Ebook received for free through NetGalley

An adorably cute read that I’m glad I came across. Thanks

this had none of the subtlety of persuasion, none of the austen-level romance whirlwind, and none of the poetic writing romance should have.

everything gets told to us, rather shown. we immediately get thrown into them meeting, with repetitive info dumps occasionally explaining why the characters feel the way they do. and because it's dual pov, we can't guess at the characters' actions, we immediately know what they're doing. if it was single pov, at least we can guess at what the other character is doing, so that it makes it less of a miscommunication struggle, and more anticipatory rise to the climax, which is the letter scene. the reason why persuasion is so loved, is because of the final letter scene, and the beauty of how it suddenly happens, just as anne thinks wentworth is gone from her forever. having this as dual pov, makes it difficult to gasp and clutch our hearts when the climax does happen, because we know it's going to happen; the character told it to us a chapter ago. dual pov only works when there's no miscommunication involved, when both characters aren't actively avoiding each other. it's so that we can see things about the other character that they can't express in their own point of view.

the side characters...i have nothing to say about them, to be completely honest. they were just...there. i liked the firefighter squad, but the sisters were average. there was no resolution with the family, and very minimal character development.

the pining in this is at least 50% of the book, and if that's your thing, by all means, go for it. but as someone who wants a well-rounded romance, with pining done subtly and strong, rather than weak and plentiful, and more about falling in love rather than hiding feelings, i'd say this wasn't for me. sorry, netgalley, maybe next time.

I picked this up on a whim from Netgalley because the cover is gorgeous. (Thank you!) I am very much a sucker for all of the tropes presented in the beginning as well -- I'm a fan of Jane Austen, I love K-dramas, and I love when an author can make me yearn. I sped through this book in under two days, which is how I know I really did enjoy it. There are a few reasons why this isn't a 5 star read for me, but as far as raw enjoyment goes this was a fun ride for me personally.

Things to note: I've read P+P and S+S, but I never got around to reading Persuasion. I thought that I could understand what's going on even without that context, and I was correct, I absolutely could. I'm curious to see how fans of Persuasion feel about it, but I got an enjoyable experience out of reading this retelling. It was concise and cohesive and I followed the cast with rapt attention. I worry I missed out on the references, which may or may not have raised the score, but that's another thought for another time.

Give Me a Reason follows Anne and Frederick as they navigate their love story 10 years after it already came crashing down. Anne is now in her early thirties, a made actress, and successful in what she does. Frederick is a firefighter, with a crew that functions as his family. When the two are both invited to a kindergarten classroom to show off their professions, their reunion happens in public and is painful. One thing the book does really well is yearning--gotta be one of my favorite tropes. Frederick and Anne still hold one another as the love of their lives, but her breaking up with him led to serious trauma for both of them.

The beginning of the book is super good. I really enjoyed it. I think it started to lose steam about 50% of the way in, because after a while it sort of devolved into deep, continuous miscommunication between the characters, and that got annoying fast. It didn't overstay its welcome, though, I would say. It's a book with a HEA, it keeps the tension going until the end, and maybe it's because I never read Persuasion but I wasn't exactly expecting how it was going to end.

The things I didn't enjoy were that Frederick often didn't seem like a person outside of his love for Anne. I love yearning, but I don't think I know a single thing about him besides how much he loves Anne. We learn everything about Anne's family, even extended family -- and I believe it was stated that Frederick was adopted or orphaned because he has nothing to worry about besides worrying for Anne. It tends to be a trope in romance novels where the men are so obsessed with the women that it's scary, and sometimes I got that vibe from Frederick. It's more accurate to say that he has a found family in his Firefighting crew, but even while planning a wedding the conversation always came back around to Frederick (not the groom) either needing to fall in love or needing to be with Anne (not the bride). It gave good focus for Anne's career to shine but something about Frederick fell flat for me. Since we got so much of his perspective, I wanted him to be a real character!

I'm interested in trying Jayci Lee again, as I loved how the yearning played out and the prose was beautiful. This read was probably closer to a 3.5 stars than 4, but I'm all too glad to round it up.

I am a sucker for retelling and Give Me A Reason as hit every spot I need. Sweet and heartfelt, and capturing perfectly the essence of the original with its themes of love and loss and journey of growth, even if put in a new time an place.

Give Me a Reason feels like stepping into a slow-burning K-drama—full of longing glances, unspoken words, and emotions that linger long after the last page. Anne and Frederick’s story isn’t just about love but about timing, choices, and the ache of regret. Their push-and-pull dynamic keeps you hooked, while the rich Korean cultural elements, Hollywood influences, and pressures of fame add depth.

Fans of Persuasion will love its themes of lost and rekindled love, personal growth, and second chances, while newcomers will be drawn in by the emotional storytelling and swoon-worthy romance. If you love K-dramas and second-chance love stories, this is a must-read!

This was a very cute, slow burn, second chance romance. I enjoyed the dual POV. It allowed you to experience what each of the characters were thinking as they rekindle their relationship. I can connect and see them over thinking about how they react to situations.

