"The times we had together were the closest my life has ever come to the kind of moments that could be in a book."


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/hobby 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.

Ultimately, 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.

Oh my gosh, squeal, this book is adorable!!! It is such a sweet, cute YA with a load of classics references (all the Brontës, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, etc.) and it probably would be less likeable for someone who’s never read a classic or doesn’t care for them. But being a lover of classics myself, I devoured this book! I love that it focused on friendships just as much as on romance. Also the Porter-Malcolm family and Mary’s character were so hilarious in their literary glory and just a treat to read about!

This was a cute drama/romance book! It did feel a bit younger than YA though. That’s partially due to the main character’s naïveté because she’s just stepping out of the small bubble she’s always been in. I’d recommend it for early middle school. Its a cute story about friends and growth with a little bit of family and romance sprinkled in.

3.5
The positives:
A character that has a love of literature, and experience with non-traditional education that is interesting, if a little under used.
References to the classics that provides an additional romantic outlook.
Alex is a sweet character that has to deal with being judged, incorrectly, on first sight by Mary
The light approach to coming of age.

The Meh:
Mary has some qualities that make her difficult to like. It took a long time for me to come to terms with how I felt about her. I wasn't thrilled with how she used her love of literature to make assumptions about other people and her friendships that grew from this odd activity or the way she was occasionally overly naive

Overall,
An okay read that feels a bit too long, it is about 400 pages. Alex is appealing and Mary does grow on you.
I'd recommend this to students looking for a contemporary romance with unexpected quirks in both the characters and the storyline.

“I’m pretty sure this is where our paths diverge.” I shaped a V in the air between us, pressing the heels of my hands together.

“I’ll walk you to your door.”

I started to decline, but then the full meaning of his words hit. “Wait, how do you know where I live?”

“I’m considering branching into some light stalking. I thought I might put you on my route.” He paused to examine his thumbnail before grinning at my gobsmacked expression.


I feel like I have been missing this adorable, ridiculous, hysterical book my whole life. I found everything about this to be great, but the best part was the banter between all the characters and Mary. Let me tell you a little about Mary. She has been pretty sheltered, attended school at a small experimental school that lost its funding and is now thrust into the wide open world of regular High School for her Sophomore year and is pretty much completely out of her element. Everything she knows about social interaction comes from classic literature and watching her try to go through the modern world based on her outdated ques was fantastic. I liked that while Mary is super bookish (and adorably awkward) she is not snobby towards non-readers the way other bookish characters I have read before have been.

Friendship was a very important part of the story and I loved it. Mary has zero friends or real friend experiences so when she finds herself surprisingly befriended by three very popular girls, it was basically magic. I was hesitant at first that there may be nefarious intent, but then it blossomed into one of my favorite friendship dynamics I have read in a while. This foursome is friendship goals and I need more YA (and adult) with this level of sisterhood and honesty.


“Are you bringing your date in or what?” she asked, scowling at both of us.

“He’s not— we just— no,” I stammered.

“You see how she is?” Alex shook his head sadly.

For the first time in my life, Noreen looked at me with something like approval. “Make him bleed,” she said, before scuttling back inside.

Alex blinked at the closed door. “She seems fun.”


And there is a hysterical scoundrel of a love interest who is always referenced (in Mary's head) by his full name (the only character who gets a full name), Alex Ritter, which is very classic literature of Mary. Mary is very unintentionally antagonistic towards him, not swooning as all the other girls and Alex just eats it up. Their conversations were just about perfect and I had a hard time narrowing down banter to share in this review.

This is the first book by this author and she has a fan in me for sure. I can't wait to see what else she wants to create next.


“What can I get you?” I rattled off the order. After a momentary hesitation, I turned to Alex. “Do you want anything?” He’d been standing in line a long time, ostensibly for a reason other than needling me.

“I hope you don’t expect something at the end of the night just because you bought me Skittles.”

“Skittles?”

“Are you mocking my taste in candy?”

I shook my head; what could you say to someone so lost to all reason?

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own

I loved the idea of this book. It was a cute read. It did reference a lot of classic literature that I personally am not very familiar with. I also found it a bit odd with the wording choices of some of the characters, but again, that's probably just me.

2.5 ⭐⭐

3.5/5
This one was a fun and cute contemporary based on a teen girl’s obsession with classic novels like Little Women and Jane Eyre. There are a lot of references Mary makes that her friends and classmates don’t understand that made for comedic moments. Some parts of her inner dialogue were a bit too on-the-nose. I liked the theme of what true friendship really is weaved throughout the book and the love interest was the saving grace for me. There were very sweet moments in the romance and it helped keep my interest! Thanks @netgalley for the copy!

This was a cute title, a little predictable at times! Targeted at a younger audience, with an easy to follow plot and likable characters. I didn't find it to be a breakout read, but was a lighthearted and pleasant experience.

By the Book was a cute book. I thought I would enjoy it a lot more then I did though. The synopsis sounded so wonderful, but it ended up falling flat for me. I think the writing was a little young for my taste.

Despite this, I think By the Book is a great book for my students and I will be recommending it to them!

3.5*
Mary Porter loves her classic literature. She is a book nerd and so she’s apprehensive when told she must now go to the public school rather than the private school she had been attending. Surprisingly, she meets some girls who are impressed with her analysis of male behavior in their school, based upon literary types. So, if one guy is acting like a cad, she makes connections to lotharios from literature. This impresses the group of girls, who begin to seek Mary out for her insights into male behavior. They even create a book about such misconduct that they call the Scoundrel Survival Guide.

Now that Mary has made some new friends and no longer feels uncomfortable, she feels a little empowered. But her simplistic analysis of boys and wanting to pigeon-hole their misbehavior doesn’t always work. Not all the guys fit into neat categories. In fact, there are complications when there is more to a bad boy than the basic literary stereotype. Sellet’s characters are themselves a tad stereotypical. Despite that, any book that highlights famous literary characters is an irresistible draw. There’s much to like in this light romance.

This book couldn't be more perfect if it tried. It was everything a young adult book should be - cute quirky characters a sweet romance with the perfect amount of swoon and a great plot - the characters all grow by the end.

Mary is in for a shock when her small alterative school closes and she is thrust into public school where her knowledge of classic books seems not terribly applicable. That is until she realizes that today’s teenagers have problems not unlike the classics, maybe minus the arranged marriages, carriage rides, cotillions and balls, and she makes three new friends and maybe a new leading man. I loved the weaving in of the classics, most not by name but by storylines, into this very 2020 high school romance.

This is a beautifully written contemporary novel. I loved the main characters so much! If you are looking to spice up your summer reading with a nerdy romance this one is for you.

This young adult novel follows the world of Mary Porter-Malcom as she switches to a public school from the free-thinking classes she took on a college campus where her parents teach. The Porter-Malcom family is obsessed with literature. Every decision Mary (and her family members) make, is always accompanied by some kind of similar situation in classic literature.

As Mary begins to navigate public high school, she loses the only friend she thought she had. Within a day, she joins a small group of girls who want to introduce her to "society" aka high school life. Mary helps her new friends by providing literary examples to lead them through heartbreak, new relationships, and drama.

This novel was cute for teenagers who enjoy classic literature and blooming friendships. I wish I had read more class lit so that I was able to catch up. Overall, I recommend this to young readers.

Oh this beauty was everything that any classic lover would absolutely and totally adore – I know this why because I am *NOT* a Classics fan; but I still so absolutely and totally adored this book!
Mary Porter-Malcolm, a teenager, with her nose perpetually within a book (sound familiar? Because I swear, I am drowning in nostalgia for my own teenage years!); is now facing the prospect of starting a new school – even if there is only a single person she knows at the new school, who immediately ditches her on the first day itself (oh the horror!). So when she overhears three young classmates talking about a boy, who she knows is a “cad”.
Armed with her knowledge of the different types of men as evidenced by the different men demonstrated in the classical literature, Mary along with her new friends; try and find the best example of those boys in their real life.
This was such a wholesome young adult romance –but it is also more than that. You have a large family (not dysfunctional *squeaks*), supportive and with loveable idiosyncrasies and female friendships that is uplifting, kind and loyal without putting down any other females within the story!
And let’s not forget the charming, flirty “cad” that Mary thinks has the eyes for her new friend, but does tend to flirt with every girl around him; and now has taken to somehow always pull her into conversations she has *NO* reason to indulge in – the cheek of him. But is there something she thinks she is missing to understand in these encounters?
I adored the way that the author has put forth a wholesome familial relationships and friendships with almost no drama (yes there is drama, can there be any YA novel WITHOUT drama?) but it was still perfectly balanced with that teenage angst and definitely worth a binge – read!
And the fact that the author took time to actually share exact classics she has taken inspiration from? Cherry on top!

This book was unfortunately very simple with characters that were fairly confusing and lacking in depth. I was unable to make it through more than a handful of chapters.

By the Book by Amanda Sellet is a charming modern story for classic book lovers, and the YA book is sure to be enjoyed by teen and adult readers alike.
Mary Porter-Malcolm lives her life by the book, always looking to classic literature to find answers about life. While this is something many bookworms can relate to, she finds that her books don't all translate well to public high school, and when she finds herself after a career at a smaller school. She's got a lot to learn if she's going to make it through high school in one piece. and with the new group of friends she sets out to learn about normal teenage experiences while introducing the girls to the lessons she's learned from her beloved books.
Some things, though, you just have to experience for yourself.
The book is filled with quirky characters, myriad literary references, and plenty of moments that will make you laugh.
Many thanks to HMH Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the advance copy

Mary is suddenly faced with a new school, an old friend who seems to be outgrowing her, new friends who may or may not accept her for who she really is, and a new and unwelcome attraction for just the wrong kind of boy. Good thing she's read all the right books. Those 19th C authors knew a thing or two about navigating love and friendship.
At least she hopes so.
Throw in a loud, well-read family of over-achievers, a truly brutal trivia night, a group of envy-worthy new friends, and some non-preachy personal growth, and you'll love this funny, warm, relatable book that feels real yet is still gentle with all of us bookworms.

Hand this book to YA-loving English Majors (or teens who plan to become English Majors)! A fun mix of contemporary romance and literacy allusions.

This was such a sweet, fun, bookish read. Thank you to @netgalley for the ARC for review. I don’t read many YA books with younger protagonists, but this BY THE BOOK (not to be confused with the previous adult book I recently read with the same title! 😉) was one of those. As such, it focused a lot on friendship and family dynamics, thought it did have a dash of romance as well. It was a light 5-star read for me. I don’t think published synopses of the book (such as on GoodReads) do the friendship storyline justice; it really is at the heart of the novel!