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mels_reading_log's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I love everything that Jasmine Guillory writes, but this Beauty and the Beast retelling is so sweet and lovely. Izzy, an editor’s assistant, gets sent to Beau’s California mansion to try to convince him to write the book he was supposed to have already turned in. Izzy, trying to prove herself doesn’t back down when this angry beast of a man fusses at her then sarcastically tells her to move in and help him write. There are no dancing dishes in this one, but there is some magic and the grey stuff is delicious.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
reminiscences's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Racism
theoceanrose's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Gaslighting and Grief
annahamburger's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Grief, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
joisaddler's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting
wildflowerleahg's review against another edition
3.25
"Was this one of those limited-time, fairy-tale romances, one of the ones that happened because of a castle and a curse and lots of magic, but that would vanish when real life started again?"
This was cute. I've been waiting to read this book since I found out the second book in this series was gonna be a BatB retelling. Overall, the story is really cute. If you enjoy adaptations and books about books this will be up your alley. I think my major annoyance was the under developed characters and repetition,. Often, it would feel like we awe building up to something and then the conflict was just gone. I also, didn't realize that Gavin was supposed to be the Gaston stand in until the LAST 10%. I think overall, as a BatB retelling telling its good. Very sweeet and I can't wait for the next in the series!
This was cute. I've been waiting to read this book since I found out the second book in this series was gonna be a BatB retelling. Overall, the story is really cute. If you enjoy adaptations and books about books this will be up your alley. I think my major annoyance was the under developed characters and repetition,. Often, it would feel like we awe building up to something and then the conflict was just gone. I also, didn't realize that Gavin was supposed to be the Gaston stand in until the LAST 10%. I think overall, as a BatB retelling telling its good. Very sweeet and I can't wait for the next in the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Racism, Car accident, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
A delightfully compelling and utterly uplifting tale of love,acceptance and reading between the lines, set within the competitive world of publishing. Jasmine Guillory’s contemporary reimagining of Beauty and The Beast (one of my all time favourite fairytales) was such a fun, and addictive romance that I thoroughly enjoyed.
It follows 25 year old Isabelle, an editorial assistant who works tirelessly for a promotion it looks increasingly likely she won’t get. To prove herself, Izzy decides to visit the beastly, high profile author who has failed to deliver his long awaited manuscript—and give him a pep talk (or three) to help him along. How hard could it be?
But Izzy finds herself in over her head. Beau Towers isn’t just some celebrity lightweight writing a tell all memoir—he’s jaded, withdrawn and just as lost as Izzy. And thanks to Izzy’s encouragement, Beau’s story begins to take shape on the page.
The pair soon discover that they have more in common than either of them ever expected, and as their deadline nears, Izzy and Beau realise that there may be something there that wasn’t there before…
When I first saw the premise I knew I was going to enjoy this one and I’m glad to report that it definitely lived up to my expectations when it came to the modern rom-com take on Beauty and The Beast.
There’s plenty for romance lovers to delve into with enemies to lovers, forced proximity and sunshine x grump tropes used to perfection. And the chemistry between our optimistic, editorial assistant Izzy and the seemingly anti-social Beau was absolutely swoon-worthy. It is a closed door, slow-burn Romance, but the development (both in the relationship and the emotional journey of the characters themselves) is definitely worth the sizzling,tension filled wait.
I really enjoyed the realistic glimpse into the publishing world that we get through Izzy, which highlights how overworked and underpaid soo many people in publishing actually are —and how these struggles are almost always even harder for people of colour working in the industry.
I also loved how Guillory handles the forced imprisonment aspect of the source material and gives her protagonist a choice—a choice she handles with aplomb. Likewise the other modern tweaks to the original were all really interesting to discover—I loved all the references such as the publisher Izzy works for being Called A Tale As Old As Time,as well as the little quips Izzy throws out, such as being soo lonely/ bored she talks to the candlesticks or imagining the cupboard talking back.
At just over 300 pages it’s a fairly quick read, but the pacing did start a little slow and took a little longer to get into than I had hoped—the pace does pick up once Beau and Izzy meet and that’s when things really get interesting.
Overall a fun and lighthearted read that rom-com lovers and fans of modern, fairytale retellings are bound to enjoy.
