As one of the reviewers before me have asked: why? Why was this book necessary? Why was it introduced as a modern retelling, when it in reality is the exact same story with an iPod and a Facebook profile thrown in once in a while? What is the point of this book? Why does it claim to be anything new? 
 I have read quite a lot of Austen fanfiction over the years. It is my favorite guilty pleasure. While the books seldom are great literature or even well-written, they're always a bit entertaining. Austen's universe of elegance, ballrooms, heroines and heroes are such a comforting world to escape into once in a while. I can easily understand Austen's popularity and the perpetual fascination of her novels. I am a part of the Austen craze myself. 
 In general I have low expectations for Austen fanfiction; I simply expect to be entertained. This version of "Sense & Sensibility" seemed as an interesting way to reinterpret Austen's classic story. After watching "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries" and "Emma Approved" on YouTube, I know how well Austen's stories can be translated into a contemporary setting; adding something new to the plotline without losing Austen's beautiful structure and storytelling. 
 This is why, Trollope's version of "Sense and Sensibility" was such a huge disappointment. She doesn't adapt the story to a modern society; she simply tell us a story we already know, and adds an awkward sprinkle of modern technology. Her only new addition is the occasional mention of text messages and Facebook stalking. The story remains the same, and while I do think integrity is a good thing, the story falls apart because of it. 
 Why, why, why would a family be so deprived of everything with the loss of a house? Why can't Mrs. Dashwood and Marianne just get a job? Why does Edward's mother focus so much on an advantageous marriage, when clearly her family has money enough? Why is the inheritance of property such a huge question? It doesn't seem reasonable in a modern frame. Neither does Marianne's constant swooning, and Willoughby's seemingly deep connection to a newly built cottage. 
 There's no reason in this. The novel isn't really modernized or reinvented - it is simply a write-off. While I can only imagine how daunting a task it must be to rewrite an Austen novel, too much integrity is the easiest choice. If I wanted to read a tale exactly similar to "Sense and Sensibility", I would simply choose to read Austen herself. After all, there is no one better.