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A review by jessicaharleee
By the Book by Jasmine Guillory
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was equal parts cute and cringe. The references to Beauty & the Beast were not nearly as subtle or nuanced as the references to Cinderella in If The Shoe Fits. We get it, the house was enchanted in Beauty & the Beast but can’t be in real life, you don’t have to shove it down our throat once a chapter.
Also, Izzy is quite simply NOT like Belle. Belle is determined and headstrong and very confident in herself despite those in her town thinking she’s weird. Izzy does not come off confident or determined at all. And that’s okay! She was a likable enough character, but she did not have essentially any of Belle’s personality traits other than checking Beau when he was being an asshole.
Speaking of checking Beau when he was an asshole, not using the iconic line “Well, you should learn to control your temper!” from Beauty & the Beast was a MISSED OPPORTUNITY for a clever, relevant, and nuanced reference.
All in all, this ended up much better than it started and was surprisingly steamy for a book published by Disney utilizing their characters as inspiration [if the Eugene character doesn’t push the Rapunzel character up against the wall in Tangled Up in You, truly what has been the point?].
Also, Izzy is quite simply NOT like Belle. Belle is determined and headstrong and very confident in herself despite those in her town thinking she’s weird. Izzy does not come off confident or determined at all. And that’s okay! She was a likable enough character, but she did not have essentially any of Belle’s personality traits other than checking Beau when he was being an asshole.
Speaking of checking Beau when he was an asshole, not using the iconic line “Well, you should learn to control your temper!” from Beauty & the Beast was a MISSED OPPORTUNITY for a clever, relevant, and nuanced reference.
All in all, this ended up much better than it started and was surprisingly steamy for a book published by Disney utilizing their characters as inspiration [if the Eugene character doesn’t push the Rapunzel character up against the wall in Tangled Up in You, truly what has been the point?].