interesting, romantic, interestingly well done story with some interesting settings and plotting. 4 stars. tysm for the arc, would recommend.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley and would like to leave my commentary on it.
This book touched my heart. I really felt for the characters and their dilemmas. It is a beautifully executed storyline with heartbreak in the middle and a HEA. The plot does lean on miscommunication but I found it to be very true to life. It reminds us that sometimes we just need the courage to step up and reach out and we’ll be met on that other side by someone willing. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for an early 30s second chance romance with a happily ever after.

This isn’t my usual genre, I typically read literary fiction, poetry, and translation, but I picked this up because the concept caught my attention: a K-drama-inspired retelling of Persuasion with a second-chance romance at the center.
And honestly? It worked.

Anne is a Korean-American actress who gave up her college life and her boyfriend, Frederick, to help her family. Ten years later, they’re in the same wedding party and the tension between them hasn’t gone anywhere. He’s now a firefighter. She’s back in LA. The setup feels classic, but Jayci Lee gives it emotional texture through Korean cultural references and the language of longing that feels pulled from the best K-dramas.
The romance is both sweet and spicy. The chemistry is real. The spice is well very very spicy.

Recommended for readers who love:
– Second-chance romance
– K-drama-inspired storytelling
– Contemporary Austen retellings
– Korean-American leads and cultural detail
– A little steam with their sweetness

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC. It was a lot of fun to read.

I really enjoyed this one! I found this book to be a fun retelling of Persuasion! The characters felt realistic and easy to connect with and the romance itself was enjoyable. I did wish that the characters had communicated better throughout the story and to see a bit more progression of their current selves and relationship instead of the reminiscing of their past selves that prevailed throughout the story. Overall really enjoyed this sweet story & definitely recommend trying it out!

Anne Lee's life has never really been her own, she has spent it working as an actress on k-dramas so she can help take care of her family. She even had to give up the love of her life because in her families eyes he was a distraction. Now, ten years later, she has moved back to San Diego to take a much needed break from working. Fredrick has spent the past ten years hating Anne for dumping him and leaving him behind. He is now a fire fighter and has tried to move on with his life. When the two meet again Fredrick can't wait to get away from Anne and Anne hates how he looks at her like she is nothing. When the two are thrown together again they realize they are both to be a part of the same wedding party and will have to see each other often. Follow along as these two go back and forth on how they feel, will they end up together or will hurts from the past keep them apart.

This review is actually hurting me to write because I really wanted to love you! This is my first time being able to ARC read a multicultural rep ( Korean) and as someone who is also Asian, I’m Chinese so let’s not get it twisted that we are the same because we are not at all the same!

The story was super slow paced and while that is decently realistic it just made the plot also be slow and to me it didn’t engage with me or make me love reading it. The concept of the main characters was so cute for a fighter and Korean actress to be together in a second chance romance sounds great but it kinda fell flat for me also. So while a very cute story nothing really stuck out to me and pulled me in from beginning to end.

I can with confidence say that this book was not for me and while it does hurt me to say it, maybe I had to high of expectations because I was so excited to have gotten this digital ARC from St. Martin’s Press!

Thank you NetGalley for the ebook arc. Super cute k pop second chance romance. She’s left him so that he could live his life and so that she could pursue her career in acting, and help her family finances. He decided to become a fireman and after years apart they are both secretly yearning for each other and what could have been. After seeing how her family treats her he classes up for her.
When I first started listening I was sure about the book but definitely loved this book. Beautifully written and definitely a book that I would recommend and read again

The cover of this book sold me immediatelyyy. I am a SUCKER for a cartoon/anime cover.
While I enjoyed this book in the beginning, (because it was like a K drama playing out in book form..) I do feel like it could’ve been a little bit shorter. I feel this way because it was 350 pages of straight up yearning and slow burn. Which.. that’s fine if it is not the only thing going on in the book. But.. the whole book is revolved around these two and nothing else. If this was 100 pages shorter, without the wishy washy back and forth (typical exes to lovers type ordeal).. I would’ve gave the is 4 stars! So 3 ⭐️ for me.
The good.. I loved the dual narrative, getting both sides of the story was direeeee in this book. He wrote her letters. (One of my favorite microtropes) 😭🥹 I did find myself giggling a lot at the comedic lines thrown in and Frederick being.. just him. I loved the found family within the Firehouse. It was a cute read, I wish it had a little more romance and a little less miscommunication.

Give Me a Reason offers a familiar yet charming second-chance romance. While the Persuasion retelling is clear and the yearning is palpable, the slow pace and communication issues occasionally felt drawn out. Fans of the trope will find it sweet, but it might not fully satisfy those seeking a more dynamic narrative.

