I think it's so interesting that AF chooses Persuasion, because on the surface it's very unsuitable to Nicola and Patrick, if N. indeed feels some sense of recognition/identification. I'm not sure, though. Sometimes I think that's a substantial part of it, but sometimes I think it's more about the other stuff that happens in RMF, changing & widening her outlook. I think it's hard to pin down her feelings for Patrick: she doesn't seem to know what she feels, herself (I expect this is v plausible for her age, etc.).