I have enjoyed Guillory's work in the past and this narrator did a great job of bringing this version of Beauty and the Beast to life... While I understand why we are supposed to think of Beau as the beast, he's way to sensitive and supportive for that!

I was not expecting it to be a type of retelling. Had no idea it was part of a series, but you didn't need to read the other books in the series. Overall, I liked it. It was fun and i eager await the next.

This is the Beauty & The Beast retelling that you didn't know you needed to read. This retelling has BiPOC characters, a modern book publishing twist, and throwbacks to the classic disney animated movie. 7th grade - adults would love this story. The writing is beautiful and heartfelt, the characters fully developed people.

I just love these “Meant to Be” novels, and Jasmine Guillory is *chefs kiss* in this genre, a perfect pairing - a retelling of one of my favorite fairytales, Beauty and the Beast - although I felt like there were maybe a few too many nods to the Disney production of it - it felt just slightly campy at times but the story came together so sweetly, it really was a fun summer read!

Thank you, NetGalley for this ARC audiobook. I loved it and have suggested yet another Guillory book to many of my friends.

I highly enjoyed this novel! This was a delightful and subtle retelling of Beatuy and the Beast.
My only complaint was that they seemed to fall in love a little too quickly, though it was believable. I read this in one sitting!

This book did not have enough romantic tension. I felt the plot lacked some sizzle and spice. I liked that it was a Beauty and the Beast homage but at times it felt to heavy handed.

So good! Out May 3rd.

It’s a great retelling/reimagining for beauty and the beast. Of course there is a ton of food. Good thing it’s lunch time because I’m so hungry after listening to the audiobook and them talking about that snack room. Forget the library I need that snack room in my life.

This book is insanely cute! As the second installment in the Meant to Be series, which are romances inspired by fairy tales, I thought I knew what to expect. This book was much more adorable than the first in the series! Inspired by Beauty and the Beast, we follow Izzy who works in publishing as she spends some time sequestered in a large fabulous home with a curmudgeonly author, to encourage and inspire him to finish his latest book. There are a ton of references to her talking to the furniture and household objects and feeling like they are friends, which I chuckled at each time. The romance is closed door, so there is nothing explicit here. Overall, I really enjoyed the characters and their relationships, the dialogue, and the adorable flirting!

The narration was awesome! The excitement and inflection really drew me into the story and the pacing was perfect, even sped up. Loved it!

Such a fun take on this trope. I love books set in the book publishing world. I also loved Isabelle and I wanted her to succeed! It did feel like a Beauty and the Beast retelling but very loosely, which is the way I prefer it. I don't want to be so distracted by the Beauty and the Beast-ness of it that I can't enjoy the book for what it is.

The second book in the Meant to Be series is based on Beauty and the Beast. Isabelle works as a publishing assistant where she is over worked and has been passed over for promotion. She jumps at the chance to stay in California one more day to stop and see an author who hasn’t turned in a manuscript. Beau Towers is an actor who many believe is a monster and he doesn’t want Isabelle around, though he eventually agrees to her staying for a couple of weeks to coach him through writing his memoir. Isabelle is surprised that he read the biweekly emails she sent him and that he isn’t really the monster the world thinks he is. The longer she stays the more surprises she learns about Beau and the more she falls for him (he bakes!) And the more she rethinks her position in publishing. I enjoyed this book so much. Beau and Izzy clash and then slowly relax into a friendship and then something more. And I love Sarah Hollis as the narrator. She was fantastic. Perfect summer reading.

A very loose adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, this title is the least spicy Jasmine Guillory to date, which was a big disappointment. I was very curious as to how Guillory would incorporate the talking/magical furniture and household items, and she did it without a flair of magical realism or dream state, which I appreciated.

If you’re a Guillory fan, skip this one. But if you like fairy tale re-tellings, you’ll probably enjoy this.

