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By the Book
In this clever YA rom-com debut perfect for fans of Kasie West and Ashley Poston, a teen obsessed with nineteenth-century literature tries to cull advice on life and love from her favorite classic heroines to disastrous results—especially when she falls for the school's resident Lothario.
Mary Porter-Malcolm has prepared for high school in the one way she knows an extensive review of classic literature to help navigate the friendships, romantic liaisons, and overall drama she has come to expect from such an "esteemed" institution. When some new friends seem in danger of falling for the same tricks employed since the days of Austen and Tolstoy, Mary swoops in to create the Scoundrel Survival Guide, using archetypes of literature's debonair bad boys to signal red flags. But despite her best efforts, she soon finds herself unable to listen to her own good advice and falling for a supposed cad—the same one she warned her friends away from. Without a convenient rain-swept moor to flee to, Mary is forced to admit that real life doesn't follow the same rules as fiction and that if she wants a happy ending, she's going to have to write it herself.
Mary Porter-Malcolm has prepared for high school in the one way she knows an extensive review of classic literature to help navigate the friendships, romantic liaisons, and overall drama she has come to expect from such an "esteemed" institution. When some new friends seem in danger of falling for the same tricks employed since the days of Austen and Tolstoy, Mary swoops in to create the Scoundrel Survival Guide, using archetypes of literature's debonair bad boys to signal red flags. But despite her best efforts, she soon finds herself unable to listen to her own good advice and falling for a supposed cad—the same one she warned her friends away from. Without a convenient rain-swept moor to flee to, Mary is forced to admit that real life doesn't follow the same rules as fiction and that if she wants a happy ending, she's going to have to write it herself.
389 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2020
501 people are currently reading
23073 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Sellet
6 books448 followersAmanda Sellet is a Gen X ex-journalist who loves old movies, baked goods, and banter.
On the comedy/tragedy question, she is team comedy all the way.
On the comedy/tragedy question, she is team comedy all the way.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,737 reviews
November 23, 2025
Mary Porter-Malcolm knows two things:
1) You can literally find any and all answers within the pages of a good book.
2) Any book published in the last century just isn't worth reading.
Mary spent her entire life deep within the pages of old tomes and classic works...but then the unthinkable happens.
She has to go to public school.
Mary's charter/experimental school at the local college is getting shut down and she couldn't be more horrified.
This 18th century girl is shlumped in with the 21st century kids - and nothing will ever be the same.
So. Thoughts on this one.
I do slightly like the concept more than the actual book.
I love the idea of an "old soul" having to swing it with the cool kids. It was fun to watch Mary learn how to navigate high school and try (her best) to fit in.
And I enjoyed quite a few of the side characters and subplots of this book - particularly Mary's hilarious family. They were the absolute standout of the series.
However...it felt like sometimes the author was pushing the narrative of "old-fashioned teenager" too much.
Mary's actions/reactions to events began to get over-the-top for me by the first quarter of the book and by the time I was 3/4 through, I was kinda getting tired of her.
I feel like if she was just toned down a bit more then I could've enjoyed the story more.
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February 10, 2021
The perfect YA rom-com for Jane Austen nerds.
As a devotee of classic novels, Mary Porter-Malcolm knows all about Mistakes That Have Been Made, especially by impressionable young women. So when a girl at her new high school nearly succumbs to the wiles of a notorious cad, Mary starts compiling the Scoundrel Survival Guide, a rundown of literary types to be avoided at all costs.
Unfortunately, Mary is better at dishing out advice than taking it—and the number one bad boy on her list is terribly debonair. As her best intentions go up in flames, Mary discovers life doesn’t follow the same rules as fiction. If she wants a happy ending IRL, she’ll have to write it herself.
Okay, so this was super cute. I loved Mary's obsession with classics/period dramas. The references and puns had me DYING. I also liked her big family, and the journey in which she learns how to navigate true friendship. It was actually kind of scary how much she reminded me of ME at that age - fifteen, unbearably naive, lonely, and completely unversed in love.
(Not much has changed, actually.)
However, there were parts where her own naivety made me struggle as a reader. I wished she would have stuck up for herself more.
Now...Alex Ritter. He was amazing! I understand the importance of writing a coming-of-age tale that doesn't involve just romance, but family, and friends, etc., However, I needed more moments between Alex and Mary! I felt like if their relationship had been more of the focus I would have fallen head over heels in love with this book.
And lastly, I liked how the novel shed light on what true friendship looks like versus toxic ones. That was an element of the story I could very much relate to.
Overall, I enjoyed this!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a copy! By the Book is officially out now!
As a devotee of classic novels, Mary Porter-Malcolm knows all about Mistakes That Have Been Made, especially by impressionable young women. So when a girl at her new high school nearly succumbs to the wiles of a notorious cad, Mary starts compiling the Scoundrel Survival Guide, a rundown of literary types to be avoided at all costs.
Unfortunately, Mary is better at dishing out advice than taking it—and the number one bad boy on her list is terribly debonair. As her best intentions go up in flames, Mary discovers life doesn’t follow the same rules as fiction. If she wants a happy ending IRL, she’ll have to write it herself.
Okay, so this was super cute. I loved Mary's obsession with classics/period dramas. The references and puns had me DYING. I also liked her big family, and the journey in which she learns how to navigate true friendship. It was actually kind of scary how much she reminded me of ME at that age - fifteen, unbearably naive, lonely, and completely unversed in love.
(Not much has changed, actually.)
However, there were parts where her own naivety made me struggle as a reader. I wished she would have stuck up for herself more.
Now...Alex Ritter. He was amazing! I understand the importance of writing a coming-of-age tale that doesn't involve just romance, but family, and friends, etc., However, I needed more moments between Alex and Mary! I felt like if their relationship had been more of the focus I would have fallen head over heels in love with this book.
And lastly, I liked how the novel shed light on what true friendship looks like versus toxic ones. That was an element of the story I could very much relate to.
Overall, I enjoyed this!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a copy! By the Book is officially out now!
