The vibe of The Beautiful gives me pre-Twilight vampire/werewolf feels and I'm absolutely here for it. The prose is slow and beautiful. This is not a fast paced action book, but one that slowly introduces you into a world full of mystery and danger while setting the building blocks for the characters. I really enjoyed the mystery aspect of it. It was done well enough that I had to change my theories a few times. I can see how the book can be frustrating for some as there is very little explaination given as to who/what are the Fallen and the Brotherhood. It is only towards the end that we are given an inkling of what they all might be. I found this added to my overall enjoyment, however. I look forward to what The Damned will bring.

My only complaint is with the potential love triangle that is being set up.. mostly from the side of Michael. The build up between Sebastian and Celine is slight, but there. With Michael it feels very out of no where and I had to go back and re-read parts just to make sure I didn't miss little connection moments.

3.5 stars

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was incredibly difficult to get into, the beginning/setup was very slow. I did like it much more towards the end and I may read the next book just to see if it’s pace is better.

The story begins in 1872 in New Orleans, where Celine Rousseau has just arrived from Paris, France. She finds shelter in the Ursuline convent with six other girls, with the nuns intent on finding suitable matches for them.

Celine is drawn to the French Quarter, where she encounters a mysterious underground society called La Cour des Lions. She finds herself unable to resist the secretive leader of the group, Sébastien Saint Germain, who meets all the young adult book criteria for the irresistible bad boy.

Meanwhile, bodies drained of blood are being discovered, and Celine is determined to find out what is going on. The handsome lead detective on the case, Michael Grimaldi, keeps thwarting her efforts however. Then there is Bastien, yet another bad boy who interacts with Celine.

If you like young romance and its accompanying angst combined with the supernatural and set in a magical place like New Orleans, you will be eagerly awaiting the next installment.

Well this one was just a tad disappointing, it wasn’t really a vampire story and thankfully I knew that as I had seen some other reviews mention it. I liked the main characters story and her arc was super interesting but I felt that the world building and pacing of the book made me not enjoy the book as much as I could have. Overall though the story was engaging enough and I’m intrigued with the ending to keep reading this series, perfect timing as the last book in the series just came out this week.

Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for the ebook copy in exchange for an honest review

Loved!! This book was so good. I can't wait to continue reading the series. I've always loved a good vampire story and this did not disappoint. The love story between Bastian and Celinei sso good. I can't wait to see what happens. It so well written and easy to read. Thank you for the chance to read this one. Will most definitely be getting the next book asap.

This was a bit of a tough one for me, as I enjoyed the novel - and will for sure pick up the next ones in the series - but it wasn’t quite the home run I expected. First, I absolutely love Renee Ahdieh’s writing style, she combines beautiful prose with rich settings and characters. Unfortunately some parts of the story were slow. Ahdieh excels when she is developing characters, especially under uncertain circumstances, and that was the case with The Beautiful.

New Orleans + vampires + a budding friendship + some very warm attraction … this book should have been absolutely wonderful. It fell a bit flat in the storytelling. The premise went on too long, the juicy bits were too tame, and the absolutely lovely parts (the relationship growth between the main female character and her bestie, as well as the main female character and her love interest) were farther between than I would have preferred.

I look forward to the next one, but will take a break in between.

This is one that lived up to the hype! What a great book. I love vampires and this one was a really fun read on them.

“Rage is a moment. Regret is forever.”

“The Beautiful” by Renée Ahdieh is a YA book about Celine. Celine Rousseau, a seventeen-year-old girl, runs to New Orleans to get away from her life in Paris. Now living with the sisters of the Ursuline Covent, she is in raptures by the night life of her new city. That awe she is absorbed in leads her to Sébastien Saint Germain. Sébastien, a mysterious man who runs the underground group that Celine falls into. When murders start happening around her Celine must decide who she can trust.

I absolutely loved this book. The aesthetic of luxury and darkness was so good. Celine and her relationship with the “good guy” could have had more time for me to be conflicted by her choice between the love interests but I think the next book will probably go into that relationship more. I loved the characters and how they reacted to each other, and I love the imagery of excess luxury foiled with dark and dirty murders. I will definitely be reading the next book. 5 out of 5 stars.

-Beautiful Cover
-Morally Grey MMC
-Forbidden Romance
-Magic

I went into this book blindly, which I always find to be the best way with a lot of books.
I have had this novel on my tbr for the longest time and so happy to finally mark it off.
The beginning was a little slow for me but the author is an amazing writer which kept me intrigued. Details were perfect, character layout was perfect. It was a good adventure.
Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel!

This is a book about vampires. But not sparkly vampires, more like “Interview with a Vampire” vampires. They are not hiding- they blend seamlessly into society.
I like that Celine is bold, especially for the time period. As much as I tried to piece together who the killer was I didn’t have a clue! I hated the ending but only because I think I see what’s being set up and I’m ready to confirm if I’m right. I have books two and three ready to go.

This book was amazing. The atmosphere was top tier and I was drew into the world. I could not put this book down. I read Renee’s other series and was so excited to start this one!

