The tropes in this book are some of my fave, enemies to lovers and the grumpy vs sunshine. I think that the chemistry between the characters was well done, and I appreciated that they both felt like real people. I would recommend this to other adults that enjoy Disney and would have fun with a retelling.

I unfortunately did not connect with this story so after about 25% i decided to put it down. There was a slight disconnect between the writing, the characters and the plot and for that it just did not work for me.

Fairy-tale retellings? Yes, please. I will take them all. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

this was cute & a very quick, easy read. the 'beauty & the beast' elements were fun to find. it felt very sanitized & PG, like jasmine guillory was holding back. i know she can do better than this!

I thought this was a nice refreshing romance that hada good bit of charcter development. Its about a young woman in the publishing world who is supportive and determined. She is underappreciated at ther job and the relationship she has with a former tabloid star starts to blosson into something more. This is a fade to Black romance and I felt that I appreciated that a little bit in a world where it seems like all reacently published romance books rear on the side of erotica.

This was a cute and easy read, I found it enjoyable, likable and a good way to spend a couple of hours. I think the characters were easy and so was the prose

By the Book was absolutely delightful! It brought just the burst of joy I needed this week. I found both Izzy and Beau to be incredibly engaging characters that felt well-developed and true to life. Guillory’s Wedding Date series already made her an ‘automatic purchase’ author for me, but this book confirmed it.

I really like most of Jasmine's other books, and I am a Beauty and the Beast lover! But this one just didn't do it for me. I tried both eyeball reading it and listening and I couldn't get further than 25%. It weirdly didn't feel like a Jasmine Guillory book, lacking a lot of the quick and witty writing that I usually expect from her.

I love a good bookish/publishing plot, and this one was no different. I liked the character, setting, circumstances, and the love interest dynamic. It's hard not to love this one, and the retelling hits all the best points.

*By the Book: A Meant to Be Novel* by Jasmine Guillory is a delightful romance that reimagines the "enemies to lovers" trope. Set in the publishing world, it follows a book-loving heroine who falls for a charming but challenging celebrity author. With witty dialogue and heartfelt moments, Gullory's signature warmth makes this a must-read for contemporary romance fans.

Modern Beauty and the Beast

By the Book by Jasmine Guillory is a charming and heartwarming retelling of Beauty and the Beast that will appeal to fans of contemporary romance and fairy tale re-imaginings. Its well-drawn characters, engaging themes, and witty writing make it a worthwhile addition to any romance reader's bookshelf.

3-3.5/5 stars.
It was a perfectly cute and imaginative retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I enjoyed the main characters but felt still like there was something lacking in their depth. I also didn’t care for the ending. It just felt too rushed.

I’ve read so many of Jasmine’s books and always love how different they feel to other contemporary romances. Which is saying a lot because i love the romances I read that are but more colloquial. But this one had a signature charm and fun thoughtful characters. I like to rate based of enjoyment and this one was a little hard to get through in the usual time that I spend on reading. Overall, always great writing and fun story.

This was such a cute romantic read. Jasmine Guillory really is able to pull on heartstrings. Her characters are always unique so I can tell when I am reading a book by her. Thank you for this copy, sorry for the late review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hyperion Avenue.
I ultimately really enjoyed By the Book, but I kept wanting "more" while reading -- more tension, more sex, more character development and background, etc. That said, I really loved Izzy's internal monologue, but some parts seemed to drag, especially in the middle.

A fun romp and I always enjoy a good book about books and the people who love them. There could have been a little more character building, but it was fun anyway!

Loved this take on Beauty and the Beast, maybe even as much as the original movie. It was so sweet and charming, with a fresh voice brought to the story.

This was such a fun read! I loved the Beauty & the Beast references. They were so cute without being over the top. And hello, talk about a slow burn!!! I couldn't wait for these two to admit their feelings for each other! When they finally did, WOO it was great. Overall, this was a super sweet book that I really enjoyed reading.

A must-read for any Beauty and the Beast fan. It was a very cute retelling with lots of book and publishing things thrown in. The slow burn element to this romance was a bit too slow in my opinion. I wanted them to realize their feelings a lot sooner. The character development was incredible though. I just loved all the bookish references.

Jasmine Guillory is always a must read for me and I’m glad I didn’t miss this one! I knew it would be right up my alley when I saw it was a modern twist on Beauty and the Beast. I’m excited to read the other books in this series! Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!