I loved this book. It's not what I would call one of my usual reads, but it was a nice pallet cleanser and I very much enjoyed the story.

Thank you Net Galley for the advanced readers copy of this book. I think that I may have been the wrong target audience for this book. Normally I absolutely love an extension or retelling of classic stories. However, this one I just could not become immersed in.

I love this backstory to Romeo and Juliet about Romeo’s ex of Rosaline it was fun to read the story set before the most romantic story told by Shakespeare

Fair Rosaline is a bit of a twist on the classic Romeo and Juliet story, told from Rosaline’s point of view. The story opens with Rosaline being told she is going to be sent to a nunnery, falling into a brief affair with Romeo beforehand, and then trying to save her cousin, Juliet, when she realizes that Romeo has set his sights on her.

Overall, I think this book brought a fresh perspective to Romeo and Juliet and I enjoyed getting to see more developed personalities of some of my favorite characters. I was able to relate to the characters more in this story than I was in the original Shakespearean play and I think it was great to see Rosaline especially, who doesn’t have as large of a role in the play, have a lot of spunk and fire as the story goes on. I did think that some of the dialogue and language was a little awkward, as the Shakespearean style language seemed to be more interspersed, rather than seamlessly included. But, this was not enough to majorly detract from the story and I still enjoyed it.

I fell in love with this one as soon as I started the story. If you love the original tale then this one is going to bomb your heart as you read each page.

A clever reworking of Romeo and Juliet, with some decidedly modern day flourishes--this is a creative spin that will be a great fit for lovers of historical fiction and well-written romance. I am not sure that comparisons to Maggie O'Farrell's work are fair to this author, but certainly, they share a wonderful ability to re-imagine well known stories and create powerful characters. Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. I started this book with high hopes for the story to turn Romeo & Juliet on its head but I was disappointed. The whole plot still occurs in a short amount of days and some of the characters are much more fleshed out here than in the play but I did not enjoy Rosaline as a character. I also just could not enjoy the prose and started to skim pretty early just to hit the plot points and see where it may go. I will say I was likely influenced by other reviews I saw and their view. I do not recommend this book as it just did not satisfy. 2 stars.

Everyone knows of Romeo and Juliet. But before Juliet, there was Rosaline. In Shakespeare's play, Romeo's fickle adoration strays before we get to know much of anything about his former love. Who was she, and how does might she factor into arguably Shakespeare's most famous tragedy?

I've read a lot of 'retellings' recently, and this is one of my favorites. Not only is the prose resonant and evocative, Rosaline is a compelling heroine, lending us a unique and more human perspective on a story that, in my opinion, was always a little... well, farfetched. But through Rosaline's eyes, we see a Verona that is not a playground for entitled brats, but a city in the maelstrom of a plague: fetid, tumultuous, haunted. Our characters are not caricatures of emotive hyperbole, but people with whom we can identify, with troubles and cares that, while more pedestrian than a coup de foudre, encourage the reader to invest in the story.

Nowhere does this investment pay more dividends than with Rosaline. A modern heroine in a historic time, she is at once courageous and vulnerable. She is struggling to find freedom in a world and a time set on hemming in the liberties of women. At first, the affections of Romeo are a lifeline: an escape from imprisonment in a nunnery. But soon, Romeo's advances take on a predatory sheen. We see Rosaline wrestle with these shifting realizations and attempt to save herself and then Juliet. We root for her, even as she makes decisions we would not make in her stead. We see her for what she is: a young woman doing her best in a situation where all odds are against her.

Don't expect swashbuckling and swooning. This retelling of Romeo and Juliet is gritty and painful. But it's also immensely more interesting, and it will keep you thinking well past the last page.

I did not finish this title, I could not get over the misrepresentation of Shakespeare's characters. I fully expected the retelling to be far from the original, but this was unbelievably so. I found Rosaline to be deeply unlikeable and paranoid. In Rosaline's view every person in Verona is a pedophile and Juliet is a little lamb stumbling through. It all got a bit nauseating so I had to put the book down for good.

In a YA twist on the classic Shakespearean play Romeo and Juliet, Solomons tells the events from the perspective of Rosaline Capulet, cousin to tragically chivalrous Tybalt and tragically romantic Juliet and the first Capulet girl to fall for the deceitful words of Romeo Montague. Readers see the well-known events unfold from Rosaline’s perspective while also learning of her own story, of how she fell in love with Romeo offstage and how he left her behind for her younger cousin. Solomons gives both Rosaline and Juliet greater agency within the constraints of early modern Italy and the established Shakespearean play, finally letting these two girls have their moment in the spotlight. Solomons’ characters and their relationships with other figures drive the story forward, and Solomons expands upon their relationships, emotions, and possible motivations behind their onstage actions. The characters are incredibly well-written, maintaining their original Shakespearean portrayal while also exhibiting greater agency and depth of character -- particularly, of course, for Rosaline and Juliet -- and this adds to the depth of story and reader investment in this narrative. Solomons’ take on the classic Shakespearean play is a well-written narrative filled with excellently developed characters who get a chance to reclaim the narrative.

