Blog Tour, ARC Review & Giveaway: BY THE BOOK by Amanda Sellet

BY THE BOOK
by Amanda Sellet
Release Date: May 12, 2020; HMH Books for Young Readers
Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

About the book:

Mary Porter-Malcolm has prepared for high school in the one way she knows how: an extensive review of classic literature to help navigate the friendships, romantic liaisons, and overall drama she has come to expect from such an “esteemed” institution. Her love of literature even inspires her to imagine herself the heroine of a nineteenth-century novel. Not the sort who makes poor life choices and ends up dying of consumption while still in her teens, but the noble, virtuous, quick-witted type.

When some new friends seem in danger of falling for the same tricks employed since the days of Austen and Tolstoy, Mary swoops in to create the Scoundrel Survival Guide, using archetypes of literature’s debonair bad boys to signal red flags. But despite her best efforts, she soon finds herself unable to listen to her own good advice and falling for a supposed cad—the same one she warned her friends away from.Without a convenient rain-swept moor to flee to, Mary is forced to admit that real life doesn’t follow the same rules as fiction and that if she wants a happy ending, she’s going to have to write it herself.

Goodreads

Amazon

Book Depository

Apple Books

Barnes & Noble

Google Play

Kobo

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

So... it's almost midnight while I'm (trying) to write this and I probably would not be getting a lot of sleep. I just finished this wonderful, heartwarming book and I cannot get my thoughts straight. I have so much FEELINGS.

First of all, I can honestly say I have not read anything quite like this before. It's hilarious and sweet and sad (at times) and fun and romantic and heartfelt. And the writing. The WRITING. (Yes I feel like I should say that in caps to get my feelings about it across.) I did not want this book to end. I wanted Mary to tell me more about the tragic deaths and mistaken identities and ballgowns. Also? Don't judge me for saying this but I'm not as classics savvy as I pretend people think me to be. So yes, I may be a hated guest of the Porter Malcolms if I ever get invited to dinner. And I would probably give Mary a most painful death for how much I don't know. But you know what? I love, love, love BY THE BOOK and that is all that matters.

Okay, where was I? I should probably just list all the things I love about the book. Otherwise no one will ever see the end of this review. Right. The Dear Diary entries. They were hilarious and relatable and so Mary that I couldn't not love them. The Porter-Malcolms. They were a big family. They were messy, complicated, fun, super smart and exactly what you would expect families to be. Far from perfect but at the end of the day they will always, always, have your back. Mary. Will Herondale has nothing on her. I love her love for classics. She's smart and funny and seeing her growth was such a wild ride. Cam and Jeff. I ship it. I ship it HARD. Alex Ritter. He's- I'm- Meet my newest book boyfriend y'all. I was swooning. Swoon was everywhere. Everytime Alex and Mary were on the scene I. Could. Not. Stop. Smiling. The chemistry! The banter! These two are so much better than Romeo and Juliet. Last but not the least? The friendship. I love how central it was to the story. I mean I'm all for romance and secret trysts and my own Mr. Darcy but FRIENDSHIP. That's what makes a great book even greater. Seeing different people with different hobbies from different backgrounds who would otherwise have nothing in common but then one unexpected incident and bam! Connection. They say it's fate to meet your soulmate. Well I think even greater forces are at work for you to meet the kind of people who would stick by you no matter what. The family you get to choose.

A definite must-read!

“It’s my cologne,” Alex Ritter replied. “It has that effect on people.”
It’s a well-known fact that as soon as someone mentions a smell, it’s impossible not to sniff. I thought I’d inhaled stealthily, until Anton weighed in.
“How is it, Mary? Spicy? Piquant? More of a musk?”
“He smells like syrup,” I said tightly.
“Pancake Saturday,” Alex confirmed.

'There could be different types of friendship, and different stages within each one. Deep bonds of loyalty and affection, or ties that have more to do with convenience. Relationships that hold you back, and ones that grow with you.'

“Be true to yourself and other people will see your worth. If they’re worth your time.”

'An idea danced at the back of my mind, spurred by the gleam in his eyes, the half smile lurking at the corners of his mouth. Could it be that this light made everyone lovely, including me? That would explain his rapt attention, and the stillness that seemed to envelop the two of us. It felt like the universe was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.'

“You were giving her heart palpitations.”
“Really?” Alex grinned. “How do you figure?”

I received an e-arc to read and review.

Author Links: Website Goodreads Twitter Instagram

Debut author Amanda Sellet had a previous career in journalism, during which she wrote book reviews for The Washington Post, personal essays for NPR, and music and movie coverage for VH1. These days she lives in Kansas with her archaeologist husband and their daughter.