REVIEW: Once Persuaded, Twice Shy by Melodie Edwards

In Once Persuaded, Twice Shy by Melodie Edwards, Anne Elliott is proud to have taken over the reins from her beloved mother since her death to oversee their family, work on the town council, and run the local theater. But even as thankful as she is for her lovely small community in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Anne is, well, tired. And lonely, if she’s being honest. She tries not to dwell on the past, but there are moments when she wonders what life would be like now had she not broken up with Ben Wentworth eight years ago. At the time, listening to her mother’s counsel on her personal life pushed Anne to let go of the man she thought of as her soul mate. Now, she wishes for a way to at least clear the air between them–even if she and Ben never truly reconnect.

‘…Despite the clean-shaven face and upscale clothes and hurtful words overheard in mazes, he was still Ben. And Ben Wentworth was a good man.’

Anne gets her wish when Ben’s aunt and uncle buy the local Kellynch Winery and he travels from Toronto to assist them with business matters. She’s surprised to see that the man who used to be a free spirit is now the corporate type. But she can tell that underneath the fancy clothes and expensive haircut is the same down to earth, steady and fun-loving Ben she used to love. When they get thrown together to broker a deal between Anne’s theater and the winery, she makes it her mission to move past their hard feelings and at least form a friendship of sorts. But it doesn’t take long until Ben and Anne’s attraction comes shining through. It leaves them both to wonder if they should take the chance on a relationship again or if they’ve changed too much to make it work.

‘When did she slide down into this pit of responsibility? Why were all these people and all these burdens hers to bear? When had it begun? When her mother was ill? Was that it?’

A modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion that was an utter delight, Once Persuaded, Twice Shy kept the same elements of the original while adding in enough contemporary touches to make it relevant and entertaining.

“I’m sorry I hurt us both, all those years ago. I’m sorry I let other people get in my head and I’m sorry I didn’t have faith in you, but I am so proud of who you are, and so in love with you.”

Having previously read Melodie Edwards’ spin on Jane Eyre, Jane & Edward, I had a strong feeling I would enjoy her retelling of Persuasion. And I definitely did. Once Persuaded, Twice Shy was still an introspective novel about heroine Anne Elliott, who was giving, compassionate, and took on full responsibility for her father and sister after her mother’s passing. We still had the slow burn rekindling of a romance between Anne and her former beau, Ben Wentworth. And of course, by the end, Anne learned how to live for herself and to let go of some of those burdens that had been keeping her down for years.

It was all of those well-known elements combined with the quirky cast (including a goose that loved to harass them! lol) as well as the modern issues Edwards explored that held my attention. I also thought it was clever of Edwards to set this book in Niagara-on-the-Lake (Canada) where the small area has both a contemporary feel as well as a big nod to the past–specifically the early 1800s. It helped to meld the classic story with the present day one without losing anything in the process.

Workaholic Anne had that same blend of old with the new–she was thirty-two but dressed and acted like she was in (at least) her fifties a lot of the time. I loved her transformation through the story. Anne’s dilemma of always being the responsible one, almost to the point of becoming martyrish, is something I think will resonate with a lot of readers. As will her regrets of breaking up with Ben eight years prior, wondering if she did the right thing. Their path back to each other was awkward, tinged with embarrassment and some misunderstandings, but Anne and Ben were everything together. And they balanced each other out well. I have a feeling readers will grow to adore Ben’s steadfastness and his belief in Anne’s capabilities every bit as much as the enjoyment you’ll get out of each scene as they fall further and further in love.

QOTD: Have you watched any film versions of Persuasion? If so, have a favorite?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: February 27th, 2024 | Berkley |

This modern reimagining of Persuasion is full of witty banter, romantic angst, and compelling characters as it captures the heart of the classic Jane Austen novel.

When Anne Elliott broke up with Ben Wentworth it seemed like the right thing to do . . . but now, eight years later, she’s not so sure.

In her scenic hometown of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Anne is comfortable focusing on her successful career, filling her late mother’s shoes as town councilor and executive director of her theater company. She certainly keeps busy as the all-around wrangler of eccentric locals, self-centered family members, elaborate festivals, and the occasional goose attack. But the more she tries to convince herself that her life is fine as-is, the more it all feels like a show—and not nearly as good as the ones put on by her theater company. She’s the always responsible Anne, always taken for granted and cleaning up after other people, and the memories of happier times with Ben Wentworth still haunt her.

So when the nearby Kellynch Winery is bought by Ben’s aunt and uncle, Anne’s life is set ablaze as her old flame crashes back into her life—and it’s clear he hasn’t forgotten or forgiven her for breaking his heart. A joint project between the winery and Anne’s theater forces both Ben and Anne to confront their complicated history, and as they spend more time together Anne can’t help but wonder if there might be hope for their future after all.