I loved this book! It was a little slow at first but I quickly started to learn more about Sebastian and Helene and I could not put the book down! I read it in one weekend. I had never been able to get into the classic Romeo and Juliet story, but this book was so good! I have always wanted to travel to Alaska so I loved when Helene moved there. I could not recommend this book enough!

3.5/5. It was a solid read, and I often enjoy a reference to Romeo and Juliet. I feel like I need a trip to Alaska to round out my reading experience!

Absolutely loved this gem of a romance novel. Time travel? Check. Beautiful, far flung settings? Check. Dreamy, smart, and respectful male lead? Check check check. In all seriousness, this novel exceeded my expectations. The premise - that Romeo never died and Juliet is reincarnated over and over, doomed to repeat their star-crossed love, initially appears pretty trite and bleak simultaneously. Instead, the novel is touching and smart and the characters extremely likable. It's witty and sharp and somehow also manages to be uplifting.

This is a cute love story. I enjoyed the concept of a Romeo who never dies and a Juliet reincarnated across centuries finding each other time and time again only to have tragedy strike every time. When “Helene” and “Sebastian” meet in this story, I was hoping for a bit more depth into the actual “curse” and how it would be solved. I think it was a little bit too simplistic for me and I was hoping for more from the ending. Overall though a very cute, worthwhile romance with an interesting twist.

A fantastic retelling/reimagining of Romeo and Juliet! Definitely held my interest throughout and excited to see how well this one does post publishing!!

This book started off with so much promise and such an amazing premise, I loved the idea of a retelling of a classic story like Romeo and Juliet, but I feel like it devolved very quickly into a Lifetime Movie. The character development felt forced and a bit off putting to me and then premise of the curse was fantastic, but I’m not entirely sure how it ended up getting broken or even how it was established in the first place. I wanted to like this so much more than I did. Using the ex husband as the villain and the obstacle they had to overcome was overdone and forced - there were so many different ways to go with the curse and this just fell very flat for me.

This was such a beautiful romance with a fantasy twist. Romeo and Juliet are reimagined as even more tragic than we thought from the original story. Even knowing that, I found myself so desperate for these two to be together! Loved it!

Thank you to the publisher for a review copy of the book.

The Hundred Loves of Juliet by Evelyn Skye: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“There is no love worth having if it doesn’t break your heart when it’s over.”

For centuries, society has marveled at the story of the star-crossed but Ill-fated lovers, Romeo and Juliet. In this unique retelling, bestselling author Evelyn Skye rewrites their tragic story with a modern twist.

Helene, newly separated and looking for a fresh start, stumbles from LA right into the path of Sebastien in Ryba Harbor, Alaska. The connection between these two is electric- at least it is to Helene, who cannot get Sebastien out of her head despite his attempts to dissuade her. Sebastien is hiding a long-suffered secret from Helene, but try as he might, he cannot beat fate or the forces that brought Helene to him.

Finally! A magical realism romance retelling of a story that is not Beauty and the Beast. This was my first read of Evelyn Skye’s and I just loved her writing style. When I read with my Kindle, I use the highlighting function much more liberally than I would in real life, and I highlighted so many sections in the book. Skye brings her characters to life in her book with vivid descriptions of their emotions, the beautiful settings, and detailed pasts.

The Hundred Loves of Juliet is a beautiful iteration of a classic love story. It’s a quick read, emotional without being too dark. I do think that the ending felt more rushed compared to the pace in the rest of the book, and I wished the final scenes would have been flushed out a bit more. I can see some readers wanting for more from the ending, but after taking the Author’s Note under consideration, I appreciate the choice Skye made regarding the conclusion to Helene and Sebastien’s story.

The Hundred Loves of Juliet comes out in August 2023. Special thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“For never was a story of more woe than this of Romeo and Juliet”

A quote from one of the greatest, but most tragic love story in literary history. I think most of us remember the tragedy that was the love story of Romeo and Juliet. But what if the tragedy portrayed wasn’t how it actually occurred? According to Sebastian, Shakespeare was sadly mistaken. He may be Sebastian Montague now, but once upon a time he was Romeo. He longs for Shakespeare to be right, that him and Juliet were able to pass from this life with one another. However, their love and tragedy repeat time and time again. While Sebastian cannot die, Juliet does with each reincarnation of herself.

When Juliet shows up in his new home as Helene, he is determined to deter her from himself. He believes that keeping himself from Helene will protect her and increase her life expectancy. But what is life without his one true love? Will Sebastian be able to keep himself from Helene? Will he be able to finally break this horrid curse once and for all? Will he be able to find their happily ever after?

