I just finished reading a re-imagining of a very famous novel (sorry, but I can't identify it because I'm reviewing it for the Historical Novel Society and the review hasn't been published yet) and it got me thinking about what attracts readers to these types of novels. There's the obvious marketing hook: if you loved book X, you'll love book Y. But if we adore the classic novel enough to think it's perfect as it is, what makes us willing to take a chance on a re-telling, knowing how unlikely it is that it will be as satisfying as the classic version? I suppose Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is a good example (and unrelated to the book I just read). Why do you think the thousands (millions?) of spin-offs of this story in both book and film/TV forms are so successful? Do people love P&P so much that they'll watch/read anything even tangentially related to it? I'd love to know what keeps you coming back to retellings of your favourite classic novel (or what keeps you away)!

Hello. Thank-you so much for inviting me to your group. I am a retired nurse in the middle of moving to Mexico so I will be here off and on. I write Medieval fiction through the Tudor period as I read my first book on Elizabeth I when I was 8 years old. I may post some excerpts of my current work. I have two dogs, or perros as they are called in Spanish. Writing is in our bones and I love learning and sharing this amazing gift. Happy Friday.

Are any of you in an in-person book club? If so, what do you like about it? I have a book club that I adore - we meet once a month, the (rotating) host cooks an amazing meal, and we really talk about the book. It's funny though, we talk about the book so much that I don't know much at all about their personal lives! Tell me about yours, or what you would look for in a club if you were in one. (Or why you don't want to be in one?)

I love historical novels with 🌶️🌶️🌶️, however did not care for Outlander (too much r@pe, too convenient). Would also like suggestions for post-apocalyptic with 🌶️🌶️🌶️. Bonus points if you suggest an indie/self-pub. I’d like to support the brave pathfinders!

I'm in a Facebook group that does this with literary fiction, and I think it's kinda fun. Even well-loved, super-popular, award-winning books have their serious haters! 😂 This is historical fiction. All guesses are encouraged (no googling, though!). This is meant to be fun. Don't be dismayed if you disagree with the review. Spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors were copied directly from the review. I’ll post the correct answer tomorrow (6th May 2026). ⭐ A glimpse into [Main Character]’s life and also the lives of her friends, family and neighbors. [Main Character] is a midwife in 1789 and is privy to the town’s secrets. Things are about to get salty. Oh, my. Everyone loves this book and it’s an understatement to say I did not. I’m still cringing and rolling my eyes. The weird thing is I’m a feminist and a liberal, but this is sadly over the top. I dislike being preached to, and there are 432 pages of that here. Maybe there are people out there who need to be told what’s right from wrong. I’m not one of them. The pacing is glacial at best and the writing felt a little lazy and immature. The murder mystery being solved by this caped crusader is so very slow. The main character is overly preachy and although the story takes place in 1789, she miraculously has command of a 2024 vernacular. 🙄 ⭐ What do think? What's the book? (In this case, if you can think of only the title, but not the author, that's ok!)