I don’t think this one was for me. I was excited for a Gatsby reimagining but it just never clicked for me.

I'm leaving my rating as a neutral 3 star due to the fact I DNFed the book at 41%.

I really enjoyed the narration done by Ruby Cherise. I would like to find more of her in the future. Her voice was very alluring and probably the only reason I stuck it out for as long as I did.

But lets get into why I DNFed...

I can understand the draw to this book and why others really enjoyed it, It deal with life and the struggle we have as individuals with a paranormal twist but for me it really was just kind of boring, unfortunately.

The Great Gatsby is a great story but when you bring it into modern times and add twilight elements it just ends up being weird. I also felt like there was a total disconnect with the spice of this book. The spice is good, from as far as I listened but it didn't' fit the setting of the book. It's kind of hard to explain.

Again, this is just my opinion so, take it with a grain of salt.

Genre: Paranormal Retelling

This is a modern retelling of The Great Gatsby with vampires. The characters’ names are the same (Daisy & Jay). If you have never read The Great Gatsby or don’t really remember it, you can still enjoy the book.
It has a college age contemporary cast and a few spicy scenes. I enjoyed the pacing and storyline with nods to the roaring twenties. It reminded me of a spicy Twilight.
I listened to it on audio and liked the narrator. I will read the next book in her series.

If you like paranormal romances & retellings, give this one a read!

Thank you Sourcebooks for the ARC! 🧛💚

Beautiful Villains is a WILD ride. All our favorite characters from Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby are here, but if you are a teacher looking for a modern retelling, this is not your best option because it is SPICY 🔥 It is so spicy, there's even an extra bonus spicy scene at the end that's set in the 1920s, where Daisy goes to a Gatsby party just before she marries Tom.
In the world of Beautiful Villains, Gatsby is a vamp, and Daisy is a FEMINIST! Somehow it's the second one that is more shocking to me. There were a lot of fun literary allusions, and an attempt to explain the science of vampirism along with a vampire Fitbit that tells them how hungry they are. Overall, this was an unexpectedly fun read with a weird allegory about making choices about your own body and mortality.
The audiobook was narrated by Ruby Cherise, who does an excellent job bringing Daisy's persuasive voice to life.
Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this advanced copy to review!

This book was……alright. I have loved Rebecca’s other books like Jack Frost and Captain Pan. This one fell a bit short for me. The FMC was so wishy washy. One minute she was strong and powerful and the next she was cowering and leaving. I liked the past connection between her and Jay and the growing friendship between her and Jordan, There could have been a little more spice in my opinion. One of my fave scenes was when Jay was shot and he flung himself out of the pool. Yum. Overall this was an okay story. I will read the others coming out though because all the stories seem very intriguing! Also loved the narrator of this audiobook.

Quotes:

Can’t say what we were, because there’s no word for it in this language, maybe not in any language.

Truth always forces a choice.

Even now, I can feel myself making space in my soul for the morally grey zone he inhabits. (Aren’t we all??)

You to know what I am? Well, if Jay Gatsby is the vampire king, as you called him, that would make me his queen.

Want a spicy read that feels fresh but also familiar? Look no further. Who would have thought that vampires and Gatsby would work so well together? Rebecca Kenney, apparently. I love Jay and Daisy’s story, and this was a great take on the classic! After the big vampire reveal, the plot seems to stall for a bit, but it wrapped up nicely and I’ll be recommending to all of my dark/fantasy lovers!

Beautiful Villain by Rebecca Kenney is a captivating and unconventional twist on the classic romance genre, skillfully blending elements of dark fantasy and intense emotional drama. From the very beginning, Kenney draws readers into a world where the lines between good and evil blur, challenging our perceptions of morality and love.

The protagonist, Daisy, is a complex and multi-dimensional character whose journey is as enthralling as it is heart-wrenching. What sets this book apart is its focus on a love story that unfolds between characters who are far from perfect. The titular "Beautiful Villain" is not your typical antagonist; instead, they are a deeply flawed individual with a backstory that elicits both sympathy and intrigue.

Kenney's writing is lush and evocative, painting vivid pictures of the settings and emotions that drive the story forward. The tension between the characters is palpable, and their interactions are charged with a mix of passion, conflict, and vulnerability. This dynamic keeps the reader hooked, eager to see how their relationship evolves and whether they can overcome their inner demons.

One of the standout features of Beautiful Villain is its ability to make readers question their own judgments and biases. The narrative challenges us to look beyond surface-level perceptions and understand the complexities that define each character. This depth makes the story not only engaging but also thought-provoking.

