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Divide
From senior class president to dejected social outcast, with just the flick of a match.
After accusations of torching her ex-boyfriend’s home are followed by the mysterious poisoning of her ex-best friend, seventeen-year-old Holland Briggs assumes her life is over. And it is. But not in the way she thinks.
As Holland learns the truth about her cursed fate—that she is descended from the Beast most have only ever heard of in fairytales—she unites with an unlikely ally, good-looking newcomer Mick Stevenson.
Mick knows more about Holland’s twisted history than she does, and enlightening as it is to learn about, his suggestion for a cure is unsettling at best. Holland must fall in love with Mick in order to break the spell, and save their future generations from repeating her cursed fate. Having sworn off love after the betrayals of her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, this may be difficult to accomplish.
Complicating things further for Holland and Mick, time runs out, and Holland’s change begins way before schedule. With Holland quickly morphing into a dangerous mythical creature, Mick struggles to save her.
Should they fail, Holland will be lost to the beast inside her forever.
After accusations of torching her ex-boyfriend’s home are followed by the mysterious poisoning of her ex-best friend, seventeen-year-old Holland Briggs assumes her life is over. And it is. But not in the way she thinks.
As Holland learns the truth about her cursed fate—that she is descended from the Beast most have only ever heard of in fairytales—she unites with an unlikely ally, good-looking newcomer Mick Stevenson.
Mick knows more about Holland’s twisted history than she does, and enlightening as it is to learn about, his suggestion for a cure is unsettling at best. Holland must fall in love with Mick in order to break the spell, and save their future generations from repeating her cursed fate. Having sworn off love after the betrayals of her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, this may be difficult to accomplish.
Complicating things further for Holland and Mick, time runs out, and Holland’s change begins way before schedule. With Holland quickly morphing into a dangerous mythical creature, Mick struggles to save her.
Should they fail, Holland will be lost to the beast inside her forever.
270 pages, Paperback
First published April 15, 2014
82 people are currently reading
1394 people want to read
About the author
Jessa Russo
10 books189 followersJessa Russo believes in fairytales, ghosts, and Jake Ryan—she’s pretty sure her heart has never fully belonged to anyone else (apologies, Mr. Russo). When not writing, she can be found watching far too much Netflix, drinking craft beer with her friends, or enjoying a nice Sunday brunch (even if it’s not Sunday).
Her young adult projects span the genre field, but will always have a lot of kissing and (probably) a little heartbreak. Isn't that what falling in love as a teen is all about?
You can find Jessa on most social platforms as @author_jessa.
Her young adult projects span the genre field, but will always have a lot of kissing and (probably) a little heartbreak. Isn't that what falling in love as a teen is all about?
You can find Jessa on most social platforms as @author_jessa.
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March 13, 2014I wrote this, so, you know, I dig it.
March 13, 2014
I LOVED this book! Not only is it a gender-flipped Beauty and The Beast redux, we've got a little Jekyll and Hyde flavour as well. Oh, and some swoony sexiness as well!
Russo's written a compelling, fresh story, and I love her writing so much. She outdoes herself each time, and I can't wait for what's next from this talented author. There's a little something in here for everyone.
But Mick is mine. So.
Russo's written a compelling, fresh story, and I love her writing so much. She outdoes herself each time, and I can't wait for what's next from this talented author. There's a little something in here for everyone.
But Mick is mine. So.
May 17, 2014
3.5
This book synopsis immediately made me think of this image :D
BTW - This image in no way reflects the content of Divide!
This book synopsis immediately made me think of this image :D
BTW - This image in no way reflects the content of Divide!
July 3, 2014
A lovely take on an old classic, Divide was a fantastic retelling of Beauty and the Beast. From the super sweet romance, to the interesting reimagining of the fairy tale, this book was wonderful.
Holland was a lovely heroine. She had been through a lot in recent times, but she proved to be resilient and, when things got complicated, she showed herself to be a strong character. One thing I really liked about her character was how her relationship with her brother was shown. It was obvious how much they cared for and how protective they were of each other. I thought she was a lovely character.
Mick was very sweet. He was devoted to Holland and determined to break the curse. Basically, he was a total sweetheart, absolutely perfect, and I totally adored him.
The romance was great. Holland and Mick were lovely together. And, though this was a clean YA read, they definitely had some chemistry between them. I thought they were a perfect couple.
The plot was fast paced and I was hooked the entire way through. There were a couple of twists that kept things interesting. I really enjoyed the story and the ending was lovely.
Divide was a wonderful YA romance. I really liked this book. It was a lovely take on Beauty and the Best and I enjoyed every bit of it. YA lovers, this is a book you won't want to miss.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Holland was a lovely heroine. She had been through a lot in recent times, but she proved to be resilient and, when things got complicated, she showed herself to be a strong character. One thing I really liked about her character was how her relationship with her brother was shown. It was obvious how much they cared for and how protective they were of each other. I thought she was a lovely character.
Mick was very sweet. He was devoted to Holland and determined to break the curse. Basically, he was a total sweetheart, absolutely perfect, and I totally adored him.
The romance was great. Holland and Mick were lovely together. And, though this was a clean YA read, they definitely had some chemistry between them. I thought they were a perfect couple.
The plot was fast paced and I was hooked the entire way through. There were a couple of twists that kept things interesting. I really enjoyed the story and the ending was lovely.
Divide was a wonderful YA romance. I really liked this book. It was a lovely take on Beauty and the Best and I enjoyed every bit of it. YA lovers, this is a book you won't want to miss.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
dnf
June 20, 2025DNF @ 39%
“Today’s my birthday.”
What? I snapped my head to the side to look at her, faced again with the back of my hoodie. How could that be?
“That’s not right. How could it . . . .?” She wasn’t supposed to be eighteen until the end of March.
