I enjoyed the narrator for this book. However, the overall story was a struggle for me unfortunately. I do still plan on putting this on our year-round Pride table at work though!

This is my new, absolute FAVORITE, Romeo & Juliet retelling. I'm a sucker for any gay content, but it's truly a joy when it ends up being so well written and entertaining. Romeo and Valentine? I could only wish for a relationship half as beautiful.

Juliet quickly became one of the best characters, and honestly, acts exactly as I always wanted her to. I had such a hard time reading the original Romeo and Juliet as a kid, wrapping my head around the fact that a 14/15 year old WANTED to get married and pop out kids.

This retelling is so realistic. It could be any couple from back then. I loved the little tidbit about lavender marriages, which are still a thing today, although less so.

My interest has been piqued, and I'm now in the middle of reading the rest of the books in this series.

Thank you Netgalley and Feiwel & Friend for an advanced copy of this Audiobook.

I am extremely particular about narrators and while I wasn't fully turned away by this narrator, it did take awhile for me to like them.

Positives: Queer, less tragic than the source (I hate tragedies), fun complexities, very tender romance, found family trope, and an absolutely stunning cover

Negatives: Remix is generous, it is so much different that it reads to me more like fanfic than a retelling, the complexities do become a little tough to keep track of at a certain point, and the writing style being a weird mixture of Shakespearean and modern English.

Overall, I think remixing a Shakespearean play while trying to keep it fairly true to the original is tough. I think it would have worked better as an "inspired by" rather than a "remix." I loved the romance and Juliet was an absolute badass, but the rest of it was just not quite there. I think it is a fun read, especially if you approach it from more of a fan fiction lens, but it didn't hit the big moments of the source very well, but wasn't different enough for it not to matter.

Blisteringly romantic with beautiful prose, this remix brings much needed new life to the original tale. The gay love story is wonderfully realized, adding layers to the original story that make what is often seen as a nonsensical tale of instalust into something that shines as both an exploration and expansion of Romeo and Juliet as well as standing alone as its own tale for those unfamiliar with the original. Romeo and Valentine were the swoonworthy couple Romeo and Juliet never were to me, with a complex history linking them together. The care with which their sexualities were handled was exactly what I hoped for and felt so true that I forgot Valentine was, in fact, a new addition to the story. I also appreciated the inclusion of a Juliet in command of her own destiny alongside the queer love story, showcasing a strong woman determined not to be trapped in a loveless marriage not of her choosing. The asexual/aromantic vibe to her characterization rounded out the cast and made me root for a future all three of them could enjoy. I really loved this one and highly recommend it!

I had such high hopes for this one!

Continuing on my trend of reading Romeo & Juliet retellings, I was eager to dive into this particular one, hoping to discover a fresh and captivating perspective. Unfortunately, it didn't give me the feel I was looking for. The characters lacked development and the romance felt rushed, leaving me unable to truly connect with them or the overall story. However, I did appreciate how the author took a different approach and avoided simply turning Juliet into a male character, as often seen in other retellings.

Overall, it was fine, but not my favorite.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Caleb Roehrig, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

As someone who absolutely despised Romeo and Juliet, this queer remix on the classic was refreshing.

Romeo Montague has certain expectations he just uphold due to his family name, which means hiding away his love for art and boys. Romeo intends to stick to this plan until a chance garden Rendezvous. Romeo quickly finds himself embroiled in a secret romance with another boy all while the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets threatens them both.

I enjoyed that the original characters were featured in similar roles, but with a few surprises along the way…and again, while making it queer.

I quickly found myself wrapped up in the romance and drama of this book but much appreciated the modern spin especially when it comes to consent, identity, and gender roles.

This was a quick and fun read, which I definitely recommend!

Rep: gay mc, gay li, aroace scs
Rating: 4.5 stars

I probably read Romeo & Juliet, or at least parts of it, in high school, but I don’t remember any of it. So I’ll just be reviewing this on its own, not really how it did compared to the original. Other than maybe a few big changes.

I really liked the direction Roehrig took with this retelling. From the different queer characters to the way the story was handled and resolved, it was well done. And the fact that it doesn’t end in tragedy is a big plus. No bury your gays here!

