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Beauties and Boys #1
Beauty and the Bad Boy
She's the perfect girl that gave him his bad boy image.
And now he's back for revenge.
My name is Eleanor Brighton, and I’m the perfect daughter.
P-E-R-F-E-C-T.
For the past four years, I’ve painstakingly built my life to be impressive in every way–great grades, steadfast maturity, and even dedicating to attend my dad’s alma mater in the fall to make him proud.
Except lately, it kind of feels like he resents me for it.
And now I have another problem.
Beckham Jennings is back in town.
Four years ago, the country club’s most-hated bad boy was chased out of town after setting one of the gardens on fire. Now he’s back with a smirk and a reputation, and he gives me a lazy promise:
He’s going to steal my heart.
As if it hasn’t belonged to him since I was eight years old.
But his words are more than some flippant game–they’re a threat. From the hard look in Beck’s eyes, it’s clear he hates me for what happened four years ago… and he should. Because it was all my fault.
The bad boy I created is ready for revenge… and for the first time in forever, I’m tempted to give in.
H-E-L-P.
Beauty and the Bad Boy is an enemies to lovers sweet YA romance, with all the swoon and none of the spice. If you like cinnamon roll bad boys, imperfect good girls, and swoonworthy slow burns, the first book in the Beauties and Boys duology is for you.
And now he's back for revenge.
My name is Eleanor Brighton, and I’m the perfect daughter.
P-E-R-F-E-C-T.
For the past four years, I’ve painstakingly built my life to be impressive in every way–great grades, steadfast maturity, and even dedicating to attend my dad’s alma mater in the fall to make him proud.
Except lately, it kind of feels like he resents me for it.
And now I have another problem.
Beckham Jennings is back in town.
Four years ago, the country club’s most-hated bad boy was chased out of town after setting one of the gardens on fire. Now he’s back with a smirk and a reputation, and he gives me a lazy promise:
He’s going to steal my heart.
As if it hasn’t belonged to him since I was eight years old.
But his words are more than some flippant game–they’re a threat. From the hard look in Beck’s eyes, it’s clear he hates me for what happened four years ago… and he should. Because it was all my fault.
The bad boy I created is ready for revenge… and for the first time in forever, I’m tempted to give in.
H-E-L-P.
Beauty and the Bad Boy is an enemies to lovers sweet YA romance, with all the swoon and none of the spice. If you like cinnamon roll bad boys, imperfect good girls, and swoonworthy slow burns, the first book in the Beauties and Boys duology is for you.
388 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2026
About the author
Sarah Sutton
15 books1,066 followersSarah Sutton writes sweet young adult romances filled with slow burns, butterflies, and happily-ever-afters you can kick your feet over. When she isn't dreaming up small-town love stories or convincing readers to fall for green flag fictional boys, she's probably curled up with a good book, binge-watching Kdramas, or planning her next visit to a coffee shop. She lives in Michigan and believes every story deserves hope, heart, and swoon.
To follow her on social media and learn more about her books, visit her website: sarah-sutton.com
Facebook: @sarahsuttonbooks
Instagram: @sarahsuttonbooks
TikTok: @AuthorSarahSutton
To follow her on social media and learn more about her books, visit her website: sarah-sutton.com
Facebook: @sarahsuttonbooks
Instagram: @sarahsuttonbooks
TikTok: @AuthorSarahSutton
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
May 25, 2026
First book by Sarah Sutton and I am not complaining at all!
Such a quick and fun read. A totally sweet YA romance (with bo spice at all)
Sometimes a YA book just hits differently and this one was no exception. I ate every single detail up. My younger self would have loved this book with such a passion.
I love Sarah’s ability to create real world problems. I loved reading about each characters backstory as well.
The emotion and banter were definitely there. Such a breath of fresh air. Light and fluffy while still covering hard topics. Just beautiful all around.
I loveeee Nellie so much. I could feel her feelings in my soul. I just adore that girl.
Beck was a different story. I hated him with a passion at first but completely changed my opinion on him by the end of the book. He was so misunderstood as well.
Overall such a good read. I’ll definitely be picking up more of Sarah’s books.
Also major probs for such a stunning cover.
4.5/5⭐️
Such a quick and fun read. A totally sweet YA romance (with bo spice at all)
Sometimes a YA book just hits differently and this one was no exception. I ate every single detail up. My younger self would have loved this book with such a passion.
I love Sarah’s ability to create real world problems. I loved reading about each characters backstory as well.
The emotion and banter were definitely there. Such a breath of fresh air. Light and fluffy while still covering hard topics. Just beautiful all around.
I loveeee Nellie so much. I could feel her feelings in my soul. I just adore that girl.
Beck was a different story. I hated him with a passion at first but completely changed my opinion on him by the end of the book. He was so misunderstood as well.
Overall such a good read. I’ll definitely be picking up more of Sarah’s books.
Also major probs for such a stunning cover.
4.5/5⭐️
May 19, 2026
Beauty and the Bad Boy @sarahsuttonbooks
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🫑 Kisses only
No profanity
This is an absolutely amazing YA romance! I honestly strongly disliked our MMC Beck at the beginning of the book and I was extremely impressed with how Sarah brought my opinion of him full circle. may have even teared up at one point e
Nellie strives to be perfect in all things. She seeks approval and she has her entire future mapped out. What she didn't see coming was Beck.. the only boy she ever truly cared for but also completely destroyed four years prior.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🫑 Kisses only
No profanity
This is an absolutely amazing YA romance! I honestly strongly disliked our MMC Beck at the beginning of the book and I was extremely impressed with how Sarah brought my opinion of him full circle. may have even teared up at one point e
Nellie strives to be perfect in all things. She seeks approval and she has her entire future mapped out. What she didn't see coming was Beck.. the only boy she ever truly cared for but also completely destroyed four years prior.
May 27, 2026
Beauty and the Bad Boy by Sarah Sutton
“I saw the way you looked at him.” Beck stopped a foot from me, green eyes tracing my frame as if committing me to memory. “You don’t look at him the way you used to look at me.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Romance: All YA!
Cursing: None that I remember.
Violence: None.
Plot 10/10
Characters 10/10
“I’ve never wanted to explode,” Beck admitted slowly. “But I have wanted to disappear.”
💖Thoughts! 💖
YOU BET IT'S ANOTHER BAD BOY ROMANCE! This was P-E-R-F-E-C-T! (Ifykyk)
Eleanor Brighton is the perfect daughter. Everything she does or wears is to act the part her parents put her in. Then Beckham Jennings comes back in town after 4 years. The country club's bad boy.
Eleanor and Beck were pretty much childhood friends to lovers but later in the book enemies-to-lovers.
"Yeah. I’d left my introverted brother to manage our birthday party alone. I kind of did suck."
I loved Jamie! He is the DREAM twin brother and he is so sweet! AND HE LOVES TO READ! Like COME TO ME! lol
I knew from the start something would begin between him and Daisy! 😆
“It’s easy to say you’re doing something because you’re bored. It’s far more embarrassing to say you’re doing it because you’re lonely.”
I knew everything with Carter wouldn't work out with Eleanor cause Beck is her one and only man!
Which Carter didn't I believe didn't really really like her.
It was kind of cringe when Beck kept telling her how much he knows that she does like him. 🫣
I did feel really bad for Beck with his parents and how lonely he was! 😭
Overall, I really enjoyed this, and I can't wait for the second book to come out!
“P-E-R-F-E-C-T,” I whispered to myself, in time with the thump of Beck’s heartbeat. Beck kissed the top of my head again. “P-E-R-F-E-C-T.”
