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The Beast of Bellevue
"He was the most beautiful boy that she had ever seen...and she had confused him with her prince."
When 17-year-old Dylan Albright mischievously creates a dating website posing as his unsuspecting heartthrob brother, he doesn't realize what is at risk is his own heart. Locked in Bellevue Sanatorium, 17-year-old Ava Pierce stumbles upon soccer star Alec Albright's photo and 'Hire-A-Friend' dating service. Eager to get out and meet her prince charming, she sets out in search of her own independence. But what happens when the love of her life is not who she thinks he is?
A twist on a tale as old as time, the Beast of Bellevue explores the meaning of friendship, the value of beauty, the boundaries between the virtual world and real world, and the importance of developing one's self-identity.
Editorial Reviews
"...mesmerizing young adult fantasy tale that follows very interesting characters in a complex setting where relationships can be precarious and challenging... Intelligently plotted and expertly written, The Beast of Bellevue explores the reality of the virtual world, coming of age, and complicated relationships. The novel is filled with realism and humanity and Grace Chen does a wonderful job of exploring the complexities of contemporary dating in a virtual world." - Romuald Dzemo - Readers' Favorite 5/5 stars
" 'A thought occurred to her that made her blush even deeper. Even if she couldn't be on the outside, that didn't mean she couldn't be a part of it from the inside.' Along with the characters that keep readers turning the pages, the plot remains interesting throughout, making this fairy tale twist easy to read in one sitting." - Yousra Medhkour, USA Review of Books
When 17-year-old Dylan Albright mischievously creates a dating website posing as his unsuspecting heartthrob brother, he doesn't realize what is at risk is his own heart. Locked in Bellevue Sanatorium, 17-year-old Ava Pierce stumbles upon soccer star Alec Albright's photo and 'Hire-A-Friend' dating service. Eager to get out and meet her prince charming, she sets out in search of her own independence. But what happens when the love of her life is not who she thinks he is?
A twist on a tale as old as time, the Beast of Bellevue explores the meaning of friendship, the value of beauty, the boundaries between the virtual world and real world, and the importance of developing one's self-identity.
Editorial Reviews
"...mesmerizing young adult fantasy tale that follows very interesting characters in a complex setting where relationships can be precarious and challenging... Intelligently plotted and expertly written, The Beast of Bellevue explores the reality of the virtual world, coming of age, and complicated relationships. The novel is filled with realism and humanity and Grace Chen does a wonderful job of exploring the complexities of contemporary dating in a virtual world." - Romuald Dzemo - Readers' Favorite 5/5 stars
" 'A thought occurred to her that made her blush even deeper. Even if she couldn't be on the outside, that didn't mean she couldn't be a part of it from the inside.' Along with the characters that keep readers turning the pages, the plot remains interesting throughout, making this fairy tale twist easy to read in one sitting." - Yousra Medhkour, USA Review of Books
252 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2020
1 person is currently reading
120 people want to read
About the author
Grace Chen
29 books3 followersGrace Chen is a published author of three books so far. A research scientist by day, Grace also runs her own publishing company. This multi-talented woman also has a bachelor in biochemistry and molecular biology, as well as a master in chemistry. Grace likes to pursue her passions for helping the world through multiple avenues and has a diverse array of hobbies. She has even appeared on a TV reality show as a contestant for cooking.
Grace Chen’s latest book The Beast of Bellevue is a compelling story of a young girl, who inevitably sets off on a journey of independence, only to discover that all that is shiny is not always gold. This compelling story will hook you in from the first few pages, and be a book that you cannot put down till the end.
Grace’s ability to illustrate special moments in her words will capture your heart and soul from the moment you pick up this book.
Grace Chen’s latest book The Beast of Bellevue is a compelling story of a young girl, who inevitably sets off on a journey of independence, only to discover that all that is shiny is not always gold. This compelling story will hook you in from the first few pages, and be a book that you cannot put down till the end.
Grace’s ability to illustrate special moments in her words will capture your heart and soul from the moment you pick up this book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
December 31, 2020
I’m mixed on this, whereas I kinda enjoyed the story, I feel let down by it too. I felt overall it felt shallow and lacking depth , because of the description you think you are going to get so much more. It felt middle grade, not YA, like reading an awkward pre-teen movie, it had it fun moments but just so much less than it could have been
October 14, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review
elevator pitch: Ava has been institutionalised for almost half her life. Feeling very isolated, she starts speaking to 'Alec' online. What Ava doesn't know is that she's actually speaking to Alec's brother, Dylan who has started a money making scheme to keep their family afloat.
review: The cover led me to believe this was going to be a more introspective story about an isolated girl. It's more like a teen movie, where nothing feels all that realistic. The writing was fairly basic and the character development was outright stated instead of naturally developing. There were several plots that felt out of place and like they go nowhere, as well as a lot of coincidences that nobody ever mentions how wild they are. If I hadn't known it was meant to be a Beauty and the Beast retelling, I never would have guessed. While this wasn't for me at all, I do think that a much younger audience might enjoy it, in the 12-14 year old range.
elevator pitch: Ava has been institutionalised for almost half her life. Feeling very isolated, she starts speaking to 'Alec' online. What Ava doesn't know is that she's actually speaking to Alec's brother, Dylan who has started a money making scheme to keep their family afloat.
review: The cover led me to believe this was going to be a more introspective story about an isolated girl. It's more like a teen movie, where nothing feels all that realistic. The writing was fairly basic and the character development was outright stated instead of naturally developing. There were several plots that felt out of place and like they go nowhere, as well as a lot of coincidences that nobody ever mentions how wild they are. If I hadn't known it was meant to be a Beauty and the Beast retelling, I never would have guessed. While this wasn't for me at all, I do think that a much younger audience might enjoy it, in the 12-14 year old range.
November 13, 2020
ARC copy provided in exchange for an honest review. This in no way changes my rating or review.
3.5 sweet stars🤍
This book was SO CUTE. The characters were all such wholesome, sweet, kind children that I couldn’t help but feel an urgent need to squish their cheeks and give them chocolates, and the romance and actual storyline were just as wholesome.
