This is a cozy, heartfelt, and delightfully geeky twist on Beauty and the Beast, set in her beloved Once Upon a Con universe. Rosie Thorne is a girl caught in limbo—grappling with college essays, the lingering ache of her mother’s death, and the loss of the treasured Starfield book collection that once kept her tethered to happier memories. Vance Reigns, on the other hand, is a celebrity used to red carpets and relentless media glare—until a scandal sends him into hiding in a small town he’s sure will bore him to death. Their worlds collide over a destroyed rare book, a debt that needs repaying, and a mutual dislike that’s as prickly as it is entertaining.
Poston infuses this enemies-to-lovers setup with warmth, humor, and her signature fandom flair. The Starfield universe, with its devoted fan culture and pop-culture in-jokes, serves as both a playful backdrop and an emotional bridge between Rosie and Vance. Rosie’s grief and Vance’s loneliness feel authentic, giving the banter and snark a grounding in vulnerability. As the two begin to see past each other’s defenses, moments of quiet connection slip in between the sparring, making their eventual softening toward one another all the more satisfying.
What makes Bookish and the Beast shine is how it celebrates both fandom love and human connection. It’s about finding someone who sees through your curated image, whether that image is a guarded fangirl or a jaded movie star. With its mix of romance, nerdy references, and emotional sincerity, this final Once Upon a Con installment is perfect for anyone who believes love stories can be just as magical as the ones we keep on our shelves.
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