A modern take of Beauty & The Beast! *squeeee*
So this book was very cute. I love Jasmine's books and this one was a goodie! I read Royal Holiday over Christmas and realized this was the girl for me. When reading Jasmine's book you can get a few things. You're going to get wholesome, romantic, and warm. That's what I was feeling when I read this book. I liked the modern take on B&TB. Can a book be similar to other books an author has done but....not? I think so because this one was a bit more romance driven and bit more cornball. I like cornball it makes me giggle.

Thank you to Disney Publishing Worldwide and NetGalley for this ARC copy to review. This book was a pleasure to read from start to finish. I was in the mood for a modern fairy tale and the author delivered. The book was cleverly written with endearing characters throughout the plot. There were many slight nods throughout the story which alluded to elements from the beloved fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast. For me, those magical elements were the icing on the cake. It was cheesy and fun, and I smiled the whole way through this book!!

You know what my favourite story of all time is? Based on the subject of this book review you’re probably guessing Beatuy and the Beast and if so you would be right. When a retelling is done well, in whatever capacity, I will find something to love about it. What matters to me is that the heart of the story remains intact.

With Jasmine Guillory’s By The Book, the second fairy tale retelling in Disney’s Meant To Be series, she manages to preserve everything that makes this story my favourite, while putting her own unexpected spin on the classic tale of a beauty and a beast falling in love. I guess things can be ever just the same and also ever a surprise after all.

By The Books follows editorial assistant Isabelle Marlowe, whose love of books has driven her to a career in publishing. Unfortunately, after two years at her current place of work, it doesnt look like a promotion to assistant editor is in the cards for her. While in LA for a conference, she is determined to prove herself to her famously stingy-with-praise boss. Izzy volunteers to head out to Santa Barbara and check up on reclusive celebrity Beau Towers, whose memoir her boss acquired for a large sum, and see what has stalled progress on the book.

On arrival, Beau Towers is less than pleased to see her. Because Izzy doesn’t give up, Beau agrees to continue working on the book on one condition: that Izzy be his guest and move into his palatial home for a month to help him work through whatever is holding him up. Despite the beastly attitude, Izzy agrees.

Like If The Shoe Fits, By The Book is inspired heavily by Disney’s version of the story. Little winks and nods, with references to characters or song lyrics are sprinkled throughout. What impressed me most, however, was how the fantasy fairy tale aspects of the story were adapted to suit a modern context.

The conflicts between Izzy and Beau are not driven by external factors - no, there is no wolf chase in this version - but instead purely by their personalities and personal frustrations coming into conflict. Pain in Beau’s past makes him lash out at Izzy, while Izzy’s own self-doubt makes her push Beau instead of pushing herself.

An intriguing change in adaptation is the way Guillory handles the Gaston character, here named Gavin. Rather than posing him as a toxic rival for Izzy’s affections, Guillory makes him out to be what Gaston always was at the core: a man no one says no to, with behaviour that too often gets swept under the rug and is only flagged as a problem by those not in a position of power.

In the absence of a household of enchanted beings pushing for them to get together - other than Beau’s assistant Michaela, who is no object, but certainly works magic in the kitchen - it comes purely down to Izzy and Beau to discover something there that wasn’t there before.

The best Beauty and the Beast adaptations come with a certain degree of honesty and communication between the central pair. Nothing is left to linger in the rom-com world of misunderstandings and miscommunication. Instead, their sweet, slow-burn romance comes with a healthy dose of trust and genuine friendship.

Also, I say this as a general warning: do not - I repeat, do not - read this book on an empty stomach. The same holds true for any of Jasmine Guillory’s work, really. The woman enjoys baking and it shows.

By The Book is an absolute must for fans of the Disney film, for book lovers who love reading about books, and for anyone in the mood for a gentle, heartwarming tale about two people finding they can change for the right reasons, and falling in love along the way.

By the Book is available May 3, 2022.

Special thanks to Disney Books and Hyperion Avenue for the advance copy for review purposes.

What I LOVED about this book was the twist on how these two met and fell in love. The modern Beauty and the Beast retelling with a focus on publishing made for a great backstory, and I loved how these characters met along the book writing process and grew both on their own and together as time went on.

