Where the Rhythm Takes You

Written by Sarah Dass

Narrated by Antonevia Ocho-Coultes

Inspired by Jane Austen’s Persuasion, Where the Rhythm Takes You is a romantic, mesmerizing novel of first love and second chances.

Seventeen-year-old Reyna has spent most of her life at the Plumeria, her family’s gorgeous seaside resort in Tobago. But what once seemed like paradise is starting to feel more like purgatory. It’s been two years since Reyna’s mother passed away, two years since Aiden—her childhood best friend, first kiss, first love, first everything—left the island to pursue his music dreams.

Reyna’s friends are all planning their futures and heading abroad. Even Daddy seems to want to move on, leaving her to try to keep the Plumeria running.

And that’s when Aiden comes roaring back into her life—as a VIP guest at the resort.

Aiden is now one-third of DJ Bacchanal—the latest, hottest music group on the scene. While Reyna has stayed exactly where he left her, Aiden has returned to Tobago with his Grammy-nominated band and two gorgeous LA socialites. And he may (or may not be) dating one of them…

“What a delightful debut! It’s like the perfect island vacation: breezy, warm, romantic, lots of soul searching, and full to the brim with love.” —Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: May 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9780063018556

Sarah Dass

Sarah Dass was born in Trinidad but has lived in Tobago since she was two years old. A graduate of University College London, she works as an office administrator by day and writes stories about the Caribbean by night. When she’s not writing, she’s reading or taking walks with her dachshund, Stella. Sarah is also the author of Where the Rhythm Takes You, a reimagining of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. You can learn more about the author at sarahdass.com.

Reviews for Where the Rhythm Takes You

[Cali Coone · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

So the book was cute, but these did not sound like 17 and 18 year olds. They seemed mid 20s given some of the life experiences and dialogue.

[Brittini ParkerWilliams · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book. You captured the culture of Trinidad and Tobago really well. Great read!

[Anita Warren Williams · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed listening to this book. It was very interesting.

[herenya_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A deft and engaging YA retelling of Persuasion, set vividly on the island of Tobago. Reyna’s family owns a hotel and Reyna is asked to be a tour guide for the summer for a group of guests who includes her childhood friend and ex-boyfriend.(Because Reyna’s a teenager, this unsurprisingly can’t capture the poignancy of Persuasion’s second-chance romance for a woman who believes she’s missed out on ever marrying, but Reyna’s age does make it extra believable that she’s unable to tell her dad how uncomfortable she is with the tour guide gig or to tell Aiden’s friends that having her tag along spoil his holiday.)