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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
4.5 stars but rounding it up. This book was so cute and had me laughing out loud!! Just what I needed to read right now.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Actual rating: 3.5. Fun! Randomly picked it up during my shift at the library and read it in one sitting
Full review available on my blog on September 19th: https://inkandplasma.wordpress.com/2020/09/19/the-beast-and-the-bethany-by-jack-meggitt-phillips-blog-tour-review/
Rating: 4 stars!
Thanks to Egmont Publishing for the review copy of this book, and to Write Reads for letting me join the tour – it has not affected my honest review.
This was such a sweet middle grade story that it actually pulled me straight out of a vicious reading slump as I read it in one sitting. Ebenezer Tweezer (best name ever, by the way) and Bethany had a delightfully Despicable Me dynamic that I adored. The development of their relationship feels really authentic and beautiful and I loved to see it happen. There’s something about reluctant caregiver turned found family that melts my icy heart!
Bethany vacillates between outright rude and hilariously cheeky, but I did feel like she was well-rounded enough that she didn’t feel like a naughty kid stereotype – and to be fair, her pranks were pretty funny at points. This book is actually far funnier than I ever expected. Other reviews called it hilarious, but for some reason I didn’t believe it. I was wrong. There were several laugh out loud moments, not least of them Ebenezer’s complete lack of awareness of the value of money. Big ‘It’s a banana, Michael’ energy, and I would thoroughly enjoy reading this to my nieces when they’re a bit older – great for adults and kids alike!
I didn’t actually know quite how Dorian Gray this was going to be, and as Dorian Gray is one of my favourite books, it was a great surprise. The premise is simple, Ebenezer will live forever, as long as he pleases the beast. The beast wants to eat a child. Ebenezer does not like Bethany. Sounds like an easy solution – but of course in the days Ebenezer spends with Bethany, things get a little complicated. The growing relationship between Ebenezer and Bethany is lovely to watch and while I think this works really well as a standalone, I’m excited to read the next book and see, hopefully, some wonderful and no doubt mischievous adventures with the newly created Tweezer family.
Rating: 4 stars!
Thanks to Egmont Publishing for the review copy of this book, and to Write Reads for letting me join the tour – it has not affected my honest review.
This was such a sweet middle grade story that it actually pulled me straight out of a vicious reading slump as I read it in one sitting. Ebenezer Tweezer (best name ever, by the way) and Bethany had a delightfully Despicable Me dynamic that I adored. The development of their relationship feels really authentic and beautiful and I loved to see it happen. There’s something about reluctant caregiver turned found family that melts my icy heart!
Bethany vacillates between outright rude and hilariously cheeky, but I did feel like she was well-rounded enough that she didn’t feel like a naughty kid stereotype – and to be fair, her pranks were pretty funny at points. This book is actually far funnier than I ever expected. Other reviews called it hilarious, but for some reason I didn’t believe it. I was wrong. There were several laugh out loud moments, not least of them Ebenezer’s complete lack of awareness of the value of money. Big ‘It’s a banana, Michael’ energy, and I would thoroughly enjoy reading this to my nieces when they’re a bit older – great for adults and kids alike!
I didn’t actually know quite how Dorian Gray this was going to be, and as Dorian Gray is one of my favourite books, it was a great surprise. The premise is simple, Ebenezer will live forever, as long as he pleases the beast. The beast wants to eat a child. Ebenezer does not like Bethany. Sounds like an easy solution – but of course in the days Ebenezer spends with Bethany, things get a little complicated. The growing relationship between Ebenezer and Bethany is lovely to watch and while I think this works really well as a standalone, I’m excited to read the next book and see, hopefully, some wonderful and no doubt mischievous adventures with the newly created Tweezer family.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A strong theme of growing friendship and also very heartwarming P.S really funny😂
Ebenezer is approaching his 512th birthday, although he looks remarkably young for his age. He lives a reclusive life of luxury, filled with the occasional odd purchase of rare parrots and trips to the zoo to gather food for the magical beast he keeps in his attic - the secret to his youth and wealth. But the beast has grown tired of his usual meals. He wants to try something new. Something much more difficult to get hold of. But when orphan Bethany moves in, Ebenezer and his beast discover they may have bitten off more than they can chew.
The Beast and the Bethany is a must read for fans of funny middle grade stories filled with dark twists. I was hooked from the very first page and devoured this story in one sitting, thanks to its superb voice and excellent characters.