I am not really sure how I feel about this book. I didn’t love it, I guess “liked” fits better. It’s marketed as a prequel to Romeo and Juliet, so if you understand that, it might be enjoyable for some readers. Some other reviews I stumbled upon mention a “retelling” and I don’t feel that fits correctly. It was a book that I had trouble keeping engaged with, so for that reason, it’s not one I would highly recommend to others.

Wow wow wow! What an incredible, feminist retelling of Romeo and Juliet. This was SO good. I loved it.

It felt just a little wicked to read this behind Shakespeare's back, but it was so good to have someone twist his half-told tale into a fuller story. Having read and seen R & J many times through these years, and always walking away slightly pissed off (what a waste of life!), I've always felt as if we are hearing only a part of a much deeper, danker story. Huzzah!!! Here we have a response! I'm not the only one left wanting more. . .

Rosaline, pops into life onstage - displayed by Shakespeare in only 10 mentions: she's the girl named by the ribbing of Romeo's fellows, reminding him that he can do better; and by the chiding of the Friar who is creepily over-interested in Romeo's love life. From this small literary outcropping comes Fair Rosaline - an engaging reimagining of a larger story of which Juliet's time with Romeo is just a part. The mood grows darker and far more dangerous. Another compelling example that blurred lines between good and evil, hero and villain, are alternately clarified in the telling of a tale, depending on the voice with which it is carried.

A very enjoyable read, and by way of side bar - this was a treat for my inner Bard: the dialog between speakers felt apt (if not wholly correct) for the time of Shakespeare's writing. Altogether a delight for this old girl, who has always thought Romeo less a hero, and far more a villain.

*A sincere thank you to Natasha Solomons, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for a free ARC to read and review.*

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Romeo, oh Romeo, you're a very bad man.

Sharp, fresh, feministic retell of a classic tale. The plot is well-paced, with twists and turns that add depth and heartbreak to the narrative.

Rosaline is taken in by Romeo's smooth words but things aren't always as they seem.
Can she stop Juliet from becoming his next victim.

I’m all for a good retelling but this was not that. Things move super slow, and were relatively bland. As for writing style there was definitely some inconsistencies; it would flip flop between feeling Shakespearean to more modern language. I didn’t connect to any of the characters, though I really wanted to be team Rosaline I found I just didn’t care what happened to the characters in the end. This may have been partially linked to finding out Romeo is written as being in his late 20s or above and is constantly on the prowl for girls 15 and younger… like no thanks not my kind of book.

This book was a great read that I devoured. I loved the characters and the storyline. I wish I had more to read!

I have read A LOT of Romeo and Juliet retellings...but Natasha Solomons's FAIR ROSALINE has to be one of the most creative and thoughtful reimaginings of the tragic play. Solomon clearly did her research and is obviously well-acquainted with the original source material. Her novel was everything I had hoped for, especially from Rosaline's perspective. Best yet, it was just really well-written. The writing has such a strong voice; I was immediately sucked into the story. This is exactly the sort of well done feminist take we should see of the classics. FAIR ROSALINE is definitely one that is getting added to school and classroom libraries.

A fascinating reimagining of one of Shakespeare's most popular plays, as seen through the eyes of an overlooked character.
Romeo and Juliet is arguably Shakespeare's best known and most performed work, yet Rosaline, a character who plays a pivotal role in its opening acts, is seldom recalled; although she's Romeo's obsession before he meets Juliet, the Bard gives her no voice. In Fair Rosaline, Natasha Solomons corrects this oversight, rewriting the tale from this forgotten woman's point of view and casting the star-crossed lovers in a completely new light.

As Solomons begins her tale, 15-year-old Rosaline Capulet has just lost her mother to the plague and her father is sending her off to a convent, where she'll remain cloistered for the rest of her life. She bargains for a 12-day reprieve, and vows to spend the time enjoying life as much as she can. She sneaks into a party given by her family's enemies, the Montagues, where she and Romeo meet and enjoy a romance that lasts until Romeo encounters Rosaline's cousin, 13-year-old Juliet. The story largely follows Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet from that point, although as observed by Rosaline.