May 3, 2025
First of all, I would say: this book is not for everyone. It's a slow-paced book and the plot was almost inexistent. The main character's way of speaking may also not be engaging, seeing how she spends most of her time immersed in 19th-century literature; people may find this monotonous.
However, I like this just fine which is quite shocking (even myself) considering that I couldn't usually get the hang of this kind of writing and pace most times.
I had different expectations when I read this, thinking that romance will be the main focus of this book but it seems like the role is reversed, as this book emphasized more on family and friend values; which I love the big family dynamic in this book. The author gives varied personation to all the side characters, you will find yourself plunge into reading how Mary grew up with her family. You also get to see how different yet the same all her siblings are.
The same could be said for her friends. In a way, they were pretty much characterless but Arden, Lydia and Tessa are all different, it was heartwarming as you watch their friendship develops. Mary also gets to learn about real friendship from them prior to the toxic friendship she was in. This book depicts the reality and difficulties of coming of age; to find their own identities, the peer pressure, the disappointment. It takes a deft hand at truly exploring the turning points on either end of adolescence, and those events that push us to grow up.
Mary herself isn't really likeable. This reclusive classic nerd could appear judgemental and naive some times but then, you wouldn't expect a 15 years old girl to figure everything out; which is why I find myself resonating with this book. Be that as it may, even with the lukewarm romance, I liked Mary and Alex moments as it was just right and sweet.
I am not a classic lover and I can't remember reading much of them but for the most part, I'm sure if I do, I would love this book even more with all the references. So if you're a classic lover, you might want to give this a shot! It's quite a fun read.
[3.75/5]
However, I like this just fine which is quite shocking (even myself) considering that I couldn't usually get the hang of this kind of writing and pace most times.
"I tried really hard not to do all the things you're not supposed to do, and I still messed everything up. It's not fair"
I had different expectations when I read this, thinking that romance will be the main focus of this book but it seems like the role is reversed, as this book emphasized more on family and friend values; which I love the big family dynamic in this book. The author gives varied personation to all the side characters, you will find yourself plunge into reading how Mary grew up with her family. You also get to see how different yet the same all her siblings are.
The same could be said for her friends. In a way, they were pretty much characterless but Arden, Lydia and Tessa are all different, it was heartwarming as you watch their friendship develops. Mary also gets to learn about real friendship from them prior to the toxic friendship she was in. This book depicts the reality and difficulties of coming of age; to find their own identities, the peer pressure, the disappointment. It takes a deft hand at truly exploring the turning points on either end of adolescence, and those events that push us to grow up.
Mary herself isn't really likeable. This reclusive classic nerd could appear judgemental and naive some times but then, you wouldn't expect a 15 years old girl to figure everything out; which is why I find myself resonating with this book. Be that as it may, even with the lukewarm romance, I liked Mary and Alex moments as it was just right and sweet.
I am not a classic lover and I can't remember reading much of them but for the most part, I'm sure if I do, I would love this book even more with all the references. So if you're a classic lover, you might want to give this a shot! It's quite a fun read.
[3.75/5]
Want to read
June 12, 2019I'll just be here, trying to manage my expectations between the beautiful cover and the punny tittle.
May 26, 2020
DNF! at 55% . I just did not like our main female character. She was judgmental and praised for it and the whole book was going nowhere. I felt like there was no plot. I was stuck between being bored and annoyed.
May 4, 2020
ARC received in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.
A personal anecdote for you that, I swear, relates to this book: I work with a lot of ivy league graduates of the scholarly nature and our main character, Mary’s parents are so painfully, triggeringly, pin-point-perfectly depictive of those types of people.
I truly wondered if I would make it through this book with all the eye-twitching I had going on any time her parents spoke.
Mary’s parents have the uncanny ability to overcomplicate when communicating and they are in need of constant validation and awe with their usage of SAT words in normal conversation.
Honestly, that goes for everyone in Mary’s family. Including our narrator. I tolerated it because her voice makes total sense given her upbringing and obsession with classic novels.
The narrator honest-to-goodness threw in the word “erstwhile.” As soon as I read that, my eye started twitching because I have a vivid experience at work in which my boss’s boss tried to come at us with an email communication to the community using that word, and we (in the marketing/communications department) immediately vetoed it.
As I hit the 50% mark, I began to find Mary charming, funny, and observant, which made for a great reading experience and I fell more and more in love with her big, quirky family. Yes, even her parents whose arms must hurt from all the self back-patting.
I grew up in a big family (3 siblings, lots of cousins) and seeing it depicted in books and movies always warms my heart – especially when done well. It’s why I tear up watching Little Women and why I adored To All the Boys I Loved Before. This was no different.
I say the following with both praise and warning:
The writing style is very nobody-talks-like-that-but-we-love-to-see-it Dawson’s Creek meets SAT prep with a lot of Gilmore Girls, but with classic literature references instead of pop culture references. There is even a glossary of literature references made at the end of the book.
You know how there is a Rory Gilmore reading challenge? I totally could see a Mary Porter-Malcom reading challenge stemming from this book.
All that being said, I think this book is very self-aware. I believe (and hope) that it is meant to be tongue-in-cheek, in which case, it is done incredibly well.
And now, I shall gush, because it’s what I do best:
I loved seeing how Mary’s world clashed with contemporary high school – how she interpreted everyday high school drama and how everyday high schoolers interpreted her.
The friend group in this was so, so refreshing. All three girls have such vivid personalities with little focus on looks, which I so appreciated. I seriously WISH I had friends like those in high school. I’m many, MANY years out of high school and I even wanted to hang out with them.
And who would I be if I didn’t talk about the romance in this book?
YA romances can be pretty predictable, but I’m going to be honest, this one wasn’t nearly as predictable as most YA novels I read. There were SO many sweet, swoony moments. The type of tiny moments that are significant simply because of the build-up.
The inclusion of Mary’s diary entries were not extra fluff. They directed the story in significant, but subtle ways. They weren’t boringly long, they were short and sweet, but packed a punch.
