I absolutely love when a book has little nods to a fairytale I loved as a kid and this one did not disappoint! Phoenix was the Beast, or so it seemed. Holland was Belle, reluctant and ready to leave, until all that changed. The immediate tension of rivals to lovers (very Beauty and the Beast like), was the perfect springboard for the rivals to lovers plot line. The banter was cute and fun, but the characters still had plenty of depth and trauma to work through. Loved this one so much!

⭐ My rating: 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
❤️‍🔥 Spice: none (kisses only)
⚠️ CW: death of sibling (past), toxic family

First thing’s first: thank you Netgalley for the ALC of this book!
Beauty and the Beach by Gracie Ruth Mitchell has many of my favorite tropes:
Fake marriage ✅
Forced proximity ✅
Enemies to lovers ✅
Phoenix and Holland have known each other for a very long time and have been at each other’s throats almost as long. Phoenix was best friends with Holland’s older brother, the brother who tragically passed far too young. He’d promised her brother he would take care of her, a vow he’s taken very seriously despite the fact that they hate each other. She’s in a bad position financially and he needs a wife to inherit his family’s business. The grandmother who set the rules for inheritance is not doing well, so she agrees to marry him for the summer. Unfortunately for both of them, she makes a miraculous recovery and they both find themselves with more than they bargained for.

I loved this book! I can’t believe I waited so long to actually listen to it! It was well narrated and dual POV, which I love. This book actually made me laugh out loud a few times while the main characters were arguing back and forth. We also love a romance without a third act breakup 🙌🏻 The characters were funny and even after they gave in to their feelings for each other they kept teasing each other. I do wish we’d have had a little more time for their actual relationship to build because it felt a little 0 to 60, but overall I really enjoyed this one.
4.25⭐️

A very cute and summery marriage of convenience romance! I would’ve liked more romantic tension earlier in the book (rather than just the tension between two people who despise each other), but it was overall a very fun read.

Read this if you like:
•Marriage of Convenience
•Forced Proximity
•Small Towns
•My Wife/You’re Mine
•Grumpy X Sunshine
•Angry Kissing
•Banter
•Nicknames
•Only One Bed
•Comforting after Nightmares
•Brother’s Best Friend
•Family Drama

This is a closed-door romance, and I really don’t remember there being any foul language. A great book for clean romance readers!☀️

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for sending me an advanced audio copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions above are my own.

Okay this is a tough one because the story was fun! But the audiobook was just not it. The narrators definitely made it hard to read and I ended up finishing the book on kindle because I could listen anymore… but the story was cute love a good enemies to lovers + marriage of convenience and this was that for sure!

GUYS. However much hype you’ve seen about this book, IT IS NOT ENOUGH. Enjoy the caps, because that’s how much I LOVED this book! ;)

This story is a prime example of how closed door romance still brings the heat 🔥🔥 these two were primed to combust, they just had to figure out in which direction to explode 😂 the forced proximity due to their marriage was absolutely delicious and I adored every second. The heavier topics discussed added so much to their closeness and I loved seeing them grow stronger as they grew together. This story was also packed with so many surprises, she definitely kept me on the edge of my seat!

I don’t know how else to convince you to read this incredible book (did I mention the first kiss that altered my brain chemistry? 🥵) but please read it, and thank me later 😉

Thank you to the author for the ALC of Beauty and the Beach!! I loved this story and the narrators did a great job! First, I love dual POV especially when each main character has its own narrator. I loved Phoenix’s character, even though he comes from a lot of money he’s very down to earth. I really loved the opposite character of Holland, and their cute nicknames for each other, playing on their real names. Overall it was super cute, and I loved the setting of Sunset Harbor!

I really love this author's writing and this fake marriage plot was so fun! I love the setting of these summer books and I look forward to reading all of the collaborative books.
The emotional depth between these characters and what they shared in the past (so sad!) was tender and special and I loved reading about them truly falling for each other. The audiobook was well done and well paced.

Phoenix and Holland FOREVER!!! Gracie Ruth Mitchell has done it again. This book was AMAZING! Her writing is so spunky and witty and it hit both the romance and the comedy so perfectly to give you everything you want in a romcom.

The chemistry between Phoenix and Holland was off the charts! Their teasing and banter are FIRE and I adored every single second and highlighted a ridiculous number of quotes. I just about died with every new nickname Holland gave Phoenix. Hilarious!

I loved the flashbacks and the meet cute. Every piece of the plot just got better and better. Grief and heavier topics were mixed in creating a balance with the humor and romance and making me feel all the things.

If you can’t tell, I’m obsessed. I just wanted to sit and be completely consumed by this story. I was squealing and kicking my feet at how utterly romantic it was.

The narrators were fantastic, especially the female narrator!

🔥: Kissing

I cannot say enough good things about this series. Each author gave their unique story but they all tied together so wonderfully. They are adorable romances and each one is so special and cute in its own way. I love the small town island charm and how people seems to find different versions of themselves throughout these stories. So very well done- I’d recommend them as stand alones or a series to anyone! Perfect summer reads!

Thank you @Dreamscape_Media and @netgalley for a #gifted copy of this audiobook.

"Falling for him is scary...but trying not to fall for him has been torture. So I spread my wings and prepare to jump."

Rating: 4.75⭐️

Summary: Though Holland would rather be fake married to anyone else, Phoenix is the one she must pretend to like. It's only for a few months until his grandmother passes and then they could go their separate ways. Except for the fact that his grandmother had a miraculous recovery.... Now what are they to do??

