YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

The first novel in a series set at an elite international boarding school, that’s a contemporary spin on Beauty and the Beast.

Will the princess save the beast?

For Princess Jaya Rao, nothing is more important than family. When the loathsome Emerson clan steps up their centuries-old feud to target Jaya’s little sister, nothing will keep Jaya from exacting her revenge. Then Jaya finds out she’ll be attending the same elite boarding school as Grey Emerson, and it feels like the opportunity of a lifetime. She knows what she must do: Make Grey fall in love with her and break his heart. But much to Jaya’s annoyance, Grey’s brooding demeanor and lupine blue eyes have drawn her in. There’s simply no way she and her sworn enemy could find their fairy-tale ending…right?

His Lordship Grey Emerson is a misanthrope. Thanks to an ancient curse by a Rao matriarch, Grey knows he’s doomed once he turns eighteen. Sequestered away in the mountains at St. Rosetta’s International Academy, he’s lived an isolated existence—until Jaya Rao bursts into his life, but he can't shake the feeling that she’s hiding something. Something that might just have to do with the rose-shaped ruby pendant around her neck…

As the stars conspire to keep them apart, Jaya and Grey grapple with questions of love, loyalty, and whether it’s possible to write your own happy ending.

Hey, I'm starting this one later today!

3%
(view spoiler)[ Did he just exclaim with the word Chouette? That means owl in french, which is what he's been spoting, but why is his exclamation Owl?!?!? What does it mean? (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "3%
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I did not realize that, it's funny! Probably not important I'd say, maybe he just talks like that?

I did not have much time so I could only read 5% but I'm already curious about how that first meeting is going to go.

Oh yes, the first meeting is a must-read.....

I'm up to 15%, and I'm really enjoying it!

28%
(view spoiler)[I don't really know whether I like Jaya or not......she's pretty great as a revenge seeker, but certainly not what I expected when I started this book......she's quite bloodthirsty (hide spoiler)]

Anna wrote: "Trisha wrote: "3%
[spoilers removed]"

I did not realize that, it's funny! Probably not important I'd say, maybe he just talks like that?

I did not have much time so I could only read 5% but I'm a..."

Yeah, he seems to just talk like that.....it's pretty funny, as you say, if you think about it.....I like him..

46%
(view spoiler)[ Oh My God they are going to run into each other aren't they? This is a DISASTER!!! And then there are going to be misunderstandings, as if all the current ones weren't less..... (hide spoiler)]

56%
(view spoiler)[ I have a theory. I think it wasn't any Emerson heir who went to the press, in fact I think it was Kiran. I went back to the beginning of the book, and saw exactly what the reporter had told Jaya:

“Would it come as a great surprise if I said it was the male heir of a family that finds you Raos particularly deplorable?”

Nowhere is it said that it was an Emerson heir who did it; it just says a male heir who finds them deplorable. Where I'm up to, I have this vibe off Kiran that he wants more say and sway with the Raos, and that's why he did it. He's also the one who told Jaya to go to the reporter, which makes me almost sure of this.

Anyway, what do you think of the book? (hide spoiler)]

84%
And now shit is going to hit the fan.

87%
I can hear the crescendo starting up in the background....

100%
I finished this yesterday, but couldn't update here...... I thought it was okay; not too good, but not bad either.....I'll write a review later, but I think I'll give it 3, maybe 4 stars...
Hope you enjoy it!!

You've already finished it? I guess I'm slower than I thought.

21% (chapters 1-5)
(view spoiler)[That was a cool twist with the necklace being the rose. It will be funny when petals keep falling. (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "Oh yes, the first meeting is a must-read.....

I'm up to 15%, and I'm really enjoying it!"

It's nice that it has dual perspectives because they were both surprised and taken aback when they found out about each other.

Anna wrote: "You've already finished it? I guess I'm slower than I thought.

21% (chapters 1-5)
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You're really not; I just read super fast when I have the time, to make up for the astonishing amount of time I don't ;)

(view spoiler)[ Yeah, the falling petals were really like a ticking clock; very ominous, but confusing. Is it magic and curses, or isn't it? (hide spoiler)]

Anna wrote: "Trisha wrote: "Oh yes, the first meeting is a must-read.....

I'm up to 15%, and I'm really enjoying it!"

It's nice that it has dual perspectives because they were both surprised and taken aback w..."

Yeah, and you keep seeing what they both think of each other, especially how Jaya's flirting seems airtight from her perspective, but seems flimsy from Grey's...

