Rating – 4/5

I was given this ARC by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinions. 

This book surprised me. I gave it quick check on Goodreads before I began and the average rating was somewhere around 3.8 which I was impressed with for a NetGalley ARC. Then I began and it took me three days to finish, partly because I am a slow reader and partly because there is a lot to digest throughout the book.

A summary of this book, which can be found on Goodreads –

“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.”


Initially it was the cover that made me want to read it. I mean, look at it, it is adorable. It is so aesthetically pleasing for me I was craving to read it. So my first impressions while reading were that the language was a bit dated and the parents were sickening. This is exactly why the book lost a star. Some of the language would annoy me constantly and any time the parents spoke, I would cringe.

A unique aspect to this book are the snippets from the diary at the beginning of each chapter. Some of the have quite nice quotes and insights into Mary’s life. For example, “Dear Diary, Today I’m going to see a movie without reading the book first…” (Chapter 19) and honestly, Mary, girl, I relate to the struggle you felt having to do that! In fact, I relate to Mary a lot. If you are an introvert of the family who lives vicariously through the lives of the characters in your favourite books, you will too. This book deals with the issues of an introverted teen who spends her time expecting life to be somehow similar to what she has read in classic novels. It offers some beautiful insights into the life of a teen trying to find their place in a world where books seem to be their only guide, but books are alien to those around them.

Mary, the protagonist, finds a group of friends who take her under their wing and teach her life through experiences rather than dated words. She learns some valuable lessons from these friends, one of my favourites, “”I’m just saying love is risk… it makes you vulnerable.” (Chapter 20) However, things never do run smoothly for a teen. Mary’s adventure certainly mirrors real life and I personally feel this is what makes this book so enjoyable.

The growth of the characters, the development of the plot and the friendship/family aspects is what gave this book four stars. My only critique would be on the language in the beginning of the book and the parents overall.

I can’t quite express how much I enjoyed this book however. I have never been so gripped by an ARC and I definitely recommend anyone looking for an easy read to pick this up. It will be one of the loveliest books you pick up. If you’re a book loving introvert (like me) you will certainly spend most of the book like… ‘Oh my gosh, that is me’. If you’re looking for a new book, I suggest you look at this the next time you’re adding a few to your basket. Again, thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

Bookworms, particularly fans of English classics, will enjoy this fun YA novel. Mary is the youngest daughter in a family of five, living in a busy house with two professor parents. She is an avid reader, particularly of the works of Jane Austen, the Brontes, E.M. Forster, Henry James, Wilkie Collins, and more. When her school unexpectedly closes down, she starts at the local public school and befriends three other girls, who use her literary knowledge to navigate the world of high school dating and romance. Mary herself continues to cross paths with Alex, a boy she initially dislikes, until she learns that her first impression may have been wrong. "By the Book" was a nice combination of romantic comedy and high school novel. The author creates a charming small town and I loved all of the supporting characters, particularly Mary's parents and younger brother. The friendships are as important as the romantic relationships, and it's fun to try and recognize all of the literary references sprinkled throughout the book.

I recently finished BY THE BOOK by Amanda Sellet, and I found it to be such a unique YA novel. This story follows Mary, a high school student who has prepared for the ups-and-downs of the teen years by extensively reviewing classic literature. Mary uses her knowledge of Tolstoy, Austen, the Bronte sisters, etc. to help navigate the friendships, romantic liaisons, and overall drama that comes with being in high school.

What I loved most about this book is the writing style --- I felt like I was reading a Jane Austen novel, but set in the 21st century. I don't think the writing will appeal to everyone, but if you're a fan of 19th century literature then definitely give this one a shot. It was delightful to see how character traits depicted in novels like ANNA KARENINA or JANE EYRE are still relevant today, and the English major in me was simply jumping for joy. This book is officially out as of last week, so be sure to get yourselves a copy if it sounds interesting to you! (and as a side note --- can we take a moment to appreciate how cute this cover is?!? YA illustrators have been killing it this year!)

