A sapphic retelling of beauty and the beast has been something that i've been waiting for a while now and I finally found one!

The beginning of this novel is told with a much slower pace as the rest of the novel. The second part was much more enjoyable and fast pace. I thoroughly liked both parts but favored the second a bit. The romance and sweet even though it only takes place throughout the second half.

Overall this was a charming retelling that everyone should pick up!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received an arc of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The misadventures of an amateur naturalist was a pretty good book. I really enjoyed this book because I love nature so seeing the main character exploring her forests was nice. I liked how slow the sapphic romance was in this book. It allowed it to have great character development for everyone. I really liked the writing style the author had and the setting and plot sere expertly done

The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist is a cute, fun book. The writing is truly amazing, and makes the story flow really well. That being said, the beginning of the book, before we ever meet 'the beast', kind of drags a bit and could have been shorten; for a retelling of basically a romance fairy tale, it could have also been more focused on the romance part.

Still, though, it's a quick and easy read, for a fun afternoon.

This started off a bit slowly but once Celeste arrived at the chateau it was amazeballs and I. Could. Not. Put. It. Down. I loved the two MCs so much and the juxtaposition between science and magic was just [chefs kiss] superb.

Had I known going into this that it was a retelling, I probably wouldn't have bothered. I have never got on with retellings. I don't really see the need for them but the fact this was sapphic definitely redeemed it. It wasn't bad, and I wasn't bored but I wouldn't be going out of my way to pick up another

im not a huge historical fiction fan but I really enjoyed this book! 5/5 this was amazing and I loved binge reading this!

Un retelling HERMOSO de la Bella y la Bestia lesbiano -a partir de la segunda mitad del libro-.
Gracias a leer las reseñas de este libro, aprendí el significado de la palabra "sapphic" y me gustó jjsjsj.
El desarrollo de la historia sirvió para conocer a Celeste y todo lo que le estaba pensando. Me encantó como se fue desarrollando y como salió de su zona de confort. Gracias al impulso que tomó pudo redescubrirse y seguir sus sueños.
Al chabón, es todo lo que está bien. No era un Gastón pero como que me dió penita.
Tambien me dió penita la hermana, el chabón te tiraba palos y vos pensaste que te amaba, pero no, le gustaba tu hermana. Sufrí con lo que le pasó, pobrecita.
En fin, la historia de Bridgitte fue la más triste despues de la de Eloise. Casi lloro.

Sapphic Beauty and the Beast? Sign me up.

I LOVE a bluestocking moment and really enjoyed Celeste's quirky ways. I enjoyed the historical fiction bits and reading about sexuality and gender. In this time period. I also liked the small cast of characters and depictions of life and class in their small town.

The first half is very slow moving and made me question what exactly this book was--one of my normal old times relationship books or something else entirely, but when she got to the manor I realized it was something else entirely. It was certainly a surprise when she went from tracking the beast as an animal to the lovestory arc more than half way through the book.

Overall, an enjoyable read but probably not one of the first I would recommend.

This story kept me hooked for days, completely addicted to its gripping, mysterious and emotional twists and turn. Such a fun and whimsical read!!

honestly the cover of this book was what drew me to it, but i’m so glad i did read it as it was just so great! this is like a sapphic retelling of beauty and the beast, but feels a lot more like historical fiction than a fantastical retelling. the first half gives us a chance to know celeste, but i’ll admit it is a bit slow-moving. the second part about her time with the beast was the highlight for me, but i did still enjoy the whole book! i think there’s a sort of disappointment around not meeting the beast until so late on, but it still worked for me and made for an overall enjoyable read!!

i adored celeste. i loved how the author managed to put their own spin on beauty and the beast. you could still see elements of it but it still felt something new, especially the first part. execution was half way though. it took too long to get the story going and it was a little more than halfway that the love interest was met. while i loved the romance too, i wish there had been more of it. i would say this is on the higher end of 3.25 though.

I love a retelling of a classic story, particularly when the author takes the time to dig in to the characters in a new way and in this case we get a Sapphic retelling. Unlike other retellings of the Beauty and the Beast the book is still anchored in a historical setting, which provides the reader a sense of realism. For example, the names of characters are actually French. I really enjoyed the setting, and for some moments it felt like I was reading more historical fiction than fantasy.

The Misadventures of an Amatuer Naturalist is broken out in to two parts, and part one is all about Celeste. Celeste is an amatuer scientist, a naturalist. She is passionate about her work, and like other versions of "Beauty" we have seen cares little about the traditional things women should do. For example, in the first scene of the book she makes a point of explaining she had chosen a small, slower pony because unlike the grander horses, she wouldn't need anyone's help to mount him. Of course this is in Victorian times so she only gets so far before the someone tries to marry her off.

We don't get to see the Beast until part 2, which I have to be honest I was waiting for rather impatiently. The scenes with the Beast are lovely and I'll really liked that while the beast was only in the second half of the book the relationship between Celeste and Beast didn't feel rushed.