Isabelle has a dream of working in publishing. She lands a job working at a publicist as an assistant and is hoping to move up over time. It just hasn't happened yet...On a trip to California for a work conference with her department she takes the plunge and volunteers to do a job for her boss that she hopes will finally earn her that promotion. Her boss has been struggling to get a book out of a difficult client and Isabelle is going to go to his house and see what she can do to make the book a reality. The client is the son of a famous screen writer and director who has developed the reputation of being difficult and hasn't been seen in public since he made a scene at his father's funeral. At first Isabelle struggles to make any progress with Beau, the client, but as they spend time together and get to know each other they realize they have more in common and are able to produce the book that Beau was supposed to turn in over a year ago. And, of course, along the way they develop feelings for each other. I loved all the subtle nods to Beauty and the Beast and didn't mind the main characters being of color, nothing affected my enjoyment of the story. It was fun, wholesome and cute.

Very fun book and amazing audio. This re-imagining of Beauty and the Beast was perfectly updated and done - no kidnapping and holding anyone against their will. Both main characters were incredibly likable, just flawed enough to make them a little more real. Predictable in that we all know the main story, but still fun to see how Guillory twisted the parts of the plot to adjust for adults in the present time. I am excited for other adaptations!

I know what to expect when I reach for a Jasmine Guillory novel. A fun and cute romcom. And that is exactly what you get with this! The romance is light and fade to black. Not my typical read and I was expecting a little more romance, but I still enjoyed it.

This was a great book and an even better audiobook! I really love Jasmine Guillory and cannot wait for more of her works!

Fivestars! So good, love the diversity! Thank you for the opportunity to read and review for an honest opinion!

What a fun and unique retelling of a classic tale. I loved the strong main character and the literary aspects of this book. I enjoyed the romance, and I was happy with the end, but there were times I felt like they were more believable as best friends. They helped each other through a lot of personal struggles and had a lot of fun times together, but it wasn't very intimate of a book. I would definitely recommend this to someone looking for a light romance and drama.

I loved this book! I loved every element! Anyone that is interested in ever writing a book should read this. There are many tips to get one started or past a writing block. The author also explores the complexities of navigating the workplace, and knowing one's worth and talents. The narrator's voice was very pleasant and changed enough to know the difference between the characters in the book. Overall, this was an enjoyable quick book that will put a smile on your face.

By The Book by Jasmine Guillory is a Beauty and the Beast retelling that features Izzy, an editorial assistant, and Beau Towers, a grumpy, isolated, celebrity who is late on his memoir. Izzy is tasked with helping him produce a manuscript and ends up moving into his home to provide daily pep talks. While there she discovers a variety of things:
1) it does in fact rain in California,
2) the world’s greatest snack cabinet, and
3) people will surprise you if given the chance.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ of five stars

Izzy in particular was an extremely relatable character who landed her dream job as an editorial assistant, only to realize that it wasn’t everything she hoped it would be. As Izzy spends her days stuck in a house with Beau Towers attempting to give him daily pep talks to get him started on his book, she begins to rediscover her own passion for writing and realizes that she has placed too much stock in the opinions of those who would seek to keep her down. As she resets in this Santa Barbara dream home she evaluates her career and life choices while building a connection with Beau.

A bit of a spoiler, so if you’re not interested stop reading, but the relationship that develops between Izzy and Beau is so cute! The whole thing is expected from the moment the book begins and yet getting to see these two learn to be vulnerable with each other was beautiful. The ending of this book, when Beau mails Izzy his writer’s notebook was *chef’s kiss* perfection.

Overall, one of my biggest dislikes about this book actually turned out to be the Beauty and the Beast references. Some of them were well-executed and felt appropriate, but some of them were a bit too heavy-handed for me, like calling Beau’s assistant, “Kettle” as a nickname, but then ditching it so that it only happened a couple of times. A bit more consistency and a lighter hand would have truly brought this to life in my opinion.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this audiobook!