Overall, Beautiful Villain is a mesmerizing read that will appeal to fans of dark romance and character-driven stories. Rebecca Kenney has crafted a novel that is both emotionally intense and intellectually stimulating, making it a standout in its genre. If you're looking for a book that will challenge your notions of love and villainy, this is definitely one to add to your reading list.

...What to say about this book?
This is my first time reading a story with the male main character's specific mythical status in quite a long time. I've read this type of fantastical being in background characters and in plot devices recently, but our story really does end up focusing on what our male main character is and when I started this book and began to put together the clues that were being left for the reader, I was excited.
Unfortunately, I don't know that the end result of this book cemented deep interest in the type of mythological being that is discussed. Did our author create an interesting history for this fantastical creature in a modern world? She absolutely did! She also laid the groundwork for some interesting moral/ethical ideas that I'm assuming will be explored in future books if this becomes a series. But when all is said and done, I don't know how compelling the use of this creature is.
Now, our female main character is also blessed with an otherworldly feature that she discovers the power of throughout this story. I thought it was interesting to see this character explore and develop this skill in this book. And I do think the narrator for the audiobook very effectively demonstrated the main character's skill, which was a lovely addition to the audiobook. The reader is presented with a history for this skill as it pertains to the female main character, but if this book does progress to a series, I hope Kenny explores this subject even more as I think it provides a unique and interesting quality for our female main character.
With regards to romance, I was unfortunately rolling my eyes and leaning into disinterest through much of this book, which is saying something for a book being marketed as a romance novel. It's not that you can't sense chemistry or attraction between the two main characters, or that you aren't provided with enough information to give the relationship depth. The reader learns through narration about the depth of these two character's relationship in the past, which I feel would have been so much more impactful with flashback scenes. And for me, the real disappointment was the lack of deep conversation during these character's current day interactions considering the history provided by including information about their past.
Do I think this was a terrible book? No. It was just left wanting so much more. If you're looking for something with a mixture of romance, fantasy, and mythological/fantastical creatures, this may be a book for you!

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

This really misses the mark as a Gatsby retelling. What makes Gatsby so revered is Fitzgerald's ability to capture the flaws and struggles of humanity and the desire to achieve the American Dream (and how it's imperfect). These complex relationships and themes are missing from Beautiful Villain.

I also found that the characters having the same name and the same general plot was off-putting, I can't explain it. There wasn't enough difference between this and the original Gatsby to warrant a retelling. The paranormal aspect added absolutely nothing for me.

If you just need a spicy read, this would be adequate but don't read it for the Gatsby theme.

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the ARC. I am leaving my review voluntarily and honestly.

I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was basically the Great Gatsby meets Rhapsodic meets Twilight but make it spicy. I loved how this Daisy had a little more agency, how this Gatsby wasn't just a tool but also amazingly sweet. Some things I really enjoyed were the romance, the plot, and Gatsby himself.

I found Daisy to be a little immature and unreasonably jealous. Jay was also possessive, but I can forgive it since I'm totally okay with the alpha male personality that he exudes from the beginning. But Daisy was unreasonably jealous at times, and I couldn't stand it.

The spicy scenes were written well, and I loved the two of them together, and I'll be curious to see them in the next book. Definitely helps that the audiobook narrator did a great job bringing this to life.

Beautiful Villain is a Gatsby retelling with a spicy vampire twist. The book sets out to tell a specific tale, and I believe it achieved it. However, I struggled with the repetitive nature. It was obvious that Daisy’s previous relationship significantly shaped her growth; however, it was repeated so frequently that it started to lose my interest. In terms of the actual retelling, though, I thought Kenney did well both with modernizing the tale and adding the paranormal twist. I also enjoyed the relationship and reconnection between Daisy and Gatsby. Additionally, I appreciated the addition of science to the vampire twist. I wish Daisy’s power and family backstory was further explored, though. I read this via audiobook and felt that Ruby Cherise did well with the narration. In fact, the narration was a big reason I finished the book after initially struggling at the beginning. Overall, I’m glad the narration was well done as I ended up enjoying the book overall.

Overall Rating: 3.5⭐️

I've read a few Rebecca Kenney books that i have thoroughly enjoyed. I love her sense of adventure and of course, the spicy bits. This was no exception. She definitely turned the tale of The Great Gatsby into a modern, paranormal, story with intrigue and spice. I really enjoyed this but I think new adult isn't the age range for me. The characters are in their 20's and definitely act like it. The story is fun, with some nods to parts of the original text (like the quote that starts with "wouldn't it be sad if...") and i loved the audiobook narrator. Overall, a really good one, and i'm so glad she has finally gotten picked up by traditional publishing, but this wasn't my favorite book of hers. Can't wait to read more though from this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley, though all thoughts are my own.

