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

This book contained primarily dialog and inner dialog with the exception of the spicy bits. This form of storytelling is not my style since I can’t picture most of the people and places. In contrast, insignificant moments are overly depicted, such as the eating of a Hawaiian roll. Pop culture references (ie Homer Simpson) are used as shortcuts. I typically enjoy retellings and the alternating views of the two main characters is a good touch. If the rest of the story had the same attention to detail the bedroom got, it could have been great.

First of all, thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

The book started off strong, brimming with potential as it explored the rekindling of Anne and Frederick’s relationship after ten years apart. With Anne having left for Korea to pursue a career in K-dramas, the story promised a compelling second-chance romance with forced proximity and undeniable chemistry.

However, around the 40% mark, the pacing started to drag. The story became repetitive, with too many unnecessary moments that didn’t add much to the plot. My biggest frustration was the overly descriptive portrayal of the characters’ feelings and chemistry—while impactful at first, it soon felt redundant, making it hard to stay engaged. Unfortunately, I lost interest and had to DNF at 63%.

I received an arc of this book thinking it would give me K-drama vibes. And it did! It was swoon worthy and fun and heartfelt. I’d recommend to anyone who wants a good second chance romance with plenty of tension.

3.5 stars

title: Give Me a Reason

author: Jayci Lee

publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

publication date: July 29, 2025

pages: 352

peppers: 3 (on this scale)

warnings: one scene in a hospital, a fall leading to a concussion

summary: This modern adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion follows Korean television star Anne after she quits her career to move back to California near her family. Once there, she crosses paths with her true love, Frederick, whom her aunt convinced her to leave ten years earlier.

tropes:

Austen remake
second-chance romance
cousin's wedding
same wedding party
family drama

what I liked: 

family dynamics
wedding prep scenes
pining

what I didn’t like: 

dual point of view works better when the two main characters have substantially different inner monologues. In this adaptation, they had the same basic longings, hopes, and fears.
Many of their issues could have been solved with actual conversations instead of jumping to conclusions.

overall rating: 3 (of 5 stars)

Wow, just wow! I do not have enough words to describe how much I loved this book! I was immediately immersed in the story and made to feel like I was actually a part of this wonderful story!

In this modern retelling of Jane Austen’s “Persuasion”, we quickly learn that our main characters, k-drama actress Anne and fire captain Frederick parted on bad terms a decade ago. As we meet Pete, Katie, Joe, Coraline, Bethany, Tessa, Aiden and Aunt Sharon, we get to experience Anne and Frederick’s not so subtle longing, along with seeing the two struggle to navigate their feelings. It was great to see Anne and Frederick’s friends conspiring to reunite the two happily, along with exploring the other characters’ personalities. You know what was even better? Seeing Anne and Frederick grow as people. Character development for these two was fantastic!

Meanwhile, no growth at all for Jonathan and Juliette. Although they were minor side characters, I would have loved to see those loose ends tied up nicely.

Overall, “Give Me a Reason” was amazing! It was a quick and easy read that felt even better than a k-drama! Seriously, I cannot recommend this enough!! This is something I could read over and over again, living through all the tears and frustrations along with Anne and Frederick.

Real Rating: 2.5

Honestly, I had several issues with this novel that can be put into two different categories: being a retelling, and the lack of any defining characteristics whatsoever. (It was fun to read though.)

Going into this I was incredibly excited to find any book that claims to be a Jane Austen retelling, (though Persuasion is only of my least favorite Austen novels) but this is also where I found I was unable to enjoy this regardless. Not only do the characters have the literal names of those in Persuasion (which isn't necessarily bad), but the plot events in excruciating detail are also translated into a much different context. I'd say it's very difficult to retell any Jane Austen novel--especially in the modern context--because of their general notoriety and popularity. The entire purpose of the original novels does not only revolve around the characters and the events, but also presents a complex situation as a result of the novel's setting. The setting adds depth to the characters' feelings, intentions, and societal standards. It seems to me that, for a novel that banked so much on being a retelling, there was just not any real endearment to its source material. Generally, most readers of Austen probably would not take too well to this book because of how it feels like being hit repeatedly on top the head by simple, surface-level details, which entirely ignore the true meaning of Jane Austen's Persuasion.

Onto the characters--there was just nothing to them. The characters all seemed to lack depth and bizarrely had few really human qualities, they seemed rather ignorant and a part of the problem is that there was nothing in their inherent personalities similar in any way to the original novel. First of all, what irked me most was that the male lead--Frederick--had ZERO constant personality traits. By the end, I couldn't even remotely recall how he was supposed to look, and his actions did not follow any sort of pattern that would add depth to the character. Instead he functioned just to act like an asshole, then we were expected to believe that he really was totally in love with her the entire time. His character came off as entirely flat. Secondly, while Anne had more constant traits, neither one of them seemed to actually grow as characters. They never seemed to emotionally grow together, as the final quarter of the book just felt extremely rushed only to get to the dramatic 'confession' scene (which was also underwhelming). The characters' relationship seems entirely superficial, as the first real connection they share after 10 years is having a one night stand??? Like---???

Okay but I did actually enjoy a few aspects of this book--take, the nice imagery, the reimagining of details of the original (Anne as an Actress, etc.) were endearing, and also the cover (who could not pick up that cover?). Overall, while some plot aspects were shallow, the novel presented a cute, fast-paced story about star-crossed lovers which did vaguely resemble Persuasion.

read as: Netgalley ebook arc

Enjoyed the dual pov of this book as well as the flashbacks of their current and past state.

This story definitely takes you for an emotional rollercoaster. I liked the tension and angst.

✷ 2025/03/14

asian contemporary romance? pretty cover? jane austen retelling? hehehee. i love love the cover so much like i've BEEN staring at it. unfortunately i didn't especially love the writing & plotline as much as the cover 🙈 dnf !

⤷ <u>thoughts</u>:

i thought rather than it being objectively bad, it j lacked some things that would've kept me interested. i wasn't rly a fan of the writing style but that's only my opinion, as well as the dual pov 😓 i thought it didn't especially help the plot or might have acc worsened it, and frederick's character felt a bit flat at times. i think this is definitely something you can enjoy w/out reading persuasion though (what i mean is i've never read it 💪). however to his credit frederick is our yearning final boss & if you like that then i think this overall still is a rly good read 😛

⤷ thank you to netgalley for the chance to review !

fun fact about me is I have never met a jane austen retelling that I have liked.

✰ 3.5 stars, I want to frame the cover and display it on my wall. however, the intense yearning, pining, tension that impressed me at the beginning fizzled out in the last half. this book’s primary downfall is the lack of page time allowing the characters to get to know the new versions of each other. they claim they are still in love with each other, but all they know is the version of their former lover from ten years in the past.

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

platform: netgalley ebook arc