Synopsis

“A deeply felt and pitch-perfect continuation that lets its title character finally come into her own.” – Kirkus Review

“A masterpiece! Dive in!” – Historical Fiction Company editorial review

When Marianne – still beautiful, still impulsive and not yet twenty-one – returns to London, she is rich, with a house in Mayfair and an estate in Dorsetshire. Despite her resolve to remain single, she finds herself besieged with admirers, including the dangerously attractive Willoughby and the charming and irreverent Crawford.

Then Marianne’s younger sister Margaret arrives. Margaret’s passion for romance leads to unexpected complications. As Marianne attempts to navigate the social whirl of Regency London, she finds her resolution tested and her feelings torn – between the pull of the past and the allure of the present.

“Marianne captures the essence of Austen… McVeigh throws together favorite characters that readers love, or love to hate, to see how they gel. The result is funny, heartwarming and everything lovers of Austen’s universe could hope for.”
– Publishers Weekly’s BookLife Prize

“An absolute delight: bright, lively prose and an interesting take on some of Jane Austen’s characters, with more focus on romance and a satire worthy of Austen herself…. Lively and well-written, with charming prose and characters that run true to Austen” – IndieReader editorial review
“A vivid portrait of Regency life, filled with class anxieties, and the limitations even wealthy women faced. In the end, McVeigh delivers a rare kind of sequel: one that honors Austen’s world while expanding it. Rather than simply repeating familiar beats, she builds a thoughtful continuation that feels true to the spirit of the original while offering something entirely her own.”
– RECOMMENDED. The US Review of Books

“McVeigh has captured Austen’s writing style – this could have been penned by Austen herself. Her adherence to Austen’s character development, wit, social commentary and thematic elegance is such that Marianne feels both familiar and fresh… This sequel not only revisits the beloved Dashwood sisters but also explores new themes of love, growth, and resilience. With elegant and engaging prose, McVeigh seamlessly picks up where Austen left off, presenting a Marianne who is complex, thoughtfully portrayed, and deeply relatable… An absolute must-read for Austen fans.” – The Coffee Pot Book Club