“I saw the way you looked at him.” Beck stopped a foot from me, green eyes tracing my frame as if committing me to memory. “You don’t look at him the way you used to look at me.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Romance: All YA!
Cursing: None that I remember.
Violence: None.
Plot 10/10
Characters 10/10
“I’ve never wanted to explode,” Beck admitted slowly. “But I have wanted to disappear.”
💖Thoughts! 💖
YOU BET IT'S ANOTHER BAD BOY ROMANCE! This was P-E-R-F-E-C-T! (Ifykyk)
Eleanor Brighton is the perfect daughter. Everything she does or wears is to act the part her parents put her in. Then Beckham Jennings comes back in town after 4 years. The country club's bad boy.
Eleanor and Beck were pretty much childhood friends to lovers but later in the book enemies-to-lovers.
"Yeah. I’d left my introverted brother to manage our birthday party alone. I kind of did suck."
I loved Jamie! He is the DREAM twin brother and he is so sweet! AND HE LOVES TO READ! Like COME TO ME! lol
I knew from the start something would begin between him and Daisy! 😆
“It’s easy to say you’re doing something because you’re bored. It’s far more embarrassing to say you’re doing it because you’re lonely.”
I knew everything with Carter wouldn't work out with Eleanor cause Beck is her one and only man!
Which Carter didn't I believe didn't really really like her.
It was kind of cringe when Beck kept telling her how much he knows that she does like him. 🫣
I did feel really bad for Beck with his parents and how lonely he was! 😭
Overall, I really enjoyed this, and I can't wait for the second book to come out!
“P-E-R-F-E-C-T,” I whispered to myself, in time with the thump of Beck’s heartbeat. Beck kissed the top of my head again. “P-E-R-F-E-C-T.”
July 3, 2026
•BOOK REVIEW•
- Title: Beauty and the Bad Boy - ☆☆☆☆.5
- Format: ebook
Content:
- spice: kissing only
- language: none
- TW/CW: neglectful parents
My thoughts:
This book had no business being so cute! Like I was literally giggling multiple times.
My poor Beck. I was so sad for him. He was such a lonely, sad boy. I just wanted to give him a hug.
I didn’t like Nellie that much at first, but only for like the first chapter. She seemed really snooty but you slowly learn why she is the way she is and I also wanted to give her a hug too. Literally just send Beck and Nellie my way because I want to give them hugs haha.
The character growth was so good! Most times YA books seem light and fluffy with not much growth, but the characters’ growth in this book was so good and I absolutely loved it!
I wasn’t a fan of Nellie’s family for most of the book (not Jamie though. I loved him) and their reconciliation seemed a little fast, but they are family so it made sense. I’m so glad Nellie and her family came back together!
I can’t wait to read book 2 and you guys should definitely read this book!
Tropes:
💗enemies to lovers
♟️second chance
💗bad boy x perfect girl
♟️ex-childhood friends
💗protective MMC
♟️“it’s always been you”
💗secret pining
♟️slow burn
💗tension and banter
♟️no spice YA romance
💗single pov
- Title: Beauty and the Bad Boy - ☆☆☆☆.5
- Format: ebook
Content:
- spice: kissing only
- language: none
- TW/CW: neglectful parents
My thoughts:
This book had no business being so cute! Like I was literally giggling multiple times.
My poor Beck. I was so sad for him. He was such a lonely, sad boy. I just wanted to give him a hug.
I didn’t like Nellie that much at first, but only for like the first chapter. She seemed really snooty but you slowly learn why she is the way she is and I also wanted to give her a hug too. Literally just send Beck and Nellie my way because I want to give them hugs haha.
The character growth was so good! Most times YA books seem light and fluffy with not much growth, but the characters’ growth in this book was so good and I absolutely loved it!
I wasn’t a fan of Nellie’s family for most of the book (not Jamie though. I loved him) and their reconciliation seemed a little fast, but they are family so it made sense. I’m so glad Nellie and her family came back together!
I can’t wait to read book 2 and you guys should definitely read this book!
Tropes:
💗enemies to lovers
♟️second chance
💗bad boy x perfect girl
♟️ex-childhood friends
💗protective MMC
♟️“it’s always been you”
💗secret pining
♟️slow burn
💗tension and banter
♟️no spice YA romance
💗single pov
June 14, 2026
a must read YA romance 🌟
☆5
Beck and Eleanor are the cutest!
Eleanor is determined, sweet, and kind. I absolutely loved her and Jamie’s relationship. They were the sweetest siblings. And Daisy was amazing as well, I cannot wait for her book!
Beck. I wish I could give him a hug. What he went through with his parents broke my heart. I’m so glad he has Nellie now. And he was such a gentleman too. Though he was a ‘bad boy’ he was a sweetheart to Eleanor, and the way he treated her showed that.
I definitely recommend this sweet YA romance and I cannot wait to read more books from Sarah!💕
tropes:
🩷no-spice YA romance
✨enemies to lovers
🩷perfect girl x bad boy
✨ex-childhood friends
🩷he takes care of her
✨secret pinning & tension
🩷”it’s always been you”
✨slow burn
🩷single pov
CONTENT:
- kisses only (closed door)
- no language
☆5
Beck and Eleanor are the cutest!
Eleanor is determined, sweet, and kind. I absolutely loved her and Jamie’s relationship. They were the sweetest siblings. And Daisy was amazing as well, I cannot wait for her book!
Beck. I wish I could give him a hug. What he went through with his parents broke my heart. I’m so glad he has Nellie now. And he was such a gentleman too. Though he was a ‘bad boy’ he was a sweetheart to Eleanor, and the way he treated her showed that.
I definitely recommend this sweet YA romance and I cannot wait to read more books from Sarah!💕
tropes:
🩷no-spice YA romance
✨enemies to lovers
🩷perfect girl x bad boy
✨ex-childhood friends
🩷he takes care of her
✨secret pinning & tension
🩷”it’s always been you”
✨slow burn
🩷single pov
CONTENT:
- kisses only (closed door)
- no language
May 25, 2026
— 4.5 ⊹ ₊
I was scrolling on my kindle and was really sick of all the copy paste books— ya sweet romance this that, yadda yadda. I clicked on a random one— which happened to be this book— purely because the title took me out. soooo cheesy. then I actually read the blurb and downloaded the sample (just thinking I’d get a laugh before going back to my kindle doomscrolling) … and was immediately hooked
beckham is THE ultimate book boyfriend. I love him so much. the character dynamics in this book also felt really unique and realistic and I especially loved how many little insignificant details made the overall story more realistic as well
safe to say, never judge a book by its cover (or title) because this one had me giggling and kicking my feet FOR SURE
I was scrolling on my kindle and was really sick of all the copy paste books— ya sweet romance this that, yadda yadda. I clicked on a random one— which happened to be this book— purely because the title took me out. soooo cheesy. then I actually read the blurb and downloaded the sample (just thinking I’d get a laugh before going back to my kindle doomscrolling) … and was immediately hooked
beckham is THE ultimate book boyfriend. I love him so much. the character dynamics in this book also felt really unique and realistic and I especially loved how many little insignificant details made the overall story more realistic as well
safe to say, never judge a book by its cover (or title) because this one had me giggling and kicking my feet FOR SURE
May 17, 2026
Actual rating 4.5 stars
I personally think that every Sarah Sutton book I read gets better and better. I love how her books are sweet romances and there’s no spice. It’s such a nice and refreshing change.
I absolutely devoured this book when it came out on release day! I finished it within hours! I loved the dynamic between our two main leads. I loved the tropes and growth the characters went through-especially our FMC. I highly recommend giving Sutton’s books a go. I love her writing and the thought and care that shines through her books!
