I went into this book knowing the general storyline having previously watched the Twelfth Night adaptation, She's the Man. I expected Viola Reyes to be the narrator but there's alternating viewpoints so we get to know Jack Orsino as well as her. From the beginning Viola made it very clear she didn't want people to like her which made it hard for me to sympathize with her and for most of Jack's inner football monologues, I found myself bored and skimming ahead. All of that is necessary to the plot of course but it just made it difficult for me since I was expecting a lighter romantic comedy and I'm not a football fan. That being said, the characters definitely have a love for and strong opinions when it comes to online roleplay and fantasy media so if you wanted someone to commiserate about gender and the intricacies of that in those mediums, this book is definitely for you.

Fun and inspiring like all of this author's book are. The story was entertaining and engaging, the characters were delightful.
Overall an enjoyable read!

Viola is known for being rough around the edges with people. Jack is the star football player with the hot cheerleader girlfriend. The two couldn’t be any more different. However, when Jack gets injured and can’t play football, he is introduced to an online role playing game, Twelfth Knight, to help occupy his time. The same game that Viola plays and is very good at. When Viola realizes Jack is playing the game, she claims to be her twin brother, Bash, and they form a friendship while playing the game. Will Viola ever come clean to Jack? Can their friendship transfer into the real world? Could they possibly be something more?

Twelfth Night is my favorite comedic play by Shakespeare. (I’ve seen all the adaptions and have several copies of the play in book format). When I read the blurb about this retelling, I got super excited. It felt like She’s the Man (the movie with Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum) married San Diego Comic Con (it’s the biggest and OG of the cons) and they produced this gem.

There is a good underlying message about feelings wrapped up in a good coming of age story. There are also odes to some of the things women and girls deal with that our male counterparts don’t seem to have to struggle with.

If the thought of a Shakespearean retelling doesn’t sound like your thing, I still recommend trying this. It’s funny and geeky with romance and sports thrown in and it’s all mixed up with teenage angst. Try it. You’ll like it. (I’m buying this when it comes out because I NEED it).

* Special thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Overall I liked the book, but it was very YA for me and hard to get into at first. It was a lot more coming of age and focused on character development. The romance came as a slow burn for me and toward the end. I did enjoy seeing the main characters grow and not let one thing define them.

I loved this book! What a glimpse into a female high schoolers life. Viola "Vi" Reyes appears to be a no-nonsense, go-getter, who doesn't care what the general high school population thinks of her. She is an independent woman that knows what she likes and how "boys" tend to think they are owed something for being nice and acting human to a girl. I wanted to hug Vi and be her friend. She reminds me a lot of myself as a high schooler in the "I am my own person" sort of way. I was never as gifted in gaming as she is. I love her "alter-ego" in the game Twelfth Knight. The bane of her existence, Jack Orsino, is the Senior Class President, (she's the VP) and a hugely popular star running back for the high school football team. He gets introduced to Twelfth Knight by a friend and he "meets" Vi's alter ego in the game and they start a quest together. There is so much to a high schoolers life regarding grades, college admissions, scholarships, clubs, sports, etc. so for these to polar opposites, for lack of a better term, become gaming buddies. I liked the interactions with all the other secondary characters too; it added so much more depth to the it. The story flows so well and touches on many different types of relationships. The writing is do good that it played out in my mind like I was there in all the scenes or watching a very well thought out sitcom or dramedy on TV.
What more can I say,: excellent storyline, exceptional characters, fantastic writing: this has it all.

Twelfth Knight is a charming and genuine coming of age story. Our narrators Vi and Jack, a lone-wolf geek and popular athlete respectively, explore the borders of their own personalities and - yes - fall in love. That said, I wouldn’t classify Twelfth Knight as a romance — author Alexene Farol Follmuth captures it perfectly in her acknowledgments: this is a story “about anger and who is allowed to feel it, so ultimately the romance is the cherry on top of two characters’ coming of age.” That coming of age unfolds beautifully, such that I think even strictly romance readers will find Twelfth Knight worthwhile. It even manages to depict geek culture without being completely cringe, which is no easy feat! 5*.

