Member Reviews
DNF. I just could not get into this one. Not too far in, the main character starts talking about farting and it just felt like reading the work of a child.
Almost everyone knows the story of Romeo and Juliet. But what if they actually survived? This is such a fun story told from the perspective of their eldest daughter, Rosaline (Rosie). Romeo and Juliet are still madly in love all these years later, regularly grossing out their kids with their questionably inappropriate PDA (Rosie’s commentary on this had me laughing out loud). Rosie is the feisty, defiant, sarcastic, and loving FMC I never knew I needed. She acts like the quintessential teenager of the 21st century thrust into the Elizabethan Era, and her viewpoint and commentary is absolutely hilarious. As an “elderly” unwed spinster at 19 years old, Rosie is promised to Duke Stephano, a man surrounded by suspicion after his first 3 wives mysteriously died. Mayhem ensues at their engagement party, ending in Rosie being accused of murder. The adventure Rosie goes on to prove her innocence is full of fun twists, quirky characters, and a sweet true love story. It’s giving all the Princess Bride vibes and I’m here for it!
This is a historical mystery, but reads as a contemporary fiction novel with its clever and hilarious first-person narration by Rosie herself. The book ends on a cliffhanger, and I am so looking forward to finding out what happens next.
The narration of the audiobook by Suzy Jackson is absolutely *chef’s kiss* spot on. Her voice adds so much to the story that you won’t get otherwise. I hope she narrates the sequel!
Big thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for the gifted ALC!
*Review will be posted on my Bookstagram (@__amandaisoverbooked); please see linked Goodreads review
What a magical book!
So, you’ve all heard the story of Romeo and Juliet...
Well, according to this book, the story did NOT end the way we all thought it did!
They are alive and well with SEVEN kids! The oldest being Rosie, the talented, pretty, sharp tongued, husband avoiding, spinster...at the ripe old age of 20!!
She narrates the story from her perspective, and it is hysterical!
Imaging your parents still being TOTALLY in love...all these years later??
So, as we go along, we meet her parents, her siblings, and hear about some of the men her parents tried to betrothe her to... Funny thing is, every time this happens, she finds a more suitable mate for them all!!!
Short and sweet, but I did forget that this was book #1 as I was reading, so, I was hoping for more closure at the end of the book...
Now I’ll just have to wait for book #2 to come out!
#ADautherOfFairVerona by #ChristinaDodd and narrated nicely by #SuzyJackson. Book #1 of Daughters of Montague.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!!
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What if Romeo and Juliet didn't die tragically, but had an adorable boisterous family? A Daughter of Fair Verona is about their eldest daughter, Rosaline (Rosie), who has thus far successfully gotten out of a few marriage betrothals (by setting up the prospective grooms with other potential brides). She knows her parents are in no way equipped to run their own household; they're too busy canoodling and being in love. Anyway, when the awful Duke Stephano, who's prior brides have all met tragic ends, decides Rosie will be bride #4, Romeo and Juliet cannot refuse him.
Anyway, since Rosie can't get out of this one, she decides to soldier on with the engagement party. However, during the party, Rosie stumbles upon the body of the Duke with a knife in his chest. And as people with connections to the Duke keep dropping like flies, Rosie must figure out what's going on before she becomes a victim as well.
This was adorable and ended on a teeny cliffhanger so I'm hoping this might be a series? Hopefully? Maybe?
*Special thanks to NetGalley and RB Digital for this audio e-arc.*
EXTRA, EXTRA Read all about it! Those crazy kids, Romeo and Juliet, survive their attempts to be with one another in the next world! Biggest story in years as their parents who have a long-standing feud going on, give in to their love-struck children and allow their marriage! The love story for the ages is born. A story loved by all teenage girls and hated by all teenage boys.
The story is picked up by a British correspondent who evidently never even leaves his fair isle, and he twists the story into a heart breaking, one tissue box needed, most famous play/movie/high school assignment ever. I’m not going to mention the author’s name, because there is some doubt as to who really wrote the story that has lasted through the ages. Later, a well-known author by the name of Christine Dodd discovers this true story.
In the delightful A Daughter of Fair Verona, Dodd uses Romeo and Juliet’s oldest daughter, Rosaline aka Rosie, as the narrator of their survival and their subsequent very passionate marriage. The clever and acerbic Rosie quickly narrows in on how falling in love at first sight is the dumbest event ever; until it isn’t. Rosie is 20, on the shelf, a spinster, a never-to-be-married woman. Her goal. She likes her freedom.
