Thank you NetGalley for the E-ARC!

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Woooooow am I over due for this review!

I quite thoroughly enjoyed this little read! It was sweet and suspenseful in all the right places.

What I loved about this story was the obvious love and adoration Jay and Daisy had. When Daisy found out Jay was a vampire, she didn't over react and not talk to him for days on end. She communicated she needed a bit of space, that she was not upset but just needed time to process, and when she came back she asked her questions and Jay answered. I also loved that the background story plot was far more interesting than most romance books, involving old cult-like groups of vampires, and their war against Jay and his people.

I do wish we had gotten more of a view into the world of the vampiers. Knowing this is still a romance all considered, I still wished we had seen a *teeny* but more of the vampires instead of just explaining it with ✨m o v i e s c i e n c e✨

But over all this was an easy and light read!

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You'll like this if you like...
- Retellings
- Steamy romance
- Vampires
- Childhood friends to lovers
- Billionaire boyfriend

This was a refreshing take on The Great Gatsby. With a supernatural, modern twist, this isn't a book you'll want to miss.

Daisy is home from UNC Chapel Hill, returning back to Greenville looking to find who she wants to be. After a rough breakup, she just wanted to be herself, hang out with her cousin Nick and get a great tan by the pool.

After attending a Gatsby party, Daisy gets reconnected with the boy she shared her entire childhood with. Jay Gatsby. In full disbelief that he was truly in the same town as her, and a showed a little resentment at first because he never reached back out to her when her family got ahead in life, and moved across town to a more upscale neighborhood.

Jay Gatsby had orchestrated everything for her. He had worked his way to the top to be able to give Daisy everything. Can he tell her how he got to this point? Can he fully give her everything that he is and more?

A steamy paranormal retelling of The Great Gatsby

Beautiful Villain is the first book in Rebecca Kenney's Gilded Monsters series of modern day retellings with a paranormal twist. Here we have The Great Gatsby retold with vampires.
I was so curious about this paranormal retelling & was quickly taken in by the vampire aspect. We see all the characters and lots from the original plot as well with some clever changes that suited the paranormal aspect well. This definitely has more action, chemistry and steam than the original. I also enjoyed that Daisy was a badass in her own way here.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this ARC. I recently did a review on the audio of this book and I loved the narration and this entire book from cover to cover! This book was a retelling of the book the great Gatsby and it was done so well. I really loved the character development and the plot of the book was so exciting. I love vampires so much and this book did not disappoint me in the least. It had action, adventure, romance all wrapped up in this wonderful story! This is a new author for me and I highly recommend this read to everyone who enjoys a great story with some exciting romance along with paranormal characters!!

The Great Gatsby with vampires? Seeing that was all it took to make me pick this book up! And what a fun read it was! Daisy had some cool compulsion speech thing that was a fun twist as well. Really enjoyed this one!

I'm glad it's not a standalone, though, because I have so many questions...

Daisy Finnegan has just split with her abusive boyfriend, Tom. When her cousin Nick and best friend Jordan bring her along to a mysterious host's party, Daisy realizes that the host is her ex, Jay Gatsby, the man who left her 8 years ago. But he's not the same as he once was.

On the surface, *Beautiful Villain* is a *Great Gatsby* retelling with vampires. Before I go any further, I need to say that *The Great Gatsby* is one of my favorite books of all time, so I'm a hard sell. I'm also not a romance reader, so that's another strike against me being the target market for this book. Props to Kenney—she did her research and included several threads from Fitzgerald's original (though I did miss Gatsby's signature pink suit). However, I didn't particularly love or relate to any of the characters. I found the dialogue a bit odd; it felt like the characters were younger than they were supposed to be, which made the spicy scenes feel out of place. I didn't hate this book, but I didn't love it either.

If you take The Great Gatsby and mix it with True Blood and The Vampire Diaries, this is what you'll get.
This book is perfect for the spicy urban fantasy fan.

