I enjoyed this book but it wasn’t my favourite. I wish I connected more to the writing style of the author but I just didn’t.

I enjoyed this retelling more than I thought I would. I have been recommending it everyone that has given me an opportunity to talk about it. Retellings can sometimes be overdone, but this one was done so perfectly. I can't wait to pick up more books by this author!

I was slightly skeptical when I started this book because I didn't know how smoothly the story would run. But apparently I had nothing to fear! The author kept a lot of the same elements but also added a lot in, and they did it in a way that made sense. I was worried that it was just going to be a mess. But the writing style in my opinion is straight up beautiful. There was also a great masquerade part which is my favorite from this book and “Romeo & Juliet.” Speaking of Juliet I absolutely love how the author wrote her character, I don’t know what it was, it was just well done. And to be honest all the characters just got more depth to them which was nice. This book completely had me to the very end.

Romeo is living in Verona trying his best to avoid all marriage attempts by his parents. When he goes to the party at the Capulets he meets Valentine, Mercurio‘s brother and it is through this meeting that the love story begins to grow. Romeo also meets Juliet Capulet a young lady who just wants freedom. This story takes the typical story of Romeo and Juliet and turns it on its head. Now it is Romeo and Valentine two men, who want to find their true calling in life. The writing in this book was lyrical, which fits well with the Shakespeare redo vibes. The story is compelling and full of little winks and nods to the play. It is wonderful for a young reader or a seasoned Shakespeare reader alike. This was sweet and I loved the story from beginning to end, especially the addition of a certain cat.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners for an ARC of this audiobook.

I didn't realize that this was a series (they are all stand alone, remixed classic books) but I love all things Romeo and Juliet. When I saw this book I knew I had to request it.

I was certainly not disappointed. This was my favorite book that I have read in a long time. I have already started to recommend it to people.

The twist on this book is that Romeo falls in love..not with Juliet but with Valentine who is the brother of Marcuccio. Juliet is also here with Romeo helping him along the way.

The language in this book has the old Shakespeare feel to it which I also loved.
The Narrator in this audiobook did a great job!

All around this was a win for me... I loved it!

Thank you to #NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is the second in the remix series that I have read. This was an awesome retelling. I think it had enough different from the original material that it felt like its own story. I could not help but compare it to the original. I really liked this one!

Romeo and Juliet, but make it gay - instant read for me. I was pleasantly surprised that the base story was kept the same and Romeo fell for a different character, instead of Juliet being made a man. It was an interesting and unexpected twist right at the beginning so to speak. It still made the story feel very familiar while added something new and fresh. The audiobook narration was done really well and I thoroughly enjoyed his storytelling. I did get nervous about 65% of the way through, because we all know how Romeo and Juliet ends and I started dreading something bad happening. Overall, I think this was done really well and has made me want to check out all the other classic remixes available. This is a great way to something who wants to read the classics, but is put off by the old fashion speech and writing.

Thanks to #netgalley for an e-copy of Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix by Caleb Roehrig to read and review.

I had a bit of an emotional journey this book, when I first got invested in the relationship I was so horrified remembering that it's actually a tragedy, then I found myself disappointed at the end when they didn't actually die! But overall I really enjoyed it, the writing was beautiful and I'm always happy to see a tragic queer story turned into a happy ending, I was just surprised it went that way. I liked the relationship between Romeo and Juliet a lot and the way she was an integral and important character in the book, not a villain. I also loved the narration.

A reimagining of Romeo and Juliet, but with two teen boys who must keep their growing fondness a secret from their feeding families who do not support relationships of their kind.

Slow moving at first, but gained momentum after the boys become reacquainted.

Such a fun mlm Romeo and Juliet retelling with characters more engaging than the plot. I am really enjoying so many of the books in the Remixed Classics series!

