I absolutely adore Jasmine Guillory, but I could not get into this book. I feel like I've seen a ton of books recently about authors/writing/publishing, and I am just over this as a main topic for a book.

Thank you so much @DisneyBooks & @NetGalley for giving me this eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 03 May 2022)

SYNOPSIS | Izzy works at Tale As Old As Time publishing house & has been tasked with helping one of their reclusive writers (Beau) to finish their memoir as he is several months behind.

WHAT I LIKED:
- I appreciated Izzy's love of books (as it nicely reflects Belle's interests)

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- the story focuses too much on the writing process rather than the budding romance between Belle & Beau (there was zero chemistry)
- the references to Beauty & the Beast were too on the nose for me
- where was all of the witty banter & tension & "will they / won't they" moments?!
- so many descriptions of food & snacks that just didn't add anything to the story

Isabelle is completely and utterly lost. Stuck in a dead end role, doing work she doesn’t love, getting paid way too little, and working way too hard. So when the opportunity presents itself for Isabelle to wow her boss, she has to take it. Even if that means knocking on the door of her celebrity would be memoir writer, Beau. The very same one with a bad reputation and a penchant for ignoring all of her emails. But Isabelle is committed to helping Beau get his memoir on paper. In the process, Isabelle might find that she shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.

So this is actually my first Jasmine Guillory book and it absolutely did not disappoint!!

Is there anything better than a relatable female main character? And is there ANY twenty something who doesn’t feel lost in real life?? How refreshing to actually connect with a character on that front. How refreshing to actually feel seen??

And BEAU oh BEAU!! A cinnamon roll hero if I ever saw one!! And god just love the growth that came through with Beau in particular. I loved seeing a male character that had so much emotion and went to therapy and just grew so much throughout the book! Incredible to see.

Overall, I loved the two characters together. I loved how focused the book was on books and reading! As a book lover, the library absolutely thrilled me. And I loved the little parts where the Beauty and the Beast references were found. It wasn’t an overwhelming retelling, so the little hints were such a sweet addition.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hyperion Avenue, and Jasmine Guillory for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This might be my favorite Guillory book! I'm a sucker for a Beauty & the Beast retelling and this one felt so unique. I was automatically swept up in it & loved the characters so much!

I usually love Jasmine Guillory books but this one just didn't work for me. I did not see the connection between the two main characters and found the storyline rushed. "Beauty and the Beast" is one of my favorite fairy tales and this retelling fell flat for me.

I didn’t want it to end! Jasmine created such a relatable main character! Although you somewhat know how this book is going to end, it was an enjoyable read.

Guillory does it again! All of her books bring a great story, romance, some drama and By the Book was no different. I loved the fairytale aspect and felt interest throughout the entire book. Bravo!

Sweet and light and lovely. Jasmine Guillory is so talented at writing dialog and loveable characters. It was easy to get into the story and allow for the usual Romance genre contrivances because I like Izzy & Beau and wanted a good story for them.

NetGalley provided an ARC of By the Book (Meant to Be #2). Publication date: May 3, 2022.

By the Book lived up to the expectation of the Meant To Be series. I loved this retelling of Beauty and the Beast, especially because it felt really fresh and didn't fall into harmful tropes. All the characters were really relatable, and I appreciated that this romance novel took on some heavy topics related to trauma and mental abuse. This book is a perfect sweet summer read, and I'm excited to read more retellings in this series.

🌹 By the Book 📖
by Jasmine Guillory

✌️ The second installment in the #meanttobe series is here and what a delightfully done retelling on a classic fairy tale it is! I absolutely loved getting lost in Isabelle’s world, where she is an overworked and underappreciated assistant editor for a publishing company. Isabelle is trying to make a name for herself, so after weeks of unsuccessful email contact with a high-profile celebrity writing his first memoir, she volunteers to make a face-to-face appearance to get some traction on this overdue manuscript. 

I appreciated how Guillory stayed true to the classic tale by centering the story around the love of books and reading, and the gradual progression of Isabelle and Beau’s relationship. Gotta give her some extra points too for creating a little magic and working in references to inanimate objects (like Mrs Potts and Chip in Beauty and the Beast).  

I adored the POC main character rep and how the author incorporated important themes like Isabelle’s toxic work culture/burnout and experiencing microaggressions in the workplace into the storyline. And while this was a closed door romance, I found the chemistry between Isabelle and Beau to be perfectly steamy, not quite YA but pretty close in my opinion, and right in line with the first book in the series. 

