The Beast and the Bookseller was a Beauty and the Beast retelling with many different elements that made it differ from the original story and from other retellings. This book was a novella so it was shorter then other retellings I’ve read, but it still felt like a full story.

I loved how the main couple grew closer because of books and their mutual interest in them and how books gave them an escape when their home life was bad. I also loved how the FMC convinced the MMC to read different books that were more interesting and fun enable to bring more happiness into his life! I 100% agree that books can change your mood and life!

Garrett Maximilian, the Duke of Montrose was a hard man. He grew up to determine to not be like his father rigid not forgetting man. He dedicated his life trying to redempt his family name and right the injustice in society.

Even though he hated going out in society. His only pleasure was his books.

Sharpe and sons has supplying books to Duke family for centuries.
But he’s also the most important patron of the centuries-old book shop that belongs to Miss Elizabeth Sharpe’s family. Now she’s been charged with delivering books to the Gargoyle of London herself—or risk their shop falling into ruin. But surely a duke can’t be that ghastly…

Elizabeth ran the bookstore and tried to keep the business running even through her father was to deep in his grief and liquor.

When Garrett came to demand his books and threat to withhold his business because Elizabeth father failed to deliver the books weekly preagreement.
Elizabeth knew she would have to be the one to deliver the books .

During Elizabeth delivery she realized Garrett was set in his ways . She challenged his to read more literature.

Quite reading Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth and Garrett found friendship and feelings that changed both of lives.

I've enjoyed every book I've read from this author and The Beast and The Bookseller was no exception. This historical romance gave us opposites attract/ grump-sunshine trope and I enjoyed every minute of it most especially as it was a mash-up of Beauty and the Beast and Pride and Prejudice.
This story follows the reclusive duke, Garrett Maximilian, the Duke of Montrose and a strong-willed woman Elizabeth who runs her father's book shop. They were both from different social classes, but it was their shared love for books that led to their budding friendship. I really enjoyed their discussions on the books they read and how it opened their eyes to views different from their own. As the story progressed, their friendship evolved into something more and I enjoyed the bit of angst the author added to the story.
This novel was fun and witty and it mentions some of the issues faced by both men and women at that time. However the ending felt a bit rushed and predictable and I wished we got a bit more. Nevertheless, it was another enjoyable read by this author and I would definitely recommend it to lovers of historical romance.

This was an enjoyable read with likeable characters. Although I wouldn’t say that Garrett, Duke of Montrose was the beast but more that it was his father and to a certain extent, Elizabeth’s father as well. The bookshop was Elizabeth’s life and she lived through the books she read. Garrett was a bit of a recluse but he did care about others and worked to improving their lives. I liked the way they got to know each other and the caring way that Garrett had for Elizabeth. The book also highlights how little control women had over their lives at this time. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Beast and the Bookseller brings together two interesting characters, each with great strengths and great challenges. Bookseller Elizabeth Sharpe runs her father’s bookshop while, in the background, he is drinking himself into oblivion, never having recovered from his wife’s death and the fact that she hasn’t produced a son to take over the shop from him. Elizabeth is forthrite and efficient. She loves books and treats those she sells as old friends, trying her best to match the right book to the right customer to ensure the book goes to a good home. Garrett Edward Matthew Maximilian, the Duke of Montrose is withdrawn, rarely venturing out in public as he doesn’t cope well with most people. He’s impatient, abrupt and, at times, downright rude, but he’s also very aware of the plight of others less fortunate than himself. He’s made it his business to see the doctor, who colluded with his father to have his mother declared insane and taken away, prosecuted and jailed for his treatment of her and others. Garrett loves reading and devours the books he receives each week from Sharpe and Son. These two clash at first sight but it’s Elizabeth’s feistiness that awakens Garrett’s softer side. I loved watching them grow together astheir story unfolded.