When I closed this book (figuratively speaking because I read the eARC for this), I felt exactly how I hope to feel every time I open one… a little giddy, a little nostalgic, and a lot satisfied.
A personal anecdote for you that, I swear, relates to this book: I work with a lot of ivy league graduates of the scholarly nature and our main character, Mary’s parents are so painfully, triggeringly, pin-point-perfectly depictive of those types of people.
I truly wondered if I would make it through this book with all the eye-twitching I had going on any time her parents spoke.
Mary’s parents have the uncanny ability to overcomplicate when communicating and they are in need of constant validation and awe with their usage of SAT words in normal conversation.
Honestly, that goes for everyone in Mary’s family. Including our narrator. I tolerated it because her voice makes total sense given her upbringing and obsession with classic novels.
The narrator honest-to-goodness threw in the word “erstwhile.” As soon as I read that, my eye started twitching because I have a vivid experience at work in which my boss’s boss tried to come at us with an email communication to the community using that word, and we (in the marketing/communications department) immediately vetoed it.
As I hit the 50% mark, I began to find Mary charming, funny, and observant, which made for a great reading experience and I fell more and more in love with her big, quirky family. Yes, even her parents whose arms must hurt from all the self back-patting.
I grew up in a big family (3 siblings, lots of cousins) and seeing it depicted in books and movies always warms my heart – especially when done well. It’s why I tear up watching Little Women and why I adored To All the Boys I Loved Before. This was no different.
I say the following with both praise and warning:
The writing style is very nobody-talks-like-that-but-we-love-to-see-it Dawson’s Creek meets SAT prep with a lot of Gilmore Girls, but with classic literature references instead of pop culture references. There is even a glossary of literature references made at the end of the book.
You know how there is a Rory Gilmore reading challenge? I totally could see a Mary Porter-Malcom reading challenge stemming from this book.
All that being said, I think this book is very self-aware. I believe (and hope) that it is meant to be tongue-in-cheek, in which case, it is done incredibly well.
And now, I shall gush, because it’s what I do best:
I loved seeing how Mary’s world clashed with contemporary high school – how she interpreted everyday high school drama and how everyday high schoolers interpreted her.
The friend group in this was so, so refreshing. All three girls have such vivid personalities with little focus on looks, which I so appreciated. I seriously WISH I had friends like those in high school. I’m many, MANY years out of high school and I even wanted to hang out with them.
And who would I be if I didn’t talk about the romance in this book?
YA romances can be pretty predictable, but I’m going to be honest, this one wasn’t nearly as predictable as most YA novels I read. There were SO many sweet, swoony moments. The type of tiny moments that are significant simply because of the build-up.
The inclusion of Mary’s diary entries were not extra fluff. They directed the story in significant, but subtle ways. They weren’t boringly long, they were short and sweet, but packed a punch.
When I closed this book (figuratively speaking because I read the eARC for this), I felt exactly how I hope to feel every time I open one… a little giddy, a little nostalgic, and a lot satisfied.
Want to read
June 12, 2021Hello Readers! Popping in to say that if you enjoyed BY THE BOOK, there's a bonus holiday short story set a few weeks after the main action on my website. "Twelfth Night" is narrated by the one-and-only Jasper, and is meant to be a small thank-you to everyone who has given this book a chance. As always, I hope it makes you laugh. https://www.amandasellet.com/extras
Happy reading!
Happy reading!
September 11, 2020
5 out of 5
For me, most YA contemporary romance books are either just okay or end up being a huge miss; most of the time I don’t bother to read any unless the premise piques my interest quite a bit. By the Book definitely caught it the moment I read the synopsis. It appeared to be a fun read but I wasn’t expecting it to be absolutely hilarious and heartwarming.
The most pleasant surprise is how much focus is put on the female friendships. I went in thinking I was only getting a cute romance, but the friendships between Mary and her friends is the heart of the story. It was such a realistic portrayal of a healthy friendship between girls. It did have its ups and downs but it was never overdramatized nor did it lead to girl-on-girl hate. We are shown that real friends will never ask you to change your authentic self, rather they will aid you in your personal growth. This is such an important message to give to YA readers, especially girls.
The romance did take a back seat but the scenes we get were wonderful! Mary has an eccentric flare to her and Alex, the love interest, never questions or belittles her for it. They were both quite comfortable with each other that made the budding romance organic. The banter between the two was hilarious! They had me laughing out loud throughout the book. Actually the whole book did! This author’s style of humor is right up my alley; it was subtle and not in your face. Mary is such a quirky, funny narrator that any bibliophile will be able to relate to.
Just such an amazing debut! Can’t wait to see what Amanda Sellet releases next! I am definitely recommending this book to younger and older readers alike. It was delightful and heartwarming in every way. This book is probably my biggest surprise of 2020 by far.
For me, most YA contemporary romance books are either just okay or end up being a huge miss; most of the time I don’t bother to read any unless the premise piques my interest quite a bit. By the Book definitely caught it the moment I read the synopsis. It appeared to be a fun read but I wasn’t expecting it to be absolutely hilarious and heartwarming.
The most pleasant surprise is how much focus is put on the female friendships. I went in thinking I was only getting a cute romance, but the friendships between Mary and her friends is the heart of the story. It was such a realistic portrayal of a healthy friendship between girls. It did have its ups and downs but it was never overdramatized nor did it lead to girl-on-girl hate. We are shown that real friends will never ask you to change your authentic self, rather they will aid you in your personal growth. This is such an important message to give to YA readers, especially girls.
The romance did take a back seat but the scenes we get were wonderful! Mary has an eccentric flare to her and Alex, the love interest, never questions or belittles her for it. They were both quite comfortable with each other that made the budding romance organic. The banter between the two was hilarious! They had me laughing out loud throughout the book. Actually the whole book did! This author’s style of humor is right up my alley; it was subtle and not in your face. Mary is such a quirky, funny narrator that any bibliophile will be able to relate to.
Just such an amazing debut! Can’t wait to see what Amanda Sellet releases next! I am definitely recommending this book to younger and older readers alike. It was delightful and heartwarming in every way. This book is probably my biggest surprise of 2020 by far.