Thank you to Tor Teen and NetGalley for providing this e-arc.

I wouldn’t consider Jack and Vi to be “enemies”, but they definitely don’t get along. However, their paths begin to cross and they’re able to connect and find common ground in this cute YA rom-com. Jack tears his ACL playing football and his friend Nick recommends playing a video game (Twelfth Knight) to pass the time. In the game, he runs into Vi and they begin a quest together. Throughout the quest they’re able to work together and develop a friendship that seeps into “real-life”. The conflict was predictable, but I liked that it made sense and was not forced. I also loved the feminism and found family. Overall, this was really cute I would recommend this book!

4/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 ⭐️

I just love this author so much. She knows how to write loveable characters with good tension and banter.

So we have Viola Reyes who is this prickly and no nonsense female gamer who is into RPGs and this computer game called Twelfth Knight.

Then we have Jack Orsino who is your typical jock, but there is more underneath his exterior and what he shows the world.

These two already know each and I would def say so not like one another at all. Their interactions in the beginning had me cracking up.

Viola also has a very masculine username on the computer game which many assume the player is male.

Jack gets injured and his friend introduces him to the computer game, Twelfth Knight.

This is where the laughter and cuteness starts.

We also have many side characters and we also have an interesting storyline with Jack’s ex, Olivia. I actually really liked her as a character.

This story is so cute just like the romance. I found myself smiling and giggling when Jack and Vi interacted.

I loved that Jack like Vi for who she really was and I loved that Vi didn’t change who she was but let more people in.

If you were a fan of her debut, My Mechnical Romance, read this!

You will not regret it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced reader’s copy in advance for an honest review!

Jack and Vi’s senior years are off to a rocky start to say the least. Jack suffers an injury that puts his future plans in jeopardy, not to mention his girlfriend is acting weird and pulling away. Viola’s starting fights and burning bridges, cutting herself off from all the hobbies she usually uses to escape. The two of them become grudging partners both in real life and in Twelfth Knight, an MMORPG Viola loves.

If you know Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, it’s clear what shenanigans are about to ensue.

Twelfth Knight takes Shakespeare’s story and characters and not only modernizes them with football and video games, but also through focusing on the kinds of things young adults might be struggling with today. Like what it’s like to question your sexuality in a situation where it may not be safe to or being a young black man in an upper middle class neighborhood and school system. As much as this book reads like an early 2000’s teen romcom, it’s truly an updated version.

Speaking of 2000’s teen romcoms (and more specifically Shakespeare retellings), Viola feels very Kat Stratford shrew-like and I could not get enough of her. These characters were just all so charming, if I’m being honest. I adore Jack and Viola and their slow understandings of each other. They’re both so unflinchingly kind that it kind of kills me a little bit just to think about. The long list of side characters are also so endearing, particularly Olivia and Bash (though surprisingly Nick Valentine and Pastor Ike really made me love them, though their roles were so tiny). Just a phenomenal cast of characters. They’ve burrowed their way into my heat.

The narrative style of Twelfth Knight feels, fittingly, like a soliloquy. Everything is told, almost offhandedly, to the reader. The character stands at the edge of the stage and just bares it all. There is definitely a lot of telling involved, a fair bit of stream of consciousness, and it’s definitely not a style that I usually prefer. I’ll be honest, there were times when it grated on me, but those moments were far outweighed by some of the most beautiful lines in the book that wouldn’t have worked as well if framed by a different style of narration.

Another thing worth noting, I think, is that Twelfth Knight does that thing where it’s set in a world that is basically our own modern America but most of the pop culture references are made up. Bash and Olivia run lines from Shakespeare, but instead of Game of Thrones or ComicCon or any of a multitude of TTRPGs there’s War of Thorns and MagiCon and ConQuest. Viola explains to the reader that Twelfth Knight is like World of Warcraft, but better. There’s comments about ‘Empire Lost’ and it’s white plot lines that makes me think it’s mean to be Star Wars. Cheeky moments where the football team plays Padua and Verona. When my mind wasn’t fully immersed in the storyline, little things like that set me on tangents wondering how it all works, what exists in their world and what doesn’t. In the end, it didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the book over all, but it was frustrating in the beginning.

