The Beautiful (The Beautiful #1) by Renee Ahdieh - Restarting February 25th 2024

[Eesh]

In 1872, New Orleans is a city ruled by the dead. But to seventeen-year-old Celine Rousseau, New Orleans provides her a refuge after she's forced to flee her life as a dressmaker in Paris. Taken in by the sisters of the Ursuline convent along with six other girls, Celine quickly becomes enamored with the vibrant city from the music to the food to the soirées and—especially—to the danger. She soon becomes embroiled in the city's glitzy underworld, known as La Cour des Lions, after catching the eye of the group's leader, the enigmatic Sébastien Saint Germain. When the body of one of the girls from the convent is found in the lair of La Cour des Lions, Celine battles her attraction to him and suspicions about Sébastien's guilt along with the shame of her own horrible secret.

When more bodies are discovered, each crime more gruesome than the last, Celine and New Orleans become gripped by the terror of a serial killer on the loose—one Celine is sure has set her in his sights . . . and who may even be the young man who has stolen her heart. As the murders continue to go unsolved, Celine takes matters into her own hands and soon uncovers something even more shocking: an age-old feud from the darkest creatures of the underworld reveals a truth about Celine she always suspected simmered just beneath the surface.

At once a sultry romance and a thrilling murder mystery, master storyteller Renée Ahdieh embarks on her most potent fantasy series yet: The Beautiful.

[✨Skye✨]

35% (view spoiler)[ I'm actually loving this so far! I love how easy to read it is. I like Celine and Pippa, and I'm very intrigued by the potential romance. Bastien is<3 (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

I've only made it ten pages so far because I'm super busy (only till tomorrow) but I already like the setting and the MC.

[✨Skye✨]

@Quirks I agree, it grips you very quickly!

[✨Skye✨]

67% (view spoiler)[ I really hope nothing happens to Pippa but I have a horrible feeling it will! Loved the scene at the carnival with Bastien, I ship them so hard. I'm hoping it's like a good v bad vampire kind of thing and he isn't involved in the killings. (hide spoiler)]

[✨Skye✨]

90% (view spoiler)[ Bastien's uncle needs to go away! I do respect him, but let them be together, jeez! I'm so worried for Celine now. (hide spoiler)]

[✨Skye✨]

Finished (view spoiler)[ OMG I HATE THE ENDING! I just always hate storylines where the characters choose memory loss. I did love this book on the whole though, and I'm crossing my fingers for more Bastien and Celine in book 2! (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

36%
(view spoiler)[I thought that Bastian was a vampire as well but now I'm not so sure. And Celine thinks he's a murderer :(
I'm loving this book so far. This is the first in a duology, right? (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

58%
(view spoiler)[This entire interaction was so romantic! And Romantic. Also, I think Bastien's going to stop ageing at some point. (hide spoiler)]

[✨Skye✨]

Quirks wrote: "36%
I thought that Bastian was a vampire as well but now I'm not so sure. And Celine thinks he's a murderer :(
I'm loving this book so far. This is the first in a duology, right?"

I know there's definitely a sequel planned for June 2020 but I'm unsure if it's meant to just be the two books :)

[Eesh]

86%
(view spoiler)[Well that was a terrible first meeting with dearest uncle. The guy threatened her in like 10 different ways. No wonder someone hates him enough to want to kill everyone he knows. (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

✨Skye✨ wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"

Me too! Though the sequel is so far away!

[Ashleigh]

16% - (view spoiler)[Obviously I'm intrigued by Monsieur Saint Germain. He's swarmy and arrogant and drop dead gorgeous, and I'm already looking forward to seeing him and Celine at each other's throats, before they inevitably kiss. I can feel the sexual tension already!

Oh and poor Naomie. Her death was so unexpected and kinda brutal. I think I'm gonna like this book.. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

29% - (view spoiler)[Oh Anabel. Well shit. I wonder how she met the guy who killed her? If she'd spent the day working with Celine and Pippa, and she's just come to New Orleans and she's pretty much locked up in the convent, how did she meet anyone?