Want to read
October 12, 2019The cover attracted me at first but after reading the synopsis and seeing this quote.
"If she wants a happy ending IRL, she’ll have to write it herself."
Yeah, bring it on girl. Count me in. Looking forward to reading this!
"If she wants a happy ending IRL, she’ll have to write it herself."
Yeah, bring it on girl. Count me in. Looking forward to reading this!
Read
November 16, 2019This book was *delightful,* and I can’t even imagine how much more I would’ve enjoyed it if I were a fan of the classics. It was so much more friendship-centric than I had anticipated (think Emma Mills - when I saw in the acknowledgments that they have the same agent I was like OF COURSE) and I loved that the MC was from a big family, because you don’t see that so often and it’s such a fun dynamic. It’s so charming, the MC is so so genuinely and lovably bookish, and I love how many references there are to classics throughout. (They’re enumerated and explained at the end, too, which I loved.) If you love Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters, or friendship-centric romance novels, or especially both, I think you will adore this.
July 22, 2021
them: yeah, i was bullied/an outsider back in high school because i was such a book nerd and preferred literature over humans. *sigh* i guess i was just too intellectual for a 15 year old and nobody could understand me at the time...😔
nobody:
them in high school: What caused my steps to falter was that she’d positioned herself at the very center of the room. I might be a babe in the woods when it came to the social politics of Millville High, but a morning had been sufficient to notice a distinct class structure. Not so much in the sense of freshman, sophomore, and so on; this was a hierarchy of position. And right now, the crème de la crème had assembled at the heart of the cafeteria. To insert ourselves among the upper crust on our first day felt presumptuous at best. At worst it would look like we were putting on airs. Getting ideas above our station. Begging for a swift comeuppance. Against this I weighed Anjuli’s rigid posture. I imagined her arriving early to secure us a spot, followed by tense moments alone as she waited for me to appear. Her left arm was crooked protectively around the nearest chair, as though she feared it might be snatched away. Even her hair was on the defensive, the neat braid she’d worn since second grade replaced by a curtain of flowing locks that shielded her face from view.
are. you. fucking. kidding. me.
literally AHHHHHHHHH i'm sooooooooooo mad. i swear to god mary is one of the MOST insufferable, annoying, pompous, self-righteous characters i have EVER come across. she rivals colin craven for the most Irritating Character Award. as someone who was notoriously bookish (i live and breathe classic literature etc.), shy, and a "wallflower" in high school, this book made me want to go back in time and beat myself up. maybe the bullies were right after all....i swear to god if i was like this in high school/talked like this and you hated me - i completely understand.
the ONLY good parts in the book where when alex and some other characters were bitchy to mary because it allowed me to project onto them and pretend that i was bullying her.
nobody:
them in high school: What caused my steps to falter was that she’d positioned herself at the very center of the room. I might be a babe in the woods when it came to the social politics of Millville High, but a morning had been sufficient to notice a distinct class structure. Not so much in the sense of freshman, sophomore, and so on; this was a hierarchy of position. And right now, the crème de la crème had assembled at the heart of the cafeteria. To insert ourselves among the upper crust on our first day felt presumptuous at best. At worst it would look like we were putting on airs. Getting ideas above our station. Begging for a swift comeuppance. Against this I weighed Anjuli’s rigid posture. I imagined her arriving early to secure us a spot, followed by tense moments alone as she waited for me to appear. Her left arm was crooked protectively around the nearest chair, as though she feared it might be snatched away. Even her hair was on the defensive, the neat braid she’d worn since second grade replaced by a curtain of flowing locks that shielded her face from view.
are. you. fucking. kidding. me.
literally AHHHHHHHHH i'm sooooooooooo mad. i swear to god mary is one of the MOST insufferable, annoying, pompous, self-righteous characters i have EVER come across. she rivals colin craven for the most Irritating Character Award. as someone who was notoriously bookish (i live and breathe classic literature etc.), shy, and a "wallflower" in high school, this book made me want to go back in time and beat myself up. maybe the bullies were right after all....i swear to god if i was like this in high school/talked like this and you hated me - i completely understand.
the ONLY good parts in the book where when alex and some other characters were bitchy to mary because it allowed me to project onto them and pretend that i was bullying her.
Read
March 21, 2020DNF @ 5%. I try to go 25% before I give up on a book, but I couldn't even make it through two chapters of this book. It was just trying way too hard. The main character was insufferable. I will say I'm also a lot older than the target audience for this book, so a younger, quirkier crowd may enjoy this much more.
June 17, 2020
This was such a cute book! I had a hard time with the language at first, and I almost DNFed after the first chapter. Mary only reads classic literature and the way she talks and thinks reflects this. But as I got used to this style, it really added to the humour and made Mary into a likable and unique character. How many teenagers think and talk like a turn-of-the-century heroine?
The plot of this story is freaking adorable, and I loved the friends she made--particularly the sweet, quiet, and beautiful Terry who is obsessed with true crime. The book isn't just about the romance--it's about Mary finding friends who appreciate her for who she is <3
Definitely recommend this book to bookaholics (particularly those who love the classics) looking for a sweet YA book.
The plot of this story is freaking adorable, and I loved the friends she made--particularly the sweet, quiet, and beautiful Terry who is obsessed with true crime. The book isn't just about the romance--it's about Mary finding friends who appreciate her for who she is <3
Definitely recommend this book to bookaholics (particularly those who love the classics) looking for a sweet YA book.
June 6, 2020
I was so looking forward to By the Book because I needed a light-hearted read to offset all the heaviness of the world, but this was so poorly written that I struggled to get through it. You'd think that a YA book about a book nerd who begins categorizing boys according to literary tropes would be right up my alley. However, almost all of the interesting action in this book takes place off the page, with characters discussing it after the fact or the narrator dropping references to it after the fact. You don't see Mary or her friends actually developing the Scoundrel Survival Guide, save for a few very brief scenes. And the character development is so thin that nothing they did do on the page made any sense to me. There was no reason to root for the main love story at all. What a disappointment.