Izzy's love for books and role in the publishing industry made this story for me, I wanted to BE her in her desire to work hard in her job all for the love of books, while finding her passion and way in the world. Thrown together with Beau, one of her authors who has a troubled past and a past-due memoir, she suddenly finds herself living in his home and forced to work with him if she wants to keep her job.

"Was this one of those limited-time, fairy-tale romances, one of the ones that happened because of a castle and a curse and lots of magic, but that would vanish when real life started again?"

For me, I felt like the book was lacking some of the banter and romance that I've come to love and expect from Guillory after reading her other romance books. I have been so excited for each of these Disney retellings, knowing that they're being written by some of my favorite authors. After If The Shoe Fits had so much of Julie's typical writing style in the story, I was hoping in By The Book Jasmine's would be similar to her other works, but this one seemed so different than what I was expecting. Without really knowing the direction the story would take place for this retelling, I was left feeling like I was waiting for something a little more.

Pick this one up if you'd love a modern-day Belle and Beast love story with a twist, even with the minor complaint I still enjoyed this book a lot and cannot wait to hear what the next in the series will be! Thank you Disney Books + NetGalley for the advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review of one of my most anticipated reads!

By the Book by Jasmine Gulliroy
A special thanks to Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for the arc of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ever wonder what your favorite fairytale would be like in today’s world? Jasmine Guillory writes a super cute rom-com with little hints of Beauty and The Beast mixed in. After two years of working and assistant in a publishing house Isabelle Marlowe Has hit a rough patch. She’s completely stressed out on her job and her life. While at a conference in Los Angeles she volunteers to head to Santa Barbara to deal with a difficult writer who has promised a memoir.
Beau Towers is the son of a famous director and play write in Hollywood. After a very messy public scene at his father’s funeral he goes into hiding in Santa Barbara. What starts a strictly business and helping him write his memoir turns in to a friendship with the potential for more. But much like the Beast his temper gets in the way. Will Isabelle be able to handle his meanness or will Beau change his ways?
It’s a charming romcom from one of the Queens of modern romance books!

"I don't understand how this is Beauty & the Beast," my roommate said as I explained the book to her.
"Well, he's grumpy and she loves books and they're in this beautiful house together..."
"Yeah, but that's kind of it. It's missing everything else."

What does a book need to be a Beauty & the Beast retelling? This book gives us an out of place Shakespeare-nod of a title, a lot of obviousness, some sweetness, absolutely nothing beyond kissing on page, a weird "is it magic, madness, or imagination?", and an innocent way to pass the time. While there are numerous Disney references in the book, they're all light as a feather. What depth exists at all is in our Beast, Beau, working through his past with the book editor who won't take no for an answer, and mostly he comes off as a man-child that Izzy teaches to be a functional adult.

This is a wholesome, quick love story. A beach read that sometimes even takes place on a beach. It's more Disney than Pixar, which isn't a bad thing as long as you know what you're getting going into it.

I didn’t realize this was a part of a series when I requested this book. I just saw one of my favorite contemporary romance authors wrote a beauty and the beast retelling and I was all for reading
it. I appreciated the fun and charm of a modern day retailing especially since Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairytale. but it just didn’t work for me. Maybe if things hadn’t been too on-the-nose or tried to be too cute, it would have worked better.

I didn't get very far into this book before I had to dnf. This book had one of the most Wattpad style writing I have ever seen. I was excited for the plot of the book but couldn't get past how annoying the characters were. All the damn exclamation points was just childish writing. I know this author has written books before and I wonder if they are any better. But for this book I have to dnf or I would give this book a one star.

Super rocky start, but it pulled through in the end. Solid 3.5 stars, rounded up.

I do wish the characters besides Beau and Isabelle felt a little more flushed out, though.

I have read and loved almost all of Jasmine Guillory’s books, so came into By the Book with excitement and anticipation. A sweet albeit predictable plot, but I was unfortunately disappointed by its lack of her characteristic spark and funny banter. I struggled getting through it, and had to pick it up and lost interest numerous times. Hoping the next one is better!