I personally think that every Sarah Sutton book I read gets better and better. I love how her books are sweet romances and there’s no spice. It’s such a nice and refreshing change.
I absolutely devoured this book when it came out on release day! I finished it within hours! I loved the dynamic between our two main leads. I loved the tropes and growth the characters went through-especially our FMC. I highly recommend giving Sutton’s books a go. I love her writing and the thought and care that shines through her books!
May 16, 2026
If you can imagine a warm day, and twirling
around a field in a summer dress, with the wind kissing your face... that was this book. Romantic, beautifully sweet.
It was so well written, so much involved in the book but so light and airy? (If that makes sense?)
I absolutely loved and will 10000% be adding to my "wanna buy for a trophy read" Amazon wishlist.
around a field in a summer dress, with the wind kissing your face... that was this book. Romantic, beautifully sweet.
It was so well written, so much involved in the book but so light and airy? (If that makes sense?)
I absolutely loved and will 10000% be adding to my "wanna buy for a trophy read" Amazon wishlist.
July 11, 2026
⭐ – 4.6/5
🌙 – 🌖 Ksses only
🫢 – 💛 Mild (crap, hell)
✝️ – None
⚠️ – neglectful parents, strained sibling relationship
🌟 – enemies to lovers, second chance, bad boy x perfect girl, ex-childhood friends, slow burn
🎧 – Figure You Out by Viola
This was my first introduction to the Suttonverse, and let me tell you, it did NOT disappoint. I can’t express to you how cute this book was while still holding emotional depth and conflict that was real and authentic to the growth of the characters. I felt the anticipation, the banter, the frustration, the anxiety, and was giggling and kicking my feet multiple times! The banter was soooo top tier, the butterflies were butterflying, and I was definitely blushing more than once.
Beck, Gosh. I felt so sad for him. He was such a lonely, sad boy, and I just wanted to give him a big hug. Nellie’s anxiety and her struggles felt so authentic, and while she took some warming up to, once I understood her more I wanted to give her a big hug too. The character growth was really good! A lot of the time YA books can feel too light and fluffy without much deeper growth or consequence, but this book managed to be light and fluffy while still covering some really hard topics. I also absolutely loved Jamie and Nellie’s twin telepathy thing and their brother sister relationship! Overall, such a cute, emotional, swoony read!
I write reviews for and rate no spice books based on a scale available on my profile
🌙 – 🌖 Ksses only
🫢 – 💛 Mild (crap, hell)
✝️ – None
⚠️ – neglectful parents, strained sibling relationship
🌟 – enemies to lovers, second chance, bad boy x perfect girl, ex-childhood friends, slow burn
🎧 – Figure You Out by Viola
This was my first introduction to the Suttonverse, and let me tell you, it did NOT disappoint. I can’t express to you how cute this book was while still holding emotional depth and conflict that was real and authentic to the growth of the characters. I felt the anticipation, the banter, the frustration, the anxiety, and was giggling and kicking my feet multiple times! The banter was soooo top tier, the butterflies were butterflying, and I was definitely blushing more than once.
Beck, Gosh. I felt so sad for him. He was such a lonely, sad boy, and I just wanted to give him a big hug. Nellie’s anxiety and her struggles felt so authentic, and while she took some warming up to, once I understood her more I wanted to give her a big hug too. The character growth was really good! A lot of the time YA books can feel too light and fluffy without much deeper growth or consequence, but this book managed to be light and fluffy while still covering some really hard topics. I also absolutely loved Jamie and Nellie’s twin telepathy thing and their brother sister relationship! Overall, such a cute, emotional, swoony read!
I write reviews for and rate no spice books based on a scale available on my profile
July 6, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
GENRE
-YA contemporary romance
CONTENT
-🤬: 1 h
-❤️: make outs
-⚠️: neglectful parents
Okay, I wanted to love this. Everything that I'd seen from the author's IG page made me think that I would, but it ended up just being okay for me.
It definitely could've used some editing, which you know if something I've sensitive to if you've ever read any review of mine before.
GENRE
-YA contemporary romance
CONTENT
-🤬: 1 h
-❤️: make outs
-⚠️: neglectful parents
Okay, I wanted to love this. Everything that I'd seen from the author's IG page made me think that I would, but it ended up just being okay for me.
It definitely could've used some editing, which you know if something I've sensitive to if you've ever read any review of mine before.
July 5, 2026
I looovee this book. Reading it was like savoring rich chocolate with warm drizzles of sweet & salty caramel. A delight, emotionally deep, and melts your heart with both its sweetness and its swoon-worthy moments.
September 4, 2026
Cuties. I honestly hated the main character, she gave major pick me vibes. I love the ending but I think there was room for more character improvement.
July 3, 2026
4.75 ⭐
🩷 This was my first Sarah Sutton book, and it did not disappoint!
♟️ For being a YA romance, there was a lot more depth than I was expecting. Not because YA doesn't have depth but because sometimes romcoms are just pallet cleansers and feel good books (which is still great). But these characters really were so real. They each had their own flaws and core motivations and things that made them tick. Did I relate to the FMC? not at all. But she was so well written and had such an interesting perspective.
🍀 Eleanor has spent her whole life trying to be perfect. To be the golden daughter that impresses her parents and goes to law school and does everything exactly right. Of course, no one is perfect and she has to learn that out the hard way a little. She makes mistakes and her parents, Jamie, Daisy, Beck, and even Carter all help her realize it doesn't define her.
🩷 Yes, this book was focused on the romance, but I really liked how we got a lot of relationship development between her and her parents and her brother, and Daisy. (Sidenote, Jamie and Daisy are fricken adorable and I can't wait to read their book)
♟️ Beck has been labeled the bad boy. He's an outcast, no one seems to like him or want him, and he's tired of being lonely. His story actually broke my heart a little because both his parents left him and want nothing to do with him. I can't imagine how lonely the 4 yrs that he was gone were. I wish we got some of his POV!!
🍀 He puts on some bravado, tries to appear cool and carefree and like nothing bothers him. He's good at it too, at maintaining that mask of indifference. Y'all some of these lines 🤭🤭 they were so good. "I'll make you remember what it's like to want someone." HELLO SIR.
🩷 the tension and chemistry between them was amazing because even when she tried to be mad at him and he tried to hate her, there was this underlying current of familiarity and emotion there. The chess, all the memories from when they were kids. Why he always went out to look at the stars, the mud scene, the closet, all of it was so good.
♟️ Yeah I genuinely felt bad for Eleanor and how she never felt like she measured up. She was a little annoying at times but in an understandable way. And Beck could be bothersome (to her, not to me ;) but he just wanted someone to SEE him.
🍀 I'm so glad they got their happy ending. It was beautiful 😍🥹 yeah Lydia ticked me off but it just goes to show that ppl who are mean and bitter have their own issues that have made them that way. Doesn't excuse it but still.
🩷 Poor Jamie, I just know he's head over heels for Daisy. This next one should be fun.
🩷 This was my first Sarah Sutton book, and it did not disappoint!
♟️ For being a YA romance, there was a lot more depth than I was expecting. Not because YA doesn't have depth but because sometimes romcoms are just pallet cleansers and feel good books (which is still great). But these characters really were so real. They each had their own flaws and core motivations and things that made them tick. Did I relate to the FMC? not at all. But she was so well written and had such an interesting perspective.
🍀 Eleanor has spent her whole life trying to be perfect. To be the golden daughter that impresses her parents and goes to law school and does everything exactly right. Of course, no one is perfect and she has to learn that out the hard way a little. She makes mistakes and her parents, Jamie, Daisy, Beck, and even Carter all help her realize it doesn't define her.
