Series: St Rosetta’s Academy #1
Release Date: February 18th 2020
Publisher: Hodder Books
Pages: 384
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 3.75/5 stars

Synopsis

The first novel in a series set at an elite international boarding school, that’s a contemporary spin on Beauty and the Beast.

Will the princess save the beast?

For Princess Jaya Rao, nothing is more important than family. When the loathsome Emerson clan steps up their centuries-old feud to target Jaya’s little sister, nothing will keep Jaya from exacting her revenge. Then Jaya finds out she’ll be attending the same elite boarding school as Grey Emerson, and it feels like the opportunity of a lifetime. She knows what she must do: Make Grey fall in love with her and break his heart. But much to Jaya’s annoyance, Grey’s brooding demeanor and lupine blue eyes have drawn her in. There’s simply no way she and her sworn enemy could find their fairy-tale ending…right?

His Lordship Grey Emerson is a misanthrope. Thanks to an ancient curse by a Rao matriarch, Grey knows he’s doomed once he turns eighteen. Sequestered away in the mountains at St. Rosetta’s International Academy, he’s lived an isolated existence—until Jaya Rao bursts into his life, but he can’t shake the feeling that she’s hiding something. Something that might just have to do with the rose-shaped ruby pendant around her neck…

As the stars conspire to keep them apart, Jaya and Grey grapple with questions of love, loyalty, and whether it’s possible to write your own happy ending.

Review

This is my first time reading a book by Sandhya Menon. I know lots of people love her When Dimple Met Rishi series but I haven’t yet had the chance to pick it up. When I heard she was releasing a Beauty and the Beast retelling I jumped at the chance to read it. I love retellings and Beauty and the Beast is one of my favourites, add that to the boarding school setting and I was dying to dive into this one.

The story follows Princess Jaya as she and her sister attend St Rosetta’s boarding school for the first time. They are fleeing a scandal at home and Jaya has plans to take revenge on the one she suspects is to blame – Grey Emerson. Jaya and Grey’s family have a long standing feud and Jaya plans to get revenge by making him fall in love with her, and then breaking his heart. But when Jaya meets Grey he isn’t all that he seems and is he truly behind the leaked pictures of her sister?

Of Curses and Kisses is a fun and modern take on the Beauty and the Beast tale. The characters were interesting takes on the ones we know and love. Jaya is kind and caring with an obsession with YA romance novels and Grey is dark and brooding. I really liked Jaya’s sister and I’m hoping we get to see more of her in books to come. I loved interesting ways that Menon brought in the classic tale, with Jaya’s necklace becoming the rose. It was a fun and fast paced read and one I’m sure fans of contemporary ya will adore.

The chapters alternate between Jaya and Grey which gives the reader a chance to get to know both characters really well. I loved the boarding school setting and plot was engaging and well written. Of Curses and Kisses is a really enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.