🏝 This is a perfect escape for any Beauty and the Beast fan (as book lovers, aren’t we all?!) I highly recommend you grab a copy for a lazy pool day or soaking up summer sun. 

📚 Thanks to Hyperion and Netgalley for the early digital copy of the book and the digital Book Club Kit. There is an accompanying Book Club Kit available for this and If the Shoe Fits, which includes notes to readers, Author Interview, Discussion Questions, Cover Designer Interview, some recipes and a few fun exercises and next read recommendations. It also gave a sneak peek that the third installment will be Kiss the Girl, brought to us by ZORAIDA CORDOVA next summer and I absolutely cannot wait!

By the Book is the second novel in the Meant to Be series. This is a series of Adult Romance companion novels that are modern re-imaginings of well-loved fairy tales. Each book is written by a different author and features its own cast of unique characters. These books do not need to be read in order. With that minor bit of business out of the way, let's get into this story, shall we?

By the Book is Jasmine Guillory's modern-take on the classic Beauty and the Beast; think the Disney version. We follow 25-year old, Isabelle, who is just starting her career in the publishing industry. Her first job out of college is as an editorial assistant at Tale as Old as Time publishing house. Isabelle, Izzy to her friends, is a charmingly-enthusiastic young woman who cannot wait to prove herself and move up the corporate ladder.

Unfortunately, achieving the success she dreams of is slow going; very slow going. Meanwhile, she's still living with her parents, commuting into the city and struggling to get her boss, Marta, to notice her. When Izzy overhears Marta complaining about a young male celebrity, Beau Towers, who has failed to turn in a manuscript for his long-awaited memoir, Izzy sees it as an opportunity to get within Marta's good graces.

As luck would have it, she will soon be attending a work convention in California and the author in question happens to live in that state, in Santa Barbara. She hatches a plan and volunteers her services to Marta. All she has to do is go to Beau's house, figure out what the deal is with his memoir and aide him in any way possible in order to get him to turn it in.

Due to some very personal issues, Beau has been locked away in his Santa Barbara mansion for the last year, seeing no one but a few personal staff members. Izzy has a tough nut to crack, but she's determined. This could be sink or swim for her career. She makes her way into his home and eventually into his head and his heart.

By the Book was so cute. I really enjoyed this and am very happy that I made time for it right now. This was exactly the ray of sunshine I needed as a palate cleanser between all my super dark recent reads. Thank you, Ms. Guillory! You have filled my heart.

I really enjoyed both Izzy and Beau as characters. I especially enjoyed the scenes where Izzy was coaching him through his writing. I thought that was so well done and a great, realistic way for them to form a bond quickly. I also loved the set-up of her getting to stay at his Santa Barbara mansion while she is helping him. It was so fun. Izzy, an East Coast girl, was a little out of her element, but she adapted easily and actually was happy for the escape.

As always I appreciated how well-fleshed out these characters were. I always love how Guillory includes real-life struggles for her characters to work through. Even the characters who seem to have it all also have personal challenges. Both Izzy and Beau were working through issues and watching them move through that and grow together was immensely satisfying. Even though this wasn't as steamy as some of her prior works, in my opinion the level of romance fit this story perfectly.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Hyperion Avenue, for providing me with a copy to read and review. This was such a delight. I'm such a Jasmine Guillory fangirl and look forward to her future works!

By the Book by Jasmine Guillory is a Beauty and the Beast retelling with a modern twist. The main character, Isabelle, is relatable, and the story is enjoyable to read. This second instalment in the Meant to Be series is a fun contemporary to watch for.

The Meant to Be series is a collection of adult contemporaries that are each modernized Disney fairy tale retellings. The series has some fantastic authors in its mix, and as I really enjoyed the first book, If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy, I had a good feeling about this one. Jasmine Guillory has written some well-loved rom-coms, and this newest work does not disappoint! I am excited to read more of this author’s works.

❀ RELATABLE MAIN CHARACTER

Isabelle is a relatable and determined main character who is easy to root for. She has worked hard to get to where she is in the publishing industry, however she is hoping to be promoted someday soon. When her boss has the idea that she visit the house of an author who is ghosting her, she jumps at the chance to go.

❀ A CUTE ROM-COM

What ensues is a cute and often hilarious enemies to lovers story that has touches of the original Beauty and the Beast story. Isabelle’s relationship with Beau is one that slowly develops, and it is enjoyable watching these two characters fall in love. This book has a perfect ending as well, which really gives a happily ever after vibe to the story.

