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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
*4.5
Really cute and all the characters were really lovable, even Rosie's dad. The book was a little predictable here and there but it didn't take away from the story.
Really cute and all the characters were really lovable, even Rosie's dad. The book was a little predictable here and there but it didn't take away from the story.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Definitely not the best book in the Once Upon A Con series, but it was still a fun way to finish off this cute young adult, fairy tale retelling romance series. There were enough cute moments of this story that kept me engaged enough to finish the book and Ashley Poston's writing always makes for a good reading experience, but a lot of the plot elements did not work for me.
Bookish and the Beast is a Beauty and the Beast retelling in the same vein that Geekerella is a Cinderella retelling and The Princess and the Fangirl is a Prince and the Pauper retelling. But while I remember the singular plot elements that are sprinkled through the book really worked and were clever on Ashley Poston's part, I didn't feel that way for this final installment. This book was trying too hard to fit into the Beauty and the Beast story, but it just fell flat and felt so forced. I was confused why the Gaston character, Garrett, was interested in Rosie other than to have a Gaston character. I didn't love how all the characters were placed within this story, like I think Elias is supposed to be Cogsworth and Ms. Potts is just some diner owner, and where is Lumiere??? Even the little quotes (i.e. "far off places, daring, sword fights, a princes in disguise." "yeah, i kind of figured that out by chapter three.") from the 1991 Disney movie felt disingeious with the rest ofthe dialouge.
Apart from the Beauty and the Beast stuff, there were a lot of other things that I just didn't vibe with. The entire Once Upon A Con series is very modern and "with the times" in a way that I don't think these books will hold up even ten years from now, but while I didn't hate it as much in Geekerella and The Princess and the Fangirl, I did find it glaring and annoying in Bookish and the Beast and I think the main reason for that is because I did not care for Rosie or Vance. They both fell flat for me in ways Dairen/Elle and Jessica/Imogen did not. I didn't care for their romance and honestly, I didn't really believe it either. I know Ashley Poston was trying to make a villain romance story, but I feel to do that successfully, the story needs to be longer than 280 pages. With the story being that short, it makes all those great moments (forced proximity, character A gets hurt and character B fixes them up, that first kiss that comes from such a force of annoyed passion) feel rushed. Even the third-act breakup scene is soooo copy/paste that I just skimmed it because I knew exactly what was going to happen and did not care for any of it.Also don't get me started on breaking up Darien and Elle, never touching on what the fuck is happening there, and then just saying theuy're back together at the end. What was that? How was any of that necessary?? If we're not going to do anything good and nice with them, then leave them alone. They only deserve peace.
I know that I am no longer the target audience for these books anymore, but I am glad I finished the series. And even though I did not enjoy this final book, I still love Ashley Poston's writing more than anything and I cannot wait to read her newer adult romances. Goodbye to Exelcicon and hello to adult responsibilites and big 't' trauma.
Bookish and the Beast is a Beauty and the Beast retelling in the same vein that Geekerella is a Cinderella retelling and The Princess and the Fangirl is a Prince and the Pauper retelling. But while I remember the singular plot elements that are sprinkled through the book really worked and were clever on Ashley Poston's part, I didn't feel that way for this final installment. This book was trying too hard to fit into the Beauty and the Beast story, but it just fell flat and felt so forced. I was confused why the Gaston character, Garrett, was interested in Rosie other than to have a Gaston character. I didn't love how all the characters were placed within this story, like I think Elias is supposed to be Cogsworth and Ms. Potts is just some diner owner, and where is Lumiere??? Even the little quotes (i.e. "far off places, daring, sword fights, a princes in disguise." "yeah, i kind of figured that out by chapter three.") from the 1991 Disney movie felt disingeious with the rest ofthe dialouge.
Apart from the Beauty and the Beast stuff, there were a lot of other things that I just didn't vibe with. The entire Once Upon A Con series is very modern and "with the times" in a way that I don't think these books will hold up even ten years from now, but while I didn't hate it as much in Geekerella and The Princess and the Fangirl, I did find it glaring and annoying in Bookish and the Beast and I think the main reason for that is because I did not care for Rosie or Vance. They both fell flat for me in ways Dairen/Elle and Jessica/Imogen did not. I didn't care for their romance and honestly, I didn't really believe it either. I know Ashley Poston was trying to make a villain romance story, but I feel to do that successfully, the story needs to be longer than 280 pages. With the story being that short, it makes all those great moments (forced proximity, character A gets hurt and character B fixes them up, that first kiss that comes from such a force of annoyed passion) feel rushed. Even the third-act breakup scene is soooo copy/paste that I just skimmed it because I knew exactly what was going to happen and did not care for any of it.
I know that I am no longer the target audience for these books anymore, but I am glad I finished the series. And even though I did not enjoy this final book, I still love Ashley Poston's writing more than anything and I cannot wait to read her newer adult romances. Goodbye to Exelcicon and hello to adult responsibilites and big 't' trauma.
DMF @65%
Oh gosh... So so plain, the characters are flat, no chemistry between the couple whatsoever, the plot is uninteresting as hell (no offence to hell) and the titular "bookish"?! please...
Oh gosh... So so plain, the characters are flat, no chemistry between the couple whatsoever, the plot is uninteresting as hell (no offence to hell) and the titular "bookish"?! please...
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
So disappointed. I really loved "A Novel Love Story" so I went back and requested all of the authors prior works but this one fell flat. Perhaps it is because this is a teenage love story. Much more basic.
adventurous
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
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
lighthearted
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:
No
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting
This book was cute. The fact that they were fixing up a library made my book loving heart happy. ❤️
This book was fine. If you are a sucker for cutesy romances at all times, I have no doubt you will probably devour this book happily. But personally, this was the weakest book in the series.
I am going to preface this by saying that I am not a huge 'cutesy' contemporary YA romance reader. But up until this point Poston has surprised and captured me with her Once Upon a Con series. Alas, all goods things must come to an end.
Up until this book, the books have been paced really well - quick and engaging, loads of fun and quirky moments. While Bookish and the Beast still retains that quirky style of writing, it is much slower. Both in plot and the romance. Which is just something that just does not work for me.
On top of that, this book seemed to rely much more heavily on typical YA tropes i.e. enemies to lovers, misunderstood bad guy. I don't have a thing against tropes, but this felt like just a typical copy & paste YA, with nerd references thrown in.
Again, if these tropes and romance is your thing - pick it up! But this book just wasn't the one for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I am going to preface this by saying that I am not a huge 'cutesy' contemporary YA romance reader. But up until this point Poston has surprised and captured me with her Once Upon a Con series. Alas, all goods things must come to an end.
Up until this book, the books have been paced really well - quick and engaging, loads of fun and quirky moments. While Bookish and the Beast still retains that quirky style of writing, it is much slower. Both in plot and the romance. Which is just something that just does not work for me.
On top of that, this book seemed to rely much more heavily on typical YA tropes i.e. enemies to lovers, misunderstood bad guy. I don't have a thing against tropes, but this felt like just a typical copy & paste YA, with nerd references thrown in.
Again, if these tropes and romance is your thing - pick it up! But this book just wasn't the one for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!