I kinda love Odette so far. If I wasn't so sure Celine is gonna end up with Bastien, I would ship her with Odette. I feel like they would be the lesbian couple in a vampire fantasy we deserve. I mean, there's been nothing to suggest that either of these characters would be attracted to other ladies, but in my head canon so far, they would be a great couple. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

49% - (view spoiler)[Could Bastien be the mysterious vampire from the POV chapters?? I really didn't think he would a vampire but I'm guessing he is? Or at least his friends are vampires. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

63% - (view spoiler)[Oh my. So Bastien isn't a vampire? I was really hoping for a kiss between him and Celine, but no. They don't want to fall for each other. Well.. I think you should!

Also, I loved the scene where Odette confesses she prefers women and Celine is like oh I'm not that way inclined and Odette is like God that doesn't mean I fancy you, you self centred person hahaha. Love her! (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Ashleigh wrote: "63% - [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, that scene with Odette and Celine was funny. Also, (view spoiler)[I was so sure that Bastien was a vamp. I feel like the book tried to imply it to maintain some mystery. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

@Quirks (view spoiler)[Oh definitely! I'm so confused as to what Bastien is or isn't haha. I've changed my mind like 50 times! (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

78% - (view spoiler)[Oooh that was getting a bit steamy, wasn't it?! Then Celine sees the dead body of Nigel. That was a bit of a shock!

I'm still totally confused on Bastien and what he may or may not be. Is he totally human? There's been references to fey, is he part fey? I AM CONFUSED! (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

Finished

I NEED SOME ANSWERS!! (view spoiler)[Celine didn't ask Michael about Bastien when she woke up. Did she get her memory about him erased??? Did the Uncle turn Bastien into a vampire? Are we gonna have a love triangle in the next book? What is the deal with Emilie being the tormentor/killer???? (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Ashleigh wrote: "Finished

I NEED SOME ANSWERS!! [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I can answer yes to the first two questions. For the other two, we'll have to wait for the sequel. Though I really hope there isn't a love triangle. (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Ashleigh wrote: "@Quirks [spoilers removed]"

Same here. I wasn't sure till the end.

[Eesh]

Oana wrote: "Finished

It was supposed to be a book about vampires!?
Also, I have a big dilemma [spoilers removed]"

There are a lot of questions to be answered by the sequel.

[callie]

So, I started this around the 1st to hop on this buddy read but I'm reading it so slowly I hadn't accumulated enough thoughts to update, but then I just kinda forgot so enjoy all my ramble-y thoughts. I'm currently at 38% of the audiobook (view spoiler)[I feel like I'm still waiting for the story to get started? With Anabel's murder I feel like we are finally starting to get into it. I don't like that I am 5 hours into it and it's just getting really into the plot. I feel like not a lot has happened to fill 5 hours. I'm intrigued and interested but I also am kinda bored and feel distanced from the story and that's annoying me. I hope there is more New Orleans culture in this. I absolutely love New Orleans and just everything about it. I heard vampires and New Orleans and immediately thought The Originals which is one of my favorite fantasy tv shows so I kinda had high expectations just for that not even including the hype. I'm kinda disappointed it so far but I'm really hoping to like it better as the story picks up. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date changed. Restarting March 23rd 2020. Happy Reading ☺

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[phoebe]

Looking forward to starting this one on Monday! :)

[Lizz (Beer, Books and Boos)]

I can't wait to start

[cer ♡]

So happy to finally get to it, it's been in my tbr for months ^^

[phoebe]

Starting :)

[Lizz (Beer, Books and Boos)]

I will start this after I finish another book today

[phoebe]

Page 98 (view spoiler)[ I am LOVING this book so far! Celine is such a fun character to read from and I love her relationship with Pippa. I love seeing Celine interact with Bastien and I can't wait to see their relationship evolve throughout the book. Yay! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[phoebe]

Lizz wrote: "I will start this after I finish another book today"

Awesome! :)

[cer ♡]

Page 122 (view spoiler)[ Ok, I'm in love with Celine's thrill-seeking passion. The whole vibe makes the book so addicting and the mix of languages makes me want to take up french classes again :') (hide spoiler)]

[cer ♡]

phoebe wrote: "Page 98 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Bastien is such a charming character I feel attacked oof- (hide spoiler)]

[phoebe]

