I LOVED the premise of this book! I’m a longtime Romeo and Juliet fan so I knew I would naturally be a sucker for this. It was so sweet and heartbreaking at points. I just love the idea of fate bringing them together despite their best efforts, and I enjoyed the twist on the original play!

I so wanted to give this five stars and the first half totally was a five star read, with Helene’s uncanny feeling that she just knew Sebastien - so romantic! And then Sebastian’s pining for her and futile attempts to stay away. Swooooon.

But once they actually got together, it felt a bit too fast paced. I did love the drama of Helene’s ex husband, etc. though.

Bereft at the lack of epilogue! I loved the final message of just embracing life but this was crying out for some epic like 100 years in the future epilogue, given the span of the novel!

Overall though, it’s a must read for fans of Romeo and Juliet.

Lots of things to love:

- retelling of Romeo and Juliet
- fantasy
- immortal MMC
- forced proximity - stuck together in snowstorm
- epic love story over 200 years
- forbidden romance
- surprise pregnancy
- mild spice

As someone who teaches Romeo and Juliet every year, I was fascinated by the premise of this novel looking at the reincarnations of the main characters from Shakespeare’s famous tragedy. It turned out to be a gentle and relaxing grown up read, which was perfect for the summer holidays. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to an early copy of this book.

I sooo wanted to like this book. It sounded like a perfect one to sink into and enjoy. Sadly, the whole thing proved pedantic and hum-drum, even turning boring at many parts. For example, the 'vignettes' which are really the times when Romeo & Juliet met again and again, were as beautiful as they were tragic...and there's only so much tragedy one can stomach over the course of a book which is supposed to be a romance and uplifting. The 'modern' times also missed the boat - zero chemistry between Sebastian and Helene, who was a very unlikeable character throughout, to be honest.
This had so much potential, but it lacked steam (and not the 'heat' kind - the actual, carry-us-throughout type)

Firstly, thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Evelyn Skye for a copy of this book in return for a review.

What a lovely story - I wouldn't say it was exceptional and extraordinary, but it was lovely. I love a R+J retelling and this was a really interesting premise. I enjoyed it, but it didn't stand out above other books I've read.

I really loved the premise of this book, I am a big fan of the original play and so perhaps had my sight s set high for this one. The idea of fate always connecting these two souls was a fun plot device, and despite things always ending the same way this time the pair are determined to write themselves a new ending.

However, I found the characters to be missing something, its hard to put my finger on exactly what, but they just felt a little under developed, and at times their relationship felt a bit forced, like they didn't really have a connection outside of their shared destiny. Additionally,. the final build up of the book felt anticlimactic and left me hoping for something more.

“I may go by Sebastian now, but my name was originally Romeo and hers was Juliet”
Helene and Sebastian meet for the first time, except it isn’t the first time- you already know the story but not quite as Shakespeare told it.
No matter where and when in time, the two are drawn together and it’s always gonna end up in tragedy.
But this time Helene is determined the star crossed lovers will forge a new ending to the greatest love story of all time,
Romeo and Juliet as you have never seen them before - a timeless romantasy of love, loss and eternal hope.
Thanks @evelyn_skye, @headlinepg & @netgalley for the eARC

I didn't feel like I really connected with this book.

I love William Shakespeares, Romeo and Juliet, I think it's such a beautifully yet tragic love story and I had such High hopes for this book but it felt flat to me.

The characters weren't as developed as I had hoped which didn't help to the story telling. There was a whole secondary story going on about our main character's ex-husband which I felt add little to nothing to the whole story, yes it was nice to hear about someone else but if the main characters were better developed there wouldn't have been need for the secondary story.

Overall, it was okay.

2.5 stars rounded up.

I ummed and ahhed about the rating for this book for a while but ultimately the second half of the book was a let down for me so I had to bump down the rating.

