Ladies of the House: A Modern Retelling of Sense and Sensibility by Lauren Edmondson is a heartfelt debut of sisterhood and feminism. Full disclosure: I have not read Sense and Sensibility and I am not familiar with the story. That being said, I fully enjoyed this book on it’s own merit.
When the D.C. politician and patriarch of the Richardson family passes away unexpectedly, he leaves behind more than his wife, Cricket, and daughters, Daisy and Wallis. With every scandalous revelation, the women realize that life, as they knew it, is over. Ladies of the House follows Daisy and her family as they attempt to reconstruct their social, professional, and romantic lives.
I adored Daisy. She’s definitely flawed, but she’s also tenacious, loyal, and intelligent. Her growth and development throughout the novel is inspiring to women everywhere. The counterpoint provided by Wallis’s free-spirited character was equally enjoyable. Together, these two women (three with Cricket) prove that the shadow of a man will not impede a woman’s success.
While I wouldn’t say romance is the main focus of this novel, the tension between Atlas and Daisy kept me turning pages until the very end.
I highly recommend this novel for fans of Chick Lit or those looking for a modern twist on an Austen classic. I look forward to more of Edmondson’s writing in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and HARLEQUIN Trade Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.