I really liked both Bethany and Ebenezer, and I think children will too. Bethany acts without thinking and does some horrible (and hilarious) things. Ebenezer is selfish and thoughtless (and at times completely clueless!).
There were so many lines and moments which made me laugh out loud. But despite the laughs and the gruesome scenarios, there were also touching moments, filled with character growth and friendship.
My advanced copy only had a taste of Follath's artwork, and I'm really looking forward to being able to buy a finished copy to enjoy it properly, as the pictures which have been included are brilliant.
I'm so pleased there are going to be more books with Bethany and Ebenezer - this is a great concept with fantastic characters, which readers will want to return to again and again.
I was provided with an advanced copy for review.
The Beast and the Bethany is a must read for fans of funny middle grade stories filled with dark twists. I was hooked from the very first page and devoured this story in one sitting, thanks to its superb voice and excellent characters.
I really liked both Bethany and Ebenezer, and I think children will too. Bethany acts without thinking and does some horrible (and hilarious) things. Ebenezer is selfish and thoughtless (and at times completely clueless!).
There were so many lines and moments which made me laugh out loud. But despite the laughs and the gruesome scenarios, there were also touching moments, filled with character growth and friendship.
My advanced copy only had a taste of Follath's artwork, and I'm really looking forward to being able to buy a finished copy to enjoy it properly, as the pictures which have been included are brilliant.
I'm so pleased there are going to be more books with Bethany and Ebenezer - this is a great concept with fantastic characters, which readers will want to return to again and again.
I was provided with an advanced copy for review.
I read this book as part of the blog tour hosted by The Write Reads. Special thanks to Netgalley and Egmont Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars
The best thing about participating in blog tours is that I get to learn about fantastic books that I otherwise never would've heard of--and I'm so glad this one was put on my radar! The Beast and the Bethany was such a well-written, engaging and fast read with some good lessons that both children and adults will be able to enjoy. The book includes illustrations that are really well done and that help to bring the characters and story even more to life. This served major Roald Dahl vibes that had me reminiscing on my childhood days reading those magical, sometimes grotesque, and often weird and funny stories, and I loved every minute of it!
The very first sentence of this book worked its magic to reel me in because I was so very curious to know why Ebenezer Tweezer was a terrible man with a wonderful life. Tweezer spent the majority of his life catering to The Beast in exchange for his selfish desire to be eternally youthful. He never cared to consider the consequences of his actions until Bethany comes into his life. Bethany was a cheeky little troublemaker and you knew it from the moment we meet her. She's continuously playing pranks and making mischief but we learn that her outward behaviour is a defense against the vulnerability she feels being an orphan. Tweezer and Bethany start off as very morally grey characters and I loved to see that in a MG book! But while they start off as morally ambiguous, their characters experience such great growth as the story goes on.
I loved how they both discovered the joy of being kind and how they both found their rhythm in being 'better people', without being too nice, of course
The best thing about participating in blog tours is that I get to learn about fantastic books that I otherwise never would've heard of--and I'm so glad this one was put on my radar! The Beast and the Bethany was such a well-written, engaging and fast read with some good lessons that both children and adults will be able to enjoy. The book includes illustrations that are really well done and that help to bring the characters and story even more to life. This served major Roald Dahl vibes that had me reminiscing on my childhood days reading those magical, sometimes grotesque, and often weird and funny stories, and I loved every minute of it!
The very first sentence of this book worked its magic to reel me in because I was so very curious to know why Ebenezer Tweezer was a terrible man with a wonderful life. Tweezer spent the majority of his life catering to The Beast in exchange for his selfish desire to be eternally youthful. He never cared to consider the consequences of his actions until Bethany comes into his life. Bethany was a cheeky little troublemaker and you knew it from the moment we meet her. She's continuously playing pranks and making mischief but we learn that her outward behaviour is a defense against the vulnerability she feels being an orphan. Tweezer and Bethany start off as very morally grey characters and I loved to see that in a MG book! But while they start off as morally ambiguous, their characters experience such great growth as the story goes on.
I loved how they both discovered the joy of being kind and how they both found their rhythm in being 'better people', without being too nice, of course
This was fun and dark, and we really enjoyed it as a read aloud. Both characters are just so awful, it's hard not to root for both of them to get better. The ending was very open and I'm wondering if there will be another one? We'd definitely want to read it!
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes