By the Book

I must first confess, that I have never read Jane Austen's Persuasion. When I realized the novel was based on this well loved novel I was excited to give it a go. But when I saw some negative reviews for this book I was nervous to pick it up. However, maybe because I had never read Jane's original novel, I really loved this book! I thought it was delightful and heartwarming. The characters felt realistic and I was invested in Anne's story. I can understand that some may not like this sort of fluffy, quick read, but for me it was pretty perfect. If you are looking for a light, fun read I would highly recommend this book. And because I liked it so much, I may just have to pick up Persuasion later this year.

By the Book is a fantastic modern tribute to Jane Austen’s Persuasion. It successfully captures the novel’s wistful tone while transferring its events to modern day California.

Anne is an English professor struggling to gain tenure when the new college president arrives. He’s Adam, her former fiancé and “the one that got away.” The plot that follows manages to parallel Austen without feeling dated. Anne struggles with her work-life balance and with the knowledge that happiness and true love may have passed her by.

I’ve read a lot of Austen adaptations and this book is one of my favorites. The way Julia Sonneborn incorporates humor into what could be a dated “need to get married” tale is masterful. I laughed out loud many times while reading, and had a good time with all the characters. It’s also fun to catch all the references to Austen and other literary greats. Definitely a must read!

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This Book was everything I wanted. It was a perfect blend of women’s fiction, books, and romance. And it was funny and relatable. So basically, it was a slam dunk.

Anne was so cute and quirky in her ways and naïveté, she really found a place in my heart. (So cheesy, but so true.) And did I mention her love of books? *swoon* The rest of the cast was pretty stellar, too. They all had really distinct personalities, which always makes for a fun read, and so many of them were booknerds!

I’ve already recommended this book to a bunch of people, and now I’m recommending it to you. It’s going to make you feel all warm and happy, it’s going to make you laugh, and maybe even cry.

I'm generally a picky reader - but I'm always willing to give a debut book a try. This one I LOVED. Having spent four plus years on a college campus and being a writer and reader myself, it truly was my kind of book. Well developed characters, well developed plot, nice twists, fantastic setting satisfying ending. Kudos to the author.

A fun read, especially for anyone who loves books. It's not just a glossy romance, as it contains painfully real episodes of grief from young love through the loss of a parent. Well-written and engaging. Although it's a modern reworking or Austen's Persuasion, you don't have to like that novel (or even to have read it) in order to thoroughly enjoy this novel.

I have never read a book by this author, but the cover and blurb looked interesting so I thought I would give it a try, and boy am I glad I did. This book is more what I would call a Women’s fiction genre based on the classic Persuasion by Jane Austen rather than a straight romance. The book takes place on a college campus and revolves around Anne, an English professor trying to get tenure, and those around her. I loved Larry, her best friend who is gay. There is also Rick, an author in residence at the campus, and Adam, Anne’s one time fiancé and now the newest President of the college campus. The book had a slow pace to me, building the story naturally to a crescendo. The only part of this book that bothered me a little was the ending. To me, it felt rushed, as if ok, now let’s end this book. But, that is me being picky. Loved her writing style, and thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed Julia's debut novel and I look forward to reading her next.
By the Book is a light read with all of the literary facts that I have loved since high school. A combination of everything a reader wants, love interest, intrigue, job security. and history. I had a hard time putting it down and I didn't want it to end.

"By the Book" was an entertaining read. Sometimes we learn that people are not always what they seem. Other times we find that the best way to know someone's intentions is to ask, not assume. "Persuasion" is one of my favorites and I am always on the lookout for fiction that adapts it, updates it, or puts a different spin on it.

By the Book is the perfect book for any book lover. They say it's a very loosely based modern retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion. I haven't read that one but after reading By The Book I'm adding it to my TBR. I loved that this was a sweet story that slowly builds. It was a clean romance with endearing characters. The author Julia Sonneborn has me wishing I was a literature professor in a cute college town. Anne could be anyone, she was very relate-able and felt like someone you could be friends with. Adam was the one who got away but he has stepped back into her life and they have a second chance at love. There is backstories and subplots thrown in make this a well rounded story. By the Book is a debut novel from Julia Sonneborn and I can't wait to read more by her. If they are as good as this one she will be a must read author for the chick lit genre.

