theespressoedition's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Honestly, I thought this would be my favorite book of the series and it comes in last place. Oof.
I was expecting nods to Beauty and the Beast, but there really wasn't anything like that aside from the giant library (which, let's be real, was the best part).
The characters weren't particularly likable. It all felt extremely cheesy (conversations that include serious uses of the not-word "yeet" don't make me want to commit to the story) and yes, yes, I know it's YA, but even still, there were moments that made me cringe.
There were so many JKR/HP references, so if that makes you uncomfortable, I'd avoid this one. It was published at the beginning of 2020, prior to the majority of the scandals with this particular author, but it still made me feel weird as I was reading it.
I don't know. I wasn't really impressed with it at all. I wasn't expecting to adore it or anything, but I hoped I'd at least enjoy it. I'm just glad it wasn't long.
I was expecting nods to Beauty and the Beast, but there really wasn't anything like that aside from the giant library (which, let's be real, was the best part).
The characters weren't particularly likable. It all felt extremely cheesy (conversations that include serious uses of the not-word "yeet" don't make me want to commit to the story) and yes, yes, I know it's YA, but even still, there were moments that made me cringe.
There were so many JKR/HP references, so if that makes you uncomfortable, I'd avoid this one. It was published at the beginning of 2020, prior to the majority of the scandals with this particular author, but it still made me feel weird as I was reading it.
I don't know. I wasn't really impressed with it at all. I wasn't expecting to adore it or anything, but I hoped I'd at least enjoy it. I'm just glad it wasn't long.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Grief
Minor: Death of parent
ree_the_owlgirl's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
karelidz's review against another edition
DNF 40% -ish.
Nah, It sounded a lot better than it is. Or maybe contemporary romances are not for me (or maybe because i read this one without reading any of the other two).
Feels very drawn out and slow. I even started skimming to skip all the parts where it describes the movie/whatever-it-is.
Not my vibe
Nah, It sounded a lot better than it is. Or maybe contemporary romances are not for me (or maybe because i read this one without reading any of the other two).
Feels very drawn out and slow. I even started skimming to skip all the parts where it describes the movie/whatever-it-is.
Not my vibe
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
silver_lining_in_a_book's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
alisonreadsitall's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
instalovewithbooks'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? It's complicated
3.75
I am so glad that I finally picked this book up. It's been such a long time since I've read The Princess and the Fangirl, that I really needed to pick this one up. I do believe that if I reread Geekerella and Princess I would have gotten a bit more from this book, and remember the other characters back stories, but it's okay that I didn't because Bookish stands on it's own.
Vance is such a douche but only because he tries to keep everyone at a distance so they can't hurt him, and I get it. He wants to protect himself especially with how famous he and his stepfather is, it makes being vulnerable a weakness and a fault.
Rosie is absolutely lovely, even while she is going through hell from losing her mom, her home, and also her mom's book collection, she is still thoughtful and kind, but stands on her own and doesn't let people give her shit, especially Vance.
I think my favourite scene was
Overall, a great read. :) P.S. I will mention that Quinn is my favourite character and I would die if Ash created Quinn their own book, I would read that in a heartbeat.
Vance is such a douche but only because he tries to keep everyone at a distance so they can't hurt him, and I get it. He wants to protect himself especially with how famous he and his stepfather is, it makes being vulnerable a weakness and a fault.
Rosie is absolutely lovely, even while she is going through hell from losing her mom, her home, and also her mom's book collection, she is still thoughtful and kind, but stands on her own and doesn't let people give her shit, especially Vance.
I think my favourite scene was
Spoiler
when they were reading to each other on the late nights. God that was adorable!Overall, a great read. :) P.S. I will mention that Quinn is my favourite character and I would die if Ash created Quinn their own book, I would read that in a heartbeat.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent and Violence
kate_readingthroughinfinity's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Thanks to Quirk for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I'm feeling v pleased that I finally finished this series! This is the third book in the Once upon a Con series, following Rosie and Vance as they catalogue and rearrange a library after Rosie (almost) destroys a priceless book and has to work off her debt. (Note: I am a sucker for character A almost wrecking something and having to work off their debt (Ouran was the blueprint), it's just such a fun trope with a lot of possibilities.)