From the day that the Duke of Montrose enters her book shop, Miss Elizabeth Sharpe realises that he will be the ruin of her. Known to be a recluse and thought to be suffering from a terrible, disease, Garrett Maximilian is determined that Elizabeth’s father deliver the books to him that has been arranged. If not, he will ruin their livelihood. Yet, Garrett soon realises that Elizabeth is not someone who will cower to him.
As the first book in the series, it is onto a great start. With elements of Beauty and the Beast, Garrett and Elizabeth are two opposing characters who share a love of books. The romance is slow to burn but the characters were entertaining, in their manner towards each other. I must admit to finding Garrett less likeable than Elizabeth as a character. Whilst Elizabeth stood her position with him, despite her feelings, Garrett seemed less genuine in his regard. Overall, an entertaining read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 -⭐⭐⭐💫

"You like books?"
He tensed. "Like is not the word, Miss Sharpe. They are my lifeblood."

The Beast and the Bookseller is a standalone Adult Historical Romance inspired by the fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast. Elizabeth is a young woman desperately trying to hold her father's bookstore together...unfortunately her father is more focused on the bottle than keeping their family business going. When her father fails to deliver books to the Duke of Montose's manor, this gruff noblemen shows up at the bookshop and demands Elizabeth take her father's place. What they didn't expect was that their love of books would bring them closer together than they realized...and the world they live in would seek to keep them apart.

I found this book to be an effortless read! Elizabeth is a sweet character who grows more confidence over the course of the book as she reaches for things outside of the closeted world she knew. Garrett is the grumpy and studious character who's self imposed jail is shaken by a young women who changes his world. They were adorable and I appreciated the bonding they had over books. Seeing them open up and be vulnerable with each other helped cement their love so well.

In terms of spice this book is a 1.5 spicy pepper out of 5 spicy peppers. It is a slow burn so expect around the 70% mark for when the spice hits. The spice itself isn't very graphic with a focus on feelings and I thought it was well done. There is one specific scene and then the rest of the spice is mentioned briefly but not to the same level. I found the slow burn aspect was well done for this novel - I didn't feel the romance as much in the first half so having time to see it unveil in the second half connected me more to the characters.

"Can't dukes fall in love with shopgirls?"
"They're not suppose to."
"People aren't suppose to do a great many things...that doesn't stop them."

The story itself is quite light. It is incredibly easy to dive into and is quick to read. I felt the premise grabs your attention well and the story feels were great until the last 80%. I felt the climax push in the story felt a little forced and needed more plot development to immerse me. I feel if this is good option for readers look for a book that isn't going to push you too much and has a sweetness to it.

If you are looking for a Beauty and the Beast retelling that draws on your love of reading and provides an easy going experience, this is definitely a book to pick up!

Thank you Entangled and Netgalley for the ARC!

A new release by a well-known and well-loved author, The Beast and the Bookseller is one part fairytale retelling, one part homage to Pride and Prejudice, and a must read for fan of brooding heroes. Our beauty is the long-suffering Elizabeth Sharpe, working hard to keep the pieces of her world together as her drunk father falls into despair following her mother’s death. Her counterpart is her family’s bookshops sponsor, the Duke of Montrose, a self-imposed recluse whose beastly denomination stems from his grumpy personality and horrendous social skills.

While no fault can be found in the syntax of the novel, the same cannot be said for the story as a whole. The book itself is rather short, coming in at approximately 220 pages, yet it feels much longer. The dialogue to narrative ratio is glaringly small, dragging out the already long-winded passages. At 36%, the plot barely limps forward, spending most of its focus on describing the troubles the leads have endured. Unfortunately, this is a common theme throughout the novel, until the reader is wholehearted sick of reading the hero’s tortured past and heroine’s hardships ad nauseum. The continued dwelling on such dark and heavy topics can be mentally taxing.

This could be overlooked if there was something else about the novel that made up for this, but regrettably, there isn’t. Neither lead feels particularly interesting with the Duke being the typical brooding hero who hasn’t worked through his parental issues and Elizabeth being a generic ray of sunshine whose sole purpose seems to be fixing the men around her. It’s a common trope among romance, and one many readers are frankly tired of. The chemistry feels lacking and the one and only sex scene feels comically cliche, with them making love on the floor in front of the fireplace. The final offense, however, is that for all its drawn-out passages, there’s little explanation or logical transitions. Problems are solved easily, with little to no work from the characters, leaving the reader scratching their head at the turnabout.

