Having read the book before reviewing this kit, I feel like it very much captured the essence of the story. I loved the content warnings in the beginning, and the recommendations of other books to read next. It was clear a lot of thought went into this kit, and I would have a lot of fun with it if I had a book club!

My only complaint is the font - boy was it hard to read. I found myself having to squint and take breaks while reading everything. A clearer font would make this a better experience overall.

The book is well structured with cute ideas. I love the cut out bookmarks and the interactive pages where you can "create" your own pen name.

This kit is great for hosting a book club. My favorite part of this kit is the discussion questions and the adorable bookmarks. I wish the kits included more tips for a virtual meeting but I will do my best to adjust for that.

This is such a great kit. The visuals really go with the story and the extras would delight any book club.

Book Club Kit Review: By the Book by Jasmine Guillory
The Book Club Kit for By the Book by Jasmine Guillory is a thoughtfully curated resource that offers an enriching supplement for readers and book clubs delving into this charming and modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Sponsored by Disney Publishing Worldwide, the kit includes valuable features like an author interview, discussion questions, and interactive elements to guide engaging conversations. While not the actual novel, this downloadable tool adds meaningful depth to the reading experience.

What Worked Well:
Author Interview: One of the highlights of the kit is the interview with Jasmine Guillory. Her insights into the inspiration behind By the Book, particularly how she reimagined a classic fairy tale through the lens of contemporary romance, added context and depth that my book club really appreciated. It also gave us a greater understanding of the characters and themes, especially Izzy’s journey as a young Black woman navigating the publishing industry.

Discussion Questions: The questions provided were well-crafted, with a great mix of prompts about the book’s plot, themes, and characters. For example, questions delving into the dynamics between Izzy and Beau or the pressures Izzy faces at work led to rich and meaningful discussions. The questions also encouraged us to think beyond the romance and focus on broader social issues like diversity in the workplace and self-worth, which resonated with many in our group.

Interactive Features: The kit also offered some fun, lighter elements, which helped balance the heavier conversations we had. These included character comparisons and suggestions for book club activities. These features were playful and helped lighten the atmosphere, making for a fun and dynamic discussion.

Areas for Improvement:
Deeper Character Analysis: While the discussion questions were strong, my book club felt that more detailed prompts on character development would have added even more value. Izzy and Beau's emotional arcs are central to the story, and while the questions touched on this, a few more in-depth prompts could have pushed the group’s analysis even further.

Missing Background Information: Some background on the fairy tale inspiration would have been helpful. For readers unfamiliar with Beauty and the Beast or those who haven't revisited it in years, a brief summary or comparison between the original tale and Guillory's reimagining could have added an extra layer of depth to the conversation.

Who Would Benefit from This Kit:
This Book Club Kit is a fantastic resource for book clubs of all sizes, especially those who enjoy contemporary romance with a meaningful twist. Fans of retellings and anyone who appreciates a story that mixes lighthearted romance with more profound themes of self-discovery, race, and workplace dynamics will find this kit particularly engaging. It's also perfect for book clubs looking to delve into a discussion that balances fun with substance.

Overall, the By the Book club kit succeeds in enriching the reading experience, sparking insightful discussions, and adding a playful element to your typical book club meeting. Although there’s room for a bit more depth in character analysis and background context, the kit provides all the essential tools to make any discussion of By the Book lively and thought-provoking.

Huge "thank you! to NetGalley and We Are Bookish for this beautiful and very thoughtfully put together resource!

From the get-go i could see the time and attention put into this book club kit. Trigger warnings are not always available with book club kits so this was a welcome change to see and much appreciated! It will better help me and others pick a book that suits our club best or to allow members to opt out appropriately.

I loved the wide range of questions offered, being able to keep the conversation flowing is key to a successful book club! Being able to also get insights from the author herself can add so much depth to not just the bookclub meeting but also can give the reader more insight on what the author was thinking while writing or appreciate the writing process that much more after reading the authors work.

I absolutely adored the added extras like the bookmarks and pen name generator! These little add ons make a big difference especially for "Ice breakers" at the beginning of the club to get the conversations flowing!

The recipes were such a fun touch! How fun would it be to include these in your next book club (either pre made or as an activity to make together) and they would also make for adorable book-ish birthday food spreads!

Thank you again to NetGalley and We Are Bookish for this free resource! I can't wait to use some of these ideas for an upcoming book club!