Starting this one today. So excited to read it :)

Jenn wrote: "Starting this one today. So excited to read it :)"

Hope you like it!

Chapter 6: (view spoiler)[ I like that you can definitely feel the beauty and the beast vibes. I feel so bad for Grey, being blamed for the death of his mother. How horrible his father is! Not sure how I feel about Jaya. On one hand I love her fierce protectiveness of her sister but then I also dislike how she doesn't actually listen to her sister. Also her hatred for Grey is insane. Maybe find out the facts before charging in (hide spoiler)]

Anna wrote: "You've already finished it? I guess I'm slower than I thought.

21% (chapters 1-5)
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I really loved how they tied the necklace in!

Jenn wrote: "Chapter 6: [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, she's pretty hellbent on her views, which is a good thing in some cases, but definitely not this one.

Jenn wrote: "Anna wrote: "You've already finished it? I guess I'm slower than I thought.

21% (chapters 1-5)
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I really loved how they tied the necklace in!"

That was one of my favourite characters (if you can call the necklace a character) but (view spoiler)[it's story wasn't completely resolved, I mean it was okay, but it could definitely have been more complete (hide spoiler)]

Jenn wrote: "Chapter 6: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I thought the exact same thing. I'm not sure about Jaya either because while I enjoy how determined she is, she also forgets about it sometimes; I guess that's a sign that she's falling for him.
And yeah, it's not his fault what some random people did 200 years before, c'mon. Plus where's your proof that he was the one to send those pictures? If you want to protect your sister, maybe check your sources and make sure of what you do, or you're gonnna gain more enemies. (hide spoiler)]

Jenn wrote: "Anna wrote: "You've already finished it? I guess I'm slower than I thought.

21% (chapters 1-5)
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I really loved how they tied the necklace in!"

I'm enjoying all the nods and references to beauty and the beast things.

Chapter 11: (view spoiler)[ poor Isha, she just wants to study robotics and Jaya is so mean to her. I get that they're royal but Isha needs a sister right now, not a babysitter. I was worried when Jaya found Grey in her room but I'm hoping they're finally going to actually talk about the curse. Time to compare notes people! (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Anna wrote: "You've already finished it? I guess I'm slower than I thought.

21% (chapters 1-5)
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I really loved how they tied the necklace in!"

That was one of my ..."

I can see how you would consider it a character. It definitely has a life of its own and I'm constantly wondering when another stone will fall. But what's causing it??

Chapter 15: (view spoiler)[ I have this weird feeling that Kiran was the one who sold out Isha. I may be wrong but I don't trust him. And now Caterina is on the warpath so who knows what she'll do. Going into the home stretch and I'm just waiting for it all to blow up (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[ I liked how they both finally spoke their minds. Also called it about Kiran. I do have to say, I didn't really feel that strong connection between Jaya and Grey that I wanted. I guess I just wanted more from them .but it was cute. Also, what was going on with the rubies? (hide spoiler)]

Jenn wrote: "Chapter 15: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ You're right!!! (hide spoiler)]

Jenn wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Exactly!!! There were so many things that could have been more complete......and Grey and Jaya were good together, but not shipping material, if you get my stream of thought......they were OK together, no more no less.. (hide spoiler)]

@Trisha 100% agree and glad I'm not the only one!

Trisha wrote: "3%
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That's funny hahaha I could never tell as I don't speak french.

Anna wrote: "Trisha wrote: "3%
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I did not realize that, it's funny! Probably not important I'd say, maybe he just talks like that?

I did not have much time so I could only read 5% but I'm a..."

I'm at 11%

(view spoiler)[ It was an interesting meeting, although he knowing who she is and she not knowing who he is sort of gonna give him a advantage. But I think it's gonna be funny once she realizes who he is. Wondering if her plan of making he fall in love with her won't work the other way around. (hide spoiler)]

Tayane wrote: "Trisha wrote: "3%
[spoilers removed]"

That's funny hahaha I could never tell as I don't speak french."

I don't speak french either.....I only have Duolingo level gk of French ;)

Tayane wrote: "Anna wrote: "Trisha wrote: "3%
[spoilers removed]"

I did not realize that, it's funny! Probably not important I'd say, maybe he just talks like that?

I did not have much time so I could only read..."

Hope you like it! (view spoiler)[ You are sorta on the right track, that's all I'm gonna say ;) (hide spoiler)]

Sorry, had a few complications last week and couldn't read as much as I hoped.