🩷 Yes, this book was focused on the romance, but I really liked how we got a lot of relationship development between her and her parents and her brother, and Daisy. (Sidenote, Jamie and Daisy are fricken adorable and I can't wait to read their book)
♟️ Beck has been labeled the bad boy. He's an outcast, no one seems to like him or want him, and he's tired of being lonely. His story actually broke my heart a little because both his parents left him and want nothing to do with him. I can't imagine how lonely the 4 yrs that he was gone were. I wish we got some of his POV!!
🍀 He puts on some bravado, tries to appear cool and carefree and like nothing bothers him. He's good at it too, at maintaining that mask of indifference. Y'all some of these lines 🤭🤭 they were so good. "I'll make you remember what it's like to want someone." HELLO SIR.
🩷 the tension and chemistry between them was amazing because even when she tried to be mad at him and he tried to hate her, there was this underlying current of familiarity and emotion there. The chess, all the memories from when they were kids. Why he always went out to look at the stars, the mud scene, the closet, all of it was so good.
♟️ Yeah I genuinely felt bad for Eleanor and how she never felt like she measured up. She was a little annoying at times but in an understandable way. And Beck could be bothersome (to her, not to me ;) but he just wanted someone to SEE him.
🍀 I'm so glad they got their happy ending. It was beautiful 😍🥹 yeah Lydia ticked me off but it just goes to show that ppl who are mean and bitter have their own issues that have made them that way. Doesn't excuse it but still.
🩷 Poor Jamie, I just know he's head over heels for Daisy. This next one should be fun.
June 16, 2026
I am so sad that this book is over!! 😩 The only thing keeping me grounded is knowing the second book is coming out soon.
This book gave me the same joy as an early 2000s rom-com. 💕 All I’ve wanted to do for the last three days is read this book!
Nellie, girl, the number of times I screamed in my head, “No one needs you to be perfect!” is insane! 😂 I’ll admit, I wasn’t on board with Nellie for most of this book, but she completely won me over by the end. She had to go through some really tough situations in order to grow, but that’s part of what gives this story its charm.
Nellie and Beck complement each other so well. He’s laid-back, she’s uptight, and together they create the perfect balance. They bring out the best in each other, and their relationship felt so genuine and heartwarming.
This book was an easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 for me!
This book gave me the same joy as an early 2000s rom-com. 💕 All I’ve wanted to do for the last three days is read this book!
Nellie, girl, the number of times I screamed in my head, “No one needs you to be perfect!” is insane! 😂 I’ll admit, I wasn’t on board with Nellie for most of this book, but she completely won me over by the end. She had to go through some really tough situations in order to grow, but that’s part of what gives this story its charm.
Nellie and Beck complement each other so well. He’s laid-back, she’s uptight, and together they create the perfect balance. They bring out the best in each other, and their relationship felt so genuine and heartwarming.
This book was an easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 for me!
June 8, 2026
It got better over time
July 5, 2026
❤️🔥 no-spice romance: descriptive touching and kissing, and yearning that feels like when Darcy & Lizzie almost kiss after his flop of a proposal
July 26, 2026
wow this book held my attention! i enjoyed the story and i liked how it kept me guessing. these characters were fun and i’d like to read the next story! cute and clean and fun! (ya)
July 27, 2026
I really enjoyed this book!! I loved the slow burn vibes and the Beauty and the Beast vibes ofc! Personally I thought it was slow in the beginning but I did love this book💗
May 30, 2026
4.5 stars
This was the cutest YA book! I loved the spring atmosphere, especially the country club setting. This whole book was a breath of fresh air.
Eleanor, or Nellie, is the girl who always is put together, but underneath that perfect facade is a girl who wants to be loved and seen for who she is. She made choices that did hurt those she loves, but her self discovery journey allowed me to root for her. It was much needed and allowed her to realize perfection does not equal love. It also was perfect that Beck was the one to teach her that.
Beckham is the bad boy, or thats what they think, as that label was thrust upon him. But as we get to know him through through the eyes of Eleanor, there is more to him then meets the eye. In reality Beck is just lonely boy and wants to be accepted as is. But that doesn't stop him from fully leaning into the bad boy facade and he really enjoys to press Nellie's buttons.
Nellie and Beck's chemistry was so well done and their banter had me giggling. Beck was fun and flirty, and Nellie really tried to resist. I loved how their relationship developed and it was so wholesome.
Sarah's writing blew me away, I loved how she set the story up. The character development with Nellie and Beck was very well done, and had you rooting for both of them. They obviously made decisions that reflected their age, but their growth was so well done.
I highly recommend this book. It was such a good YA book, that I think I am obsessed. I can't wait to read more of Sarah's books.
🔥 Heat level: Kisses only
🫢 Language: None
This was the cutest YA book! I loved the spring atmosphere, especially the country club setting. This whole book was a breath of fresh air.
Eleanor, or Nellie, is the girl who always is put together, but underneath that perfect facade is a girl who wants to be loved and seen for who she is. She made choices that did hurt those she loves, but her self discovery journey allowed me to root for her. It was much needed and allowed her to realize perfection does not equal love. It also was perfect that Beck was the one to teach her that.
Beckham is the bad boy, or thats what they think, as that label was thrust upon him. But as we get to know him through through the eyes of Eleanor, there is more to him then meets the eye. In reality Beck is just lonely boy and wants to be accepted as is. But that doesn't stop him from fully leaning into the bad boy facade and he really enjoys to press Nellie's buttons.
Nellie and Beck's chemistry was so well done and their banter had me giggling. Beck was fun and flirty, and Nellie really tried to resist. I loved how their relationship developed and it was so wholesome.
Sarah's writing blew me away, I loved how she set the story up. The character development with Nellie and Beck was very well done, and had you rooting for both of them. They obviously made decisions that reflected their age, but their growth was so well done.
I highly recommend this book. It was such a good YA book, that I think I am obsessed. I can't wait to read more of Sarah's books.
🔥 Heat level: Kisses only
🫢 Language: None
May 7, 2026
Reader’s Notes:
*Series or Connected Books?* part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
-Nellie & her twin brother Jamie are younger siblings to Destelle/Stella from Two Kinds of Us – but Stella’s story doesn’t need to be read to enjoy this one
*Point Of View:* Nellie (Eleanor)
*Any Cursing Or Possibly Offensive Language?* there are about 5 mentions of characters cursing, but no words used on page
*Romance?* Yes! Just kisses
*Things To Know:*
–it is mentioned multiple times that adults at the country club (some, not all) use any event as an excuse to get very drunk
-it is mentioned that a character doesn’t have a relationship with their parents anymore
Review:
I haven’t read Stella’s story before reading this book, but I’m excited to learn more about her when I get the chance to pick up Two Kinds of Us from the little bit I heard/saw of her in this book!
I loved getting to be in Nellie’s head for the whole book! It made me unsure of Beck at first because of her feelings toward him/the incident and how it seemed like he was going about reminding Nellie of things. But the further I got into the book, the more I came to understand his situations and love him for Nellie. I loved getting to know the current and past Beck/Nellie and how they changed from who they were to who they are now. And Beck’s teasing/prodding was very entertaining to follow and wonder what he’d do next to get on Nellie’s nerves! I also loved Nellie’s friendship with her twin brother Jamie and their shared best friend Daisy! They all knew each other well enough to understand what the other(s) wanted to say overall just by looking at each other’s faces and were willing to do anything for the others in their little group.
I can’t wait to find out more about Jamie & Daisy in the next book of this series!
Summary:
Eleanor Brighton does everything in her power to be the perfect daughter. From her grades to her acceptance of her mother’s clothing suggestions to her choice to go into her father’s alma mater for her first semester of college next year. But being perfect doesn’t seem to be enough to catch her father’s attention and approval. And Eleanor is drowning under the pressure of wanting to change that.
