Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This book was so much fun. It may not be a 5-star read, but I loved it anyway and can't wait for book 2.

If you loved The Cruel Prince series but wished it had more romance/spice, this may be the book for you.

I received the audiobook version of this title. I made it to 50% before pausing on it. I've been paused on it for about a month and have tried to resume a couple times but been lost. There was nothing wrong with the audio production of this, but I do think this is a book that will ultimately need to be an eyeball read in order to best follow along with the story. If I am able to finish via an eyeball read, will update this review.

Bristol is just trying to get by day by day. Money was tights and a rich aunt that Bristol or her sister knows about sent a letter about giving them something from their father that was valuable. Bristol being desperate and wanting to just get the art and sell it for the money so her sister and herself could not struggle so much, went to see this aunt.

Little did Bristol know it was a trap and that taking the art was a mistake. Because now she owed the fae.

Bristol was enrolled in a school to train for battles. She wasn’t learning like everyone else was and was falling behind. But soon her and everyone would find out why. Her father put a magical tick on her to suck up her magic.

Bristol’s father put the tick there to help them run and stay hidden. He even faked his own death.

This is an enemies to lovers book and it keeps you wanting more.

I absolutely love fairy tale retellings and this twist on Beauty and the Beast was excellently done. I loved the world building and the plot wove together beautifully. Brittany Pressley's narration was very well done. Excellent romance with a complex family story also woven in. I can't wait for the next one! Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for a copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this book. I really liked Bristol’s dn her relationship with her sisters and the mystery that was around her family background. I think the romance was well done and I enjoyed everything but how smart Bristol was to put everything together but the relationship between her dad and her lover or about just asking about him

DNF @ 28%. Going into this I had no idea that it was romantasy, I’ve out grown this genre and I can’t stand all the basic tropes that have been done a billion times before. I would say if you are a fan of romantasy and want that from your story go ahead and read it.

The Courting of Bristol Keats:⁣
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Thank you @macmillan.audio for my gifted copy!⁣
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This book had great potential. I was moving and grooving through the book and realized “omg, I’m only 30% in. I thought I was surely deeper into this.” In a nutshell, the middle dragged without any real purpose or character development. I wasn’t a huge fan of the actual characters, so zero connection on seeing if they could survive or prevail. It was fun while it lasted, but I needed more. (Queue me being Ariel)⁣
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What I did love is of course was Brittany Pressley. One of my favorite narrators, she really got me through the book with her reading. I could probably listen all day (which in some instances I did) to her.⁣
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Overall, it’s a miss for me. But this Owlcrate version is absolutely stunning. ⁣
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QOTD: Any weekend plans?

This book had me so invested.

We start off with Bristol trying to support her sisters, who have run into a string of bad luck lately. The cards are stacked against them, and things are looking pretty bleak.

Well, their luck is about to change. The curious invitations and secret meetings lead to one hell of an adventure. Bristol has to make sacrifices and difficult decisions while growing and learning about a very secretive past.

The tropes are next level. Enemies to lovers, found family, troubled past and the father's best friend with a twist is chefs kiss!! I am in no way ready to be finished thinking about this book, and I need the next one to know what happens.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan for providing me with this arc.

This was so fun. This was literally everything I wanted from acotar and didnt get. I literally kept singing "theres something there that wasnt there before" in the early scenes. The pacing was so good. I love the characters, they are all so perfectly flawed. I love that it wasnt just a romantasy but there is also friendships blooming and mystery and there is the perfect amount of banter and spice. I would definitely recommend this to any romantasy or fantasy reader.
AND LOL at the ending. Love how it ended, it really was a happy ending ;) Cant wait for the next one!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

While the book's first quarter was challenging due to the large number of characters introduced with minimal descriptions, I appreciated the journey of gradually immersing myself in the world-building. By the halfway point, I started to enjoy the romance woven into the story.

Bristol is a relatable and somewhat frustrating character, which adds to her complexity. However, to strengthen the narrative, I felt that her relationships with those around her—family, friends, and especially her love interest—could have been more developed.

I really liked the alternate reality aspect of Faerie, although I was left with several unanswered questions by the end, which was a bit disappointing. Despite this, I am intrigued enough to read the next book when it becomes available. Overall, while I enjoyed this book, there is potential for even greater depth and clarity in future installments.

Mary E. Pearson’s The Courting of Bristol Keats is an enchanting blend of romantic fantasy, fae lore, and family drama—an exciting and promising series starter.