I do appreciate the details and explanation of family dynamics of Anne’s family. It helps explain how Anne reacts and responds to people and events around her. The minor characters also stood out in this book with their own personalities and quirks.

I really enjoyed this book! The romance was emotional and beautifully written, with characters that felt real and had great chemistry. The drama kept me hooked! It was a heartfelt and satisfying read. Definitely recommend!

‘Give Me a Reason’ is a heartfelt, second chance romance that delivers all the longing and angst of a classic second-chance romance novel.

If your looking for a story set against the glitzy backdrop of K-drama fame wuite similar to some k-dramas, than this is the perfect read.

We meet Anne and Frederick who reunite after what seems forever in their tension filled and unspoken feelings journey of journeying back together slowly.

However, the emotional push-and-pull can feel repetitive at time. Many of the plot holes and story line also felt fimiliar- and once again repetitive to this idea of “k-drama fame led to breaking up then falling in love again” type of story. I felt the raw emotions for the story, but also not enough to really make me shed a tear which I was hoping for.

That being said, the book had well-developed characters that would make this a solid read for fans YA romance filled of bittersweet love stories and dramatic reunions!

✨Book Review : Give me a reason by Jayci Lee✨

3/5 ⭐ 2/5 🌶️ (2 scenes)

🌹 What I Loved:
• A cheesy second-chance romance—perfect for when I don’t have much reading time!
• Dual POV (Anne & Frederick)—my favorite way to read books in general.
• The cover? Absolutely adorable!

🥀 What Didn’t Work for Me:
• It’s a Persuasion retelling, and I’ve yet to find one that truly impresses me.
• So. Much. Miscommunication. Not my favorite trope!

I flew through this book—it’s an easy, entertaining read that did its job! Thank you Netgalley for the free ARC exchange my honest review.

Wrenching, emotional, and gripping story of second chances, mistakes not forgotten, and the balance of self and family - ultimately identifying self worth and what is really important. Miscommunication and insecurities plague Anne and Frederick, and you can't help but root for them all along.

Anne was such a sweet and caring FMC, and I loved that her kindness was portrayed as a strength. So often in books, kind characters are forced to "grow a backbone" as part of their development, but for Anne, her journey was more about finding the courage to express her love for Frederick rather than changing who she was. It was refreshing to see her character remain true to herself while still growing.

While I haven’t read a Jane Austen novel before, I think this book did a great job of capturing the essence of her storytelling. Austen’s novels are often about enduring love, overcoming obstacles, and characters finding their way back to one another, and this book definitely stayed true to that theme.

Frederick was a fantastic MMC, and I truly enjoyed all of the characters, including the side characters, who added depth to the story. This was my first book by this author, and I really enjoyed it! If you're looking for a slower-paced, second-chance romance, I highly recommend checking this one out.

I wanted this book to be good so badly, but the writing itself was something I couldn't overcome to even think about enjoying the characters. I'm a certified Persuasion fangirl, and this book did not do the story even the slightest bit of justice.

Reading Give Me a Reason is like stepping into the heart of a slow-burning K-drama—one filled with longing glances, unsaid words, and an emotional weight that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page. From the very first chapter, the book immerses you in Anne and Frederick’s world, where love is not just about passion but about timing, choices, and the pain of regret. The novel tugs at your heartstrings with its deeply emotional prose, making you feel every bit of Anne’s internal conflict and Frederick’s quiet, simmering resentment. There’s a constant push and pull between them that keeps you turning the pages, wanting to see if they can break through the walls they’ve built around their hearts. The chemistry is undeniable, but so is the ache of missed opportunities and the fear of risking it all again.
The author does a fantastic job weaving in Korean cultural elements, Hollywood and K-drama influences, and the pressures of fame, adding layers of depth to the characters' experiences. Fans of Persuasion will appreciate the faithful adaptation of key themes—love lost and found, personal growth, and the courage to seize happiness before it’s too late—while newcomers will be drawn in by the emotionally charged storytelling and swoon-worthy romance. Overall, Give Me a Reason is a compelling, beautifully written novel perfect for lovers of second-chance romances, K-drama enthusiasts, and anyone who enjoys slow-burning but deeply satisfying love stories.
If you enjoy the longing and emotional intensity of Austen’s work with a modern twist, this book is a must-read.

This is what the angst lovers want! The yearning! The pining! The tension!

Give Me a Reason fed my angst loving heart. I gobbled this book up. I really liked the elements of Jane Austen's Persuasion that was used but this still felt like it's own story. The beginning sucks you in and you cannot put this down.

Would recommend!

This is a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. I will admit I’ve never read that so I went into this one knowing nothing about the plot. As someone who has enjoyed other Jayci Lee novels this didn’t disappoint. Anne and Frederick are the MC’s. Korean influences abound in this novel. I really enjoyed it.