Beautiful Villain is one of the most beautiful rewrites of Classic literature that I have gotten the pleasure to read. I'll admit, the Great Gatsby isn't one of my favorite classics for a few reasons, one being I'm a sucker for a happy ending. Rebecca's writing has always been enjoyable for me to read but she's really outdone herself this time. I love her take on vampirism and mythology, blending both with science so beautifully in this rewrite and making it more believable than some vampire tales would be. I could not put the book down and honestly read it in a twenty-four hour period. Which is only partially attributed to the fact no one disturbed me and is more a testament to me wanting to read more and more about our dear Jay and Daisy. I love the instant connection. The near soul mate one true love level of devotion these two have for each other. The way he rises to affluence is so very believable. Who wouldn't use the same tactic to better their lot in life?

The only complaint is I wanted Tom to be a bit more of a threat, or I wanted more in this world. Maybe I just want more Jay and Daisy once I got them. I am a little guilty of mentally screaming "Now, Kiss!" at these two as soon as she figured out who he was. It just felt so very fitting in my opinion and I wanted nothing but the best for these two.

Daisy in this retelling is having to overcome some of the same traumas that a lot of us deal with with past partners. Being put down, accepting love from someone we shouldn't because it's easy or we don't know any better or because we think it's the closest we'll get to what we lost. Jay's level of absolute unhinged devotion, building absolutely everything for her, is something that still warms the heart and makes me giggle. If you already like the Great Gatsby, this book is a great modern retelling. It is absolutely phenomenal. And if you've never liked the Great Gatsby like I didn't? Still, pick it up. You might surprise yourself. Rebecca has outdone herself again and I am incredibly eager to read more of these retellings to enjoy them and see what twists and turns they'll take.

Pretty decent read. The plot was intriguing, the romance was there for me. Just didn't have the overall wow factor for me.

Another fantastic story by Rebecca Kenney. This author has a gift when it comes to reimaginings. She builds up the worlds with lush details and vibrant imagery. Her characters are always relatable in some way, and she creates their personalities and the relationships between them in a way that makes it feel very real while you’re reading her work.

This story told a beautiful tale about love. Daisy’s experiences were one that many of us may have had at one point. Childhood loves and losses, relationship secrets and struggles, and finding a way back to yourself after everything is said and done. The story had this sweet and elegant feel to it while also including a supernatural aspect filled with mystery, thrills, and spice. Daisy and Jay were adorable together. The way he always carried love for her regardless of the time spent apart, and she did the same! The second chance aspect of this story was honestly my favorite. Getting to read about them finding their way back to each other and learning about all the steps taken to get to that point was very heartwarming. I loved this one so much!

"Beautiful Villain" by Rebecca Kenney offers a mesmerizing modern retelling of "The Great Gatsby" infused with a dark, supernatural twist. Set against the lush backdrop of the North Carolina countryside, this version trades the glitzy New York City setting for a more intimate yet equally opulent locale, where Jay Gatsby's lavish parties now come with an enticing offer of paranormal powers.

Kenney's reimagining breathes new life into familiar characters. Daisy Finnegan, no longer the insipid socialite of the original, embarks on a transformative journey from a sweet, accommodating girl to a powerful woman discovering her voice and magical abilities. Jay Gatsby, now a brooding and enigmatic vampire, retains his mysterious allure while showcasing a more intense, ruthless side that adds depth to his character.

The infusion of Irish folklore and a unique magical system enriches the narrative, though some attempts at scientific explanations of fantasy elements felt a bit forced. Nevertheless, the story remains captivating and well-executed. The dynamic between the new age vampires and their traditional counterparts introduces an exciting layer of conflict, maintaining suspense and intrigue throughout.

Kenney's exploration of themes like humanity, immortality, and the disparity between the affluent and the less privileged resonates well within the story's contemporary setting. The romance between Gatsby and Daisy is both nostalgic and fresh, with their reconnection feeling heartfelt and genuine.

Overall, "Beautiful Villain" stands out as a clever and imaginative reworking of a classic, blending romance, mystery, and fantasy seamlessly. It's a delightful read that fans of both "The Great Gatsby" and supernatural tales will enjoy. Four stars for a brilliantly executed retelling that promises more exciting adventures in future installments.