Of course, that isn’t all Eleanor will have to deal with for the end of her senior year. Because Beckham Jennings has managed to return. Four years ago, he’d been kicked out for setting the country club’s prized garden on fire. And now Beck is back with a promised wrapped in a threat: he’ll do everything in his power to remind Eleanor what it’s like to fall for someone. And with their history, Eleanor just might let him. Especially since everything that happened is all her fault…
May 15, 2026
This book was so good! I mean, I should have known it would be good when I opened the book to a Stray Kids quote in the dedication. 😏 While I'm fairly new to Sarah Sutton as an author, I've really enjoyed the books I've read from her so far. She does such an excellent job at weaving more serious, heavy topics and themes into an otherwise light, wholesome romance without it feeling weighed down. Speaking of wholesome romance, Beck and Nellie's whole dynamic and slow burn was my absolute favorite part of this book! Their banter, bickering, tension, lingering touches and glances, and yearning was so deliciously beautiful to read. They are THE example of a well-developed slow burn. Plus, there was so much substance and tension in their relationship without any of the spice (nothing against spicy scenes at all, but sometimes I really crave a sweet wholesome romance without them). I also really liked both characters as individuals. Despite how much Nellie tells herself she has to be perfect, she is far from it, and I liked how realistic she is. She doesn't always respond or react in the way that others expect from her, and her character development throughout the book was written very well. I felt SO BAD for Beck, like that man continually pulled on my heartstrings and had me crying. At the same time, I adored his flirting and teasing; he was so dreamy and such a good MMC. :) Another thing I really liked in this book was Jamie and Nellie's twin bond. Jamie is the best brother and always had Nellie's back; I just love how they're so close with each other and I love Jamie. I'm super excited for when and if he gets his own book! Overall, I had a great time reading this book, and I'm very thankful to Sarah Sutton for allowing me to arc read Beauty and the Bad Boy!
I received an arc copy of this book from the author and am sharing my honest review.
I received an arc copy of this book from the author and am sharing my honest review.
June 7, 2026
GUYS I FOUND ANOTHER SERIES OF ROMANCE BOOKS IM SO SO SO EXCITED😛😛😛
Review of advance copy received from Author
"Eleanor Brighton was perfect. P-E-R-F-E-C-T."
I was so excited to revisit the Brighton house in this book.
I love Two Kinds of Us, Destelle and Harry's story is such a wild rollercoaster and this book was just as crazy.
One thing about Sarah's books is that you are guaranteed to have a fun time, her stories are so well written and emotional. Yes it's a YA romance but one thing that you always get in a Sarah Sutton romance is a moment in the third act that makes your heart break.
Her writing is so overwhelmingly detailed and she writes the most swoon worthy characters.
Sarah writes character driven stories that are easy and fun to read, whilst still having that gut wrenching moment that leaves you sobbing.
The pacing is always spot on throughout, and you can tell how much thought goes into planning out her books.
Nellie's character struggles a lot throughout this book. All her life she's wanted to be P-E-R-F-E-C-T. She has tried to be the daughter that her parents wanted her older sister to be.
She looked up to Destelle throughout her childhood and when Destelle left home, Nellie held to the promise that her big sister would come and visit. So inevitably when Destelle doesn't visit, Nellie feels hurt and alone and turns on herself a little bit, making a few big mistakes and has to shove the truth about what she did deep down and keep it a secret and try to be the P-E-R-F-E-C-T daughter.
I loved her internal monologue, how she falls back on spelling things when she's nervous. I thought it was the perfect little quirk for her considering that in Two Kinds Of Us she did spelling tests on herself all the time.
She has so many thoughts on her family and the people around her, on who she likes and a lot about who she doesn't like.
She's struggling a lot and is under so much pressure to put the best foot forward for everyone around her, even if it means hurting herself in the process.
I loved her and Jamie, their twin connection was such a fun one to explore, they truly are such an amazing sibling duo.
Jamie makes sure he is there for Nellie throughout everything with their parents and Destelle and even with Beck. He is such a good brother and I can't wait to learn more about him.
I really wasn't a fan of Nellie and Carter, I think he just wasn't my kind of guy and Nellie could do so much better than him.
I did love her with Daisy though, their friendship was such a sweet one and you can tell they have each other's backs no matter what.
Beck is the perfect Bad Boy in my opinion.
He was sent away after destroying a prize rosebush and now he's back.
Sarah has given us a few bad boy characters now, but out of all of them I think Beck might be my favourite. He has that typical bad boy vibe, gives off that 'I don;'t care what you think of me and will do what I want' which is exactly the vibe I want when reading a bad boy romance.
He's a very strong willed character, he's been wronged and he knows what he wants, who he likes and doesn't like.
I loved his love-hate relationship with Nellie. They were close for a long time until he was sent away so when he comes back he throws Nellie off a little and he definitely gets a kick from seeing her acting like the shy nervous girl he remembers.
But he knows her so well,I love how he uses her spelling things as a tool to calm her down when she's too stressed.
I adored Nellie and Beck's book and can't wait for Daisy and Jamie's story.
I was so excited to revisit the Brighton house in this book.
I love Two Kinds of Us, Destelle and Harry's story is such a wild rollercoaster and this book was just as crazy.
One thing about Sarah's books is that you are guaranteed to have a fun time, her stories are so well written and emotional. Yes it's a YA romance but one thing that you always get in a Sarah Sutton romance is a moment in the third act that makes your heart break.
Her writing is so overwhelmingly detailed and she writes the most swoon worthy characters.
Sarah writes character driven stories that are easy and fun to read, whilst still having that gut wrenching moment that leaves you sobbing.
The pacing is always spot on throughout, and you can tell how much thought goes into planning out her books.
Nellie's character struggles a lot throughout this book. All her life she's wanted to be P-E-R-F-E-C-T. She has tried to be the daughter that her parents wanted her older sister to be.
She looked up to Destelle throughout her childhood and when Destelle left home, Nellie held to the promise that her big sister would come and visit. So inevitably when Destelle doesn't visit, Nellie feels hurt and alone and turns on herself a little bit, making a few big mistakes and has to shove the truth about what she did deep down and keep it a secret and try to be the P-E-R-F-E-C-T daughter.
I loved her internal monologue, how she falls back on spelling things when she's nervous. I thought it was the perfect little quirk for her considering that in Two Kinds Of Us she did spelling tests on herself all the time.
She has so many thoughts on her family and the people around her, on who she likes and a lot about who she doesn't like.
She's struggling a lot and is under so much pressure to put the best foot forward for everyone around her, even if it means hurting herself in the process.
I loved her and Jamie, their twin connection was such a fun one to explore, they truly are such an amazing sibling duo.
Jamie makes sure he is there for Nellie throughout everything with their parents and Destelle and even with Beck. He is such a good brother and I can't wait to learn more about him.
I really wasn't a fan of Nellie and Carter, I think he just wasn't my kind of guy and Nellie could do so much better than him.
I did love her with Daisy though, their friendship was such a sweet one and you can tell they have each other's backs no matter what.
Beck is the perfect Bad Boy in my opinion.
He was sent away after destroying a prize rosebush and now he's back.
Sarah has given us a few bad boy characters now, but out of all of them I think Beck might be my favourite. He has that typical bad boy vibe, gives off that 'I don;'t care what you think of me and will do what I want' which is exactly the vibe I want when reading a bad boy romance.
He's a very strong willed character, he's been wronged and he knows what he wants, who he likes and doesn't like.