Outside of that, this book felt exactly like the old Shakespeare retelling romcoms feel. It’s that same fun but heartfelt storytelling that I grew up loving. I laughed, I cried, I grinned madly at all the dramatics and banter. It’s an easy recommendation to anyone who wants to recapture that old magic with a few new twists.

Honestly, I kind of want to turn around and read it all over again.

Huge thank you to Netgalley and Tor Teen for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.

As a D&D/TTRPG nerd, I was intrigued by the book's premise, and it didn't disappoint! Vi as the protagonist can come across as annoying, but I think her character is very well crafted. She is a young woman discovering who she is and going through the "I'm not like other girls" phase -- one of the rare characters who can justifiably get away with the otherwise annoying trope. Jack is the perfect angel -- 10/10 no notes.

Some fun discoveries:
- Didn't know Twelfth Knight was a Shakespeare play! Gotta learn more about it.
- Didn't know this author wrote The Atlas Six! Haven't read the series, but would absolutely read more by this author.
- So happy I understood the football references -- benefits of being a Swiftie 😄

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think the book would be a great read for someone that enjoys YA reads.
I found myself not totally interested in the events that occur in the book but I can see how others will be captivated. The characters were likeable and well thought out but I thought that their chapters were perhaps too long? Like I liked reading from their point of views and thought processes but it went on too long for me. For example, Viola's chapters were a joy to read because she has a 'will not take the bs' attitude but at some points her thoughts and actions when she's in a prickly mood were over the top to me. The writing style of the book is very detailed and well thought out. I thought that the life lessons and real life struggles of the characters eye opening. I liked how they were portrayed, elaborated, and discussed.
Overall I did enjoy reading it when I was not skimming through the parts that couldn't hold my attention.

✩˚.4.75⋆⁺✧

Viola could be described as a shrew and many people tell her so because she definitely has a lot of feminine rage. However, her anger was totally called for even if she could be rude about it, they usually asked for it and I’m glad she never changed that aspect to her but was able to open up and lower her defenses for some people. There are also so many valid points made and relatable thoughts which makes Viola a very realistic teenage girl to me. She’s very skilled and a badass which honestly just makes me admire her and I’m jealous that I’m not as cool as her. “do we need a plan? I have interests and hobbies and passions. Isn’t that enough?” FELT and also inspired.

I really like the pacing of it. I prefer these medium paced books because I get to know the characters better beyond their surface level basic traits and feel like I am in the world for a longer time even when I binged it. Very diverse cast of characters that I loved, especially her brother Bash. He’s a real one. I was excited to pick up the book each time and had a hard time putting it down. The fictional tv show in this was very intriguing and I’m jealous that I can’t be apart of the fandom.

.“You can’t convince me you’re heartless, Viola.” “You don’t actually know me.” “No, but I could.”

As for the romance, the banter made me giggle and I was evilly cackling everytime they had to spend time together. They really were so cute. I love that neither of them really had to change themselves. Jack was just discovering more of who he was and what he liked, and she was helping him while being more herself too. She encourages him to make decisions for himself that aren’t based on one possible life track. And they bonded over things they both liked. I think that’s a really lasting relationship.
“I hope you never change. In fact, I hope you change me. I like to think you already have.”

.𖥔 ˖“Someone who keeps colliding with you, over and over. In everything you love, he’s there too, and real or not, you can exist in every universe with ease because of him. Because for every version of him, there is a corresponding one of you.”


Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this ✮

This is a great updated, modern day re-telling of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. I highly recommend this title for any and all high school libraries. and any English teacher who has a course on Shakespeare's plays.

This was a very fun book about two characters named Jack and Vi. I found both of them to be interesting and I liked their interactions especially on the video game where they got to know each other more. I felt the other characters in this book were also very well developed and sympathetic and I was eagerly hoping for a happy ending for everyone.

