A review by thenovelmaura
Beauty And The Besharam by Lillie Vale

funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Thank you so much to Penguin Teen for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! It pains me a bit to write this review because this is the type of book that I normally fall in love with (see Perfectly Parvin by Olivia Abtahi and TJ Powar Has Something to Prove by Jesmeen Kaur Deo). Honestly, all the stars for the diverse cast of characters (Indian American lead and Korean American love interest, perfection), the realistic flaws, the supportive friends, and the overarching message of self-acceptance. Kavya's relationship with her sister, Simran, was one of my favorite parts of the book; it was so sweet seeing them grow closer by acknowledging each other's strengths.

I probably would have loved this one without reservation if I were reading it as a teen or a generally more patient person. It's a stretch to call this a retelling despite the title and numerous references to different fairy tales. Especially toward the end, the writing was so repetitive that I found myself slogging through page after page of fairy tale analogies, continuously surprised when my Kindle still had 30% remaining. With some tighter editing I think this book would have been amazing. (I also found it kind of pandering to make Kavya a Bookstagrammer; based on her age it would make more sense for her to be a BookToker, if anything.) Please don't let me steer you away from this book, especially if there's a teen in your life who might enjoy it! It's still incredibly important representation and I'm glad teen girls will now have Kavya to remind them that they're never "too much."
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