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samlue's review
3.0
It was a decent read! I love beauty and the beast style books, but for some reason I didn’t fully connect with the characters.
srharris's review
4.0
I was not expecting that.
This is a modern uptake on Beauty and the beast with a nice twist to it.
I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. This is a true paranormal romance. The story focuses solely on Sophie and Monster/Hunter. There is no outside drama with other people, it is just them and their need for redemption and forgiveness.
A great read..
This is a modern uptake on Beauty and the beast with a nice twist to it.
I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. This is a true paranormal romance. The story focuses solely on Sophie and Monster/Hunter. There is no outside drama with other people, it is just them and their need for redemption and forgiveness.
A great read..
simply_sam's review
4.0
I guess I am on a Beauty and the Beast kick. First with The Wish Collector and now with this one. However, they are both very different, with this one more closely resembling the classic tale. If you are a fan of retellings with a modern spin then this is definitely worth the read, though it's not perfect. Monster ticked me off with his actions and secrecy sometimes. I get the reason why things were done the way they were, but it really felt like a betrayal of trust at times and upset me for Sophie's sake. Overall, however, I enjoyed the story and especially appreciated his prehensile, dexterous tail ;) Gotta love those extra appendages.
beckiebookworm1974's review
5.0
5 Stars
Arc Book Review
Release Date-11/10/18
OMG Wow Wow Wow!!!
Words cannot describe how much I bloody devoured this book: I read this in just one sitting so engrossed was I in the story unfolding before my very eyes.
This was a new author for me but as soon as the basic premise caught my attention here I was sold.
I have a soft spot for anything beauty and the beast related: even loosely, and so far I have been mostly disappointed.
Few of the stories I have indulged in have managed to live up to there namesake: with a few minor exceptions that is.
But "To Love A Monster" was absolute magic capturing my imagination from the very first.
So Sophie along with her boyfriend and casual friend manages to trespass onto Monsters isolated land: crossing his boundary line and alerting him to there unwanted presence.
In a mindless feral state, Monster attacks the intruders chasing them off: somehow Sophie hurt is left behind and Monster feeling remorse and also recognising Sophie as someone he has wronged in his shameful past decides to keep her safe: just until morning when she can be rescued.
Both deeply curious about the other an unconventional relationship of friendship and mutual caring starts to develop until an almost dependancy and rapport of sort starts to form between these two very unlikely lovers.
But this is not just a hearts and flowers type love story though we do get a HEA: it's so much deeper than that.
The road to this mutual happiness is paved with heartache and tears: past wrongs are just waiting to resurface tearing down the new walls of trust so recently built.
"To Love A Monster" is a heartfelt journey of forgiveness and redemption and I ran the whole gauntlet of emotions here.
I was aware Monsters current fate was mostly of his own making: I also understood how he had become the Monster inside way before it was visible to all else: My heart still broke for him though.
All alone isolated and suffering for all that time: he had paid his penance tenfold and I just wanted him to catch a break.
Sophie herself was like a breath of fresh air and I think Monster definitely learnt from her that there were people in this life that just are exactly what they proclaim: no hidden motives or agenda from her quarter just willing and wanting to assist for no reward other than the satisfaction of helping others.
She was unlike anyone his previously privileged existence had encountered before: her inner goodness was like a shining beacon of love and compassion despite her own personal issues.
Issues that Monster himself had unwittingly had a hand in.
This is one of the best fairy tale themed stories I have read to date.
This is one I really can't recommend enough: it was a magnificent endeavour that captivated me so completely.
Thank You to the Author for providing me with an ARC of "To Love A Monster" of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
lisajo85's review
4.0
I enjoyed it...didn't love it. It took me a while to finish because I was going through some stressful stuff personally. And because of that...it never captured my attention 100%. For some unknown reason I had a lot of trouble believing that this was the same guy that hurt her in the past. It felt impossible to have that kind of a coincidence in the book. The event (while cruel and hurtful) didn't seem that traumatizing but it certainly left a permanent mark on Sophie...to the point where it debilitated her in many ways. Because of that, I found it a little hard to believe she would move on from this and forgive him so easily.
Despite everything...I love a great beauty and the beast story. And this was a spellbinding tale...lots of angst, heartfelt emotion, redemption...all the boxes checked. I would have loved to hear more of the Monster's POV but his dialogue alone was pretty swoon-worthy. Sophie seemed like a very relate-able...down to earth kind of girl. She was very level headed and didn't make rash decisions. Overall, a great story and especially worth it if you love the theme.
Despite everything...I love a great beauty and the beast story. And this was a spellbinding tale...lots of angst, heartfelt emotion, redemption...all the boxes checked. I would have loved to hear more of the Monster's POV but his dialogue alone was pretty swoon-worthy. Sophie seemed like a very relate-able...down to earth kind of girl. She was very level headed and didn't make rash decisions. Overall, a great story and especially worth it if you love the theme.
myescapistreads's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A lovely and emotional read. Reminded me of the film 'Beastly' with Vanessa Hudgens and Alex Pettyfer to some extend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
koops333's review
4.0
A modern Beauty and the Beast retelling with a twist..
the good and the bad:
- I really liked the characters and their budding romance
-there were some steamy smut scenes
-Bringing it into a modern setting and making the Monster more isolated was an interesting choice
-However, I don't know if I liked that Sophie's trauma was 'healed by a man'. Yes she went out and started counseling on her own, but she did attribute her recovery to him. I wish she had a little more agency in her recovery
- I also don't know if I liked that they said that Monsters change was due to her love- I agreed with that sentence that 'he changed back because he no longer cared if he had to be a beast forever' He changed be HE was the one that realized his mistakes and could finally accept himself as he was now instead of embracing all of the hate and pain
the good and the bad:
Spoiler
- I really liked the characters and their budding romance
-there were some steamy smut scenes
-Bringing it into a modern setting and making the Monster more isolated was an interesting choice
-However, I don't know if I liked that Sophie's trauma was 'healed by a man'. Yes she went out and started counseling on her own, but she did attribute her recovery to him. I wish she had a little more agency in her recovery
- I also don't know if I liked that they said that Monsters change was due to her love- I agreed with that sentence that 'he changed back because he no longer cared if he had to be a beast forever' He changed be HE was the one that realized his mistakes and could finally accept himself as he was now instead of embracing all of the hate and pain
lavenderxohuang's review
4.0
I was unexpectedly more impressed by the author's writing and captivating characters. It's a great twist on Beauty and the Beast. Without putting too much emphasis on the "how" and the actual curse, the interactions and reveal of the hero and heroine's past is done so well. There were quite a few times I cried so it definitely pulled at my heart strings. I'm glad they found each other and taught each other how to grow.