Simply, I LOVED THIS BOOK. The way Evelyn Skye took us on a journey through past and present really helps you submerge into the story. She made you feel EVERY emotion right along with Sebastian and Helene. She takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. The way your heart breaks and swells for the couple… With every reincarnate she managed to keep their foundation the same, but also incorporate new personality traits and experiences.

When this book releases on August 1st I will 100% be getting a hard copy so that I can fall in love with their story and Evelyn’s words all over again.

THANK YOU NET GALLEY AND EVELYN SKYE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THIS. That being said, rating and feelings are my own:

I wanted to love this book so badly. I kept having to take day long reading breaks to finish it.. It was cute, do not get me wrong, but it felt a little forced into that 'Romeo and Juliet'-esque tale. I also just think Romeo and Juliet retellings are overrated. This book left me unsatisfied and wanting something more? Deeper? I dont know.
This book was not my cup of tea but I can see why others will love it.

Time holds no bounds for Romeo, forever loving Juliet as he lives immortally. He hopes with every reincarnation of Juliet that the curse they are under will end. Their story always ends tragically. When he meets Helene (Juliet), he tries to turn her away to save her from the destiny he has witnessed time and again. The eternal flame of love will not be extinguished. They can only hope that this time will be different.
A wonderful, different love story of enduring love through the ages.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Helene has always dreamed of the perfect man. But after a tumultuous divorce, she has become cynical, writing off love forever. She decides to move to a small town in Alaska, where she is to write her novel and build a new life without romance. She soon meets Sebastien, a handsome fisherman who is her dream man down to the details. She is determined to get to the bottom of how he can exist and what this means.

This is a contemporary reimaging of Romeo and Juliet. Sebastien is cursed with having lost his Juliet over and over when Helene remembers him.

This was unique but just wasn't really for me. I didn't connect to it like i did "time travelers wife". I didn't feel drawn to Helene and I found the jumps in time a bit jarring.

After I read the Acknowledgement section, it did make me like the novel more. I thought she evoked more raw emotion in the acknowledgement than the actual book though.

3.5 reimagined Romeo and Juliet stars

While this was not a perfect read, it was a perfect Valentine’s Day read! Star-crossed lovers hope to finally break a curse that has lasted for hundreds of years.

The story toggles between Helene and Sebastien, or should I say, Juliet and Romeo. Helene is fleeing a broken marriage and is ready to finally write her book. She’s been writing stories for years about her dream man, first envisioned when she starred as Juliet in the school play. She heads to Alaska ready to become the new Helene. Imagine her shock when she goes to a local bar and comes face-to-face with her dream man, how can he be real?

Sebastien is a crab fisherman and wants nothing to do with Helene. His tragic life has been nothing but heartbreak. Fate keeps throwing the couple together though and it seems like only a matter of time until they fall in love.

We are treated to Helene’s short happy romance stories that she wants to pull together into her book and then contrasted with the story from Sebastien’s side of the story. And I fell in love with Sebastien’s gorgeous Alaska home and his love of cooking!

Her soon-to-be-ex Merrick isn’t letting go of Helene easily and his presence becomes problematic. Sebastien is convinced that he will lose Helene as has happened so many times before. Will this time be a happy-ever-after ending? Do you believe in fate?

My thanks to Random House/Ballantine and NetGalley. It is fitting that this is my 400th review and I’m turning it in on Valentine’s Day. This one is scheduled to publish on 8.1.2023.

Romance or Tragedy? 🎭

In this reimagining of Romeo and Juliet, Helene, who has just filed for divorce from her cheating husband, moves to Alaska despite the fact that she can’t drive in the snow and thinks that 73 degrees is “sweater weather”. She is hoping that the change of scenery will help her to piece together the many vignettes she has written over the years into a full length novel.

The vignettes are all stories of true love, highlighting how a couple meets which end with a presumed “happily ever after”, and she always pictures the same “perfect man” as she writes them.

So, she is SHOCKED when she walks into “The Frosty Otter” upon arrival in her new small town, and recognizes her creation, who is a flesh and blood fisherman by the name of Sebastian Montague.

“I know you”…..she says in confusion…

Sebastian however, understands why.

He is Romeo, who actually never committed suicide as written, but has lived on eternally, and he knows that Helene is the latest reincarnation of his beloved, Juliet, a woman he loves and loses, repeatedly through tragic circumstances every time she finds her way back to him.

They are forever CURSED.

She doesn’t know that her historical romance vignettes are actually memories, that haven’t ended HEA. He knows that her stories, which are also his stories, are all tragedies.

Can Sebastian and Helene finally rewrite history this time? Will their love story be a romance or a tragedy?