Despite these complaints, The Beast and the Bookseller is not an awful novel. The author is clearly talented with writing and telling the story she wishes to tell. Unfortunately, some readers will find it’s simply not a story they want to read or will enjoy. The cover may be enticing, but it’s a deceptively beautiful package filled with its own beasts.

The Beast and The Bookseller is a mash-up of Belle, only the beast is a Duke, and our most cherished love story, Pride and Prejudice. Garret is similar to Darcy in his mannerisms and thinking. Elizabeth is simply Elizabeth. Your heart will swoon as together they read Pride and Prejudice over the crackling fire in the Duke's London home.

The Beast and The Bookseller is a book about books that draws to two people in love. Their interactions over books is romantic, and their chemistry leaps from the pages. How can you go wrong with a character similar to Darcy, a bookworm and a happily ever after.

I need an epilogue in this book!

Thank you Entangled Publishing for the complimentary copy.

Garrett is a cold lonely Duke who does not interact much with others even having his books delivered to his home.
Elizabeth runs a long-standing family bookshop but she is not the son her father wanted to carry on the legacy.
Garrett and Elizabeth clash over the lack of book deliveries and she begins to deliver them to Garrett. They bond and begin to become friends over their book discussions. Their relationship changes their lives but is it enough for a future?
I enjoyed this romance as their unique personalities were well written and their banter fun to read.

Miss Elizabeth Sharpe is the only child of the owner of Sharpe and Son, a bookshop that opened in 1665 and that has been passed from father to son ever since. It has also boasted the patronage of the Dukes of Montrose for just as long. But now it appears that that connection may be coming to an end, as the Duke, a man who is known by all as a recluse, is coming to the shop in person to meet with Elizabeth’s father. This cannot be good and to make matters worse her father is not fit company for the duke, nor has he been for some time. Her father has taken the loss of Elizabeth’s mother and any hope for a son very hard, losing himself in drink and leaving the bookshop in Elizabeth’s hands. Elizabeth hopes that her father will see how capable she is and leave the shop to her, but if she cannot convince the duke to continue to give them his business, there will be no bookshop to inherit. Elizabeth is shocked to learn that the duke has not been receiving his weekly orders as she believed her father was performing that duty, the duke has demanded that Elizabeth perform the task herself or he will take his business elsewhere!

Garrett Edward Matthew Maximilian, the Duke of Montrose is annoyed that he had to interrupt his busy day to leave his home – something he rarely does – to visit his erstwhile bookseller. When Mr. Sharpe is nowhere to be found leaving his daughter to clean up the mess he made, Garrett is surprised by Elizabeth and instead of taking his business to another shop as he planned, he demands that Elizabeth take over the task of delivering his books from now on if she proves herself, he will continue to patronize the shop. Not only does she succeed in the task, but she also excels, and soon the two form an unlikely friendship. Garrett has a lot going on in his life, he is on the brink of avenging his mother, but the task takes him to a dark place and Elizabeth becomes a light in his life, keeping him sane and even happy. But when a well-meaning outing goes awry, their lives will change forever, but will their forever be happy??

This was a delightful Beauty and the Beast retelling with a dash of Pride and Prejudice thrown in for good measure. I loved Elizabeth and Garrett together, they have both known pain, yet they have reacted very differently to it. The story steadily unfolds and the reader is sucked into a tale filled with loss, books, new discoveries, changes, steamyish love scenes, great secondary characters, pain and finally a very sweet declaration scene promising HEA. I was disappointed that there was no epilogue, because I really felt it was needed, considering the major changes they would both be dealing with, but overall it was an emotionally gripping story that was an enjoyable read.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

