lavendermarch's review
4.0
This was a pretty good book! I liked how the past and present stories were intertwined, with alternating chapters. It made the present story a lot more poignant. I liked Gigi and Roman, although they honestly weren't as expanded upon as they could have been. The past story - about Nick Monte and Benny Caputo - was pretty interesting, and I enjoyed the layers it added to the book. I had fun figuring out everything that happened. On that note, the scene at the end was very nice. It made me happy, after everything that had happened between them. I overall enjoyed this book, and would read it again. 4 stars.
silvercyclops's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
ley2003grad's review
4.0
I have to be honest, I have never been one for retellings! I think the originals are so unique that we shouldn't redo anything. But I understand the wants and needs of the public to rehash things and make them better or switch them up and make it more current. So I'm going with it!
Romeo and Juliet has to be one of my favorite "old school" stories. I can cry with the best of them when I read it and so I was very interested in seeing where this book would lead me! Now the story jumps from modern times, back to the past and it makes me crazy, as my fans know, I am not ever a fan of jumping around. It's a slow read and you really need to know your Romeo and Juliet to know this book.
I love the rapidness of the romance. I think that is so much like Romeo and Juliet that I just love the feel of true love and all that jazz! The authors did such a great job of keeping the romance real and current. Gigi and Roman are so well written characters that you want to help them and root for them til the end of things. This reminds me of, "Pizza my Heart" movie which surrounds the story line with a pizza shop and two love birds.
I would really love to read more Twisted-Lit after reading this.
My rating:
4 stars
Romeo and Juliet has to be one of my favorite "old school" stories. I can cry with the best of them when I read it and so I was very interested in seeing where this book would lead me! Now the story jumps from modern times, back to the past and it makes me crazy, as my fans know, I am not ever a fan of jumping around. It's a slow read and you really need to know your Romeo and Juliet to know this book.
I love the rapidness of the romance. I think that is so much like Romeo and Juliet that I just love the feel of true love and all that jazz! The authors did such a great job of keeping the romance real and current. Gigi and Roman are so well written characters that you want to help them and root for them til the end of things. This reminds me of, "Pizza my Heart" movie which surrounds the story line with a pizza shop and two love birds.
I would really love to read more Twisted-Lit after reading this.
My rating:
4 stars
michalice's review
5.0
I loved the previous books in the Twisted Lit series, and what makes them even better is that they can be read as a stand alone. As I've previously mentioned when reading these books I haven't read much Shakespeare, in fact one of the only books I have read was Romeo and Juliet for school, and that was years ago, but even if you haven't read Romeo and Juliet, everyone has heard of their story. Anyone But You is an updated, twist on this story and not only did I not hesitate in saying YES to review this book, I couldn't wait to make a start on it.
Gigi is the protagonist, her family have an Italian restaurant that is slowly declining, their perfect opportunity to get more publicity is dashed when a prank pulled by rival restaurant owners, and also feuding family, the Montes, ruins their chance, and shuts the restaurant down for a month. Things are looking extremely grim for this family, and to make matters worse Gigi is falling for Romeo Monte after he gatecrashes her party.
Throughout Anyone But You we are given flashbacks into the past, and over the years we get to see how these two families became enemies and how a presumption can change a friendship formed over the years.
I absolutely loved Anyone But You, so much more than the previous books. I laughed, cried, and smiled a lot whilst reading, and while I'm not going to give the details away, just know that I devoured every single page. I really like how the history of these two families is placed between present day chapters, giving us a better look into the past over a period of years, but also getting to see these families in the present day. Both time frames blended together perfectly to make read that really draws you in and lets you try to connect the dots yourself. It actually took me a while to make the connection over a certain character, and when I realised who it was I was shocked at myself for not picking up on it earlier, but also loved the way it connected the past with the present..
From start to finish I could not put Anyone But You down, and when I finally reached the last page I was sad to see it end. I would have definitely enjoyed this version of Romeo and Juliet's story if I could have read it in school.
Gigi is the protagonist, her family have an Italian restaurant that is slowly declining, their perfect opportunity to get more publicity is dashed when a prank pulled by rival restaurant owners, and also feuding family, the Montes, ruins their chance, and shuts the restaurant down for a month. Things are looking extremely grim for this family, and to make matters worse Gigi is falling for Romeo Monte after he gatecrashes her party.
Throughout Anyone But You we are given flashbacks into the past, and over the years we get to see how these two families became enemies and how a presumption can change a friendship formed over the years.
I absolutely loved Anyone But You, so much more than the previous books. I laughed, cried, and smiled a lot whilst reading, and while I'm not going to give the details away, just know that I devoured every single page. I really like how the history of these two families is placed between present day chapters, giving us a better look into the past over a period of years, but also getting to see these families in the present day. Both time frames blended together perfectly to make read that really draws you in and lets you try to connect the dots yourself. It actually took me a while to make the connection over a certain character, and when I realised who it was I was shocked at myself for not picking up on it earlier, but also loved the way it connected the past with the present..
