By the Book is the second novel in the Meant to Be series. This is a series of Adult Romance companion novels that are modern re-imaginings of well-loved fairy tales. Each book is written by a different author and features its own cast of unique characters. These books do not need to be read in order. With that minor bit of business out of the way, let's get into this story, shall we?

By the Book is Jasmine Guillory's modern-take on the classic Beauty and the Beast; think the Disney version. We follow 25-year old, Isabelle, who is just starting her career in the publishing industry. Her first job out of college is as an editorial assistant at Tale as Old as Time publishing house. Isabelle, Izzy to her friends, is a charmingly-enthusiastic young woman who cannot wait to prove herself and move up the corporate ladder.

Unfortunately, achieving the success she dreams of is slow going; very slow going. Meanwhile, she's still living with her parents, commuting into the city and struggling to get her boss, Marta, to notice her. When Izzy overhears Marta complaining about a young male celebrity, Beau Towers, who has failed to turn in a manuscript for his long-awaited memoir, Izzy sees it as an opportunity to get within Marta's good graces.

As luck would have it, she will soon be attending a work convention in California and the author in question happens to live in that state, in Santa Barbara. She hatches a plan and volunteers her services to Marta. All she has to do is go to Beau's house, figure out what the deal is with his memoir and aide him in any way possible in order to get him to turn it in.

Due to some very personal issues, Beau has been locked away in his Santa Barbara mansion for the last year, seeing no one but a few personal staff members. Izzy has a tough nut to crack, but she's determined. This could be sink or swim for her career. She makes her way into his home and eventually into his head and his heart.

By the Book was so cute. I really enjoyed this and am very happy that I made time for it right now. This was exactly the ray of sunshine I needed as a palate cleanser between all my super dark recent reads. Thank you, Ms. Guillory! You have filled my heart.

I really enjoyed both Izzy and Beau as characters. I especially enjoyed the scenes where Izzy was coaching him through his writing. I thought that was so well done and a great, realistic way for them to form a bond quickly. I also loved the set-up of her getting to stay at his Santa Barbara mansion while she is helping him. It was so fun. Izzy, an East Coast girl, was a little out of her element, but she adapted easily and actually was happy for the escape.

As always I appreciated how well-fleshed out these characters were. I always love how Guillory includes real-life struggles for her characters to work through. Even the characters who seem to have it all also have personal challenges. Both Izzy and Beau were working through issues and watching them move through that and grow together was immensely satisfying. Even though this wasn't as steamy as some of her prior works, in my opinion the level of romance fit this story perfectly.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Hyperion Avenue, for providing me with a copy to read and review. This was such a delight. I'm such a Jasmine Guillory fangirl and look forward to her future works!

By the Book by Jasmine Guillory is a Beauty and the Beast retelling with a modern twist. The main character, Isabelle, is relatable, and the story is enjoyable to read. This second instalment in the Meant to Be series is a fun contemporary to watch for.

The Meant to Be series is a collection of adult contemporaries that are each modernized Disney fairy tale retellings. The series has some fantastic authors in its mix, and as I really enjoyed the first book, If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy, I had a good feeling about this one. Jasmine Guillory has written some well-loved rom-coms, and this newest work does not disappoint! I am excited to read more of this author’s works.

❀ RELATABLE MAIN CHARACTER

Isabelle is a relatable and determined main character who is easy to root for. She has worked hard to get to where she is in the publishing industry, however she is hoping to be promoted someday soon. When her boss has the idea that she visit the house of an author who is ghosting her, she jumps at the chance to go.

❀ A CUTE ROM-COM

What ensues is a cute and often hilarious enemies to lovers story that has touches of the original Beauty and the Beast story. Isabelle’s relationship with Beau is one that slowly develops, and it is enjoyable watching these two characters fall in love. This book has a perfect ending as well, which really gives a happily ever after vibe to the story.

❀ PERFECT FOR SUMMER

By the Book by Jasmine Guillory is a book that will be enjoyable for those that have enjoyed the first novel in the Meant to Be series. It is a quick read that is perfect for summer and will definitely put a smile on your face. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

There is just something about this authors books that have been binging the entire thing until I have finished. Grumpy VS sunshine is always my favorite romance subgenre and this did not disappoint. Plus, a modern day retelling of beauty and the beast, yes please! Another amazing read

I received this book complimentary from NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

I liked this. I didn’t love it nearly as much as I love Guillory’s other works (the wedding date series is just SO GOOD). I liked Isabelle and Beau. They had chemistry and obviously I like Guillory’s writing style. I just wasn’t as into this as I was her other books.