I THOUGHT SHE WAS 18 THE WHOLE TIME? He’s in his 20s and he’s been RELENTLESSLY pursuing her even though she’s in high school, which is weird period, but I thought the author was trying to excuse it with “oh, it’s ok, because she’s 18”. But, no… she’s been 17 while they’ve done all that they’ve done, AND HE KNEW! At first I thought his “can you go out on a school night” question was cringe, but it feels so much more sinister now.
“Today’s my birthday.”
What? I snapped my head to the side to look at her, faced again with the back of my hoodie. How could that be?
“That’s not right. How could it . . . .?” She wasn’t supposed to be eighteen until the end of March.
I THOUGHT SHE WAS 18 THE WHOLE TIME? He’s in his 20s and he’s been RELENTLESSLY pursuing her even though she’s in high school, which is weird period, but I thought the author was trying to excuse it with “oh, it’s ok, because she’s 18”. But, no… she’s been 17 while they’ve done all that they’ve done, AND HE KNEW! At first I thought his “can you go out on a school night” question was cringe, but it feels so much more sinister now.
July 11, 2014
Wow, I didn't even realize that this story was a re-telling of Beauty and The Beast until I was over half way into the story. Made me feel a little slow. But in my defense, Jessa Russo did a fantastic job twisting and turning the beloved fairytale and completely flipping it on its' head. I loved her topsy turvy take on the story. Like any good fairy tale it all starts with a curse. Every 4 generations the cursed family's descendants have a daughter that will turn into a beast, and every 4th generation there is a son that can try and break the curse. Pretty cool, right?
It was such a fun ride. There are plenty of twists and turns. The insight into the characters was phenomenal. I loved the different points of views and the looks into each of the characters heads and thoughts. Holland is facing some serious inner turmoil and the author captured it perfectly. I could feel her tension jumping off the page. Holland has had a rough year at school. Her boyfriend dumped her and started dating her best friend, and that is really only the start of her problems. I enjoyed watching Holland's progression the most in the story. She is spunky and strong, but you can tell that she is scared and lonely too. She is such an interesting dichotomy for a character, and it fit the story theme perfectly.
And then there is Mick. Mick is desperate to save Holland. Oh, how I adored Mick. His loyalty and devotion to Holland, no matter how stubborn or foul tempered she was being was so nice. I was rooting for him as soon as I met him.
For the most part the book flowed along at a great brisk pace. There were a few instances where a chapter or two lagged, but my attention never waned for too long. There was plenty going on in the story at any given point to reel me back in. There is romance, magic, and lots of fun background information on the fairytale and curse. There are also bumps and twists along the way. Does Mick get to break the curse? Just who the heck is Donovan and where did he come from? What kind of beast does Holland turn into? (if any) My lips are sealed. Read Divide to find out!
It was such a fun ride. There are plenty of twists and turns. The insight into the characters was phenomenal. I loved the different points of views and the looks into each of the characters heads and thoughts. Holland is facing some serious inner turmoil and the author captured it perfectly. I could feel her tension jumping off the page. Holland has had a rough year at school. Her boyfriend dumped her and started dating her best friend, and that is really only the start of her problems. I enjoyed watching Holland's progression the most in the story. She is spunky and strong, but you can tell that she is scared and lonely too. She is such an interesting dichotomy for a character, and it fit the story theme perfectly.
And then there is Mick. Mick is desperate to save Holland. Oh, how I adored Mick. His loyalty and devotion to Holland, no matter how stubborn or foul tempered she was being was so nice. I was rooting for him as soon as I met him.
For the most part the book flowed along at a great brisk pace. There were a few instances where a chapter or two lagged, but my attention never waned for too long. There was plenty going on in the story at any given point to reel me back in. There is romance, magic, and lots of fun background information on the fairytale and curse. There are also bumps and twists along the way. Does Mick get to break the curse? Just who the heck is Donovan and where did he come from? What kind of beast does Holland turn into? (if any) My lips are sealed. Read Divide to find out!
April 20, 2014
I LOVE Beauty and the Beast. It is one of my favorite fairy tales. I love it so much that I refuse to watch it again for fear it might be ruined if watched through adult eyes. But this book is yet another reason not to watch it again. Because Beauty and the Beast probably won't hold up when compared to Divide.
First, I love the characters. I love that Holland is smart enough to know that there is something wrong with her. She can sense something brewing under the surface, and while outsiders might think she has gone all emo, we know the truth. Holland Briggs never stops being Holland Briggs. She only gets better. She's going through a rough time with the curse and the beasty hanging over her head, but she is still smart, strong, stubborn, and witty. I had a few laugh out loud moments with her. Mick is also awesome. He's smitten from the start, which makes their fairy tale all the more believable. He isn't just some guy destined to help a gal out of a curse--he is THE guy for Holland, and you really see that as their relationship builds. He doesn't just worship her like some stereotypical Prince Charming swooping in to save the day, but matches her completely and goes toe to toe with her stubborn ass time and time again. I'd love to go on and on about everyone--Cam, Rosemarie (LOVE her!), and even Donovan, but I'm going to quell the obsessive fangirl side of me.
Jessa Russo is an amazing writer, which I already knew after reading EVER, so I am not all that surprised to say she has hit another home run with DIVIDE. It is fast paced with compelling characters and an ingenious twist on a fairy tale close to my heart. My only complaint is that there isn't room left for a sequel. You might normally think that is a good thing, but I would love to spend more time with these characters. I'm comforted in knowing that Jessa has a long and successful career ahead of her with many more books to ease this book addict's needs. =D
First, I love the characters. I love that Holland is smart enough to know that there is something wrong with her. She can sense something brewing under the surface, and while outsiders might think she has gone all emo, we know the truth. Holland Briggs never stops being Holland Briggs. She only gets better. She's going through a rough time with the curse and the beasty hanging over her head, but she is still smart, strong, stubborn, and witty. I had a few laugh out loud moments with her. Mick is also awesome. He's smitten from the start, which makes their fairy tale all the more believable. He isn't just some guy destined to help a gal out of a curse--he is THE guy for Holland, and you really see that as their relationship builds. He doesn't just worship her like some stereotypical Prince Charming swooping in to save the day, but matches her completely and goes toe to toe with her stubborn ass time and time again. I'd love to go on and on about everyone--Cam, Rosemarie (LOVE her!), and even Donovan, but I'm going to quell the obsessive fangirl side of me.
