Of Curses and Kisses

Of Curses and Kisses transplants Beauty and the Beast to an elite Colorado boarding school, where Indian princess Jaya Rao plots revenge against her family's British rivals. She targets Grey Emerson, the latest in a line she believes cursed her younger sister, planning to break his heart before her eighteenth birthday. Grey keeps to himself at St. Rosetta's International Academy, haunted by a family curse that will supposedly turn him into a beast. Despite his attempts at isolation, he finds himself drawn into Jaya's orbit as they work together on school projects and cross paths in their elite social circle. The novel reimagines classic fairy tale elements through a contemporary lens, incorporating themes of family duty, cultural identity, and the weight of ancient grudges. The story examines how curses - whether real or self-fulfilling prophecies - can shape destinies and relationships.

Readers found this Beauty and the Beast retelling set at an elite boarding school to be a lighter, predictable young adult romance. Readers appreciated: - The Indian cultural elements and representation - The boarding school atmosphere and setting details - The friendship dynamics between secondary characters Common criticisms: - Slow pacing, especially in the first half - Underdeveloped character motivations - Romance that felt forced rather than naturally developing - Writing style described as "choppy" by multiple reviewers Review quotes: "The premise had potential but the execution fell flat" - Goodreads reviewer "Too much telling instead of showing" - Amazon reviewer Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (13,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (300+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 3.9/5 (100+ ratings) Most readers categorized it as an average YA romance that didn't fully deliver on its promising concept.

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🌟 The novel is a contemporary reimagining of "Beauty and the Beast" set at an elite boarding school in the Colorado Rockies 💫 Author Sandhya Menon drew inspiration from her own experiences living in Colorado and her fascination with boarding school dynamics 👑 The story features an Indian princess as the protagonist, bringing South Asian representation to the classic fairy tale genre 🏰 St. Rosetta's International Academy, where the story is set, was partially inspired by real-life prestigious boarding schools like Switzerland's Institut Le Rosey 🌹 The curse element in the story incorporates both Indian and European folklore traditions, blending cultural mythologies in a modern setting