Overall, this was a fun take on Beauty and the Beast - though, to be honest, I thought Beau started out more like a Gaston than a beauty, while Grace was both (inner) beauty and (outer) “beast” all rolled into one.

But, reading this story, I kept wondering how any of us ever made it through high school. I mean… oof.

On an absolutely personal note (your mileage will definitely vary): I may be jaded, but I found both Grace and especially her mother at times a bit too preachy for my liking. I would have liked the message to be a bit clearer on the aspect that it’s totally okay to not always be okay with the unfairness of life. You can’t control everything that is happening to you, and sometimes life - and other people - just suck. And it’s perfectly fine to acknowledge that. You don’t always have to be the bigger person. You’re allowed to be human, too.