This story switches between a whole variety of POVs – mainly Ava, Dylan, Alec and Taylor. These four teenagers each lead very different lives, but they all have their own variety of problems. Ava is in a mental institute (for a really dumb reason…), Dylan is trying his best to make money for the family by selling his brother (more on that later), Dylan’s brother – Alec – is trying to survive high school and help support his mother and Taylor is slowing being shifted down the chain of popularity… a fate worse than death during high school. Throughout this story we discover more about these different characters, and we slowly grow more and more attached to them all.
Now, this book did have its issues. Sometimes it seemed like the storyline just ZOOMED forward super fast, and suddenly something else was happening and I still hadn’t processed the last thing, plus I didn’t FULLY fall for the romance. But I didn’t even mind because this was such a sweet story! And the humour was pretty good ;).
This book was just the progression of multiple lives that intertwined, and yes, this book was full of tropes, but in a good way. It wasn’t really a beauty and the beast retelling but it WAS good fun and it did talk about prejudices and hasty judgements, and I really liked that.
All up this was really good! Thank you so much to the author and YA Bound Book Tours for the free copy :))
3.5 sweet stars🤍
This book was SO CUTE. The characters were all such wholesome, sweet, kind children that I couldn’t help but feel an urgent need to squish their cheeks and give them chocolates, and the romance and actual storyline were just as wholesome.
This story switches between a whole variety of POVs – mainly Ava, Dylan, Alec and Taylor. These four teenagers each lead very different lives, but they all have their own variety of problems. Ava is in a mental institute (for a really dumb reason…), Dylan is trying his best to make money for the family by selling his brother (more on that later), Dylan’s brother – Alec – is trying to survive high school and help support his mother and Taylor is slowing being shifted down the chain of popularity… a fate worse than death during high school. Throughout this story we discover more about these different characters, and we slowly grow more and more attached to them all.
Now, this book did have its issues. Sometimes it seemed like the storyline just ZOOMED forward super fast, and suddenly something else was happening and I still hadn’t processed the last thing, plus I didn’t FULLY fall for the romance. But I didn’t even mind because this was such a sweet story! And the humour was pretty good ;).
This book was just the progression of multiple lives that intertwined, and yes, this book was full of tropes, but in a good way. It wasn’t really a beauty and the beast retelling but it WAS good fun and it did talk about prejudices and hasty judgements, and I really liked that.
All up this was really good! Thank you so much to the author and YA Bound Book Tours for the free copy :))
October 2, 2020
[Review of ARC copy]
This story is actually the exact opposite of Beauty and the Beast. In this spin, the story line reverses the roles of the male and female character. In the original, the female character is "Belle" or French for beautiful.
That's something I have never really liked. Sure, she was smart in the Disney version. But really would Beast have loved her if she hadn't been the only one who stumbled upon his castle and also drop-dead gorgeous? All the towns people seemed to love her for her appearance. I mean she was ALSO a good person, but they loved her for the same reason Gaston did - BECAUSE she was beautiful on the outside.
In this version, the male character is beautiful and beloved. He is the typical jock. The one that all girls want to date, and all guys want to be like. Superficially, he has everything you would want.
Nobody cares if he is a good person. They just THINK he is because he is beautiful on the outside.
“The perception of beauty is a moral test.”–Henry David Thoreau, Journal, 1850.
As a regular guy, I like the meaning of this story. This resonates with me.
This story is actually the exact opposite of Beauty and the Beast. In this spin, the story line reverses the roles of the male and female character. In the original, the female character is "Belle" or French for beautiful.
That's something I have never really liked. Sure, she was smart in the Disney version. But really would Beast have loved her if she hadn't been the only one who stumbled upon his castle and also drop-dead gorgeous? All the towns people seemed to love her for her appearance. I mean she was ALSO a good person, but they loved her for the same reason Gaston did - BECAUSE she was beautiful on the outside.
In this version, the male character is beautiful and beloved. He is the typical jock. The one that all girls want to date, and all guys want to be like. Superficially, he has everything you would want.
Nobody cares if he is a good person. They just THINK he is because he is beautiful on the outside.
“The perception of beauty is a moral test.”–Henry David Thoreau, Journal, 1850.
As a regular guy, I like the meaning of this story. This resonates with me.
November 10, 2020
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
You CANNOT do that to me.
You honestly cannot make me feel so many emotions all at once in the spam of just 200 or so pages yet somehow, this book managed to do it! And so well too! I felt everything from happiness, sadness, anger to even empathy towards the characters. All I wanted to do was reach out across the pages and hug each and every one of them, especially Alec. He deserved a hug the most.
The Beast of Bellevue was a suckerpunch of a novel that is sure to make people experience all the feels... as I have just experienced for myself. It follows Ava Pierce, an heiress to a giant technology company that finds herself in an asylum after being abandoned by her parents. Craving friendship, she discovers a website dedicated to making friends and decides to take a wild chance. Via her "Mirror" she begins communicating with Alec Albright, a star soccer player at school. Little does she know that in fact, the Alex she is communicating with isn't the real Alec, it's his brother Dylan who has set up a whole "Make a Friend" website, posing as his brother, to earn money for his struggling family. As Dylan and Ava get closer, the more Ava starts wanting to discover a world away from her "home." The only question is, will she take the chance to fiercely live or remain in the shadows forever?
I honestly loved this book to bits. As you probably know by now, I'm a very character focused reader. If the connection between myself and the characters (whether it be side characters or the main character) is not there then I know I'll hate the book. Luckily, this book delivered on characters, alright. I honestly didn't want to leave them when I turned the last page. We got a lot of backstory for our tormented "Beast" Ava which definitely made me feel sympathetic towards her and we got a lot of it as well with Dylan, Taylor and Alec. All in all, I was very happy but I felt like my favourite characters were Dylan and Alec. I was glad one of them ended up happy.
My only criticism that dropped my review from 5 star to a 4 star was simply because I felt like a few things were rushed a bit. I wished that even more was explored with Alec's past (and no... that's *totally* not because I love Alec to bits and believe he deserves the absolute best) I simply believe there just were so many things that could've been touched on in his character arc. Ugh, it hurts my heart that there is no sequel so I can get all the answers I want.
All in all, I got so many feels from this one but I desperately wanted more!
ACTUAL RATING: 4.2 STARS
You CANNOT do that to me.
