amobrien's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
As a lifelong Romeo hater, I am kind of obsessed with this book. It's a sort of Romeo and Juliet untelling - it took the characters and story we all know and added context in a feminist perspective. In the original text, Rosaline is a bit of throw away character, mentioned a few times in referencing Romeo's former infatuation before Juliet but not given much depth at all. Natasha Solomons takes this character and adds nuance. Do you remember how you felt when you first learned how young Juliet was, especially in comparison to Romeo and Count Paris? Solomons basically takes that feeling and makes a whole story out of it. If you loved Hamnet and/or Hester, definitely check this one out!
Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.
Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Adult/minor relationship
lct's review against another edition
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Death of parent and Pedophilia
Minor: Self harm
swhence's review
mysterious
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Gaslighting
cathy_alice's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death of parent and Emotional abuse
radagast_the_brown's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
interesting re-telling of the classic romeo & juliet story with far more references to actual italy, and revolves around the likely age gap and possible power dynamic between romeo and juliet, as well as his love right before juliet - her cousin rosaline. i found rosaline to be an interesting protagonist: i enjoyed that she was never written as a "not-like-the-other-girls" type of character for not wanting to be married or join a nunnery and instead read books and cavort outdoors and find adventure. she felt well-rounded, had people she cared about, and a complicated relationship with her family. i almost would like to have read this prior to reading romeo & juliet for the first time, just to see the play in a new light. you could certainly read this without having read the play, but the way that natasha solomons integrates shakespearian dialogue into readable modern prose is astonishingly easy to read and made me appreciate the original play more tbh
many thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and netgalley for the advanced reader copy.
many thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and netgalley for the advanced reader copy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest, Murder, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Blood
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