Super cute book - I love a retelling of any fairytale and the way Jasmine dealt with the Beauty and the Beast retelling was fab. Set in the publishing and writing world made for a meta feel that I enjoyed. Recommend for a light easy romance read!

Honestly, I didn't expect to like this book. I haven't been reading much lately, and just picked this up again on a whim.

But as someone also in my mid twenties, feeling lost professionally, who loves books, Izzy was the perfect wish fulfilment I needed.

The development of Beau falling for her felt rushed (I don't love initial attraction that manifests as grumpiness) but his final notebook and letter to her was every romantics dream.

Isabelle is feeling stuck in her life; she is living with her parents, she is working at a job she used to love but is falling out of love with it, she feels overworked and underpaid AND underappreciated, and she gave up her dream of writing her own book. When she overhears her boss complaining about an authour while they are in LA, Izzy jumps at the opportunity to prove herself and hunt down this authour. The authour in question was Beau Towers; celebrity bad body who has been working on his biography for over a year without a single update. Izzy is ready to fall back in love with her job, get Beau's book finished, enjoy some California sun, and maybe...fall in love?

I really, really, REALLY wanted to like this book because I loved the first one in the series. It breathed fresh air and new perspective into an old fairytale. I was expecting similar with this one, though I was well aware how hard it would be to translate the story of Beauty and the Beast into current times. I still remained hopeful but was unfortunately disappointed. There are very VERY subtle nods to Beauty and the Beast; MC wears a yellow dress down a sweeping stair case, an overabundant library, a grumpy love interest. There was some really weird ones too...like calling Beau's assistant 'Kettle'....I still don't get it.

This fact aside, I did enjoy Izzy as the main character and Beau definitely grew on me as well. Their dynamic was always changing and was always interesting. They really helped each other grow throughout the story. I also really enjoyed that Izzy had such a deep love for books and also showed us more about the publishing industry, and even how bias they can be toward people (but especially women) of colour.
I did find the story to be very slow and chapters were really drawn out, but I did end up enjoying it a fair amount.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the eARC in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

This book was super cute! A nod to Beauty and the Beast, By the Book features Izzy and Beau. Izzy is in California for a conference with her job at a publishing agency and is assigned to job to track down the elusive Beau to get concrete word on where his overdue memoir is. Izzy has been emailing Beau consistently for months with no response, so she's not sure what to expect but is still surprised by his rude, gruff manner. She ends up staying for longer than planned and working on the book with him. Things change as these two get to know each other better.

I listened to the audio which I think really enhanced this book. It is light and flirty and sets the scene for a great beach read. There is laughter, sunshine, surfing and books....what more could you ask for. And while the chemistry is on the lighter side, it is still there and makes for an overall sweet romance. Guillory does a good job with her references to the original fairy tale that fans will be sure to love. It is a fast read and definitely has the entertainment value I was hoping for.

This is the second book in a series of modern Disney princess retellings by different authors but they do not need to be read in order. This one follows Isabelle as she gets her job at Tale As Old As Time publishing company then starts to feel underappreciated. She then volunteers to work with a tough and reclusive author, Beau Towers.

Jasmine Guillory is an auto-buy author for me and that cover, I knew it would a good read. This was a really fun twist on a classic tale.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a review copy of this book.

Isabelle is tired of working in publishing. She is overworked and underpaid and ready to the take the next step to be an editor. She overhears her boss talking about a high profile, selfish author, so to try and get in good with her company, she travels to California to confront Beau Towers, and get him to write his novel.

What started as a “strictly business” relationship, slowly turns into a friendship of trust and companionship.

In typical Jasmine Guillory style, this book will keep you engaged, and hold your heart the entire time you fall deeply in love with the characters!

Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorites and this was a really great update that stuck enough to the story that it was a retelling but not so true that it felt forced or hemmed in. I loved the two main characters so much. This just made me happy.

A very loose adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, this title is the least spicy Jasmine Guillory to date, which was a big disappointment. I was very curious as to how Guillory would incorporate the talking/magical furniture and household items, and she did it without a flair of magical realism or dream state, which I appreciated.

If you’re a Guillory fan, skip this one. But if you like fairy tale re-tellings, you’ll probably enjoy this.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this chick-lit read. It is predictable, but enjoyable. Nice little romance story with likable, funny characters.

I am absolutely 1000% late to the Jasmine Guillory club, but I am so glad I've made it here! Last summer, I went on a Guillory Binge and read all of her books in the span of two weeks and then of course was left wanting more. So I've been obsessive with trying to get my hands on her next book each time. When By the Book popped up, I clicked request, before realizing this is part of the Meant to Be series where authors reinvent traditional fairytales in modern times. Now, this one is a spin on Beauty and the Beast, and if I'm being honest, this is the one Disney movie that absolutely terrified me as a kid. Those villagers are awful, no?! So I went from elated for her next book to a bit dissuaded. I finally picked it up this past week and read it overnight. This book fits right in with her other books. The story is well written and the romantic sizzle is there! I liked the subtle nods to the classic fairytale. It felt more like the fairytale provided the inspiration and Guillory took it and made it her own. I highly recommend it. From start to finish, I found myself wishing I could be joining them in the beautiful villa.

A fun Beauty and the Beast themed romp that fans of Book Lovers will adore. Loved the overt references and definitely can't wait to reread during my annual B&TB rewatch!

This was an absolutely wonderful read. What happens when you’re life isn’t even close to what you thought it would be, you’re career has stalled, you’re love life is non existent and you’re still living in your parents home? You request the job in the office that no one else wants to prove your worth to everyone, including yourself. This is a wonderful retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Izzy and Beau surely are the odd couple. They have absolutely nothing in common or so they think. She is quiet and unassuming and just wants to get to be noticed at work for her years of hard work and dedication, whereas Beau is angry, frustrated, and well, surly at best. And so begins their journey of working together, getting his book written and truly getting to know, respect and trust each other. It wraps up beautifully as well. I’d expect nothing less from this truly wonderful author. I always anxiously await any new books from her. Read this and you will too.

I am such a fan of both Jasmine Guillory and Beauty and the Beast retellings so when I read the description of this book I was so ecstatic.

Izzy has so much optimism when she begins her journey working in publishing. Honestly, I wasn’t sure how much I was going to be able to connect with Izzy’s character initially. However, after being in the same job for some time she begins to feel jaded by the publishing world and I found myself immediately feeling for Izzy and what she was going through. I was cheering her on as she took initiative with her boss by trying to get Beau to deliver on his manuscript that is way past its deadline.

Then she meets Beau and realizes things aren’t going to be as easy as she hoped, particularly given his less than hospitable reception. I loved the relationship between Izzy and Beau. They were well matched and gave each other a bit of a challenge, which I adored. I also couldn’t get enough of the friendship between Izzy and Priya. The pacing of the book was great and it was one that I didn’t want to put down.

What a fun addition to Jasmine Guillory's romance collection! This is a perfect romance for anyone who self identifies as a Disney adult. The will they won't they force proximity of Beau and Izzy's relationship was tantalizing and had me wanting to read further faster! Make sure to add this fun Beauty and the Beast retelling to your must read list.

This is supposed to be a Beauty and the Beast retelling, sign me up! I will say, that a lot of the ties to Beauty and the Beast were lame. Like calling the hired help “Kettle,” the yellow sundress coming down the stairs (sounds more like a danger with it trailing behind her), the feeling of the furniture being magical and giving you hugs. Lame. Anyways. This was a little slow for me. I didn’t quite feel the chemistry between the characters. If I am being completely honest, Izzy got on my nerves a little. I feel like she didn’t grow in the book near as much as Beau did. I did enjoy the general plot, with her helping Beau write his book. Overall, I liked the book and I am glad I read it. It just wasn’t my favorite from Jasmine Guillory.

Bottom Line: If you are a Guillory fan or a fairytale retelling fan, read it. I did enjoy it, it just wasn’t my favorite from this author.

**I received a copy of By the Book from NETGALLEY in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

Jamine Guillory never disappoints! I was utterly charmed by this installment of the Meant to Be series, and especially loved that it was set in the world of publishing.

First of all, I love how expertly Guillory weaves in the racial dynamics of the publishing industry, which unfortunately is an industry where people of color are incredibly under represented. While the love story is certainly the main focus of this book, I just loved that this was an aspect of the book because it's really something that the publishing world needs to work on.

Ok, not on to the love story between Izzy and Beau. Whew! Hot hot hot. Even though this book lacks the steaminess of Guillory's other works, the chemistry between these two just leapt off the page. Sometimes I felt the dialogue was a little unrealistic or forced but those moments were rare. For the most part, I just wanted all good things for Izzy and Beau (and Priya, my best friend. All of our best friend).

This one also has a great audiobook, which I definitely recommend.