By the Book-A Meant To Be Novel

Part of Meant To Be

From New York Times best-selling author Jasmine Guillory comes the much-anticipated second book in the Meant to Be collection inspired by the classic fairy tale stories we all know and love, perfect for adult readers who crave contemporary, escapist rom-coms.

Sometimes to truly know a person, you have to read between the lines.

Isabelle  is completely lost. When she first began her career in publishing after  college, she did not expect to be twenty-five, still living at home,  and one of the few Black employees at her publishing house. Overworked  and underpaid, constantly torn between speaking up or stifling herself,  Izzy thinks there must be more to this publishing life. So when she  overhears her boss complaining about a beastly high-profile author who  has failed to deliver his long-awaited manuscript, Isabelle sees an  opportunity to finally get the promotion she deserves.

All she has to do is go to the author’s Santa Barbara mansion and give him a pep talk or three. How hard could it be?

But  Izzy quickly finds out she is in over her head. Beau Towers is not some  celebrity lightweight writing a tell-all memoir. He is jaded and  withdrawn and—it turns out—just as lost as Izzy. But despite his  standoffishness, Izzy needs Beau to deliver, and with her encouragement,  his story begins to spill onto the page. They soon discover they have  more in common than either of them expected, and as their deadline  nears, Izzy and Beau begin to realize there may be something there that  wasn’t there before.

Best-selling author  Jasmine Guillory’s achingly romantic reimagining of a classic is a tale  as old as time . . . for a new generation.
Praise for By the Book
"This fairytale rom-com mashup is total magic! Swoon-worthy from start to finish!" —Julie Murphy, New York Times best-selling author of IF THE SHOE FITS and DUMPLIN'


"This book is a delight from start to finish." —PopSugar.com


"My cheeks hurt from smiling through this delightful book for adults who haven’t outgrown fairy tales. And speaking of magic, how does Jasmine Guillory keep getting better and better?" —Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of WISH YOU WERE HERE


"By the Book is in my hands and I could not be any more excited to celebrate it! Jasmine is on a short list of my tried and true comfort-read authors. I don’t know how she manages to weave such depth into her characters while still making the whole reading experience feel SO GOOD AND NICE but she does, every single time." —Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author of PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION, BEACH READ, and BOOK LOVERS


"Endearing….A sweet read." —Kirkus


"For anyone who's ever possessed dreams of a literary romantic gesture, this will make you swoon." —EW


"You’ll be blushing and crushing until the very end." —TheSkimm


"Sure, you know what is going to happen and it's a tale as old as time, but that doesn't make it any less fun getting there. Oh, the power of Guillory's storytelling!?" —E! Online


Praise for Tangled Up in You
“Christina Lauren smartly updates the Rapunzel story for a modern audience. Ren and Fitz have fairytale chemistry.” — Jillian Law, Booklist


"This is a delight." — Publishers Weekly


"I dare you to not fall wildly in love with Ren and Fitz! I wish I could give this book the biggest, tightest bear hug because reading it feels like drinking pure joy. Oh my gosh, I'm still buzzing from all the endorphins this book gave me! Christina Lauren as a writing duo is a national treasure." — Jesse Q. Sutanto, National Bestselling author of DIAL A FOR AUNTIES and VERA WONG'S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS


“Every book in this series makes me so incredibly happy. Tangled Up in You pays a beautiful tribute to the modern Disney classic. Christina Lauren clearly loves this couple and their tale as much as we do, breathing life into them as they do all their characters, with nuanced identities, grin-inducing banter, and giddy chemistry.” — Jenni Marchisotto, Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore


“This is my favorite entry in the MEANT TO BE universe yet! I loved all the little Easter eggs hidden in this book, and I was captivated by the way they retold this story in a contemporary setting.” — Kate Storhoff, Bookmarks Bookstore


“This is everything I could have asked for in a Tangled retelling.” —Margaret McCampbell, Reads & Company Bookstore


