Common Sense Media Review
By Lucinda Dyer
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sparkling modern retelling of "Beauty and the Beast."
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
As OF CURSES AND KISSES opens, Princess Jaya Rao of India and her younger sister, Isha, have just arrived the St. Rosetta's International Academy, an elite boarding school outside of Aspen, Colorado. Her parents have chosen it as a refuge for the girls after an Indian tabloid published pictures of Isha drinking and kissing a young motorcycle mechanic. When Jaya discovers that Grey Emerson (aka Lord Northcliffe) is also attending the school, she sees it as the perfect opportunity to exact revenge on the Emerson family. In the mid-1800s, the Emersons had stolen a priceless ruby from a temple in the Indian state ruled by Jaya's family, and she's certain that Grey's behind the tabloid attack on her sister. Jaya decides she'll make Grey fall in love with her and then ruthlessly break his heart. But the plan goes astray when she gets to know Grey and discovers he's been tortured by a secret he's never revealed even to his closest friends. Grey believes that Jaya's great-great grandmother put a curse on the ruby and that the curse means he'll die on his 18th birthday. As that birthday approaches, Jaya will learn who's actually behind leaking the photos of Isha to the press.
Is It Any Good?
Author Sandhya Menon blends a sweet and engaging opposites-attract romance with thoughtful storylines about friendship, forgiveness, and never being quick to judge. Although the cast of characters in Of Curses and Kisses are rich and privileged teens, Menon focuses on the things they may have in common with most readers (making bad choices in dating, broken friendships, and dealing with parent's expectations) rather than portraying them as stereotypical jet-setting teens.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the role judgment and forgiveness play in Of Curses and Kisses. Have you ever made a snap judgement about someone that turned out to be wrong? What did you learn from that experience? Has anyone ever done something to you that you've found hard to forgive?
When you see what seems to be a scandalous photo of a celebrity online or in a magazine, do you ever think there might be an innocent explanation for what's going on in the photo? Do you believe famous people have a right to privacy when they're out in public?
Do you have a favorite fairy tale? How would you update the storyline and characters for the 21st century?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Book Characters , School ( High School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon Pulse
- Publication date : February 18, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 18
- Number of pages : 384
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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