I loved his love-hate relationship with Nellie. They were close for a long time until he was sent away so when he comes back he throws Nellie off a little and he definitely gets a kick from seeing her acting like the shy nervous girl he remembers.
But he knows her so well,I love how he uses her spelling things as a tool to calm her down when she's too stressed.
I adored Nellie and Beck's book and can't wait for Daisy and Jamie's story.
June 21, 2026
Beauty and the Bad Boy is the first book in Sarah’s new YA Duology “Beauties and Boys” but interconnected to the “Love in Fenton County” series and the “Luxuries of Love” Duology”.
While I can’t relate at all to the ‘elite society’ world Nellie lives in, I think it’s especially refreshing how Sarah makes even the snobbiest characters approachable. (I’m especially thinking about ‘ice queen’ Margot from “Love and Other Champagne Problems” or Aaron Astor from “the Princess and the Fraud”.)
Does this make sense? Like I would probably never get in a situation where I would befriend someone like Nellie in real life, as a reader I started to understand and like her, to empathize with her and the specific problems the expectation of being “perfect” comes with.
Nellie is not really a snob, I have to take that back. But she can seem like one and she tries very hard to be, well, perfect in her little country club bubble. I actually liked her a lot and I think Sarah has a special talent to let us readers connect to characters that are completely different from us. Her characters are unique, but their emotions, their thoughts and their problems just feel real and make them relatable no matter if their personalities or life circumstances are similar to our own.
Nellie is someone who has everything planned out. Calm, driven, in control.
But when Beck enters her life again, she starts to question her past behaviour and her goals for her future.
Beck is not the nicest guy in the beginning to put it mildly, but I knew we would get to learn his backstory and yes, he definitely redeemed himself in the end. I couldn’t stop reading because I wanted so badly for Nellie to just apologize and give him a big hug!
I just love Sarah’s way of writing these slow burn love stories. The perfect mix of swoon without any need for spicy scenes, with a dash of angst and the anticipation that makes the first kiss so much sweeter. (Yes, also to the reader!)
Kind of a side note, but I have read all of Sarah’s books and in my opinion Destelle, Nellie’s older sister, is her least likeable main character. So I wasn’t so sure if I wanted to read about her again but I was pleasantly surprised that not only Nellie but to a certain degree Destelle herself too were aware of her flaws so the sisterly reunion was actually really sweet.
Also I love Jamie! This is the kind of sibling relationship I want to read about and I can’t wait for his and Daisy’s book!
* Thank you to the author for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own.
While I can’t relate at all to the ‘elite society’ world Nellie lives in, I think it’s especially refreshing how Sarah makes even the snobbiest characters approachable. (I’m especially thinking about ‘ice queen’ Margot from “Love and Other Champagne Problems” or Aaron Astor from “the Princess and the Fraud”.)
Does this make sense? Like I would probably never get in a situation where I would befriend someone like Nellie in real life, as a reader I started to understand and like her, to empathize with her and the specific problems the expectation of being “perfect” comes with.
Nellie is not really a snob, I have to take that back. But she can seem like one and she tries very hard to be, well, perfect in her little country club bubble. I actually liked her a lot and I think Sarah has a special talent to let us readers connect to characters that are completely different from us. Her characters are unique, but their emotions, their thoughts and their problems just feel real and make them relatable no matter if their personalities or life circumstances are similar to our own.
Nellie is someone who has everything planned out. Calm, driven, in control.
But when Beck enters her life again, she starts to question her past behaviour and her goals for her future.
Beck is not the nicest guy in the beginning to put it mildly, but I knew we would get to learn his backstory and yes, he definitely redeemed himself in the end. I couldn’t stop reading because I wanted so badly for Nellie to just apologize and give him a big hug!
I just love Sarah’s way of writing these slow burn love stories. The perfect mix of swoon without any need for spicy scenes, with a dash of angst and the anticipation that makes the first kiss so much sweeter. (Yes, also to the reader!)
Kind of a side note, but I have read all of Sarah’s books and in my opinion Destelle, Nellie’s older sister, is her least likeable main character. So I wasn’t so sure if I wanted to read about her again but I was pleasantly surprised that not only Nellie but to a certain degree Destelle herself too were aware of her flaws so the sisterly reunion was actually really sweet.
Also I love Jamie! This is the kind of sibling relationship I want to read about and I can’t wait for his and Daisy’s book!
* Thank you to the author for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own.
June 23, 2026
3.5 stars
I absolutely loved this book. Slow burn alert!
The characters were, without a doubt, my favorite part of the story. The tension between them had me completely invested from beginning to end. It was both frustrating and heartbreaking to watch them take one step forward, open up to each other, and then somehow end up back where they started. I wanted to shake them more than once. The amount of time it took them to apologize, be honest, and admit what they truly felt for each other drove me crazy, in the best possible way.
What made it even harder was seeing how much suffering could have been avoided if people had simply communicated. So many misunderstandings caused unnecessary pain, and while it was frustrating, it also made the story feel incredibly emotional and real.
I felt especially sorry for Eleanor. I completely understand why she feels so lost and disconnected from her family, and I found it easy to empathize with her situation. At the same time, she struggles to deal with her emotions in a healthy way, which often leads to more hurt for herself and those around her. That's why I loved her character arc so much. Seeing her gradually open up, trust others, and start considering how her actions affect the people she cares about was incredibly satisfying. For me, she is the character who grows the most throughout the book.
Jamie remains one of my favorite characters, and her best friend brings exactly the kind of chaos and energy that balances him out perfectly.
And then there's Beck. My heart broke for him. Going from feeling abandoned and misunderstood to doing everything he can just to stay close to Eleanor because he loves her so deeply... I suffered alongside him throughout the entire book. More than anyone else, he had me emotionally invested in his journey.
Overall, this book put me through every possible emotion. It frustrated me, broke my heart, made me hopeful, and kept me completely invested in the characters from start to finish.
I absolutely loved this book. Slow burn alert!
The characters were, without a doubt, my favorite part of the story. The tension between them had me completely invested from beginning to end. It was both frustrating and heartbreaking to watch them take one step forward, open up to each other, and then somehow end up back where they started. I wanted to shake them more than once. The amount of time it took them to apologize, be honest, and admit what they truly felt for each other drove me crazy, in the best possible way.
What made it even harder was seeing how much suffering could have been avoided if people had simply communicated. So many misunderstandings caused unnecessary pain, and while it was frustrating, it also made the story feel incredibly emotional and real.
I felt especially sorry for Eleanor. I completely understand why she feels so lost and disconnected from her family, and I found it easy to empathize with her situation. At the same time, she struggles to deal with her emotions in a healthy way, which often leads to more hurt for herself and those around her. That's why I loved her character arc so much. Seeing her gradually open up, trust others, and start considering how her actions affect the people she cares about was incredibly satisfying. For me, she is the character who grows the most throughout the book.
Jamie remains one of my favorite characters, and her best friend brings exactly the kind of chaos and energy that balances him out perfectly.
And then there's Beck. My heart broke for him. Going from feeling abandoned and misunderstood to doing everything he can just to stay close to Eleanor because he loves her so deeply... I suffered alongside him throughout the entire book. More than anyone else, he had me emotionally invested in his journey.
Overall, this book put me through every possible emotion. It frustrated me, broke my heart, made me hopeful, and kept me completely invested in the characters from start to finish.
August 19, 2026
Beauty and the Bad Boy by Sarah Sutton absolutely stole my heart. It has everything I love about a sweet YA romance—childhood history, enemies-to-lovers tension, a misunderstood bad boy, an imperfect “perfect” girl, second chances, delicious slow-burn yearning, and enough emotional baggage to make you desperately want these two to finally TALK TO EACH OTHER.
