Cover Image: Beautiful Villain

Beautiful Villain

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Member Reviews

Personally, I rate this book two stars because I don’t like contemporary or billionaire romance. However, I’m giving it three stars because I assume people who like those genres will like it more than I did.

Rebecca F Kenney is literally one of my favorite authors and I was so disappointed by this book. I hated the fact that it was set in present day. The writing style was completely different than her other books. I’m not sure if it’s because it’s her first trad published book or what. I’ve rated several of her other books five stars but this was just not it.

Literally none of the characters were likable. I hated almost everyone. I didn’t like the concept for the vampires. So many of the ideas were not fleshed out at all.

Like I said, this is not what I was expecting but I do hope the book does well, because I like her other work. It’s just not for me.

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Another masterpiece by Rebecca Kenney! I devoured this book in one sitting and have not stopped thinking about it since. I love Daisy and Jay their story will have you swooning in no time. This story is written magnificently and the spice plot balance is perfect. I loved it was a modern twist on Gatsby with vampires.

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I really enjoyed this book. I loved that it had vampires and was a remake of Gatsby. The book kept Gatsby's extravagances but with a new and modern twist. Along with this, Daisy rediscovers herself and becomes the heroine. The spice was the right amount. It's worth the read if you love the supernatural, spiciness, and a bit of conflict. I read this as an ARC from Netgalley.

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I think this book has a lot of potential, I think the idea is really fun, but I do believe the stakes could be a lot higher. It seems like there's no real conflict in this book that isn't easily resolved. The HEA is obviously the point of the book, but it would be good to dig more into the consequences of things like Jay becoming a vampire for Daisy

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I have never read The Great Gatsby but I love this retelling.
The childhood-friends-to-lovers romance is perfectly painted in a world of opulence, secrets and paranormal.
Characters are well written and their development is visible. Starting from the first pages I had a few characters I hated from the bottom of my heart but the author is nicer than I could be with some fictive people. I am happy my favorites remained nice people until the end 🤭.

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Oof. I really didn't enjoy this book, and I'm so sad to say that, because I was really looking forward to it and so excited when I got approved! I was expecting more lushness and complexity and mood, but somehow everything felt a bit flat, and I just wasn't feeling the sparks between Daisy and Gatsby. Some of the plot devices felt a bit forced, like the bracelets Daisy notices on party guests, and the 'mysterious' wound on Nick. Obviously I'm in the minority and others are absolutely loving this book! It just wasn't for me, but I definitely wish this author all the success.

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Words cannot describe how much I love Rebecca Kenney's writing. Her traditional publishing debut does not disappoint. Gilded monsters indeed.
Now I could be wrong, but you would have a hard time convincing me that adding vampires into literally all the classics would not make them all infinitely better. So when I heard The Great Gatsby meets Vampires, I was already all in.
I loved the characters and the world-building, the storyline was spectacular and I liked the supernatural spin on the classic tale (obviously).
If you like:
Second chance romance
Spice
Vampires
He fell first (and hard)
Then you will absolutely adore this book. I could quite literally not put it down and I will be over here not so patiently waiting for the next instalment.

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This is my first ARC, and I was so excited to receive it! Rebecca Kenney NEVER disappoints. I devoured “Beautiful Villain.” It is a unique take on “The Great Gatsby” and every bit as enjoyable. I loved all of the spice, the rediscovered love, the vampire aspects and the characters. I loved Jay & Daisy, but Nick is definitely one of my favorites too. Such a fun read! Highly recommend. I can’t wait to see what other stores Kenney comes up with!

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Fantastic and addictive Gatsby retelling with modern and supernatural flare!
I just couldn't put this down after I got into it. The characters, the drama, and the depth of feelings expressed painted a beautiful story.

Definitely a new favorite from Rebecca. Daisy is a wonderfully reimagined character whose fears, doubts, insecurities and drive for strength and understanding are extremely relatable.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this opportunity to read rate and review this arc which will be available on July 16,2024!

A Great Gatsby inspired vampire spicy romance? Hell yes gimme!!! This was a wickedly fun read that sucks you in and will not let you go! The plot was great. The spice was spicing. The characters are memorable and dig into your psyche.

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"You have the loveliest skin"
"Says the guy who's trying not to be creepy"


Kenney truelly is the queen of retellings and once again she has knocked it out of the park with Beautiful Villian a modern take on Gatsby.

Now I was unsure going into this whether I would enjoy this story from Daisy's pov. In the original there was nothing I wanted more than to smack Daisy in the face with a shovel. Thankfully new modern Daisy is fun likeable and for once I actually was rooting for her.

Kenney still manages to make this story original and her own while retaining some key aspects of the original. We still have green lights, extravagant parties, asshole Tom and gluttonous wealth.

Thankfully we don't have to contend with Nick as an unreliable narrator and can just enjoy the events unfolding from daisys first hand perspective. The supernatural twist is folded seamlessly into the story and helps elevate the sensual aspects to a new level.

The only thing I believe this retelling lacks is the meaningful imagery of the original, but that's OK because that's not the story Kenney is trying to tell here.

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Amazing. Once I sat down to read this, it was dang near impossible to put down. This reimagining of Gatsby with vampires was such a delightful read.
Vampires and a little magic collide with the classic tale with a few elitist jerks thrown in for good conflict.

I don't know what Rebecca puts in her books... But I know that if she writes it I WILL read it.

*I received an eARC and I am leaving this review voluntarily*

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Rebecca Kenney you’ve done it again! This spicy and supernatural Gatsby retelling is as opulent and entertaining as the original novel while still telling a story all its own. I was really rooting for this second-chance romance and it totally delivered on the feelings this trope always stirs up for me! And the spice 🥵 the hedge maze scene was EVERYTHING. Thank you to Rebecca Kenney and NetGalley for the eARC—I can’t wait for the next installment in this series of spicy classic lit retellings!

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A fang-tastic twist on a timeless classic tale. Rebecca does it again by taking stories we already know and flipping them on their head in the best way possible. What better combination than Great Gatsby and Vampires? Oh, and did I mention the spice. 😉

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I absolutely loved this book! Well written and I loved how Jay remembered all of Daisy's quirks! I also really enjoyed a lot of a banter, especially Nicks! Hes hilarious! I was not sure about her friend Jordan but honestly friends like her are the ones you really need in your corner!

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Loved this book!! Rebecca has a way with words. Every story she's ever written has been amazing and this book did not disappoint.

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Beautiful Villian was such an amazing reimagining of the The Great Gatbsy. I believe that even without the supernatural twist, it still could hold its own, but having it with vampires, made it such an even more amazing story. Rebecca's writing is unique and she definitely has her own voice that not many writers have. Beautiful Villian kept me enamored with Daisy and Jay's story and having little glimpses of them when they were younger, in my opinion, helped us understand them better. I absolutely loved how while Jay may have helped her in a way, but to see Daisy come into her true self and accepting it was interesting to witness. I would highly recommend Beautiful Villian for the readers that love spins on classic stories, the supernatural, and top notch spicy scenes. I am looking forward to more than Rebecca gives us in the future.

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i was very excited to read this because i am obsessed with gatsby retellings. but this was just not my thing. i think i'm too old hahah

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