The only part of the book I took a little issue with was the pacing. The actual writing was beautiful, lyrical in a way we don't typically see in YA books. However, it was a little slow. Since the book was a retelling and most of the audience already knows where the book is leading, it takes an awfully long time to get there. Thankfully, according to Goodreads, there will be a book 2 so we have more to learn about the adventures of Celeste and the Beast.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars - Original retelling of the Beauty and the Beast

First of all: just take a look at this cover! This might be one of the most beautiful and appropriate book covers I have seen in a while! And in this case you are pretty well served to judge a book by its cover, as well.

The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist is a sapphic and rather loose retelling of The Beauty and the Beast: Celeste is an aspiring naturalist in the late 19th century when her family goes bankrupt and all of her dreams shatter in an instant as a future of poverty and struggle presents itself instead. Due to some rather unfortunate misunderstanding she is foced into a situation with even bleaker prospects and she runs away in the deep winter, getting lost in the woods and being eventually rescued from freezing to death by an enigmatic beast. And so Celeste grasps her chance to study this unique creature, hoping it will aid her in setting up a new life by finding an apprenticeship as a proper, professional naturalist.
There is more to the story of course, but I would rather not spoil the details and it is very much worth reading for yourself. The writing is just lovely, flowing off the pages, which turn themselves rather effortlessly.

I was very fond of the characterizations in this book: it is full of insights into human behaviour and how (societal) expectations and relationships can influence and shape you. It was also very well observed in terms of what being faced with having to live a life that is not on your own terms and that does not allow you to be yourself can do to someone.

I liked Celeste a lot, who was going very scientifically and methodically about her research and was at the same time very observant and emphatic. I could relate to the way she acted at all times and just loved reading about her meeting the beast and getting to know it better.

You just could not help but root for the happy end that you could very much count on. This retelling takes place in France, just like the Disney version, and while it is quite clear that there will be a happily ever after (it is a fairy tale after all), in this version there is not a happy end for everyone involved. And while this was painful, I also much appreciated that the author resisted sugarcoating all loose ends and tying them up all nice and neat with a red bow.

I have one tiny nitpick though: the story takes place in France, but mostly this feels just slapped on, with no deeper knowledge of the country, language or aspects of the culture. The bakery serves Plum Pudding and Figgy Pudding around christmastime, people kiss unter mistletoes and there are some errors with French phrases that people utter occasionally. (For example "bonne nuit" is misspelled, and some of the names do not sound very French at all, like "Michele" - it should be either "Michel" for a guy or "Michelle" for a girl).

That's really just a nitpick though - overall I adored reading this and am rather surprised that this is an independent publication. I am sure going to keep my eye out for anything else the author might write!

I have received a review copy via NetGalley and voluntarily provide my honest opinion. Thank you very much!

I loved this sooooo much more than I was anticipating! I really fell in love with Celeste and her brilliant, determined mind. She is truly an inspiration and one of my favourite protagonists ever!

This book was eerie yet heartwarming which is perfect for the Halloween season if you're not so into full-on scary books 👻 this book made me feel so warm and cozy and fuzzy and all the great things that you need to feel during the autumn!

I highly recommend this one and can't wait to see what comes next in Celeste's story

I genuinely loved this book so much. Beauty and the Beast was one of my favorite Disney movies when I was younger and I was so excited to see a sapphic retelling. I've seen reviews that said that the first part was too long and we had too much plot that took place before Celeste even left the village but I thought it was perfect. The storytelling and imagery in that part were some of my favorite things and I enjoyed all the politics and misunderstandings. The second part that took place with the BEast was also amazing. I enjoyed the first part more, I think character interactions and the political plot are definitely Langley's forte. All the characters were extremely well-rounded and the plot was clearly well thought out and well deserved. All in all an amazing read.

[Rating: somewhere between 4.5 and 5] Oh wow! This book is a wild ride and I’m so happy I got to go on this journey with Celeste. Yes, it’s a (somewhat loose) sapphic retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but it’s also so much more. For better or for worse, I was completely immersed in this book, and it’ll be one of my standout reads of the year.

Set in 1860s France, this book follows Celeste Rossan, a 17-year-old aspiring naturalist who dreams of attending the Exposition Universelle in Paris. She’s a well-developed main character whose fears, flaws, and desires we get to know intimately. She lives in the town of La Baie Doree alongside her widowed father and stylish sister Genevieve, and we're also introduced to a large cast of side characters, all of whom are well-actualized and most of whom are likable. When her good friend Etienne, who enjoys hunting, sees signs of a mysterious new creature in the forest, Celeste is determined to work with him to find the beast and thus gain acclaim as a naturalist.

The “Misadventures” part of the title is not to be taken lightly. Celeste constantly finds herself in situations that sent my anxiety through the roof. The first ~40% of the book focuses on her misadventures in her hometown, and during this part I got so anxious I wasn’t sure how much more I could take. The secondhand embarrassment, the dread, a certain god-awful side character…whew! While it wasn’t always pleasant to read this part, my heightened emotional state speaks to the strength in Langley’s writing.

