ARC Review: Beastly Beauty

This book was gifted to me by Scholastic through NetGalley. This in no way impacts the rating of the book. All of my reviews contain my honest opinions.

Title: Beastly Beauty	Author: Jennifer Donnelly
Series:	Genre: Fantasy, Romance, YA
Publisher: Scholastic	Page Count: 336

Content Warnings:

• Graphic: 

• Moderate: 

• Minor: sexism

From New York Times bestselling, award-winning author Jennifer Donnelly comes a revolutionary, gender-swapped retelling of Beauty and the Beast that will forever change how you think about beauty, power, and what it really means to follow your heart. What makes a girl "beastly?" Is it having too much ambition? Being too proud? Taking up too much space? Or is it just wanting something, anything, too badly? That's the problem Arabella faces when she makes her debut in society. Her parents want her to be sweet and compliant so she can marry well, but try as she might, Arabella can't extinguish the fire burning inside her -- the source of her deepest wishes, her wildest dreams. When an attempt to suppress her emotions tragically backfires, a mysterious figure punishes Arabella with a curse, dooming her and everyone she cares about, trapping them in the castle. As the years pass, Arabella abandons hope. The curse is her fault -- after all, there's nothing more "beastly" than a girl who expresses her anger -- and the only way to break it is to find a boy who loves her for her true a cruel task for a girl who's been told she's impossible to love. When a handsome thief named Beau makes his way into the castle, the captive servants are thrilled, convinced he is the one to break the curse. But Beau -- spooked by the castle's strange and forbidding ladies-in-waiting, and by the malevolent presence that stalks its corridors at night -- only wants to escape. He learned long ago that love is only an illusion. If Beau and Arabella have any hope of breaking the curse, they must learn to trust their wounded hearts, and realize that the cruelest prisons of all are the ones we build for ourselves.

★★★★★ — obsessed
🔥🔥 — smoldering

I have just finished reading what I can only describe as one of the most breathtaking, exquisite stories that has ever crossed my path. Beastly Beauty was no ordinary book, but an emotional, stunningly beautiful retelling of the timeless classic, Beauty and the Beast. As a reader, I found this take on the tale deeply refreshing. The gender-swapped aspect of the story was a unique twist that I found intriguing and thoroughly enjoyed.

The tale places heavy emphasis on the societal expectations of women, specifically the contrast between what a young lady should be and what a woman can be. This aspect resonated with me deeply. In a world where we are often confined to the boxes society places us in, this book serves as a powerful reminder that we are capable of so much more than what is expected of us. It left me with a profound realization of the endless possibilities that we can reach if we stop allowing others' expectations to shape our hopes, dreams, and ultimately, our destinies.

The story was potent, filled with deep emotional resonance that tugged at my heartstrings in a way few books do. It wasn't just the sadness or the struggle, but the undercurrent of hope, inspiration, and motivation that surged through the narrative. It's a story that tore at my heart, yes, but it also filled me with such a sense of hope and inspiration. The kind of story that leaves a lasting impression, where the echoes of the characters and their journey continue to resonate long after the last page has been turned.

Jennifer Donnelly, the author, has proven herself to be an exceptional writer. Her storytelling skills are nothing short of extraordinary, and her ability to create a world so vivid, characters so real, and a story so powerful is truly remarkable. This book, without a doubt, stands as one of the very best fairytale retellings I've ever had the pleasure of reading.

In conclusion, not only did Beastly Beauty serve as an engaging read, but it also encouraged me to question societal norms and expectations. It challenged me to look beyond the limitations placed upon us and to explore the possibilities that lie in defying these boundaries. This book is more than just a fairytale retelling; it's a testament to the strength of character, the defiance of societal norms, and the power of hope.