Jessa Russo is an amazing writer, which I already knew after reading EVER, so I am not all that surprised to say she has hit another home run with DIVIDE. It is fast paced with compelling characters and an ingenious twist on a fairy tale close to my heart. My only complaint is that there isn't room left for a sequel. You might normally think that is a good thing, but I would love to spend more time with these characters. I'm comforted in knowing that Jessa has a long and successful career ahead of her with many more books to ease this book addict's needs. =D
June 20, 2014
So.... How to start this without fangirling?
...
ndiendojquxbodn
Okay, let's do this.
I'm not so much of a fan of retellings - they must be very exceptional or the oh-my-gawd type to blow me away and yet... Divide did it.
Was I expecting that much? Not really. I've read books with awesome synopsis but which have still deceived me.
Snif snif
But that's not the case with love here.
The main character, Holland, is a very strong girl who tends to have an anti-relationship behaviour because of her previous one, and she was sticking to it... until she meets Mick.
Of course, there is a lot of other things going on (did I mention she was cursed?) and everything is not so simple.
If it feels good to be around him, then let yourself enjoy that. It's been too long. It's been too dark for you,Holland. It's okay to see some light at the end of the tunnel, some reason to feel something.
The plot is absolutely genius. Especially around the middle of the book when I got from oh-my-freaking-goodness, dont-tell-me, awwwwwww to wtf-universe???
The plot is intriguing and charming, the characters are awesome... Well, this was a good read!
And...
Well, this book was just cool =D
...
ndiendojquxbodn
Okay, let's do this.
I'm not so much of a fan of retellings - they must be very exceptional or the oh-my-gawd type to blow me away and yet... Divide did it.
Was I expecting that much? Not really. I've read books with awesome synopsis but which have still deceived me.
Snif snif
But that's not the case with love here.
The main character, Holland, is a very strong girl who tends to have an anti-relationship behaviour because of her previous one, and she was sticking to it... until she meets Mick.
Of course, there is a lot of other things going on (did I mention she was cursed?) and everything is not so simple.
If it feels good to be around him, then let yourself enjoy that. It's been too long. It's been too dark for you,Holland. It's okay to see some light at the end of the tunnel, some reason to feel something.
The plot is absolutely genius. Especially around the middle of the book when I got from oh-my-freaking-goodness, dont-tell-me, awwwwwww to wtf-universe???
The plot is intriguing and charming, the characters are awesome... Well, this was a good read!
And...
Well, this book was just cool =D
August 11, 2016
Beauty and the Beast is one of my all-time favorite fairy tales, so, of course, I couldn't wait to read Russo's version of the story. DIVIDE delivers an amazing combination of smart fantasy, dreamy romance and laugh-out-loud humor. Yes, I said humor. There were times when I was totally engrossed in the chemistry and connection between Holland and Mick, and at other times, I was laughing at some clever thought or snarky banter between characters. Russo writes a great YA voice, so real and relate-able. Each character uniquely showcases a rainbow of emotions: desperation, love, determination and spunk. The plot moves quickly and Russo keeps readers on their toes! I'm pretty sure I held my breath through the whole second half of the book! And my favorite twist? Both "beauty" and "the beast" live in one, troubled character, desperate to find herself.
Bottom line? I loved this book. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down! So get ready, clear your schedule, because once you step into Holland Briggs' world you'll never want to leave.
**Content Note: Appropriate for 16+ years. There’s nothing too explicit, but it does contain some swearing and steamy make-out sessions.**
Bottom line? I loved this book. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down! So get ready, clear your schedule, because once you step into Holland Briggs' world you'll never want to leave.
**Content Note: Appropriate for 16+ years. There’s nothing too explicit, but it does contain some swearing and steamy make-out sessions.**
August 27, 2014
Jessa didn’t disappoint! She really knows how to get a story under way. I immediately feel in love with Holland and Mick and cared about their happily ever after. There’s the triple D factor: desire, danger, and decision. Jessa nails them all with Divide.
Holland is a girl fighting for her identity, seeking truths about what’s happening to her. She wants Mick, but she’s conflicted because of the beast living inside her. At the same time, she’s recovering from a major heartbreak and betrayal (who isn’t in high school, right?). She’s trying to be good, but she’s lost control of herself. Other issues pop up that create plot twists I never saw coming. The whole time, you’re LIVING each moment as the characters experience it because of Jessa’s flawless writing. It’s a character-driven story and an action-driven plot, and it’s darn hard to pull off both but this book does! I loved the tension woven throughout this YA fantasy/fairytale redux. Every scene is manipulated for maximum impact.
The only thing I didn’t like was the ending. It came too soon, and I wanted to see MORE of Holland and Mick.
Holland is a girl fighting for her identity, seeking truths about what’s happening to her. She wants Mick, but she’s conflicted because of the beast living inside her. At the same time, she’s recovering from a major heartbreak and betrayal (who isn’t in high school, right?). She’s trying to be good, but she’s lost control of herself. Other issues pop up that create plot twists I never saw coming. The whole time, you’re LIVING each moment as the characters experience it because of Jessa’s flawless writing. It’s a character-driven story and an action-driven plot, and it’s darn hard to pull off both but this book does! I loved the tension woven throughout this YA fantasy/fairytale redux. Every scene is manipulated for maximum impact.
