Mundie Moms

Thursday, October 18, 2018

GRIM LOVELIES by Megan Shepherd / Book Review #GrimLovelies


By: Megan Shepherd
Published by: HMH Teen
Released on: October 2nd, 2018
Series: Grim Lovelies #1
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Rating: 4 stars
A copy of this book as provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review

Seventeen-year-old Anouk envies the human world, where people known as Pretties lavish themselves in fast cars, high fashion, and have the freedom to fall in love. But Anouk can never have those things, because she is not really human. Enchanted from animal to human girl and forbidden to venture beyond her familiar Parisian prison, Anouk is a Beastie: destined for a life surrounded by dust bunnies and cinders serving Mada Vittora, the evil witch who spelled her into existence. That is, until one day she finds her mistress murdered in a pool of blood—and Anouk is accused of the crime.

Now, the world she always dreamed of is rife with danger. Pursued through Paris by the underground magical society known as the Haute, Anouk and her fellow Beasties only have three days to find the real killer before the spell keeping them human fades away. If they fail, they will lose the only lives they’ve ever known…but if they succeed, they could be more powerful than anyone ever bargained for.

From New York Times bestselling author Megan Shepherd, Grim Lovelies is an epic and glittering YA fantasy. Prepare to be spellbound by the world of Grim Lovelies, where secrets have been long buried, friends can become enemies, and everything—especially humanity—comes at a price.


An enchanting, fast paced, dazzling read. The Grim Lovelies is the kind of book that hooks you with it's characters, lures you in with it's fantasy elements, and enchants you with it's beautiful Paris setting. 

The characters in this book are not as they seem when they're first introduced in the story. There's so much to what they really are, and who they are. It wasn't hard to fall in love with each of them as the story goes on. I absolutely love the 'grim lovely' part of this story. I was intrigued by the whole enchantment of the characters who were animals, and enchanted into humans by a witch. There's a twist that's wrapped into their fate of staying human that's at the heart of this story. I wasn't hard to feel their desperation, and their wanting to stay human. 

When it came to Anouk, she's the one who surprised me the most. It was so easy to love the character she becomes. She's the quiet, timid character who goes into this strong, confident character who isn't afraid to fight back.  She has such a well written character journey. Hers is the kind of character arc that is believable, and down right awesome. It's so well written.

Paris is the perfect setting for this book. After reading Grim Lovelies, the city of lights seems even more magical. The vivid descriptions brought this city to life in a whole way. I felt like I was discovering the sites and sounds of Paris, it's rich history, and the food, right along side Anouk. The descriptions were richly detailed, and so vivid, it almost felt as though you could smell the rich Parisian pastries as you turn the pages. 

The magic and fantasy elements were perfectly woven into this story. I absolutely loved thinking, 'what if' numerous times while reading this book. The only thing I wasn't a fan of, was the romance. It felt forced. There was absolutely no romantic chemistry between the two. I enjoyed the hints of other relationships through out this story, far more.

Overall, this story completely swept me up into all that was going on in it's enchanted world. From the desperate search, to the intense moments, the magic, the twists, and the fates of the characters. It's been awhile since I've read a magical book this well written. I loved the fairytale touches, and the magical elements. The cover did this book justice! I absolutely love it. I can not wait to read this book's sequel. 

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