*Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an Earc in exchange for an honest review*.

This was, quite simply, awful. There is not a lot to like about The Hundred Loves of Juliet, in my opinion and I it makes me very sad that a book with this much potential (because in theory it sounds great right?) could end up like this.
For starters, there's a pregnancy trope and I despise pregnancy tropes.
Then, there's a chronic case of Not Like Other Girls syndrome with our main character Helene who is so unlikeable, pretentious and just plain irritating. She says things like 'chamber pot' unironically? For a book set in the 21st century there certainly is a lot of random Old English thrown in: point in case, '"Huzzah!" . Direct quote, from a boat of fishermen of all people. And there's modern pop culture references.
I hate modern references.
The speech was inhuman and robotic, or irrelevant. I think THLOJ could do with a good editor but hey, who am I to judge.
The only emotion I felt other than boredom/disgust/incredulity was reading the author's not which was very cute and very heartwarming but unfortunately did not make up for the two hours of my life I otherwise spent on this book.
The writing was poor, stilted and overused cliches and 'vignette' of all things. The whole thing just felt messy and confused. All of the characters were bland, stupid and got on my nerves.
It's a shame because in the past I've loved Evelyn Skye's other books, and I had such high expectations.

A tale as old as time, that is how I would describe Romeo and Juliet. Star-crossed lovers who never ever will stop searching for each other. The title alone sold me the book as I love the Shakesperare play.

Follow these two lovers in this gorgeous book as they'll do anything to be reunited. Fall in love with them all over again. Evelyn I loved this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author, for allowing me to read this book and give my honest review of it.

Helene escapes to Alaska to get away from her cheating husband and write a book. She gets a shock in a bar when she meets a man who looks exactly like the main character in short stories she has been writing for years.
Sebastien has a huge secret - he is Romeo, and Helene is Juliet. Their story always ends in tragedy, but can this time be different?

I thought the story was a good idea, but it wasn't executed as well as it could be. I felt that the characters didn't have the earth-shattering chemistry we were told they have.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating:4/5
This was such a cute, heartwarming story! I've read the author's short story in the YA book'Three Kisses, One Midnight ', and found it to be incredible. I'm glad to say that her adult debut did not disappoint! 'The Hundred Loves of Juliet' is a unique, refreshing take on the story of Romeo and Juliet infused with magical realism. I adored reading the interactions between Sebastien and Helene. I also loved the writing style and the vignettes Juliet wrote. I do not enjoy reading smut, so I was glad that there was none in the book. It's just a wholesome romance. This is a very personal story, inspired by the author's own struggle. The author's note at the end was very sweet and made me tear up a little.
I'd definitely recommend this book to those who love a heartwarming romance.

I am a reader who finishes books… even if I’m not enjoying them. In my whole life, there’s only one book I haven’t finished, but I can’t stress how close I came to not finishing The Hundred Loves of Juliet. I love reading, and I’ve made such a positive start to my goals this year, however this book almost derailed me because I was putting off reading because I knew that’s what I had to read. I had to literally force myself to pick it up because I was struggling to find the motivation to read it.

To be honest, I just thought it was awful. I am a massive fan of Shakespeare, and Romeo and Juliet is one of my favourite plays, so I thought this book would be perfect for me…however, it was actually one of the worst things I’ve ever read. The word cheesy definitely springs to mind.

Escaping a messy divorce, Helen up-sticks to Alaska to write a book. She’s always written romantic ‘vignettes’ about romantic couples with unrealistic lives. While in Alaska she meets Sebastian, who is literally her male protagonist come to life. She wants to know more, while he’s trying to keep her at arm’s length. The idea is that he’s Romeo, and she’s a reincarnation of Juliet. However, whenever Romeo meets Juliet, she ends up dying. Is Helen going to die or will they finally be able to break the curse?

I’m appalled that some people keep comparing this to The Time Traveler’s Wife, because no such comparison should ever be made. The Time Traveler’s Wife is clever and well-thought out, beautifully written, engaging and compelling. The Hundred Loves of Juliet is the exact opposite. It’s poorly written, overly repetitive and quite frankly, ridiculously boring.

Was there any chemistry between the two romantic leads? No. It felt forced and uninspiring. I didn’t feel as if these were the two greatest lovers of all time. Just poorly written, 2 dimensional mushy, cardboard people.
Did I think the plot was well developed and engaging? No. It was monotonous and weak. Characters do unrealistic things - like give up their job and move to Alaska (I’m just wondering how she funded this trip) to write a book. There’s stereotypes galore (dying dad advice, supportive sister/friends, evil ex-husband) and just parts that don’t even make sense. (When she thinks she sees her husband but can tell it’s not only by his eye-colour. Did she get that close to him? Does he have a twin?)