The only thing I didn’t like was the ending. It came too soon, and I wanted to see MORE of Holland and Mick.
March 14, 2016
This book kept me on my toes! The concept was very intriguing and refreshingly different. I loved the emphasis the book puts on sibling relationships, both with Holland and Cam and Mick and Ro.
The romance between Holland (I LOVE THIS NAME) and Mick was, in a word, HOT. Those kissing scenes were extremely fun to read!
I really found the concept behind the book to be so interesting. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but it revolves around a centuries old curse. I am pretty sure the phrase "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" was based on this story!
This is a great book! But be prepared, once you get into it, you will not be able to stop!
The romance between Holland (I LOVE THIS NAME) and Mick was, in a word, HOT. Those kissing scenes were extremely fun to read!
I really found the concept behind the book to be so interesting. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but it revolves around a centuries old curse. I am pretty sure the phrase "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" was based on this story!
This is a great book! But be prepared, once you get into it, you will not be able to stop!
May 15, 2014
This is a fascinating and original re-imagining of the Beauty and the Beast story with the Beast this time being a teenage girl. I loved the way fairy tale mythology was woven through a contemporary story, with curses and witches and people being turned to stone alongside a modern, teenage love story... with a twist.
Definitely recommended.
Definitely recommended.
March 25, 2014
LOVED THIS BOOK!! As an adult who enjoys YA Books- this story was written incredibly well! I loved the plot twists and the suspense! The Beauty and the Beast theme was done very well -important to the story, but not overpowered by the original fairy tale. Very well written!!
February 8, 2024
Questionable in places. When he says he is trained to stay with her despite her violent outbursts, even when she throws a bust at him and the fact that he essentially is her stalker. Very weird.
A few plottwisty reveals in the finale. I liked it.
Would have loved to have a "three months later" or something like that.
A few plottwisty reveals in the finale. I liked it.
Would have loved to have a "three months later" or something like that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2025
It was a beautifully modern take on Beauty and The Beast! The way they portrayed the reincarnations was wonderful and well done!
March 16, 2024
my only criticism is the portrayal of british people
May 22, 2014
**I received this book as an ARC from the author to read and review. This is a 100% honest review**
"I was a monster. A beast."
This is, quite frankly, an epic retelling of our beloved Beauty and the Beast. I don't know about you but I can't get enough of reworked fairy tales at the moment but there are so many awful adaptations that it makes me a little weary when it comes to reading them. Beauty and the Beast is one of my all time favourites and Jessa has produced a truly enchanting book that captures the heart of the classic story while leaving her own literary fingerprint on it. It keeps you on your toes and has some of the most enjoyable dialogue I've read in a long time.
There's not much I can say about the plot of the book after the half way mark as I don't want to give anything away but this is what I can tell you. Holland is famous in her home town, although maybe infamous is a better word. It's said that when her boyfriend and best friend hooked up behind her back Holland set fire to her ex's beach house. It's said she tried to kill them. Rumours suffocated Holland and she can't imagine a way out. Even with her protective 'little' brother constantly by her side she feels utterly and hopelessly alone. That is until Ro starts at her school, forcing Holland out of her solitude and into the arms of her big brother Mick. But Mick isn't what he appears to be. Mick has a secret of his own. A secret that will change Holland's life forever.
"We're actually descended from a Disney movie?"
This book is told from the prospectives of both Holland and Mick and OH MY GOD is it good! There's a very thin line between keeping you guessing and having no plot at all and I've lost count of how many times I've read a book that's fallen into the latter category. However, Jessa is a genius when it comes to dropping hints and setting up questions in the subtext. Questions and hints that all start to come together towards the last third of the book and what I liked was that there wasn't any questions unanswered.
Okay so it had some moments where we hit a bit of a YA cliché snag but these were so small that if I wasn't being pinnikity I wouldn't even bring it up. For instance Holland has this unfaltering trust when it comes to Mick. Which in all fairness did work a lot of the time, but there was a scene or two then it was a little much. I would have maybe liked to have seen her question him and the whole notion of their joint destiny a little more. To really make him work for her trust, rather than her just giving it to him.
Also I'm a lover of the Epilogue and I think that this needed one. Just a couple of pages to satisfy my need for a happily ever after. But that's just personal preference!
Saying that though was a really interesting and captivating take on an adored classic. It's cleaver and witty and the relationship between Holland and her little brother Cam had my smiling from ear to ear. Especially the bit where he flipped her! And to know what the hell I'm talking about you'll just have to read the book and find out because this is definitely worth the read. I'd recommend it to any YA reader.
Don't be put off by the fairy tale retelling genre lovelies. It's a magical and welcome corner of YA fiction and this little book is a wonderful addition to the ever growing bookshelf.
"I wasn't ready to concede to failing the one thing I was destined to do."
"I was a monster. A beast."
This is, quite frankly, an epic retelling of our beloved Beauty and the Beast. I don't know about you but I can't get enough of reworked fairy tales at the moment but there are so many awful adaptations that it makes me a little weary when it comes to reading them. Beauty and the Beast is one of my all time favourites and Jessa has produced a truly enchanting book that captures the heart of the classic story while leaving her own literary fingerprint on it. It keeps you on your toes and has some of the most enjoyable dialogue I've read in a long time.
There's not much I can say about the plot of the book after the half way mark as I don't want to give anything away but this is what I can tell you. Holland is famous in her home town, although maybe infamous is a better word. It's said that when her boyfriend and best friend hooked up behind her back Holland set fire to her ex's beach house. It's said she tried to kill them. Rumours suffocated Holland and she can't imagine a way out. Even with her protective 'little' brother constantly by her side she feels utterly and hopelessly alone. That is until Ro starts at her school, forcing Holland out of her solitude and into the arms of her big brother Mick. But Mick isn't what he appears to be. Mick has a secret of his own. A secret that will change Holland's life forever.
