Wow. This is a wonderful book. It just grabbed me right in. I loved the great gapsy and I love vampires and this was the chef’s kiss

What a ride! Readers of the original Great Gatsby will be riveted as they turn the pages of this twisty novel.

What if Jay Gatsby and Daisy met in modern times? And what if Gatsby was a vampire…? That’s this book. And it was so much fun!

Short Synopsis:
Jay Gatsby and Daisy were childhood best friends. But after Daisy’s family moved away, she didn’t hear from him until 8 years later. Now, Daisy is getting over a broken heart from her cheating ex, Tom. And she goes to lavish party with her cousin Nick. And finds Gatsby is the host. Sound familiar? But it’s modern day and Gatsby is a vampire. And so much fun.

My Thoughts:
The Great Gatsby is my all-time favorite classic. As you can see, my copy is well loved. The author nailed the characters and their personalities so, so well. Gatsby is still the desperately in love jealous rich man. Daisy isn’t as selfish in this book, but still the aloof party girl. Add in some vampires and it’s just an all around a good time.

Read if You Like:
💎 The Great Gatsby
💎 Vampires
💎 Retellings
💎 Villain romances
💎 Friends to lovers

"Beautiful Villains" takes readers on a tantalizing journey through a paranormal twist on "The Great Gatsby." As a fan of steamy romance with a hint of the supernatural, I found myself intrigued by the premise and the reimagining of familiar characters.

However, while the novel provided an enjoyable escape into fantasy, it fell short of capturing my full attention. Despite its promising elements, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. The plot felt somewhat predictable, and I wished for more depth in both the characters and their relationships.

That said, Rebecca Kenney's writing style is engaging, and there were moments of undeniable allure and tension throughout the story. For me, "Beautiful Villains" earns a three-star rating—it's a decent read that offers entertainment but lacks the spark to truly ignite my enthusiasm.

Overall, if you're in the mood for a paranormal romance with a nod to a classic tale, "Beautiful Villains" might just fit the bill.

I had high expectations for this book and thought the combination of the paranormal and the great Gatsby would be a great read. The references to certain ideologies in the first 50 pages was a little odd, it felt like it was just thrown into the book and it wasn’t really needed. Usually I can overlook this if the storyline is effective in moving the plot forward, but after page 80 it failed to capture my attention. I was hoping for a little bit more, the story and characters felt disconnected with two ideas just thrown together. Personally, I like when the authors torture the characters, give them a little bit of struggle, this just seemed too easy. The mystery and excitement just wasn’t there for me. Great potential just fell short.

So I have some mixed feelings about this one. So let’s start with the things I didn’t necessarily love.
Right off the bat the amount of pop culture references weren’t the vibe for me. I can handle some here and there but there was so much thrown in regarding famous musicians, social media etc. Then our main character Daisy… I found her a little frustrating. I hate when characters think one thing but then constantly do the complete opposite. Like how she wanted to get the truth about Jay then next thing you know she’s grinding up on him.

Some things I liked
I really enjoyed the writing style and how immersive everything was. Scenes were so vivid and descriptive. Then what is shows about Daisy and Tom’s relationship, I obviously don’t love an abusive relationship but I like how she didn’t shy away from the ugly parts of a relationship that some people sadly go through.

I feel like “Great Gatsby” retelling was executed well I just didn’t necessarily love how other aspects tied in.

When I heard that Rebecca Kenney had written a paranormal retelling of The Great Gatsby, it felt like time had stopped and I heard somebody screaming 'Hallelujah'—later, I realized I was the one screaming, and my writing partner responded with a quick 'shut up,' as usual.

The idea left me exhilarated, but upon finishing the book, I found myself making noises like 'hmm,' 'I don’t know,' and 'well, really.' My expectations had been sky-high, given how much I adored the author's previous works, but unfortunately, this one didn't quite hit the mark for me. Perhaps the vampire concept applied to this classic novel was a bit over the top, and I couldn't help but notice some flaws in the dialogues and rushed steamy scenes, lacking sufficient emotional development between the characters. While I could engage with Daisy, Jay Gatsby left me feeling irritated. Despite my usual enjoyment of alpha males and vampires, I found him too possessive, power-hungry, immature, manipulative, and insincere about his motivations concerning Daisy, which made it difficult for me to truly believe in their love story.

