“…the novel casts a definite spell over the reader, who can’t help but be drawn into Tildy’s fantasies. It’s a triple escape, after all: into a dream, over the sea, to the arms of a lost love.”

— Kirkus Reviews

“A contemporary reimagining of Jane Austen's Persuasion, this lovely novel from Woodsey is rich in romance, fantasy, and a tender yearning to make the best of a do-over. ”

— Booklife

“Woodsey's writing style is engaging, and her characters are relatable, making the book a joy to read from start to finish.”

-Suzie Housley, Midwest Book Review

“A beautiful and thoughtful modernization of Jane Austen’s Persuasion that explores a modern heroine’s discovery of the difference between fantasy and agency.”

-IndieReader

“Eloquent and alluring, The States is a novel in which dreams crash into lived realities.”

- Foreword Reviews