Dashed: A Margaret Dashwood Novel

Gr 9 Up–A fun, light retelling of Sense and Sensibility. Margaret Dashwood doesn’t do love after it wreaked havoc on her family years ago. It’s especially hard to separate love from her life with her hopeless romantic sister Marianne going on and on about it. Fortunately, Margaret’s older sister Elinor invites her on a summer cruise to separate herself from the drama that is Marianne. Soon, heartbroken again, Marianne crashes the cruise trip much to the sisters’ chagrin. Soon, Elinor’s husband and a cute crew member are enlisted to help distract Marianne. As the cruise is underway, Margaret will have to wrestle with the idea of changing her life’s images about love, or staying the course. And, maybe she will find love after all. Even those who aren’t Austen fans will appreciate this fun retelling set on a cruise ship. The characters are relatable, fun, and quirky. Readers are able to see the relationship growth between the sisters, which is endearing. The writing is accessible and easy to jump back into, and great for readers seeking a lighthearted rom-com.