Queen B’s Decree: I love fairy tale retellings, especially Beauty and the Beast retellings. What’s not to like? There’s always a “beast” hiding his inner marshmallow and often a great redemption arc.
Izzy is an overworked editorial assistant and finds herself on the doorstep of the reclusive Beau Towers: who has promised his memoirs to her boss two years ago, but hasn’t submitted a chapter. By the Book follows the Disney movie more than the original fairytale, but that made it even more enjoyable to me as I was needing something light and happy. No major angst here, folks.
The character development was fantastic. I loved seeing Izzy and Beau become first friends, and then some more. I love that they both had flaws and weren’t perfect, but they were open and communicated.
By the Book was sweet and fun and my only complaint is the PG quality of the book—a little too much fade to black and too little wink wink, nudge nudge.
Book: By the Book by Jasmine Guillory
Series: Meant to Be #2 (unconnected to characters in book #1)
Genre: Contemporary
Hotness: mild salsa (basically fade to black scenes)
Plot Devices/Tropes: Beauty and the Beast retelling