Romeo and Valentine are such soft boys. Just give them all the happiness. Their relationship was so sweet. They fell hard and fast. But they did not have it easy. They had to be very secretive and hide their relationship from everyone. There’s some angst to the story for sure, but its not too bad or too heart-wrenching. It was a decent amount that fit for the story and made the stakes higher.

I loved seeing some aroace characters! Especially one as well known as Juliet. That was really cool to see. I really enjoyed Juliet as a character. She was a strong woman who didn’t take shit from all these crappy men around her. It was great that her and Romeo could figure something out that worked for both of them in the end. She also wasn’t sidelined. She had a decent role in the plot.

I don’t know if Friar Laurence was in the original, but I liked his character in here. He was the 2nd aroace character, and good friend to Romeo. He gave him lots of advice and was always there for Romeo to talk to about his struggles. I was happy that he accepted Romeo’s queerness very easily. He never judged him for being attracted to a man.

I liked Benvolio and Mercutio’s reactions and acceptance of Rome and Valentine. They were both great friends. They were always there to support Romeo and back him up. Even in dangerous situations.

Tybalt was so annoying. Every time he saw Romeo, or him and Juliet together, he would jump to so many conclusions and fighting or just outright make up a bunch of lies. Like dude calm down for one second. Why do you have to be such an obnoxious jerk. I know him and Romeo have some beef but damn, give him a break. He was just all rage.

Overall, I enjoyed this very queer Romeo & Juliet retelling.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC of this book

Caleb Roehrig partaking in this series is what made me seek it out, and TTTTB is a wonderful and whimsical spin on the Romeo and Juliet trope with a queer twist that makes it very modern. Valentine is an absolute angel, and the vast of side characters carry this story. I was particularly enthralled with Juliet and her story arch as asexual, a lovely and unexpected addition to a beloved character that was endearing. Romeo himself was alright, more fun of the mill and along the same characteristics of the original Romeo, and I enjoyed the changes made to the supporting cast more. As a whole, a very enjoyable queer retelling with lovely representation and a fantastic HEA

This is the seventh book out of the eight book collection of classical remix and this one is inspired by Romeo and Juliet it is also the first one that I have read or listen to that I forgot I was even reading a remix. I became so swept up and Romeos plight and even thought I was going to shed a tear when he was speaking to friar Lawrence and he told him that all of gods miracles are natural and that he should ask himself why shouldn’t he have happiness? There was way more to that quote and that isn’t even verbatim the quote but OMG I listen to the audiobook in the narration was done by Max Myers and if you want to get this book get the audio version because he does a stellar performance and sets the right tone for the tragedies and the good times I absolutely love this book it’s my favorite out of the collection it’s a book I highly recommend. I want to thank McMillan audio in NetGalley for my free arc audio copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

I think my heart is broken.
But only because this book is over and I cannot read more.

Caleb Roehrig created such a beautiful retelling of the classic play with loads of updates! Told from Romeo's POV, we get to see young love from a new and fresh perspective. Even knowing Shakespeare's original, I was still on the edge of my seat while reading as the story felt reimagined enough to remove any sense of mundane familiarity.

I also had the pleasure of reading the audiobook version of this book, and loved the work of the narrator. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. I appreciate the attention given to adding variation to so many different male voices. I was able to listen along with no issues and felt fully engrossed in the story.

This book was a very interesting read, and I am glad I picked it up. I enjoyed the remix of a popular classic and getting to see the characters I love from the play back in action in a different light. I enjoyed that this was only told from Romeo's POV, and I am happy that I went in blind to this one. I feel as though, if I did not go in blind, I would have held the book to higher expectations. I highly recommend going into this one blind. The retelling of this story and the changes made from the original were very interesting and I think it was a very fun read. I enjoyed every second of this one. The end was not what I was expecting as I was going through this book, but I did find myself fulfilled and happy with the way the author used the original to create this remix. I loved that this one was MM, I think it is so important that we read LGBTQIA+ books year-round, and I am happy to see some of my favorite classics being retold in an LGBTQIA+ romance or storyline. The growth of the characters and the coming of age in this also played a big role in why I liked the changes of this one rather than the original. So many of the characters supported Romeo and Valentine in their journey to find each other and keep each other. Their story of making their own happiness and chasing after dreams they did not think were possible, was exciting to read, and I really want to dive into the other remixes in this collection.

