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A review by ihavetosay
By the Book by Jasmine Guillory
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
4/5 ⭐️
By the Book by Jasmine Guillory
Post as seen at ihavetosay.blog
SYNOPSIS
Isabelle (Izzy) loves books and writing and finally gets her dream job working in publishing. Between administrative duties, reading manuscripts, putting out fires with authors and their upcoming releases, and encouraging authors to meet their deadlines, Izzy is burnt out. She barely gets any acknowledgement of her hard work and is told that she wouldn’t be promoted by a colleague.
After overhearing a conversation her boss has about the celebrity client, Beau, who has been radio silent about his upcoming book despite Izzy’s cheerful emails, Izzy volunteers to pay him a visit, wanting to stay in California a little longer after the work conference. Only, Beau doesn’t want to see her when she shows up.
What could possibly happen?
MY RECAP AND REVIEW
This is a standalone book in a romance series that is written by different authors from my understanding. It is told in the third person with Isabelle being the main protagonist.
By the Book is a Beauty and the Beast retelling. Beau is the monster in the mansion, who has been reclusive since his scandals and father’s death. There are many references to the fairy tale, from Izzy talking to furniture to the yellow dress at the end. I thought the way the author ties in the fairy tale was thoughtful and I loved how intentional it was, though I could understand if people think it’s too on the nose.
Izzy is so relatable to me as a character. She’s a passionate hard worker that gets sobered by her job. So much so, that she questions why she loves it in the first place. Babbyyy why was I a little triggered?
Beau can be harsh, but overtime we learn why he acts the way he does. No spoilers! Izzy sees who he is past the facade. Their relationship develops organically by spending together. They encourage and are supportive of each other. At the end I almost cried. There is no third act break up, which is refreshing.
OVERALL
Overall, I give this a 4 out of 5 stars. I don’t have much to say about this one, except I loved it. It’s pretty straightforward and lighthearted, but this story had me thinking about and itching to finish it.
By the Book by Jasmine Guillory
Post as seen at ihavetosay.blog
SYNOPSIS
Isabelle (Izzy) loves books and writing and finally gets her dream job working in publishing. Between administrative duties, reading manuscripts, putting out fires with authors and their upcoming releases, and encouraging authors to meet their deadlines, Izzy is burnt out. She barely gets any acknowledgement of her hard work and is told that she wouldn’t be promoted by a colleague.
After overhearing a conversation her boss has about the celebrity client, Beau, who has been radio silent about his upcoming book despite Izzy’s cheerful emails, Izzy volunteers to pay him a visit, wanting to stay in California a little longer after the work conference. Only, Beau doesn’t want to see her when she shows up.
What could possibly happen?
MY RECAP AND REVIEW
This is a standalone book in a romance series that is written by different authors from my understanding. It is told in the third person with Isabelle being the main protagonist.
By the Book is a Beauty and the Beast retelling. Beau is the monster in the mansion, who has been reclusive since his scandals and father’s death. There are many references to the fairy tale, from Izzy talking to furniture to the yellow dress at the end. I thought the way the author ties in the fairy tale was thoughtful and I loved how intentional it was, though I could understand if people think it’s too on the nose.
Izzy is so relatable to me as a character. She’s a passionate hard worker that gets sobered by her job. So much so, that she questions why she loves it in the first place. Babbyyy why was I a little triggered?
Beau can be harsh, but overtime we learn why he acts the way he does. No spoilers! Izzy sees who he is past the facade. Their relationship develops organically by spending together. They encourage and are supportive of each other. At the end I almost cried. There is no third act break up, which is refreshing.
OVERALL
Overall, I give this a 4 out of 5 stars. I don’t have much to say about this one, except I loved it. It’s pretty straightforward and lighthearted, but this story had me thinking about and itching to finish it.