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Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Some books are so rich and decadent they demand to be savored—and boy, did I savor this book! I took longer to read this book than any book I’ve ever read… a year and a half! Yes, it’s a thick book, approaching 500 pages, but the story is so compelling and the pacing so swift, you could easily devour it in a few days. But I wanted to climb inside this story and stay for a while, so I took my time… so much time that the worn cover bears the teeth marks of my beloved kitty Maeby, who crossed the Rainbow Bridge almost ten months ago. This book came with me on seven trips to Colorado, saw me through the loss of my mom, and was a constant and comforting reminder that despite the sometimes ugliness of life, beauty always prevails.

And that’s what this book was at its heart, not just an Ugly Duckling tale, but a modern Austen-esque exploration of life and the dichotomy between ugliness and beauty. More importantly, it candidly examines what it means to be ugly and beautiful, illustrating just how deceptive either one can be, hiding the truth of what’s inside. Beautiful people can have ugly souls, people who aren’t conventionally beautiful can possess dazzling hearts, lives that look perfect on the outside often aren’t, and loveliness can be found in even the bleakest of situations.

I loved this book and for months have feared reaching its inevitable end, but what an ending it was, full of unexpected twists and stirring moments that will stay with you long after you finish. And the best part is, this fabulous world continues in its sequel, Chaining Daisy. I can’t wait to fall into it and stay for many, many months!