The plot centers around Daisy Finnegan, who recently broke up with her cheating boyfriend Tom and is embracing her newfound freedom, encouraged by her parents to break free from her secluded life and seek joy. This leads her to attend a party at a mansion with her friends, where she discovers that the fabulous mansion’s owner and charismatic host is none other than her childhood lover, the one who got away—Jay Gatsby.

Upon facing him, she realizes the attraction still lingers, and she finds herself drawn into his dangerous world, entangled in a web of enormous wealth, lies, secrets, and escalating violence. When she learns his secret identity and the source of his power and wealth, she realizes that not only her own life but also the lives of her loved ones are in more danger than they could have imagined. She must decide whether to surrender to a man who demands more than her heart or lose him forever.

Overall, it was a steamy and riveting paranormal romance, though not quite superior in my opinion. Still, it provided an enjoyable escape into fantasy, earning a three-star rating from me. While it didn't quite live up to the author's previous works for me, it remains an interesting and enjoyable read, particularly for fans of the genre.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with this digital review copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

Beautiful Villain by Rebecca Kenney is a Great Gatsby retelling with vampires that grabbed my attention as a traditionally published book by an author I had already been adoring the independently published books by so I sort of already knew I was going to love it , but never could I have predicted just how much I would love it.

What I loved
1. Writing style: Rebecca Kenny writes in a lovely and descriptive tone while keeping the work approachable and not overly verbose.
2. Daisy as a character is so much better fleshed out in this retelling.
3. University age characters allow for an almost coming of age feel for Daisy while also allowing her to be an adult that has the freedom and agency to navigate the story as she does.
4.Second chance romance trope is my cup of tea and is excellently handled
What didn't work as well for me
1. intimate scenes near the end of the work were a little too close together and would have benefited from either one of them being relocated in the story or a bit of breathing space being put between them.
2. There a few toxic relationship traits and discussions portrayed in the book that just hit a little close to some personal experiences.
Who I would recommend this title for
Beautiful Villain will be an excellent read for existing fans of the author as well as a wonderful entry point for those seeking fantastical retellings with more than just a dash of spice.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC!

It's actually kind of crazy how seamlessly The Great Gatsby and vampires go together - or maybe it's just Rebecca Kenney's expert writing?! I am always a fan of a retelling, and really enjoyed how this book flowed. Daisy and Gatsby were easy to cheer for, the side characters were amazing, and there was a lot of action throughout the book. This is perfect if you've liked A Court of Thorns and Roses, The Cruel Prince, or Beautiful Little Fools, but you also like magic.

Also - this is being marketed for "fans of Katee Robert" and honestly, her spice level is too high for me, but I think the comparison is more for the retelling similarities than the high spice. Just wanted to mention in case you are also like me :)

Another terrific story by Rebecca! Love her writing style, and she is the queen of a Retelling. Gatsby meets vampires. I love a good fang story and I was hooked! Definitely give this Retelling a whirl for spice and plot that will have you flipping pages until the end!

There were some typos I caught but that's to be expected with any ARC and I'm sure they'll be fixed by launch. That wasn't why I took off a star, it was the feel of the story that felt dissatisfying for me which was the villain for the last 30% of the book. I won't spoil it for people, but I'm just not the right reader for easy villains, I like complications and the story felt too young, despite the spice scenes, and part of that was the parties and part of it was Daisy being a character I just didn't vibe with. Daisy was great in terms of self awareness, and caring about those around her, but I feel like a part of me was a bit bored with this book. Not a knock on the author, I think I might have just not been the right reader for this particular retelling. I Love Rebecca's writing and she has definitely created a fan in me. I will always get excited to read a new book from her! Definitely give her books a try, her creativity is off the charts.

There is on-page death, controlling/abusive ex, blood play in sex (duh vampires)

In a modern retelling of The Great Gatsby, we see Daisy excited for summer and living with her parents again. She gets invited to a party, a beginning to a love she’d thought she’d lost, a web of darkness and secrets she could’ve never imagined. Can her love shared with Gatsby prevail through these secrets and the danger that comes alongside them?

I want to start of by saying the cover is stunning! I love the green and gold touches, it’s perfect. I really enjoyed this retelling. I found the way that the author tied in scenes and themes from the original to be quite clever. I found myself smirking at a few parts knowingly too.

