Take She’s All That and make it historical and you get this wonderfully cute YA romance. I had a lot of fun reading this one. If you loved She’s All That and you love historical romances you’ll love this book. Thank you Netgalley and HarperTeen for the egalley in exchange for my honest review.

Definitely a cool plot. However for the time it took place, it felt like the language was a bit too modern. It’s the classic rags to riches story where she teaches the guy about his privilege and suddenly he is entranced by her. Nothing new there. It definitely felt like a mix between a YA Bridgerton and classic high school teenage drama. It wasn’t bad, just a bit naively constructed and predictable. Overall, it was a nice read though.

I enjoyed reading Bellegarde by Jamie LIlac. This was the first book by this author and I am looking forward to reading more soon. Happy reading!

**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**

I really enjoyed this book! Jamie Lilac transports the reader similarly to Bridgerton or your favorite fairytale but to 18th century France. Evie, the village bakers daughter, has always been content with her life of baking but fascinated with fashion. With deep love for her parents and little sister thought, she decided following her dreams and interests was never in the cards for her in order for her to help support her families bakery. This all changes with Beau Bellegarde's interest in Evie as he exposes her to fancy dresses, and some of the countries best designers who take an interest in her designs.
This book gives heavy Bridgerton and Cinderella vibes with the elaborate events and designer dresses. I loved how light this book was and while it might not have been the most serious or historically accurate book, I still really enjoyed how fun it was. There is a little bit of a love triangle between Evie, Beau, and another male character, but unlike a lot of love triangles, this one did not bother me a ton because it felt purposeful apart from just creating a wedge between the two main characters.
This book is also considered a YA novel, so the romance is not spicy and there are not any overly adult themes, but the story and issues covered did not feel overly childish either.
Overall, I would definelty recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick and fun read that will transport them to a drama filled 18th century France filled with pretty dresses, elaborate events, and lots of baked goodies!

*Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

Bellegarde is a very cute story that won't reach its intended audience. Marketing did this one dirty. I picked it up for the same reason a lot of other people did per the reviews.

A historical Parisian retelling of She's All That it is not. It's just She's All That. With a little Gossip Girl and Hilary Duff's A Cinderella Story sprinkled in. You could have set this anytime, anyplace with minimal changes, and ended with the same exact story.

If you are picking this up for a period piece -- don't.

Do pick this up if you liked the aforementioned movies or if you like The Princess Diaries or a book that feels like a DCOM.

I liked the characters. I was taken aback by the use of modern slang and situations. There was marginalized representation that felt just as modern and out of place as the rest of it. The story itself was short and sweet. I felt like it could have benefited from some length.

There was just a lot of tying up of loose threads into neat little bows, and for the life of me, I couldn't figure out where the author got the thread. Especially at the end, resolutions felt messy and unearned.

The secret backstory between the lead and the love interest felt small and silly when revealed and not like the kind of thing that would shape events for a literal decade. And even though I couldn't figure out why it was so igregious, when they reconciled, it still didn't feel like a good fit. It's a step up from instalove. A very small step. That somehow overcomes the non-issue obstacles that were shoe horned in.

If taken for what it is, it's a simple story that I did enjoy for the most part. It's just sad to me that marketing tried to pawn it off as something it's not, when plenty of people would have read and loved it for what it is.

"Bellegarde" by Jamie Lilac is a captivating Historical Fiction novel that seamlessly blends elements of Romance and Teens & YA genres. The author's exquisite storytelling transports readers to a bygone era, while the heartfelt romance adds a layer of emotion that resonates deeply. Set against a backdrop of historical richness, the book paints a vivid picture of love and challenges that young characters face. With its well-researched historical details and engaging plot, "Bellegarde" is a compelling read that leaves a lasting impression on fans of both romance and historical fiction.

i just couldn’t get past the modern language and whole feel of this book. if you’re gonna rip off she’s all that and make it historical…actually make it seem historical. i felt like i was reading about woke gen z-ers. no thanks.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperTeen for the ARC of this novel. The blurb of this novel being a She's All That retelling was way on the nose and in reading, was exactly what this is. I like adaptions and remixes and retellings of what has come before but I want it to have a new spin. This was pretty much beat by beat of the movie and was a bit heavy handed at times. I liked this book enough but when what I can see in my mind as I am reading is the movie and not the book characters, that is disappointing. I like the author's writing and would read again with another plot and hope they evolve from doing a beat for beat remake. 2.5 stars.

Fun & easy to read!

Thank you soooooo much netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advanced review copy if this book💗
"I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

I’m obsessed!! I’ve always been a fan of historical romances and now add in my all time favorite movie She’s All That I’m sold! This story was so sweet and I’m so happy I found it.

Jamie paints a world so beautifully and the character are so well done and developed. I would recommend this book for all ages - I think everyone can find something they enjoy about it!

I really enjoyed this! It promises Bridgerton meets She's All That and completely delivered on that promise. The descriptive writing was such a highlight from the cakes and the dances to the flowers and the fashion, I wanted to live inside the pages. It was pure joyful escapism. This would be a great read for fans of Lex Croucher's historical romances.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book is a combination of some my favorite things: a hint of Bridgerton, a pinch of Gossip Girl, wrapped up nicely in a She's All That paper. I absolutely adored this book. It was just the mash-up I needed. It was a lighthearted fun, romantic read.

