By the Book (Meant to Be) by Jasmine Guillory

A tale as old as time—for a new generation…

Isabelle is completely lost. When she first began her career in publishing right out of college, she did not expect to be twenty-five, living at home, still an editorial assistant, and the only Black employee at her publishing house. Overworked and underpaid, constantly torn between speaking up or stifling herself, Izzy thinks there must be more to this publishing life. So when she overhears her boss complaining about a beastly high-profile author who has failed to deliver his long-awaited manuscript, Isabelle sees an opportunity to finally get the promotion she deserves.

All she has to do is go to the author’s Santa Barbara mansion and give him a quick pep talk or three. How hard could it be?

But Izzy quickly finds out she is in over her head. Beau Towers is not some celebrity lightweight writing a tell-all memoir. He is jaded and withdrawn and—it turns out—just as lost as Izzy. But despite his standoffishness, Izzy needs Beau to deliver, and with her encouragement, his story begins to spill onto the page. They soon discover they have more in common than either of them expected, and as their deadline nears, Izzy and Beau begin to realize there may be something there that wasn't there before.

Best-selling author Jasmine Guillory’s reimagining of a beloved fairy tale is a romantic triumph of love and acceptance and learning that sometimes to truly know a person you have to read between the lines. 

Paperback, 320 pages

Published May 3rd 2022

 by Hyperion Avenue

3.5/stars

This is the second book in the A Meant To Be Novel Series, each one stands alone. This one is a retelling of  Beauty & the Beast which is what grabbed my attention. It’s also my first time reading this author.

I really enjoyed this read, I enjoyed getting to know Izzy and her drive. It's 2 years since her career in publishing began, but then becomes disillusioned with her job. She doesn’t know what she signs up for when giving this 'pep talk' to Beau. A celebrity supposedly writing a tell all memoir. What follows is a story with a fairy tale feel, a journey of discovery not just for Izzy but Beau as well. Plus some twists with good character development and plot. Add to that, the library making it a perfect fit for bookish book lovers and those that love a feel good story.

The previous book in this series is If The Shoe Fits, which I am taking to mean a Cinderella inspired story.

By The Book was from my bookshelf and part of my 2022 reading off my shelf challenge