Did I like any of the characters? No. Because they were bland and ridiculous. They did not speak like real people. They did not react in believable ways. They were not warm and inviting.

I didn’t think it could get any worse (despite ploughing through repetitive stories and over use of the word vignettes) but then the ending section was just farcical.

To conclude, the characters are not well thought out, lack any depth and spark and are just rather flat and lacklustre. The writing I’m afraid is poor, which labours the entire novel and it all just lacks creativity and originality.

I’m sorry, but avoid at any cost.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for providing me this arc in exchange for an honest review*

Unfortunately this was a dnf for me at 45%. I love Romeo and Juliet retellings (enter These Violent Delights) but this was not it. I mean, was a retelling about Romeo And Juliet? Was it reincarnated (if we can use this term, because R and J are fictional characters) in Sebastien and Helen? Don't know, don't care.

There wasn't world building, except Sebastien the characters were meh. I don't know maybe that book wasn't for me. That's all.

It’s like a Shakespearean hallmark movie with a mission impossible twist

This story reminded me of Chloe Gong’s ‘A Thousand More’ but as a full novel. I really enjoyed the concept of this story, and I think Skye executed it perfectly. It’s a beautiful and emotional tale. Skye has taken the idea that Romeo is to blame for Juliet’s death and spun it into a tragic fairytale. It’s absolutely heart wrenching reading all of Sebastien’s memories.

The story is really well written. The pacing is perfect and I think the backstory has been scattered throughout in all the right places. Skye’s inspiration for this story is personal and touching, and I hope that she finds comfort in her labour of love.

This is a beautiful and creative retelling of the story of Romeo and Juliet.
I loved the characters of Sebastian and Helene and how their story was interspersed with stories from previous lives to build a full picture of their characters and the plot. I particularly enjoyed how past lives were told from both their perspectives to help build a fuller picture and understanding.

This book is has a beautiful meaning underlying it all and I think it was a captivating read. Really enjoy his unique retelling of the classic Romeo and Juliet story.

Once upon a time, Romeo and Juliet fell in love. But their story is still waiting for an ending.

Today, Helene has moved to a small town in Alaska after a miserable divorce, ready to live a quiet life, write her novels and try to come to terms with her solitude. But then she sees Sebastien and it doesn't feel like the first time. He is the living embodiment of the prince charming she'd created, written about as a young girl dreaming of fairytale endings. And as she tries to get closer to him, it's clear he's hiding something.

And he is. But how can Sebastien tell her the truth? How can he tell her they've know each other, loved each other and lost each other countless times? Fate drew them together, and it is keeping them apart - away from their happy ending.

"She has no idea who she is, of course. That her presence - or absence - in my life has defined my entire existence. I may go by Sebastien now, but name was originally Romeo. And hers was Juliet."

I absolutely love retellings - it takes some serious bravery to reimagine one of the classics, let alone one of the greatest tragedies of all time. The setting was beautiful, vivid and descriptive full of twinkling ice and blinding snow. Our characters drive the story, giving us insights into their lives before this moment, and their lives before this one - even going back to some familiar faces from literature in a totally new light. I adored them, their complexities and motivations - but honestly I found them more interesting apart than together when they veered into trope territory and lost their sense of self.

The way Skye flipped the narrative was brilliant - keeping the original story as a real thing in the world was a marvellous touch. The story moves slowly, setting the stage and the players - each little moment or detail with a meaning that is waiting to be revealed. But as we approach the end you know it, waiting for an end to a timeless story of curses, love, and loss.

Unfortunately for me, the storyline itself was very flimsy and not much really happened. The last quarter of the book felt like it was lifted directly from a different story and led into a very abrupt ending that felt quite anticlimactic but very heart-warming.

Hopelessly romantic, indulgent and sweeping - this is a magically modern reimagining of the star-crossed lovers that defies time and death in an entertaining and deeply emotional story.

"What Shakespeare didn't realise was that the tragic tale of starcrossed lovers was about more than one boy and one girl. He envisioned only a small sliver of history, and not the span of all time."

An incredibly unique, interesting take on the classic tale of Romeo and Juliet. I loved that this kept the basics and added to the beauty of the original story instead of changing things too much. The soulmates story and relationship was really heart-warming and beautiful - I love a reincarnation trope however I would say this is more YA than adult. But overall it is a really fun read and if you like retellings I would recommend.