I was so excited to read The Beautiful and see what all the hype was about but unfortunately it didn't work for me. It wasn't holding my attention. I found my mind wandering while reading it. I liked the writing but I'm not a fan of the way the story was being told. I love multiple POVs but something about this one is wonky and off putting. I'm DNFing at 14%.

Was I interested in this book just because it was about vampires? Probably. I haven't seen many new releases that tackle this topic or genre anymore, so I was glad to see a book from a popular author that was about these creatures. However, that discovery and appearance comes little by little, since it builds up through the book and keeps the reader guessing. I imagine we will be seeing more of these creatures in the sequels, since book one was more rooted in mystery. In fact, I think the word "vampire" only appeared twice throughout the story.

The setting in this book is very well done and we're introduced to the vibrant, mysterious and colourful city of New Orleans, which was quite nice to read about, and worked well for the story. Celine is new to the city, in fact, we meet her as she's just arriving, and she is an interesting character. It's worth mentioning that this book is set in 1872, so her views and ideas come across as a bit forward and different for the time. However, she is not the only one with such thoughts and I found myself intrigued by her group of friends, but especially Pippa.

On the other side, we have Bastian, who was quite interesting because he was surrounded in mytery and intrigue, but reading him from Celine's point of view was sometimes a bit too much, since she wouldn't stop overhyping him and his looks and actions, and comparing him to the devil, but he didn't do that much for that to happen. Whenever we saw other characters talk about him or we followed him, that's when I liked him more, and that's because his story is quite complex and key to everything that happens in the book. However, I sometimes was wondering why his "Court" was so important. Bastian is an important player in society, and he has a group of followers called "Cour de Lions ", and while I understood their importance, they did not do much, and I have no idea about the origin of that name.

The pacing of the novel was a bit strange. It introduced everything quite slowly, which works well with keeping the mystical elements, but things didn't pick up until the 30% mark, just for them to slow down again and keep going up and down like that.

I do think the end was great and makes it so that you want to know what happens. It did work for me, at least, since we have started uncovering what is going on in this world and with these characters, but it is also opening everything up and already starting the storylines that book 2 will probably continue.

Loved this book, amazing series can wait to get into the second. Thanks for this opportunity. Definitely great storytelling and fantastical setting.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for access to the ebook!

I really liked this take on vampires! It’s not on your face but rather a subtle buildup to them. They come off as more seductive and mysterious than what you typically see in modern novels and I really enjoyed that. The romance was also really intriguing and I look forward to seeing where the romance, and the story at large, goes!

I really enjoyed this book so much! I flew through this book and I was so upset when it was over. The plot was fast paced but not much which is what I really enjoy. I am obsessed with the characters and can not wait to read more by this author. I will be recommending this book to all of my friends and family.

I found myself captivated by the enchanting world of 1870s New Orleans, where the vibrant city conceals secrets beneath its glitzy façade. Celine Rousseau's arrival brings a breath of defiance to the Ursuline convent, and as the Festival season unfolds, the temptations of Mardi Gras lure her into the enthralling underworld of La Cour des Lions. Ahdieh paints a vivid picture of a headstrong and ambitious Celine, a skilled dressmaker concealing a mysterious past. The juxtaposition of innocence and decadence heightens the suspense as Celine becomes entangled with Sébastien Saint Germain, the enigmatic leader of La Cour des Lions. The plot thickens when a series of murders disrupt the glittering festivities, forcing Celine to navigate her attraction to Sébastien while wrestling with her own secrets. Ahdieh's masterful storytelling, rich historical details, and a protagonist with a compelling blend of strength and vulnerability make "The Beautiful" an irresistibly immersive read.

Looking for a break from my more routine reads, I found THE BEAUTIFUL a little too fanciful for my taster. The story was familiar but the writing was just a little superfluous.

In New Orleans, Celine lives a life as a dressmaker until she’s forced to flee. She’s thrust into a new world, a dangerous world. A world where murders occur and she’s meant to
solve them.
This book was interesting at first. It was incredibly lyrical which was fun to read, but then things changed. The book got slower, and the lyrical writing- as beautiful as it is- got a bit annoying. As the book went on, the writing style made it harder for me to understand the storyline and what was going on.
Thank you to NetGalley and G.P Putnam’s for a copy of this book.

The Beautiful is a historical fiction novel set in New Orleans in 1972. Celine is a young woman with few prospects, who has spent the last of her funds on a ticket from France to New Orleans, under the auspices of a convent that supports young, single, immigrant women in exchange for helping with the work of the convent - teaching children, sewing items for sale, and so on. While selling embroidered handkerchiefs made by various residents of the convent, Celine encounters a woman from La Cour des Lions, who hires her to create a dress for an upcoming party - and thus begins Celine's entanglement with a specific element of New Orleans' underbelly.

At its base, The Beautiful is a mystery revolving around several murders, first of several young women, and then of people surrounding Celine. Add in a budding - or at least potential - romance between Celine and both Bastien and Michael, and there's plenty going on. In fact, there may be rather too much going on, a little too quickly; a bit more plot development could have raised a good story to a great one. Still, it was a quick and enjoyable read. Recommended for readers high school to adult.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.