The audio of this one was very fascinating, and the narrator did an excellent job at acting out all of the different parts of this book. There are so many ups and downs and the being the voice of this book could not have been an easy task, but it made the listen so enjoyable and easy to follow along.

Thank you to MacMillan and MacMillan Audio for the advanced copies of this book in exchange for my honest review.

It’s been years since I read Romeo and Juliet, but much of this story was familiar – most of the same characters, the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets, and a forbidden love – just not between Romeo and Juliet.

Romeo wants a quiet life as an artist, but that’s not his decision to make. His family expects him to marry a well-bred girl (probably one chosen for him) and continue the family business. But Romeo is attracted to boys. He’s had a crush on his friend Mercutio for years, but after becoming reacquainted with Mercutio’s brother, Valentine (he’s been away for three years), Romeo is immediately smitten.

Juliet has no interest in being married off to a man who treats her like a possession and is more interested in her dowry than getting to know her. In fact, she’s really not interested in romance at all and would like to go into business. When she and Romeo meet, they learn they share the belief that the feud between their families is ridiculous. I loved that a friendship develops between them. Actually, Juliet is kind of a rebel, and I cheered her on at a pivotal scene near the end.

Besides the lack of romance between Romeo and Juliet, much of the story is the same. Friar Laurence (one of my favorite characters) still helps out, and Romeo is banished after killing Tybalt, but the ending isn’t the tragic one of the classic story. And I liked it much better. Instead, he and Juliet work together to form a plan that gives each of them a chance at happiness.

I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator does a wonderful job. After reading several retellings in this series, I haven’t found one I didn’t enjoy. Recommended for readers enjoy a new spin on classics.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

3.5⭐
The first half of this was fine but I was mostly bored, though I did really enjoy Romeo trying to accept he doesn't like girls like all his friends and how he tries to hide it from them. The second half when knives are starting to be used is when it really picked up for me. Juliet creating all these plans that offer Romeo the freedom to be with his lover while she acquires the freedom to be her own woman was really fun and I was 100% on the edge of my seat whenever the lover was in danger. Also I really appreciated the twist on the original of Juliet not taking the fake poison but Romeo's lover.

I don't really know what to expect with this but it was a fun read and very gay; I recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Holy moly this book. I took with with me on a road trip and I wished my 10 hour drive was 2 hours longer so I could have finished it in one go.

It's exactly as it says. A super duper queer retelling of Romeo and Juliet. It's cute and funny and heart breaking and just absolutely amazing in every way. But mainly, there is a HEA or I might not have survived (emotionally speaking).

Some of my favorite aspects of this was two aspec characters (probably both aro/ace) that were very important to the storyline.

Juliet is a side character, but very well developed and a super strong female character. I loved her very much. We love a girl who breaks down gender roles and heteronormativity and the patriarchy.

But basically that's what this book is. Just destroy all the cultural norms and run with it. It was amazing.

*4.5/5

I love this book! Let me explain exactly why, but if you don’t want to read a long review, just trust me when I say it’s worth the read.

This is not a retelling of Romeo and Juliet but with Juliet as a male, but instead a reimagining of the story— I now understand why it’s called a “remix”. This story takes the characters and setting of Romeo and Juliet, and switches the plot around so that Romeo falls for mercutio’s brother instead of Juliet. Other than the main idea of the characters in romeo and Juliet, the whole story was different (which isn’t a bad thing, it was just unexpected).

I thought this was a very unique take on the original story, and it didn’t just copy-paste the original and make it gay (which I was expecting but this way was much cooler).

Even though this book was YA (which there’s nothing wrong with!), I was astonished by the writing! It was so beautiful! The way the author described the love interest made ME fall in love with him! He sounded so beautiful and adorable and, as the text calls him, “apocalyptic”! I loved the descriptions of the characters is what I’m trying to say. It also helped that the tensions and climax were written super well, where I felt stress waiting for what was going to happen next. I could also feel Romeo’s panic and stress through the perspective, and it felt very real. Especially listening through an audiobook, I felt like I was hearing a real person’s internal thoughts and struggles.