Also, a massive thank you to Bonnier Books for the wonderful PB copy
It follows 25 year old Isabelle, an editorial assistant who works tirelessly for a promotion it looks increasingly likely she won’t get. To prove herself, Izzy decides to visit the beastly, high profile author who has failed to deliver his long awaited manuscript—and give him a pep talk (or three) to help him along. How hard could it be?
But Izzy finds herself in over her head. Beau Towers isn’t just some celebrity lightweight writing a tell all memoir—he’s jaded, withdrawn and just as lost as Izzy. And thanks to Izzy’s encouragement, Beau’s story begins to take shape on the page.
The pair soon discover that they have more in common than either of them ever expected, and as their deadline nears, Izzy and Beau realise that there may be something there that wasn’t there before…
When I first saw the premise I knew I was going to enjoy this one and I’m glad to report that it definitely lived up to my expectations when it came to the modern rom-com take on Beauty and The Beast.
There’s plenty for romance lovers to delve into with enemies to lovers, forced proximity and sunshine x grump tropes used to perfection. And the chemistry between our optimistic, editorial assistant Izzy and the seemingly anti-social Beau was absolutely swoon-worthy. It is a closed door, slow-burn Romance, but the development (both in the relationship and the emotional journey of the characters themselves) is definitely worth the sizzling,tension filled wait.
I really enjoyed the realistic glimpse into the publishing world that we get through Izzy, which highlights how overworked and underpaid soo many people in publishing actually are —and how these struggles are almost always even harder for people of colour working in the industry.
I also loved how Guillory handles the forced imprisonment aspect of the source material and gives her protagonist a choice—a choice she handles with aplomb. Likewise the other modern tweaks to the original were all really interesting to discover—I loved all the references such as the publisher Izzy works for being Called A Tale As Old As Time,as well as the little quips Izzy throws out, such as being soo lonely/ bored she talks to the candlesticks or imagining the cupboard talking back.
At just over 300 pages it’s a fairly quick read, but the pacing did start a little slow and took a little longer to get into than I had hoped—the pace does pick up once Beau and Izzy meet and that’s when things really get interesting.
Overall a fun and lighthearted read that rom-com lovers and fans of modern, fairytale retellings are bound to enjoy.
Also, a massive thank you to Bonnier Books for the wonderful PB copy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Gaslighting and Racism
Minor: Alcohol and Cursing
mikaelaandherbooks's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Racism
Minor: Sexual content
dreamerfromthebooks's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This rom-com was inspired by Beauty and Beast. It’s set in the publishing world as our main protagonist, Izzy an editorial assistant, travels to the West Coast to help Beau Towers write his long-awaited memoir as he failed to deliver it the publishing house (called A TALE OLD AS TIME 💛).
The prose was beautifully written while also entertaining. It kept me smiling page after page. The love story was swoon worthy. Speaking of the romance I appreciated the way that Izzy and Beau started off not so enemies but didn’t see eye to eye. From there, the relationship developed into a friendship. It was refreshing to see their relationship as it seemed organic to many relationships that happen in the real world. I think it’s something forgotten in some love stories I read today on how the foundation of a friendship can make a love story stand so tall.
By the Book also tackled what it’s like being a woman of color in publishing. Izzy is the only black employee at her publishing house. It was moving to see her journey to get the promotion she’s wanted for so long.
Overall great book! It’s on the shorter side so it can be a quick read. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Sarah Hollis. They did an amazing job!
CW: toxic relationships with parent, toxic co-worker to protagonist, gaslighting, death of a parent (mentioned)
The prose was beautifully written while also entertaining. It kept me smiling page after page. The love story was swoon worthy. Speaking of the romance I appreciated the way that Izzy and Beau started off not so enemies but didn’t see eye to eye. From there, the relationship developed into a friendship. It was refreshing to see their relationship as it seemed organic to many relationships that happen in the real world. I think it’s something forgotten in some love stories I read today on how the foundation of a friendship can make a love story stand so tall.
By the Book also tackled what it’s like being a woman of color in publishing. Izzy is the only black employee at her publishing house. It was moving to see her journey to get the promotion she’s wanted for so long.
Overall great book! It’s on the shorter side so it can be a quick read. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Sarah Hollis. They did an amazing job!
CW: toxic relationships with parent, toxic co-worker to protagonist, gaslighting, death of a parent (mentioned)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Death of parent
miasreads's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Gaslighting, Alcohol, Racism, and Misogyny
Minor: Toxic relationship and Cursing