Then her parents affiance her to a powerful duke whose previous wives have been murdered. At her betrothal ball she meets the beautiful Lysander with whom she falls in love with immediately. Oops. She also meets a powerful prince who tries to save her from nasty gossip. Rosie doesn’t really get to know her fiancé, Duke Stephano, as he is found murdered in the garden. Rosie is an immediate suspect due to some nasty gossips.
The entertaining and humorous A Daughter of Fair Verona is the first book in a new series. The minute Rosie sees how her family and herself are at risk, she takes on the job of finding out who killed Duke Stephano. She is ably aided by Lysander and the powerful Prince Escalus.
Familiarity with that British writer who twisted Romeo and Juliet story into a teenage tragedy is not necessary, but if you have forgotten a name or two, it’s fun to go back and search for the names.
Dodd does a great job writing this witty, irreverent retelling of Romeo and Juliet’s story. She sprinkles her story with modern terms which normally drives me crazy and I dislike. Dodd makes it work here, the anachronisms really had to the humor of the story.
I feel as if I were in Verona after reading Dodd’s story, because as usual she does a stellar job in setting the scene, the atmosphere, the food, the entertainments, the superstitions, the violence, the fashions and the mindsets.
I look forward to seeing what happens with all of Dodd’s characters. Although with Romeo and Juliet we can figure out they where they will be. Did I mention Rosie has lots of brothers and sisters?
Rosie has a heart as big as Verona, and with a heart that big will come trouble that big.
My grateful thanks to Christina Dodd and NetGalley for an ARC of A Daughter of Fair Verona for review purposes.
I want to note this book is appropriate for young adult to their grandmothers for reading. What fun that would be, a family book discussion. Oops, one more thing, check out the intriguing and beautiful cover on this book.
Aha! Now I have listened to the audiobook, my luck just doesn’t end. The narrator, Suzy Jackson did an outstanding job capturing all of the voices, not once did I think, well, this doesn’t work. Her portrayal of the Fair Rosie, went beyond outstanding, to excellence. Ms. Jackson could not have done a better job of capturing Rosie’s verve, smarts, and exuberance, narration traits that seem to be shared by the rest of her family.
What if Romeo & Juliet had not died, and continued to live in Verona with their 7 children? This is the entertaining story that unfolds, as told through their oldest daughter, Rosalind’s perspective. An old maid at 20, she is witty and clever and a force to be reckoned with. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook. I look forward to the next book in the series.
***4.5 ROUNDED to 5***
I was intrigued by the book's premise that Romeo and Juliet did not in fact die, but went on to live, love, marry and have children, but wasn't sure if I'd enjoy the narration being more a modern, YA style. I absolutely LOVED it! It was a fresh, funny, charming narration by the eldest daughter Rosie, who although has been resistant to love and marriage, is starting to wonder if it would be something she would enjoy with the right suitor. There were classic references interwoven into the more modern dialogue, which I enjoyed. Rosie was funny, sensible, sarcastic, independent and resourceful. She displays these qualities and receives a couple male admirers who appreciate who she is, in a time when the only quality that appears to be appreciated in Verona is beauty and virginity (which she also possesses). I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a wonderful job of having distinct voices for all of the characters. The only reason I didn't consider it a solid 5 is due to the abrupt ending. It looks as though it the start of a series, but I do like it when there is a bit more closure or even hints as to what is next to keep me wanting to read the next one! I did appreciate that the murder mystery was wrapped up, but it felt like a too sudden ending to a story of characters who were fun to get to know.
This fun, fast-paced mystery/romance is told by Rosie, the eldest daughter of Romeo and Juliet (yeah... they didn't actually die). She is smart and strong and the perfect heroine for this tale. The style reminded me of the Lady Janies series, historical but irreverent and sassy in a modern sort of way. With a YA feel.
Warning: there is a cliffhanger. This is the first in a series.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.
What a unique and delightful story is A Daughter of Fair Verona by Christina Dodd. This book centers around the premise that the famed Romeo and Juliet of Shakespearean legend survived and did not die together as teenagers. Instead they are happily wed with seven children and are modestly successful wine merchants. The daughter featured in this story is their eldest daughter, Rosalind, or Rosie to her family, who is a spinster at aged 20. She is very intelligent and independent, and refuses to be married off. Instead she finds more suitable brides for the three prior suitors to whom she was engaged (including one of her own sisters). When her latest fiancé is found dead at their betrothal ball and all eyes suspect that she did it, the rest of the book focuses on Rosie trying to solve the mystery of who did it and why.
