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A review by fruitbatwoman
The Misfit & the Beast by Vera Brook, Vera Brook
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
A modern, contemporary retelling of the original "Beauty and the Beast" for YA readers.
Main protagonist and "misfit" Abbey is torn between her feelings for two boys with opposite personalities: one seems like a prince on the outside, but is a cruel beast on the inside, while the other is branded a beast, but is a kind and caring person with a dark past. The romance developed quite quickly and somewhat predictably, but all the secrets, the different pitfalls of teenage angst, and the likable and relatable characters kept me turning the pages. I especially enjoyed the high school theater mixed in there, with Abby not being the main lead or even an actor, like in so many teenage dramas, but part of the costume crew.
The fluffy romance turned dark around the middle of the book, dealt with serious topics, and even had a few violent scenes, which resulted in an emotionally charged climax in which Abbey has to decide whether to follow her own path or comply with what her mother and her peers expect from her.
The writing was clear and made for a quick and easy read. My only slight complaint would be that I would have preferred less description for mundane things, and more depth in terms of the side character's feelings and motivations. Overall, I enjoyed this book and learned a lot about high school theater production!
*** I received an advance review copy by the author and I am leaving this review voluntarily. ***
Main protagonist and "misfit" Abbey is torn between her feelings for two boys with opposite personalities: one seems like a prince on the outside, but is a cruel beast on the inside, while the other is branded a beast, but is a kind and caring person with a dark past. The romance developed quite quickly and somewhat predictably, but all the secrets, the different pitfalls of teenage angst, and the likable and relatable characters kept me turning the pages. I especially enjoyed the high school theater mixed in there, with Abby not being the main lead or even an actor, like in so many teenage dramas, but part of the costume crew.
The fluffy romance turned dark around the middle of the book, dealt with serious topics, and even had a few violent scenes, which resulted in an emotionally charged climax in which Abbey has to decide whether to follow her own path or comply with what her mother and her peers expect from her.
The writing was clear and made for a quick and easy read. My only slight complaint would be that I would have preferred less description for mundane things, and more depth in terms of the side character's feelings and motivations. Overall, I enjoyed this book and learned a lot about high school theater production!
*** I received an advance review copy by the author and I am leaving this review voluntarily. ***
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death