This is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet in a sense, but the premise is that after Juliet's first death she keeps being reincarnated in different bodies whilst Romeo is immortal, and each time they end up meeting in different time periods and places, Juliet eventually dies and the cycle repeats. Cut to present day where the current iteration of Juliet, now named Helene has moved to a small Alaskan town and ends up meeting Romeo, or Sebastien as he goes by now, Sebastien tries his best to stay away from her so as to not trigger the curse (but you can imagine how ell that turns out).

The premise is intriguing especially because I love time loop/history repeating tropes in books and for the first half I enjoyed it for sure but in the second half the cracks started to show, the plot became oddly boring in the second half and the climactic event that seems to have been built up fell flat on it's face for me because it happens so late on in the book that I know the ending is right around the corner so we don't have the time to deal with a longer dramatic event and then wrap up... and I was right Helene gets herself out of the situation almost immediately

This story also features the pregnancy trope and I'm not a fan of that trope personally but in this story espcially it felt like a bad call, cause it just kind of saps the tension of "when/how/is Helene going to die" Because I was pretty damn sure from the tone of the book that she wasn't going to die whilst pregnant at least.

As for the romance, it was... fine, I enjoyed the vignettes throughout the book and I do think the author explores the mentality of people who know their loved one could die at any moment in a heartfelt way that makes total sense (which is unsurprising having read the author letter)..And I did really enjoy hearing Sébastien's inner thoughts as he battled with his love for Juliet, his want to protect her/stay away and his grief over previous incarnations deaths and again I think this was well handled.

Where I had a few issues was the chemistry between Sebastien and Helene themselves, I was all for the will they won't they tension, but it really felt like they don't fall in love for any reason other that "destiny" which just personally bugs me. And in all the other vignettes I felt like again there wasn't really a foundation set for WHY they love each other they just do instantly pretty much. Maybe what we could have done with was more vignettes about Romeo and Juliet in their first go round, let me see those two fall in love and maybe it would have translated across better to the current day.

Overall a read that didn't really hit for me personally but I will say it explores interesting themes.

If you ever disatisfied with the end of Romeo and Juliet's love story, then you may well enjoy this book.

In the vein of books like The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August (this even gets a shout out as one of the protagonists' book choices) , the lovers apparently cursed relationship plays out over centuries. Can Sebastian and Helene be the incarnation which gets it right.

This is quick, enjoyable read but underneath what appears to be a fantastical love story there is a wider exploration of what it means to be in a relationship where inevitable death means it will be short lived.

Although the premise requires you to buy in the fantasy of multiple lives, I found the events of the last 20% of the book to be strangely less believeable which I can't explain more without being a spoiler. However, I would recommend if you like multiple life scenarios or love stories with unusual complications.

OMG I’M SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW!!??! I LOVED THIS NOVEL SO SO MUCH AND I CAN’T EXPRESS HOW PERFECT IT WAS.

something about me is i’ll always prefer a sweet, cutesy romance with a happy ending over any other trope and this novel is exactly that! i simply can’t express how this book was just meant for me because romeo and juliet is my favorite shakespeare play (albeit it being the most popular) and my favorite movie is love letters to juliet :,). i’ll literally devour anything based off of romeo and juliet and this novel was no different!

not only is the premise so different to any other novel i’ve ever heard of, it’s executed SO WELL!!?? I LOVE HELENE AND SEBASTIEN SO MUCH :,))). their love is so pure and the fact that they’ve been destined to love each other reincarnated over so many centuries?? I JUST LOVE IT SO SO MUCHH. AAHHH!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing
Group-Ballantine for the gifted arc

This is an incredibly beautiful book about love and choosing to see the good over the tragedy in every day moments.
I was intrigued by the blurb, and the book itself has lived up to my expectations, surpassed them honestly as I am not familiar with the author, and as I received an ARC through NetGalley I find they can be rather hit and miss!
Romeo has loved and lost Juliet many times over the years, struggling through her death and reincarnation as the world changes around him, and blaming himself for the tragedies of their star-crossed loves. But this time it's different, because his Juliet recognises him too. He's adamant he needs to leave her be, let her live her live fully without his curse interfering with another life, but fate keeps drawing them together again.
I've never read/watched the Time Traveller's Wife or Outlander but I imagine if you like those books you'll enjoy this! It felt like a kind of It Happened One Summer meets 50 First Dates but make it Romeo and Juliet.
Also, the author's note got me. As the wife of a transplant recipient myself, it re-framed the whole story for me, I hope I can learn to have the same perspective as Evelyn, Tom and Sebastien.

