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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this continuation of the Once Upon a Con series! This time, Poston has gone all in for a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but unlike with Geekerella or The Princess and the Fan Girl, this book is very, very much based on the Disney film. So much so that if I didn't know better I might have thought Disney-Hyperion published it -- or that it was a particularly good AU fanfic on AO3. I enjoyed it, mostly, and I really enjoyed that the book itself called out its own Disney-ness (at one point, a character muses on if the third installment of Starfield would be the last due to a merger with Disney). But, I did kind of miss the freedom and flexibility the first two books had for not having to follow a Disney film so closely.
I also think any modern B&tB retelling will have a few problems with getting the protagonists into the right situation ('Beast' 'trapped' in a 'castle', love interest who must get to know 'Beast' against their will). This novel did a pretty good job making it mostly believable, though it still had a bit of awkwardness in trying to justify the set-up. Even aside from that part, at times it felt a little clunky: in an effort to get in tons of references from the Disney film -- and from a number of other films and television series -- a few moments ceased to make any in-story logical sense. If you got the reference, though, it was almost worth it.
The plot was also painfully predictable (I mean, obviously the B&tB part was predictable, but even specific elements of this adaptation were predictable), which isn't always a bad thing (I read romance novels, after all!), but it did kind of frustrate me here. There's a moment about 65% of the way through that I was like, 'Ah yes, I see how this will all spool out now.' And it did. Just as I knew it would. But again, predictability isn't always a bad thing, I just wanted a bit more oomph from the characterization in the back half of the novel since the plot became so boilerplate. There's a particularly lovely emotionally-charged moment with the protagonist and a book that I wished the novel had lingered on a bit longer, because it had earned that... but instead, it quickly moved on.
But all in all, definitely a worthy entry into the Once Upon a Con series and very fun for anyone who loves B&tB tropes and retellings!!!
I also think any modern B&tB retelling will have a few problems with getting the protagonists into the right situation ('Beast' 'trapped' in a 'castle', love interest who must get to know 'Beast' against their will). This novel did a pretty good job making it mostly believable, though it still had a bit of awkwardness in trying to justify the set-up. Even aside from that part, at times it felt a little clunky: in an effort to get in tons of references from the Disney film -- and from a number of other films and television series -- a few moments ceased to make any in-story logical sense. If you got the reference, though, it was almost worth it.
The plot was also painfully predictable (I mean, obviously the B&tB part was predictable, but even specific elements of this adaptation were predictable), which isn't always a bad thing (I read romance novels, after all!), but it did kind of frustrate me here. There's a moment about 65% of the way through that I was like, 'Ah yes, I see how this will all spool out now.' And it did. Just as I knew it would. But again, predictability isn't always a bad thing, I just wanted a bit more oomph from the characterization in the back half of the novel since the plot became so boilerplate. There's a particularly lovely emotionally-charged moment with the protagonist and a book that I wished the novel had lingered on a bit longer, because it had earned that... but instead, it quickly moved on.
But all in all, definitely a worthy entry into the Once Upon a Con series and very fun for anyone who loves B&tB tropes and retellings!!!
Cute and fun YA romance. I laughed out loud at a few parts. I appreciated the fast pace, and the lighthearted vibe. Kept my interest throughout, and I liked both main characters.
3.25
These books may not be "high literature" but they are great at what they do. They are, essentially, fanfic to a fandom that only exists in these books. And frankly, they make me nostalgic for experiences I never actually had as a teenager.
The one thing that bothered me about the book was the references to Beauty and the Beast that were just too on-the-nose. Mrs. Potts as the hostess at the local diner. One character actually says, "Screw your courage to the sticking place," which you may not pick up on if you're not fully immersed in the Disney musical soundtrack, but if you are...well.
Also, could someone please gift me a library? Preferably an attractive British actor who is woefully misunderstood? Because that would be great. Kthxbye.
These books may not be "high literature" but they are great at what they do. They are, essentially, fanfic to a fandom that only exists in these books. And frankly, they make me nostalgic for experiences I never actually had as a teenager.
The one thing that bothered me about the book was the references to Beauty and the Beast that were just too on-the-nose. Mrs. Potts as the hostess at the local diner. One character actually says, "Screw your courage to the sticking place," which you may not pick up on if you're not fully immersed in the Disney musical soundtrack, but if you are...well.
Also, could someone please gift me a library? Preferably an attractive British actor who is woefully misunderstood? Because that would be great. Kthxbye.
This was too adorable for words. A love letter to Beauty and the Beast, with the perfect Ash spark sprinkled through. I looooved it! Perfect ending to this sweet trilogy. I'd kill for a Sage and Cal book though.
I love this series. I really hope she writes more. I could go into a long review but that is not my style. All I can say is I teared up a bit at the end. 10/10
Another cute nerdy retelling of one of my favorite fairy tales. I love how Poston reimagines the characters in her stories.
