This book is a modern day adaptation to Much Ado About Nothing. I always like to try alternative telling of the classics, just to see different perspectives. The book did follow Shakespeare's tale; however, it did not pack the same punch. The characters were flat. There was some queer shamming if you did not fit into the "typical" mold. Bisexual individuals were seen as less than. There were not real connection between the two characters, other than having sex. This book could have been so much more.
This arc was provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

A thoughtfully written retelling of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing from a queer and modern day lens.

This was a bit of a disappointment, unfortunately, with none of the sharp wit of the source play. I just didn't think the two characters worked well together.

I love reading this book. As a fan a Shakespeare I love a good retelling. I found this to be an interesting take on Much Ado about Nothing. I really enjoyed Ben and Beatriz and the evolution of their relationship and Beatriz learning to trust him. Some of the side character's arcs were a bit jump, but I really enjoyed it. Also I thought the representation in this book (specifically the body size rep) was we done.

Ben and Beatriz ended up being a lot more intense than I thought it would be from the synopsis. I was expecting a light-hearted spin on Much Ado About Nothing and instead was confronted with bullying, abuse, drug use, self-esteem issues, very dark mental health issues, and a level of angst which was uncomfortable at times.

Katalina Gamarra adds in sharp humor, but the overall message of looking beyond the surface whether it be with a potential lover or more important a friend is vital. My heart broke for the secondary characters as they became the central focus for me. I became more consumed by their outcome than Ben and Beatriz’s.

There is great chemistry between Ben and Beatriz. The interaction is engaging and hot. I just kept getting distracted by the background noise of the secondary cast. This is not to say that the story is not good. It is. The romance ended up not being the focal point for me. The evolving friendships ended up becoming the focus.

Gamarra tackles many difficult issues in Ben and Beatriz. It is an honest look at what young adults are going through today. I think if only one issue was highlighted instead of so many, but they are interlinked so I can see why it was written this way, I might have focused on the romance more. I like this book as a general fiction book rather than a romance. For me this was not so much a retelling of Shakespeare’s work but a retelling of My So-Called Life.

This was a decent read. The chemistry between the two MC's was witty and engaging. Looking forward to more from this author.

As this is a HarperCollins title, I will not be crossing the picket line to give a review at this time.

I'm still a bit up in the air about BEN AND BEATRIZ, because there were a lot of things about this book I liked, but there were definitely some elements that knocked me right out of the story when I was reading. The romance between the two leads was compelling, and also as complicated as their circumstances warranted. But parts of this book just felt so... didactic? I guess?

I realize the point in telling this story, all things considered, and I definitely appreciate Gamarra tackling what must have been a really difficult subject to work the two MCs through while still trying to reach something like an HEA. If I'm honest, though: while I'm glad I read it the once, I wouldn't read it again.

I devoured this book in a night it was such a good read. I love the play it is based on and this was a fantastic update for that play. It does a really good job of bringing Much Ado About Nothing into a modern 21st-century context. Ben and Beatriz are fantastic characters, and all of the side characters are very well constructed too, including the characters that didn't come from the play and only exist in this book. I think students should absolutely read this in high school over the original play because it's much more representative.

This book had so much potential but it really didn't follow through on any of it for me. This YA modern retelling of Much Ado About Nothing just missed all the marks for me. I just couldn't connect, I felt like there were some things that really irked me in different parts of the book. I ended up DNF-ing around 65%.

Beatriz knows better than to fall into bed AGAIN with the guy she hates, Ben. But when on a getaway with her cousin Hero, Hero's boyfriend Claudio, who's Ben's friend/roommate, close proximity and all that, things happen. Now she's happier than she's ever been. But, like I said, she knew better, and Ben turns out to be exactly who Beatriz knew he was - a rich, entitled white guy whose parents voted for Trump. Yep, he's one of THOSE guys. And she's decidedly NOT. She's everything Ben's not - queer, biracial, and with a sassy mouth and strong backbone. Perhaps this pair of opposites can really make things work, IF Ben can be the guy Beatriz has had glimpses of, and not the guy he seems to be.

OK, there's a lot going on here. A lot tropes and themes - queer representation, POC representation, politics, family, both the good and bad kind, and in some parts I was really entertained. I really like how well fleshed out Beatriz's character is, how smart and fiercely protective she is of her cousin Hero. I also really like Hero, also smart and fiercely protective of her cousin. And Uncle Leo is awesome!

Now the bad - the politics portion of this was kind of hard to get back into, as it was a time in this country I hated, gave me a lot of anxiety as a POC myself, and reminded me of just how much Trump fucked this country up, which I did not like being reminded of. And then there's Ben and Claudio. Ben is definitely the kind of guy, the kind of character, I dislike, with his rich background and entitlement, and his obsessive focus on sex and not of what's going on around him. I do think he got better near the end, so he isn't the worst part of this story. Claudio on the other hand, is the worst, well he and Ben's brother and parents. Claudio is a stock villain, not as fleshed out as Beatriz and Hero, and I really felt like his purpose was just as a way to give Beatriz and Ben the requisite breakup. He's highly unpleasant to read, and felt like just another white guy with no redeeming qualities. The bad is pretty bad here, and far worse than the good, so I guess 3 stars is all I can fairly rate this one.