I personally was not a fan of the narrator of this story and was unable to complete it. I would give the print book a chance as I tend to prefer physical books to audio.

this was a different take on the Romeo and Juliet story, where Romeo was gay and in love with another boy

I loved the friendship between Juliet and Romeo, and how she was willing to be his cover . she may have been helping herself in this plan, but i felt like her and Romeo had a bond.

i have loved other books that bend this love story and i will say this one is up there with my favorite. You will love the characters and the story is touching

This book is excellent. It's so well done. It mixes the original story with new content and makes it more engaging and relevant to a new generation of readers.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 stars)

"Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix" by Caleb Roehrig, narrated by Max Meyers, is a brilliant and captivating reimagining of the timeless classic, "Romeo and Juliet." This audiobook offers a fresh perspective on a beloved tale, breathing new life into the story with both its inventive narrative and Max Meyers' engaging narration.

Caleb Roehrig's reinterpretation of the Shakespearean tragedy is nothing short of masterful. He skillfully transports the reader to a modern world filled with complex characters and intricate family rivalries. The way he weaves the themes of love, identity, and sacrifice into the narrative is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant.

Max Meyers' narration adds an extra layer of depth to the experience. His expressive voice captures the essence of the characters, making each one distinct and relatable. The passion and emotion he brings to the dialogue intensify the impact of the story, drawing the listener even deeper into the narrative.

*Thank you to Netalley and the publisher for an Audio ARC in exchange for an honest review*

I only got about 25% in, and while I am enjoying it, I don't want to force myself to finish this audio arc. I really wish I could, but if I force myself to finish this, it won't be a fully honest review because my reading experience will be hindered. From what I have read, it's amazing and I can't wait to be in the mood for YA romance again so I can finish this eventually!! Right now, I imagine this will be an easy 4 star read.

Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo and Juliet Remix is an LGBTQ+ retelling of Romeo and Juliet, emphasis on the retelling. Don’t go into this expecting the same plot or a similar plot to the Shakespeare classic. In this version, Romeo is gay and Juliet is aro/ace. There’s no romantic or sexual love between them, just a means to escape their families.

The characters and plot are very melodramatic, which is makes sense with the novel in the same era and location as the original play. If you don’t like teens and young adults being melodramatic over love, family, and anger you’re not gonna have a good time reading this book. But for LGBTQ+ readers, it’s fun to have queer characters in this type of story.

The book does not follow the plot of the play, including character deaths, speeches, and motivations. It’s still a fun read but not great in my opinion. Keep in mind though that I am a Shakespeare nerd, so I kept getting thrown off by the completely different plots.

This is the second historical fiction book I’ve read this year that includes a facade of a hetero marriage between two LGBTQ+ characters that do not have romantic or sexual involvement. Not a lot, but it’s weird that happened twice.

7/10 definitely worth the consideration.

I was excited for this book. I thought that the concept was great. However, I was extremely disappointed with the execution. The characters were two-dimensional. I was expecting... more... from this retelling.

This book actually had me interested in Romeo & Juliet for the first time in years. It’s not my favorite Shakespeare, but this queer twist made the story more fun. I was fully invested with Romeo and Valentine from the moment they first interact at the party. Glad I decided to give this title a chance.

Not usually one for Shakespeare (at least the original text), this retelling was way more my style. Loved the reinterpretation of the original characters and story, with some fun surprises along the way. The author gave the characters much more depth and personality, making it easy to get sucked into the story (and their antics), rooting for them the whole time (even knowing how things could play out). Even with it being about teenage love at first sight, still felt way more believable (and less annoying) than the source material. It’s got it all - young love, swordplay, sass, angst, and folks exploring who they are and what really matters to them in life. And much less tragedy (thank god). Whether you like Shakespeare, or just queer love stories, it’s a fun adventure. I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator too.

Thanks to Net Galley for the audiobook!

I loved this remix! We get both Romeo and Juliet and we get Valentine who will be Romeo's actual love interest and this twist is fantastic. Keeping the elements of the original while adding them dealing with their sexualities they have to hide while also avoiding arranged marriages was very interesting and sad because you want their love to be open and free when it just can't be. Not the way they want to. But this remix delivers you joy in the midst of chaos, and I loved it!