I am completely the wrong target market for a middle grade book being a 30 year old but I loved it. Every middle grade I read containing a Bethany always has her as a feisty ball of sass and I can’t deny I did love a back chat… still do. The Beast and the Bethany is the perfect tale of bravery and friendship. It reminded me of BFG meets Dorian Grey.

Totally brilliant, I loved the dark humour and the lemony snicket vibes. Completely unique story _ a real point of difference in a very saturated market,

Bethany reminds me of that scene from the first Nanny McPhee film were the children are always pranking the adults. Yeah, you know the ones.

However, there is more to Bethany than being the prankster she is. It’s known pretty much since our first encounter with her that she is currently living in an orphanage -- I appreciate the representation and the depiction that not all children have a conventional family. We later learn that her parents died in a fire when she was still a baby so she can’t remember.

Although, I will have to say that I didn’t find the book particular gripping, which is why I gave this book three stars. Don’t get me wrong, the plot flows well and it’s interesting to see how Bethany’s and Ebenezer’s relationship developed and what they learned from each other. But I wasn’t intrigued; I could pretty much guess what was going to occur.

To conclude, The Beast and the Bethany is something that I would recommend to the right audience. The illustrations add an extra essence of life to the narrative, which is the perfect feature for the middle grade readership it’s aimed at.

One of my favourite books to come out last year - I handsold it easily in my shop! Funny, spooky just the right amount, and absolutely inventive. Perfect for fans of Dahl and Riddell. It made me feel like a little girl again!

I was lucky to have my wish granted by Netgalley to read The Beast and The Bethany by Jack Meggitt-Phillips and Isabel Follath. I ended up buying a physical copy as I was very intrigued and I was not disappointed. We are following Ebenezer Tweezer who could be described as a bad man who has secrets which he is hiding but I am not going to say what they are as that would spoil this wonderful Middle Grade Book. One day Ebenezer meets his match in the naughtiness department when he brings home Bethany from the Orphanage. At first Ebenezer can' t stand Bethany and vice versa but over time they become closer to each other. I found this book full of gruesome humour and it reminded me a lot of Roald Dahl's writing style and kids will really love this book. I know there is a sequel coming out in 2021 and I can't wait to see what happens. So for these reasons I am giving it 4 stars

“The Beast and the Bethany” is an entertaining tale featuring a Ebenezer Tweezer, a vain and shallow man, Bethany - an ill behaved orphan and a beast with an extraordinary appetite.
For at least 500 years, Ebenezer and the Beast have had a deal - if Ebenezer brings the beast whatever he wants to eat, be it talking birds, diamonds or chandeliers, it will give him a potion to keep him young and handsome. It’s an arrangement that works well until the beast decides it wants to eat a child.

I read “The Beast and the Bethany” to my kids at bedtime and each night they always wanted me to read a bit more before I kissed them goodnight. The book manages to be really funny and engaging whilst subtlety imparting wisdom and life lessons as both Bethany and Ebenezer’s characters develop during the plot. It’s uplifting with a satisfying ending and enough intrigue left for you to grab the second book as soon as it’s released.

Thank you to the author, Netgalley and Egmont publishing for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

What can I say about this book? It’s a quick read, very fast-paced – I’d recommend it for ages 5-8, as it falls on the younger end of the Middle Grade spectrum. The story-line is straightforward, but highly enjoyable with plenty of weirdness to keep everyone entertained!

Ebenezer Tweezer is a 512 year old man who is enslaved to a monster (much like the one from Little Shop of Horrors) but get this – he looks about twenty. In return for meals, the monster gives him potions to keep him young.

Whilst I like his character development, aka growing a spine and telling the monster “No!”, it did feel a little rushed. The story takes place over the span of about three days, when it really could have done with being a week or two – that kind of mental shift doesn’t happen overnight!

Bethany’s arc is similar – she decides to become a good person and play less nasty pranks, but again I’d say it moves a little too fast. You could quite easily keep the book at a similar length, and just skip a couple of days in the middle of each scene – that, I feel would give a more realistic arc for both characters.

Besides that, however, this book is wonderfully written and the characters are larger than life – I was particularly fond of the children from the orphanage, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of them in the subsequent books!!

The humour is also great – the author has a hilarious narrative voice, and some of the similes and metaphors are juuust weird enough to make me put the book down because I was laughing so hard.

(Also SPOILER: It’s implied that the monster ate Paddington Bear, at which point I actually gasped aloud. His name is never said, just ‘Peruvian Bear’, but uh…if you have a kid who’s fond of the character and is likely to understand the reference, maybe skip a couple pages!?)

Ebeneezer is 511 years’ old and has struck a deal with the beast he keeps in his attic. In return for a potion which keeps him young, Ebeneezer must feed the beast whatever he asks for. Bored of the usual items of furniture and rare animals, the beast asks for a nice juicy child. Easy enough you’d think, but neither the beast nor Ebeneezer have met anyone like Bethany before.

With a great cast of characters, the ‘odd couple’ friendship between Ebeneezer and Bethany lies at the heart of the story. At times hilarious, at others touching this is a perfect read for kids aged 9+ who love a bit of dark humour.

The Beast and the Bethany by Jack Meggitt-Phillips and illustrated by Isabelle Follath is unique and unexpected story with equally unique characters.

When I picked up this book, I didn't know what to expect. But what I felt after I finished it was that I didn't want it to end and that I wanted to hug the author and characters.

The Beast and the Bethany is about a mean and evil man, a mean and evil beast, and a meaner girl. And all of them learn lessons and two of them discover other sides to themselves.

The book opens with: "Ebenezer Tweezer was a terrible man with a wonderful life."
And no kidding!

Ebenezer Tweezer is nearing his 512th birthday. He lives "a wonderful life," and has literally everything he could ever need and everything he doesn't need.

But what gives Ebenezer his young looks and never-ending life? A massive beast resides in his attic. Every year, the beast asks for a "meal," which Ebenezer readily provides and in return gives Ebenezer a potion that stops his aging.

This year, however, the beast asks for something new. He wants to eat a child. Ebenezer, who never had feelings or a reason for them, is shocked by the request.

There's a ton of humor in The Beast and the Bethany, literally never a dull moment!

"For the first time in his life, Ebenezer was sad that he didn't have a family of his own. It would have saved so much time and energy if he could have just fed one of his children to the beast."

Enter Bethany. There's a reason this book is called "The Beast and The Bethany" because Bethany is literally a creature herself. She's a rude, mean, and angry little girl.

If this beast thinks he's large and in charge, he's got Bethany to deal with and change its life!

One of the things I liked about The Beast and the Bethany is the themes and lessons, like the quote below.
There are also the themes of learning, discovering one self, learning not to be selfish, and many more.

"A wonderful life can turn someone into a terrible person. It makes you forget that there people in the world who have problems, and this can stop you from really caring or worrying about others.
So, you can understand how Ebenezer Tweezer came to be one of the most selfish men who ever lived. After spending nearly 512 years without difficulty, Ebenezer had never really learned about pain or sadness."

I was often jarred when the author spoke directly to the reader. I never like that it novels and works of fiction, it brings me out of the story. I accept it in non-fiction because the book needs to be conversational. Here, it doesn't work for me.

That said, I've never seen character development as amazing as I've seen in The Beast and the Bethany. Simply brilliant! And one of the reasons it deserves 5 stars!

Despite the three mean characters and how the story begins, The Beast and the Bethany left me feeling happy and hopeful. I was also 100% entertained.

So do I recommend this story? Absolutely! I loved it and I look forward to reading the second part in the series. Don't worry it's not a 100% open ending.

The world of middle-grade fantasy fiction must be charming indeed, if Jack Meggitt-Phillips’ debut is anything to judge by.

The Beast and the Bethany is the charming story of 511-year-old Ebeneezer Tweezer, the most selfish man in all the world; and of the orphan Bethany, the naughtiest kid in all her orphanage. What connects these two? One is intent on feeding a monster; the other is destined to be the monster’s snack.

Yum!

This is a story of personal growth; though one has lived half a millennium and the other hardly eleven years, Ebeneezer and Bethany have led a similar existence — one of survival rather than living. For Ebeneezer, survival has become a goal in of itself; for Bethany, it’s a necessity, to hide the vulnerabilities of a lost young girl. As you might imagine, neither one likes the other much, at first; but both find they’ve a lot to learn.

And the Beast? What a ghastly villain! And what an appetite it has! I’m not one to cannibal-shame, but eating a Bethany?! That’s just severe, that is. Everything else, I could look past — the puking, the incurable appetite for new experiences, the frankly ridiculous amount of puking, and of course, the admirable appetite of a growing boy–blob, I meant blob.

This is an entertaining book; I chuckled well more than once, downright laughed a couple of times. Levity is key in a good middle-grade book about monsters eating children, but no less so than moments of emotional release — and The Beast and the Bethany delivers just such excellence.

I disliked the sequel-bating at the end, however – what is this drive to extend perfectly charming stories, anyway?!

All in all, an excellent debut on the part of Jack Meggitt-Phillips – if you have a child, or are interested in children’s literature, this might very well make a fantastic gift. The illustration are beyond charming, themselves, and excuse the purchase of this book on their own!

Thank you to Egmont and TheWriteReads for offering me an Advanced Review Copy as part of the title’s blog tour.

Fun, gothic and with a witty, sarcastic humour that'll delight kids and adults alike! Meggitt-Phillip servers up a delicious, Snicket inspired tale with a touch of Addams family flare.

Very funny and entertaining, maybe a little mean spirited in places and perhaps a bit too dark for some readers.

This witty, unpredictable book pitches itself somewhere between Little Shop of Horrors and The Picture of Dorian Grey. I was hooked from the first tragic chapter (alas poor Patrick!) and couldn't wait to read it again once I had finished it. This is a genuinely fresh, funny series and I can't wait to get my readers as hooked on it as I am.

Fun and silly - an entertaining children’s book, with a monster in the attic, an orphan, and a very old man

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. I really enjoyed it, it was quite a quick read for me but there was plenty to capture the imagination. I have several nieces and nephews that i know will enjoy it.

This is a hilariously Halloweeny book. Ebenezer Tweezer brings home a little girl to feed to his monstrous beast, but with Bethany he's bitten off far more than he can chew.
A creepy, quirky delight that's set to become a classic. I'm delighted to hear it's the first in a series as I'm sure readers will be ravenous for more.

Thank you, Netgalley and Egmont Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Beast And The Bethany is a children's fantasy story by Jack Meggitt-Phillips. I have always enjoyed children's books, especially middle-grade books. They have the power to transport you into a world of fun, adventure, and magic. Simply said, they are your best friend if you are looking for escapism. I loved that this was just the book to take me out of a funk if I was ever in one. A deal with a beast to stay young (sound familiar??), snarky protagonist, and singing parrots. What more do you want?? I don't know how I have managed to find books with similar themes both in YA and adult fantasy books, where the characters deal with devils, dark powers, and beasts to live forever.

This was a fun and entertaining story to read. The story might be a bit dark and grim for younger readers, but I think it will appeal to an older range of middle-grade students. The pacing was good, and I loved how the story flowed effortlessly, making us want to know what will happen to Bethany and Ebenezer. The plot was also intriguing, and I can't wait to see what's in store for the two of them. This was such an engaging read with beautiful illustrations that complemented the story very well. I am sure this is going to be a series with the way the story ended, leaving us to wonder what surprises the author has in store for us.

The characters were entertaining, each of them bringing something unique to the story. I rarely see a protagonist who is this naughty and rude. I also loved how the characters Ebenezer and Bethany were morally grey. As the story progresses, we see them change and how they decide to help each other to better their character. It shows us character growth, and that is a wonderful thing to see.

Overall, I loved this story and if you are looking for a quick, fun, and entertaining read, make sure to check this story out. Middle-grade students will love this one for sure. Also, the beautiful illustrations and some humor all add up to deliver an engaging story. I gave the book 4 stars and highly recommend checking it out.

Well this book was the weird and wacky read that I didn't know I needed in my life! With it's Lemony Snicket and Roald Dahl like charm The Beast and the Bethany hooked me from the very first page. I was intrigued by the story of Ebenezer Tweezer and his beast, who ultimately controls him for his own greedy gain. Bethany was a character that I found myself howling at. She's the type of girl that you wouldn't want to cross, but also one that you would like to meet at the same time. Overall, the entire story was just excellent and I cannot wait for book two!

An extremely funny read with a lot of heart, and one terrifying villain! Perfect for Halloween!

Ebenezer Tweezer, 511 years old, has a Beast in his attic that gives him anything he wants, as long as Ebenezer feeds it whatever it might be craving. This time, in exchange for a potion that will extend his life and youth another year, Ebenezer must find a nice, juicy child for the Beast to eat. Things don't quite go to plan, however, when Ebenezer brings Bethany home and the Beast demands he fatten her up a bit first. Now Ebenezer has to spend the next few days with a bratty, horrid child whow he is absolutely not starting to care about, not at all...

I really enjoyed reading this story. The humour is really well done and adds beautifully to the surreal atmosphere created by the strange cast of characters. Bethany is weirdly charming despite, or perhaps because of, her bad attitude, the Beast starts off a little comical, but is genuinely scary and a proper threat by the end, and I found Ebenezer's emotional journey both funny and heartwarming.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was fun, silly, and also has a really good moral behind it. I'm definitely putting this on my 'to-buy' list for my 8yo nephew, he loves a bit of silliness and gore.