This was probably one of the easiest 5 stars I have given. The narration was fantastic. I loved everything, from the dual POV to reading about the other lives of Romeo and Juliet, to the broken watch - small detail which was not forgotten at the end.
Right from the first chapter, I knew I would fall for this book and so I did.
The writing was very fluid and the author was able to make you feel part of the story as well. I think I had a lot in common with Romeo, with that fear of loving someone. And *SPOILER AHEAD* the curse broke when he finally stopped being scared.
Loved it! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Headline for approving this gorgeous book.

Thank you NetGalley and Headline for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Hundred Loves of Juliet follows the premise of Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo & Juliet’ with a slight twist. Romeo is cursed to roam Earth for centuries meeting many Juliets reincarnated, with every Juliet destined to die. Helene, after a messy separation with her husband, travels to an isolated town in Alaska, only to find the handsome Sebastien who seems very familiar. With their relationship guaranteed to end in tragedy, Helene vows to make the most of it.

I found this book quite relaxing and a nice break from many of my intense reads. However, I did find the plot quite stop-and-start at times. If you’re looking for a tacky, predictable romance then this is definitely the book for you.

I also don’t know if this is on purpose, but the names of the MC are both similar to other characters by Shakespeare: Helena in ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream’ and Sebastian from ‘Twelfth Night’. It is quite clever.

I’m not usually a huge fan of retellings especially of tragedies as you know they will end badly. However, I was intrigued by the premise of this one. Romeo actually didn’t die but is alive today and going by the name of Sebastien. He has met Juliet countless times and each time, it ends in tragedy and she dies, leaving him alone.
This time Juliet appears as a young woman called Helene in a small Alaskan village. Sebastien knows instantly that she is really Juliet and is determined to stay away from her so that she won’t die. However, fate has other plans.
I loved the idea behind this story and especially that although Helene doesn’t remember her past lives, she has actually written about them in a series of short stories or scenes. I enjoyed the way the two of them got to know each other and Helene’s feelings as she realises what has happened through the years.
The story fell down for me in the final section when all of sudden, we moved into what felt almost like a thriller. Mysterious, all powerful Swiss banks felt very out of place to me.
It was a good read but just a bit spoilt by the last part. However, this was almost redeemed by the incredibly touching author’s note at the end where she gives her inspiration for this book.
Huge thanks to Net Galley and the publishers, Headline, for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'm so sad this book didn't pull off what I wanted it to and I am crying about it fr

I hate bashing books and to be honest, I'm glad to be done with this book, so I shan't spend too much time on reviewing this book. But overall, I just could not click with the writing and the way this story was executed. It could have been far better than I thought it was which is so sad because I was HERE for Romeo and Juliet reincarnated. But I felt like the romantic chemistry was underdeveloped, and whilst the world was interesting, it was not awe-inspiring or gutwrenching or anything I wanted this magical tale to be. I liked the characters enough and I was intrigued by the plot, but eventually, I got bored. Unfortunately.

But if you're looking for a unique Shakespeare-inspired adult romance with a smidge of fantasy, then this is an entertaining number that will switch it up and you should give it a go!

This book is incredibly special in a number of different ways. This book is unique as in explores love through past lives for Helene but for Sebastian it’s a cursed life that is a never ending cycle. There is so much to say about this book but I don’t want to give much away. All I will say is the end was very tense and exciting, which left me at the edge of my seat.

