Be Our Guest: A retelling of Beauty and the Beast

by Thomas Leverett

Most of us are familiar with the old tale, The Beauty and the Beast; there are many versions starting with the original in 1740. This book is part of a modern series of retellings, Global Beasts, and it is set in Thailand. Several stories are mixed, including the 1740 version, the animated version that captured many people's hearts, and a story about the closing of Tiger Temple, in Thailand, in 2016. What happens at Tiger Temple is not pretty, but then, some fairy tales deal with things like that.

149 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 11, 2025

Reviews

[Lucas W Mayberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rose, an American girl now living and working in Thailand is obsessed with the Beauty and the Beast story. With her friend Emily she has watched the Disney cartoon movie a dozen times and is eagerly anticipating the live version of it. She is also given a book of the original 1700s version of the story and begins reading that too and starts associating her own life with it. The overall message of the story is that appearances can be deceptive. I did think at one point that might be a big clue to how the book will play out especially with some of the things that Rose can see or hear and her questionable choice in who she has feelings for. It can get a bit surreal in places. It doesn’t turn out as I expected though which is a good thing and the message that love can transcend how someone looks wins out in the end. This is a fascinating and enjoyable read and I enjoyed the cultural aspects of the story. I definitely recommend.

[S.S. Saywack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read many of Thomas Levertt’s books, his novels and his short stories and have found them to be excellent reads. This one does not disappoint. A re-working of Beauty and the Beast, it is set in Thailand, with Rose, a young American working at a Tiger sanctuary. There she is, entranced with both Baht, an alpha tiger, and her co-worker, Poon, whose face is disfigured by a stroke. What follows is an enchanting tale, harping back to the original book of Beauty and the Beast, mixed in with Disney’s version. This well-written book is an easy read, the prose flows smoothly, and there are twists and turns in the plot, unexpected turns, talks about karma and such that is guaranteed to keep one interested until the very end. A book that was enjoyable and is a recommended read from an author whose works I have always enjoyed.

[D.E. Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story revolves around Rose and her love of the story Beauty and the Beast. This story is based in Thailand where Rose works at a tiger sanctuary. This story is really well written and i thoroughly enjoyed the twists and unexpected turns the story took. I was hooked from the first page and read it in two sittings. Its always a good sign of a good book when you eat your breakfast while reading. Thank you for sharing your work. I would definitely recommend this book.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Leverett is a multi-genre poet whose previous works I’ve very much enjoyed, be they his stories—short or long—of everyday life in the USA and the situations which can occur, or his haiku poetry which reads like a trip around that country on a Greyhound bus in the company of Simon and Garfunkel. Now he’s turned his talents to the world of fairy stories, re-imagined for the present day.
 
Be Our Guest concerns Rose, who’s left her life in Los Angeles to move to Thailand, where she has family, and where she’s also working on a visa at a sanctuary for tigers. She’s also obsessed—and then some—with the story of Beauty and the Beast, from the eighteenth-century fairy tale by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, through the 1991 Disney animated version to the live-action remake of the latter. Her life does seem to bear a remarkable resemblance to the story, given that she’s the youngest of twelve children and named Rose. She also has a fixation—not totally healthy—on one of the tigers at the sanctuary, named Baht. Doubtless she’s influenced in this to some extent by her cousin Emily, with whom she used watch the Disney cartoon and who, before her recent marriage to a Thai government official, wrote novels based around shifters, creatures who moved from human to animal form, and back again. There’s also the presence of Poon, Rose’s co-worker, who suffered a stroke earlier in life, to cause the paralysis of one half of his otherwise handsome face.
 
It's an interesting take on the tale, with darker elements—such as the black-market sale of tiger body parts for the endangered species trade—to balance the lighter ones, such as Rose’s growing relationship with her own beast. Who is that, however? No spoilers, so you’ll have to read to find out.
 
Overall it’s a good start for the author in this new sphere, and apparently he intends to continue in the same vein, with a series called Global Beasts. More information is available on his website at morefolktales.blogspot.com

[Jane Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Fairytale for Adults

Be Our Guest centres around Rose, who obsesses over the story Beauty and the Beast and even believes that it has parallels in her own life, a totally surreal aspect of the book that requires the reader to shift from an analytical perspective to an artistic one. Rose has a job at a tiger sanctuary in Thailand, where she finds herself besotted with a tiger called Baht, who she seems to have a telepathic relationship with. She also develops feelings for a co-worker, Poon, who has a facial disfigurement resulting from a stroke.

It is a very unusual book, quite unlike anything I’ve ever read before. With the many layers, there is a lot to reflect on with its various references to karma, reincarnation, animal and human shifting, and the theory that all things, both animate and inanimate, might be alive. I also enjoyed the cultural aspects. While the storyline may seem far-fetched, if approached with an open mind, it serves as an invitation for us adults to remember how our world appears through the eyes of a child so that we can accept and appreciate the magic that is all around us but which we have learned to deny.