"We're actually descended from a Disney movie?"
This book is told from the prospectives of both Holland and Mick and OH MY GOD is it good! There's a very thin line between keeping you guessing and having no plot at all and I've lost count of how many times I've read a book that's fallen into the latter category. However, Jessa is a genius when it comes to dropping hints and setting up questions in the subtext. Questions and hints that all start to come together towards the last third of the book and what I liked was that there wasn't any questions unanswered.
Okay so it had some moments where we hit a bit of a YA cliché snag but these were so small that if I wasn't being pinnikity I wouldn't even bring it up. For instance Holland has this unfaltering trust when it comes to Mick. Which in all fairness did work a lot of the time, but there was a scene or two then it was a little much. I would have maybe liked to have seen her question him and the whole notion of their joint destiny a little more. To really make him work for her trust, rather than her just giving it to him.
Also I'm a lover of the Epilogue and I think that this needed one. Just a couple of pages to satisfy my need for a happily ever after. But that's just personal preference!
Saying that though was a really interesting and captivating take on an adored classic. It's cleaver and witty and the relationship between Holland and her little brother Cam had my smiling from ear to ear. Especially the bit where he flipped her! And to know what the hell I'm talking about you'll just have to read the book and find out because this is definitely worth the read. I'd recommend it to any YA reader.
Don't be put off by the fairy tale retelling genre lovelies. It's a magical and welcome corner of YA fiction and this little book is a wonderful addition to the ever growing bookshelf.
"I wasn't ready to concede to failing the one thing I was destined to do."
March 23, 2024
“𝗜 𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝘀. 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿. 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗜’𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗯𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀.”
3/5 ⭐
Friends/enemies-ish to lovers. Forced proximity. Some fantasy. Dual pov.
I was unsure what to expect when I started reading this book, I was drawn to it mainly because of the Beauty and the Beast retelling but this was definitely different than what I had in mind.
For starters, this is a reverse retelling where the girl is both the beauty and the best. Holland has been a normal teenager for most of her life, that is, until her best friend since childhood decides that she wants to take Holland’s boyfriend and her life turns upside down. For that very summer, Holland had been facing some backlash when she went back to school due to a mysterious fire that had almost killed her ex boyfriend and best friend. Everyone had thought that she was in charge of the attempted murder and rumors had been flying around school for that same reason.
Holland and her brother are extremely close which saved her from some of the harassment that she had to go through but not enough to save her from everything. Ever since then, Holland starts experiencing some gray spots and unusual anger within her, where sometimes she will not be able to control it and black out. This obviously raises some questions within the girl, not knowing what exactly she has been through which essentially is where we start our quest.
Mick is handsome and mysterious and somehow feels a connection to Holland when they meet at a random party. As time goes on, they obviously start getting closer.
With all the plot getting out of the way, I believe that this was a low-fantasy, mixed with romance and a plot twist that I was not expecting at all. I enjoyed the book for the most part though sometimes I just wanted to smack Holland in the head so she would wake up and allow herself to understand the whole story.
Definitely worth reading!
3/5 ⭐
Friends/enemies-ish to lovers. Forced proximity. Some fantasy. Dual pov.
I was unsure what to expect when I started reading this book, I was drawn to it mainly because of the Beauty and the Beast retelling but this was definitely different than what I had in mind.
For starters, this is a reverse retelling where the girl is both the beauty and the best. Holland has been a normal teenager for most of her life, that is, until her best friend since childhood decides that she wants to take Holland’s boyfriend and her life turns upside down. For that very summer, Holland had been facing some backlash when she went back to school due to a mysterious fire that had almost killed her ex boyfriend and best friend. Everyone had thought that she was in charge of the attempted murder and rumors had been flying around school for that same reason.
Holland and her brother are extremely close which saved her from some of the harassment that she had to go through but not enough to save her from everything. Ever since then, Holland starts experiencing some gray spots and unusual anger within her, where sometimes she will not be able to control it and black out. This obviously raises some questions within the girl, not knowing what exactly she has been through which essentially is where we start our quest.
Mick is handsome and mysterious and somehow feels a connection to Holland when they meet at a random party. As time goes on, they obviously start getting closer.
With all the plot getting out of the way, I believe that this was a low-fantasy, mixed with romance and a plot twist that I was not expecting at all. I enjoyed the book for the most part though sometimes I just wanted to smack Holland in the head so she would wake up and allow herself to understand the whole story.
Definitely worth reading!
July 24, 2014
Not having read the book description before I started reading Divide, it took a while for me to realize this was a retelling of Beauty and the Beast.
There is a beautiful girl. There is a beast. But they are one and the same. They are Holland.
Holland’s world came crashing down when she was betrayed by her boyfriend and her best friend. They fell in love and her dreams went up in a puff of smoke. No three musketeers heading off to university together. No romantic adventures with her boyfriend. No late night girl talk with her best friend.
Just a void where her heart used to be. An empty shell of the girl she used to be.
And there’s the other thing. The thing inside her, waiting to come forth. To claim it’s place. The only way to save what is her, Holland has to fall in love. Love will break the curse.
I tried to put myself in Holland’s place. How could I fall in love when my heart was shattered, my self-esteem was at rock bottom, and I was mad at the world. How could I trust someone after such a deep betrayal?
Mick and Holland are good together. He makes her laugh in spite of herself, and I began to see a glimpse of the girl before the heartache.
I kept thinking, this is a fairy tale retelling. The author is free to tell the ending any way she wants. So maybe there will be no happy ending. Maybe Holland’s heart is broken forever. Then what will she become?
The tension built as Holland began to change earlier than expected. Time was running out. The beast was coming.