You honestly cannot make me feel so many emotions all at once in the spam of just 200 or so pages yet somehow, this book managed to do it! And so well too! I felt everything from happiness, sadness, anger to even empathy towards the characters. All I wanted to do was reach out across the pages and hug each and every one of them, especially Alec. He deserved a hug the most.
The Beast of Bellevue was a suckerpunch of a novel that is sure to make people experience all the feels... as I have just experienced for myself. It follows Ava Pierce, an heiress to a giant technology company that finds herself in an asylum after being abandoned by her parents. Craving friendship, she discovers a website dedicated to making friends and decides to take a wild chance. Via her "Mirror" she begins communicating with Alec Albright, a star soccer player at school. Little does she know that in fact, the Alex she is communicating with isn't the real Alec, it's his brother Dylan who has set up a whole "Make a Friend" website, posing as his brother, to earn money for his struggling family. As Dylan and Ava get closer, the more Ava starts wanting to discover a world away from her "home." The only question is, will she take the chance to fiercely live or remain in the shadows forever?
I honestly loved this book to bits. As you probably know by now, I'm a very character focused reader. If the connection between myself and the characters (whether it be side characters or the main character) is not there then I know I'll hate the book. Luckily, this book delivered on characters, alright. I honestly didn't want to leave them when I turned the last page. We got a lot of backstory for our tormented "Beast" Ava which definitely made me feel sympathetic towards her and we got a lot of it as well with Dylan, Taylor and Alec. All in all, I was very happy but I felt like my favourite characters were Dylan and Alec. I was glad one of them ended up happy.
My only criticism that dropped my review from 5 star to a 4 star was simply because I felt like a few things were rushed a bit. I wished that even more was explored with Alec's past (and no... that's *totally* not because I love Alec to bits and believe he deserves the absolute best) I simply believe there just were so many things that could've been touched on in his character arc. Ugh, it hurts my heart that there is no sequel so I can get all the answers I want.
All in all, I got so many feels from this one but I desperately wanted more!
ACTUAL RATING: 4.2 STARS
November 1, 2020
I recieved this ebook from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! All opinions are my own.
A cute retelling of Beauty and Beast. I thought it was okay but I found it a bit slow. But the story itself is beautiful.
This is the story of seventeen-year-old Ava who lived in an asylum where her parents sent her agains her will. She had no real life connections until she found this website about a boy looking for friends. Dylan created a dating website posing as his brother Alec who was the soccer star of the school. Dylan saw the opportunity to earn some much needed money for his family but he didn't know he'd be interested in meeting someone there. Alec wasn't aware of any of this, he was just trying to help his family cause he felt guilty. Taylor, the most popular girl at school, wanted something she couldn't have for the first time in her life.
Again, this was so cute. An interesting twist of the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale. The friendships were lovely and I love the bond between the brothers. I liked the Mirror! That was sort of like a fantasy thing and it was so cool! Ava is a great character, we see her grow through the story. And I liked Taylor too! She was so strong and loyal. Dylan and Alec were great, so different from each other but similar at the same time. There were little things at the end that I didn't see coming and that was so good.
But as I was reading I found that the first half of the book was slow. The second half was better but it didn't suprise me that much (except for a few details). I found it a bit predictable but I liked it anyway.
A cute retelling of Beauty and Beast. I thought it was okay but I found it a bit slow. But the story itself is beautiful.
This is the story of seventeen-year-old Ava who lived in an asylum where her parents sent her agains her will. She had no real life connections until she found this website about a boy looking for friends. Dylan created a dating website posing as his brother Alec who was the soccer star of the school. Dylan saw the opportunity to earn some much needed money for his family but he didn't know he'd be interested in meeting someone there. Alec wasn't aware of any of this, he was just trying to help his family cause he felt guilty. Taylor, the most popular girl at school, wanted something she couldn't have for the first time in her life.
Again, this was so cute. An interesting twist of the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale. The friendships were lovely and I love the bond between the brothers. I liked the Mirror! That was sort of like a fantasy thing and it was so cool! Ava is a great character, we see her grow through the story. And I liked Taylor too! She was so strong and loyal. Dylan and Alec were great, so different from each other but similar at the same time. There were little things at the end that I didn't see coming and that was so good.
But as I was reading I found that the first half of the book was slow. The second half was better but it didn't suprise me that much (except for a few details). I found it a bit predictable but I liked it anyway.
November 3, 2020
I received an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3/3.5 stars.
This wasn't exactly what I thought it was going to be. It began dark and gothic and I thought were headed for perhaps a fantasy realism story, however it just turned into a teen contemporary.
I liked some of the characters and felt that Ava had depth and layers to her. There was a haunting sad undertone to the whole story that I appreciated and had hoped was going to be the main theme of the story.
The small nods to Beauty and the Beast are subtle and infrequent, so I'm not sure it can be fully classed as a re-imagined version.
Overall if you love teen romances with happy endings, this may be for you.
3/3.5 stars.
This wasn't exactly what I thought it was going to be. It began dark and gothic and I thought were headed for perhaps a fantasy realism story, however it just turned into a teen contemporary.
I liked some of the characters and felt that Ava had depth and layers to her. There was a haunting sad undertone to the whole story that I appreciated and had hoped was going to be the main theme of the story.
The small nods to Beauty and the Beast are subtle and infrequent, so I'm not sure it can be fully classed as a re-imagined version.
Overall if you love teen romances with happy endings, this may be for you.
September 28, 2020
The Beast of Bellevue is a very interesting take on the fairytale Beauty and The Beast. Instead of the beast being trapped in a castle, it’s sweet Ava, who is actually a beauty who’s been treated like a beast by her family, trapped in a mental institution. Thanks to her grandfather, Ava is still able to reach the outside world where she meets brothers Alec and Dylan, who set out to rescue her. This was pretty decent paced story, I adored Ava and disliked her family for the way they treated her. I also loved Dylan and Alex but I think I was more team Alec then Dylan.
October 10, 2020
REVIEW OF ARC COPY
The thing that bothers me about a lot of books is they have too clean of a happy ending. The characters are all Mary Sues or Gary Sues. I mean I guess that's the reason why a lot of people read fairytales. But the original works by the Brothers Grimm and etc were all really dark. They were not their disney-fied versions.
What I really enjoy about the Beast of Bellevue is that these characters are all deeply flawed or complex. They aren't necessarily bad people or good people. They are all people with good intentions trying to live a realistic life. On top of this, there is overlay the context of the Beauty and the Beast story line.
