The Book of G popped up on many of my social media platforms with the idea of what happened to Gaston after he battled the Beast. What if he didn’t die when he fell from the castle. What if he washed ashore a river with no memories of who he was, and his ‘good looks’ gone???

That hooked me. I’m not going to lie. Beauty and the Beast was one of my favorite Disney movies as a kid. I loved it. So seeing a book that was essentially a continuation but with a twist, I was like yeah I gotta give this a go. I was wrong. I wish I wasn’t….but I was so wrong.

Lily Archer’s The Book of G arrives with a tantalizing premise that immediately captures the imagination: what truly happened to Gaston after his infamous fall from the Beast’s castle? Did he meet his end, or did fate have a more peculiar twist in store? The idea of him surviving, but losing everything that defined him–including his memory– is a genuinely captivating springboard for a story. This unique take on a classic villain’s aftermath was, for me, the most appealing aspect of the book and what initially drew me in.

However, despite this intriguing setup, the execution of The Book of G proved to eb a struggle. My overall experience was one of disappointment, largely due to the central character, G. The premise promised a fascinating journey of self-discovery or perhaps even redemption for a character stripped of his past. Instead, G remained largely unlikeable throughout the narrative. True character growth felt minimal, almost negligible. His motivations and actions seemed consistently self-serving, eve when faced with dire circumstances.

A significant point of contention was G’s treatment and perception of Charlie. His concern for her only truly manifested once he discovered she was a girl. This felt particularly jarring and, frankly, quite off-putting. It suggested his protective instincts or any nascent affection were based purely on her gender rather than any genuine connection or inherent worth. Indeed, it felt as though he would have abandoned her to her fate if not for his own self-preservation, driven by the fear of a witch’s curse. This shallow, self-centered attitude perseisted, and once Charlie’s true identity was revealed, his thoughts, as depicted, seemed almost entirely consumed by sexual desire.  While I understand that this book is categorized as a “smut book.” the constant focus felt annoying and  overshadowed any potential for emotional development or a deeper bond between the characters, ltimately detracting from the story rather than enhancing it.

Despite my difficulties with the character, there was a core message that resonated: the importance of choosing your battles and understanding what truly matters. G’s relentless pursuit of his old life and lost memories only truly faltered when Charlie’s life was on the line. In those desperate moments, he made a choice that underscored a valuable truthe: the ones you love mean more than your looks or lost memores. this thematic glimmer was a noteable takeaway from a otherwise challenging read.

Ultimately, The Book of G was a chore to finish. I found myself lacking any eagerness to  return to its pages, and the narrative failed to engage me on a consistent basis Given the compelling premise, the resulting disaapointment in its execution, particularly with the main character’s unlikable nature and arrested development, leads me to give The Book of G a 2.5 out of 5 stars. While the inital concept was brilliant, the journey itself left much to be desired.