3.5 - A cute book from the geeky Once Upon A Con series (geeky in a good way, YA romance set at a con), except this one is a little more small town, with the brooding bad boy sent away to a small town and our main character has to help him with his library. Cute, predictable, easy read.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley.
For bibliophiles, romantic comedy suckers, fans of Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, Doctor Who, LOTR, Star Trek, Star Wars, Disney fairytales, and all other geeks. Because I had yet to read the first two in the series I read all three back-to-back. By the time I got to this third one I had compiled a list of Poston's favorite tropes for this ComiCon-centered fairytale-retelling series:
1) Stubborn as hell main characters
2) LGBTQA+ side characters
3) One animal character that causes one major ruckus
4) All main character love interests despise one another at first
5) One character with unnatural hair color
6) Main character belongs to a quirky family
7) Has a pivotal scene at a dance
8) And, like in all rom-coms, has a big misunderstanding followed by a big, mushy apology
You could definitely make a bingo game out of these tropes.
I had given Geekerella and The Princess and the Fangirl 5 stars each but felt I could only give Bookish and the Beast 4. I'm a book nerd like Rosie and adore Beauty and the Beast so maybe I was simply tired of reading the same formulaic book.
For bibliophiles, romantic comedy suckers, fans of Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, Doctor Who, LOTR, Star Trek, Star Wars, Disney fairytales, and all other geeks. Because I had yet to read the first two in the series I read all three back-to-back. By the time I got to this third one I had compiled a list of Poston's favorite tropes for this ComiCon-centered fairytale-retelling series:
1) Stubborn as hell main characters
2) LGBTQA+ side characters
3) One animal character that causes one major ruckus
4) All main character love interests despise one another at first
5) One character with unnatural hair color
6) Main character belongs to a quirky family
7) Has a pivotal scene at a dance
8) And, like in all rom-coms, has a big misunderstanding followed by a big, mushy apology
You could definitely make a bingo game out of these tropes.
I had given Geekerella and The Princess and the Fangirl 5 stars each but felt I could only give Bookish and the Beast 4. I'm a book nerd like Rosie and adore Beauty and the Beast so maybe I was simply tired of reading the same formulaic book.
I was excited to receive a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
This was by far my favorite of the Once Upon a Con series so far. It helps that I love any romance that begins with a dog, especially if it continues with books.
Going into this book, I was very curious how Ashley Poston would manage to write a modern and realistic Beauty and the Beast retelling without it feeling forced, but she managed beautifully. Rosie and Vance initially meet at ExcelsiCon in masks (of the masked ball type, not the pandemic type), and while their connection is apparent, the details are sparce and they go their separate ways. It brilliantly created an underlying tension for the reader, leaving us on the edge of our seats and waiting for the moment they figured it all out.
Honestly, one of my favorite parts of the book was the Gaston character. Garrett was so incredibly unlikable, but also created the perfect foil to Vance, making it easier to see his positive characteristics by comparison. Both Vance and Rosie had compelling backstories, and while they had both suffered tragedies, they used they to shape their characters and create opportunities for growth.
There are some great cameos and references to characters from [b:Geekerella|30724132|Geekerella (Once Upon a Con, #1)|Ashley Poston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476734515l/30724132._SY75_.jpg|50652411] and [b:The Princess and the Fangirl|39725622|The Princess and the Fangirl (Once Upon a Con, #2)|Ashley Poston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542265229l/39725622._SY75_.jpg|61408547], bringing back some favorites, but this book certainly stands strongly on its own. I definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a nerdy, bookish romance. (Who doesn’t?!)
This was by far my favorite of the Once Upon a Con series so far. It helps that I love any romance that begins with a dog, especially if it continues with books.
Going into this book, I was very curious how Ashley Poston would manage to write a modern and realistic Beauty and the Beast retelling without it feeling forced, but she managed beautifully. Rosie and Vance initially meet at ExcelsiCon in masks (of the masked ball type, not the pandemic type), and while their connection is apparent, the details are sparce and they go their separate ways. It brilliantly created an underlying tension for the reader, leaving us on the edge of our seats and waiting for the moment they figured it all out.
Honestly, one of my favorite parts of the book was the Gaston character. Garrett was so incredibly unlikable, but also created the perfect foil to Vance, making it easier to see his positive characteristics by comparison. Both Vance and Rosie had compelling backstories, and while they had both suffered tragedies, they used they to shape their characters and create opportunities for growth.
There are some great cameos and references to characters from [b:Geekerella|30724132|Geekerella (Once Upon a Con, #1)|Ashley Poston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476734515l/30724132._SY75_.jpg|50652411] and [b:The Princess and the Fangirl|39725622|The Princess and the Fangirl (Once Upon a Con, #2)|Ashley Poston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542265229l/39725622._SY75_.jpg|61408547], bringing back some favorites, but this book certainly stands strongly on its own. I definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a nerdy, bookish romance. (Who doesn’t?!)