From start to finish I could not put Anyone But You down, and when I finally reached the last page I was sad to see it end. I would have definitely enjoyed this version of Romeo and Juliet's story if I could have read it in school.
bookfever's review
4.0
Ever since I discovered this series on Goodreads I've been intrigued by them. I love Shakespeare's stories although I haven't read Romeo and Juliet yet. I've wanted to start the Twisted Lit series but I never really got my hands on any of the books until I got contacted with a review request for the latest book in the series, Anyone But You. And because you don't have to read the other books in the series and because I adore retellings of any kind, of course, I jumped on the chance to do so.
Starting this book and meeting the main character and modern day Juliet, Gigi, I had a good feeling about Anyone But You right away. I liked Gigi a lot. She was very likable instantly and liked how, although she didn't want to tell her father that she really doesn't want to take over the restaurant, she has a pride about her family. Her encounter with Roman was short but I liked how their connection was like fireworks. They just clicked. One could say this is insta-love and I sure as hell don't want to scare people away by saying it the word but I personally liked it.
Beside the story about Gigi, Roman and the restaurants there were also chapters that involved flashbacks to the past where we find out how the feud got started into the first place. I loved, loved, loved those! But I must admit when that first 'flashback' chapter started I had no idea what was going on. It was a little confusing because when it's chapters in someone else's point of view I prefer there be some kind of warning at the beginning of the chapter that either says what year it is or who's chapter it is. But after the first two of those I was finally catching on and started to looking forward to finding out more because I was also interested just like Gigi as to why there was such a huge feud between the Caputos and Montes.
I also should mention that when it came to the feud I knew where things would be going. It was pretty obvious but it's not like that was something negative for me. It stil devoured this book like let's say... pizza. *chuckles*
But seriously, I really liked this book and there were also some parts where I was shocked with some things that happened. So it's not such an obvious book after all...
Overall, Anyone But You, the third in the Twisted List Series was a quick but entertaining story that I'm glad I got to chance to read. If you like Shakespeare, retellings or just a great book, you won't be disappointed with this one.
Starting this book and meeting the main character and modern day Juliet, Gigi, I had a good feeling about Anyone But You right away. I liked Gigi a lot. She was very likable instantly and liked how, although she didn't want to tell her father that she really doesn't want to take over the restaurant, she has a pride about her family. Her encounter with Roman was short but I liked how their connection was like fireworks. They just clicked. One could say this is insta-love and I sure as hell don't want to scare people away by saying it the word but I personally liked it.
Beside the story about Gigi, Roman and the restaurants there were also chapters that involved flashbacks to the past where we find out how the feud got started into the first place. I loved, loved, loved those! But I must admit when that first 'flashback' chapter started I had no idea what was going on. It was a little confusing because when it's chapters in someone else's point of view I prefer there be some kind of warning at the beginning of the chapter that either says what year it is or who's chapter it is. But after the first two of those I was finally catching on and started to looking forward to finding out more because I was also interested just like Gigi as to why there was such a huge feud between the Caputos and Montes.
I also should mention that when it came to the feud I knew where things would be going. It was pretty obvious but it's not like that was something negative for me. It stil devoured this book like let's say... pizza. *chuckles*
But seriously, I really liked this book and there were also some parts where I was shocked with some things that happened. So it's not such an obvious book after all...
Overall, Anyone But You, the third in the Twisted List Series was a quick but entertaining story that I'm glad I got to chance to read. If you like Shakespeare, retellings or just a great book, you won't be disappointed with this one.
daylafm's review
5.0
Review first appeared on my blog: Book Addict 24-7
I received a copy via NetGalley & the authors in exchange for an honest review
Anyone But You by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes is the third instalment in their Twisted Lit series, which is a collection of young adult adaptations of Shakespearean classics. For this instalment, the collaborative writing duo tackle Romeo and Juliet in a completely original and slightly less dark way. With its unique approach to the classic and with a storyline that is slightly addicting, Anyone But You is a novel that may remind us of how powerful (and sometimes disastrous) love can be.
Gigi, the protagonist, is the Juliet of one of the feuding families, which are ironically Italian. Her story and that of her great-grandparents’ is shown, displaying just how the feud began and how it affects the present. Not only is Gigi a more appropriate age than her predecessor, Juliet, but she’s also a little less quick to act when given bad news. One of the unique aspects that these two authors bring to every adaptation is the ability to teen-a-fie (let’s make it a new word) so many of the naïve and younger characters from “The Bard’s” plays.
The comic relief, I believe, comes from the love at first sight aspect of the novel. Not only is the immediate attraction between Gigi and her beau unrealistic, it’s a correct way of modernizing what happened in Romeo and Juliet. Through the over-exaggeration of the romance between these two characters, we see just how ridiculous such an immediate connection would be in today’s day and age. So, rather than worship the story of Romeo and Juliet as an end-all and be-all of romantic stories, Anyone But You satirizes the idea of these two star-crossed lovers.