I would say this book is more of a re-incarnation of the Beauty and the Beast rather than a retelling of the Disney fairy tale. It is a lot more in the spirit of the original, dark classic than a fairy tale. It is put in a modern setting where the beast is a teenage girl, Ava, dealing with the repercussions of bullying. The beauty is on the surface seen in the Gaston-like character, Taylor, and also in the male love interest, Alec. But the beauty is also in the perception of what everyone sees and the beast is also in how they treat each other based on what their perceptions are.
I really enjoyed this story for its depth of meaning and interwoven story lines. It is a very thought provoking YA story masked in the fabric of fairy lore!
The thing that bothers me about a lot of books is they have too clean of a happy ending. The characters are all Mary Sues or Gary Sues. I mean I guess that's the reason why a lot of people read fairytales. But the original works by the Brothers Grimm and etc were all really dark. They were not their disney-fied versions.
What I really enjoy about the Beast of Bellevue is that these characters are all deeply flawed or complex. They aren't necessarily bad people or good people. They are all people with good intentions trying to live a realistic life. On top of this, there is overlay the context of the Beauty and the Beast story line.
I would say this book is more of a re-incarnation of the Beauty and the Beast rather than a retelling of the Disney fairy tale. It is a lot more in the spirit of the original, dark classic than a fairy tale. It is put in a modern setting where the beast is a teenage girl, Ava, dealing with the repercussions of bullying. The beauty is on the surface seen in the Gaston-like character, Taylor, and also in the male love interest, Alec. But the beauty is also in the perception of what everyone sees and the beast is also in how they treat each other based on what their perceptions are.
I really enjoyed this story for its depth of meaning and interwoven story lines. It is a very thought provoking YA story masked in the fabric of fairy lore!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2020
Well. That was not good.
I was excited for the plot itself - a role reversal of Beauty and the Beast where Belle is a patient at Bellevue? Great!
Unfortunately, no. No it was not.
It's pitched as YA but it reads a lot younger. The characters are flat and unlikable, the plot has so many holes, and it honestly doesn't mirror Beauty and the Beast that much. I just don't think you can pitch it as a modern role reversal if there really aren't enough parallels to the original story. I don't remember there being a love triangle, unfeeling parents, a secret relative, or anyone fawning after Belle's brother. Unless they're trying to make Alec a Gaston character. Which still makes no sense because they're not siblings and they don't get along. I know retellings or books that are inspired by fairytales are allowed some creative licensing, but I just felt like too many things were different that you can't really pitch it as a Beauty and the Beast story. Feel free to disagree. Just my opinion.
This book was short, but it took me a while to finish because I just wasn't into it and it was mostly due to how unrealistic it was. Girl gets locked up in Bellevue for 9 years because her cake somehow started a fire? What. Girl at Bellevue uses her magic mirror to connect to the internet and tries to find friends online? Why. High school girls signing up for this fake website to hopefully pay their way upward to dating the hot guy (...somehow reminiscent of Scientology)? Dude what is even happening. It's as messy as it sounds.
So. Yeah. That one wasn't for me.
I was excited for the plot itself - a role reversal of Beauty and the Beast where Belle is a patient at Bellevue? Great!
Unfortunately, no. No it was not.
It's pitched as YA but it reads a lot younger. The characters are flat and unlikable, the plot has so many holes, and it honestly doesn't mirror Beauty and the Beast that much. I just don't think you can pitch it as a modern role reversal if there really aren't enough parallels to the original story. I don't remember there being a love triangle, unfeeling parents, a secret relative, or anyone fawning after Belle's brother. Unless they're trying to make Alec a Gaston character. Which still makes no sense because they're not siblings and they don't get along. I know retellings or books that are inspired by fairytales are allowed some creative licensing, but I just felt like too many things were different that you can't really pitch it as a Beauty and the Beast story. Feel free to disagree. Just my opinion.
This book was short, but it took me a while to finish because I just wasn't into it and it was mostly due to how unrealistic it was. Girl gets locked up in Bellevue for 9 years because her cake somehow started a fire? What. Girl at Bellevue uses her magic mirror to connect to the internet and tries to find friends online? Why. High school girls signing up for this fake website to hopefully pay their way upward to dating the hot guy (...somehow reminiscent of Scientology)? Dude what is even happening. It's as messy as it sounds.
So. Yeah. That one wasn't for me.
November 6, 2020
2.5 stars
This was so frustrating for me. I wanted to love this book because Beauty and the beast is one of my favorite fairytales but I just... this wasn't what I was expecting.
There were so many plot holes and things that happened out of nowhere and ugh. I kinda liked Ava most of the time and Alec and Dylan were sometimes entertaining but the actual plot was so messy it didn't let me enjoyed this.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was so frustrating for me. I wanted to love this book because Beauty and the beast is one of my favorite fairytales but I just... this wasn't what I was expecting.
There were so many plot holes and things that happened out of nowhere and ugh. I kinda liked Ava most of the time and Alec and Dylan were sometimes entertaining but the actual plot was so messy it didn't let me enjoyed this.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2020
i appreciated how different this was as a fairy tale retelling, I really liked the twist and enjoyed reading this book. It kept the magic of the original Beauty and the Beast fairy tale and I look forward to more from the author.
Want to read
September 27, 2020
October 11, 2020
[ARC Galley]
Love this book! Realistic relationships. I really like Alec because he has a good personality.
Love this book! Realistic relationships. I really like Alec because he has a good personality.
November 4, 2020
[Thanks to NetGalley for providing a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review]
The Beast of Bellevue is a good example of why you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. Because the cover is what attracted me in the first place - it's gorgeous. Unfortunately, what was under the cover, not so much.
I really wanted to love this book. The premise sounded promising - a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. But instead of a beast, we get to meet Ava, a young girl locked in a mental institute with no contact with the outside. All she has is a Mirror, a new technological wonder that allows her to see outside the world. Through this Mirror, she meets two brothers, Alec and Dylan, which, of course, leads to a love triangle. It sounded like a fun, interesting story.