I was extremely fortunate to receive an ARC of The Beast and The Bookseller from Netgalley, and all thoughts and opinions are my own. Eva Devon is a remarkable author.
Miss Elizabeth Sharpe, is a lover of books, and fortunate to be the daughter of a generational family bookstore owner. However, her drunkard father does not seem to think that she is capable of running, let alone owning the bookstore. The Duke of Montrose, Garrett Edward Matthew Maximilian's family has always been a high client of the bookstore. The meeting of Garrett and Elizabeth at the bookstore is outstanding. Together, they learn that their love of books takes them away from their everyday troubles and formalities. I absolutely loved the beast in the Duke for his gruffness with everyone around him except Elizabeth, who seems to understand him and relate to him on a personal basis. This is a beautifully written story on how our past sometimes imprisons us and how one person's proximity can help free us.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Beast And The Bookseller is the first book in the Once Upon A Wallflower series by Eva Devon. Elizabeth Sharpe’s father’s bookstore has the patronage of the Duke of Montrose. Elizabeth’s wastrel father’s actions cause doubt if the Duke will still support the store. Elizabeth takes responsibility for the Duke’s orders. Garrett, the Duke of Montrose’s only bright spot in his rigidly disciplined life, is his weekly delivery of books. When Elizabeth starts to deliver the books, Garrett’s orderly world gets turned upside down. The couple must find that elusive middle ground if they have a chance at happiness.

Lately, all the dukes I have been reading about are sensitive, rakish, and personable. Not Garrett! Garrett is the epitome of everything a duke should be. Garrett is reclusive, cold, and knows his power. I loved Garret’s personality; he is extremely powerful and owns it. He has no patience for those scraping for his attention, yet he fights for the rights of the unfortunate and forgotten. I also related to Garrett’s love of books, his only indulgence and distraction.

Elizabeth also loves books. They are her beloved friends and are much safer than people; books do not disappoint. I admired Elizabeth’s drive; she loves the bookstore and is frustrated because she can’t own it. Elizabeth’s tenacity hides a vulnerability that makes her relatable.

On paper, Garrett and Elizabeth do not work. But their love of books and secretly passionate natures weave them together. I adored this couple! The passionate tension is palpable. My favorite part of the novel was the couple discussing Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice, and the way the author created a parallel to this story was genius.

The Beast And The Bookseller captivated me and left me wanting more. This is a short book, and I would have loved even more story and development. However, this romance checked all the boxes for me. What is there not to like with a grumpy duke, pragmatic bookseller, and Jane Austen references? Eva Devon has created a magical romance full of charm and passion. This is my favorite book by Eva Devon; I am excited to see where she goes from here!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Beast and The Bookseller was my first Eva Devon and it was an easy, fun, engaging read that I would recommend for anyone that likes Beauty and Beast retellings mixed with Pride and Prejudice.

Elizabeth Sharpe has been running her fathers bookstore while he slowly drinks away his troubles when the Duke of Montrose arrives demanding his books or he will revoke his patronage of the shop. Elizabeth’s father usually delivers the Duke’s book but now she must to do it. During their meetings Elizabeth is not the shy, quiet woman Montrose expects and shockingly he likes how she challenges him. These two become unlikely friends, forming a “book club for two”.

The Duke is the perfect misunderstood Beast, really trying to make the world a better place for women and children by passing progressive laws. Elizabeth realizes her self worth should not be tied to her father and is fighting for the bookstore. This book is on the shorter side at 220 pages and Eva Devon packs a lot into this book - gender inequality, mistreatment of children and patients in mental institutions, abuse and alcoholism- but it never feels like they over shadow the love story of the Duke and Elizabeth. Their friendship evolving to love is written with patience and care that felt organic. I will say that it’s not the most original and I felt the middle lagged a bit leading to a predictable ending but it’s a solid read.

“Women were driven to madness in this land by their masters and a society that did not protect them.”

For fans of Beauty and The Beast, one bed, grumpy/sunshine and lovers of books, bookstores and the smell of books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts are my own. The Beast and The Bookseller has a publish date of June 5, 2023.

All of London gossips about the Duke of Montrose. A recluse. Inflicted with a terrible disease. But he’s also the most important patron of the centuries-old book shop that belongs to Miss Elizabeth Sharpe’s family. Now she’s been charged with delivering books to him herself—or risk their shop falling into ruin. Garrett Maximilian doesn’t give a tinker’s damn what society says about him. The duke’s glower doesn’t terrify Elizabeth as much as it fascinates her. And worse, he looks at her with a dark hunger that should make her shake with fear—not desire. But Elizabeth’s father has sinister plans in store for his daughter…and the duke might be her only salvation.
The first in a new series & a charming romance. I liked both Garrett & Elizabeth & loved how their shared love of books had them becoming friends & then falling in love. A quick but delightful read, which I read in a sitting. Both hadn’t had the best of childhoods but they overcame their fears & I thoroughly enjoyed their journey to a HEA which was lightened by witty banter & some humour
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

The Beast and the Bookseller by Eva Devon
Once Upon a Wallflower #1

Books and bookstores are favorites of mine and have been for most of my life…hand in hand with them have been reading fairytales and their retelling…if told well…and this is a wonderfully rich and different telling of Beauty and the Beast than others I have read.