What turns this familiar tale on its head is the author's depiction of Romeo. In her imagination, he's not a teenager in love but an older predator – Solomons envisions him to be about 30 – who's constantly on the prowl for extremely young women he can use and then callously discard. It's an incredibly creative take on the story, turning it from a romantic tragedy into a much darker narrative about powerful, manipulative men and their victims.

In addition to simply being an interesting spin on an old story, Fair Rosaline is top-notch historical fiction. Solomons frequently inserts period details that lend her account credibility. She writes, for example, that people sniffed "posies and oranges studded with cloves to ward off the plague" and that "harmony in church was banned by Rome for inspiring profane and lustful thoughts" – information that helps her readers become fully immersed in the world she creates. Her dialog, too, mimics what one thinks of as period speech without it becoming so realistic as to be unintelligible (e.g., "I should like to know you better, daughter"). It comes across a little stilted at first, but once one's "reading ear" gets used to it, it's effective, preventing the dialog from seeming too modern. I was also impressed by the author's beautifully descriptive writing:

At dawn the sun rose again and Rosaline with it. The dew was fresh upon the grass, laundering it clean and bright and luridly indifferent to her misfortune. Bees diligently pursued dangling lobes of jasmine for pollen, and a woodpecker rapped for breakfast.

The author takes a risk rewriting such a well-known and beloved tale, and some may have a difficult time enjoying such a radical reinterpretation. I for one found it challenging to reconcile Shakespeare's Romeo with Solomons', and I remain unconvinced by her rationale for this interpretation of the play, which she bases on Shakespeare's unusual emphasis on Juliet's age. And although Solomons' attention to historical minutia is admirable, at times her characters' actions and attitudes seem anachronistic, especially regarding Rosaline's interactions with Romeo and Tybalt.

Despite the issues mentioned above, I found Fair Rosaline interesting and entertaining, and a worthwhile read. I recommend it to readers who've enjoyed books like Circe and Ariadne – novels that give voice to women who, until now, have been silenced. Its beautiful prose and outstanding historical detail should make it popular with those who appreciate well-written historical fiction, and its feminist themes make it a good choice for book discussions.

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for my copy! All thoughts are my own.

2023 has been the year of surprising books for me. I was intrigued by the title alone by Fair Rosaline, but when I realize it was more on the lit fic side of the genre, I wasn’t too sure if I was going to have the brain power to read it. But then I found the audiobook on Scribd and in about three seconds of listening, my expectations were dashed and I was sucked in.

As an actor, I have always loved Shakespeare retellings. But this book isn’t a re-telling…it’s an un-telling. It’s taking ownership of the women in the story of Romeo & Juliet which, as a very loud feminist, was quite important to me. This book made me rage, cry, and feel at peace. I’ve always felt like Romeo was the character needed to point fingers at, but people always like to make fun of Juliet for being young and dumb. But she isn’t, and to finally give voice to Rosaline was so important to me.

Synopsis:

“The first time Romeo Montague sees young Rosaline Capulet he falls instantly in love. Rosaline, headstrong and independent, is unsure of Romeo's attentions but with her father determined that she join a convent, this handsome and charming stranger offers her the chance of a different life.

Soon though, Rosaline begins to doubt all that Romeo has told her. She breaks off the match, only for Romeo's gaze to turn towards her cousin, thirteen-year-old Juliet. Gradually Rosaline realizes that it is not only Juliet's reputation at stake, but her life .With only hours remaining before she will be banished behind the nunnery walls, will Rosaline save Juliet from her Romeo? Or can this story only ever end one way?

Shattering everything we thought we knew about Romeo and Juliet, Fair Rosaline is the spellbinding prequel to Shakespeare's best known tale, which exposes Romeo as a predator with a long history of pursuing much younger girls.” —StoryGraph

What I Liked:

The “Untelling” Aspect—I didn’t invent this term, it came from the author herself. There is an interview with her at the back of the book and it made so much sense in hindsight. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to the “coming out of a plague” aspect of this story.

The Pacing—This story moved so well! It takes place over just two weeks and so you process everything with Rosaline and it all feels so plausible.

The Reveals—The reveals of all the villains and heroes! I know the play extremely well but I think even if you don’t you’ll still be nodding along cause it all makes SENSE. I’m obsessed.

What Didn’t Work for Me:

I wanted a little more from the ending, but I think that’s because I became so attached to Rosaline.

Character Authenticity: 5/5 Spice Rating: 0/5 Overall Rating: 4.75/5

Content Warnings:

toxic relationship, adult/minor relationship, gaslighting, death of a parent, death, emotional abuse, drugging, infidelity, murder, miscarriage, still birth