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beckyyreadss's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
3.0
I wanted to carry on with this series because I enjoyed the first book by Julie Murphy. I liked that even though it was a re-telling of a fairy tale, it didn’t feel like it. Unlike the first book in this series, I was struggling with the re-telling side and connecting with the series.
This book is based on Isabelle, and she is completely lost. When she first began her career in publishing after college, she did not expect to be twenty-five, still living at home with her parents, and one of the few Black employees at her publishing house. Overworked and underpaid, she is constantly torn between speaking up or stifling herself, Izzy thinks there must be more to this publishing life. So, when she overhears her boss complaining about a high-profile author who has failed to deliver his long-awaited manuscript, Isabelle sees an opportunity to prove her worth and finally get the recognition she deserves. All she has to do is go to Beau’s mansion in Santa Barbara and give him a quick pep talk or three. How hard could it be? But Izzy quickly finds out she is in over her head. Beau towers is not some celebrity lightweight writing a tell-all memoir. He is jaded and withdrawn and – it turns out – just as lost as Izzy. But despite his standoffishness, Izzy needs Beau to deliver, and with her encouragement, his story beings to spill onto the page. They soon discover they have more in common than either of them expected, and as their deadline nears, Izzy and Beau begin to realize there may be something there that wasn’t there before.
I struggled so much with this book and I think it’s because we don’t find out why the rooms/floors were forbidden unlike in the original beauty and the beast, the west wing is forbidden because that’s where the rose is. In this book, we never actually get an answer as to why it’s forbidden, and it’s just brushed over. I know that Beau is supposed to be the beast and this big asshole, but he just rolled over way too quickly and became the loveable snowman way too early in this book for my liking. And again, Gavin being Gaston, and he wasn’t villainised enough, and he was defeated quite quickly, I wanted more from him and trying to knock down Isabelle. Also, these two main characters lacked chemistry, Beau was trying to have banter with Isabelle, and she took it the wrong way and a screaming match would start. For then, Beau having to do the apologising and blaming it on his past.
I liked Priya, I wanted more of her. I wanted her to tell Isabelle to grow a pair and to meet Beau and to like help get them together. I liked the publishing aspect and how the business works, and it sort of sounded a bit non-fictional with the writing tips. I would have loved more of what happened after she had moved publishing houses. I loved the aspects that come from beauty and the beast – the library, the rose garden and the Wi-Fi password.
This book fell below standards from the first book, but I will be carrying on with the series and I can’t wait to see the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Racism, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
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, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Gaslighting
ladypageling'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
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
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: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Gaslighting
Minor: Mental illness, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
auudrey's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
2.5
Had no idea I was trying myself into a re-telling/mash up of Beauty in the Beast lol. The main characters were really lovable, and I think it would’ve worked better, for me, without the occasional references to personified inanimate objects. Glad I stuck it out til the end though! The emotional pay off was lovely and what I needed in a time of personal anxiety and professional uncertainty
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent
hunnykurls's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse
morganperks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
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
That journal. I am a puddle
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Toxic friendship
Minor: Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Grief, and Alcohol
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: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting
Moderate: Racism, Toxic relationship, Car accident, and Death of parent
mikaelaandherbooks's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Racism, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content
peachani's review against another edition
mysterious
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? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Misogyny, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Confinement and Grief