“This smart, funny take on the Rapunzel story was impossible to put down! I loved the brilliant, capable character of Ren and her take on the modern world. Fitz is the perfect, complicated, brooding hero. Such a fun and interesting read!” — Megan Fitzgerald, Bookery Cincy Bookstore


"Tangled Up in You is a tangled inspired romcom that had me in stitches. This book is honestly so adorable and the balance of tooth rotting romance and fun twisty adventure was true to form for anyone who picked it up due to the swooniness of Flynn Ryder. Fitz is all the charm and charisma of a Disney hero and Ren is just so sweet and honest, watching them grow and fall in love was such a beautiful and touching!” — Kahill Perkins, Raven Book Store


Praise for Kiss the Girl
"Kiss the Girl is sheer delight. It’s full of joy and love and self discovery, and I smiled the whole time I read it. Zoraida Córdova wrote the rock star/pop princess romance of my dreams!" —Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author


"Zoraida Córdova brings everything we love about The Little Mermaid to this romantic tale. The Little Mermaid meets Daisy Jones and the Six in this immersive and romantic tale of two musicians chasing their dreams and falling in love along the way. You’ll want to be part of this world!" —Alexis Daria, international bestselling author of YOU HAD ME AT HOLA


“Irresistible! The adorable banter and undeniable chemistry in this reimagining of The Little Mermaid will have you falling in love with Ariel and Eric all over again.” —Farrah Rochon, New York Times best-selling author of THE HOOKUP PLAN


“Córdova puts her own clever, marvelously enchanting spin on The Little Mermaid, while at the same time gifting readers with a sweet love story with just a hint of spice that joyfully celebrates the power of love and music in our lives.”— John Charles, Booklist


“In the third MEANT TO BE novel, Córdova hits all the right notes with sweet characters and the interesting angle of a pop star who has never had control or choices.” — Library Journal


“Plentiful romance and humor make this worthwhile. Readers will have no trouble cheering on Ariel and Eric.” — Publishers Weekly


Praise for If the Shoe Fits
"If The Shoe Fits encompasses everything I love about rom-coms. I laughed, I swooned, I smiled. Another hit for Julie Murphy!" —Colleen Hoover, #1 New York Times best-selling author of IT ENDS WITH US, UGLY LOVE, and VERITY


"If the Shoe Fits is so much more than a modern retelling of a classic tale. It’s a swoon-worthy slow burn romance that’s filled with heart and humor." —Farrah Rochon, USA Today best-selling author of THE BOYFRIEND PROJECT


"Forget the animated Cinderella! If the Shoe Fits brings a fresh, charming, and deeply empowering perspective to the classic fairy tale." —Katharine McGee, New York Times best-selling author of AMERICAN ROYALS


"In Murphy's breezy and fun rom-com, there's enough of Cinderella in the story to be charming, yet overall it sparkles like an exciting new tale. indy is immensely lovable, and readers will root for all her dreams to come true. Murphy brings the wit, sensitivity, and imagination that has made her a YA star to the start of her adult romance Meant to Be series." —Booklist


"[An] inventive Cinderella retelling, Murphy cleverly blends the conventions of fairy tales and reality TV to create an incisive commentary on both…readers interested in a smart exploration of the intersection of romance and reality TV will be overjoyed." —Publishers Weekly


"In this charming and modern retelling of Cinderella, Murphy hits the mark again with a body-positive novel that makes everyone feel included." —School Library Journal


"Murphy’s adult debut is a binge-worthy modern take on Cinderella. Readers will love Cindy and Henry’s back-and-forth banter; when the duo find ruses to sneak away for some time alone with each other, hearts will melt." —Library Journal


"An enchanting Cinderella-inspired story." —Culturess


"A refreshing take on the classic Cinderella story." —Forbes
Jasmine Guillory is a New York Times bestselling author of novels including The Wedding Date, the Reese's Book Club selection The Proposal, and While We Were Dating. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Cosmopolitan, Bon Appétit, and Time, and she is a frequent book contributor on The Today Show. She lives in Oakland, California.