Now the authors note…. What can I say about that without crying again. The authors note makes this book incredibly special and beautiful and I cried reading it at the end.

Apparently 2023 is the year that I finally like Romeo and Juliet. Dear Reader, I am going to share with you the exact section of the blurb that made me want to request this book.

“To Helene, Sebastien is the flesh-and-blood hero of the love stories she's spent her life writing. But Sebastien knows better - Helene is his Juliet, and their story has always been the same. He is doomed to find brief happiness with her over and over, before she dies, and he is left to mourn.”

I loved the layer this added to the story and no offence it’s a much better version of the star-crossed lovers than a silly 16- and 13-year-old un-a-living themselves because “they can’t be together”. It’s what originally drew me into requesting the book on NetGalley. I loved how the story was told through alternating points of view and how we also got to visit Romeo and Juliette in their different lives together.

We meet Romeo and Juliet in their current forms in Alaska in present day. Sebastien believes he is cursed, as every life of Juliet’s has died tragically shortly after they meet. Romeo (Sebastien) is immortal and has to witness Juliet’s death each time she is reincarnated. Despite having the same story repeat for centuries Sebastien spends his time trying to figure out how to save her from death every time they meet even going as far as avoiding the new reincarnation of Juliet, but of course fate intervenes, and they are force together. There are some gorgeous quotes that had my little black heart melting a little.

This was a brilliant retelling and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

A nice easy romantic read, one that is very different to the books I have read recently as it focuses on the reincarnation of Romeo and Juliet.

Helene (Juliet), when reincarnated, forgets who she was whilst Sebastien (Romeo), is immortal and finds every incarnation of his Juliet, only to lose her again to the curse that has been placed on them.

This time he’s had enough though and can’t bear to go through the loss of his true love again…. Will they ever have their happy ever after….

Thanks to NetGalley and Headline for early access to this lovely read

I thoroughly enjoyed this very different romance. The description really intrigued me and the story was really well written and I just felt transported into Helene and Sebastian,s stor( ies). Excellent read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to an early copy of this book.

— 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 —

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: The Hundred Loves of Juliet
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: N/A
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): Evelyn Skye
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Romance
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: eARC
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 1st August 2023
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 3rd July 2023
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 3.75/5

“That’s just the way of life, no matter how full it is. Joy always holds hands with sorrow. But the important thing is not to zoom in only on the tragedy of the ending. Because as I read through your journals and pieced together our past for my book, I realized something, Sebastien—the through line of our story isn’t perpetual sadness. It’s indestructible love.”

The Hundred Loves of Juliet is a Romeo & Juliet retelling that embodies reincarnation, eternal love, and ill-fated star-crossed lovers.

Sebastian (Romeo) and Helene (Juliet) meet again in another of Juliet’s lifetimes. Sebastian is fatigued from heartbreak, weary of the curse laid upon both their houses, and yet is still drawn to the sunny and bouncy Helene, who believes her past lives are stories she has made up in her head. However, this is more than a grumpy versus sunshine romance, this is a fatalistic versus optimistic romance.

I found the first half of the story really slow. There seemed to be a lot of groundwork to cover with so many flashbacks to different pasts that inevitably ended in tragedy that I was getting bored. But the second half is SO MUCH BETTER. The stakes raise, the writing seems to flourish, and the pacing of the book finds its stride.

Throughout the story, the author explores themes of grief, love, and death. I honestly think she did a truly wonderful job of describing her characters’ interpretations of these and how their perspectives impacted on their decisions.

I thought that The Hundred Loves of Juliet had a great ending, I was completely immersed in the situation and could hardly read fast enough.

And then I read the authors note and immediately, I started sobbing. The authors note gives this book much more clarity of what the author wanted it to be: a declaration of how love—in all its forms—is better to experience in quality rather than quantity. The Romeo & Juliet of this story are blessed to have both.

—Kayleigh🤍
@ Welsh Book Fairy🧚‍♀️✨