A very enchanting and enjoyable story. Izzy is thoroughly disillusioned with her work at a publishing house. She was hoping to advance to assistant editor but after two years, no go. When she overhears her boss talking about a way behind author. Izzy volunteers to go to his house and talk to him in person. Instead of a civil conversation, he is a bear. Due to other circumstances, she ends up staying at his home and working with him on his novel. She is the feisty spirit needed to light a match under him.She gets under his skin and causes him to really look at all the stuff he has avoided. I loved the banter between Izzy and Beau as they work on his memoir.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The book was such a cute RomCom. It was full of romance and comedy. I loved the beauty and beast reference and that it involved around books and writing. I thought the characters were good and easy to follow.

It was hard to get into the storyline at first. It was a slow start. The dialogue between the two characters seemed very immature at times and also more towards YA. I would recommend her other books over this one. But this book was still a cute and easy read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hyperion Avenue for this eARC.

Overall, this was a cute romcom that about a grump/sunshine couple who find themselves sharing a home while they work towards writing a manuscript. Definitely a light and easy read - I do love a grumpy/sunshine romance and there was some good banter here that had me smiling. I can def see the Beauty and the Beast influence here, which I think worked.

I think my biggest problem with it, which is becoming a trend in my thoughts toward Jasmine's books, is that there is not a lot of depth or character development. I never felt really attached to either MC. While I liked the progression of Izzy and Beau's relationship, I just wanted MORE out of this.

Rating: 3 stars

A book about writing a book-pretty much a flawless story line. This was a light romcom with a fade to black scene towards the end. I loved the banter between Beau and Izzy and Izzy's determination to help Beau finish his book. There's definitely some swoon worthy moments. This book is launching at the perfect time for a summer beach read!

Rating: 3.5

Even though Beauty and the Beast is one of the most retold stories, I don't think that took anything away from the book! Many other aspects shined bright, such as the clear representation within the publishing/writing industry as well as the cute interactions between the heroine, Izzy, and the handsome grump, Beau. It wasn't super steamy/spicy, but it didn't need to be because the intimate/tender moments were just as fun to read. I will say I got a bit frustrated at times because I felt like the plot wasn't progressing at a pace that I usually enjoy, however thats only because I hadn't realized it was going to be as much of a slow burn as it is.

The writing style is super light and easy to digest! This was my first Jasmine Guillory read, and it definitely won't be my last!

I recommend this for anyone looking for a cute and light rom-com!

Thank you NetGalley and Jasmine Guillory for the ARC!

This was my first Jasmine Guillory book, and it definitely won’t be my last. It was the perfect light and enjoyable romance read, and it was especially needed after reading a few heavy books. So what did I love about it…

✨grumpy/sunshine trope
✨another fun book about books
✨Isabelle’s (MC) positive but strong personality
✨California/NYC setting (both a fave)

Check out this book if you need a feel-good read! ♥️

I enjoyed it so much! This was a great Rom Com! Definitely recommend. I have read other books by Jasmine Guillory and this is one of my faves! Also THE COVERRRRR😍

4 stars

I love love love the story of beauty and the beast and this was a perfect ode to that story!! I'm not usually one to love retellings but this book did a great job in that aspect! I enjoyed the story, the representation and the characters too!

Also, that cover!! So so pretty!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion for the earc in return for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. Isabel and Beau are both a little lost. They come from such different worlds and yet they click so well. All the characters are well developed, the story rather unique and the ending more than satisfying.

Isabel, Izzy, is really good at her job even if her boss doesn't acknowledge or even seem to see it. She's got an amazing relationship with her parents, which is good since she's still living with them. She's loyal, a good friend, clever and smart. She's a ray of light in Beau's rather small, dark world.

Beau is rich and famous and hasn't always been the man he should. He's been so angry and harsh, especially with his mom. Beau is just the damaged guy I like so much in books. We see glimpses from the beginning that he's not the jerk the press makes him out to be. He runs hot and cold so fast Izzy can't keep up. What an amazing surprise to find he's been reading her increasingly nonsensical emails. He might just have the desire to write his book, and the talent, that he's not given any indication of so far. Can Izzy coerce a book out of him?

The book takes it's time, deliciously, developing the characters. Especially Beau. The more time he and Izzy spend together the more she learns about him and he learns about himself. Izzy's growing too in her confidence in her editing abilities. She's so loyal and honest and surprises Beau when she never peeks in his writing notebook. That's just how awesome she is. When Beau is finally honest with himself, Izzy and his memoir, we find a really good man where we thought we might.

As these two get closer and closer my heart soared. I wanted them to find the HEA so much. I also was glad to see them get the the lives they deserved. I literally laughed out loud and then cried at different parts. There was plenty of emotional range. The books was just a delightful way to spend a few hours. I definitely recommend it.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

By the Book is a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast with diverse characters and an intriguing plot set in the publishing/editing/author world. Much of the story takes place at the Beast's home where Beauty is staying to help him write a memoir that he has been putting off for some time. The romance is sweet and very closed door, which was different from Guillory's other novels for sure. I enjoyed the book, but its not my favorite Beauty and the Beast retelling. It was fun to draw comparisons between this book and the original story, however.

By the Book is a modern retelling of the old classic Beauty and the Beast. I love a good retelling and anything Jasmine Guillory, so I was excited for this one!

Izzy is working in the publishing world but finds herself far from where she imagined herself at this point in her life (so relatable). Hoping to jump-start her career, she heads to California to give the bad grumpy author, Beau, a slight nudge to coax him into finishing his memoir.