August 20, 2020
3.5 Stars
A fun book with intelligent humour and wonderful literary references. Readers will either find Mary Porter-Malcom insufferable or they will find her quirky and charming. I fall into the latter group of Readers. I loved the witty banter between many of the different characters. It reminded me a little bit of the Gilmour Girls in that respect. It's predictable and fluffy and safe. It has made me want to reread some of my favourite classics. An enjoyable read.
A fun book with intelligent humour and wonderful literary references. Readers will either find Mary Porter-Malcom insufferable or they will find her quirky and charming. I fall into the latter group of Readers. I loved the witty banter between many of the different characters. It reminded me a little bit of the Gilmour Girls in that respect. It's predictable and fluffy and safe. It has made me want to reread some of my favourite classics. An enjoyable read.
March 19, 2023
i actually fell in love with this book. i just want this to happen to me now 😭
May 12, 2020
Title: By the Book
Series: Standalone
Author: Amanda Sellet
Release date: May 12, 2020
Cliffhanger: no
Genre: young adult
I was desperate to read this book the minute I saw it. I'm a sucker for bookish heroines so it seemed like this story had my name written all over it. Undoubtedly, Mary's love for books was her most admirable trait for me. She seemed to have an encyclopedic knowledge of classic literature characters, which is rare for someone her age. Though it's not beyond the realm of possibility, considering the fact that both of her parents are professors. She grew up going to a non-traditional school on her parents' campus where she was surrounded by academics. She'd always felt at home there, but her life is about to be turned upside down when her parents inform her that she'll be starting a new school for her sophomore year. At Melville High, she'll only know two people, but at least she has that to cling to. Until she doesn't. She gets "dumped" by her friends-publicly no less. To say she's off to a rocky start is an understatement.
Mary sees herself as rather unremarkable, without any talents or interesting qualities that would find her a clique to fit in with. She doesn't let it discourage her, and she isn't too hard on herself for having to figure herself out a little bit.
Just because I wasn’t a theatrical impresario or star athlete didn’t mean I had nothing to offer. It was taking me longer to find my niche, that was all.
Everything turns around for Mary when she impresses a trio of girls who allow her into their fold. A chance meeting convinces them she would be a valuable new member of their group when she gives them inside information on Alex, whom she labels the most dastardly of roguish rakes. (i.e: a player) Her new calling is found: using her book smarts on classic lit characters and applying what she learned to real people. Unfortunately, people are rarely what they appear on the surface, and placing simple labels on people is doomed for failure.
The purpose of the Scoundrel List isn’t to point out the obvious villains: guys who steal your inheritance or lock you in a tower or invite their mistress to move into the guest room. It’s about finding the ones who conceal their treachery behind a smiling façade. That’s the kind of nefariousness you have to watch out for.
The book is close to 400 pages, and I think condensing the page count would have been ideal. We see Mary enjoying life in the "popular world" and relishing new experiences. Going to a big party, cruising the mall, and socializing while on the hunt for the perfect dates for the winter formal. More focus was put on this rather than developing the romance arc. During this time, she struggles to maintain the pretense that she's a worldly girl with all of the answers. Her new friends are so impressed with her ability to peg people at a glance, but what would they do if they knew she wasn't always so confident? Who better to help her pick out potential "suitors" for her friends than Alex the serial dater?
Alex was a pretty sweet guy, and I realized almost immediately, completely misunderstood. He wasn't the bad boy looking to score every girl in sight, and had a habit of showing up in places where Mary was going to be. Anyone with the smallest amount of experience with the opposite sex would see that he was trying to flirt with her, but fifteen-year-old Mary has zero street smarts. As the book dragged on, I kept waiting for the realization to hit her, and see some sort of internal dialogue as she sorts it all out. We get nearly three quarters into the book before there's any hint of romance between them.
I feel like there was a wasted opportunity here. I was honestly anticipating some sort of inner struggle as she fought her feelings for the person she warned her friends away from. She would realize her growing feelings and be backed into a corner, unable to show him how she feels. He continued to flirt, it continued to fly right over her head up until the point we went for it and kissed her. Which totally shocked and confused her. Then she screws up big time, both with Alex and her friends. Finally we get some introspection going on at this point, but the resolution on both fronts was pretty rushed and easy in my opinion.
This is a light coming of age story that doesn't fall on the high end of the YA spectrum, as it explores pretty simple themes. By the Book wasn't without charm, however it did fall short of an exhilarating teen romance. I enjoyed Mary's large and opinionated family, most especially her siblings who were well drawn and distinctive from each other. The heroine's group of friends were sweet, and not at all the cliche mean girl popular group which was refreshing. I just never quite reached the excitement for Alex and Mary I was hoping for. However, if you're a huge classic literature buff, there's quite a lot to enjoy and this could very well be the perfect book for you.
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dnf
August 29, 2020dnf @ 45%
This seemed fun at first, but I'm almost half way through and the story seems to be going nowhere. I kind of lost interest.
The audiobook was good though.
This seemed fun at first, but I'm almost half way through and the story seems to be going nowhere. I kind of lost interest.
The audiobook was good though.
October 6, 2025
DNF - 5%
˚🦢ᯓ 𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ᡣ₊🪻🪞^ྀི
---- This is going to be a somewhat short review, because I'm about to spend most of your time convincing you NOT to read this book. Like, don't even pick it up. Don't give it a second thought.
ᯓ First of all, if you like books that will challenge your vocabulary, go righttt ahead. I'm sure your smart self knows this stuff. I'm not saying I didn't understand it, but there were many simpler terms they could of gone with instead of extra unnecessary ones. I swear they slapped a random huge word in there every single five sentences and claimed "Oh yeah, she's smart!" Like what?
ᯓ Here's a friendly note to any soon-to-be authors out there, DON'T. DRAG. The number one reason why I didn't bother finishing this book is that it dragged out too much. The main character gives herself away as such a book person, it KILLS being a book person. (ꐦ ◣‸◢) Plus, she thinks reading is such a flex and I just hate how the author wrote her.