It was very insta-love-y, but so is Romeo and Juliet so you kind of expect it going in.

I do wish the author would have either chosen to tell this story in modern times, or fully committed to Shakespearean times, because the middle ground of the two was a little awkward. Some dialect was Shakespearean, some modern, so it was hard to tell exactly when this all was happening. The roles of the characters made sense for Shakespearean times, but the overall story felt very modern, maybe just because it’s a QUEER story, but maybe there’s more to it. I obviously didn’t expect the whole thing to be written in Shakespearean English, but a little more or a little less commitment to it would have been preferred.

I am a bit of a masochist when it comes to books, so I think the ending was a little lacklustre compared to the original Romeo and Juliet, but it did leave me with warm fuzzies inside so that’s something to appreciate. No spoilers though, because this book is a wild ride that I did not see coming!!

Also… am I right that there may have been some ace rep??? Maybe I’m being hopeful but I think I know a fellow ace when I see/read one!

Regardless, I definitely so recommend this book. It’s adorable and stressful and super well written. Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC!

3.5 stars. This is pretty good. The characters were charming, but ultimately forgettable. The highlight of this book was definitely the prose. Since it’s a Romeo and Juliet retelling, the prose is very flowery, which is beautiful. Also, the narrator for the audiobook did a great job! He put so much emotion into the performance and it added so much to make the reader care about the characters

The classic remix’s I have read have all been fantastic and this one definitely lives up to that reputation. It’s really amazing to see a story that has been told so may times reclaimed in a way that has so much representation. I felt invested in the characters and even though this is a story I know I was still surprised by the way thing’s played out. The narrator has done a wonderful job, this was beautifully done.

4.5! I love Romeo and Juliet, so it was easy for me to love this remix. It was so cute. The writing was a combination of modern and old style, which really came together beautifully. The characters were all described fantastically, and they shone so brightly. I think I’d like to be Benvolios best friend! He seemed like an absolute blast 😂 My favourite character, by far though, was Juliet, and honestly, that shocked me! She was so strong, so outspoken, and oh man was she a thinker!! That girl used her brain, and ran circles around all the boys with her intellect.
Romeo is our main character, and I really loved the story told from his POV. He has such a big heart ♥️
Wonderful story, beautifully written, with such a fun yet emotional journey. Loved it.

They really said "but make it queer" and I ate it up! I haven't read any in this remixed series before but this convinced me I should give them a go. I will say, if you're looking for the tragedy or lyricism of the original story, you won't be getting it here. There's certainly some, but nowhere near to the level of the original, which I didn't necessarily mind but is something I think readers should know before going in. The romance is very sweet and tender, though I wish there was a bit more yearning. Overall, I really liked this one!

Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, Caleb Roehrig, and Max Meyers (audio narrator) for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo and Juliet Remix in exchange for an honest review.

So as the title suggests, this is a remix of Shakespeare's classic play, but remixed to be gay! Now, I suppose the twist I mention in the title isn't quite unexpected. It's not Roemo and Julian or some such thing one might suspect, but as mentioned in the book blurb, it's Romeo and Valentine, Mercutio's brother!

While holding true to many of the major plot points, it is Valentine that Romeo meets at the Capulet party, and Romeo knows what his feelings are telling him. Despite Benvolio's push for Romeo toward this woman or that woman, the guy is definitely interested in boys.

Tybalt remains a key player as an antagonistic Capulet, but Juliet is more of a friendly ally and defends Romeo against her cousin. We have inquiries with the Friar and duals in the streets--all the things that make the plot of Romeo and Juliet. There are some different twists and turns throughout, with some unexpected marriages, expected deaths and exiles, and a plot to save Romeo and Valentine's relationship.

For those familiar with Romeo and Juliet, I won't spoil all the differences in detail. It is fun to compare the two, but also to have a different story told with an LGBTQ light as a novel instead of play format. An excellent retelling/remix version of the original play perfect for fans of LGBTQ fiction.