The remaining ~60% is set in an abandoned manor, where Celeste eventually meets the Beast. When she first arrives at the manor, (imo) it takes a bit too long to get to the point. About 10%(?) of the book involves Celeste meandering around the manor, trying to glean information while only observing the Beast from a distance (though there is an intensely lovable side character to help make this part more enjoyable). When Celeste and the Beast finally start communicating, they’re so sweet and lovely with each other! Many scenes reminded me of a historical One Last Stop, because the main character takes on a detective role to solve the mystery of her new friend’s existence (and for other wonderful reasons that I’ll let you discover on your own)!

I loved the budding relationship between Celeste and the Beast so much! There’s a skill in crafting a potential romance between a human and a mysterious creature that doesn’t feel weird and off, and I think Langley did a wonderful job walking that fine line. I ADORED the moment Celeste realizes her feelings for the Beast! It’s so clever and well-done, and when she finally admits it, I SWOONED. Trust me, it’s the sweetest, most tender thing and is not weird at all.

For several reasons, I’m so glad this book is the first in a series. First, the Celeste/Beast relationship is just beginning, I love their dynamic so much, and I can’t wait to read more about them! Second, so much of this book is focused on setting the scene, and I think some plot points suffered a bit. Future books in the series would be able to build on this well-crafted world and answer some lingering questions. Third, I’m hoping for changes to some of Celeste’s attitudes. In this book she kind of turns her nose up at femininity and tries to figure out how to cater to the men of her desired profession. While I realize the necessity of this attitude given the time period, I’m hoping that in the second book Celeste will meet some badass women scientists and learn to embrace a more feminist attitude (just like she starts to question whether hunting for sport is okay)!

In short, this book left a great impression on me and I’ve found a new gem in Langley’s writing! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

content warnings: animal violence/hunting, animal death, blood, coerced marriage, death of a loved one, gore, guilt, hallucinations, manipulation, memory loss, misogyny, gun violence

I received an ARC from Feed the Writer Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is pure joy, a whimsical, feminist and sapphic Beauty & The Beast retelling. It’s a story about delicious chocolate glazed cheesecakes, dark and deep Winter nights, and a thirst for adventure.

“The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist” has an exceptionally long title – it reminds me of those Middle Grade stories I used to read. This is, of course, a Young Adult novel but it retains the cheer and the quirky way of storytelling that often dissipates from books intended for older audiences.

The book is divided into two parts – the first one takes place in a coastal French town where Celeste has lived her whole life. She longs to explore the world beyond its borders and spends her days in the forest cataloguing the wildlife. Celeste was an amazing protagonist – she was smart and funny, and she longed to be a naturalist. She worked hard to reach that goal, and with time, I could feel her passion as if it were my own.

We do not meet the Beast until the second part, but I did not feel like it lessened the bond Celeste and she formed. Celeste is the narrator of this story and therefore it was crucial for us to know her character outside of their relationship. I loved the Beast, too, although the mystery of what happened was pretty easy to figure out.

If you are looking for a relatively short story and original fairy tale retelling or just something fun and enjoyable give this book a try – I promise, you’ll devour it in a couple of days!

Celeste Rossan is a naturalist—at least, an amateur one, aspiring to be the real thing. However, that dream becomes out-of-reach when her father loses all of his money and she’s pressured into a marriage she never wanted. She runs away, only to find a unique beast in the forest, who, over time, she learns isn’t as bad as she initially thought.

This had a GREAT backstory which really helped me get into Celeste’s mind and her situation. I loved the writing style, too! If you love retellings and slowburn sapphic novels, look no further!

Sapphic beauty and the beast retelling. Need I say more?
A very unique retelling, filled with excellent characterisation, gripping atmosphere and slow-burn WLW romance. I was hooked from cover to cover, can't recommend highly enough!

this book was so beautiful, it's hard to describe.

I wanted to give it 3 stars in the beginning, but up until the end it just kept getting better and better, and when I tell you the ending was absolutely phenomenal- that's when I knew this book would become one of my favorites.

although it was hard for me to immerse myself in this story in the beginning, because of how slow it felt, after the 50% mark I truly couldn't put it down.

I absolutely loved how perfectly constructed and lovable, the main character celeste was, because that's what I value the most, as a character-driven reader.

"The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist" was truly one of the- if not the most beautifully written and poetic books I've ever read. it made me feel so many emotions, which is rare for me. for the last 10% of the story, I was looking at the pages wide and teary-eyed, and I'm not sure I even blinked. it was all just so overwhelmingly romantic and sweet, the only word I can think of to describe it is "lovely."

I regret not having had read this ARC the second I received it, because maybe then it would've felt even more special, somehow? nonetheless, this beautiful sapphic story is definitely something I recommend to everyone. it might not be for everyone, but I know that people who appreciate beauty in words, characters, or the atmosphere of books will absolutely adore this.