This book was ok. I didn’t realize it was part of a series. The main characters personality got on my nerves at times but it was a cute romance. I loved that it involved writing and books.It was an easy quick read.

At twenty-five and still living at home, Izzy’s life hasn’t exactly turned out the way it thought she would. She is the only black employee at her job at the publishing house where she works too hard and doesn’t get paid enough. She teeters between being assertive and remaining quiet.

However, when she overhears that Beau Towers, a very successful, hard to work with author has not delivered his anticipated manuscript, she thinks this is her ticket to bigger and better things. After numerous pep talks and Izzy’s help, Beau is able to finish his manuscript.

All this time spent together made them both realize how alike they are and romance ultimately blooms.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

By the Book is a cute, fast and easy installment in this series of fairy tale retellings by Disney pub. The books and writing revival of Beauty and the Beast will make your Disney loving and bookish heart happy. However, if you are grabbing this book having read Guillory's other romances, do not expect anything at all the same. This book has almost none of her typical sass and banter and is completely closed door. It's cute and fun and almost YA.

this lands at 3.5 for me. I enjoyed it, but would have liked to have felt more for the characters and would have rather been a little bit more invested in the story.

Call it fan fiction or a modern retelling, Izzy and Beau are a fairy tale couple in the world of publishing. A magical bookish tale about the Beauty of writing books and the Beastly action of writing them to completion! Perfect for bookworms with a romantic spirit and lovers of happily ever afters.

I enjoyed this sweet book. It sweeps us off to a Santa Barbara mansion with a dream library and a sweet, dreamy “beast”. Of course Beau was clearly not much of a beast.Even from the start I could see his huge heart. This book tackles that feeling of getting stuck that most people experience at some point, although Izzy is stuck herself she manages to help Beau pull himself out of his own quick sand. The mood is comfy, cozy as Izzy and Beau bond over snacking and watching tv together. They went from just barely enemies to friends, to more over 7 weeks. I could feel their connection growing. This is definitely a very slow burn but I was ok with that. The spice was behind the scenes and that was ok too. I was just caught up in their sweetness. The beauty and the beast touches were nice as well. Great book.

Izzy is disenchanted with the publishing career she thought would be a perfect fit after graduating. She is overworked and underpaid as an editorial assistant with no promotion in sight, wondering if maybe she made a mistake in her career choice. She also has the added frustration of being the only black employee at her publishing house causing her to feel lost and alone. After overhearing her boss complaining about a high-profile author (Beau Towers) and his long-awaited manuscript, she offers to go to his house to check in with him in person. Maybe this will get her a promotion.

Celebrity Beau Towers is closed off, angry, lost, and withdrawn. He doesn't know how to write the memoir he promised. As Izzy encourages and coaches him, the writing takes off. They discover they are a great team, friends, and maybe even more.

The side characters Micheala and Priya were wonderful. Especially Priya, I would love to read about her. Does she have a romance in her future?

This is a sweet, clean romance and a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It started a little slow but picked up and had me smiling as I read it. I ended up delighting in the characters and how they grew. Izzy learns to speak up for herself and ask for what she wants. Beau gains confidence in his writing, writes a wonderful memoir, and repairs important relationships. He learns how to build and repair relationships instead of destroying them. The romance between Izzy and Beau feels real.

This is my first Jasmine Guillory novel but it won't be my last. I loved the way the characters grew and developed. I enjoyed the sweet and tender romance that developed between Izzy and Beau.

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Books/Hyperion Ave for giving me an ARC. I truly enjoyed it!

I absolutely loved this book! It was a little slow at first, but then I really got a chance to really enjoy this awesome Rom-Com. It gave re-telling vibes, but from a cute and wanting to know more perspective. Books that includes a plot about books steals my heart each and every time! The book discusses the book industry and the unfairness of publishing which is really coincidental or fact based because many writers of color are not getting the same publicity as other writers of non- color.
Overall, the book was able to develop the romance while keeping the readers attention and of course who doesn't love Jasmine Guillory?

I appreciate the fun and charm of an adaptation or modern retelling as much as the next gal, but I was sadly disappointed with this one. I think if things hadn’t been too on-the-nose or tried to be too cute, it would have worked better.

