I wanted the role of Juliet more than anything. I studied hard. I gave a great reading for it—even with Bobby checking me out the whole time. I deserved the part.
I didn’t get it. So I decided to level the playing field, though I actually might have leveled the whole play. You see, since there aren’t any Success in Getting to Be Juliet in Your High School Play spells, I thought I’d cast the next best—a Fame spell. Good idea, right?
Yeah. Instead of bringing me a little fame, it brought me someone a little famous. Shakespeare. Well, Edmund Shakespeare. William’s younger brother.
Good thing he’s sweet and enthusiastic about helping me with the play...and—ahem—maybe a little bit hot. But he’s from the past. Way past. Cars amaze him—cars! And cell phones? Ugh.
I didn’t get it. So I decided to level the playing field, though I actually might have leveled the whole play. You see, since there aren’t any Success in Getting to Be Juliet in Your High School Play spells, I thought I’d cast the next best—a Fame spell. Good idea, right?
Yeah. Instead of bringing me a little fame, it brought me someone a little famous. Shakespeare. Well, Edmund Shakespeare. William’s younger brother.
Good thing he’s sweet and enthusiastic about helping me with the play...and—ahem—maybe a little bit hot. But he’s from the past. Way past. Cars amaze him—cars! And cell phones? Ugh.
Title: The Juliet Spell
Author: Douglas Rees
Publication: 27th September 2011
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
304 pages
My review
I love modern retelling, and I particularly like Romeo and Juliet, so when I saw The Juliet Spell, and when I read its summary I was immediately drawn to this book. Finally, after reading it, I must say that I really loved it. The Juliet Spell is a very cute novel. It's often funny and totally entertaining.
The characters are really endearing and well-described. Even if, at the beginning of this book, it was a bit difficult for me to relate to Miranda I understood her after a few pages. In the beginning, the young girl is a bit pretentious and arrogant, but her adventures were nonetheless pleasant and entertaining. I also loved Edmund, even if it was not love at first sight, I learned to know him and to love him through the pages. If I liked the main characters I have to say that our young heroine's father disappointed me quite a bit.
Douglas Rees's writing is very pleasant and totally smooth. There are a lot of humor and many funny references. The Juliet Spell is also action-packed, full of twists and suspense and the plot is fast-paced. The second half of the novel focuses more on the investigation and it enables the author to keep the reader's attention all along.
The author also deals with great accuracy with teenagers' relationships: friendship, love, jealousy and much more. Feelings are very well-written and described. Finally, I didn't expect that kind of ending at all and I was a little caught off guard, but it seemed right, consistent and faithful to the rest of the book. Overall I almost never saw the twists coming and I was often pleasantly surprised.
The characters are really endearing and well-described. Even if, at the beginning of this book, it was a bit difficult for me to relate to Miranda I understood her after a few pages. In the beginning, the young girl is a bit pretentious and arrogant, but her adventures were nonetheless pleasant and entertaining. I also loved Edmund, even if it was not love at first sight, I learned to know him and to love him through the pages. If I liked the main characters I have to say that our young heroine's father disappointed me quite a bit.
Douglas Rees's writing is very pleasant and totally smooth. There are a lot of humor and many funny references. The Juliet Spell is also action-packed, full of twists and suspense and the plot is fast-paced. The second half of the novel focuses more on the investigation and it enables the author to keep the reader's attention all along.
The author also deals with great accuracy with teenagers' relationships: friendship, love, jealousy and much more. Feelings are very well-written and described. Finally, I didn't expect that kind of ending at all and I was a little caught off guard, but it seemed right, consistent and faithful to the rest of the book. Overall I almost never saw the twists coming and I was often pleasantly surprised.
To sum up, if you are looking for a light romance, funny and cute, if you want to spend a pleasant and relaxing time, then you should check this one out. And if you enjoy Shakespeare, and in particular Romeo and Juliet I think that The Juliet Spell will captivate you. I didn't know anything about Douglas Rees and I hadn't read anything by this author, but The Juliet Spell made me want to discover his other novels.
A copy was provided by the publisher, via Net Galley, against my completely honest review. Thank you.