What I liked:
* Elizabeth Sharpe: bookseller’s daughter, has taken over the shop as her father grieves, strong, intelligent, well educated, interesting, forthright, responsible, good friend, courageous, honest
* Garrett: duke of Montrose, difficult backstory, works for the underdog, wishes to get justice for his mother, closed off, stern, gruff, responsible, intelligent, grows a lot in this book
* Lily: Elizabeth’s friend, dress designer, good friend, might be in the next book of the series
* Lord Essex: Garrett’s friend, wounded in the war, strong, good friend, wise, hope he will be in a story of his own
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* That it was true to the times
* It had dark and light, hope and despair, good and evil, rich and poor – the contrasts were well done and made me think
* The characters were well developed, believable, and people I grew to care about
* That there was a happy ending and there is another book to look forward to

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about how horrible the times were and being glad I did not live back then

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to Entangled -Amara for the ARC – This is my honest review

5 Stars

What a quick and cute little read! If you like Pride and Prejudice with a hint of Bridgerton, this one is for you! The FMC is remarkably intelligent and sweet while the MMC is a grump (my favorite trope!). It’s a very short book, so the romance happens quickly. For what it is, the pacing is pretty good! And the characters still had a decent amount of depth. It’s definitely worth picking up if you like regency romances and want something to read for a couple of hours.

A young bookseller falls in love with a reclusive, powerful duke in this Beauty-and-the-Beast-meets-Pride-and-Prejudice retelling.

When Miss Elizabeth Sharpe gets tasked with delivering books weekly to Garrett Maximilian, Duke of Montrose, she never expects to form a bond with him. He’s blunt, keeps to himself and his causes, and is so very far above her station.

Despite their differences, Elizabeth is able to see what he needs. She prides herself on matching each reader with the perfect book, and when she convinces Garrett to allow her to bring him novels, they form a two-person book club—how scandalous—with Pride and Prejudice as the first selection.

I thoroughly enjoyed the meeting of the minds along with the growing attraction between Elizabeth and Garrett. He has some decidedly Darcy-esque moments, and while communication does not always run smoothly for the couple, you can feel the care and devotion between them. Plus there is an only-one-bed situation, which I always appreciate.

Devon also delivers discussions on mental health, alcoholism, gender roles, and class differences.

I received an advance copy of the book from Entangled Publishing and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

When the Duke of Montross's personal bookstore stops making their weekly deliveries to his home, he decides to head over there and see what's going on. What he doesn't expect is the bookseller's daughter.. and how her love of books rivals his own. He is immediately intrigued and when he orders her to take over her father's job of bringing books every week he can't believe he is actually looking forward to her visits, only made more so as she brings him new novels, and they begin to read them together.

Montross and Elizabeth make a pretty cute couple, they share a love of books, and while Montross is an absolute grump who likes to stick to a schedule and tradition Elizabeth really starts to soften those edges and help him push back his loneliness and the nightmares of his past. You can really feel how much they care about each other without any expectations on either side.

It did lose me a bit after their marriage, it seemed that they drifted apart rather quickly, I understood why as Montross is used to being on his own, and he is trying to finish something for his mother which brings up every bad memory of his childhood, and he doesn't know how to accept comfort. But the ending was absolutely beautiful and gave me everything I wanted. Eva Devon writes amazing historical romances and I can't wait to see what she's going to write next.

A short Pride and Prejudice influenced story.
Book obsessed bookseller finds love with neurodivergent tall handsome Duke through the formation of a small Jane Austen book club.
An easy to read romance and you can feel the author’s love of books through the characters love of books. Some sweet moments but I found the ending of the book is missing something.


Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.