I listened to the audiobook version of this story narrated by Suzy Jackson who did an incredible job providing varying voices for the different characters. I was extremely pleased to see that this is the first book in the Daughters of Verona series, and I can’t wait to listen to the next book in this wonderful new series!
A Daughter of Fair Verona by Christina Dodd is a hugely fun imagining of the Romeo and Juliet story and narrated wonderfully by Suzy Jackson
If you liked Bridgerton, you will absolutely love The Daughter of Fair Verona. Imagine if Romeo and Juliet had not perished and instead, through a quirk of fate (or indeed machinations of others in the cast) that they had survived and gone on to have a family.their Their eldest daughter Rosie is an aging spinster at the grand old age of 20 (positively acient for the time) and it is from her POV that the tale is told.
Rosie's parents love their daughter and wish her wed, but despite introducing her to many eligible bachelors, they seem to mysteriously fall for everyone around Rosie (Rosie is a matchmaker extraordinaire, very adept at diverting attention away from herself) Rose would much rather remain single and look after the household in her parents stead. However, it all goes a bit awry when Rosie is betrothed to the truly evil Duke Stephano and events at the betrothal ball take one hefty turn for the chaotic
I absolutely adored this book. So much fun, witty, very well referenced to the original Romeo and Juliet but made so much more entertaining than any other reimagining. I cannot recommed this enough, so funny, a laugh out loud escapade
Thank you to Netgalley, RB Media, Chrisina Dodd and the narrator Suzy Jackson for this hilarious ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
A Daughterof Fair Verona
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I loved the book! It was such a Fun cute twist. It was a unique cool take on a long ago story. You will laugh & totally enjoy it! The Audio was so good.
Thank you NetGalley
OK for the positive I thought the premises was really fun and Roslyn is a great character. The voice actress/narrator is great and has a very fun and compelling voice. That said, I didn’t like the very crude humor, including her own parents and their behavior towards her. It felt yucky.
Thank you netgalley for the ARC
This was a five-star read for me until the the last few chapters, with their lack of consent and cliffhanger ending. I can’t recommend this book.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.
Rosie is an adorable character and I loved her relationship with her family.
Murder, family, love, humourous and ends on a cliffhanger. Was a cute read.
Historical fiction that reads like modern day- what happened if Romeo and Juliet lived and had a daughter to marry off? This was super interesting, yet funny.
This story just wasn’t for me. The slapstick Will Ferrel crude humor just isn’t my fancy however, I can see why it appeals to others. The writing was smart and I enjoyed the narrator. Also, I’m one of these crazies that enjoy cliffhangers so win for me. 😂
I think the overall idea was really unique but it didn’t come off in the most ideal way! Felt fanfic-y almost! but such a fun idea
Fun twist on a classic! I loved looping back into Romeo and Juliet’s story lead by a snarky, “old maid” daughter playing matchmaker like Emma. Prince Escalus had me from the beginning - I knew there was something brewing under that stoic exterior. Hoping we get an enemies-to-lovers arc in the next book 🤞🏼
This a fine novel and is reminiscent of the film, Knives Out, as mentioned in the promotional material. If that is appealing to you, you will enjoy this book.
I was prepared for an Agatha Christie who-done-it, which this story cleverly accomplished. But I was also looking forward to a fun, farcical tale, which was not accomplished. I am sure it is this unmet expectation that has me lukewarm about recommending the book. If you begin with hoping for a mystery only, you will not be disappointed. There are clever twists and turns and you will be invested in solving the mystery.
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.
This is my first book by Christina Dodd and I read the book while listening to the audiobook. I loved this book, the plot, the FMC's humor, the mystery nestled in a cozy love story, it was all adorable. I loved the twist on a Romeo and Juliet tale and the fictional family they created. The relationship between the FMC and her family was my favorite thing about this book. It was easy to read, I loved the murder mystery plot and side love plot. Also, Suzy Jackson did a fantastic job narrating, She was clear, sarcasm was delivered beautifully and it was easy to listen to. I read this in 24 hours. I was upset this ended on a cliffhanger because I cannot wait until the next book.
I received a free advanced review copy of the audiobook through NetGalley / RB Media.