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A review by teeturnedthepage
By the Book by Jasmine Guillory
5.0
Jasmine Guillory has done it again! She has uplifted Black women in romance for the upteenth time and I am so happy to have added this book to my list of five star reviews for all that it meant to me. This sly retelling of Beauty and the Beast was a breath of fresh air!
Izzy is such a bright young woman who is living on a carousel. She has fallen into the habit of going to work and not being excited about somewhere that used to be her dream job. But throughout the novel, we watch her blossom into the next chapter of her life. We watch her go from being scared of her dreams to facing them head on. We read her pep talks to Beau in the library and figure out that she’s kind of talking to herself too. For me, it felt like she was talking to me as well. As a woman who is also young, gifted, and Black, I also find myself giving into the lies of imposter syndrome. Izzy rediscovered so much about herself and learned so much more.
And BEAUREGARD was a delight to see grow too. The choices he made to better himself were so rewarding. He chose to show up everyday in the library not only for himself, but for Izzy. He displayed such a pertinent level of vulnerability in the stories he told Izzy, the actions behind his words, and the intentions behind it all. SHOUTOUT TO BLACK MEN IN THERAPY WORKING TO BE BETTER!
I was a little hesitant about 75% through the book because there wasn’t much romance happening, but I’m so glad I kept reading because the ending was so rewarding. Easily a five star read. Read between the lines!
Izzy is such a bright young woman who is living on a carousel. She has fallen into the habit of going to work and not being excited about somewhere that used to be her dream job. But throughout the novel, we watch her blossom into the next chapter of her life. We watch her go from being scared of her dreams to facing them head on. We read her pep talks to Beau in the library and figure out that she’s kind of talking to herself too. For me, it felt like she was talking to me as well. As a woman who is also young, gifted, and Black, I also find myself giving into the lies of imposter syndrome. Izzy rediscovered so much about herself and learned so much more.
And BEAUREGARD was a delight to see grow too. The choices he made to better himself were so rewarding. He chose to show up everyday in the library not only for himself, but for Izzy. He displayed such a pertinent level of vulnerability in the stories he told Izzy, the actions behind his words, and the intentions behind it all. SHOUTOUT TO BLACK MEN IN THERAPY WORKING TO BE BETTER!
I was a little hesitant about 75% through the book because there wasn’t much romance happening, but I’m so glad I kept reading because the ending was so rewarding. Easily a five star read. Read between the lines!