by Ashley Poston
Release Date: August 4, 2020; Quirk Books
From Goodreads:
In the third book in Ashley Poston's Once Upon a Con series, Beauty and the Beast is retold in the beloved Starfield universe.
Rosie Thorne is feeling stuck—on her college application essays, in her small town, and on that mysterious General Sond cosplayer she met at ExcelsiCon. Most of all, she’s stuck in her grief over her mother’s death. Her only solace was her late mother’s library of rare Starfield novels, but even that disappeared when they sold it to pay off hospital bills.
On the other hand, Vance Reigns has been Hollywood royalty for as long as he can remember—with all the privilege and scrutiny that entails. When a tabloid scandal catches up to him, he's forced to hide out somewhere the paparazzi would never expect to find him: Small Town USA. At least there’s a library in the house. Too bad he doesn’t read.
When Rosie and Vance’s paths collide and a rare book is accidentally destroyed, Rosie finds herself working to repay the debt. And while most Starfield superfans would jump at the chance to work in close proximity to the Vance Reigns, Rosie has discovered something about Vance: he’s a jerk, and she can’t stand him. The feeling is mutual.
But as Vance and Rosie begrudgingly get to know each other, their careful masks come off—and they may just find that there’s more risk in shutting each other out than in opening their hearts.
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
First of all, I have an unhealthy obsession for Beauty and the Beast. And, impossibly, I have an even unhealthier obsession for Beauty and The Beast retellings.
So the first time I heard about Bookish and the Beast? I was already obsessed.
I'm keeping this review short mainly because I very rarely have words for books I love. And boy do I LOVE this one.
Bookish and the Beast was sweet, fun, refreshing and every fangirl's dream. I have no idea who Amara and Carmindor and Sond are, but I was so invested in their story just as much as I was with Rosie and Vance's. Ah, Rosie and Vance. Rosie and her love for books. Vance and his (rarely) charming personality and bad boy vibe going on. I love, love, love these two so much! They were awkward and cute and sweet and endearingly teenager-y. I just love it! And can I just say Elias and Rosie's dad are... they're... I have no words for these two but I LOVE them. That scene with the pancakes? Elias giving Vance relationship advice? Rosie's dad's Space Dadness? I don't even know if I'm making any sense right now but JUST READ THIS PLEASE and fall in love with the characters and the story and the writing as hard as I did. Trust me, you're gonna want to.
'But there is so much more in those words than just loving books. I love the smell of them. I love the way their bindings look pressed together on a shelf. I love the feel of pages buzzing through my fingers. I love big books and small books. I love words and how they’re strung together, and most of all, I love the stories. I love how books are not really just books at all, but doorways.'
'There is nothing here but space, and words, and magic. A certain kind of impossible magic, where words people have written years and years ago exist still.'
'The best memories I’ve ever had are with my best friends. Like a good bra, they lift me up to stand tall.'
I received an e-arc via Edelweiss+ to read and review.
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