The Book Gourmet

They call him the beast for his hulking figure and his many scars, but his taciturn, solitary nature hides a big heart that beats for one woman only; his friend, the only one who doesn't look at him with disgust or pity, Nissa. She might be plain, but she's prefect to him, yet he knows she'll never love him. So he quickly jumps at the opportunity to be different in order to woo her.

Fairy Godmother Sara grants him his wish and turns him into beautiful Byron, a man women fight over...Except Nissa, who misses the man she came to love, the only man who never cared what she looked like—Benton.


I liked the premise, the little twist on the well-known fairy tale that had yet another surprising twist to it toward the end. Didn't see that one coming, but it was interesting, if a little heart-breaking.

Unfortunately, the story didn't quite work for me. I liked the two protagonists, although I found the heroine, Nissa, a little offputting in her aversion and prejudice toward beauty, and her inability or unwillingness to see her self-worth beyond her exterior. The same could be said about Benton, but the guy at least realized there's something to be said about his true looks compared to his puny new exterior.

Also, the many plot elements made the story come across as a little convoluted; there was just too much going on with the two wishes being granted, and I didn't really feel the romantic connection between them. The two were more like best friends exploring the possibility of benefits than a couple in love.