“Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book” by Jennifer Donnelly

Title: Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book
Author: Jennifer Donnelly
Publisher: Disney Press
Year: 2017
Genre(s): young adult, fantasy, adventure
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 2

Why I read it: Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney movie

Summary: After the Beast gives Belle the library as a gift, she discovers that even the books can be magic. One allows her to escape the castle and travel to places, see things and enjoy adventures she had only ever read about. But as she escapes more and more into the book, will she find danger in living in a fantasy or will it prove to be key to her liberation?

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“The Busybody Book Club” by Freya Sampson

Title: The Busybody Book Club
Author: Freya Sampson
Publisher: Berkley  
Year: 2025    
Genre(s): mystery
Part of a Series: No

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club pick

Summary: Nova has recently gotten at the community center in the small English town where her fiancé grew up. While dealing with a boss who doesn’t really like her and an overbearing future mother-in-law who is essentially planning her wedding, Nova also runs the small book club at the community center. When money turns up missing and a book club member goes missing, the book club members take it on themselves to solve the mystery – and Nova soon learns if you can’t beat them, join them.

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