Unfortunately, the writing itself was pretty bad. The style itself was amateurish, there were so many gaps in the story, bits of information were strewn about without it making any sense or adding to the story, the time-line made no sense at times, there were so many small (and a few bigger) inconsistencies, the characters felt flat and sometimes had the weirdest change-of-hearts or motivations to do anything, and there were a lot of weird story lines suddenly added in the last few chapters that added nothing to the overall story.
I can see this was a passion project, there was a lot of love put into this, but it was a struggle for me to get through.
The Beast of Bellevue is a good example of why you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. Because the cover is what attracted me in the first place - it's gorgeous. Unfortunately, what was under the cover, not so much.
I really wanted to love this book. The premise sounded promising - a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. But instead of a beast, we get to meet Ava, a young girl locked in a mental institute with no contact with the outside. All she has is a Mirror, a new technological wonder that allows her to see outside the world. Through this Mirror, she meets two brothers, Alec and Dylan, which, of course, leads to a love triangle. It sounded like a fun, interesting story.
Unfortunately, the writing itself was pretty bad. The style itself was amateurish, there were so many gaps in the story, bits of information were strewn about without it making any sense or adding to the story, the time-line made no sense at times, there were so many small (and a few bigger) inconsistencies, the characters felt flat and sometimes had the weirdest change-of-hearts or motivations to do anything, and there were a lot of weird story lines suddenly added in the last few chapters that added nothing to the overall story.
I can see this was a passion project, there was a lot of love put into this, but it was a struggle for me to get through.
November 19, 2020
I received a complimentary eARC of The Beast of Bellevue through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 3.5
The Beast of Bellevue is a modern spin on the Beauty and the Beast story but blended with teenage problems in a world full of modern technology. Ava has spent most of her life in a mental health facility and interacts with people her own age online. In some ways, she's the "Beauty" of this situation and in other ways, it feels like she's been written as the "Beast." Her counterpart who also fills both roles in different ways is Dylan, who Ava thinks is actually his handsome older brother Alec. The real Alec and another teen named Taylor, both also POV characters, are dealing with the in-person tribulations of making it through high school with their reputations and popularity intact.
If I'm being completely honest, I wouldn't have spotted the Beauty and the Beast elements if this book hadn't been advertised as a retelling. As mentioned, the "Beauty" and "Beast" roles flip flop (though I get the feeling it was meant to be a straight swap and I wasn't supposed to get a flip-flopping sense,) but the other POV characters truly don't feel like any other traditional role in a Beauty and the Beast story. I also wanted to comment on the expectations set down by the cover. I know covers can change with editions, but the only presented at ARC time is a colourful portrait of Ava (I'm assuming) with a strong manga vibe. That artwork with that title lays down expectations of a misunderstood teenage shifter character and lead me to expect an urban fantasy story with a lot more action in the literal sense.
With those complaints aside, this is a powerfully character-driven story with very empathetic characters, and readers who are all about the characters they hang out with while reading will absolutely love this cast. This book is full of teenage coming of age troubles in a world that's a little less fair and bright than any of them had been promised, and their struggles through these plot points feel so perfectly genuine.
If you're looking for a teenage drama flavoured contemporary fiction with interesting technology, well-written characters, and a nod to Beauty and the Beast, then this is the novel for you! If you're looking for a truer retelling, something more solidly plot-driven, or something with more flowery prose, look elsewhere. Overall this was a fun, quick read.
Rating: 3.5
The Beast of Bellevue is a modern spin on the Beauty and the Beast story but blended with teenage problems in a world full of modern technology. Ava has spent most of her life in a mental health facility and interacts with people her own age online. In some ways, she's the "Beauty" of this situation and in other ways, it feels like she's been written as the "Beast." Her counterpart who also fills both roles in different ways is Dylan, who Ava thinks is actually his handsome older brother Alec. The real Alec and another teen named Taylor, both also POV characters, are dealing with the in-person tribulations of making it through high school with their reputations and popularity intact.
If I'm being completely honest, I wouldn't have spotted the Beauty and the Beast elements if this book hadn't been advertised as a retelling. As mentioned, the "Beauty" and "Beast" roles flip flop (though I get the feeling it was meant to be a straight swap and I wasn't supposed to get a flip-flopping sense,) but the other POV characters truly don't feel like any other traditional role in a Beauty and the Beast story. I also wanted to comment on the expectations set down by the cover. I know covers can change with editions, but the only presented at ARC time is a colourful portrait of Ava (I'm assuming) with a strong manga vibe. That artwork with that title lays down expectations of a misunderstood teenage shifter character and lead me to expect an urban fantasy story with a lot more action in the literal sense.
With those complaints aside, this is a powerfully character-driven story with very empathetic characters, and readers who are all about the characters they hang out with while reading will absolutely love this cast. This book is full of teenage coming of age troubles in a world that's a little less fair and bright than any of them had been promised, and their struggles through these plot points feel so perfectly genuine.
If you're looking for a teenage drama flavoured contemporary fiction with interesting technology, well-written characters, and a nod to Beauty and the Beast, then this is the novel for you! If you're looking for a truer retelling, something more solidly plot-driven, or something with more flowery prose, look elsewhere. Overall this was a fun, quick read.
January 9, 2026
The Beast of Bellevue is a thoughtful and emotionally layered Young Adult novel that reimagines a classic fairy tale through the lens of modern identity, digital deception, and adolescent vulnerability. Grace Chen skillfully blends contemporary realism with romantic allegory to create a story that is both tender and unsettling in its examination of truth, beauty, and self-worth.
At the heart of the novel are two deeply human protagonists: Dylan Albright, whose impulsive decision to impersonate his admired brother online sets the story in motion, and Ava Pierce, a seventeen-year-old navigating confinement at Bellevue Sanatorium while yearning for autonomy and connection. Their intersecting paths illuminate the emotional risks inherent in virtual relationships, particularly when fantasy collides with reality.
Chen’s portrayal of Ava is especially compelling. Her desire for independence and love is neither naïve nor romanticized; instead, it is rendered with empathy and restraint, highlighting the fragile boundary between hope and illusion. Dylan’s arc, meanwhile, explores guilt, self-discovery, and the consequences of manipulation, even when motivated by humor or insecurity.
The novel’s setting a psychiatric institution juxtaposed with the limitless digital world serves as a powerful metaphor for freedom, perception, and confinement. Chen thoughtfully interrogates how curated online identities can both liberate and deceive, particularly for young people still forming their sense of self.