3.5 stars

Give Me a Reason was a sweet story of love ending too soon, broken hearts and anguish, and new beginnings and love reignited. Anne and Frederick’s individual, decade long pain and pining for one another was honestly almost painful with their so many missed opportunities and misunderstandings. Although painful and slow… it made for sweet reunion. I enjoyed each of the characters in this story and obvious affection and loyalty they had towards one another.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for an advanced copy of this book - all thoughts and opinions are my honest review.

Give Me a Reason was a cute read with a promising premise, but it didn’t totally land for me. I loved the idea of a Persuasion retelling set around a wedding, and the second-chance romance between Anne and Frederick had potential. There were definitely sweet moments and some emotional depth, but the back-and-forth between the characters started to feel repetitive pretty early on. Frederick’s lingering hurt from something that happened 10 years ago came off a little over-the-top, and I never fully felt the chemistry between them.

The side characters were mostly fine, though Bethany got more page time than I would’ve liked. The story had a little spice and leaned into some K-drama vibes, which some readers might enjoy, but overall it just felt a bit flat for me. It wasn’t a bad book—it just didn’t stick, and I don’t see myself revisiting it. Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for the ARC copy

I think there is definitely an audience for this book, but it just wasn't for me, unfortunately. I got maybe 30% of the way in and had to step back and stop reading it for a bit. I decided to pick it back up after a few weeks, but it still felt like a slog until about 60% of the way through.

I will say I enjoyed the dual perspectives, but it was also a bit frustrating to see it because everything was so in-your-face-obvious that it was just painful and frustrating. The miscommunication had me wanting to beat my head against my desk.

Give Me a Reason by Jayci Lee is a contemporary take on Jane Austen's Persuasion in which Anne is a Korean drama actress who has returned to Los Angeles after 10 years, and her former love, Frederick, is a captain in the Culver City Fire Department.

There are many similarities to the original novel: Anne is persuaded by her aunt to break Frederick's heart, her father is inept at business and had put the family in financial jeopardy, her father is vain and has an abundance of mirrors in his home, she has a cousin who obviously has a crush on Frederick…I think you get the idea.

Since the book is written from dual points of view, it doesn't hit in the same way that Persuasion did, because we know how both characters feel, rather than wondering what Frederick's true feelings are, and trying to determine them based on his actions as in the original novel. I felt like it took some of the magic out of the story, being in his head and seeing his thoughts. I think the author did try to capture some of the magic and romance by showing Frederick’s letters, but the prose just wasn't the same. Maybe I was just expecting too much.

Several characters comment in the novel that Anne is shy, but I really didn't feel that from her, and there's a lot more anger on Anne's part towards her aunt and her family than there was in the original novel. In the original novel, Anne was sometimes frustrated with her family, but she seemed more resigned to their behaviour.

Persuasion is my favourite of Jane Austen's novel, so I had high hopes for this book, and while I enjoyed Give Me a Reason, it just didn't have the same kind of magic for me that Persuasion had. I would still recommend it, I think my disappointment just stems from my love of the original.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Squeal!! From the beginning, I was hooked! All the angst, the longing, the regret.

Second chance romances aren’t my favorite, but this one was GOOOD!!!

A retelling of persuasion and better than the original, if I do say so myself

The characters in contemporary time are far more relatable, and I feel for her instead of a possible Jane Austen anachronism.

Not to mention the authenticity of having BIPOC characters, which will always be a win for me.

Anne and Fredrick are obviously meant to be and the book is a hilarious, almost farcical misdirection or miscommunication after another before they can finally be.

A sweet romcom that jumps right into the action before you even know the characters. I love that they have such a huge impact and effect in one another, but I wish that there was more build up to know the depth of the characters before the romance kicks off.

A Beautiful Premise with Rich Cultural Roots, May Work Better in a Different Format
I was immediately drawn to this book by its gorgeous cover and the promise of a Persuasion-inspired romance with strong Korean representation, a combination that felt tailor-made for fans of Jane Austen, K-dramas, and manhwa.. The premise had so much potential, and I truly appreciated how the author brought cultural depth to the forefront.
I want to acknowledge that sometimes the right story just doesn’t land in the right moment or format. For me, the third-person narration created a bit of distance that made it hard to fully connect with the characters emotionally. I tend to gravitate toward character-driven stories, especially in contemporary romance, but I also look for steady pacing or subtle momentum to keep me engaged, and here, the plot progression felt a bit too slow for my personal taste.
I would love to read the audiobook to see if I can connect more through that form.
There’s a lot to appreciate here, the Korean cultural elements are beautifully woven in, and what I did see of the Anne/Frederick dynamic was lovely and full of potential. While this one didn’t fully work for me on the first try, and I think readers looking for quiet, introspective romance with rich representation might find something really special here.

I'm honestly not sure why this one came to me. This is not my usual genre AT ALL (sci-fi/fantasy type), but here we are. Please take this review with a grain of salt with that disclaimer.

