary characters, particularly the friend group, added authenticity and warmth to the story and helped ground the emotional stakes.

Overall, this is a heartfelt second-chance romance with strong emotional beats and a rich premise, but some character and pacing issues kept it from reaching its full potential for me.

Cute, heartfelt, and heartwarming—this book gave me all the feels, and I loved every minute of it! The pacing was perfect, the romance was sweet, and the female main character was so funny and relatable. I’ll definitely be recommending this to everyone!

Thank you so much St. Martin's Press for the arc. The audio version was this book's saving grace. If I was reading this on my Kindle, I probably would've given up early on. The premise of the book intrigued me, there were mentions of Pride & Prejudice, but I never truly felt that connection throughout the story. There was enough angst to be invested, but ultimately, the overall story fell flat. Both characters spent the majority of the book reminiscing on their past relationship/what they could have done better and pining after one another, but took too long to do anything about it. They spent so much time in their heads that at times it felt like they were contradicting something they just said or did. It wasn't written poorly or anything, it just felt like nothing truly stood out. Thank you again for the arc, I did give this one a shot!

This was such a cute second chance romance for people who are fans of K Drama also! I would definitely recomend this book to anyone looking for a close proximity romance where the exes are stuck in close quarters after a decade apart. The conclusion was exactly what I was hoping for!