I think this is one of those books that everyone should read. If this book were to be made mandatory reading in secondary schools, I think it could have such an amazing impact on the way in which they view themselves.
While this book focuses on the idea that pretty isn’t everything, it doesn’t deprecate the pretty girls; it celebrates all girls - the ugly ones, the smart ones, the tomboys, the pretty ones.
There’s a scene in this book where Isabelle (one of the ugly stepsisters) makes a passionate and daring attempt to save something dear to her; afterwards, one of the witnessing men says “I thought she was supposed to be ugly”. I absolutely loved this scene, because while Isabelle isn’t ‘pretty’, her passion and bravery made her enchanting.
This book has complicated women, women who you hate one second and love the next. It has heart, humour, magic and Instagram caption-worthy quotes.
So why not five stars?
Alongside Isabelle’s chapters, there are also chapters from Fate and Chance’s perspectives. And, honestly, I didn’t enjoy those chapters; I appreciated them at the end, appreciated the imagery relating to taking chances to change your fate but when I was actually reading the chapters, they sort of dragged for me. There was also a game being played by Fate and Chance in regards to Isabelle’s life, which I didn’t fully understand.
Overall, though, I’m over the moon that I got an ARC of this book; it may not be pretty (it’s downright disturbing at times) but it’s definitely important.
While this book focuses on the idea that pretty isn’t everything, it doesn’t deprecate the pretty girls; it celebrates all girls - the ugly ones, the smart ones, the tomboys, the pretty ones.
There’s a scene in this book where Isabelle (one of the ugly stepsisters) makes a passionate and daring attempt to save something dear to her; afterwards, one of the witnessing men says “I thought she was supposed to be ugly”. I absolutely loved this scene, because while Isabelle isn’t ‘pretty’, her passion and bravery made her enchanting.
This book has complicated women, women who you hate one second and love the next. It has heart, humour, magic and Instagram caption-worthy quotes.
So why not five stars?
Alongside Isabelle’s chapters, there are also chapters from Fate and Chance’s perspectives. And, honestly, I didn’t enjoy those chapters; I appreciated them at the end, appreciated the imagery relating to taking chances to change your fate but when I was actually reading the chapters, they sort of dragged for me. There was also a game being played by Fate and Chance in regards to Isabelle’s life, which I didn’t fully understand.
Overall, though, I’m over the moon that I got an ARC of this book; it may not be pretty (it’s downright disturbing at times) but it’s definitely important.