-ˏˋ mary ˎˊ˗ wrote: "Page 122 [spoilers removed]"

Yes! (view spoiler)[ I took French in high school and this book is totally making me want to pick it back up again! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[phoebe]

Page 155 (view spoiler)[ Okay, interesting! I always thought those creepy, alternate POV chapters (of the women's murders) were Bastien but now I'm thinking that they're someone else... On Page 147 he says "My enemy is just as enthralled as I. Even more so because he desires her in actuality" - I think he's talking about Bastien! But then Celine realized Bastien had Anabel's yellow ribbon in his pocket... who knows! I'm super excited to see where this goes :) (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Lizz (Beer, Books and Boos)]

I am enjoying the book just having a hard time with ebooks this month, so I might be a little slow at reading this.

[cer ♡]

Page 208 (view spoiler)[ Ok I am a bit confused.. Are the court guys supposed to be bad? Also, Michael seems a bit confusing and suspicious to me although I like his sassy character... Celine being power-hungry is a big mood and I already love her. Bastien has big broken boy energy and I stan, although he seems violent I don't want to believe he is actually a bad guy.. (hide spoiler)]

[cer ♡]

phoebe wrote: "Page 155 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I too was sure the unknown pov was Bastien because Arjun was mentioned at some point as well, so maybe they are someone already mentioned in the book if they had been in Jaques' ... Conspiracy theory time :'3 (hide spoiler)]

[phoebe]

Lizz wrote: "I am enjoying the book just having a hard time with ebooks this month, so I might be a little slow at reading this."

That's perfectly fine! Feel free to read at your own pace :)

[phoebe]

-ˏˋ mary ˎˊ˗ wrote: "Page 208 [spoilers removed]"

I totally agree! (view spoiler)[ I looove Celine and I love Bastien, and I love them together :) I think the court guys are both good and bad lol - just like Bastien! I hated how Michael embarrassed Celine in front of everyone and now it seems like he likes her...? I agree, he's very confusing (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[phoebe]

Page 266 (view spoiler)[ Poor Celine :( I hate that this is happening to her but it makes for very good reading! I'm so into this story and I literally can't stop reading it! I definitely feel like the demon/murder person (lmao) isn't Bastien but I have no clue who else it could be... maybe it's someone/something we don't know yet? (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[phoebe]

Page 386 (view spoiler)[ Oh no! I absolutely hate Bastien's uncle so much and I really hope he isn't able to tear through Bastien and Celine's relationship. If Celine does have to break up with Bastien or erase her memory I really hope Bastien sees through it and knows it was because of his uncle. Also, I feel like the killer is definitely the detective guy but it almost seems to obvious to be true... (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[phoebe]

Page 420 (view spoiler)[ WHAT? That was such a good plot twist. His sister?! I'm in shock - I didn't see that coming at all! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[phoebe]

Finished! (view spoiler)[ NO! I need the next book right now! I really really hope Bastien goes after Celine and helps her regain her memories. Also, how dare Michael come in and take advantage of Celine when she doesn't remember Bastien? This book was so so good and such a pleasant surprise! Really excited for the next book when it comes out in June :) (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[cer ♡]

phoebe wrote: "Page 266 [spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[Ikr! At this point the book just got so addicting and the plot even more confusing... (hide spoiler)]

[cer ♡]

Page 354 (view spoiler)[ I ship Celine and Bastien so much! They understand each other and together can finally be themselves.. their relationship is kinda angsty tho so I can feel the heartbreak coming :') The ' comic relief' part with Michael's grandma made me so happy for some reason. Less than 100 pages left (I think) and can't wait to see how the plan turns out :) (hide spoiler)]

[cer ♡]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I am so heartbroken and in need of the second book! What an ending! So the court are vampires and the brotherhood werewolves that's why they are enemies? Michael is sooo selfish, pretending to be closer to her although she clearly wanted to just be acquaintances. I kinda hate Bastien's uncle..I hope Celine finds her memories or at least Bastien still remembers her... Great book, I enjoyed reading it and it's sad that there's not any fanart I can obsess over now :') (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date changed. Restarting April 15th 2020. Happy Reading ☺

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[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date changed. Restarting April 15th 2020. Happy Reading ☺

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