In my opinion, the real winner of this novel is the sub-story showing us how the feud began. It showcases the power of friendship and just how much damage a broken heart can do. The fact that the two characters in the sub-plot were so well created shows amazing literary prowess. Oftentimes, I find sub-characters to be lacking in growth because the author(s) is so focused on the main characters set in our contemporary time, but not in this novel. Whereas Gigi’s infatuation with her enemy’s heir is light and perhaps sugary sweet, the sub-story about two male best friends is deep and has a heart that would have made Shakespeare want to do a rewrite. Not only do Askew and Helmes create a story that gives us a heartbreakingly honest reason for why these two houses are feuding, but also they offer an intense sort of redemption that, I admit, made me cry.
Of course, the pacing was great and each chapter walked me towards an eye-opening conclusion. Clues and red herrings are given throughout the story—which, I must say, is very tricky. Not only do we NOT know why these families are fighting until the end, but we also don’t know which boy (in the sub-story) represents which family. Tricky, tricky. This mystery plays on the reader’s curiosity and will have him/her wanting to snatch up any clue thrown his/her way.
In my opinion, Anyone But You is by far the best instalment in this series. Askew and Helmes write an adaptation that isn’t blatantly copying Shakespeare. They take what is classically shown and make it their own in every way—hence the name of the series, Twisted Lit. These two authors focus on the messages and warnings written within the classic plays and then present them in ways that teenagers and readers alike will not only understand and relate to, but will want to devour.
If you like romance, unique Shakespearean adaptations, and a heart-warming/heartbreaking story of how friendship can go awry, then please give this one a shot. The humour is palpable and the genius of the storylines is proven with every page.
I received a copy via NetGalley & the authors in exchange for an honest review
Anyone But You by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes is the third instalment in their Twisted Lit series, which is a collection of young adult adaptations of Shakespearean classics. For this instalment, the collaborative writing duo tackle Romeo and Juliet in a completely original and slightly less dark way. With its unique approach to the classic and with a storyline that is slightly addicting, Anyone But You is a novel that may remind us of how powerful (and sometimes disastrous) love can be.
Gigi, the protagonist, is the Juliet of one of the feuding families, which are ironically Italian. Her story and that of her great-grandparents’ is shown, displaying just how the feud began and how it affects the present. Not only is Gigi a more appropriate age than her predecessor, Juliet, but she’s also a little less quick to act when given bad news. One of the unique aspects that these two authors bring to every adaptation is the ability to teen-a-fie (let’s make it a new word) so many of the naïve and younger characters from “The Bard’s” plays.
The comic relief, I believe, comes from the love at first sight aspect of the novel. Not only is the immediate attraction between Gigi and her beau unrealistic, it’s a correct way of modernizing what happened in Romeo and Juliet. Through the over-exaggeration of the romance between these two characters, we see just how ridiculous such an immediate connection would be in today’s day and age. So, rather than worship the story of Romeo and Juliet as an end-all and be-all of romantic stories, Anyone But You satirizes the idea of these two star-crossed lovers.
In my opinion, the real winner of this novel is the sub-story showing us how the feud began. It showcases the power of friendship and just how much damage a broken heart can do. The fact that the two characters in the sub-plot were so well created shows amazing literary prowess. Oftentimes, I find sub-characters to be lacking in growth because the author(s) is so focused on the main characters set in our contemporary time, but not in this novel. Whereas Gigi’s infatuation with her enemy’s heir is light and perhaps sugary sweet, the sub-story about two male best friends is deep and has a heart that would have made Shakespeare want to do a rewrite. Not only do Askew and Helmes create a story that gives us a heartbreakingly honest reason for why these two houses are feuding, but also they offer an intense sort of redemption that, I admit, made me cry.
Of course, the pacing was great and each chapter walked me towards an eye-opening conclusion. Clues and red herrings are given throughout the story—which, I must say, is very tricky. Not only do we NOT know why these families are fighting until the end, but we also don’t know which boy (in the sub-story) represents which family. Tricky, tricky. This mystery plays on the reader’s curiosity and will have him/her wanting to snatch up any clue thrown his/her way.
In my opinion, Anyone But You is by far the best instalment in this series. Askew and Helmes write an adaptation that isn’t blatantly copying Shakespeare. They take what is classically shown and make it their own in every way—hence the name of the series, Twisted Lit. These two authors focus on the messages and warnings written within the classic plays and then present them in ways that teenagers and readers alike will not only understand and relate to, but will want to devour.
If you like romance, unique Shakespearean adaptations, and a heart-warming/heartbreaking story of how friendship can go awry, then please give this one a shot. The humour is palpable and the genius of the storylines is proven with every page.
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