About

From New York Times best-selling author Jasmine Guillory comes the much-anticipated second book in the Meant to Be collection inspired by the classic fairy tale stories we all know and love, perfect for adult readers who crave contemporary, escapist rom-coms.

Sometimes to truly know a person, you have to read between the lines.

Isabelle  is completely lost. When she first began her career in publishing after  college, she did not expect to be twenty-five, still living at home,  and one of the few Black employees at her publishing house. Overworked  and underpaid, constantly torn between speaking up or stifling herself,  Izzy thinks there must be more to this publishing life. So when she  overhears her boss complaining about a beastly high-profile author who  has failed to deliver his long-awaited manuscript, Isabelle sees an  opportunity to finally get the promotion she deserves.

All she has to do is go to the author’s Santa Barbara mansion and give him a pep talk or three. How hard could it be?

But  Izzy quickly finds out she is in over her head. Beau Towers is not some  celebrity lightweight writing a tell-all memoir. He is jaded and  withdrawn and—it turns out—just as lost as Izzy. But despite his  standoffishness, Izzy needs Beau to deliver, and with her encouragement,  his story begins to spill onto the page. They soon discover they have  more in common than either of them expected, and as their deadline  nears, Izzy and Beau begin to realize there may be something there that  wasn’t there before.

Best-selling author  Jasmine Guillory’s achingly romantic reimagining of a classic is a tale  as old as time . . . for a new generation.

Reviews

Praise for By the Book
"This fairytale rom-com mashup is total magic! Swoon-worthy from start to finish!" —Julie Murphy, New York Times best-selling author of IF THE SHOE FITS and DUMPLIN'


"This book is a delight from start to finish." —PopSugar.com


"My cheeks hurt from smiling through this delightful book for adults who haven’t outgrown fairy tales. And speaking of magic, how does Jasmine Guillory keep getting better and better?" —Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of WISH YOU WERE HERE


"By the Book is in my hands and I could not be any more excited to celebrate it! Jasmine is on a short list of my tried and true comfort-read authors. I don’t know how she manages to weave such depth into her characters while still making the whole reading experience feel SO GOOD AND NICE but she does, every single time." —Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author of PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION, BEACH READ, and BOOK LOVERS


"Endearing….A sweet read." —Kirkus


"For anyone who's ever possessed dreams of a literary romantic gesture, this will make you swoon." —EW


"You’ll be blushing and crushing until the very end." —TheSkimm


"Sure, you know what is going to happen and it's a tale as old as time, but that doesn't make it any less fun getting there. Oh, the power of Guillory's storytelling!?" —E! Online


Praise for Tangled Up in You
“Christina Lauren smartly updates the Rapunzel story for a modern audience. Ren and Fitz have fairytale chemistry.” — Jillian Law, Booklist


"This is a delight." — Publishers Weekly


"I dare you to not fall wildly in love with Ren and Fitz! I wish I could give this book the biggest, tightest bear hug because reading it feels like drinking pure joy. Oh my gosh, I'm still buzzing from all the endorphins this book gave me! Christina Lauren as a writing duo is a national treasure." — Jesse Q. Sutanto, National Bestselling author of DIAL A FOR AUNTIES and VERA WONG'S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS


“Every book in this series makes me so incredibly happy. Tangled Up in You pays a beautiful tribute to the modern Disney classic. Christina Lauren clearly loves this couple and their tale as much as we do, breathing life into them as they do all their characters, with nuanced identities, grin-inducing banter, and giddy chemistry.” — Jenni Marchisotto, Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore


“This is my favorite entry in the MEANT TO BE universe yet! I loved all the little Easter eggs hidden in this book, and I was captivated by the way they retold this story in a contemporary setting.” — Kate Storhoff, Bookmarks Bookstore


“This is everything I could have asked for in a Tangled retelling.” —Margaret McCampbell, Reads & Company Bookstore


“This smart, funny take on the Rapunzel story was impossible to put down! I loved the brilliant, capable character of Ren and her take on the modern world. Fitz is the perfect, complicated, brooding hero. Such a fun and interesting read!” — Megan Fitzgerald, Bookery Cincy Bookstore


"Tangled Up in You is a tangled inspired romcom that had me in stitches. This book is honestly so adorable and the balance of tooth rotting romance and fun twisty adventure was true to form for anyone who picked it up due to the swooniness of Flynn Ryder. Fitz is all the charm and charisma of a Disney hero and Ren is just so sweet and honest, watching them grow and fall in love was such a beautiful and touching!” — Kahill Perkins, Raven Book Store


Praise for Kiss the Girl
"Kiss the Girl is sheer delight. It’s full of joy and love and self discovery, and I smiled the whole time I read it. Zoraida Córdova wrote the rock star/pop princess romance of my dreams!" —Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author


"Zoraida Córdova brings everything we love about The Little Mermaid to this romantic tale. The Little Mermaid meets Daisy Jones and the Six in this immersive and romantic tale of two musicians chasing their dreams and falling in love along the way. You’ll want to be part of this world!" —Alexis Daria, international bestselling author of YOU HAD ME AT HOLA


“Irresistible! The adorable banter and undeniable chemistry in this reimagining of The Little Mermaid will have you falling in love with Ariel and Eric all over again.” —Farrah Rochon, New York Times best-selling author of THE HOOKUP PLAN


“Córdova puts her own clever, marvelously enchanting spin on The Little Mermaid, while at the same time gifting readers with a sweet love story with just a hint of spice that joyfully celebrates the power of love and music in our lives.”— John Charles, Booklist


“In the third MEANT TO BE novel, Córdova hits all the right notes with sweet characters and the interesting angle of a pop star who has never had control or choices.” — Library Journal


“Plentiful romance and humor make this worthwhile. Readers will have no trouble cheering on Ariel and Eric.” — Publishers Weekly


Praise for If the Shoe Fits
"If The Shoe Fits encompasses everything I love about rom-coms. I laughed, I swooned, I smiled. Another hit for Julie Murphy!" —Colleen Hoover, #1 New York Times best-selling author of IT ENDS WITH US, UGLY LOVE, and VERITY


"If the Shoe Fits is so much more than a modern retelling of a classic tale. It’s a swoon-worthy slow burn romance that’s filled with heart and humor." —Farrah Rochon, USA Today best-selling author of THE BOYFRIEND PROJECT


"Forget the animated Cinderella! If the Shoe Fits brings a fresh, charming, and deeply empowering perspective to the classic fairy tale." —Katharine McGee, New York Times best-selling author of AMERICAN ROYALS


"In Murphy's breezy and fun rom-com, there's enough of Cinderella in the story to be charming, yet overall it sparkles like an exciting new tale. indy is immensely lovable, and readers will root for all her dreams to come true. Murphy brings the wit, sensitivity, and imagination that has made her a YA star to the start of her adult romance Meant to Be series." —Booklist


"[An] inventive Cinderella retelling, Murphy cleverly blends the conventions of fairy tales and reality TV to create an incisive commentary on both…readers interested in a smart exploration of the intersection of romance and reality TV will be overjoyed." —Publishers Weekly


"In this charming and modern retelling of Cinderella, Murphy hits the mark again with a body-positive novel that makes everyone feel included." —School Library Journal


"Murphy’s adult debut is a binge-worthy modern take on Cinderella. Readers will love Cindy and Henry’s back-and-forth banter; when the duo find ruses to sneak away for some time alone with each other, hearts will melt." —Library Journal


"An enchanting Cinderella-inspired story." —Culturess


"A refreshing take on the classic Cinderella story." —Forbes

Author

Jasmine Guillory is a New York Times bestselling author of novels including The Wedding Date, the Reese's Book Club selection The Proposal, and While We Were Dating. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Cosmopolitan, Bon Appétit, and Time, and she is a frequent book contributor on The Today Show. She lives in Oakland, California.