This is a Beauty and the Beast story with Izzy (Isabelle but thankfully not Belle) sent to sequester with Beau as she attempts to squeeze a long overdue memoir out of him. She’s leaves an unsatisfying job in a gloomy and cold NYC for the light, bright, and rich lifestyle in California.

What I liked: little nuanced references like publishing companies called Tale As Old As Time and Maurice and wearing a yellow dress on their last night together, getting creative with showing the depth behind the beastly Beau

What I didn’t like: repeated references to Izzy talking to furniture or snacks or Beau saying “Be my guest” at their first meal…all very too wink, wink, nudge, nudge for me. Also just plain not enough steam or passion for me. It makes it harder for me to get behind these whirlwind romances.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

TW: death of a parent, gaslighting

A charming take on Beauty and the Beast, full of Easter eggs for fans of the Disney movie. (Izzy works at Tale as Old as Time publishing, all of the books mentioned are lines from songs in the movie, etc.) Restless editorial assistant Isabelle talks her boss into letting her go to a reluctant celebrity memoir author’s house and encouraging him to work on his book. But Beau Towers is nothing like she expected. Instead of a vapid, vain celebrity, he’s withdrawn and hurting (also young and attractive). As she convinces him to write the truth about his life, he inspires her to make some changes in her own.

As a reader and librarian, I love books about books and writers. Guillory is clearly telling some truths about what it’s like to be a writer. I wouldn’t have minded seeing more of what happens next for Izzy and Beau.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

This was my first novel by Jasmine Guillory. I loved loved loved the premise of a book about books. In this novel, Isabelle , a young Black woman (picture Gabrielle Union ) working for a publisher in New York City. She has been corresponding with Beau, a young Black man and son of two celebrities, about his memoir, which is way over due! Isabelle's boss wants Isabelle to get Beau to turn in the pages or the contract will be cancelled.

This is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. In this story, the beauty is Isabelle "Izzy" instead of "Belle" and the "beast" is Beau despite his good looks because of his "bad boy" image. There is also the vibe of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice in this story,

This is a romantic fairytale of two people who meet and fall in love, despite the obstacles. I loved Isabelle's friend Priya and Beau's colleague Michaela. There is a villain, though it is not obvious at first. I do not want to give away spoilers here.

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Books / Hypericon (sp?) Books for giving me the opportunity to read this beautiful book.

Content Warning: Toxic work environment, Death of a loved one (off pages before the story started)

Rating: Loved It, 4.5 stars

This is the second book in the Meant to Be series that retells the stories of Disney princesses as adult romance novels. The first book If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy told Cinderella's story, and By the Book by Jasmine Guillory retells Beauty and the Beast.

This book is about Isabelle, a woman working in a difficult, low-level job in a publishing house who wrangles an assignment to help the reclusive Beau Towers write his long-over due memoir. She ends up living with him in his home and helping him work past his difficulties and fear in writing this memoir. Along the way, they go from adversarial colleagues, to friends, to lovers, much like in the Disney film.

I ended up really liking the characters in this. As I was in the middle portion of the book, I didn't realize how much I enjoyed them and their relationship until I got closer to the end and was able to see the pay-off and the sweet conversations. I thought that their relationship was just sweet in general, and I loved the sincerity in it.

Honestly, I went into this book hearing some middling reviews of it, so my expectations were pretty low, but I loved it! Not an all-time favorite, but it was such a sweet story! I feel like the references to the source material were a little heavy handed at times, but other times it was just sort of fun to pick up on them all. So I went back and forth on how I felt about it. I really liked the more subtle references though, like the yellow sundress and a kindly stewardess named Angela on her flight.

There is some kissing on page, but it is definitely a fade to black type of romance, and it ends up just being such a sweet romance. I thought that the conflict was handled excellently, and I actually enjoyed all the writing tidbits that we got to see. I felt like in the middle there may have been a little too much focus on this rather than on their relationship, but it actually ended up working really well.

Overall, a delightful read and one I am glad to have picked up. I will definitely continue in this series and will pick up other books by Jasmine Guillory. Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for early access to the eARC in exchange for an honest review. By the Book releases on 5/3/22.