The story follows Bristol Keats, who, after losing her parents, learns that her life is intertwined with dangerous fae creatures and hidden family secrets. Her journey to rescue her father pulls her into a world of gods, magic, and intrigue, forcing her into a precarious alliance with Tyghan, a powerful fae leader.

This slow-burn romantasy shines with Pearson’s immersive worldbuilding and well-drawn characters. The novel brims with fae politics, betrayal, and dark magic, where romance and tension collide in just the right way. Pearson skillfully balances Bristol’s personal struggles with the larger magical plot, making both the emotional stakes and fantasy elements feel just as gripping.

Readers who love fairy lore, slow-building romance, and intricate storytelling will get hooked on how Pearson brings this world to life. With strong hints of future twists, this first installment is the kind of read that leaves you excited—and clamoring—for what comes next.

I had the amazing opportunity of listening to an eAudio of this book and WOW! Mary knows how to write and build a world. It was like tumbling down a rabbit hole every time I put my headphones on. I was transported.

If you enjoy books with lies, betrayal, family bonds, magic upon magic and more lies, this is one you’ll want to pick up. The urban fantasy vibe felt new and refreshing. I really liked the way that Mary built the layers of this story. Some of my favourite scenes were the on the training grounds and with the recruits. The vibrant mix of personalities made this book a lot of fun. How you feel about a character will change from chapter to chapter, or at least it did for me. It definitely kept me on my toes.

It does have a slower pace to it. I think the audio book helped to alleviate some of the drag that could have occurred with a hard copy.

Please be advised, this is an Adult Romantic Fantasy. The romance is open door. I’m not opposed to it, but it did catch me off guard a little as I am used to Mary being a YA writer.

At times I was a little put off my the MC, Bristol. She talked herself up as being the strong one in the family who takes care of everyone, but she had some really childish moments. I think the MC’s in Mary’s YA books had more maturity. As a whole though, she is someone I am rooting for. I think I’m was rooting for her to come to her senses now more than anything but I’m still rooting!

It’s going to be a long wait for book 2 in this Duology, but I can’t wait for it and I’m excited to see where the story leads. There’s so much that could happen. I’ve such high hopes for it!

Of course I had to hop on this opportunity, I love Mary E. Pearson. This book had been on my TBR for a while so this was the perfect excuse to get me to bump it up on my list. The book itself was amazing, somehow the audio version improved it. It helped keep my focus in the story. I can't wait to see what happens next.

This book was absolutely just not for me, I did however recommend it to quite a few readers/friends who I think it would be right up their alley.

I so badly wanted to like this one but I’ve given it multiple tries now and I get so lost and confused that. I have no idea what’s going on or what the goal is. I’m so sorry

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - LOVE - Would recommend

The Courting of Bristol Keates is a tale of what one young woman is willing to sacrifice for love.

Bristol Keates had a very unusual childhood. Her parents never stayed in one place long enough to put down roots. They would move the family on a momentary whim. Until they moved to Bowskeep.

Bristol sees this move as her chance to live her own life. That is until her mother disappears and her father is mysteriously killed. She moves back to Bowskeep to help her sisters, but they have difficulties to make ends meet. That’s when she receives an intriguing letter from a long last family member with an offer she can’t refuse.

This book transports you to the romantic fae court where Bristol has to struggle to survive to help her sisters and uncover the truth about her family. If only the frustratingly handsome king Tyghan would stop getting in her way.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an advanced audio book in exchange for an honest review.

Possibly an unpopular opinion but this was painful. Disjointed story telling, cliche boring characters, and tedious plot that went nowhere interesting. If it were not for the audio version I’d have DNF 100 pages in. For a romance book the actual building of the love story was skipped over and the books ended with an unimaginative sex scene that barely made sense given the chapters previously and the character built up for Bristol. This was really not for me.

Super fun book! I loved the setting - especially of Bowskeep (Star's Hollow, anyone?). The slow burn and tension was perfect. I like the world mechanics. Can't wait for book two! I didn't want it to end! I'm on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens with Bristol's parents and Tyghan. The narrator was great.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC Audio Copy!

This is my first book from Mary E Pearson and I was so excited to read this story, I love the cover and the story matches the cover perfectly.
This book is perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince, it felt like being in the same world at times and I loved every minute of it. Traditional fae and fairyland is always going to be one of my favorite genres and this one delivered on all counts.

I loved the new approach to fae romance. The main character felt strong and I liked her a lot. I loved the art theft elements.