I got this from Netgalley in exchange for a free and honest review.

Having only the knowledge of Twelfth Night from having seen She’s The Man, I was so excited to read this and was not disappointed. Jack and Viola were so much fun to read and I loved watching their relationship grow online and in real life. I’m such a sucker for books where rivals end up talking to each other with either one or both unaware of their real identity.

Seeing them both grow and evolve because of each others influence whether they knew it or now was such a delight and I loved all the nods to fan culture and how aggravatingly frustrating it can be to exist as a woman in primarily male dominated spaces.

Hands down one of the best reads I’ve had. It has been a blast getting to know Viola and Jack, they really come to life off the page. Their interests and thoughts lead us to understand that there is more than one possible outcome from a situation. We should never stop moving forward, but also recognize that it isn’t only about never giving up on something but realizing that you can change and so do your feelings and interests, being able to own up to who you are, deep down who you are and can become.
Amazing read!

I’m always a sucker for a Twelfth Night reimagining and this one did not disappoint. Choosing to set identity mishaps in an MMORPG was a genius move. I adored all the main players in this book. Both Viola and Jack won me over quickly (not to mention Olivia and Bash and even Nick). I felt Vi’s fury along with her when she encountered so called “nice guys” and suffered misogynistic insults from her classmates and I empathized with Jack’s struggles with his injury and future. The dialogue was fun and snappy and I ended up laughing quite a bit, and then getting teary at another scene. I think this book has a bit of something for everyone.

If you like the movie She’s the Man, D&D, Ren Faire, and video games and want a fun easy YA romance to kick your feet and giggle to then this is it.

The writing style flowed very nicely it’s dual POV within chapters and she states whose view it’s in every time with a header. The chapters are long most likely due to the dual POV. Lots of character development and good pacing. Touched on a lot of important topics like feminism, sexuality, and racism.

She’s the Man is one of my favorite movies so for the book to be inspired by it and the main characters to be named after it was so fun.

I would recommend this to anyone even if you don’t like YA romance, if you like geeky stuff I think you’d enjoy this!

Viola is an angry girl in a mans world. She's a geek and a nerd and she likes that. She knows who she is and she mostly doesn't mind that people have a problem with who she is, mostly. Jack aka Duke has entire world presented to him on a silver platter. He's gorgeous, and popular, and the star of the football team who is signed to join one of the greatest college football teams in the fall. That is, until he injures himself and is forced to wonder if there's a world outside of football. Following the story of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Knight" - aka Amanda Bynes' "Shes the Man" - the novel follows Viola and Duke as they navigate life and maybe, just maybe, find out they have more things in common than they thought.

This book includes:
- honest portrayals of life as an unlikable teen
- realistic family dynamics
- immersive MMORPG game playing on the page
- young love
- fun Twelfth Knight retelling with Arthurian lore sprinkled in
- journeys of self discovery
- witty teen banter

This book is for all the young people who feel angry. Angry at the world, angry at nothing, angry at everything, and perhaps, absolutely terrified of all those things as well. As a someone who was once one of those angry young women, I felt deeply connected to Viola, her fears, and her motivations. She was flawed in a way that made her so likeable to me. Duke was also lovely, and I enjoyed seeing the world through his eyes. While I am not a DnD player or an RPG enthusiast, I felt like I was able to follow those aspects of the story well and I liked the way it added a little sparkle of fantasy throughout the contemporary romance. I highly recommend this book to older teens who are concluding on their high school experience and any adults who are former angry teens looking for a fun reprieve. Alexene Farol Follmuth (you may know this Author for her work under the pen name "Olivie Blake) is an expert banter writer and really creates such an immersive world with her expert prose.

I received this ebook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Alexene Farol Follmuth, and Tor Publishing Group for the opportunity to review this book. This review is also available on my GoodReads - check out my profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863

I mean...rom-com perfection. It was funny, sweet, and just a good time reading. It's a high school romance, so if you're looking for spice, you probably won't find it here. But it was lovely.