Their story unfolds through their present day romance, her sappy vignettes and his journals which chronicle the truth, and because Romeo and Juliet fell in love in Verona in 1376, many of their subsequent relationships take place in, and are written in the style of medieval times-which isn’t a romance genre that I gravitate to.

In addition, the humor in the present day timeline was juvenile and didn’t resonate with me.

I just didn’t feel the chemistry that we are told that they have shared for centuries, and found that I loved the premise more than the execution.

I downloaded this when other reviewers said that it compared to “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” and although they share the similar themes of eternal life and love, this wasn’t in the same league for me.

A buddy read with DeAnn who may have enjoyed it more? Be sure to watch for her review!

Expected publication date: August 1, 2023

Thank You to Del Rey books for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was a pleasure to offer a candid review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC.

3.5 stars

This book was very sweet in a lot of ways. I really appreciated the different points of view. The differing perspectives on the relationship informed me as a reader as to how each character was feeling in pivotal moments. However, at times, the switch felt unnecessary or too jarring.

I also was not as pleased with the finale of the story as I wanted to be. The final chapters and climax fall into a cliché of immortality in modern times that we seem to be falling into more and more often. I wish that this story, with its unique plot line, had an equally unique climax.

First off let me admit that this is not my usual genre. But this beautiful cover caught my eye and I had to read it.

This is basically a modern Romeo and Juliet. With a twist. It is either realistic fantasy or Romeo is a Cullen. But I have so many unanswered questions about this story.

Actually, it is too fantastical for me. I actually would understand it more if he was a vampire. But he’s not. He’s Romeo.

Amazing cover though!

The Hundred Loves of Juliet is a beautiful love story! Evelyn Skye gives us a unique spin on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and I loved it.

From the get go we meet Helene, who is strong, upbeat and working on reclaiming her life after moving to Alaska. We hear about her vignettes and her horrible specimen of a soon-to-be ex husband. Then we get to meet Sebastian. He is a little more reluctant in the beginning as he guards himself, but there is that instant recognition he and Helene have if each other.

Their romance was not as instant as their connection, but it was so refreshing that they took time and got to know each other in the present and let go of what past they could. I loved that Helene kept pushing Sebastian to be with her now, and that they were about to find happiness.

This was such a sweet, yet simple story, but I found myself in tears at points, and I was whole heartedly rooting for Sebastian and Helene.

Thank you Evelyn Skye, NetGalley, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Ray for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Despite my not being the biggest fan of the romance genre, after reading The Hundred Lives of Juliet, I can absolutely recommend it to people like me and romance lovers alike. The hook for me was the premise that the main character Helene was actually the reincarnation of Juliet Capulet, who has run into Romeo Montague in present times. He has somehow managed to stay alive (and only visually age about a DECADE - men get all the breaks!) since those days in Verona. He's changed his name, vocation, and location a few times since then and is now known as Sebastian Montague.

First of all, I love Romeo and Juliet! I was obsessed with the play in high school and have seen all the movies many, many times. Skye roped me in right away with a scene featuring Romeo and Benvolio preparing to attend the Capulets' ball. Written in modern prose, this previously unseen interaction enhanced my existing R&J knowledge and really made me want to read more. From this early scene, we learn of the characteristic chemical reaction the star-crossed lovers experience upon each meeting, establishing their status as the ultimate SOUL MATES, and it's carried through the book perfectly. They recognize each other instantly regardless of Juliet's current incarnation - it's a powerful thought that you can know someone no matter the time spent apart and despite even death.

My favorite part came toward the end, when they work together to vanquish the enemy and live happily ever after, maybe. (No spoilers!) All I'll say is that I just really enjoyed how this character developed; she grew so much that she was the one who figured out what needed to be done and carried it out, with minimal assistance from Sebastian and friends. It was an excellent example of great character development and was definitely empowering for Helene.

For all you hard core romance fans, do not despair. There are sex scenes! I am a tad squeamish in general but these were well done, integral to the story and steamy. I might just see what you all like so much about them. ;) Overall, I think this was a brilliant reimagining of a classic love story.

***Eternal thanks to Random House and Net Galley for the ARC!***

I loved this retelling of Romeo and Juliet with such a neat twist! I was hooked on this book from the very beginning and didn't want to put it down. It was fast paced and flowed so well.

One of my favorite movies is Age of Adaline and this book definitely reminded me of it. If you are also a fan of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, then you will love this
Great read! Thank you for the opportunity to read and review Netgalley!

3.75/5 - love the premise of reincarnated Juliet and immortal Romeo. I was hooked from the first chapter, and enjoyed the writing style. But I would have liked more closure from the epilogue, like maybe if had taken place a few years later. The ending wasn’t very satisfying for me.

First person
Dual POV
Little to no spice