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carrieirwin 's review for:
Bookish and the Beast
by Ashley Poston
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?!)