"By the Book" by Julia Sonneborn
I really liked this story. It certainly kept me entertained.. sometimes with happiness, sometimes with tears... yet always wanting to find out what the next page was going to say to me. I was gifted with a copy of this story and am ever so happy for my good fortune. A good story should never be missed.

I received this from a Goodreads giveaway. I enjoyed the book for the most part, although I did get a little worn down by the main character's lack of confidence and indecision. The cool thing is I may have to find "Persuasion" and read it sometime. Thanks, Julia Sonneborn!

I loved so much about this book. I enjoyed Anne's character and her life as a professor in a small college town. There is humor and a great plot. Anne has her flaws but that makes her even more relatable. The character of Larry is also well done in this book and I enjoyed his role. This book is considered a modern retelling of Persuasion by Jane Austen and although I haven't read the classic, this book was a stand alone success. This was a fun reminder of university life and love interests and good friends. I highly recommend this book for a fun but well written book that will make you smile too.

Very pleasant second chance romance/chick lit book. I enjoyed the portrayal of life as an English professor since I have always thought I would have enjoyed that job. I was pleased to find that I preferred what I chose instead! Content on plagiarism was interesting, too.

"By the Book" is a perfect romantic comedy, with enough intrigue and romance to keep a reader involved right up to the last page. With overtones of Jane Austen and plenty of clever pop culture allusions, as well as a heroine who embodies smart and sweet in perfect balance, "By the Book' makes a perfect end-of-summer read.

A friend recommended this book to me as an engaging story, well told. I found it interesting to learn about college politics and romantic entanglements among the faculty. It is well written and is a book I will also recommend to others.

Sonneborn's "By the Book" had me hooked within a few pages. On the surface it's a fun romance and a charming reinterpretation of Austen's "Persuasion." Clever descriptions and fresh takes on familiar experiences (some of which made me laugh out loud) kept the tone light. But I also found the novel incredibly poignant in its exploration of self-doubt, betrayal, and loss.

Not a bad book but I kept waiting for the romance. As a fellow reviewer said, they are supposed to be pining for each other and we should be waiting anxiously for every interaction. Not there. I did like the college life description but should not be compared to Persuasion!

A new author to me so wasn't sure if I would enjoy reading this book but wanted to give it a try. I was impressed in the writing style and glad I read it. Well written pulling you in from the start. Slow in parts but keeps your interest to the end.

A friend recommended this book to me as an engaging story, well told. I found it interesting to learn about college politics and romantic entanglements among the faculty. It is well written and is a book I will also recommend to others.

Sonneborn's "By the Book" had me hooked within a few pages. On the surface it's a fun romance and a charming reinterpretation of Austen's "Persuasion." Clever descriptions and fresh takes on familiar experiences (some of which made me laugh out loud) kept the tone light. But I also found the novel incredibly poignant in its exploration of self-doubt, betrayal, and loss.

Not a bad book but I kept waiting for the romance. As a fellow reviewer said, they are supposed to be pining for each other and we should be waiting anxiously for every interaction. Not there. I did like the college life description but should not be compared to Persuasion!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I tore through it, and found it a quick, charming tour through the hidden world of academia. I found the characters relatable and enjoyed being able to pick out landmarks and LA institutions like Fairfax etc. I highly recommend for a fun, escapist read. Smart girls can enjoy romance too!

I read this in one night. I tried to go to bed but it called me back. I fell in love with everyone in the story but my favorite was Larry. Would love to read a story about him. My heart was light and happy when I finished the last page.

I adored this book. While there were some aspects I thought were a little much (the ending...the BFF's scandalous relationship), I really enjoyed this one. Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm mystified by the glowing reviews as I took such an instant dislike to Sonneborn's harried, disorganized Anne that I didn't make it past the first few chapters. To be more precise I didn't get past Sonneborn's description of the gathering at the book signing as a "cluster" of people "clustered" around the author...really???
Don't get me wrong I have immense admiration for those who undertake authorship and put themselves in the unenviable position of being judged by their creation(s), but modernizing an Austen isn't a free pass (though often seems like it by the sheer volume of Austen-ish works)--it takes creativity & finesse, certainly more sophistication than a "cluster" of people "clustering."