I enjoyed this book very much, however, there are a few reasons why I didn't give it the 5th star. Let's start with talking about the story. Anne and Frederick met in college and were an all encompassing love. They were in deep. Anne's father and older sister are the absolute worst. Anne's mother passed away a few years earlier and her dad and older sister acted indifferent to her. Her younger sister gets a bit of a pass since she was barely a teenager when this happened. Her aunt assumed the mom role and did the best that she could, but made a mistake underestimating the love between Anne and Frederick. She convinces Anne that they're too young and she's better off walking away and starting a career that can save the family home. Poor Anne was/is insecure and did what she thought was the best thing to do. It broke Frederick and Anne never got over it either. Fast forward 10 years and they meet again because they're both in Anne's cousin's wedding. The proximity is difficult and they both had a hard time dealing with it. Frederick held on to anger and hurt and Anne was hurt and wanted to apologize. There's a few misunderstandings(to put it lightly) and they weren't on the same page about what their relationship to each other was. This story was full of noncommunication. Anne was so"independent", no one knew of her relationship with Frederick from 10 years ago or her challenges with it now, except Katie, Frederick's friend's wife. I liked the development of that friendship. It started off combative(on Katie's side) and ended up being helpful. I like how her relationships with her younger sister and cousin improved, but there's no redeeming the dad. Frederick was broken by Anne and had a way to go to put his pieces back together and find his way back to her. After more misunderstandings and total lack of communication, they don't speak, but realize that they still love each other very much. Here's why it didn't get the last star. I get that they were afraid, but they were too afraid to have conversations that could have saved them months of heartache over and over again. I really would have loved to see Anne stand up to her lousy dad and older sister. She did with her aunt and they slowly started to mend fences. Frederick leaned on his friends, but not until the end. It was a little unbelievable the few amount of people who knew about their history. I get that it was 10 years ago and painful, but at no point when they were together for wedding stuff could either say, hey, we dated in college.i digress. Maybe I'm nitpicking. I did end up enjoying this book and the growth of the characters, no matter how slow moving.

A really emotional and romantic retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion with a twist. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, however, my favorite part was the cover, it perfectly captured the emotion of the novel.

The gorgeous cover caught my attention but the story within the pages kept it and still hasn’t let me go!

I love all things Jane Austen and a modern retelling is always a must for me. Anne and Fredricks story though inspired by one of my favorites from Austen, stands on its own!

I loved the emotional angst. A story that pulls at my heart and has me choking up is one that I know I won’t let go not for awhile!

I have come to love Lee’s books and this one has flown to the top on my favorites list. The characters are charming and hilarious. The storyline easy to follow and one that captures your attention immediately. The drama isn’t over the top and though yes communication is key I get why both the hero and heroine struggle to get it all out. So much is wrapped up in who they once were and who they want to become and the fear of pain drives them to walk a fine line.

A must read Persuasion retelling no one will want to miss!

This is my first retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. I think it’s hard for any author to tackle a Jane Austen retelling because you’re setting yourself up to be compared with the gold standard.

So… with that intro, I have to say that this retelling was cute but yeah…. lol. While I appreciated the switching perspectives of Anne and Frederick to know what they’re each thinking, this book was so much more sappy, semi-unbelievable/cheesy romance than the deep novel of Persuasion. This retelling took the plot points of Persuasion but it kind of lacked the believability of Persuasion.

I was at first curious about Frederick’s perspective but his character was your typical romance male—completely devoted and blindly in love. His only thoughts were on Anne’s good qualities and her perfection. (Over and over again.) I found it kind of unnecessary to read his side since it didn’t add anything special to Persuasion. (Sorry!)

And for those curious~ yes there are smutty scenes. (And cuss words for those who care.)

Anyways, that all being said above, I read this book in 2 days, was entertained in the general sense (so long as I tried not to compare it), and appreciated the Asian American characters based in LA.

Overall… 2.5 but rounding up to 3.
The cover is gorgeous btw.

The author weaves together a beautiful love story, alternating between the past and present, and POVs. Anne's loyalty - her duty - to her family has an all-too-familiar sting. Some of the scenes with her father, sisters, and other relatives felt like it could have been written about my family (except with a lot less money). In fact, Anne's desire...her need...to be the dependable anchor, the perfectionist, the one who gets things done...the pressure (self-imposed and otherwise), was just so damn relatable. And between Anne and Frederick's sense of wanting to be part of a loving family and their sense (or lack of sense) of worth...this story hit so many feels.

A lot of the book takes place in the characters' heads, which is great because it reveals what the characters are truly thinking and feeling. Honestly a lot of the characters' internal back-and-forth is probably something we've all been through. While the pacing of this can feel slow, it also felt perfect for the storyline. There's a lot of feelings that need to be given time to digest. The author did surprise me a couple of times (the spice is worth the wait!). The ending is perfection: romantic, swoon-worthy, and worth alllll the build up.

I loved the age of the characters. I loved the reflection of many stereotypical (and true) Asian lives - both in terms of generational trauma being given and received. I loved Southern California being reflected quite accurately (anything below 60 IS cold. I will die on this hill).

Line that made me laugh, because I have said this to my husband: "Not for the first time, Frederick wondered what kinds of jobs these people had to take such leisurely lunches in the middle of the week."
Moment that made me want to hug the FMC: "She had to do more than become a little selfish and take up some space. She had to start living for herself and step out into the light at long last."
One of my favorite lines: "The only things we can change are ourselves and what we choose to do in the future."