" Being observant by nature- reasonably skilled at reading a room, deciphering subtext, sniffing out the nuances of human behavior- I had an inkling there was more to come." - page TWO. TWO. WHO ASKED, MARY?! NOBODY.
ᯓ I want a book that will have me wanting to know about our main character since page one. I want a book that will have me actually interested and invested. I don't want a book where our main character acts like a robot. (💢 ¬ ̀᎑ ¬)
ᯓ Maybe I'm being too judgmental, I don't know, you tell me. Isn't it fair to be disappointed in a book for not being able to keep you interested for at least two pages?? It isn't interesting, and I had such high standards for this book that I'm not even going to give it another chance.
----- Thank you for reading this --------
˚₊‧꒰ა 𝙋𝙧𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
‧₊˚彡 GUYS, I FOUND A PURPLE COVER BOOK. If this book fails to meet my expectations, I'll burn it. PERIOD. I just got done with an amazing romance book, so now I'm moving on to another lovely one because why not?
✨𓂃 Predicted Rating: 4 stars🪻🪽⟢
˚🦢ᯓ 𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ᡣ₊🪻🪞^ྀི
---- This is going to be a somewhat short review, because I'm about to spend most of your time convincing you NOT to read this book. Like, don't even pick it up. Don't give it a second thought.
ᯓ First of all, if you like books that will challenge your vocabulary, go righttt ahead. I'm sure your smart self knows this stuff. I'm not saying I didn't understand it, but there were many simpler terms they could of gone with instead of extra unnecessary ones. I swear they slapped a random huge word in there every single five sentences and claimed "Oh yeah, she's smart!" Like what?
ᯓ Here's a friendly note to any soon-to-be authors out there, DON'T. DRAG. The number one reason why I didn't bother finishing this book is that it dragged out too much. The main character gives herself away as such a book person, it KILLS being a book person. (ꐦ ◣‸◢) Plus, she thinks reading is such a flex and I just hate how the author wrote her.
" Being observant by nature- reasonably skilled at reading a room, deciphering subtext, sniffing out the nuances of human behavior- I had an inkling there was more to come." - page TWO. TWO. WHO ASKED, MARY?! NOBODY.
ᯓ I want a book that will have me wanting to know about our main character since page one. I want a book that will have me actually interested and invested. I don't want a book where our main character acts like a robot. (💢 ¬ ̀᎑ ¬)
ᯓ Maybe I'm being too judgmental, I don't know, you tell me. Isn't it fair to be disappointed in a book for not being able to keep you interested for at least two pages?? It isn't interesting, and I had such high standards for this book that I'm not even going to give it another chance.
----- Thank you for reading this --------
˚₊‧꒰ა 𝙋𝙧𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
‧₊˚彡 GUYS, I FOUND A PURPLE COVER BOOK. If this book fails to meet my expectations, I'll burn it. PERIOD. I just got done with an amazing romance book, so now I'm moving on to another lovely one because why not?
✨𓂃 Predicted Rating: 4 stars🪻🪽⟢
May 26, 2020
3.5 Stars
So this book was really cute but it read a lot younger than I had initially expected. I for some reason thought it was end of high school so I had to adjust when I found out the MC is a sophomore.
This story follows Mary as she transitions to a new school and realizes her only friend wants nothing to do with her. Without meaning to, Mary injects herself into a conversation that ultimately leads to friendship with three other girls. To them, Mary is a wealth of knowledge. Having read every single classic romance, Mary can spot a scoundrel miles away and now her new friends want her insight. The problem is, as Mary becomes more involved in her new life, she starts to wonder just how right her books are.
Mary was very relatable and easy to read. She comes from a huge family and is used to be overlooked. When he new friends constantly put her in the spotlight, she's unsure how to act but knows that she doesn't want to mess up. And then of course, she falls for the 'scoundrel'. It was very much a coming of age story, very finding yourself and I enjoyed it. I wish some of her friends were a little more fleshed out. To me, they seemed very one note. Such as one loved true crime and every sentence she uttered was about killers. It just seemed very stunted.
Very cute debut that I think will do well among all ages.
So this book was really cute but it read a lot younger than I had initially expected. I for some reason thought it was end of high school so I had to adjust when I found out the MC is a sophomore.
This story follows Mary as she transitions to a new school and realizes her only friend wants nothing to do with her. Without meaning to, Mary injects herself into a conversation that ultimately leads to friendship with three other girls. To them, Mary is a wealth of knowledge. Having read every single classic romance, Mary can spot a scoundrel miles away and now her new friends want her insight. The problem is, as Mary becomes more involved in her new life, she starts to wonder just how right her books are.
Mary was very relatable and easy to read. She comes from a huge family and is used to be overlooked. When he new friends constantly put her in the spotlight, she's unsure how to act but knows that she doesn't want to mess up. And then of course, she falls for the 'scoundrel'. It was very much a coming of age story, very finding yourself and I enjoyed it. I wish some of her friends were a little more fleshed out. To me, they seemed very one note. Such as one loved true crime and every sentence she uttered was about killers. It just seemed very stunted.
Very cute debut that I think will do well among all ages.
September 4, 2020
⠀⠀✧ • ° . ◦ *⠀┊ two stars.
i re-did the review for this book and i got mad about it all over again. how are you going to require readers have a thesaurus beside them while they have to relive their middle school trauma?
read the full review here: https://thebookiishbunch.wixsite.com/...
↠ once upon a book hardback
↠ 06.09.20 — 06.23.20
↠ annotated? no
↠ readathon? no
i re-did the review for this book and i got mad about it all over again. how are you going to require readers have a thesaurus beside them while they have to relive their middle school trauma?
read the full review here: https://thebookiishbunch.wixsite.com/...
↠ once upon a book hardback
↠ 06.09.20 — 06.23.20
↠ annotated? no
↠ readathon? no
April 19, 2020
This was very cute and also very unique. My only complaint is that it started feeling a bit long and repetitive toward the middle. Overall, though, a solid debut, and one I think a lot of book lovers will enjoy.