By the Book has a charming premise. A classic romance obsessed teen girl tries to help her friends ward off bad boys by compiling a list of "scoundrels" based on regency hero and heroine archetypes. Mary and most of her family are all obsessed with classics of some kind, whether it be poetry, literature, or Shakespeare. The ideas for these characters almost seemed caricatures themselves, and Mary herself seemed a little forced in regards to her book obsession. I can understand the character choice, but some of the execution in the writing didn't quite work for me. I found that the characters of her high school friends were the most believable, whereas the Porter-Malcom family came off as a cliche. The plot itself was cute and light; plenty appropriate for a high school audience. Unless the reader themselves is also obsessed with the Brontes and their contemporaries, I do not know how relatable Mary will be to them.

this was a cute read! It had an adorable lil enemies to lovers romance but that wasn’t the main focus of the story. The main focus.. friendships! I love when authors explore friendship dynamics and thought this one was really well done. It also has a TON of references to classic literature which were amusing. All in all, a very quick, light, enjoyable read!⁣

Totally sweet, literary goodness. Loved all the references and Mary's enthusiasm -- and how her new friends accepted her love of books and embraced who she was instead of trying to change her into something she isn't. The romance was excellent and I look forward to recommending it to my patrons when we return to the library!

Amanda Sellet’s By the Book is such a cute, literary lover’s dream.  

Mary Porter-Malcolm is a scholar of the classics and she knows all about the mistakes made by impressionable young women.  When Mary starts at a new school, she overhears one of the popular girl friend groups talking about Alex, a notorious bad boy, and quickly steps in, offering advice on how to avoid making a huge mistake with him.  Together, the girls all bond and start to create the Scoundrel Survival Guide, a resource listing all the literary types that should be highly avoided.  From there, the friendship grows between all the girls, and Mary soon realizes that maybe Alex has been misjudged and there’s more to him that she originally thought.

I loved so many aspects of this novel.  The friend group is wonderful and supportive, and definitely the kind that young girls should be reading about.  They always built each other up and were accepting and understanding of each other.  When any kind of conflict arose, it was dealt with in a mature manner and talked thorough.  Mary’s constant literary references were also really great.  And the sweet, sweet, Alex also made the story very enjoyable.  He is definitely misconstrued by Mary and once she gets to know him and learns that he’s basically a big dork, their romance begins.

Overall, this is a great, fast paced read, perfect for book lovers!

*Thank you to HMH Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. *

Rating 2.75 DNF at 45%

I was excited to read "By the Book" written by Amanda Sellet but unfortunately it didn't meet my expectations.  I was into it in the beginning but then I slowly found myself becoming uninterested in the story. I didn't seem to care what happened to the main character. This story felt predictable and while I liked the addition of the classics it felt forced at a certain point, trying to throw in as many as possible. I found the side characters to blah and how they became friends to be unrealistic. When I have time I would like to go back and finish this story but it will be low on my tbr list. 

Should you read "By the Book"?
If you want a book about a girl being introduced to the world that is high school then this book is for you. If you want something with high stakes and an awesome world then it is not for you.

DNF at 25%. Let me just start by saying that I am NOT the intended audience for this book. Originally the concept of this book intrigued me. It's about Mary, a sophomore, who uses her extensive knowledge of classic literature to help navigate the tricky friendships, relationships, and overall drama of her new public high school. 

So here's the thing... I am not a fan of classics, and this book references literally ALL OF THEM. However, I think if you are actually a fan of classic 19th-century literature, then you may find this story enjoyable. I honestly don't think I'm smart enough for this book. So much of what our main character said went right over my head and I just kept thinking, "What kind of 15 year old actually talks like this?"

In short, I know this book is going to be so many people's favorite, but sadly it's not for me. However, I will definitely be buying & recommending it for my students to read next year. I think a lot of them would enjoy this.

This book starts off with Mary attending a public high school for the first time. Mary is a huge fan of reading classical romances, and is not very good with social interactions. That is until she meets a group of girls who ask for relationship advice, due to the fact she’s read so many romance novels. The four of them are inspired to make a Scoundrel Survival Guide, so all girls can have the high school experience. The scoundrel at their school is Alex, who Mary try’s to keep away from the girls. Yet, these two end up becoming a lot closer than Mary would’ve ever thought. Are the two of them really just friends?

This book is really cute and perfect for fans of Jane Austen.  This book deals with teenage struggles, a little romance, and the love of literature. There is a lot of references to classical literature in this book. I feel that may be why I didn’t enjoy it as much, since I didn’t know the backstory the whole time. If you’re a literature fan, then this would be the perfect fit for you! This book is really sweet, cute and a lot of fun. I loved seeing the character growth throughout it also!

Thank you Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The literary references make me heart sing. It’s such a sweet story about friendship and romance. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to know what happens to the characters after it ends. It leaves you wanting to know how the relationships turn out. It leaves you wanting a sequel.

In By the Book Mary Porter-Malcolm, a lover of 19th century literature, has transferred to public school after her charter school closes.  When her best friend jilts her the first day at Millville High, Mary is forlorn.  However, she is soon befriended by Arden, Lydia and Terry, a group of girls who value her literature inspired advice.  She warns them against cads like Alex Ritter, whom she knows from her twin sisters' Shakespearean theater group, and they begin compiling a "Scoundrel Survival Guide."  But as she works to find suitable matches for her friends and they for her, Mary finds herself succumbing to Alex's charms.  As Mary's meddling leads to an emotional fallout and she struggles to make amends, she asks herself, "What would Jane Austen do?" The many classic works referenced in the book are explained in a clever Works Cited afterward to the Scoundrel Survival Guide. The classic connections are icing on the cake in this witty romantic comedy.

Let me first say that By the Book made me realize how sorely lacking my classic reading has been.  There were a ton of references that I didn’t get and a few of them so I felt very lacking.  Despite feeling ashamed of my lack of classic knowledge I really enjoyed this book.  

I loved the friendship between the four girls.  They were so different and seemly so inept in certain aspects of their lives.  But they had each other and they really respected each other.  

Mary’s family was also great.  Very unique and I really liked that dynamic.  I loved that this book celebrated uniqueness.  

The romance part of this book was cute, though predictable.   I did enjoy the interaction between Mary and Alex.  They had some good banter.  I also liked that Mary who was so smart couldn’t see what was right in front of her. 

This is a cute YA romance, custom made for book lovers.  

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Thank you to the publisher for the free review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Really clever and a memorable, unique main character. This was a nice change of pace from a typical YA contemporary romance. I loved the word choice and inner monologue of Mary. If you read a lot of this genre, this book will help break up some of the monotony.

As always, a copy of this book was provided by the authors in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way. 

Another day, another beautifully written coming of age story to make you grin. By the Book is truly a gift and so, so, so wonderful to get lost in. Although it is uniquely its own story, the warm and fuzzies that come from its pages and rush into your fingertips feel almost nostalgic. By the time this novel was over, my heart felt exactly as it once did in the moments I'd read some of my favourite contemporary young adult books.

Which makes By the Book something utterly, beautifully, special. Not only does it have this hum of electricity throughout, it has realistic characters to get you through the days. By the Book follows a fairly familiar formula, but never falls into the trap that some of its counterparts might. For so many readers, this will be one of those books where they see a lot of themselves in the characters--namely, Mary, our leading lady and fellow book lover.

By the Book will surely speak to readers of all ages. Whether they are directly in the same age range, or nostalgically looking back on yesterdays. There's something (ahem) about Mary, and in turn, there is something about By the Book that feels wholly compelling.

There are so many wonderful things to note about By the Book, and to avoid spoilers I'm going to try and sum it up simply. The most important thing about this book is the standard driving force of all coming of age novels: finding oneself after a massive change. By the Book is at its strongest when it doesn't water down the struggles of girlhood and that includes the many unfortunate bumps that Mary endures at times.

Its bright-spots come in two separate bonds: a friendship, a family and a romance.

I adored the aspects of new friendships that came with By the Book and was constantly rooting for it. It also was fast to devote the same amount of attention to family, too. Novels that showcase the importance of having real, true, friends are always a massive love of mine, as you all know. Double points for the one's that share the stage with character growth, family dynamics and romance; you've got the perfect combination.

Another massive plus: there a hefty amount of cheeky banter between Mary and her love interest, there is a whole lot of heart there. It is the kind of relationship that blossoms in a way that tugs a smile and feels real.

Overall, By the Book is a super fun and sweet novel. If you love contemporary romances with great characters, fun relationships and the like, then this is a must-read for you.

If you ever felt more comfortable between the pages of a Jane Austen novel than in high school, then "By The Book" by Amanda Sellet is the novel for you. The young bookish heroine, Mary, feels the same way, especially upon entering public high school in her sophomore year. However, her novel ways give her an edge, as Mary joins a friend-group using her knowledge of book archetypes to diagnose the teenage boys around them. But will Mary's worldview ruin her high school experience and chance at falling in love? I highly recommend reading "By the Book" if you enjoy reading something with various references to classic novels adapted to modern circumstances. It is a great, attention-grabbing read that you will not want to put down.

I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me this E-Arc!

By the Book follows Mary, who is a classic novel lover, and her journey in discovering that maybe life doesn't follow the same rules as fiction. And so, Mary creates the Scoundrel Survival Guide with her friends, a rundown of literary types to be avoided at all costs.But it seems some people or rather a boy, might be an exception to this guide.

This book is perfect for those of you looking for a lighthearted read! I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I was hooked from the beginning and although my interest faded towards the middle, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I admire Mary's personality and how she wasn't afraid to be different. Her friendship with the girls was amazing, definitely a realistic approach to what High School really is like. Although at times I struggled to believe she was fifteen considering her wide range of vocabulary which sometimes felt out of place. 

I loved all of the literature references, there are some classics which I have yet to read and this book has definitely encouraged me to pick them up from my shelf!

Alex and Mary had such sweet, swoon worthy moments! I love both of their personalities and how fresh they were compared to most YA rom-coms. I wish there was more moments of them however, the majority of the book is spent with Mary having no realisation that Alex might have feelings for her..

Overall, I would rate this 3 stars! The plot is the good kind of predictable and I loved the family and friendship relationships portrayed in this book.

When I first saw this book, I KNEW I needed to add it to my TBR. Any book about books is normally my jam. But sometimes I run to one where I don’t feel that I’m the actual audience.

I thought this was going to be a contemporary book about a girl who finds that books aren’t as helpful in real life as she thought. That may very well be the case, but I didn’t make it very far into it to find out. I made it only about 12%.

If you’re a fan of classics, you will like this. You’ll get all the references and you’ll like the way Mary talks, like she’s from the 19th century. But to someone like me, someone who doesn’t like the classics, I didn’t care for it. I felt more like it was trying to hard.

Like I said, I barely started reading it when I decided it wasn’t for me. It really reads like a classic, so be forewarned, if you don’t like that, this may not be the book for you. BUT if you are a fan of things like this, go for it because you will love it.

Other than that, there wasn’t really anything wrong with the book. I just wasn’t the audience. If you like things like this, go for it and let me know what you think.Just because it didn’t work for me, doesn’t mean it won’t work for you.

Thanks HMH Books for Young Readers for the eARC from Netgalley and Edelweiss. 

Follow the guide. Mary Porter-Malcolm enters unfamiliar territory as she is forced to switch her education to the local high school. However, Mary is quickly swept into a group of friends as she gives some advise about how to stay away from scoundrels. Mary informs her friends about her passion for literature as they write a guidebook for avoiding heartbreak. Literary figures are used to help the girls avoid any potential danger when it comes to the heart. 

Overall, I thought this was a pretty solid read. I love how literature is used throughout the story. I do wish this would have turned in to a book club scenario, but it was still good for what it was. Mary uses literary figures from famous classics as a guide of sorts of how to avoid situations of potential heartbreak. We see complexity rise as Mary begins to see how the guide is not fully concrete. Mary sees the signs of potential in some partners, but that “spark” is missing. Mary must seek out advice of her own through the scoundrel who started it all. 

I enjoyed reading about all of these characters. I appreciated the dynamic of the friend group. I I thought that all of the friends were fairly supportive throughout the novel. I genuinely feel like this was a great representation of true friendship and support. 

I liked Mary as our main character, but I also thought she seemed a little off at times. I feel like she could have been a little more fleshed out with dialogue during some of the more crucial times; some of her more important scenes felt a little rushed. Mary is truly bookish and I adored seeing that. I loved Mary’s friends and how we get to see more of them as the plot progresses. I also liked Alex quite a bit. The banter between Mary and Alex definitely added a bit more humor to the story. 

I have to say how this book provides good family representation. Mary’s family is not perfect, but they are always there for each other when they need it. I found her family to be very interesting and an added enjoyment. I was surprised to see family have a more crucial role in this book. I find that family representation is extremely lacking in most YA books. Mary’s parents were not absent or missing in the novel. I was pleasantly surprised to see such great parental involvement. 

The characters were great and the plot was well done. It was a pretty solid read for me. I would recommend this for literary romance lovers as well as fans of Kasie West and Emma Mills. This is a book I can see myself putting in my classroom.

There was a lot to like about this book. I love Mary. I enjoyed her dramatic inner dialogue and how she describes people she meets and places she goes. Her friends are great. I love that they stand up for each other and trust each other. Mary and her friends all seem pretty young and naive, but also brilliant and smart - it lent well to the quirky nature of the story. The love interest seemed like the most real character, so I loved all of the scenes with him. 

Overall this is a cute and easy read. I think people who have a love of books will enjoy it. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this early!