Sunshine/grump with a bit of forced proximity, this book gives us many cute rom-com moments in a beautiful setting and makes for a cute, fun read. Definitely an easier, summer read that I would recommend for a day at the beach.

Thank you to Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

LOVED this!! I was so excited to hear that this was a beauty and the beast retelling - as it's my favorite movie. This was such a fun and modern version of beauty and the beast. it wasn't overtly obvious - just subtle enough but still able to pick apart the similarities between the two.

overall, it was a very easy, light, and fun read! I enjoyed Jasmine Guillory's writing and storytelling a ton!

Thank you NetGalley and Jasmine Guillory for the ARC <3

By the Book is a cute rom-com and Beauty and the Beast retelling by Jasmine Guillory. As a major fan of Guillory I was so excited to see her take on a modern fairytale retelling. I honestly did not get overly B&tB vibes when reading this story. Instead I instantly felt the "grump' vibes coming from the MMC Beau. The story was a cute one; frustrating at times because you just wanted the plot to move a bit faster. Slow burn for real with this one. I would say if you are a fan of Jasmine Guillory and a solid cute romance pick this up! You won't be disappointed. However, as a warning I would not particularly say you will get major Beauty and the Beast vibes from this "retelling." As a sweet rom-com this one gets a solid 3.5 stars from me. Thank you NetGalley and Jasmine Guillory for the ARC. I cannot wait until the next!

I was disappointed by this book. I love Jasmine Guillory books but was let down by this one. The characters read very YA and immature. I am not sure I was the target audience for this book. I wish JG would go back to her old style of writing. Her last two books have been a major let down.

A modern day fairy tale retelling set in the book world - doesn’t that tick all the boxes ?
Izzy (Belle) is a difficult editor’s assistant working for a publishing house. In hopes to prove herself, she pitches an idea to fly out to California to meet with a difficult celebrity writer who is not responding to emails and deadlines. She is tasked with helping Beau (Beast) Towers, a celebrity bad boy finish his book. This story follows Izzy as she develops a book and a working relationship with Beau - they uncover each other’s issues and mental health struggles are brought up with a light but sensitive touch.
Of course this book was a bit predictable- it’s a fairy tale retelling but it was updated to a modern setting in a way that kept me reading and engaged- fairy tale elements are brought into the story lovingly (eg Beau calls his assistant “Kettle” because of an inside joke that Izzy doesn’t know at first). A wonderfully fun book that left me with a smile on my face…

What a fun take on Beauty and the Beast!
A cute romance with a beautiful setting, this modern take on the tale as old as time doesn’t disappoint.
The writing style was easy to read and the plot was enjoyable.
The main female character took time to grow on me but I liked the romance that developed between here and the beastly hero.
Would recommend if you’re in the mood for a fairytale retelling or beach read.

Get ready for a tale as old as time with a modern twist in Jasmine Guillory’s latest rom-com (which is also the second book in Disney’s Meant to Be Series)! Set to be released on May 3rd, By the Book shows that sometimes all you need is for someone to believe in you.

This was my first Jasmine Guillory book and it definitely won’t be my last! I adored this Beauty and the Beast retelling!! It was so well written and I loved how it delved into the publishing industry and what the writing process can look like for some people.

The nods to the original Disney movie were subtle, but definitely there if you were looking for them, which just made this story even cuter. Between remarks about furniture, a publishing company called Maurice, and Beau’s assistant being nicknamed “Kettle”, the Easter eggs are endless!

While this book isn’t very steamy, it makes up for it with the tender moments and the building up of Izzy and Beau’s relationship. Both of them have lost the spark that comes from living a happy life and it’s so wonderful to watch them rediscover it within one another!

Overall, this Beauty and the Beast retelling is phenomenally written and I cannot wait to explore more of Guillory’s backlist! This is definitely one to add to your TBRs this spring!

*I received an ARC from Disney Hyperion in exchange for my honest opinion.

Received an advanced copy from the publisher.

Jasmine wrote such a fun fairy tale send-up! Izzy and Beau have some great chemistry and the workplace frustration is real and a detail that really made it feel like a Jasmine book. The loving references to Beauty and the Beast were charming without being too much, and the development of the relationship between the characters felt genuine. The setting made me want to rent a car and drive down the coast and the hole up with a book in a seaside villa (damnit, Jasmine). This series is quite well done so far and I can't wait to see which author/fairy tale combo is next!

This book was so charming (pun intended). It's a modern re-telling of Beauty and the Beast but well done, not overly corny, and less creepy than the actual Beauty and the Beast story. The way that she reimagined the side characters like the cabinet and bathtub was cute. Like most Jasmine Guillory books, there are snacks and lots of them.

By the Book is a modern retelling of an old classic, Beauty and the Beast. It is also had book within a book?! Say no more & sign me up!
Izzy is working in the publishing world but finds herself far from where she imagined herself at this point in her career, and life! Hoping to jump start her career with a risky move she suggests going out to California and giving their bad boy/grumpy/withdrawn author, Beau, a slight nudge to coax him into finishing his memoir.
Enemies to lovers of sorts and also close proximity, this book gives us many cute romcom moments. Beauty and the Beast is my all time fave so while I enjoyed that aspect I will say nothing will ever beat the original. Beautiful setting and cute touches. A fun read. This book is part 2 in a series, Meant to Be, featuring different authors- which I find really cool. Excited to see what follows. Thank you to Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. 3.5 stars rounded up.