August 29, 2020
DNF at 12%
Do not want to read another book about a bunch of judgmental chicks - one of them literally treats her supposedly best friend like shit for no apparent reason. This book goes for smart and sassy bit it is just immature and dull. Sad though, because the cover is super cute.
February 17, 2020
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
I knew I would enjoy this book as soon as I heard about it last year, but my god, I was not expecting to love it as much as I did. I couldn't put it down as soon as I had started, and it's my favourite book of 2020 so far this year! Mary is in love with books, but especially classics. She is definitely of the What Would Lizzy Bennet Do? camp, and uses what she has learnt in her reading to help guide her future, especially when it comes to love. Mary has been coddled slightly in her upbringing, being the daughter of two professors, and been in a sort of university-come-school education programme that has now been cancelled. At 15, she has to go to public school, and that's when she starts to make friends, especially with Arden, Terry, and Lydia, and uses what she knows of Alex Ritter, who everyone at school loves, and she thinks he's a Whickham like character, to help guide the girls use the books. As they grow closer, Mary loses some of her naivete, and might just learn that Alex isn't as bad as she initially thought he was.
This book was so friendship based. We start of with Mary knowing only Anjuli, a girl who went to the same school programme as she had, who basically drops her as soon as they start at school, and treat her horrendously, and then she meets the girls at her favourite bookstore/cafe, and Arden, Terry, and Lydia are like her family. They have such an amazing relationship with each other, and there isn't really any drama, that could've happened. Yeah, some angst appears later in the book, but not because of bitchiness or anything.
Mary also has a fantastic hate-to-love relationship with Alex. She knows of Alex because of his appearances in her elder sisters Shakespearean company, and first impressions tell her that he is a player, and thinks himself above everyone else. As they get thrown in more and more situations together, she thinks she may have been mistaken in her first impression (does this remind us of a certain Austen heroine, perhaps?) but her initial vehemence towards him, especially when she was speaking with the girls, makes her worry that she's not doing the right thing. Their chemistry together is fantastic though, and I was rooting for them from the first few encounters together. Their growth and characterisations was unlike what I've seen before, and as this is Amanda's debut, I'm dying to see what she releases next - it'll definitely be on my wishlist!
I knew I would enjoy this book as soon as I heard about it last year, but my god, I was not expecting to love it as much as I did. I couldn't put it down as soon as I had started, and it's my favourite book of 2020 so far this year! Mary is in love with books, but especially classics. She is definitely of the What Would Lizzy Bennet Do? camp, and uses what she has learnt in her reading to help guide her future, especially when it comes to love. Mary has been coddled slightly in her upbringing, being the daughter of two professors, and been in a sort of university-come-school education programme that has now been cancelled. At 15, she has to go to public school, and that's when she starts to make friends, especially with Arden, Terry, and Lydia, and uses what she knows of Alex Ritter, who everyone at school loves, and she thinks he's a Whickham like character, to help guide the girls use the books. As they grow closer, Mary loses some of her naivete, and might just learn that Alex isn't as bad as she initially thought he was.
This book was so friendship based. We start of with Mary knowing only Anjuli, a girl who went to the same school programme as she had, who basically drops her as soon as they start at school, and treat her horrendously, and then she meets the girls at her favourite bookstore/cafe, and Arden, Terry, and Lydia are like her family. They have such an amazing relationship with each other, and there isn't really any drama, that could've happened. Yeah, some angst appears later in the book, but not because of bitchiness or anything.
Mary also has a fantastic hate-to-love relationship with Alex. She knows of Alex because of his appearances in her elder sisters Shakespearean company, and first impressions tell her that he is a player, and thinks himself above everyone else. As they get thrown in more and more situations together, she thinks she may have been mistaken in her first impression (does this remind us of a certain Austen heroine, perhaps?) but her initial vehemence towards him, especially when she was speaking with the girls, makes her worry that she's not doing the right thing. Their chemistry together is fantastic though, and I was rooting for them from the first few encounters together. Their growth and characterisations was unlike what I've seen before, and as this is Amanda's debut, I'm dying to see what she releases next - it'll definitely be on my wishlist!
May 1, 2020
This new YA release reminded me of a scavenger hunt. As Mary painstakingly picks her way through her first year in a public high school, she smugly assumes she can avoid the pitfalls that she has read about in books. Surely she will not fall into the traps that lead to misery. While giving advice to some girls she runs into after school, she finds herself cast as the fixer/literary expert. They begin to rely on her and that makes it even more difficult for Mary to realize when she might be on the wrong track. She is oblivious to her "Emma" tendencies. What I appreciated about most about this book was the reminder than when you are IRL, you will make mistakes. Feeling remorse and making things right is how we grow ourselves and our relationships. The book is filled with endearing characters and moments when you want to reach into the book and give Mary advice. I especially loved the Appendix with the "answers" to all the veiled book references throughout. I had guessed some, but not all and perhaps I will to add some of the ones I did not recognize to my TBR list.
Thank you to Houghton Mifflin and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Houghton Mifflin and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
unfinished
August 24, 2020I made it not-quite halfway before bogging down. And I don't even know why, though I suspect it's the narrative voice. Mary is insecure and a bit self-consciously pretentious and she made me tired. But the friends are great and I laughed out loud more than once. So I'm chalking this up to a mismatch or mood thing that I won't rate. Maybe I'll come back to it later when I'm in a more congenial mood?
September 7, 2020
Either I'm getting too old for YA or this one was a bit too immature for me. The premise seemed OK and I love the reference to old novels, but the delivery could have used a major boost. It dragged a little and I feel like the heroine wasn't that great a character so it kind of fell flat for me. Maybe next time...
May 13, 2021
This book was so smart and cute and funny. I found myself heartily relating to Mary as she tried to navigate friendships and relationships and high school life.