The writing was easy to follow allowing me to read this book straight through without a break. The dialogue was well done too, no confusion as to who was speaking. And Holland’s thoughts helped clarify things. Helped me to connect with her and care about her.
The author created a great love interest for Holland. Mick was funny, tender, patient, and determined. I held out hope for these two.
You don’t have to be a fan of fairy tales to enjoy this book. It’s only loosely based on the original and the author created her own version. One I liked very much.
I received this book for my honest review.
There is a beautiful girl. There is a beast. But they are one and the same. They are Holland.
Holland’s world came crashing down when she was betrayed by her boyfriend and her best friend. They fell in love and her dreams went up in a puff of smoke. No three musketeers heading off to university together. No romantic adventures with her boyfriend. No late night girl talk with her best friend.
Just a void where her heart used to be. An empty shell of the girl she used to be.
And there’s the other thing. The thing inside her, waiting to come forth. To claim it’s place. The only way to save what is her, Holland has to fall in love. Love will break the curse.
I tried to put myself in Holland’s place. How could I fall in love when my heart was shattered, my self-esteem was at rock bottom, and I was mad at the world. How could I trust someone after such a deep betrayal?
Mick and Holland are good together. He makes her laugh in spite of herself, and I began to see a glimpse of the girl before the heartache.
I kept thinking, this is a fairy tale retelling. The author is free to tell the ending any way she wants. So maybe there will be no happy ending. Maybe Holland’s heart is broken forever. Then what will she become?
The tension built as Holland began to change earlier than expected. Time was running out. The beast was coming.
The writing was easy to follow allowing me to read this book straight through without a break. The dialogue was well done too, no confusion as to who was speaking. And Holland’s thoughts helped clarify things. Helped me to connect with her and care about her.
The author created a great love interest for Holland. Mick was funny, tender, patient, and determined. I held out hope for these two.
You don’t have to be a fan of fairy tales to enjoy this book. It’s only loosely based on the original and the author created her own version. One I liked very much.
I received this book for my honest review.
May 9, 2015
As a BatB retelling, this book earnt itself an automatic spot on my to read list. I was intrigued by it because here the role of the beast is reversed. It took me a little while to get around to reading it, but when I did I found this book pretty hard going.
The main issue in the first part of the story is that we come into Holland's life after certain traumatic events have taken place, so the narrative is constantly referring to a version of Holland that the reader is only ever told about and never shown. This made it hard for me to accept the changes in her personality and I couldn't connect with her character very well.
At this point in the story I wasn't feeling particularly inspired by either Holland or Mick. Furthermore, I didn't really feel the relationship between her brother and his sister. It was very rushed and I didn't feel that was a connection between them before they were jumping each other's bones.
Once the story really gets going, the lore behind the curse placed on both families gets explored. The backstory behind it all was interesting, but there were some plot holes that made it seem like the author had started out with one idea then changed her mind part way through writing the story and switched to something else.
Even though the story had got more interesting by this point, I still had a hard time connecting with it. All of the characters felt more like caricatures rather than people. I didn't dislike the story, but it failed to really catch my attention either.
As a final point, at times the author would use a word out of context and it would jar me from the story. There are a few cases of this but the only one I can remember off the top of my head went something along the lines of:
It was a phenomenon that she'd survived this long.
A phenomenon is something that can be observed and studied. I don't think Holland surviving any length of time can really be described as a phenomenon.
The main issue in the first part of the story is that we come into Holland's life after certain traumatic events have taken place, so the narrative is constantly referring to a version of Holland that the reader is only ever told about and never shown. This made it hard for me to accept the changes in her personality and I couldn't connect with her character very well.
At this point in the story I wasn't feeling particularly inspired by either Holland or Mick. Furthermore, I didn't really feel the relationship between her brother and his sister. It was very rushed and I didn't feel that was a connection between them before they were jumping each other's bones.
Once the story really gets going, the lore behind the curse placed on both families gets explored. The backstory behind it all was interesting, but there were some plot holes that made it seem like the author had started out with one idea then changed her mind part way through writing the story and switched to something else.
Even though the story had got more interesting by this point, I still had a hard time connecting with it. All of the characters felt more like caricatures rather than people. I didn't dislike the story, but it failed to really catch my attention either.
As a final point, at times the author would use a word out of context and it would jar me from the story. There are a few cases of this but the only one I can remember off the top of my head went something along the lines of:
It was a phenomenon that she'd survived this long.
A phenomenon is something that can be observed and studied. I don't think Holland surviving any length of time can really be described as a phenomenon.
May 8, 2014
What can I say? I loved it! Divide is Jessa's best work yet.
Things haven't been going so well for Holland Briggs ever since her boyfriend dumped her for her best friend. And, that's not even the worst part. Her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend almost died in a fire and Holland is the main suspect. The police found no evidence against her, but everyone still suspects her.
Only four months after the nasty break-up, Holland isn't ready to date again. However, she can't resist getting closer to Mick, the older brother of a new friends. And Mick seems quite insistent on getting close to her. Holland might have been able to get over her ex and find new love if it hadn't been for an important distraction--she starts turning gray. It's starts with her blue eyes gradually turning gray, and then her skin turns gray and cracks like stone.
In true Beauty and the Beast fashion, Holland learns that a witch put a spell on her ancestor generations ago, and if she doesn't learn to love again, she's destined to turn to stone permanently.
This story was a joy to read. It moved fast and kept me engaged. I probably could have read it in one or two sittings if I had had the time. I loved the opposite sex twist on Beauty and the Beast. Holland is tough and vulnerable at once, a likable but realistic heroine. Although the "true love to break the spell" sounds pretty cliche, the story doesn't feel cliche. The twist on the fairy tale is unique and their love story is sweet but still realistic. This is the kind of book I would want to read again, and that's saying a lot for someone as busy as me. Well done, Jessa!