More than a romance or retelling, The Beast of Bellevue is a meditation on friendship, authenticity, and the courage it takes to be seen as one truly is. With its emotional nuance, contemporary relevance, and intelligent plotting, the novel will resonate strongly with readers drawn to modern fairy tales, coming-of-age stories, and explorations of identity in the digital age.
At the heart of the novel are two deeply human protagonists: Dylan Albright, whose impulsive decision to impersonate his admired brother online sets the story in motion, and Ava Pierce, a seventeen-year-old navigating confinement at Bellevue Sanatorium while yearning for autonomy and connection. Their intersecting paths illuminate the emotional risks inherent in virtual relationships, particularly when fantasy collides with reality.
Chen’s portrayal of Ava is especially compelling. Her desire for independence and love is neither naïve nor romanticized; instead, it is rendered with empathy and restraint, highlighting the fragile boundary between hope and illusion. Dylan’s arc, meanwhile, explores guilt, self-discovery, and the consequences of manipulation, even when motivated by humor or insecurity.
The novel’s setting a psychiatric institution juxtaposed with the limitless digital world serves as a powerful metaphor for freedom, perception, and confinement. Chen thoughtfully interrogates how curated online identities can both liberate and deceive, particularly for young people still forming their sense of self.
More than a romance or retelling, The Beast of Bellevue is a meditation on friendship, authenticity, and the courage it takes to be seen as one truly is. With its emotional nuance, contemporary relevance, and intelligent plotting, the novel will resonate strongly with readers drawn to modern fairy tales, coming-of-age stories, and explorations of identity in the digital age.
November 16, 2020
Rating: 3/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: Beauty and the Beast retelling, with a twist!; some of the plot devices felt a bit forced to me; quick, intriguing read
Huge thanks to Grace Chen, Reading Harbor Publishing, and YA Bound Book Tours for sending a galley of this title my way in exchange for an honest review. This in no way altered my read of or opinions on this book.
This was an interesting, quick read. The characters were fresh and exciting, the plot kept me wondering throughout, and Grace Chen found a way to make this well-loved story feel *almost* new. The slight role reversal for the main characters really helped to keep me fascinated, along with poor Ava's horrifying backstory.
However--there were pieces and parts of the plot that I felt were a bit TOO forced, and I had a hard time suspending my disbelief to believe certain things that occurred throughout (how was Dylan trading stocks, for instance?! You have to be 18+....was he lying about his age? Who in their right mind would just.......LEAVE?! a child in an institution for so long, after only 1 accident and with no other major reasons?)
I really loved the way Grace Chen pulled other characters and pieces from the original into this story, and made them her own. The magic mirror worked really well as both a fresh way of "seeing" the world....and it's own small plot device. Grace Chen also explored the idea of human nature quite thoroughly, in a captivating and inspiring way.
Overall, this was an entertaining and quick read. I'd definitely recommend it to lovers of Beauty and the Beast. The characters were intriguing and vibrantly written, though I had a small amount of trouble adequately suspending my disbelief for every portion of the plot/story. Be the guests to this book, Penguins--it's bound to delight you!
Quick Reasons: Beauty and the Beast retelling, with a twist!; some of the plot devices felt a bit forced to me; quick, intriguing read
Huge thanks to Grace Chen, Reading Harbor Publishing, and YA Bound Book Tours for sending a galley of this title my way in exchange for an honest review. This in no way altered my read of or opinions on this book.
This was an interesting, quick read. The characters were fresh and exciting, the plot kept me wondering throughout, and Grace Chen found a way to make this well-loved story feel *almost* new. The slight role reversal for the main characters really helped to keep me fascinated, along with poor Ava's horrifying backstory.
However--there were pieces and parts of the plot that I felt were a bit TOO forced, and I had a hard time suspending my disbelief to believe certain things that occurred throughout (how was Dylan trading stocks, for instance?! You have to be 18+....was he lying about his age? Who in their right mind would just.......LEAVE?! a child in an institution for so long, after only 1 accident and with no other major reasons?)
I really loved the way Grace Chen pulled other characters and pieces from the original into this story, and made them her own. The magic mirror worked really well as both a fresh way of "seeing" the world....and it's own small plot device. Grace Chen also explored the idea of human nature quite thoroughly, in a captivating and inspiring way.
Overall, this was an entertaining and quick read. I'd definitely recommend it to lovers of Beauty and the Beast. The characters were intriguing and vibrantly written, though I had a small amount of trouble adequately suspending my disbelief for every portion of the plot/story. Be the guests to this book, Penguins--it's bound to delight you!
December 17, 2020
I received a copy of this book from LibraryThing.com to read and review.
The Beast of Bellevue is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, one of my favorite fairy tales of all time. The Beast, however, is no scary lion-headed man creature. Instead, the Beast is Ava, a broken girl trapped in Bellevue Insane Asylum after a fire, in which people got hurt. Ava, it seems, had started the fire, and since she is unable to face the fact that she is a danger to others, she will never leave Bellevue.
Alec is a star in his school. He plays soccer, and everyone wants to be his friend, or to get with him. Alec also has a brother named Dylan, who has started a website where he pretends to be Alec, who's trying to make friends. For a certain amount of money, a girl can get to know "Alec", and possibly get a date to prom with him. They pay per tier that they unlock, and one of the top tiers is talking to Alec personally. The only problem is that Alec has no idea that any of this is happening.
Ava gets a way of getting on the internet and she finds Hire a Friend, where she begins to talk to who she believes to be Alec. He's everything she wants, and his world is a world of freedom, something she hasn't had in far too long. But Ava isn't talking to Alec when she thinks she is. Instead, she's talking to Dylan, and both of them may be feeling more than they realized for the person on the other side of the screen, even though neither of them knows who the other is.
Ava finally finds a way to escape the asylum, and she goes to find Alec, and that is the start of all of the changes for her. The story is very reminiscent of the source material, and it was enjoyable to read, with some fun twists along the way that kept it from feeling stale.
The Beast of Bellevue is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, one of my favorite fairy tales of all time. The Beast, however, is no scary lion-headed man creature. Instead, the Beast is Ava, a broken girl trapped in Bellevue Insane Asylum after a fire, in which people got hurt. Ava, it seems, had started the fire, and since she is unable to face the fact that she is a danger to others, she will never leave Bellevue.