I love Rebecca's Wicked Darlings series, so when I saw this come up on NetGalley, it was an immediate request. The Great Gatsby is such an icon, and I couldn't wait to see her retelling. But now, after having finished reading it, I'm left a bit underwhelmed.
The plot was very choppy. One minute, there was action and movement and happenings. Then the next, everything was stagnant. The lulls were filled with disjointed dialogue, rushed sexual encounters, or side characters that popped in and out for no reason. There were also multiple plot lines; some were drawn out and some ended rather quickly with another subplot immediately filling its place. The story could have done with some structuring to be more cohesive throughout.
Daisy was fine as a FMC. She definitely grew throughout the story. While she didn't get her act together, I do feel like she's more on the right track. I dislike how she went from pitying herself over her ex to moving in with another guy a few months later almost as if her entire self worth depended on a man's approval. But maybe she'll find her calling in the sequel.
Jay's character was kind of a mess. I never saw the alphamale side of him. Just the lovesick puppy he really was. I needed him to go feral over Daisy, at least once, but he never did. He never "saved" her either; Jordan and Nick did. I feel like he tried so hard to be the "perfect guy" that he instead became a caricature of a real man.
The love story seemed... lacking. It felt very immature, as if they were still in their high school days. And I didn't really feel their connection. I think the story may have benefitted from having Jay's POV, at least for a handful of chapters, making his character, feelings, and motivations more fleshed out. Instead we were just repeatedly told he did everything for Daisy.
I also believe some mystery with twists would have made the story more enjoyable. The immortality plot line would have been a great twist if done properly (and not mentioned in the blurb). As well as the big bad. But everything was handed to Daisy and Jay on silver platters, which took some of the intrigue out of it.
I did like how Jay explained their way of turning vampires was more scientific than biological. And he was (mostly) turning those with the greatest need, such as doctors, nurses, emergency services, terminally ill, etc. He wasn't just turning people for the hell of it. I know Daisy claims he's "playing God" in that regard, but I actually think it makes more sense than changing anyone and everyone.
One of my favorite parts was the primal play scene. Give me alllll the primal sex scenes!

While this book didn't WOW me as much as I had hoped, I did like it enough to read the next book.

3.5/5 stars.

A paranormal/fantasy re-telling of the Great Gatsby, filled with extravagant parties and vampires.

Daisy has recently broken up with her long-term boyfriend, Tom, after he cheated on her. She thinks back to the better times: her time spent with Jay Gatsby, her childhood sweetheart. When Daisy and her family moved away, they lost touch, but now he's here, in her town.. hosting extravagant parties... however Jay is not quite the same as she remembers.

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I do love a re-telling, especially a fantasy re-telling! I really loved Daisy and Jay's connection and chemistry, and the 'friends to lovers' trope. There we also a few references to Twilight in here that did make me smile!

I did feel as though some plot points moved too fast, e.g., the final showdown, and some dialogue was a bit juvenile. However, with that being said, I did enjoy reading this book and read it in one go!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this copy. This review is voluntary.

This was so good! It definitely was a great Gatsby retelling, I loved the twist and the magical additions!! The hints throughout the book were subtle but intriguing, making you want more! The way the characters talked gave me an off putting vibe sometimes, I think my head was stuck on the original Gatsby too much!. But this was a fast paced, thrilling read!

3.5/5

I really liked this book, the concept was really interesting, I've never watched or read The Great Gatsby so I have absolutely no idea which parts were taken from the og but it's still a really good book.

I really liked Daisy and I related to her to some point especially when she had no idea what to do with her uni degree and didn't study what she wanted, it's what I'm scared of at uni and it's cemented so much that I do have monthly breakdowns

Jay is wow, I don't know if I mean that wow in a good or bad way, it's a bit of both I guess. There was moments that I didn't particularly like him, and I don't know why, something about him just irked me I guess.

Also mush as I loved this book during the beginning when Jay and Daisy started arguing about the same thing for the millionth time, I was done. It was really childish in my eyes and also the ending was rushed af.