Huh. I guess this would be considered a beach read? Maybe? I went to Google and according to AI: "A 'beach read' is a book, typically fiction, that is considered enjoyable and easy to read, making it suitable for vacation or leisure time, especially at the beach or poolside. These books are often light, entertaining, and engaging, but not overly complex, allowing for relaxed enjoyment even with distractions. [...] Not Too Demanding: While enjoyable, they are not typically intellectually challenging or emotionally heavy, allowing readers to easily pick up and put down the book."

That is not that far off. Nothing really happens in this book. The basic plot seemed interesting: Anne Lee leaves the love of her life behind to pursue a career as a K-drama star, then comes home after 10 years and sees Frederick Nam again - the boy she loved now a broken man. Okay, I can work with this. You would expect to dig a little into her time in Korea and how that changed Anne into the 31 year old woman now, right? And since she did this for her family, you would think you would see the development of the family dynamic for more than (max) 2-3 paragraphs in the whole novel, right?? AND you would see the slow progression of how Anne and Frederick learn to overcome the past and see who each other is now and develop a deeper connection/love story not 95% routed with how they were are 19/21 year olds, RIGHT?!?!?!?

Yeah, none of that.

Everything is told to the reader, even pointless information that does nothing to with the plot. Anne's main motivation was to help save her family from ruin, but her father and older sister are in the book for maybe a page? 2 pages? They only appear to add snark, then shuffle away. Most of the side characters do that, actually. There is no development of these characters at all. The only purpose to each chapter is to throw the main characters into "surprising situations" - like "oh my goodness, I had no idea love interest would be here! I have to hid my feelings, but stay as close to them as possible, but stay far away, but I love them, but but but...." It happens within 5 pages of the book, so don't get excited here. At one point I was reading jut to finish the thing - I am not one to DNF a book, but this was tempting.

Will someone love this book? Probably. Some people like repetition and whining and lackluster characters. I feel absolutely nothing for any of them. Even the ending/epilogue made me groan. To be honest, I read like a fanfiction story - not a brand new writer, but has a few cringy ones already under their belt. If you are looking for that "not too demanding" type of beach read, this will probably fit the bill. I can absolutely see this one get left behind in every Airbnb or whatever hotel chain/poolside vacation rental. To me, this is not one for my bookshelves.

Quick Summary: A multicultural, Austen-esque romance

My Review: Give Me a Reason by Jayci Lee is a 2025 contemporary romance that is loosely based on the Jane Austen classic, Persuasion. It is scheduled for release on 7/29/25.

About the Book: "In this modern retelling of Jane Austen's PERSUASION, a K-drama actress gets her second chance at love with the man she left to save her family, if only she can work up the courage to risk her heart on forever…one last time."

In My Own Words: After ten years apart, Anne Lee and her one true love, Frederick Nam, are reunited, but circumstances are not ideal.

My Favorite Scenes (coded, so as to avoid spoilers):

- A Slice of Pie
- Fire and Flames
- Just One Kiss
- You.

The entirety of these scenes choked me up. I could not look away from what was happening between Anne and Frederick. My heart melted.


My Final Say: Oh, how I adored this modern retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion! Lee used the K-drama storytelling style to bring this classic to life, and I was totally here for it. The marriage between the classic and the emo-rich K-drama was genius. This version was beautiful, angsty, tense, and heartfelt. I was thoroughly entertained.

The spicy heat was unexpected, but it fit in without distracting from the story.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Status/Level: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARC Format Reviewed: E-book
Cover: 💖

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin), and to NetGalley. Thank you so very much for granting access to a digital ARC of this incredible work. It was an absolute pleasure to review. Jayci Lee is an amazing author who always delivers. I look forward to reading more from this gifted writer.

Persuasion is one of my favorite Jane Austen's works, it is a story of yearning and second chances, and here it is brought to modern times but keeping the flavor of the original.

Years ago, Anne and Frederick loved each other, until her family and a career choice separated them, leaving both heartbroken. Now his friend is marrying her cousin and Anne and Frederick are thrown together once again. They have grown and matured in the meantime, of course, and Anne is learning to put her own needs before those of her relatives, but there is anger and resentment and their feelings may not be enough to bring them back together.

I appreciated the small changes made to the original plot, as I feared they would not work so well in a contemporary setting. The longing is palpable, the character development is on point, and the romantic moments left a smile on my face.

Give Me a Reason by Jayci Lee was not what I was expecting, but it was amazing! I haven't read anything by Jane Austin but now I might have to, to see how the stories relate and understand some of the references.
The story gives us the life between two people who lost each other, over the course of a few months. I loved the dual-POV and think that this book could not have achieved the look it was going for without it. Frederick and Anne are the cutest things ever and I just wanted them to make-up the entire story. I was literally on the edge of my seat thinking that this could be the moment. and then it finally happened! I especially loved how this showed how much of an empath Frederick was for the people he works with and the people that died/got hurt in the fires when he couldn't save them-Frederick was a firefighter in case you didn't know. It really showed in the end with how well Anne knew Frederick and how to help him in those tough times.