Surprisingly, this was probably my least favourite book in the series, but that's not to say it isn't good (it is). I think it's more that Beauty and the Beast is one of my least favourite fairy tales, so I was just (personally) less predisposed to liking this one.
But story itself is cute and fun, with a good dose of high school drama. There's also a hint of enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, but it's more like Vance hiding his true self behind a rude, arrogant façade (and Rosie beginning to break down that façade). The characters felt a little underdeveloped in comparison to previous books and they were also younger, but I did really like Rosie. She's kind, looks out for her friends, and has a self-deprecating sense of humour, which I always enjoy.
This felt like a comfort read for me (even though it's the first time I've read it) because everything about the plot and world-building just felt safe and cosy. I knew there was going to be a HEA and didn't have to worry about anything bad happening in the last couple of chapters, so I had a very relaxing time reading this. I also enjoyed the fact that the characters from the previous two books made an appearance throughout the story (there are a few queer and non-binary side characters in the book). And it goes without saying that I love books about books!
I'm feeling v pleased that I finally finished this series! This is the third book in the Once upon a Con series, following Rosie and Vance as they catalogue and rearrange a library after Rosie (almost) destroys a priceless book and has to work off her debt. (Note: I am a sucker for character A almost wrecking something and having to work off their debt (Ouran was the blueprint), it's just such a fun trope with a lot of possibilities.)
Surprisingly, this was probably my least favourite book in the series, but that's not to say it isn't good (it is). I think it's more that Beauty and the Beast is one of my least favourite fairy tales, so I was just (personally) less predisposed to liking this one.
But story itself is cute and fun, with a good dose of high school drama. There's also a hint of enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, but it's more like Vance hiding his true self behind a rude, arrogant façade (and Rosie beginning to break down that façade). The characters felt a little underdeveloped in comparison to previous books and they were also younger, but I did really like Rosie. She's kind, looks out for her friends, and has a self-deprecating sense of humour, which I always enjoy.
This felt like a comfort read for me (even though it's the first time I've read it) because everything about the plot and world-building just felt safe and cosy. I knew there was going to be a HEA and didn't have to worry about anything bad happening in the last couple of chapters, so I had a very relaxing time reading this. I also enjoyed the fact that the characters from the previous two books made an appearance throughout the story (there are a few queer and non-binary side characters in the book). And it goes without saying that I love books about books!
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Injury/injury detail, Death of parent, and Blood
minbyrnes's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.0
I liked it, it was cute.
I think my biggest problem(?) with it was how little of their initial interaction we actually got to see because that basically makes up the basis for why they like each other.
Once they realized who the other person was, of course they’d start to like each other/think about each other (although) but I feel like we didn’t get enough of that initial contact to understand why they liked each other so much.
I think my biggest problem(?) with it was how little of their initial interaction we actually got to see because that basically makes up the basis for why they like each other.
Once they realized who the other person was, of course they’d start to like each other/think about each other (although
Spoiler
I liked how Rosie rejected Vance when he asked her out at first because she didn’t like the person that Vance was presenting at the time and simply the memory of nice Vance wasn’t enough to make her want to go out with him. I also liked the scenes where they read to each other; that was cute
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
princess424's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was really good. It’s a modern beauty and the beast retelling as shoe by the title but it doesn’t really push the concept of beauty and the beast which I like because It’s just hints all throughout the book. The characters are regular flawed teenagers and are easy to both love and want to punch at the same time. It’s a nice and easy read and The side characters are absolutely amazing. We love Space Dad. All in all, I would totally recommend this book if you like the slight force proximity, misunderstood celebrity bad boy meets small town girl tropes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
rain_baby's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent