About Me

Rose Garden in the Government Gardens, Rotorua, NZ, taken Nov 2018

People often assume Beauty and the Beast begins and ends with Disney.

For me, Disney was simply the doorway.

Beyond it lies a vast garden of fairytales, forgotten editions, historical roots and endlessly creative retellings. Every time I think I've seen everything this story can become, another author surprises me.

The Borrowed Rose was created for readers who love that feeling of discovery. Here, you'll find recommendation, fairytale history and thoughtful conversations about what makes a Beauty and the Beast retelling truly unforgettable.

Welcome to The Borrowed Rose.

At The Borrowed Rose, you'll find:

• Recommendations of Beauty and the Beast retellings
• Discussions of fairytale history and folklore
• Explorations of recurring themes and story elements
• Commentary on why the tale remains relevant in modern culture
• Book lists for readers who love fairy tales, fantasy and romantic storytelling
• Occasional bookish rabbit trails inspired by libraries, castles, enchanted gardens and all the things that make readers feel at home

I gravitate toward stories with strong character development, thoughtful plots and beautiful writing. I appreciate complex heroes, compelling heroines and transformations that feel earned. I have little patience for stories that confuse cruelty with romance, but I love a well-written alpha hero who grows alongside the heroine.

My Philosophy on Ratings and Reviews

You may notice that I don't treat ratings as the most important part of a review.

A star rating can tell you whether I enjoyed a book.  It cannot tell you why.

Books are deeply personal experiences. The novel that leaves one reader enchanted may leave another reader completely cold. A rating captures a moment. A review captures a conversation.

My goal is not to tell you what to read.  My goal is to help you decide whether a book is right for you.

That's why my reviews focus on elements such as:

• Character growth
• Relationship dynamics
• Fairytale connections
• Writing style
• Worldbuilding
• Themes and emotional resonance

More About Me

Hey - I'm Bonnie, the writer here at The Borrowed Rose. When I'm not hunting down the latest Beauty and the Beast retelling, you'll find me with a steaming cup of tea, a good book, logged into a video game and with travel plans in the works, my husband nearby.

I've been a reader for as long as I can remember. While fairytales have my heart, I read widely across genres. Given a free weekend, I'm just as likely to reach for a dreamy paranormal romance as a darker, grittier novel. You'll find a mix of classics, historical fiction, sci fi, fantasy and romance on my TBR.

What Kind of Reviews Can You Expect?

If you're looking for literary analysis, close textual criticism or discussions of narrative theory, there are wonderful sites that do exactly that.  That's not what you'll find here.

The Borrowed Rose is written from the perspective of a passionate reader who loves stories. I don't publish book ratings. We all love and appreciate differently, and storytelling is too subjective and multi-layered to reduce a book to a number.  Plus, I celebrate all authors. It takes passion and work to do what they do; no one deserves a negative review (I break my own guidance every so often).

Rather than assigning a rating to books, I'm interested in questions such as:

• Does this feel like a Beauty and the Beast tale?
• What fresh twist does the author bring to the story?
• Are the characters worth rooting for?
• What emotions did the story leave behind?
• Would I recommend it to fellow fairytale lovers?

Think of me less as a critic and more as the friend who happily says, "You have to read this one."

A Note About Genres

One thing you'll quickly learn about me: I will read almost any Beauty and the Beast retelling I can get my hands on.  Fantasy. Sci-fi. Dystopian. Sweet romance. Dark romance. Contemporary fiction. Young adult. Fan fiction.  If there's a Beast and a Beauty involved, I'm probably interested.

Because retellings vary widely in tone and content, I do my best to let readers know what kind of story they're considering before they dive in.

Pull Up a Chair

I hope you'll stay awhile.

If you're visiting for the first time, here are a few good places to get started:

🌹 Symbolism of the Rose in Beauty and the Beast

🌹 Beauty and the Beast Starter Pack Recommendations (at my Substack site)

🌹The Beast Has Evolved:  Seven Modern Beauty and the Beast Archetypes Competing for Your Heart

🌹 Before Disney's Belle, There Was Robin McKinley's Beauty

I can't let you leave without pointing you to the ultimate (and growing) list of Beauty and the Beast retellings!  Beauty and the Beast Retellings & Fractured Fairytales

Have thoughts on a review or a favorite retelling to recommend? Reach out on Welcome to the Borrowed Rose - I'd love to chat stories with you.