nblevine 's review for:

Beastly by Alex Flinn
3.0

In a society that places such value on the surface beauty of people and things, this classic story is never out-of-date. Kyle is the big man on campus at an exclusive private school in Manhattan. An upcoming dance offers him the temptation to indulge in vain, spoiled and entitled tendencies with a cruel stunt that backfires on him in ways he cannot imagine. When he angers a classmate who is really a witch she curses him... You know the deal. He is transformed into a hideous beast shunned by all, including a neglectful father. The blow is softened slightly by a wisp of hope that Kyle's transformation might end if in the next two years he finds true love.

Set in the present in NYC, this romantic tale is predictable but lovely. We know the ending but that does not interfere with enjoying the story as it unfolds. We recognize in Kyle people we know. We sympathize with him as he begins to learn the lessons of humility and compassion. We root for him as the friendship evolves. We applaud when the curse ends. This story is like comfort food; we return to stories we love again and again.