Things haven't been going so well for Holland Briggs ever since her boyfriend dumped her for her best friend. And, that's not even the worst part. Her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend almost died in a fire and Holland is the main suspect. The police found no evidence against her, but everyone still suspects her.
Only four months after the nasty break-up, Holland isn't ready to date again. However, she can't resist getting closer to Mick, the older brother of a new friends. And Mick seems quite insistent on getting close to her. Holland might have been able to get over her ex and find new love if it hadn't been for an important distraction--she starts turning gray. It's starts with her blue eyes gradually turning gray, and then her skin turns gray and cracks like stone.
In true Beauty and the Beast fashion, Holland learns that a witch put a spell on her ancestor generations ago, and if she doesn't learn to love again, she's destined to turn to stone permanently.
This story was a joy to read. It moved fast and kept me engaged. I probably could have read it in one or two sittings if I had had the time. I loved the opposite sex twist on Beauty and the Beast. Holland is tough and vulnerable at once, a likable but realistic heroine. Although the "true love to break the spell" sounds pretty cliche, the story doesn't feel cliche. The twist on the fairy tale is unique and their love story is sweet but still realistic. This is the kind of book I would want to read again, and that's saying a lot for someone as busy as me. Well done, Jessa!
June 26, 2020
I wanted to like this book- I really did. I love fairy-tale retellings and I was pulled in by the idea of a gender-flipped Beauty & the Beast.
The beginning of the book was pretty good- the author did a nice job setting up the main character (Holland) and her family, as well as her recent plummet in popularity. Beyond that, though, things fell flat for me.
First off, the dialogue was inconsistent. Sometimes it felt accurate & sometimes it felt so cookie-cutter. It really threw me off and I had a hard time getting into it.
Secondly, and this is one of the biggest pieces for me, the characters felt so one-dimensional. Pick all the classic tropes for characters (the popular girl derailed from the social ladder, the flirtatious/protective brother, the bad boy, the sassy punk girl). It felt like the author was trying to move beyond those tropes but it just didn’t work.
The details of how the beauty and the beast scenario happens felt fuzzy at best, and were unnecessary complicated. Even with the author repeating the dialogue to each new character that learned about it, I was still very much not on board, and there were a lot of holes in it.
The further you get into the book (a little over halfway), the author introduces a new character who is supposed to be mysterious- we & the other characters don’t know anything about him or where he came from. But because of the classic “bad boy” trope his character relied on & all the other things I’ve mentioned, I honestly just didn’t even care about who he was. This is about the point I gave up on the book.
Like I said, I really wanted to enjoy this. But after the first few chapters, things started to fall apart for me.
The beginning of the book was pretty good- the author did a nice job setting up the main character (Holland) and her family, as well as her recent plummet in popularity. Beyond that, though, things fell flat for me.
First off, the dialogue was inconsistent. Sometimes it felt accurate & sometimes it felt so cookie-cutter. It really threw me off and I had a hard time getting into it.
Secondly, and this is one of the biggest pieces for me, the characters felt so one-dimensional. Pick all the classic tropes for characters (the popular girl derailed from the social ladder, the flirtatious/protective brother, the bad boy, the sassy punk girl). It felt like the author was trying to move beyond those tropes but it just didn’t work.
The details of how the beauty and the beast scenario happens felt fuzzy at best, and were unnecessary complicated. Even with the author repeating the dialogue to each new character that learned about it, I was still very much not on board, and there were a lot of holes in it.
The further you get into the book (a little over halfway), the author introduces a new character who is supposed to be mysterious- we & the other characters don’t know anything about him or where he came from. But because of the classic “bad boy” trope his character relied on & all the other things I’ve mentioned, I honestly just didn’t even care about who he was. This is about the point I gave up on the book.
Like I said, I really wanted to enjoy this. But after the first few chapters, things started to fall apart for me.
July 9, 2014
I received a copy of the book from the author and paranormal Romance & Authors that Rock for an honest review.
Holland knew something was wrong with her, she could feel the thing inside her. it scares her. Just four months after her long time boyfriend leaves her for her best friend. Holland is having trouble bouncing back. Accused of trying to kill them by burning down the house they were supposed to be at. Her life is miserable at school because of this, others see her as a freak. Even though they are still there, walking around. One night at a party she meets Mick, the attraction is instant, but Holland doesn't feel ready to date again. Yet she has trouble ignoring how Mick makes her feel. Mick has more then an attraction to Holland he knows what is happening to her and he plays an important roll in that.
A retelling of Beauty and the Beast with a twist. A witch's curse and handsome young man born to break that curse. I enjoyed the characters of the book. Loved Mick, he had to work so hard to get Holland to even give him the time of day. Every step of their relationship was a challenge for him. Cameron, Holland's younger brother was protective and tried to keep her away from as much hurt as he could. Rosemarie Nick's sister besides having the hots for Cameron she tried helping Mick by pushing Holland at him.
Wonderful book for lovers of paranormal/romance and Beauty and the Beast lovers.
March 14, 2014
DIVIDE is one of those stories that caught me in the first few lines, a broken girl who's scared and confused, maybe even a little insane.
With the flick of a match--one she doesn't remember flicking--Holland Briggs drops from uber popularity to uber reject. Her boyfriend, her best friend, and even her family treat her differently. Well, her brother is pretty awesome. And dreamy. And did I mention awesome?!
Where was I? Oh, right, Holland's crummy life. Well, this pixie-like chick shows up, cute as a bug, and wins over Holland, even convinces her to get out and have some fun. And when that fun includes meeting hottie Mick Stevenson, well, let's just say things get interesting from there.