I really enjoyed this book......The Great Gatsby had always been one of my favorite classics and I was skeptical about it being reimagined with a fantasy/paranormal story line. I am so happy to say that this was definitely worth the chance. I liked the glimpses of the original but I loved how she took the story and truly made it her own. Highly recommend this book. And the physical copy.....just beautiful with the gorgeous green sprayed edges. I already ordered a copy for my shelves. Thank you Rebecca and I can't wait to read Dorian Gray's story next!

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3 🌶️.... there's a primal/chase scene. 😏⁣⁣
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I didn't know I needed this until I got the paperback arc and read it. I remember when I read The Great Gatsby in highschool, I HATED it. I hated Daisy so much. I know hate is a strong word, but I stand by it. Lol 😅 ⁣⁣
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So when I saw that Beautiful Villain is a Gatsby retelling but with Vampires, I knew Gatsby would live. Lol I had a good time reading it. Definitely had fun. ⁣⁣
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Jay and Daisy were friends when they were younger. You can even say, they were in love, but Jay just ran away from home. Left Daisy heartbroken. Years later, they meet again, and Jay is a very rich man now. But Jay is not the same man.....maybe Daisy is not the same woman either. 👀 ⁣⁣
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There were times when I thought it was too cheesy and some things were too rushed, not enough background information, but I still enjoyed it. I love a possessive hero. And I didn't hate this Daisy. Lol⁣⁣
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This is my first read by Rebecca, and I need to read more of her books. ⁣
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Thank you to Netgalley, @sourcebookscasa, and @dreamscape_media for my early arc and audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the advanced copy of this book!

So I wanted to read this solely because of my faith in Rebecca to write an entertaining story. My unpopular bookish opinion is that I actually HATED The Great Gatsby, but having read Kenney's A Court of Sugar and Spice I had a feeling that while the inspirations of Gatsby would be there this story would be something all its own and better. I was not disappointed.

Beautiful Villain takes a new twist on modern vampire lore which I found interesting and different. Jay's approach to Vampirism and business was something I haven't come across previously and I found it to be so realistic to what I think would actually happen in the real world. Daisy surprised me in a good way. I appreciated so much her ability to reflect on her past relationship and acknowledge the red flags and to not shrink in the face of her ex or to rely on others to protect her. She stands up for herself and is also able to reflect on her own shortcomings. Overall an enjoyable and fun read and I look forward to what comes next.

The Great Gatsby but with a vampire twist! Jay and Daisy are childhood friends who haven’t seen each other in years. Daisy is in college and just got out of a controlling/abusive relationship. She comes across Jay, who she grew up with, and they instantly kick it off like no time has passed! Daisy, however, does have a lot of questions regarding Jay and wants to know what is different about him. Jay keeps telling her that he will explain everything in time but doesn’t want to rush anything.

The connection between these two characters is everything! They have a bond and love for each other that will always be protected by them. This book kept me engaged and wanting to read more. I didn’t want to put it down! The trickle of spice was good! Wasn’t too much but was just enough!! I enjoyed all of it!

#BeautifulVillain:⁣
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Thank you @sourcebookscasa @librofm @dreamscape_media for my gifted copies!⁣
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“This isn’t a fairy tale. The beast doesn’t turn into a prince through the power of love—it’s the other way around. I always preferred the beast anyway.”⁣
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Vampires are back baby! (To be fair, I don’t think they ever left, but just in case you felt they did leave, they’re back) ⁣
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If you’re unaware of Rebecca F Kenney’s work, it’s usually saucy and fun reimagined stories. I like them because they’re not the same retelling x 1000000. Gatsby isn’t my favorite FSG book, so I didn’t know how I would feel about a retelling. Well, I loved it. It was a fun twist with the touch of vampires and Jay wasn’t totally insufferable!⁣
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Audio was definitely where it’s at. Ruby Cherise read The Sacred Stones series and I loved their narration. It was just as great for Villains. ⁣
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So if we’re gonna hit key points: Jay isn’t insufferable to me, Daisy is a stronger FMC, vampires are cool especially when they have a moral system on not just sucking everyone dry, the spice is there but it’s not Georgia in July heat, just like Georgia in April after the last frost, audio is amazing.⁣
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Out now! ⁣
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I’m out of creative questions, so please ask me one and I’ll answer 💚