Thoughts: Welcome to my favorite book in this series so far!! Ahhh I always love a good fake marriage, especially when those two are enemies. This was everything!! The banter and pranks were top-notch. But when they needed to support each other, they were the sweetest. I loved how they slowly transitioned from hating one another and avoiding a certain tragic night to becoming friends who cared about what happened to each other and finally realizing their feelings for one another. Once they realized their true feelings, I loved that they communicated them immediately, with no second thoughts. Ahhh I love when a book makes me smile and not want to stop listening, and this one was it!!

Rylee Kuberra and John Rogers did such a fabulous job with this audio. Their voices brought Holland and Phoenix to life for me, almost feeling like I was a side character in Sunset Harbor!!

A lighthearted romantic comedy that brings a delightful twist to the classic enemies-to-lovers trope. Set against a vibrant beach backdrop, the story follows two strong-willed protagonists whose clashing personalities spark an unexpected and entertaining romance. Mitchell's witty writing and charming character dynamics make this a fun, breezy read that captures the essence of a summer fling while exploring themes of self-discovery and love. Perfect for fans of feel-good romances.

Another favorite of mine from the series. The fake marriage trope was fun, and Phoenix’s transformation was engaging. I think a little more spice would have elevated the chemistry, but overall, this one had the right mix of humor and heart.

Although I have been enjoying reading this series so far, this one just didn’t resonate with me like the others have. The majority of the book just seemed a little too far fetched and unbelievable. I also didn’t connect with the main characters and if they had broken up and gone their separate ways at the end of the book, there would have been no love lost on my part.

Beauty and the Beach is another great addition to the Falling for Summer Series. You can jump in and enjoy any of these books in any order. I am loving reading the series in order even though it isn’t necessary to do so.

This story is definitely a true “enemies to more” trope. Phoenix and Holland are enemies and have been for years. There are some deep and painful reasons for this enmity which is explored through flashbacks. Be aware that Holland’s brother, who was also Phoenix’s best friend, died years earlier and his death is one of the things that Holland really needs to work through.

Yet, even though there are deep and serious issues that these two have faced in the past and must work through in the future, this novel is packed with fun one liners, snarky comments, and two people who have a very deep connection with each other. Enemies who must work together in a marriage of convenience certainly upped the tension!

I listened to the audio book and really enjoyed both of the narrators. They did a great job of bringing this story to life.

I received a complimentary copy of this audio book and purchased the ebook. All opinions are my own.

Holland and Phoenix were the perfect enemies to marriage of convenience to lovers. It was a bumpy ride but fun to watch the characters get there. Fish were left in mailboxes, Oreo cream was replaced by toothpaste. The pranks were hilarious.
Phoenix needs to marry so he can inherit his family’s company before his wretched Grandmother passes away. Holland is up to her eyeballs in debt due to medical bills and most recently getting scammed on the and also paying for her younger sister’s college. So naturally the two of them getting married is perfect. They will help each other out. Holland and Phoenix have a history together. Her brother was best friends with Phoenix until a car accident changed their lives for ever. Not only does Holland fight the nightmares she’s had from her past, but she is also fighting the attraction she has towards her fake husband.
When an out comes about in their relationship will they take it and go their separate ways or will they remain married and see how that will work?
I listened to an advanced copy of this story. The narrators did such a wonderful job bringing the characters and the story to life. It was so easy to follow and made me feel like I was right along with the characters.
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for my advanced copy. These words are my own.

Holland and Phoenix are so adorable together. They are both grieving after the loss of her brother/his best friend and think they can't stand each other. The witty banter between them is perfection and the transition to romance so fun to read. There are some deeper topics covered in this book and I liked how the author blended them with lighter moments. I listened to the audiobook and the narration is fantastic and well-suited for the characters.

This was seriously the cutest read! Hate to Love, marriage of convenience and chock full of witty banter and pranks! I can't count how many times I laughed out loud. Their nicknames for each other get better and better throughout the book. Now I'm going to have to hunt down this authors backlist!

4⭐, 0.75🌶️

A Marriage of Convenience with her brothers best friend and they share a past trauma?! Yes please! This book was so dang good! I feel like we haven't gotten a lot of Phoenix and Holland in the prior books of this series and that's okay, cause I still really enjoyed their story! The drama of Phoeix's family was so entertaining, and their shared history regarding Holland's brother kept me so curious (and broke my heart when we found out what happened!) This is probably tied for my fave of the series and even as a clean romance, I was gripped.

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

ALC Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Beauty and the Beach is the fifth book in the multi-author interconnected series Falling for Summer.

Holland’s identity has been stolen resulting in her finances going from tight to nonexistent. After learning there isn’t anything the authorities can do, she reluctantly agrees to marry Phoenix Park so he can inherit his family business. While the two have known each other for years, their complex and troubled past has created a huge chasm in their relationship. Will they be able to set aside their differences in order to help one another other or will their disdain prove too difficult?

I had the pleasure of listening to this book on audio. It was narrated by Rylee Kuberra and John Rogers. Not only did they do a fantastic job bringing the story to life, their voice acting was top notch!

This audiobook features:
-marriage of convenience
-forced proximity
-brother’s best friend
-billionaire MMC
-banter
-small island town
-Dual POVs

*I cannot wait to read more from Gracie Ruth Mitchell!!!

Special thanks to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and Gracie Ruth Mitchell for allowing me to listen to this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was fantastic!! Phoenix and Holland’s chemistry and their battles (I mean, a kissing battle?! Come on!!) are hilarious and swoony. I loved this marriage of convenience romcom!