Eleanor “Nellie” Brighton has spent years trying to be P-E-R-F-E-C-T. Perfect grades. Perfect daughter. Perfect future. Perfect everything. But underneath all that perfection is a girl who is exhausted from trying to earn everyone’s approval. I loved watching those carefully constructed walls start to crack, because Nellie’s journey becomes about so much more than romance. She has to figure out who she is when she stops living her life according to everyone else’s expectations.
And then there’s Beckham “Beck” Jennings.
Oh, Beck. The supposed bad boy who came back to town carrying a reputation, a whole lot of hurt, and one very specific mission: steal Nellie’s heart. The problem? He doesn’t realize that he’s basically had it since they were kids. Four years earlier, Nellie played a devastating role in what happened to Beck and why he left town, so his return brings all those buried feelings—love, guilt, anger, betrayal and longing—straight back to the surface. .
Their chemistry was EVERYTHING. The teasing. The bickering. The lingering looks. The old feelings neither of them can completely bury. Beck knows exactly how to push Nellie’s buttons, and watching her desperately try to maintain her perfect composure around the one boy capable of completely unraveling her was so much fun.
But what really made me fall for their story was realizing that neither one is quite what everyone believes them to be. Nellie isn’t actually the flawless girl she presents to the world, and Beck isn’t simply the troublemaking bad boy everyone decided he was. They’re two lonely, hurting people who knew each other before all those labels existed.
Eleanor “Nellie” Brighton has spent years trying to be P-E-R-F-E-C-T. Perfect grades. Perfect daughter. Perfect future. Perfect everything. But underneath all that perfection is a girl who is exhausted from trying to earn everyone’s approval. I loved watching those carefully constructed walls start to crack, because Nellie’s journey becomes about so much more than romance. She has to figure out who she is when she stops living her life according to everyone else’s expectations.
And then there’s Beckham “Beck” Jennings.
Oh, Beck. The supposed bad boy who came back to town carrying a reputation, a whole lot of hurt, and one very specific mission: steal Nellie’s heart. The problem? He doesn’t realize that he’s basically had it since they were kids. Four years earlier, Nellie played a devastating role in what happened to Beck and why he left town, so his return brings all those buried feelings—love, guilt, anger, betrayal and longing—straight back to the surface. .
Their chemistry was EVERYTHING. The teasing. The bickering. The lingering looks. The old feelings neither of them can completely bury. Beck knows exactly how to push Nellie’s buttons, and watching her desperately try to maintain her perfect composure around the one boy capable of completely unraveling her was so much fun.
But what really made me fall for their story was realizing that neither one is quite what everyone believes them to be. Nellie isn’t actually the flawless girl she presents to the world, and Beck isn’t simply the troublemaking bad boy everyone decided he was. They’re two lonely, hurting people who knew each other before all those labels existed.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this book! At first sight, this might seem like a story that you already know by heart, something read or even watched many times before, but it has a distinct feeling of depth while keeping it light enough to be a "fun read." When I first read the blurb I was already sold, but let me tell you: this book was ART. It has the vibes of the (not annoying/not toxic parts of) "The Summer I Turned Pretty" and "10 Things I Hate About You" at the same time! It's one of those books that you can clearly see in your head like a movie.
I'm amazed at the characters Sarah created; dear Eleanor Brighton was hard to empathize with at the beginning, but it wasn't long after that I found myself thinking how relatable she and her struggles are. I loved the portrayal of the complex family dynamics and the perception of parental love. Getting to see Nelly's dad's struggles and regrets is one of the deepest points of the book, in my opinion, and it was beautiful. Beck... Without spoiling any plot points, it's difficult to give an accurate description of him, but there's more to him than what he shows, and what lies beneath the surface made him an incredibly dear character. You just want to give the boy a hug! Sometimes supporting characters can feel decorative, but that was not the case in this story. Everyone felt like an integral part of the story, just as they were of Nelly's life; that was expertly done.
I kept trying to guess how the story would unfold and what the different motivations were. I'm glad to say that Sarah's "hows," while predictable to some (not to me, though 😅), were like fresh air. I enjoyed the novelty while still having fun trying to make guesses along the way.
Even though this is YA, this wasn't one of those books in which I had to remind myself time and time again that these people are, in fact, teenagers. There are insecurities, hurt, and immaturity at times, but it's not annoyingly presented. It's real. And that made this a perfect read (😉🤭).
I'm amazed at the characters Sarah created; dear Eleanor Brighton was hard to empathize with at the beginning, but it wasn't long after that I found myself thinking how relatable she and her struggles are. I loved the portrayal of the complex family dynamics and the perception of parental love. Getting to see Nelly's dad's struggles and regrets is one of the deepest points of the book, in my opinion, and it was beautiful. Beck... Without spoiling any plot points, it's difficult to give an accurate description of him, but there's more to him than what he shows, and what lies beneath the surface made him an incredibly dear character. You just want to give the boy a hug! Sometimes supporting characters can feel decorative, but that was not the case in this story. Everyone felt like an integral part of the story, just as they were of Nelly's life; that was expertly done.
I kept trying to guess how the story would unfold and what the different motivations were. I'm glad to say that Sarah's "hows," while predictable to some (not to me, though 😅), were like fresh air. I enjoyed the novelty while still having fun trying to make guesses along the way.
Even though this is YA, this wasn't one of those books in which I had to remind myself time and time again that these people are, in fact, teenagers. There are insecurities, hurt, and immaturity at times, but it's not annoyingly presented. It's real. And that made this a perfect read (😉🤭).
July 21, 2026
I’m genuinely wondering how this is the first Sarah Sutton book I’ve ever come across when she’s been writing for years, because saying I’m impressed doesn’t even begin to cover it. I absolutely loved loved loved this book 😍😍. A time was truly had. I’m reading other books right now, but I feel like diving into book 2 like yesterday 🙃.
YA isn’t usually my go‑to genre, but clean romance is right up my alley, so when I saw this book I was willing to give it a chance. I did drag my feet a bit (and of course it’s always the books I drag my feet with that end up being the best reading experiences of my life).
I really liked how Beck was written. Even without his POV, you still understand him so clearly and the bad boy was bad boying in the best way 😅. The things this man said were bold, audacious, and unexpectedly exactly my type. I didn’t know I liked my MMCs like that, but Beck has redefined what a 10/10 male lead should be. He had my jaw dropping more times than I can count, and I loved every moment.
As a perfectionist myself, I appreciated how the author handled that aspect. I’ve been thinking about that whole conversation they had, and I want to sit with it and find ways to lean more into being myself rather than being perfect. The parenting element was also handled with such care — more parents truly need to understand how important their role is in their children’s lives.
Daisy’s friendship with the twins was beautiful in every sense, and I loved their interactions.
And let’s take a moment (or two… or twenty) for the slow burn and sizzling chemistry I did not expect in a YA book but ended up absolutely devouring. I was well fed. This book was exactly my cup of tea, and I enjoyed every bit of it. Now I want to walk my way through all of Sarah Sutton’s other books — I’m excited for what’s ahead.
Thank you, Author Sarah Sutton, for writing such an incredible book ❤️❤️
YA isn’t usually my go‑to genre, but clean romance is right up my alley, so when I saw this book I was willing to give it a chance. I did drag my feet a bit (and of course it’s always the books I drag my feet with that end up being the best reading experiences of my life).
I really liked how Beck was written. Even without his POV, you still understand him so clearly and the bad boy was bad boying in the best way 😅. The things this man said were bold, audacious, and unexpectedly exactly my type. I didn’t know I liked my MMCs like that, but Beck has redefined what a 10/10 male lead should be. He had my jaw dropping more times than I can count, and I loved every moment.