A retelling of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, I loved Ben and Beatriz - both the book and the characters.

Flawed and broken in different ways by their upbringing, Ben and Beatriz are everything they have been conditioned by both their family and society (respectively) to hate in each other. Love has no logic though and they come together with fire and passion.

If you’ve ever read (or studied!) the original though, you know that these things never run smoothly and there are other forces afoot which works to drive them apart.

I really enjoyed Ben and Beatriz not only because it was a retelling - as I’m a real sucker for them! - but also because it unapologetically tackles both racism and mysoginy in its pages. Yes sometimes the debate seems a little simplistic but it does a brilliant job of conveying the subtle fear that POC felt in the wake of Trumps US election win.

It may be a YA novel, but Ben and Beatriz is a brilliant read that brings an old classic into modern issues with a great love story at its centre.

I borrowed the finished copy from my library so that I could listen to the audiobook. I dnf’d at 20%. I just wasn’t invested in the story.

I enjoyed the hate-to-love relationship that Ben and Beatriz had with each other. They both had things in their life they had to work on, but they still managed to open their hearts to each other. I liked that the book was a little spicy, but I did end up getting a little bored at midway through the book.

This book cannot be described with one single word. I have to use several so one can understand my true feelings about Ben and Beatriz. This book is: emotionally riveting, unexpected, sexy, romantic, relevant, important, insightful, enemies to lovers, angsty perfection of a novel. My biggest regret is that it took me so long to pick it up and read this treasure.
The story follows Ben and Beatriz, to Harvard University students in their senior year of college. Beatriz is a brilliant, passionate, hard-working young woman who is entering adulthood still wondering what she will do after graduation. Ben is a spoiled, but troubled young man who is being crushed under the weight of his own trauma. On the surface, it would seem that all these two people have in common is their education. It turns out that they both have demons they have to vanquish and self discovery that needs to happen before they move on to the next phase of their lives.
Their romance takes place in a very realistic way. They begin with sparring, which is their way of expressing their chemistry, they learn about each other and briefly become friends, until finally their mutual attraction is undeniable even to each other.
They do not have an easy path though, and I really like that. So many things are revealed about each of them. Topics are discussed that are timely and relevant to pretty much any reader who picks up this book. It’s well written that I had a hard time putting it down - and that usually only happens with a novel with action scenes. The narrative as well as the sharp dialogue is what drives this novel. Their backgrounds are complicated. Things don’t go as planned. Each person says things that are unexpected and sometimes hateful. The conversations are real, but not so real that they are boring. In fact, the discussions make it even more interesting because I never anticipated what each person would say.
All of these characters have layers,; including the supporting characters, and I loved that. It is such a strong narrative about a time in one’s life where a person decides who they want to be, who they were raised to be, and who they are choosing to be. I really enjoyed it.

I love Shakespeare and being that Much Ado About Nothing is one of my favorites is needless to say that I was very excited about reading Ben and Beatriz.

The novel certainly has a more YA vibe even though it does touches basis on several "heavy" topics so some discretion is advised. Beatriz is someone we should all strive to be... she is confident, strong, and knows what she wants so she is definitely taken aback when she realizes that what she mostly needs is something - or someone- that would go against everything she holds holy.

The downside to this novels, falls in part to it being a new interpretation of such a well known and loved work- Much Ado About Nothing-. This novel would have hit the extra mark if the characters, topics and overall plot were a bit more developed.

Still and enjoyable and quick read.

This was a great story and I liked the dual perspective. I really related heavily to Beatriz...especially when she mentioned "white cis men" (they aren't for me so I truluy understood). I did get annoyed with Ben at times when his privilege fully showed it's face. I had some issues with his thoughts & things he said to Beatriz but I did appreciate his growth. I loved Beatriz's cousin, Hero, and I loved when she showed her protective side. I loved how much spice & nerd humor was in the book and it gave me what I needed in that moment.

Ben and Beatriz was an interesting read. I loved the representation of Beatriz being a Queer (pansexual), Afro-Latina! Beatriz was such a delightful main character. I wasn't quite submersed into the romance between Ben and Beatriz, but the plot was engaging. I would also say that the political aspects of the book tend to pull you out of the lightheartedness of the story (heavy mention of Donald Trump's presidency) and there are some heavy/triggering topics presented such as racism, sexism, substance abuse, and assault.
All in all, I would give this read 3 stars. It's a good book, but I wouldn't put it on my favorite's list. Still, go check it out!

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House for my copy. All thoughts are my own.

Me, reading another modern Shakespeare adaptation? Who’s surprised? When I saw Ben and Beatriz come through my inbox, I knew I needed to read it. Much Ado About Nothing is one of my favorite plays because of the banter between Benedick and Beatrice. But the story, like so many, is a little…problematic for women. Shocker, I know. So I love when authors take my favorite familiar stories and turn them of their head.

