Romeo's ex

As long as you don't take it too seriously, it's a very enjoyable book. Lisa Fiedler does an admirable job of keeping true to the original story while still making the characters her own, but their stupidity, even Rosaline's, is pretty impressive, which makes my character-driven side irritated. But I really did like Benvolio, and Rosaline did get some sense near the end.

I really wanted to adore this book, but it ended up just being mediocre. I somehow got the image in my head of Rosaline being an evil mastermind, and so was disappointed when she wasn't even Romeo's Ex.

If you have always secretly thought Romeo was a worm who would fall for anyone or that the two lovebirds should have slowed it down a little... this is a story for you. Rosaline, the "love" of Romeo's life, before he laid eyes on her cousin Juliet tells the story of the notorious star crossed lovers. All of the characters are here, the basic plot is here, even the time period is right – but do not expect this to be Shakespeare’s story. Rosaline meets Romeo early in the story and though he quickly professes deep and abiding love, she is never interested. In fact, his declarations elicit eye rolling and laughter from his intended and her cousin. Rosaline has no interest in marriage anyway, she is determined to study medicine and be a show more healer. When a fight in the city street erupts, events unfold that bring a new man into Rosaline’s life, one that may be worth considering. What develops is a story of love in its many forms from young and impetuous to mature and nurturing. The author uses a lovely lyrical language at times reminiscent of the original but never difficult to understand for a modern reader. Romeo’s Ex is perfect for readers who love the Shakespearean tales, or anyone who likes a good story with some romance and a strong, intelligent heroine. show less

I really liked this book, because it took Shakespeare and all of his charmingly impossible writing (which I have never been able to hack through) and gave it a nice twist. Unfortunately too many of the "oh no, they're not dead!" parts, but our dear heroine even recognizes this humorously at one point, so it is far improved.

Rosaline was not who I expected her to be. I thought this would be about a girl who falls in love end of story, but this book surprised me and showed me an independent girl who will do what ever she can to help others. Rosaline is adventurous, sassy, and independent. I also love how the author includes parts of the play within the book.

There was a sharp sweetness to this story, possibly because the ending of Juliet's romance is so well known. This telling from Rosalind's point of view gave me new insight into why Juliet may have acted as she did. I didn't find the boy's points of view as compelling, and Tybalt's ghostly lurking felt a bit forced. But I enjoyed Rosalind's voice a lot.

There was a lot of good things about this book. The author merged her plot fairly well with Shakespeare's and used just enough Elizabethan language to give the book flavour. However, I thought the messages about love and maturity were pounded into the reader. I also thought the ending was overly preachy. The modern day sensibilities superimposed on this time period often didn't gel as well.

Referencing to the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet with direct quotes from the play, the story unfolds from the perspective of different characters. The novel, Romeo's Ex: Rosaline's Story by Lisa Fiedler, ecompasses the theme that love can happen to anyone and everyone, even the most unwilling. In the beginning, Rosaline, Juliet's compassionate and decisive cousin, aspires to become a healer, despite society's expectation of her. Throughout the middle, as she struggles to keep up with all the loss and drama unfolding around her, she falls deeper in love with Benvolio, the kind-hearted friend of Romeo. In the end, before she goes off to pursue her dream to study medicine, she gives the Capulets and Montagues another chance to make up for show more their feud allowing Viola and Sebastian, orphans originally under Benvolio's care, to grow up with the two families. She learns that true love really does exist and not everyone must be as they seem.(246/246) show less