Persuading Annie

I am a big Jane Austen fan and was curious to see how it would stand up to the original.

Persuasion has been updated for the 21st Century. Anne has become Annie, the youngest daughter of George Markham, the upper class head of a PR firm. Very much the most intelligent and kindest of her sisters, nay her family, she lacks the ability to stand on her own two feet without being swayed by others.

As a 19-year-old student, Annie has a pregnancy scare. Her initially freaked-out boyfriend, Jake, comes round to the idea and the pair plan an elopement to Paris. Unfortunately, when Annie confides in her best friend Cassandra, her godmother gets involved, scuppering the idea. Fast forward a few years and Annie, rather bitter and scarred by the show more whole affair is trying to put it behind her. Her family's fortunes, however, are not faring well. The firm is haemorrhaging money, with only one solution in sight – to hire a team of top consultants, led by Jake. Jake also hasn't managed to fully get over their relationship. Inevitably, sparks fly when they meet again.

For readers who already know Persuasion, Persuading Annie has the added appeal of seeing how the author updated the story. I think it works well. If you don't know Austen's original, it is still an entertaining read. show less

Another one of Melissa Nathan's retellings of Jane Austen, this one, based on "Persuasion," doesn't have the zip of "Pride, Prejudice and Jasmine Field," but retains many trademarks of the author's witty dialogue and hilarious characters.

Through a misunderstanding, college sweethearts Annie and Jake are torn apart with much bitterness. Years later, they are thrown back together when Jake is hired to save the company owned by Annie's spendthrift family, and boy is it awkward. Misunderstandings and jealousy ensue, but the old feelings are still there.

The novel shines in scenes concerning Annie's pompous father (who is outraged that his valet has the audacity to be ugly) and silly sisters, their hypocrisy and selfishness as sharp as it is show more in their Austen counterparts. Annie and Jake have a thrilling moment confronting a purse snatcher, but their romance doesn't have the heartstopping emotion of Captain Wentworth and Anne, especially in the novel's climax. (An e-mail full of spelling mistakes? I know the guy was a little choked up, but still..what a buzzkill!)

Annie is as virtuous as Austen's Anne, if not more, as she patronizes art galleries and volunteers at the local suicide hotline, in contrast to her sisters' behavior: The eldest still partying hard after all these years, and the married, bratty middle child with children of her own. Anne is the black sheep with her goodness, counterbalanced by her vulgar family. Though she risks falling into the "almost too good" category, Nathan keeps her grounded and approachable.

Though it's not Nathan's best, in my opinion, it's still a cute story that is imaginative with classic material. show less

Stayed up way too late to read this book, and will take a nap with my son when I finish writing this piece. I loved this book. I always loved Jane Austen, so finding a modern version is a real gold mine for me. The class and money elitism, the social snobbery, who knew it could be fun in these modern times. The romantic story kind of fell flat for me though, with how seemingly effortlessly the characters finally got it together after carrying 7 years of emotional baggage. But really that's my only complaint. I laughed out loud during some of this story, so plus =)

This is a modern adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion.

Annie and Jake were dating when they were 19; Annie thought she was pregnant, but it turns out that she was mistaken. Jake, however, believing that Annie had lied to him about being pregnant in the first place and ran out on her. Seven years pass, and then all of a sudden Jake is back in Annie’s life.

Jake is now working as a management consultant - has his own company - and has been hired to help out with Annie’s family’s buisiness, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Neither have quite gotten over what happened to them in college, and are both rather bitter at the other person. But, circumstances have them not only working together, but spending a good deal of their show more social lives together (Annie’s younger cousins have a bit of a thing for Jake, and invite him everywhere with them.)

This was very entertaining as far as chick lit goes. It helped that the story was so familiar - Persuasion is quite possibly one of my favourite Austen stories. And even though the story was a modern adaptation, the characters weren’t flakey or completely ditzy. A good, easy Sunday afternoon read.

Nathan wrote one other Jane Austen adaptation, Pride, Prejuduce and Jasmine Field, and if it’s as enjoyable as this one then I’m highly looking forward to it as well. show less

It follows the plot of Jane Austen's Persuasion but takes place in modern day England.

Annie's family is wealthy, but their funds are quickly depleting. So the family friend and Annie's godmother Susannah hires Jake to save the family's business and reputation. Jake, who just happens to be Annie's college boyfriend and who she hasn't seen in eight years. And he is out for revenge.

Fun book. Great characters. My only complaint about Melissa Nathan novels is that the boy and girl never get together until the last pages. I like the connection to happen a little earlier.

The only thing I don't like about this really fun book is how young the hero is.... He's only been out of school for a few years and he's already a top independent management consultant? That note of unreality was too jarring for me.

Persuading Annie is modern day version of Jane Austen's Persuasion. Although I didn't enjoy this novel as much as I did Nathan's retelling of Pride & Prejudice - Pride, Prejudice and Jasmin Field - I think fans of Austen adaptations would enjoy this novel.