Loved that kit. The interviews were interesting and gave an inside into the book that you don't get from just reading it. The bookmarks are cute and I loved that the pen name generator was includive for all genders (masculine, feminine and androgynous names were possible).

Very well made book club kit! I printed a couple book marks, they don't seem well formatted for double sided printing (print the same page on each side to have two identical bookmarks - the images aren't centered so the bookmarks don't line up perfectly printed on both sides) but I still enjoyed the entire kit and hope to start a book club with this Disney reimagining series.

I did not read the book that this book club kit was for, but the kit itself was nice! A lot of good questions and activities!

Thank you NetGalley and We Are Bookish for this Book Club Kit!!

Once again, a happy unexpected surprise with so many bonuses!!

I love the topics of discussion and the :what to read next" section. So many great recommendations

Thank you so much!!!

This Book Club Kit is a wonderful resource! Right off the bat, I was drawn in by the beautiful design. I also appreciate the content warnings on the Note to Readers page.

Pros:
- The discussion questions are great and offer a lot of opportunities for discussion. Because By the Book is a retelling, most readers will be familiar with the source story and have their own attachments to it.
- I love the bookmarks and pen name generator! Such a cute touch.

Cons:
- I found the typeface used for the body text a little difficult to read. It works well for a display font, but for body text, I think a serif font like Garamond (for print) or a sanserif font like Helvetica or Calibri (for screen) would have been more accessible and readable.
- I liked the discussion questions, but I do wish there was more than one question about representation, racism, or Izzy's lived experience as a Black woman. Even comparing Izzy's experience in the workplace (microaggressions, racism) to Belle's experience of being somewhat misunderstood could have been a good opportunity for discussion.

I would like to start by saying that my pen name is Adam Potts. Not that bad, right? This book club kit is unique because it has some amazing contents such as the author interview, of course, but also the games and recipes. I am absolutely in love with the decoration and background of this kit (the palette is beautiful).

The fact that it has a writing exercise is super cool because loads of readers write or want to write and this could help them to open up and get rid of fear.

Pd: I would love to drink right now a Sparkling rosé margarita, so sad that I do not have at home all the ingredients :(

I really like these book club kits. They give fun and informative material that really boosts the reading experience. I also like the little games, writing prompts, and recipes that are included.

This book kit is perfect. Everything. The order, the interview with both author and cover designer!

I couldn't ask for a better kit.

I downloaded all 4 of these and absolutely LOVE them!! It’s definitely on my Bookclub list if I end up reading these during Bookclub!

Out of all the Book Club Kits by We Are Bookish, this one is by far my favorite! It seems like there was more to this one, more content to read from the author, and there also seemed to be more questions to go through with the group! The coordinating bookmarks were a perfect addition, as well as the writing advice from the author that accompanies the creative writing prompt... That was our favorite part! As always, there are recipes included which related to the book, a charcuterie board and sparkling rose margaritas which were a hit! We thoroughly enjoyed this book club kit and would definitely recommend it.

I adore these book kits. This particular book kit (for By the Book) had charcuterie board ideas, printable bookmarks, what to read next book suggestions, discussion questions and so much more! This is such a wonderful resource if you're planning a book club meetup.

I absolutely adore these book club kits and have a soft spot for a well-done Disney retelling. The inclusion of a content warning in this kit is a fantastic touch; I think more books should have these at the beginning. The discussion questions are always a highlight for me. Since I’m not the most creative when it comes to sparking conversations, these questions are incredibly helpful for guiding our book club discussions.

This was my favorite book club kit so far. They gave you pen name generator, writing exercises and more. I love using these as an add on to the book. It helps with the reading experience.

The "By the Book" book club kit by Jasmine Guillory is a fantastic resource for readers and discussion groups. It includes an author interview, discussion questions, and additional materials to enrich the reading experience. This downloadable and printable kit, sponsored by Disney Publishing Worldwide, is not the actual book but a supplement to enhance your book club meetings.

In reviewing the kit, consider whether it met your expectations. Did it provide the necessary elements for a fruitful discussion? Were there any components your group felt were missing? Highlight what you found enjoyable and useful, as well as any parts that fell short. This feedback is crucial for improving future kits.

The book itself is a fresh take on a classic fairy tale. Isabelle, a young editorial assistant, feels lost and overworked