I enjoyed how Daisy was able to grow through all the trauma of her past and allow herself to trust and see past the flaws of the man she loves. Their story kept me up all night reading! Plus, Gatsby as a vampire was perfect.

I felt Nick’s portrayal was exactly as I’d imagined him to actually be in the original too, it gave me closure somehow to his character!

If you enjoy a fantastic retelling, childhood friends to lovers, mysterious abilities and a good spicy vampire romance with some stakes, I highly recommend this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the chance to read this incredible book!

I just finished this and it is so good! I started last night and couldn't stop until it was done. I enjoyed the rediscovered romance and the supernatural elements. There's a lot of good balance as well, with likeable, well written and varied side characters- Daisy's cousin, Nick, being my personal fav. A lovely, spicy sweet read. Great Gasby with vampires is a good mix!! I was so happy to get the ARC for this and definitely recommend it!

A fresh take on 2 old premises, but without the character development or plot to follow through. The introduction to our characters and the mystery of Jay was enticing, but this tension was very short lived. Ultimately, the conflict was either never brought to fruition, with several woven threads planted that never pay off, or solved immediately. After the anticlimactic reveal of Jay as a vampire, (there was an unrealistically calm and easy acceptance of all of the magic elements by all characters) only poor dialogue and back to back sex scenes carry you through to the final conflict. It felt slow and repetitive, and the development of Daisy and Jay’s romance wasn’t substantial enough to carry it through. Jay’s red flags of possessiveness and his drive for more money and power are particularly uncomfortable considering Daisy’s past in an abusive relationship. His anger at her losing her virginity in the 7 years he was gone, when he has slept with multiple partners? Gross. Her adapting from arguing this point to him, to feeling guilty and apologizing? Reminiscent of the emotional abuse she already endured and refuses to actually deal with. This ex comes up in a few scenes as a subplot of conflict, but it is one that is never paid off. The inclusion of his character and his girlfriend didn’t really add anything to the plot beyond setting up an illusion to the pool scene in the OG Gatsby, and reveal that none of Daisy’s support system knows her or is willing to get her the help she needs. A subplot with her Dad and their own family’s powers was similarly introduced only for immediate conclusion. Ultimately, the only real conflict comes in the last 20% of the book, and feels both unearned for several reasons. The older first generation vampire has been established as having issues with Jay’s methods; however, Daisy also has ethical concerns with Jay’s methods that she just brushes off because she’s so infatuated- again, toxicity has entered the chat. But more importantly, the villain’s threat is meant to be beyond a threat to Jay, extending to all of his created vampires. They are referenced as “his people” repeatedly in the last 20% of the book, though they are never really mentioned as people he cares about or shown to be important to him or Daisy prior to this. In fact, Jay has really only shown jealous anger, or disdain for the other vampires outside of Jordan and Cody. So Daisy becomes this biggest weapon in a fight she doesn’t have any reason to support outside of protecting Gatsby, who alternatingly wants to protect her and puts he in massive danger.

Other oddities:
-Jay’s insistence that Daisy’s parent should have adopted him is bizarre and completely illogical.
-Daisy has had family money since she was 13 but talks as though she grew up poor. She has had money most of her life.

Overall, the plot development (namely too many low stakes conflicts that don’t pay off or are resolved too quickly) and some cheesy dialogue took too much away from the fun premise to recommend this read.

This was fantastic!! A Great Gatsby retelling but make Gatsby a vampire. The love between Jay and Daisy was soooo pure and sweet and Tom is just as nasty and vindictive as the original. I loved this paranormal/sci-fi twist on such a great original story. This retelling was done so well, as all of Rebecca’s retellings go. I can’t wait for the next one.

Great Gatsby retelling with vampires!! I absolutely love this author and always really enjoy everything she writes. This wasn’t my favorite book of hers though. I felt like her characters fell a little flat. I’m used to amazing banter and smoldering tension when reading her books but this story lacked that. It seemed rushed and lacked passion. I wish I had enjoyed this more but I just couldn’t find anything about this I really loved. Even the spice wasn’t what I have come to expect of this author. I think if you read this for the first time, without reading anything else from Rebecca Kenney it would probably be really enjoyable. I have read a lot by her and feel like I’m comparing it to those other works and this just lacked the same quality she usually brings to her story telling.
What I did enjoy was how creative it was- what an interesting interpretation of The Great Gatsby. Like the good structure was there, this had all the components of an amazing story but the execution was just lacking. If you love vampires reads definitely give this a shot though!
Thank you to NetGalley & the author for my e-ARC.