Alec is a star in his school. He plays soccer, and everyone wants to be his friend, or to get with him. Alec also has a brother named Dylan, who has started a website where he pretends to be Alec, who's trying to make friends. For a certain amount of money, a girl can get to know "Alec", and possibly get a date to prom with him. They pay per tier that they unlock, and one of the top tiers is talking to Alec personally. The only problem is that Alec has no idea that any of this is happening.
Ava gets a way of getting on the internet and she finds Hire a Friend, where she begins to talk to who she believes to be Alec. He's everything she wants, and his world is a world of freedom, something she hasn't had in far too long. But Ava isn't talking to Alec when she thinks she is. Instead, she's talking to Dylan, and both of them may be feeling more than they realized for the person on the other side of the screen, even though neither of them knows who the other is.
Ava finally finds a way to escape the asylum, and she goes to find Alec, and that is the start of all of the changes for her. The story is very reminiscent of the source material, and it was enjoyable to read, with some fun twists along the way that kept it from feeling stale.
October 15, 2020
Language: PG13 (12 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
Having spent the last eight years in an asylum, Ava yearns for her freedom -- freedom to go outside, freedom to go to high school, freedom to make friends. Dylan Albright just wants someone to see him for him and not because he is the brother of Alec the soccer star. When Ava and Dylan connect online, it seems like everything they want is within reach; if only their secrets weren’t blocking the way.
As a clever retelling of Beauty and the Beast, I enjoyed reading this book; I like how there isn’t one beast and one beauty, and, instead, Chen highlights how we can all be a little bit of both. On the technical side, I had a hard time following some of the point of view shifts that would happen randomly -- sometimes within a paragraph. Furthermore, while the ending neatly and cheesy-ly wrapped up all the loose ends, I also got the impression that Chen didn’t really know how to write an ending, which made for a lackluster conclusion to a fun story.
Reviewed for http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
Having spent the last eight years in an asylum, Ava yearns for her freedom -- freedom to go outside, freedom to go to high school, freedom to make friends. Dylan Albright just wants someone to see him for him and not because he is the brother of Alec the soccer star. When Ava and Dylan connect online, it seems like everything they want is within reach; if only their secrets weren’t blocking the way.
As a clever retelling of Beauty and the Beast, I enjoyed reading this book; I like how there isn’t one beast and one beauty, and, instead, Chen highlights how we can all be a little bit of both. On the technical side, I had a hard time following some of the point of view shifts that would happen randomly -- sometimes within a paragraph. Furthermore, while the ending neatly and cheesy-ly wrapped up all the loose ends, I also got the impression that Chen didn’t really know how to write an ending, which made for a lackluster conclusion to a fun story.
Reviewed for http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
November 14, 2020
I received a free copy via Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
Ava has been in Bellevue Insane Asylum since she was a child. Using a small compact that her grandfather left her, she can see the outside world.
And she sees Alec. Actually, she can see everything about him. Including his subscription to a dating website. So, she decides to use it to contact Alec.
What Ava doesn't know it's that the one using the dating website is Dylan, Alec's brother. In order to get some money, Dylan has set up a website about his brother. That way, all his fans could compete to get to know him. Ava is one of the participants.
Dylan pretends to be Alec on the website and he starts chatting with Ava. But when Alec needs helps with his math homework, Dylan realizes that Ava is the perfect person to help him out.
Will he tell her the truth about his identity?
Well, the book is original. I mean, it's a version of The Beauty and the Beast but seen in a new and modern light.
But I found it quite slow. Like really slow.
Ava has been in Bellevue Insane Asylum since she was a child. Using a small compact that her grandfather left her, she can see the outside world.
And she sees Alec. Actually, she can see everything about him. Including his subscription to a dating website. So, she decides to use it to contact Alec.
What Ava doesn't know it's that the one using the dating website is Dylan, Alec's brother. In order to get some money, Dylan has set up a website about his brother. That way, all his fans could compete to get to know him. Ava is one of the participants.
Dylan pretends to be Alec on the website and he starts chatting with Ava. But when Alec needs helps with his math homework, Dylan realizes that Ava is the perfect person to help him out.
Will he tell her the truth about his identity?
Well, the book is original. I mean, it's a version of The Beauty and the Beast but seen in a new and modern light.
But I found it quite slow. Like really slow.
October 21, 2020
I usually love a good Beauty And the Beast story. Usually. But this... This was neither good nor much Beauty and the Beast. I don't even know how I managed to read this book when I wanted to skim it after 23%. There are Wattpad Stories better than that book and I have never read a good story on Wattpad. For all I know, this book could have been a Wattpad story.
The characters were so clichéd and so unlikeable, the writing was absolutely juvenile, even for a YA/Teens book and I felt myself cringe slightly at every smily. There was nothing about this characters to make them unique - especially Taylor and Alec could have been replaced by literally ANY jock/fangirl in the literary world.
This book was so not for me. I don't know why I even gave it a try, I actually should have known it wouldn't be for me. I wante do read something more out of my comfort zone, but sadly this book drove me right back there...
I am still grateful to Netgalley for providing me with a free copy.
The characters were so clichéd and so unlikeable, the writing was absolutely juvenile, even for a YA/Teens book and I felt myself cringe slightly at every smily. There was nothing about this characters to make them unique - especially Taylor and Alec could have been replaced by literally ANY jock/fangirl in the literary world.
This book was so not for me. I don't know why I even gave it a try, I actually should have known it wouldn't be for me. I wante do read something more out of my comfort zone, but sadly this book drove me right back there...
I am still grateful to Netgalley for providing me with a free copy.
October 12, 2020
[ Free copy from NetGalley]
I noticed this book because of the beautiful cover and interesting synopsis. Needless to say I was more than dissapointed.
The book is about a girl called Ava who is stuck in a mental asylum since she was 9 years old. She has a interesting device that her grandpa left her, which is kinda like a computer. With this said device she starts to communicate with the brothers Dylan and Alec. It is kinda described as being inspired by Beauty and the Beast.
So let's start with the only good point that I have. It's fast to read.