I actually went into this thinking it was an adult romantic comedy (I’d read the synopsis awhile back and placed a hold on the audiobook through my library), so when I started it and realized the main characters were in high school, I found myself kicking myself for forgetting and slightly disappointed that it was YA. However, the book absolutely shattered my expectations and I loved all of the references to classic literary romances and how Mary and her friends use them as a guideline for what to do and what not to do.
I absolutely have my fingers crossed for more books with Mary’s family, because I definitely fell in love with them too.
I actually went into this thinking it was an adult romantic comedy (I’d read the synopsis awhile back and placed a hold on the audiobook through my library), so when I started it and realized the main characters were in high school, I found myself kicking myself for forgetting and slightly disappointed that it was YA. However, the book absolutely shattered my expectations and I loved all of the references to classic literary romances and how Mary and her friends use them as a guideline for what to do and what not to do.
I absolutely have my fingers crossed for more books with Mary’s family, because I definitely fell in love with them too.
October 12, 2020
The times we had together were the closest my life has ever come to the kind of moments that could be in a book. —M.P.M.
This is me forcing myself to overcome a writing slump because I NEED to review this book. It's definitely one of my favorite 2020 releases and now one of my inspirations for my work in progress. Also, I must say that reading this novel was a breath of fresh air after I endured a particularly bad retelling of Anna Karenina. The main character's disdain for Vronsky was so on point!
By the Book is like a YA combination of Jane Austen's Emma and Pride and Prejudice. Mary Porter Malcolm is like Elizabeth Bennet. She loves to read, she loves her big family, and she has a good head on her shoulders. However, she doesn't have a social life, and she wants to change that in her new school. There, she meets Arden, a redhead who, similar to Emma Woodhouse, is in the business of matchmaking. Mary uses her profound knowledge of the classics to befriend Arden and two other girls (Lydia and Terry). Inspired by the flirty antics of Alex Ritter (the campus Vronsky), Mary and her companions start working on a dating manual entitled The Scoundrel Survival Guide. It's all fun and games, but Alex might not be a scoundrel after all.
I loved Mary's relationship with Alex because it was reminiscent of Pride and Prejudice. Mary's initial opinion of Alex was entirely based on a misunderstanding. Since the story was told from her perspective, he really did seem like a debonair playboy. So when Alex finally had the chance to explain himself, the moment of truth was utterly hilarious. Mary had more scenes with her female friends, but this made her interactions with Alex more exciting and remarkable. And because of Mary's critical attitude, the growth of their feelings was organic. This is one of the reasons why I like the enemies-to-lovers trope.
Another thing that I adored was Mary's rowdy family. Imagine the Weasleys of the HP series but make all of the characters book-obsessed. Even the youngest child, who was 13 years old, had read all of Jane Austen's novels. Moreover, unlike most YA protagonists, Mary was very honest with her parents. She didn't mind sharing her problems, as personal as they seemed. I guess the family dynamics in this book were autobiographical since the author also grew up in a big household. Mary's banter with her parents and siblings made me nostalgic. Because of the pandemic, it's been months since I've enjoyed a meal with my parents.
My last compliment goes to Mary herself. I loved reading her diary entries at the start of each chapter because they reflected many of my own sentiments: the disdain of watching a movie before reading the book, the desire to have a spectacular life, and the temptation to avoid conflict and skip to the happy parts of books. The general tone of the narrative is something that I want to achieve: snarky but with a touch of innocence and wit.
By the Book now sits on my shelf of favorites because of its smile-worthy content. I can see myself rereading it when I need more motivation to write fiction. If you need a story to cheer you up during these stressful times, Mary's literary observations might do the trick.
This is me forcing myself to overcome a writing slump because I NEED to review this book. It's definitely one of my favorite 2020 releases and now one of my inspirations for my work in progress. Also, I must say that reading this novel was a breath of fresh air after I endured a particularly bad retelling of Anna Karenina. The main character's disdain for Vronsky was so on point!
By the Book is like a YA combination of Jane Austen's Emma and Pride and Prejudice. Mary Porter Malcolm is like Elizabeth Bennet. She loves to read, she loves her big family, and she has a good head on her shoulders. However, she doesn't have a social life, and she wants to change that in her new school. There, she meets Arden, a redhead who, similar to Emma Woodhouse, is in the business of matchmaking. Mary uses her profound knowledge of the classics to befriend Arden and two other girls (Lydia and Terry). Inspired by the flirty antics of Alex Ritter (the campus Vronsky), Mary and her companions start working on a dating manual entitled The Scoundrel Survival Guide. It's all fun and games, but Alex might not be a scoundrel after all.
I loved Mary's relationship with Alex because it was reminiscent of Pride and Prejudice. Mary's initial opinion of Alex was entirely based on a misunderstanding. Since the story was told from her perspective, he really did seem like a debonair playboy. So when Alex finally had the chance to explain himself, the moment of truth was utterly hilarious. Mary had more scenes with her female friends, but this made her interactions with Alex more exciting and remarkable. And because of Mary's critical attitude, the growth of their feelings was organic. This is one of the reasons why I like the enemies-to-lovers trope.
Another thing that I adored was Mary's rowdy family. Imagine the Weasleys of the HP series but make all of the characters book-obsessed. Even the youngest child, who was 13 years old, had read all of Jane Austen's novels. Moreover, unlike most YA protagonists, Mary was very honest with her parents. She didn't mind sharing her problems, as personal as they seemed. I guess the family dynamics in this book were autobiographical since the author also grew up in a big household. Mary's banter with her parents and siblings made me nostalgic. Because of the pandemic, it's been months since I've enjoyed a meal with my parents.
My last compliment goes to Mary herself. I loved reading her diary entries at the start of each chapter because they reflected many of my own sentiments: the disdain of watching a movie before reading the book, the desire to have a spectacular life, and the temptation to avoid conflict and skip to the happy parts of books. The general tone of the narrative is something that I want to achieve: snarky but with a touch of innocence and wit.
By the Book now sits on my shelf of favorites because of its smile-worthy content. I can see myself rereading it when I need more motivation to write fiction. If you need a story to cheer you up during these stressful times, Mary's literary observations might do the trick.
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