Mick does everything he can to get close to Holland, because Mick has a secret. He knows who she is, why she does awful things without remembering, and why her skin and everything about her keeps turning a little grayer every day. And he's pretty much the only one who can stop it!
Just when things seem like they're going to be okay, Jessa Russo throws a wrench in the mix, making you ride the rest of the book while holding onto the edge of your seat. Her characters are real, with real emotions. Her world is vivid, and her voice is so distinctly teen.
This is a must read!
With the flick of a match--one she doesn't remember flicking--Holland Briggs drops from uber popularity to uber reject. Her boyfriend, her best friend, and even her family treat her differently. Well, her brother is pretty awesome. And dreamy. And did I mention awesome?!
Where was I? Oh, right, Holland's crummy life. Well, this pixie-like chick shows up, cute as a bug, and wins over Holland, even convinces her to get out and have some fun. And when that fun includes meeting hottie Mick Stevenson, well, let's just say things get interesting from there.
Mick does everything he can to get close to Holland, because Mick has a secret. He knows who she is, why she does awful things without remembering, and why her skin and everything about her keeps turning a little grayer every day. And he's pretty much the only one who can stop it!
Just when things seem like they're going to be okay, Jessa Russo throws a wrench in the mix, making you ride the rest of the book while holding onto the edge of your seat. Her characters are real, with real emotions. Her world is vivid, and her voice is so distinctly teen.
This is a must read!
July 31, 2015
3.5 stars
As soon as I saw Divide here on Goodreads, I was looking forward to seeing what a gender-flipped version of Beauty and the Beast would be like, so when I won an ebook from Ms. Russo days later, I was very excited.
The story begins with Holland knowing something isn't right about herself, though she's not sure what, exactly. It takes a while for things to truly unfold in the factual aspect, as more people come into play later in the book, including Donovan, who, though a bit of a punk, actually added a fun tension to the story. Speaking of people, I'd say one of my favorite elements of Divide was the interaction between some of the characters, especially Holland and her brother, Cameron. I enjoyed Mick's point of view a lot (probably more than Holland's). I also really enjoyed Holland's affinity for French and how she worked it into her exclamations.
I don't want to say much more for chance of giving away the ending, but it was definitely a different take on an old fairy tale, and I can see why another review compared it a bit to Jekyll and Hyde.
Note: This is definitely higher-end YA due to language and sexual content.
As soon as I saw Divide here on Goodreads, I was looking forward to seeing what a gender-flipped version of Beauty and the Beast would be like, so when I won an ebook from Ms. Russo days later, I was very excited.
The story begins with Holland knowing something isn't right about herself, though she's not sure what, exactly. It takes a while for things to truly unfold in the factual aspect, as more people come into play later in the book, including Donovan, who, though a bit of a punk, actually added a fun tension to the story. Speaking of people, I'd say one of my favorite elements of Divide was the interaction between some of the characters, especially Holland and her brother, Cameron. I enjoyed Mick's point of view a lot (probably more than Holland's). I also really enjoyed Holland's affinity for French and how she worked it into her exclamations.
I don't want to say much more for chance of giving away the ending, but it was definitely a different take on an old fairy tale, and I can see why another review compared it a bit to Jekyll and Hyde.
Note: This is definitely higher-end YA due to language and sexual content.
April 21, 2014
This book is the perfect fairytale re-telling. I knew it was a gender flip YA re-telling of Beauty and The Beast, but it felt like so much more.Holland is an average girl, and I think that's what I liked most about her. An average girl going through a life changing, crazy PHYSICAL change. Then there's the hottie here to rescue here, and it seems like she almost has a chance. This story kept me guessing, all the time. I had no idea where Jessa was taking this tale and it kept me flipping to the next page.
And then there’s the mysterious changes happening to Holland, graying eyes, sleepwalking, phasing in and out of reality, and the rage.
All consuming rage.
This isn’t just a gender flip, it’s a meshing of Beauty and The Beast and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde where the girl is our dangerous beast and it’s the boy who will need to convince this double sided beauty to fall in love.
Does he?
Guess you’ll need to read it and find out.
And then there’s the mysterious changes happening to Holland, graying eyes, sleepwalking, phasing in and out of reality, and the rage.
All consuming rage.
This isn’t just a gender flip, it’s a meshing of Beauty and The Beast and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde where the girl is our dangerous beast and it’s the boy who will need to convince this double sided beauty to fall in love.
Does he?
Guess you’ll need to read it and find out.
April 20, 2014
WOW! What can I say? I really LOVED this book.
The character's were interesting to say the least. I really liked Holland and could relate. We all have felt like there is something else going on inside haven't we? Like we are being pulled between what feels right and what we know is wrong.. When things start to feel different for Holland she becomes scared and has no idea what is going on. Scared that there is something wrong inside her she is unsure who to talk to. Her brother Cameron has been keeping an eye on her , and when they meet some new faces everything that Holland thought she knew changes... The story kept me on the edge of my seat and at times I thought I knew what was going on Jessa threw my thoughts out the window.. and left me wondering again. I found it well written, and if you like to let yourself get immersed into A story then this is one for you. There is mystery, suspense,magic, and love how can you go wrong with that?
May 22, 2017
What evil lurked under Holland's skin intrigued me from the beginning. Experiencing her journey of slowly changing kept me interested. The cave scene at the end was my favorite, creepy and magical and tense! A well-written Beauty and the Beast retelling, it had plenty of romance, which isn't my thing...too much sappy oh I love her stuff, but that's just my own tastes, the romance was cute. I loved teh sibling relationship between Holland and Cameron, they were awesome! A bit of a fairytale in a modern setting and a fight for true love.
May 7, 2014
My review for Jessa Russo's DIVIDE can be found on my blog: http://mbernsen.blogspot.com/2014/05/...
July 19, 2016
There were a few times where I felt quite bored while reading this, but it wasn't a bad read overall.
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