So much fun to read this little gem. It felt like a blend of Bridgerton, Gossip Girl and She's All That with a little fantasy slant to it. Simply a delight.

There isn't anything new here and that was definitely the fun of it. The familiarity of a known plot with the twist of giving it a fresh group of characters a few new tweaks just makes it that much better. Evie and Beau were an interesting matchup and I really enjoyed seeing them dance around one another. They would make progress and then one of them would goof something up. But it was all worth the wait to see how it would work out in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

This was super cute!! I love She's All That and historical romance and thought the combination of the two worked really well together. A very fun and charming read!

I thought this was a really cute read. I thought this contemporary/historical/YA/movie mash-up was really quite fun. I found the story entertaining and it held my attention well. If you are looking for a lighthearted read and can have an open mind when it comes to historical inaccuracies, I think you will like this book.

This was such a fun book. A little bit of Gossip Girl, a little bit of She's All That, and some Bridgerton but make it young adult. Who can say no to that?

"Oh, don't flatter yourself, Beau Bellegarde. It's just a word. Sort of like the word buffoon. Do you know that one?"
This book was pretty funny at times. I liked the sass from Evie that she often slung at Beau. It really hiked up their chemistry and banter.

I loved how modern this book was in so many ways, mainly the language, while still taking place in a historical world. Plus, I feel like the historicals I read are usually in England so this was a nice change to take place in France.

This was mostly dual pov. We got one random chapter from the "mean girl." Rachelle about halfway through. Although, I'm not sure why because it offered no special insight to the story and no depth to the character. She further reinforced that she was the mean girl we already knew her to be.

The biggest thing that I disliked about this book was the romance. The first half was shaping up to be so cute and then the second half we throw in a second love interest and leave Beau and Evie to never acknowledge their feelings for each other. It was literally the last chapter and then all of a sudden they like each other? We should have been feeling the struggle of their feelings along the way. Instead, we only got little inklings of it sometimes before they were left to do other things.

Also, the second love interest was so charming! What the heck! We better get a book about him because I was liking him more than Beau by the end.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, but I wouldn't go into it expecting a strong romance. Read the book hoping for a fun world with characters pursuing their dreams and living life.

Bellegarde whisked me away to a charming world of historical romance with a modern twist. Paris came alive as I immersed myself in the era of elegant dresses, bustling carriages, and a grand ball. Evie Clement, the baker's daughter, and a gifted seamstress, won me over with her relatable and authentic character. Through a dual narrative, I experienced the captivating journey of both Evie and Beau Bellegarde. Beau's transformation from a flawed playboy to someone capable of discovering true love and friendship alongside Evie was truly heartwarming. The supporting characters, like Evie's loyal best friend Josephine and her endearing family, added depth and richness to the story. Jamie Lilac's writing is a delightful treat, filled with sparkling dialogue, vivid descriptions, and a well-paced plot. While the language leaned towards the modern side rather than a strict regency tone, it didn't detract from my enjoyment. Bellegarde is a captivating tale that celebrates love, self-discovery, and the importance of staying true to oneself. It left me with a contented smile and a yearning for Jamie Lilac's next enchanting adventure.

Bellegarde by Jamie Lilac offers lush and descriptive prose coupled with smart and perfectly paced storytelling, resulting in a heart-pounding romance that is perfectly paced, ensuring an enthralling experience from start to finish. Prepare to be swept away by the heart-pounding romance that unfolds within the pages of Bellegarde.

I really liked this book and I think our heroine, Evie, is one of my favorite protagonist in a young adult novel in a long time. Evie is a talented seamstress who makes beautiful dresses for her sister and friends, which is just one example of her how caring she is. I don’t want to go into too much because I don’t want to risk spoiling anything, but ai just really love how she’s not afraid to stick up for herself throughout the book. I honestly wouldn’t mind if this book became a series of some sort because the characters were all really well written and fun! Also I love the casual lgbtq+ romance rep in this book with the sapphic side couple. It was subtle but I love when historical romances include queer characters and everyone is just cool with it, it’s always nice to see!!!

I didn’t care for this at all. It was slow moving, I didn’t care about the characters, and it was chock full of anachronistic language. I’m sorry, phrases like “whatever,” “anyways,” or “hookup” do not belong in a historical novel! It took me right out of the story. Not to mention there is a reference to Evie sewing a dress with a zipper - which wasn’t used until the 1920s (it wasn’t clear in the ARC I read but I believe this is set in the late 1880s, so there would not have been any zippers used in their clothing).

I didn’t like Beau. I was actually rooting for the duke guy.

The story was slow moving and ended predictably. I probably would have given it a 3 if it hadn’t been one of the worst historicals I’ve read in terms of getting the language and time period right. I wanted to like this, but I couldn’t get past all the errors in the time period. If that kind of thing doesn’t bother you, you might enjoy this one. Sadly for me it was a miss.