Thursday, 25 August 2022

Beauty Queen - Sarah Mlynowski - Whatever After Book 7

Beauty Queen
Whatever After Book 7
Sarah Mlynowski
Scholastic
ISBN 9780545746540
eISBN 9780545746557
ASIN B00OBOA3EY


This is the fourteenth time I have read a book in this series. I have been reading these stories with my girls for over 6 years now. I read a few of these stories with my oldest starting in 2016. Now my youngest is reading them to me, and her sister has handed down the first several stories in the series. We had started reading them in 2016 but my oldest skipped around a bit and read a couple of volumes to her Aunt and Grandma while on a road trip. This was my first time encountering this specific story. My youngest insists we review everything that we read together, so this review from 2022 is part of that effort. Between reading with my oldest and youngest this is the fourteenth time I have read a book in this series. The stories have great staying power. Even as an adult I can enjoy these books, not only the first time but rereading them again and again.

Mlynowski always does a wonderful job with the story in this book, and all we have read in the series so far. My oldest was a reluctant reader. Back then when we read, I would read two pages for every page she read to me. The whole family loves these stories from 8-years old to 80 years old. It is a fantastic series. The stories are fun and entertaining, but also have some valuable lessons and insight. 

My youngest daughter and I give this story a solid 5/5 stars, she says this is her favourite to date, because we got to learn a lot about Maryrose and Jax. She was also surprised by what happened at the end with Jonah’s memories and some other memories. This story had a lot of twists and turns that she had not guessed and took her completely by surprise. She was totally taken by what happened at the end with both Freckles and Beauty. And she loved the surprise around what happened to Abby’s jewellery box once the story was resolved.

The description of this story is:

“This time, the magic mirror sucks Abby and Jonah into the story of Beauty and the Beast. When Jonah angers the Beast by picking flowers from his garden, he becomes the Beast's prisoner! Abby has to save her brother by finding Beauty, whom the Beast will surely fall in love with, right? NOPE. The Beast doesn't like Beauty, so it's up to Abby and her brother to match-make this reluctant pair and fix this fractured fairy tale before things get pretty ugly!”

I enjoyed Abby’s growth in this story. Her realizing who she was becoming and taking steps to change it. I also was surprised by some of the twists in this one. It is one of the best in the series.

We always enjoy Mlynowski’s twists and takes on old tales. Another great take on a familiar tale. The writing in these stories is excellent. My daughters and I love reading them together. And the retelling of this story surprised both of us at several different points and I am certain it will surprise you. It is a great book in an excellent series.











Books by Sarah Mlynowski:
Magic in Manhattan Series:
Bras & Broomsticks
Frogs & French Kisses
Spells & Sleeping Bags
Parties & Potions

Whatever After Special Editions:
Abby in Wonderland
Abby in Oz
…


Upside-Down Magic Series:
Upside-Down Magic #1
Sticks and Stones #2
Showing Off #3
...

Other Books by Sarah:
Milkrun
Fishbowl
Monkey Business
As Seen on TV
Me Vs. Me
Gimme a Call
Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have)
Don't Even Think About It
Think Twice
Know It All
A Nice Fling is Hard to Find
A Little Bit Broken
Cruisin'
Party Girls
The Two-Month Itch
...

Books Coauthored:
See Jane Write (with Farrin Jacobs)
How to Be Bad (with E. Lockhart and Lauren Myracle)
...

Books Contributed To:
Girls' Night In
Girls Night Out
American Girls About Town
Fireworks
Vacations from Hell
...

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