[Jane Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be Our Guest: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast, by Thomas Leverett.

An interesting story with hints of the popular fairy story, Beauty and the Beast.
Rose accepted a job at Tiger Temple, Bangkok. She loves tigers and was eager to get to work saving the endangered animals.

This is a delightful tale that mixes dreams and reality into an unfolding adventure story. Tiger Temple was a beautiful place and housed up to 140 tigers. The story skimmed the surface of the despicable black-market trade in tiger parts.
With the focus remaining on Rose and her dream/fantasy love affair with Baht, the tiger. The story drifted back and forth to the original Beauty and Beast tale before returning to Rose, her family, and her affection for Poon, a young man who works with elephants.

Tigers usually live solitary lives, and I was interested to learn how the tigers were housed in Tiger Temple. This part wasn’t clear.

However, Be Our Guest was an entertaining, if somewhat unusual tale.

[Kelly Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

In “Be Our Guest: A dark and twisted retelling of Beauty and the Beast” by Thomas Leverett, Rose lives in a Bangkok condo with her Aunt Lily whilst she works on a project related to tigers. When we first meet, Rose is struggling to remember her dream and recalls only a tiger or lion and the terms, “Your turn,” and “Find true love.” Lily and her cousin, Emily (Lily’s daughter) had watched the movie “Beauty and the Beast” many times over the years. Rose confesses to Aunt Lily that she had formed a bond with one of the tigers involved in her work project, Baht. Lily proceeds to tell Rose a lesser-known version of “Beauty and the Beast,” one that bears similarities to Rose’s life. Later, Rose struggles to determine if a prospective suitor is trustworthy. This is an imaginative twist on the classic tale.

[Yves Fey · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who read the fairy tale and saw the fabulous Cocteau movie long before Disney had a go at the story, the constant Disney reference didn’t work all that well for me, though I could sense the delight of the narrator. I wish the author had more fully invested in creating a new version rather than this parallel track that keeps pointing out the match up. I saw the title presented as magical realism and may have expected more from it. I thought it promised more magical realism with the tigers, and it could have woven more in of the exotic realistic magic of Thailand, though there are nice touches throughout. The shared dream, for example, was an intense moment. While I felt a lot more could have been done with the premise, it had charm.

[RK Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

this isn't a standard, note-for-note retelling; it's better. for one thing, it gives some background on the original which I had no idea was written in the 1700s and updated towards the more traditional rendering during the same century. then there's a good accounting of Buddhism in Thailand which I didn't know was nearly as pervasive as it apparently is. but the story of Rose, Baht and even Pock as Gaston has all the necessary familiarity but i think the most important notion that I took from the whole tale was this one specific quote: "All fairy tales (or folk tales, as I prefer to call them) must be read with attention to the time and the people they were intended to entertain…" INDEED!

[Ashlee Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I like updated versions of classics, and Beauty and the Beast has always been a story that has never quite disappeared from my mind. Thomas Leverett’s Be Our Guest gives it a fresh spin, and for the most part, it delivers something both familiar and new in a satisfying way. If I had to sum it up this book is a solid, enjoyable retelling. It doesn’t completely reinvent Beauty and the Beast, but it adds enough new elements, a setting, character, moral weight to make it feel worthwhile.

I’d recommend it especially if you like fairy tales, animal settings, or want stories that blur the line between fantasy and real‐world issues.

[Marie Van-Doorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fresh perspective to a classic fairy tale.
This enchanting story mixes a touching romance with real-life issues about Rose, a young American, in Thailand whose life mirrors the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast. Influenced by her cousin Emily and her connection to a tiger named Baht, Rose’s journey is both captivating and poignant. “Be Our Guest” is a compelling read that balances darker themes with lighter moments, leaving readers eager to discover the identity of Rose’s “beast.”

[Eliza Thorncroft · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Unique and Lyrical Retelling

Be Our Guest delivers a refreshing twist on Beauty and the Beast, trading castles for temples and familiar tropes for Thai-inspired myth and atmosphere. Thomas Leverett crafts an immersive world filled with magic and emotional depth. While the pacing can be gentle and reflective, the rich setting and fresh perspective make it a rewarding read.
A beautiful choice for readers who enjoy fairy tales reimagined with culture, mystery, and heart.

[Gracie Monroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be Our Guest offers a unique twist on Beauty and the Beast, and as someone already a little obsessed with that classic tale, I was hooked from the first page. The characters, especially Rose, are compelling and beautifully layered, making the story feel both magical and deeply human. Leverett blends fairytale nostalgia with the vivid Thai setting in a way that feels fresh, romantic, and quietly haunting. An unforgettable read that stayed with me long after I finished.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great retelling of a classic story. I really enjoyed this book. I liked the way it flowed and kept you engaged. I recommend reading this book.