Home for the summer after another semester at her university, Daisy is feeling depressed and taken for granted after breaking up with her cheating ex-boyfriend, Tom. Determined to get her out of her funk, her friends and family encourage her to get out of the house. When she goes to a themed party at an elaborate mansion with her friends, she finds herself reunited with her childhood sweetheart, the true one that got away, the mysteriously captivating Jay Gatsby! Oh yes, Gatsby is back alright, and this time, with a lot more bite!

This new take on the classic F. Scott Fitzgerald tale was both ingenious and refreshing! Ms. Kenney does an excellent job of channeling and transitioning the 1920's backdrop from “The Great Gatsby” setting to a modern-day, 2020's setting. The world-building also incorporates a unique spin on Vampire lore! The characters surrounding the story are not only fleshed out in its homage to the original characters on which they are based on, but the chemistry between Jay and Daisy provokes a powerful message. Daisy as a main character goes through a powerful arc as she, with the help of Gatsby and her friends, learns to find her inner voice and stand up to herself when faced with the lingering remnants of her past that was the toxic relationship she had with Tom.

Gatsby is a well crafted, multidimensional character. While he's portrayed as a suave, billionaire vampire with the fighting style of Sebastian Michaelis from “Kuroshitsuji”, he also struggles with perfectionism and feels he needs to be perfect in order to be worthy of love. Daisy and Gatsby balance each other out as they both teach one another the importance of self love and the true meaning of what it is to love unconditionally. If you’re looking for a unique, paranormal spin on a classic literary tale, don't miss out on this book when it hits online shelves July 16, 2024!

Rating: 5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Meter: 4/5🌶🌶🌶🌶

-Tropes to Expect: Second Chance, New Adult, Childhood Friends-to-Lovers, Paranormal Romance, Vampires, 1920's Throwback, Themed Parties, and Secret Society.

-Trigger Warnings: Discussions of Infidelity, Discussions of Toxic Relationships, Relationship Anxiety, Manipulation and Emotional Abuse, Harassment, and Explicit Death.

I am incredibly thankful to the publisher and netgalley for an e-arc copy. That being said, I knew I’d love this book. I love Rebecca’s other books, and as soon as she said she was writing about vampires agains, I was excited.

This book lived up to the hype I had expected from it. While I had never read The Great Gatsby (only know the parks notes version), I feel like there was a great blend of vampirism, romance, and Great Gatsby incorporation.

Highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a delightfully entertaining, mystery filled, romantic journey. And if you enjoy this book too, check out the author’s other books!

The book is fine. I didn’t find myself engaged and stopped after chapter 2 (6%) but overall, it’s accessible and easy to follow and should be three to four stars with the target audience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC.

I had a fun time reading Beautiful Villain! I was super interested in this because it’s a modern retelling of The Great Gatsby. I do think it was odd that all the characters names were the same but I got used to it. This was fast paced & I loved the paranormal twist! The romance was very cute! This was my first book by this author and I will definitely be reading more!

Dark romance Beautiful Villain by Rebecca Kenney centers on vampire Jay Gatsby and recent graduate Daisy Finnegan.

I was surprised that the character names in this modern-day Gatsby retelling matched those in the Great Gatsby novel and movie. Though I was eager to read this, the exact names simply didn't sit well with me.

Also, based on the summary, I had assumed that Daisy would discover that Jay was a vampire when Nick, her cousin, went missing and it was her responsibility to track him down. However, Nick was discovered after being gone for only a few hours and the way she discovered Jay was a vampire was so anticlimatic. So, the book's plot was actually not really there.

The fact that the entire book contained several references to modern stuff was another thing I found annoying. There was talk of apps like YouTube and TikTok. Worse, vampire movies like Twilight were mentioned as well.

Because of its synopsis and cliches, I had high expectations for this novel, but it lacked a real plot and drama.

*Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and to the author, Rebecca Kenney, for providng me with this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.*