Review: Beauregard and the Beast by Evie Drae
SYNOPSIS:
Champion MMA fighter Adam Littrell is preparing for the biggest fight of his career. If he wins, his record-breaking title reign will remain unbroken. If he loses, he’s on the fast track for retirement. But when nerdy and awkward Beauregard Wilkins stumbles through his front door, staying focused on the task at hand becomes a struggle.
After taking over as his little sister’s legal guardian when their parents passed away, Bo is used to working hard to take care of his family. And now that Lulu is off at the expensive college of her dreams, he can’t afford to lose the generous salary his new position as Adam’s live-in personal assistant offers. However, as chemistry sizzles beneath the guise of an unexpected friendship, Bo discovers his new boss hardly lives up to his beastly reputation.
At the end of the day, Adam always thought the most significant fight of his life would be a physical one. But when things take an unexpected turn, he realizes his greatest prize can’t be won in the octagon.
REVIEW:
I was so excited to start this book. I absolutely love retellings and seeing that this was an award finalist and a ton of rave reviews had me looking forward to this story and this new-to-me author. Unfortunately, the story didn’t do anything for me. By the end of the book I was bored, disappointed, and feeling a whole lot of meh.
I am not really sure where this went wrong for me but the story lacked depth. Adam and Bo, as characters and in their relationship, aren’t bad but they lacked substance. For example, we get the bare minimum in terms of history and character background; therefore, I felt like I never really got to know the characters on a deeper level. Bo and Adam have practically no heart to hearts throughout the book, they just have feelings towards each other which ‘develop’ from being in close proximity. Bo is continuously concerned about money, but they never really dive into his struggles other than he has to pay a tuition bill for his sister. Every fumble in the relationship was due to Bo or his sister. Actually his sister really didn’t add anything to the story other than to distract from the romance and give Bo an out.
I didn’t find myself diving into this world and submerging myself in it. The entire novel read as I was an outsider and remained as one. The whole story builds to the plot turning moment and it was extremely anti-climatic. Since the book lacked any emotional substance, I couldn’t connect with or relate to the characters.
There are hints to the Beauty and the Beast throughout the story but they felt forced. Upon meeting Bo, he was instantaneously everything Beast wanted, but did he love books? Oh, surprise, his suitcase if full of well loved novels. Oh let me show you my library. Oh a tragedy appeared, I am now going to run away and cut off all communication. Sigh, I am just so disappointed in the execution of this retelling.
LINKS:
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
