April 1, 2024
Bailey pulls lightly from Jane Austen’s Persuasion in her impressive debut. Soon after professional tennis player Olivia Taylor leaves her cheating husband, her older sister, Charlotte, guilt trips her into coming to the Hamptons to help clear out her family’s just-sold mansion. Estranged from her father (whom she’s only called William since her mother’s death) for a variety of reasons, Olivia is prepared for a strained few days with her family. She’s unprepared, however, for the bombshell revelation that the mansion’s buyer is Fred Webb, her first love and the man who has broken her heart time and time again. To make matters worse, it seems that Fred has finally found love elsewhere. Bailey keeps the pages turning by toggling between 2003 and 2023, recounting the bumpy road of Olivia’s life—and how her relationship with Fred has played into it. The cutthroat world of pro tennis and the glitz of the Hamptons create a fascinating backdrop for these multilayered characters. Angsty but ultimately heartwarming, this should win Bailey plenty of fans. Agent: Stephanie Kip Rostan, Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary.
September 13, 2024
Seeking to heal from her rocky marriage to her soon-to-be ex, Wes, Olivia Taylor heads to the Hamptons to help her father and sisters pack up the family's vacation home. After years of money troubles, the family finally has a buyer for the beachfront property. Olivia is shocked to find out that the buyer is none other than her first love, Fred Webb. Though she hasn't seen him in five years, and it's been forever since they first fell for each other, she begins to wonder if they've both changed enough to try again. Bailey's debut novel is a modern take on Jane Austen's Persuasion, set in the swanky Hamptons. Megan Tusing offers a layered narration of Olivia, empathetically voicing her many emotions as she navigates heartbreak and cautious excitement at embarking on a new relationship. Despite the ups and downs, however, Tusing keeps the tone relatively breezy, and this makes for a charming and uplifting listen. VERDICT A modern take on a classic novel, recommended for fans of other Austen retellings such as Taylor Hahn's The Lifestyle or Vanessa King's A Certain Appeal.--Elyssa Everling
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