87%

(view spoiler)[Gotta say I'm quite disappointed in Catarina's character, I thought she would be more of an obstacle but she's barely done anything. So much build-up for nothing.

Jaya's character is very inconsistent too. (hide spoiler)]

Anna wrote: "Sorry, had a few complications last week and couldn't read as much as I hoped.

87%"

Yes, it was kind of anticlimatic......and Jaya is seriously indecisive...you think you've got her figured out....and then she surprises you...not always in a good way

Trisha wrote: "28%
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(view spoiler)[ Yeah, I don't remember quite well when was told what happened to Isha if she explained how she knew Grey did it, because he definetely didn't do it, he didn't even know what she was talking about when she was telling him the story. (hide spoiler)]

Anna wrote: "You've already finished it? I guess I'm slower than I thought.

21% (chapters 1-5)
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(view spoiler)[ Yes, it was a nice touch, I like it :) (hide spoiler)]

Jenn wrote: "Chapter 6: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I agree. It seems like she doesn't even know for sure that he was the one to ruin things for her sister, and he actually isn't. Anyway, I'm enjoying some aspects of the story, but I'm not sure I'm that into it so far. (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "Tayane wrote: "Trisha wrote: "3%
[spoilers removed]"

That's funny hahaha I could never tell as I don't speak french."

I don't speak french either.....I only have Duolingo level gk of French ;)"

lol I tried doing French this semester in college as a foreign language class, but it was too much for me pile it up on every other class I need to worry about, so I just droped it.

Finished
(view spoiler)[Am I the only one disappointed by the ending? The resolution was so fast, like 'let me just call my dad and resolve everything right now' and I did not care that much about it. (hide spoiler)]

Anna wrote: "Finished
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(view spoiler)[Yep, you're not alone.....it was so anticlimatic....all that build up for nothing really. (hide spoiler)]

Anna wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Chapter 6: [spoilers removed]"

I thought the exact same thing. I'm not sure about Jaya either because while I enjoy how determined she is, she also forgets about it sometimes; I guess..."

(view spoiler)[ It bothers me that she admits that she doesn't know for sure he was the one to "ruin" her sister's reputation, but she's so blind by revenge that she ignores all the signs - because it's obvious he didn't know anything about it. But it also makes me question who did it and why they blamed it on Grey. (hide spoiler)]

Tayane wrote: "Anna wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Chapter 6: [spoilers removed]"

I thought the exact same thing. I'm not sure about Jaya either because while I enjoy how determined she is, she also forgets about it somet..."

The only plot in this book was there because of manipulation......the characters are so hellbent on hating each other, that they literally don't seem to be able to see the threads that were being pulled

Tayane wrote: "Anna wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Chapter 6: [spoilers removed]"

I thought the exact same thing. I'm not sure about Jaya either because while I enjoy how determined she is, she also forgets about it somet..."

What bothers me about it is that she immediately blames Grey without any real proof. And, as you say, after all the signs that he did not know about what had happened, she does not question anything.

Jenn wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yes, finally they told each other (and to their parents) what they wanted. Kiran was such an ass since the moment he showed up, I wasn't shocked he turned out to be the one who sent Isha's pictures. As for the ending, I like how the author used the original Beauty and the Beast references, and Grey not actually dying at the end was also nice, but the meaning was kinda out of the blue. (hide spoiler)]

Anna wrote: "Sorry, had a few complications last week and couldn't read as much as I hoped.

87%

Gotta say I'm quite disappointed in Catarina's character, I thought she would be more of an obstacle but she's b..."

(view spoiler)[ I agree about Catarina. I didn't want the author to turn her into a complete bitch, because she had some friend potential, but she was kind of whatever in the end. Actually, the whole Catarina-Alaric-Daphne plot was kinda boring to me. (hide spoiler)]

Anna wrote: "Finished
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(view spoiler)[ Yes, everything happened so quicky! I understand his dad has been an ass to him his whole life, but this is not the kind of thing you solve in a phone call. Specially in Jaya's situation, considering her parents and her whole culture is so strict with somethings (she herself was strict with things like that just the other day), so it was hard to believe she would just throw the news on her parents over the phone. I'm glad they found the nerve to finally tell their parents what they were feeling, but over the phone was just not the way considering the characters the author has built up until then. (hide spoiler)]

Anna wrote: "Tayane wrote: "Anna wrote: "Jenn wrote: "Chapter 6: [spoilers removed]"

I thought the exact same thing. I'm not sure about Jaya either because while I enjoy how determined she is, she also forgets..."

Yes, those were some irritating parts lol