Beastly

A modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Beastly transports the classic fairy tale to present-day New York City. The story centers on Kyle Kingsbury, a wealthy and attractive high school student whose cruel behavior results in a witch's curse that transforms him into a beast. Isolated in a Manhattan apartment with only his housekeeper and a tutor for company, Kyle must find someone to love him despite his monstrous appearance. The curse comes with a time limit - he has two years to secure true love or remain a beast forever. Kyle tends to a rooftop rose garden while wrestling with his transformation, both physical and emotional. His journey intersects with Linda, a girl who may hold the key to breaking the curse. The novel explores themes of physical beauty, inner worth, and redemption through a contemporary lens. Through its reimagining of a classic tale, Beastly examines how true transformation must come from within.

Readers describe Beastly as a straightforward modern Beauty and the Beast retelling that appeals to young teens but may feel simplistic to older readers. Readers appreciated: - The updated NYC setting and social media elements - The male protagonist's perspective - Messages about looking past physical appearance - Quick, easy reading pace Common criticisms: - Basic writing style lacking depth - Predictable plot following the original tale closely - Underdeveloped side characters - Romance feels rushed and superficial Sample reader comment: "Perfect for middle school students but too juvenile for adults looking for a complex retelling" - Goodreads reviewer Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (180,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (900+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.3/5 (500+ ratings) Most readers position it as an accessible introduction to fairy tale retellings for younger YA audiences, though more experienced readers often find it too simple.

Beauty by Robin McKinley A retelling of Beauty and the Beast from Beauty's perspective follows a merchant's daughter who discovers magic and transformation in an enchanted castle.

Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay This science fiction reimagining of Beauty and the Beast unfolds on a distant planet where a blind princess and a beastly mutant form a connection that challenges their societies' divisions.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas A huntress enters a dangerous faerie realm as payment for killing a wolf, where she encounters a powerful creature bound by a curse.

The Rose and the Beast by Francesca Lia Block Nine fairy tales, including Beauty and the Beast, receive modern retellings set in contemporary Los Angeles with elements of magic realism.

Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier A scribe accepts work at a mysterious chieftain's fortress, where she uncovers dark magic and a curse while translating ancient documents.

1. 🌹 The novel was adapted into a major motion picture in 2011 starring Alex Pettyfer and Vanessa Hudgens, though the film version moved the setting from New York City to New Orleans. 2. 🏰 Alex Flinn wrote this book after being inspired by her daughter's middle school production of "Beauty and the Beast," believing the story needed a contemporary twist for modern teens. 3. 📱 The chat room sections in the book feature other transformed teenagers discussing their curses, including characters from "The Frog Prince" and "The Little Mermaid," creating an interconnected fairy tale universe. 4. 🌆 The greenhouse where Kyle/Adrian keeps his roses is located on top of a brownstone in Brooklyn Heights, a detail that grounds the fantastical elements in real New York geography. 5. 🎭 The protagonist's transformation occurs at age 16, and he is given exactly two years to find true love - a deliberate parallel to the original fairy tale's enchanted rose, which bloomed until the prince's twenty-first year.