Then let's come to the bad parts:
1. Writing is worse than in a Wattpad Fanfiction
2. The character are flat and feel lifeless
3. The message of the book doesn't deliver
4. The relationships are just badly developed
5. So many gaps and plot holes
And many many more
In conclusion I would say don't waste your time on this book. It's starts of pretty mediocre and gets worse.
I noticed this book because of the beautiful cover and interesting synopsis. Needless to say I was more than dissapointed.
The book is about a girl called Ava who is stuck in a mental asylum since she was 9 years old. She has a interesting device that her grandpa left her, which is kinda like a computer. With this said device she starts to communicate with the brothers Dylan and Alec. It is kinda described as being inspired by Beauty and the Beast.
So let's start with the only good point that I have. It's fast to read.
Then let's come to the bad parts:
1. Writing is worse than in a Wattpad Fanfiction
2. The character are flat and feel lifeless
3. The message of the book doesn't deliver
4. The relationships are just badly developed
5. So many gaps and plot holes
And many many more
In conclusion I would say don't waste your time on this book. It's starts of pretty mediocre and gets worse.
December 4, 2021
I can honestly say that this was a very hard book to go through. It wasn't what I expected at all. I had to pick it up and put it back a couple of times because the writing was very telling and not showing. It's definitely geared more towards middle grade, I think if the author de-aged the characters a bit it would have been fine. The fact that they were in high school was not believable at all. The idea for Ava to have this compact device to contact the outside world was interesting but was poorly executed. I usually don't say bad things about books, but this book zoned me out more often than not. I wouldn't really recommend it even though it does tie up at the end. There was so many unnecessary plot points, it just wasn't a very good read.
Received from Publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.
Received from Publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.
October 11, 2020
[ARC Copy Provided in Exchange for Review]
I like this book a lot! It's got more nuances than I think the original fairytale version, which to me was more along the lines of formerly handsome prince who is really lonely and kinda' desperate falls in love with beautiful girl forced to stay in castle due to curse breaking.
I'm a big fan of beauty and the beast stories but this one as I get older just makes me feel better about relationships being difficult and challenging.
I like how the mirror was used in this plot device as a sort of magical portal. It also made me realize how creepy the mirror was in the original.
I like this book a lot! It's got more nuances than I think the original fairytale version, which to me was more along the lines of formerly handsome prince who is really lonely and kinda' desperate falls in love with beautiful girl forced to stay in castle due to curse breaking.
I'm a big fan of beauty and the beast stories but this one as I get older just makes me feel better about relationships being difficult and challenging.
I like how the mirror was used in this plot device as a sort of magical portal. It also made me realize how creepy the mirror was in the original.
December 5, 2020
The cover led me to believe this was going about an isolated girl.
Sadly enough it's more like a teen movie, where nothing feels all that realistic.
The writing was I found was too basic and the character development was outright stated instead of naturally developing.
There were several plots that felt like they shouldn't of been added as they fit the story and like they go nowhere, as well as a lot of coincidences that nobody ever mentions how wild they are.
It's pretty much a beauty and a beast retelling with a slightly teen aimed version. While I do love they beauty and the beast this wasn't for me at all, I do think that a much younger audience might enjoy it, in the 12-14 year old range
Sadly enough it's more like a teen movie, where nothing feels all that realistic.
The writing was I found was too basic and the character development was outright stated instead of naturally developing.
There were several plots that felt like they shouldn't of been added as they fit the story and like they go nowhere, as well as a lot of coincidences that nobody ever mentions how wild they are.
It's pretty much a beauty and a beast retelling with a slightly teen aimed version. While I do love they beauty and the beast this wasn't for me at all, I do think that a much younger audience might enjoy it, in the 12-14 year old range
February 8, 2021
A story of a teen romance with a twist, this book wasn't for me. Not saying it's a bad book, just that it wasn't for me. With a synopsis that played up a more fantastical story in general, I thought I would be swept away in the imaginative world and interesting characters, but just wasn't swept away by anything. I felt like I was missing something, like I was standing on the outside of a conversation a parent was having in front of their kids, and that's just not something that's exciting for me. However, it was unique and different from the things that I usually read.
Check out my full review here!
https://radioactivebookreviews.wordpr...
Check out my full review here!
https://radioactivebookreviews.wordpr...
January 12, 2021
A thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.
This one wasn’t for me: the writing feels clumsy and disjointed and like it needs another few rounds of editing. The flow is hard to follow and large parts of it don’t quite make sense. What my university lecturers used to call awkward phrasing, but also just segments that are very confusing.
For me, this meant it couldn’t get into the story. It’s supposed to be YA but lacks depth and weight to it, feeling more like a fanfiction than a novel to me. I think there’s potential here but it needed more edits and another round of developments.
This one wasn’t for me: the writing feels clumsy and disjointed and like it needs another few rounds of editing. The flow is hard to follow and large parts of it don’t quite make sense. What my university lecturers used to call awkward phrasing, but also just segments that are very confusing.
For me, this meant it couldn’t get into the story. It’s supposed to be YA but lacks depth and weight to it, feeling more like a fanfiction than a novel to me. I think there’s potential here but it needed more edits and another round of developments.
November 25, 2020
I really wanted to like this book. I want to feel connected to it. I got into thinking the story is about loneliness during teenage years. Making friends and recognising self. But I can't get into the story.It feel boring to read,I don't care about the character or anything happening to them. The plot feel slow.
This is one of the book I don't care to finish. I left at 20%.I think it just me. The writing is good but the story does not work for me.
** I received free e- arc from Netgally for an honest review.
This is one of the book I don't care to finish. I left at 20%.I think it just me. The writing is good but the story does not work for me.
** I received free e- arc from Netgally for an honest review.
October 16, 2020
[ARC Review]
Love the story of Ava! She is so sweet. This is a simple & straight forward story about a girl overcoming her circumstances. I read it like a situational comedy.
It's really different from Beauty & the Beast in many ways although I can see the influences from the original in it. I like the departure from the original because it involved more relationships and was lighthearted in tone.
I'd recommend it to others who are looking for something happy & uplifting.
Love the story of Ava! She is so sweet. This is a simple & straight forward story about a girl overcoming her circumstances. I read it like a situational comedy.
It's really different from Beauty & the Beast in many ways although I can see the influences from the original in it. I like the departure from the original because it involved more relationships and was lighthearted in tone.
I'd recommend it to others who are looking for something happy & uplifting.
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