❀ PERFECT FOR SUMMER

By the Book by Jasmine Guillory is a book that will be enjoyable for those that have enjoyed the first novel in the Meant to Be series. It is a quick read that is perfect for summer and will definitely put a smile on your face. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

There is just something about this authors books that have been binging the entire thing until I have finished. Grumpy VS sunshine is always my favorite romance subgenre and this did not disappoint. Plus, a modern day retelling of beauty and the beast, yes please! Another amazing read

I received this book complimentary from NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

I liked this. I didn’t love it nearly as much as I love Guillory’s other works (the wedding date series is just SO GOOD). I liked Isabelle and Beau. They had chemistry and obviously I like Guillory’s writing style. I just wasn’t as into this as I was her other books.

Super cute book - I love a retelling of any fairytale and the way Jasmine dealt with the Beauty and the Beast retelling was fab. Set in the publishing and writing world made for a meta feel that I enjoyed. Recommend for a light easy romance read!

Honestly, I didn't expect to like this book. I haven't been reading much lately, and just picked this up again on a whim.

But as someone also in my mid twenties, feeling lost professionally, who loves books, Izzy was the perfect wish fulfilment I needed.

The development of Beau falling for her felt rushed (I don't love initial attraction that manifests as grumpiness) but his final notebook and letter to her was every romantics dream.

Isabelle is feeling stuck in her life; she is living with her parents, she is working at a job she used to love but is falling out of love with it, she feels overworked and underpaid AND underappreciated, and she gave up her dream of writing her own book. When she overhears her boss complaining about an authour while they are in LA, Izzy jumps at the opportunity to prove herself and hunt down this authour. The authour in question was Beau Towers; celebrity bad body who has been working on his biography for over a year without a single update. Izzy is ready to fall back in love with her job, get Beau's book finished, enjoy some California sun, and maybe...fall in love?

I really, really, REALLY wanted to like this book because I loved the first one in the series. It breathed fresh air and new perspective into an old fairytale. I was expecting similar with this one, though I was well aware how hard it would be to translate the story of Beauty and the Beast into current times. I still remained hopeful but was unfortunately disappointed. There are very VERY subtle nods to Beauty and the Beast; MC wears a yellow dress down a sweeping stair case, an overabundant library, a grumpy love interest. There was some really weird ones too...like calling Beau's assistant 'Kettle'....I still don't get it.

This fact aside, I did enjoy Izzy as the main character and Beau definitely grew on me as well. Their dynamic was always changing and was always interesting. They really helped each other grow throughout the story. I also really enjoyed that Izzy had such a deep love for books and also showed us more about the publishing industry, and even how bias they can be toward people (but especially women) of colour.
I did find the story to be very slow and chapters were really drawn out, but I did end up enjoying it a fair amount.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the eARC in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

This book was super cute! A nod to Beauty and the Beast, By the Book features Izzy and Beau. Izzy is in California for a conference with her job at a publishing agency and is assigned to job to track down the elusive Beau to get concrete word on where his overdue memoir is. Izzy has been emailing Beau consistently for months with no response, so she's not sure what to expect but is still surprised by his rude, gruff manner. She ends up staying for longer than planned and working on the book with him. Things change as these two get to know each other better.

I listened to the audio which I think really enhanced this book. It is light and flirty and sets the scene for a great beach read. There is laughter, sunshine, surfing and books....what more could you ask for. And while the chemistry is on the lighter side, it is still there and makes for an overall sweet romance. Guillory does a good job with her references to the original fairy tale that fans will be sure to love. It is a fast read and definitely has the entertainment value I was hoping for.

This is the second book in a series of modern Disney princess retellings by different authors but they do not need to be read in order. This one follows Isabelle as she gets her job at Tale As Old As Time publishing company then starts to feel underappreciated. She then volunteers to work with a tough and reclusive author, Beau Towers.

Jasmine Guillory is an auto-buy author for me and that cover, I knew it would a good read. This was a really fun twist on a classic tale.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a review copy of this book.

Isabelle is tired of working in publishing. She is overworked and underpaid and ready to the take the next step to be an editor. She overhears her boss talking about a high profile, selfish author, so to try and get in good with her company, she travels to California to confront Beau Towers, and get him to write his novel.

What started as a “strictly business” relationship, slowly turns into a friendship of trust and companionship.

In typical Jasmine Guillory style, this book will keep you engaged, and hold your heart the entire time you fall deeply in love with the characters!