I read this book in one night and it's still in my thoughts. I absolutely loved this take on Romeo and Juliet. What if Romeo never died but carried on through 700 years, waiting for Juliet to be reborn, only to have her snatched away again by tragedy in each lifetime. Can Mercutio's curse be broken in her latest incarnation as writer Helene, escaping from a bad marriage to a new life in Alaska where she meets Sebastien Montague, a man she has dreamed of her whole life, and now somehow made real.
This is a very emotional and spellbinding story that refuses to let me go. It has a flavour of Twilight about it and you can't help falling in love with Romeo completely. It also resonated because the author's own experiences with her husband who has a terminal illness has so clearly informed Helene and Sebastien's relationship of love and impending heartbreak.
My favourite book of the year to date! Wish there was more!

Thanks to the author and Netgalley for giving me an ARC of this book.

I haven’t read anything by this author before but the concept really intrigued me, it was such a different take on the Romeo and Juliet story and not one that I’ve come across before. I thought it was done really well, although there’s a supernatural element to the book, the author really plays that down and focusses more on the love story which I liked. Towards the end felt slightly far fetched but I enjoyed the drama and I thought the author ended it in an interesting way. I’m looking forward to trying more of her books.

This was quite interesting and had a very novel idea to it. I was highly entertained through and through. The characters were relatable and charming. I especially, happened to love the heroine; she was so fun to read about!

I'm going to kick this off by saying that there seems to be a trend of Romeo and Juliet retellings at the moment and I am LOVING it. Don't be put off thinking - "If I've read one, I've read them all" because that is not the case.

Especially, where this book is concerned.

An ARC courtesy of NetGalley - I was super intrigued by this one as it's not your classic, two people from warring families fall in love. It is beyond that. Romeo is cursed and his Juliet is completely oblivious, and he's destined to live through the tragedy over and over again.

I adored this book so much.

There wasn't a single part of the story that left me feeling bored, confused or underwhelmed. It was stunningly written and the characters were perfect.

I'm especially glad that neither the build up or the end were rushed. It was perfectly balanced.

I don't want to write too much more because I definitely don't want to spoil it for anyone. But I will say that this will be a book that earns a place on my bookshelf when it comes out in August.

Thanks Netgalley and publishers for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved loved loved this book! It was such an amazing retelling of the classic we all know and adore. Throughout the book I found myself rooting for Helene and Sebastian, a truly unique twist on star crossed lovers

This was a unique take on the classic tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, I very much enjoyed the premise and chapters detailing their past lives, however, I found their was so much emotional depth from Romeo that there was barely any time to witness them fall in love as their modern counterparts. For me, there was a substantial lack of showing the developing romance, flirtation and explanation of the curse dynamics at play. . I still enjoyed the story and could tell how much it means to the author, I just wish there was a little bit more showing, as opposed to telling.

This book feels like a very personal declaration of hope and I'm glad I read the author's note at the end before composing my review as it reframed my whole understanding of the book. Evelyn Skye says this book is her 'entire soul', and I can understand why retelling the story of Romeo and Juliet in this way might appeal as a powerful catharsis for someone in her situation 💙

The book has such an intriguing premise. I love the idea of this 'star-crossed' romance being played out across the centuries, especially when the powers of hope and love manage to shine through despite the odds.

Unfortunately, the premise hinges too much on the unquestioned acceptance that Romeo and Juliet were soulmates (when that's really not the point of Shakespeare's characters), using that as a shortcut instead of doing the legwork to establish why these two love each other so much. I think I would have liked this book more if it didn't try to be a retelling of Romeo and Juliet; the characters would have been more powerful if they'd been allowed to stand on their own merit and their initial love story had been more developed.

The writing style feels a little more 'YA' than I'd expect for an adult romance, and there were a few too many historical inaccuracies to let me really gel with the story, but if you don't mind that, and you're happy to accept that the characters are soulmates, then I think you'll really enjoy this book. There are some beautiful moments along the way and it ends with such a shining, poignant message about choosing hope.

Helene has left her abusive husband and retreated to Alaska to write her novel. But there, she meets fisherman Sebastien, who isn't just familiar ... He's been the main character of several stories she's been writing since childhood.

This is such a sweet story, taking a sweeping romance and the idea of fate across centuries and multiple lives. Loved the characters, loved the tales from other lives. There was just enough action to add an edge of tension, and I totally adored the ending. Definitely a recommended read for anybody who loves a good romance with a hint of fantasy!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review