As a perfectionist myself, I appreciated how the author handled that aspect. I’ve been thinking about that whole conversation they had, and I want to sit with it and find ways to lean more into being myself rather than being perfect. The parenting element was also handled with such care — more parents truly need to understand how important their role is in their children’s lives.
Daisy’s friendship with the twins was beautiful in every sense, and I loved their interactions.
And let’s take a moment (or two… or twenty) for the slow burn and sizzling chemistry I did not expect in a YA book but ended up absolutely devouring. I was well fed. This book was exactly my cup of tea, and I enjoyed every bit of it. Now I want to walk my way through all of Sarah Sutton’s other books — I’m excited for what’s ahead.
Thank you, Author Sarah Sutton, for writing such an incredible book ❤️❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
♟️🩷Beauty and the Bad Boy by Sarah Sutton🩷♟️
Book #1 in the Beauties and Boys series.
ARC Book Review!
📖Released and Available TODAY📖
OH. MY. GOODNESS.
This was my first ever book I’ve read by Sarah and it won’t be my last! This book exceeded my expectations and I LOVED it so much.
The banter, the TENSION, the characters, BECK… E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G was done so well to the T, even beyond the T 😂.
~ NELLIE ~
I loved her so much! There were times where I would just wanted to give her a huge hug and say she didn’t have to be perfect to be loved. OH and I loved how she would spell words in her mind for comfort or when she was nervous! I so so enjoyed her character and I felt like I really could connect with her. She really shone in my eyes even though she made a few mistakes on the way.
And I can’t not mention our sweet BOOKISH JAMIE (Nellie’s twin)!!
He’s the perfect brother and I CANNOT WAIT FOR HIS AND DAISY’S STORY.
~ BECK ~
Man, THIS BOY. UGH he made me swoon and I fell for him the second he cam into the story. There’s just something about a guy who knows how to push your buttons, but do it in a flirty way that gives you butterflies. AND I FALL FOR IT.
EVERY👏🏼SINGLE👏🏼TIME👏🏼🤭😍
And then not only was he a “bad boy” but he had a secret soft spot for ONLY HER! {swoon}
💕My Favorite Parts💕
♟️The ”I Don’t Wanna”
♟️The Broken Seatbelt 🤭
♟️The Mud Fight
♟️The BANTER
♟️When they play chess for the first time in FOREVER
♟️HER SPELLINGS
♟️The closet scene
♟️The kisses🔥
Ok if none of this doesn’t sell you to go read this book this instant, then I don’t know what will! If I could share every single quote, it’d be this whole BOOK 🩷
I totally recommend this Swoony YA Romance to anyone one looking for an MMC to totally win you over and a romance you’ll be rooting for ‘till the end!
My rating: 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️ Age Recommendation: 15+ ⚠️
CONTENT INFO‼️
Sexual Content: No Spice- up tp semi-detailed kisses, flirting, embraces
Language: No cussing- a form of hell said
Violence: not really none
LGBTQ content: NONE!
Book #1 in the Beauties and Boys series.
ARC Book Review!
📖Released and Available TODAY📖
OH. MY. GOODNESS.
This was my first ever book I’ve read by Sarah and it won’t be my last! This book exceeded my expectations and I LOVED it so much.
The banter, the TENSION, the characters, BECK… E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G was done so well to the T, even beyond the T 😂.
~ NELLIE ~
I loved her so much! There were times where I would just wanted to give her a huge hug and say she didn’t have to be perfect to be loved. OH and I loved how she would spell words in her mind for comfort or when she was nervous! I so so enjoyed her character and I felt like I really could connect with her. She really shone in my eyes even though she made a few mistakes on the way.
And I can’t not mention our sweet BOOKISH JAMIE (Nellie’s twin)!!
He’s the perfect brother and I CANNOT WAIT FOR HIS AND DAISY’S STORY.
~ BECK ~
Man, THIS BOY. UGH he made me swoon and I fell for him the second he cam into the story. There’s just something about a guy who knows how to push your buttons, but do it in a flirty way that gives you butterflies. AND I FALL FOR IT.
EVERY👏🏼SINGLE👏🏼TIME👏🏼🤭😍
And then not only was he a “bad boy” but he had a secret soft spot for ONLY HER! {swoon}
💕My Favorite Parts💕
♟️The ”I Don’t Wanna”
♟️The Broken Seatbelt 🤭
♟️The Mud Fight
♟️The BANTER
♟️When they play chess for the first time in FOREVER
♟️HER SPELLINGS
♟️The closet scene
♟️The kisses🔥
Ok if none of this doesn’t sell you to go read this book this instant, then I don’t know what will! If I could share every single quote, it’d be this whole BOOK 🩷
I totally recommend this Swoony YA Romance to anyone one looking for an MMC to totally win you over and a romance you’ll be rooting for ‘till the end!
My rating: 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️ Age Recommendation: 15+ ⚠️
CONTENT INFO‼️
Sexual Content: No Spice- up tp semi-detailed kisses, flirting, embraces
Language: No cussing- a form of hell said
Violence: not really none
LGBTQ content: NONE!
May 14, 2026
Sarah Sutton did it again!
A sweet and swoony YA romance with amazing storytelling and beautiful character growth!
Sarah is one of my favourite YA authors, as she not only excels in building characters, but also in writing their respective developments. So, I was really happy to receive an ARC of her upcoming book. And, as always, the story did not disappoint.
Beauty and the Bad Boy perfectly captures the themes most young adults struggle with growing up and before stepping foot into the world of adulthood. Eleanor, our FMC, was very fixated on becoming "perfect" and building a "perfect" future (basically building her whole life around the adjective), which made her a little unlikable at first, but also showed how vulnerable and anxious she actually was. She was constantly strategizing and planning her every move to make everyone proud of her, not realizing that she was close to losing her individuality.
Her obsession with trying to reach something which is, in general, unreachable, was so deep that she did not realize the damage this was doing to herself. Her slow but steady character growth was very well written and I loved how she learned the beauty in living life imperfectly.
Beck, our MMC, was a victim of how people tend to label and generalize someone as something negative because the circumstances surrounding him made him appear as such. Behind the "bad boy" label, there was a young boy who became an embodiment of sadness and loneliness, trying to find a place where he belongs and where he is missed. Beck coming back showed how he did not give up on himself and how he tried to fight the loneliness by coming back to the girl who made him feel like he belonged.
A sweet and swoony YA romance with amazing storytelling and beautiful character growth!
Sarah is one of my favourite YA authors, as she not only excels in building characters, but also in writing their respective developments. So, I was really happy to receive an ARC of her upcoming book. And, as always, the story did not disappoint.
Beauty and the Bad Boy perfectly captures the themes most young adults struggle with growing up and before stepping foot into the world of adulthood. Eleanor, our FMC, was very fixated on becoming "perfect" and building a "perfect" future (basically building her whole life around the adjective), which made her a little unlikable at first, but also showed how vulnerable and anxious she actually was. She was constantly strategizing and planning her every move to make everyone proud of her, not realizing that she was close to losing her individuality.
Her obsession with trying to reach something which is, in general, unreachable, was so deep that she did not realize the damage this was doing to herself. Her slow but steady character growth was very well written and I loved how she learned the beauty in living life imperfectly.
Beck, our MMC, was a victim of how people tend to label and generalize someone as something negative because the circumstances surrounding him made him appear as such. Behind the "bad boy" label, there was a young boy who became an embodiment of sadness and loneliness, trying to find a place where he belongs and where he is missed. Beck coming back showed how he did not give up on himself and how he tried to fight the loneliness by coming back to the girl who made him feel like he belonged.
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