From the moment I learned The Earl That Got Away is a Persuasion retelling, I’ve been half giddy, half anxious.

Firstly, Persuasion is one of my favorite novels. Secondly, Naila and Basil’s romance, told in dual timeline, is my dream Persuasion retelling! Diana Quincy deftly combines Jane Austen’s familiar world with diverse characters and delightfully fresh twists to craft a second chance romance infused with yearning, love, and hope. From energetic Palestinian debke and romantic waltz to delicious maklouba and lively regattas, The Earl That Got Away had me captivated from the start. Read this book if you have ever wondered how Captain Wentworth pined after Anne behind a closed door.

When Naila Darwish, a young Palestinian American, visits Philadelphia and falls in love with, Basil, a young man not only from outside of her community but also lacking in wealth, she accedes to her aunt’s judgment and severs the relationship. Almost a decade later Naila journeys to England to attend her sister’s wedding and is shocked to discover that Basil, her once deemed unsuitable lover, is the Earl of Hawksworth. Now mature and dispirited, the two former lovers are forced to confront old feelings and a romance that still burns strong.

I quite enjoyed this one. I smiled throughout those Persuasion inspired scenes. And what is a Persuasion retelling without a heartfelt romantic letter? I was just a tad annoyed by the prolonged miscommunication which delayed Naila and Hawk’s happily ever after. Nevertheless, it was fun, and I binge-read this in a day.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the e-ARC

This was a surprise and delight! I wasn't sure what to expect when I received an email from the publisher about reading this early, but I was enjoyed the unique representation of a Palestinian family in a historical romance. I enjoyed this book and as soon as I was done I bought the first book in the series to read her sister's romance story, too. Thank you for the egalley access!

This Victorian, second-chance romance focuses on Naila Darwish, an Arab American from New York who is in England for the wedding of her sister, Raya, to Anthony, the Duke of Strickland. While there she is unexpectedly reunited with Basil Trevelyn, who is now the Earl of Hawkhurst. Naila and Basil originally met eight years earlier when they were both visiting Philadelphia. Basil was visiting his childless uncle, and considering joining his uncle’s business, with an eye to eventually taking it over.

Basil and Naila fell in love and had a clandestine relationship since Naila’s family expected her to marry within her community someday. After accepting Basil’s proposal, Naila changed her mind when her aunt told her that Naila’s father had a weak heart and that the news of her marrying an outsider would kill him. Basil left for England shortly thereafter and Basil and Naila had not seen each other for eight years. In the interim several of Basil’s relatives died, making him the heir to the Hawkhurst title and estates.

This is a dual timeline story, alternating between the time when the couple first met in Philadelphia and their reunion in England for the wedding. This approach fills the reader in on their history, but does not leave much time for their present relationship to develop. They don’t really have that much interaction during the present, and some of that is devoted to dealing with their misunderstandings from the past. In fact, miscommunication is a recurring theme throughout the story, right up to the end—although thankfully by the end, they have learned to trust each other more and not leap to the worst-case conclusion.

Naila and Hawk are an interesting couple, but it was hard to believe that they would be able to overcome their past and rekindle their relationship in the time they had together for their “second chance.”

#TheEarlThatGotAwayis a followup to #TheDukeGetsDesparate, but it can be read as a stand alone.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #ReadAvon for the ARC.

I have not read Diana Quincy before but the summary had me at a Victorian Persuasion retelling. Quincy’s fresh take with an Arab-American FMC and a few other plot and character changes kept it interesting while still remaining true to Austen’s story.

Yes, there was a lot of yearning and longing with resentment and disappointment on both sides, but there are flashbacks to when they first met and fell in love to give the reader all the romantic feels. And of course the letter at the end. (chef’s kiss)

Well written and well done. I absolutely loved it and couldn’t put it down.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a second chance romance between Naila and Hawk, who fell in love as young adults in Philadelphia before Naila broke Hawk's heart and their secret bethrothal. Ten years later, they come face-to-face at the wedding festivities for Naila's sister and Hawk's best friend (featured in book one of the series, but I think this book can also stand alone).

I love that this book felt so gentle but at the same time didn't shy away from exploring difficult concepts, including the way each of them was affected and shaped by their early breakup. I appreciated the cultural differences that contributed to the breakup in the first place and resulted in Naila taking on the role of the spinster aunt, and I very much appreciated the way she eventually broke out of the confines of that role to rediscover her own power and capabilities. As for Hawk, it was very easy to understand his simmering resentment throughout much of the book, even as I was rooting for him to finally figure things out. I liked that both characters took plenty of time and detours on the way back to each other.

All in all, this was a very good read.

Thank you to the publisher for the e-ARC! I liked the premise of the story but the execution fell a little flat. My biggest issue is that the two love interests spent very little time actually together throughout the story and only started having positive interactions about 80% through the book. I understand and appreciate pining and ego getting in the way of love, but I think the balance between the angst and the reconciliation was not quite right. I did love the family dynamics depicted in the story and I loved seeing some Palestinian representation. Overall, I think the pacing was a little off for me.

I enjoyed this immensely. It’s an enthralling second chance romance and a version of Persuasion retelling. I really liked Diana Quincy’s style, it was very easy to read. The angst and the passion were palpable, and the pages just turned themselves. Naila is a very likeable lead, who goes from swan to mouse and back to swan within the span of the story and she takes passionate but hurt - and, thus. stern and forbidding - Hawk along for the ride. The only part I enjoyed somewhat less is how long the misunderstandings persisted, and the characters continued to layer them on. But finally Captain Wentworth got his yes and all was right with this wonderful story!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an advance copy of this great read!

This book definitely pays tribute to Persuasion. It was refreshing to see the characters diversified. My only quibble is with some of the more modern turns of phrase that are mixed in.

Life has thrown some obstacles in Basil and Naila”s path. They had to fight through family commitments and misunderstandings in order to fight for their happily ever after. They fell in love when they were young but were pulled apart, They found each other again and continued to be separated until they decided to live and let live. It’s was an angsty read.

A “Persuasion” influenced intercultural historical romance that’s perfect if you like the second chance trope.

This is a fast-paced read that flips between glimpses of the main characters young and in love in America, and eight years later in England meeting again after years apart. As a huge Persuasion fan, I enjoyed the references, and I loved reading about Naila’s culture, though aspects may be overly familiar if you’ve been reading Diana Quincy’s oeuvre for some time as I have.

The author’s writing is very accessible and dialogue-heavy, and it explains historical and cultural context as it goes along, so I highly recommend it to newcomers to the historical romance genre.

Read if you like…
- second chance
- intercultural historical romance
- The Gilded Age
- a curvy heroine

Spice: 🌶🌶🌶

Thanks to the publisher for the invitation to read this. Persuasion is my favorite Austen novel; I find it hard to resist giving reimaginings a try. I've also heard great things about Diana Quincy's books but never read one for myself. So, I thought this would be a good place to start.

Unfortunately, I very quickly realized that this romance and I were not going to be compatible. The attraction felt shallow, the conversations (between all characters, not just Naila and Hawk) were bland, and the many callbacks to Persuasion were so hollow that it would've been better to write original situations for these characters. It didn't hold my interest.

LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Naila and Hawk loved each other but circumstances kept them apart. Years later they meet again and somethings have changed and others haven’t. The love and passion is still there but there is also regret and pain.

I love a second chance romance and I love Diana Quincy books and this did not disappoint.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC.