In this modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Izzy (an editor for a Tale as Old as Time Publishers) is tasked with wrangling notorious celebrity bad boy Beau Towers into finishing his memoir. Can she tame the writer's block??

I really appreciated all the winks/nods to the original fairy tale. They were like fun Easter eggs and kept me excited about how plot lines were going to match up. That being said, this wasn't my favorite romance. I have been wanting to read some Guillory for awhile, but I'll be honest (safe space) I need my romance to have a little 🌶 and this doesn't. It's sweet but we do the fade-away thing which is a better fit for some, just not me! 😈 haha.

Thanks so much to @netgalley and Hyperion for the advanced copy. By the Book goes on sale May 3, 2022!

cw: parent loss and grief.

From the description alone I was already over the moon to read this book. A black romance modern retelling of Beauty & the Beast?! Immediate yes. If you’re a lover of the grumpy x sunshine trope then I think this is a great pick—with an example of tough but very healthy communication I think we could all benefit from. Izzy and Beau are incredibly relatable in their triumph, and grief and the pacing of their eventual love story feels appropriate and satisfying when you account for their very human baggage. The romance felt sweet and tender in a very Disney-like way, while injecting the frenzy of a whirlwind romance that one would feel in their 20s & 30s.

The incorporation of the Beauty & the Beast elements felt appropriate without being stilted or over the top cheesy. Including a familiar line, character and concept was just the right touch to bring such a beloved fairytale into modern more realistic life.

Overall such a fast-paced feel good story. You can’t help but root for the main characters individually and as a couple.

Oh man I really, really wanted to like this book. I am a huge Jasmine Guillory fan-I have read all of her books. At first this book reads a bit like Beauty and the Beast-this comparison is a bit forced as the protagonist, Izzy, starts to anthropomorphize the household objects.

This book tells the tale of Isabelle, a lowly editor’s assistant, who works at a publishing house. One of her main jobs is sending regular pep talk emails to the reclusive celebrity, Beau Towers, whose memoir is way past due. The book gets going as Isabelle proposes knocking on Beau’s door and confronting him about it in person. A long-term stay at his mansion ensues, in combination with many unbelievable circumstances.

Besides lack of plausibility (I can willingly suspend my disbelief) I had a few problems with this book. The biggest was that I could not picture Beau. I didn’t know who, in real life, he was like (Drake? Justin Bieber? I don’t know.) I wished there was a real life person I could have said “oh he’s meant to be like….” I found this distracting, as I just couldn’t “picture” him, and not being able to “picture” a main character makes it hard to appreciate the book.

One of the reasons I love Jasmine Guillory is her depiction of far-from-perfect BPOCs as protagonists. They usually REALLY enjoy food (as do I:) and their journey to love is easy to picture and sweet. I found this journey frustrating to follow and completely unrelatable. I’m so sad that I didn’t like this book more.

Thank you to @netgalley Hyperion Avenue and @jasminepics for my gifted copy of this ebook which publishes on May 3rd.

Thank you NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for an advanced copy.

I loved the first book in this series, and while I had a hard time getting into this book it definitely picked up. I was pleasantly surprised by the end. I loved how she used the characters from the story to tie in the beauty and the beast theme. Some of the names and things she referenced were simply awesome, it made me like the book that much more. It was for sure worth reading.

Oh my god this book was so much better than I expected. It is just fairytale retelling excellence. I was surprised at how much of a slow burn it is but it really worked for this story. The fact that she was living in his house let to such cute domestic moments between Izzy and Beau.

I received an arc through netgalley.

By the Book by Jasmine Guillory was a true delight to read! A modern day reimagining of Beauty and the Beast featuring Isabelle (Izzy) and Beau. Izzy works as an editorial assistant at the publishing house Tale As Old As Time (TAOAT, in New York City. Izzy is overworked and underpaid. Beau, the son of a screenwriter and child star infamous for his bad reputation is overdue on the memoir. Izzy ends up staying with Beau in California, to help him with his novel, and while the two end up butting heads numerous times along the way, in the end Izzy learns that Beau is more than just his rough exterior and maybe even capable of writing a book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for an eARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review, it was a pleasure to read this book.

More detailed review to come on my blog @pouringoverbooks closer to publication date!

This is the second book in the meant to be Series, and in this one, we find ourselves with a modern day retelling of Beauty and the Beast.
Isabelle, known as Izzy to her friends, is an editorial assistant in New York. . For months, her boss has been trying to get a memoir out of Beau Towers, the son of a famous screenwriter who is infamous for his “beastly” attitude. Izzy goes to see Beau in person to try to get him to get him started on his book and ends up moving into his house to give him pep talks and help him get his book on paper.

Romance of course, ensues.

I loved that There were subtle nods to Beauty and the Beast: (a maybe talking tub…)

Most will like it because it’s Jasmine Guillory and she is a great writer

BUT

I like my romance novels with a little more HEAT than was in this novel..if you know what I mean LOL. It was kind of sanitized. I don’t know if that was a Disney reference requirement or what, but it’s worth noting.

I received an ecopy from the publisher through Net Galley. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was so fun! It's Jasmine Guillory, so you know it's going to be interesting and well-written. It's got some really fun references to Beauty and the Beast but even if you're not huge into Disney, you'll likely enjoy this (because again, it's Jasmine Guillory).

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review,

By the Book is a spin on Beauty and the Beast. Isabelle, known as Izzy to her friends, is an editorial assistant in New York. She thought she would have more in life by now but she is still living at home and fears that she will never be promoted. For months, her boss has been trying to get a memoir out of Beau Towers, the son of a famous screenwriter and infamous himself for his beastly attitude. When she is in California for a conference, Izzy decides to go see Beau in person to try to get him to give her pages. She ends up moving in to his house for what starts as a long weekend to give him daily pep talks. She soon discovers that underneath the beastly exterior, she likes Beau - he just has a past he hasn't dealt with.

I loved this spin on the fairy tale! There were subtle nods to the original, but sadly no talking household objects here (the trade off is that it is less kidnap-y than the classic!). However, I loved their chemistry, and loved how their journey unfolded. Would definitely recommend!

In this modern-day Beauty and the Beast retelling, editorial assistant Izzy (Isabella) takes on a client who has promised but not delivered his manuscript when, after a year of emails, she offers to literally stop by his home and knock on his door to ask what’s up with that memoir under contract. Celebrity bad-boy Beau Towers has a reputation for causing scenes wherever he goes, and everyone wants the backstory to why he was yelling at his mother at his famous father’s funeral. Izzy has been in line for an overdue promotion at her publishing house, Tale As Old as Time, so when the opportunity presents itself, she shows up. Grumpy Beau refuses to see her, but his housekeeper/cook enlists Izzy’s help when she sprains her ankle. A conversation ensues, Beau invites Izzy to stay and give him pep talks to help get his book written. She agrees to stay for a day, then the weekend, and before you know it, they’re living together, writing in the library, sharing snacks and binge-watching period television series, remaining carefully boundaried.

The story contains many elements from the Disney version of Perrault’s tale: a smart and fiesty bookish woman who loves her parent(s) dearly; a grouchy beast of a man; a palace with beautiful gardens and off-limits rooms; a smarmy, undermining villain; a slow falling in love. Both Izzy and Beau have their demons to confront, and do so in real, vulnerable ways. Both are people of color, as is the author, so there is wonderful contemporary commentary on the struggles of young Black professionals and tokenism. One of the standout parts of the novel was the details about the writing process and Izzy’s strategies to get Beau producing. I also loved that she was a reader and writer, herself.

Generally, I like my romance novels with a little more heat; love scenes start chastely and then jump to the snuggling after (or waking up together the next morning), giving a sanitized (Disney?) feeling to the story. Still, you’ll be rooting for the characters to get together, even if we don’t get all the down and dirty details.

I received an advance reader’s review copy of #ByTheBook from #NetGalley.

A great retelling of beauty and the beast. Guillory writes with insight and intelligence. She does a beautiful job portraying Izzy’s inner monologue and creates a very relatable character. The only downside to this book is that the first few chapters feel a little choppy and underdeveloped, but after that the story really starts to build.

I wanted to love this more than I did. I adore the authors other books and they’re some of my favorites. It felt somewhat like being a Disney related thing that there were some likely strictly guidelines that she had to adhere to. It was good but not my favorite.

I absolutely adored this enemies to lovers rom com book! By the book is a beautifully written romance novel and I can’t wait until it’s out in the world!!

A modern Beauty and the Beast retelling by Jasmine Guillory.

Isabelle works for a publishing company (known as A Tale as Old as TIme), as an editorial assistant with a dream of being promoted. However, Izzy feels like her boss has no plans to promote her anytime soon and, she feels like she's stuck in a job she's not sure she likes anymore. That is until she volunteers to help one of their clients, a child-star who does not have the best reputation. When Izzy and Beau meet, it is clear they both have very different ideas of how to write and butt heads multiple times during Izzy's first weekend there. But what follows is a book about two people who despite their differences, learn from each other and help each other grow, forgive, and chase the future.

I REALLY enjoyed this book. This is my first time reading a book by Jasmine Guillory and I really loved it. I laughed a lot throughout this book, but also loved the realness of each character. It was a great modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast and I cannot wait for the other books in this series.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In the second book of the Meant to Be series, we find ourselves in a modern day retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Isabelle (clever nam choice) is tasked with helping her client, celebrity Beau Towers, write his memoir. Our lovable beast request Izzy to stay at his place for encouragement. If you've ever seen Beauty and the Beast, you can predict the ending.

This book was wildly disappointing. As a fan of Jasmine Guillory, this book didn't resemble any of her other books in the way it was written. The pacing felt chaotic, the chemistry between our protagonists wasn't palpable, and just completely off-brand. Maybe it's just me, but I prefer *some* believability in my fairytales.

Izzy is struggling at work-- her boss is hard to please, and even harder to read. So when her boss makes an offhand comment about someone visiting Beau, a man who's ignored all their attempts at communication for the past year, Izzy offers to go. When she gets to his house she finds an angry, reclusive man who refuses to work on the memoir he's sold to the publishing house where Izzy works. But of course, things aren't ever as simple as they seem. What Izzy first interpreted as anger is actually insecurity and guilt, and a whole lot of other emotions Beau has been struggling with.
By the Book is a modern Beauty and the Beast retelling set in California with a backdrop of the publishing world. It's sweet, funny, and a lovely book.
The dedication had me emotional right off the bat. It was sweet, and made me feel seen in a way that most dedications-- and most books-- don't. Immediately, it was clear that I'm the target audience, even more so than with most of the books I read.
The beginning was a bit hard to get into, and the voice of the beginning wasn't consistent with the rest of the voice. I much preferred the later voice, but even that discrepancy wasn't enough to knock my rating down by more than a star. Overall, I would definitely recommend By the Book to anyone who wants to read it.

This is one of my anticipated releases for this year. I enjoyed reading about Izzy's snippets of wisdom about life behind manuscripts, publication, and a woman searching for her rightful place and role in life.

A great beach read. A must-read tome!

Beauty and the Beast may be a tale as old as time, but it's tricky to pull off as a contemporary romance. By the Book deftly does away with the more troubling tropes of the fairy tale--the meek, kidnapped heroine fated only to redeem the irredeemable monster--and instead offers up two characters on equal footing who challenge and ultimately bring out the best in each other.

Isabelle (the furthest thing from meek) and Beau (troubled, isolated, but not a monster) are both ambitious and stuck in their own ruts when they meet, clash, and end up cohabitating of their own free will, if against their better judgment. Initially stuck together out of spite, they each gradually learn to appreciate the other's perspective and rely on each other for the push they both need to change their lives for the better, as their writing sessions blossom into a real friendship and, inevitably, a truly sweet romance. Though the romance is the point, this is also a book about two writers building each other up, finding their way out of the fog of other people's opinions, and learning to trust their voices. It's also about the importance of snacks.

I received an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This one was not my favorite Guillory - seemed fluffier than some of her others. Characters not very deep at all, and some of their assertions about themselves are not particularly well-documented in the book (and therefore not super believable), but still fun and light. And I don't know whether it's the Disney influence or what, but this was pretty G-rated.....

"Tale as old as time, true as it can be, barely even friends, then somebody bends, unexpectedly." If you grew up in front of a box TV, blowing on VHS tapes, eating off TV dinner trays, watching Disney princesses fall in love - this book is for you. The second installment in the "Meant to Be" series, which is a fractured fairy tale retelling of the classics. "If the Shoe Fits" by Julie Murphy, the classic Cinderella tale with a twist, and now Queen of Rom Com, Jasmine Guillory's "By The Book" closely resembling the modern day Beauty and the Beast. These two queens created the perfect tales of modern day princesses.

Synopsis: A tale as old as time, but make it for the modern 2022 woman. Isabelle, an editorial assistant at Tale as Old as Time Publishing, feels lost and unaccomplished. As the only black employee at her publishing house, still living at home, and remaining stagnant, she feels overworked and underpaid. When she hears her boss complaining about a beastly client who is dragging them along about a memoir on his life, she feels compelled to talk to the client. Upon meeting him at his castle-like home, she finds herself living with the grumpy, standoffish Beau Towers. If you have read the tale, you know what comes next. This is the story of the triumph of love, acceptance and learning that sometimes to truly know a person, you have to read between the lines.

Personal Review: 4 Stars

This book was chock full of characters, plot elements, and settings that spoke to my inner 90's child. Beau Towers played the perfect beast, Michaela the best Mrs. Pots, the bathtub a magical Mr. Coggsworth, Gavin as Gaston, and last but not least Isabelle, the perfectly representational beauty. The setting in the grandfathers house was the so comparable to the classic tale with off-limit rooms, libraries to die for, and a grumpy companion trudging about. I loved Guillory before with her "Wedding Date" series, but her ability to master the modern day tale of a Disney classic, left me wanting MORE! Can't wait to see the other retellings in the "Meant to Be" series. "Just a little change, small to say the least, both a little scared, neither one prepared - Beauty and the Beast."