A completely addictive reimagining of The Great Gatsby that I didn't want to put down. Finished with college, Daisy Finnegan is ready for the freedom of summer and to reconnect with her cousin Jordan. Jordan brings her to a house party where she finds herself face to face her childhood sweetheart Jay Gatsby. While there are still pieces of the boy she remembers, Jay is an entirely new man, both seductive and full of secrets.

Let me begin by saying, I'm a shifter girlie. But Rebecca F. Kenney is tempting me with vampires. This book was so good. It's intriguing and new yet also familiar. You don't have to be a Gatsby aficionado to enjoy it, but it definitely helped that I'd read it once long ago in high school. My favorite character was Daisy. Rebecca has such an interesting take on her and has given her a delicious character arc.

I highly recommend this one!

Beautiful Villain is a retelling of The Great Gatsby. I went into this book blind. I glanced at the summary quickly and knew it had to do with Gatsby but did not know what the twist was. This was an enjoyable read. However, I think Gatsby was a bit too flawless... I wish he had a bit more depth outside of being in love with Daisy and his past after he was separated from Daisy. I also wished there was more of Nick but I don't think it was an issue.

The last Gatsby retelling I read was a miss so I am glad this one was a hit. That being said, I am only familiar with the 2012 movie rather than the actual source material but this book made me want to pick up the original text source!

Think the Great Gatsby... meets vampires. BAM! There's your synopsis haha.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an ALC of this one, it was a fun one to listen to.

Jay Gatsby is the same billionaire you know from the stories.. but he's a vampire now. Daisy is still the same character as well, she's still human though... for now.. maybe?

I was really excited when I saw Rebecca posting about this one because the idea behind it is one of my favorite, a modern spicy retelling. And I can't not read a book about Vampires okay.

I definitely think I'll love this one more as a physical or ebook, mainly because while the story was good as an ALC, it didn't hold my attention as well as a physical version may have.

I can't say much more without spoiling the book, but if you like Rebecca's books I think you'll enjoy this one too.

This was my first book by this author. The Twilight-tinged Gatsby storyline was interesting. The author had done a great job of depicting Daisy’s inner world and the long detailed descriptions of Daisy’s surroundings didn’t detract from the story at all. I enjoyed how Daisy was such a strong character and that the steamy scenes underlined that sense of female empowerment. I rooted for Daisy as she tried to rebuild her life. The romantic storyline was slow but felt well paced and the connection between the two leads felt palpable. A very engaging read.

Tropes:
Childhood friends who lost touch to ❤️
Second chance
YA
Vampire Diaries vibes
Touch her and 💀
Gatsby retelling
“I did this for you”

3⭐️
3🌶️

The audio for this book does not disappoint! The book itself was great and the audio gives so much more depth to these characters. I think the narrators did a fantastic job.

Normally I am hesitant about reimagined classic stories, but Beautiful Villain was so fun! I always wished The Great Gatsby had a happy ending, and this book finally gave it to me. Through vampirism, Jay Gatsby is able to survive being shot rather than dying in his pool, and readers get to see justice for Jay and Daisy. Not only did we get justice, but also swoon-worthy romance, spicy hot smut, and a nail-biting fight scene. This book truly gave Scott Fitzgerald, William Shakespear, and Bram Stoker a run for their money. I keep recommending this book to everyone at my library and they are all so perplexed over the idea of The Great Gatsby plus vampires, but everyone loves it! I cannot wait for the world to read this book and fall in love with the idea of happy endings for our literary classics. The narration was also superb, and I hope Rebecca Kenney stays with her for any future stories!

I've really enjoyed Rebecca Kenney's indie published books so seeing her get a trad pub deal was so exciting. I liked the sound of this story. It's been a long time since I read a vampire romance. I enjoyed the nostalgic vibes this gave me. It reminded me of Twilight only smuttier and less broody. I loved the childhood friends to lovers. The vampires weren't some super secretive thing in this story. Which I appreciated. I liked the science aspect to how they become vampires. The audio narration was good although this would have been better with a duel pov. The romance was rather lacking for me. I didn't feel the chemistry between Jay and Daisy. I don't get the title because Jay is anything but a villain. There's also no real plot, it's all vibes. It's not a bad story but also not a standouts 3.5 stars