By the Book

This summer I have been participating in Ripped Bodice's romance bingo (which I will talk more about on a later date) which prompted me to dig through a corner of my personal library I haven't visited in awhile. It's also gotten me curious about a few new books, a few new authors. It also caused me to revisit an author that I abandoned years ago.

I had  not actually made it all the way through a Jasmine Guillory book before I read By the Book. However I saw her in person at Subtext books, the bookstore literally down the street from my apartment before the pandemic.

I was beginning to dip my toe in the horror genre after often feeling like I enjoyed romance but it was not the genre that seemed to suit my writing style best. Listening to Jasmine speak was very helpful for me when she explained that she started out wanting to write children's books but found herself writing romance instead. Hearing her articulate that was helpful for me at that point in my formation as a writer. Ironically, it helped me own that I could still enjoy  romance novels but found my own strengths in the dark, macabre and obscure.

At this event, I purchased an autographed copy of her book the Wedding Date at the event and just could NOT get into it. I wanted to like it because Jasmine is an author a lot of people said that they loved her books and I wanted to promote more diversity in fiction.

However, picking up By The Book this week was a game changer for me. I found myself falling in love with the characters. It was the ultimate Disney fairytale for adults. I wouldn't have considered it if I didn't just read another book in this particular series.  The spin on the beauty and the beast tale into a tale of publishing, books and celebrity was enchanting.

Of course it is important to add that this is based on the Disney movie. Yet fairy tales  have constantly been rewritten and retold for different cultures and different generations. This retelling emphasizes the hope, romance and happy endings. 

It probably struck a deeper cord with me because of my love of books. (Let's face it: my ideal disney prince was the library in Beauty and the Beast) But for an afternoon reading a physical copy of this book was like  my an adventure I my mind into a magical world.