I’d say this book is entertaining, if not a little frustrating. But I really really appreciated the author’s note at the end of the novel. It’s got a mature YA vibe with the characters in college and it’s a quick read. Though be sure to check out trigger warnings!

Synopsis:
“Beatriz Herrera is a fierce woman who will take you down with her quick wit and keen intellect. And after the results of the 2016 election worked hard to erase her identity as a queer biracial woman, she’d be right to. Especially if you come for her sweet BFF cousin, Hero. Beatriz would do anything for her, a loyalty that lands Beatriz precisely where she doesn’t want to be: spending a week at the ridiculous Cape Cod mansion of stupid-hot playboy Ben Montgomery. The same Ben Montgomery she definitely shouldn’t have hooked up with that one time… The things we do for family.White and wealthy, Ben talks the talk and walks the walk of privilege, but deep down, he’s wrestling with the politics and expectations of a conservative family he can’t relate to. Though Beatriz’s caustic tongue drives him wild in the very best way, he's the last person she'd want, because she has zero interest in compromising her identity. But as her and Ben’s assumptions begin to unravel and their hookups turn into something real, they start wondering if it’s still possible to hold space for one another and the inescapable love that unites them.” —Goodreads

What I Liked:

The Concept—Here I am again to say: I love modern adaptations of Shakespeare. I love Shakespeare, okay? I love taking a story I know so well and turning it on it’s head with modern advances and influences.

The Ending—Hero gets a bad rep in the play for being boring so I was quite pleased with her ending. I was nervous how this storyline would play out since the ending can be a little…yikes in the play, but thought it was handled realistically and I was satisfied.

The Tone—It’s fun, youthful, relevant. It’s New Adult as the characters are in college (and there is explicit sexual content) but it’s still young and fun.

What Didn’t Work:

A Little Underdeveloped—I think the danger of taking a story we know so well and adapting it is that we know what’s coming to some degree. I felt things were a little underdeveloped and could have used a bit more explanation but i did like setting up Ben and Beatriz’s feud, since that’s only alluded to in the play!

Character Authenticity: 3.5/5

Steam Rating: 1/5

Overall Rating: 3/5

Content Warnings:

Racism, Colourism, Sexual harassment, Child abuse recounted, Alcoholism, Substance addiction, Attempted suicide, (off-page) ,Psychiatric hospitalisation, Revenge Porn, Classism

BEN AND BEATRIZ – Katalina Gamarra
Graydon House
ISBN: 978-1525899959
August 2, 2022
New Adult Romance

Massachusetts – Present Day

Beatriz Herrera, along with her cousin and best friend, Hero, attends Harvard University. A lot of people mistakenly believe Beatriz, a queer biracial woman, got into Harvard as a sort of “quota.” But she deserves everything she has gotten as she is intelligent and forthright. Hero is dating Claudio, a student visitor from Italy, whose roommate is Ben Montgomery, the quintessential white male from a privileged and wealthy family. A long time ago, Beatriz and Ben hooked up for a drunken one-night stand, but they can’t stand one another.

Ben invites Claudio, Hero, and Beatriz to spend Spring break with him at his family’s home on Cape Cod. Beatriz figures she will have fun even if Ben is there. However, the more she’s around the man, the greater she becomes intrigued—and attracted—by him. They’re soon exchanging hot kisses and spending a night together. But was it a mistake because they don’t like one another? Or is there a spark of something more between them? Meanwhile, Beatriz is learning to deal with the continued racism that happens around her. She should be used to it, but it can be off-putting when Ben’s brother, John, makes all kinds of insinuating remarks that she is only in Harvard to fulfill a race quota at Harvard. Then there are her mixed feelings for Ben. They go hot and cold. Once they’ve returned to the college campus, will they return to their love-hate relationship?

It's a complicated romance between young lovers in BEN AND BEATRIZ. They are so different from each other that one wonders how they can even make it work. Beatriz comes from a broken family and has spent her entire life being looked down upon because of her dark skin. Her cousin Hero has the better looks and whiter skin, so no one questions her credentials to get into a prestigious university like Harvard. But Beatriz? Everywhere she goes, she is dealing with snide comments from white folks. Ben is the epitome of what Beatriz is dealing with. Rich white family. Parents voted for the Republican in 2016 and Beatriz is feeling the outpouring of hatred from his supporters. Yet, despite the animosity, there is still a hum of attraction between Beatriz and Ben.

In addition to Beatriz and Ben, there is a side romance between Claudio and Hero. He will be required to leave the country once he graduates from college in a couple of months. They are wondering what they can do to avoid that. Hero is holding out on lovemaking because she is a shy, sweet girl. Ben’s best friend is Meg, a girl who has a lot of problems, including drug addiction and a feeling of low self-esteem because she is only working at a McDonald’s. Ben’s brother John is manipulating Meg. John is not a nice person and thinks Beatriz is inferior to everyone in the Cape Cod house. All of these characters provide for an intriguing circle of characters in BEN AND BEATRIZ.

It’s a bumpy week of shenanigans and romance in BEN AND BEATRIZ. This tale is based loosely on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and provides for an intriguing read.

Patti Fischer