I am a massive fan of reimagining of traditional tales and have read a lot of the Greek myths - but this is the first time I have read a feminist retelling of a Shakespeare tale told from the perspective of one of the forgotten women mentioned within the tales.

I loved the strong feisty Rosaline who fights to save her cousin, Juliet, even at the risk to her own life and reputation, and the fact that the concerns around Juliet's age (which is referred to within the play but not discussed in further) are talked about and addressed further.

Romeo is a thoroughly unlikeable character which turns the traditional telling on it's head, and makes the whole romantic aspect really uncomfortable and brought it straight into a modern perspective around grooming and male power.

I would like to read more retellings of Shakespeare's women - Cordelia or Ophelia next please!!!

Well written and I love the idea of exploring a character that only ever got the short description of 'fair.' BUT 'Fair Rosaline' strays to far from the source material for my liking.

I love Shakespeare and I love digging further into the lives of the minor characters, I didn't love the character assassination of Romeo though. That said, the language is very descriptive and I really enjoyed the set up and backstory of the Capulet family.

Read this if:
📖 You love alternate endings for classics
🙋 You like feminist retellings
🎁 You wanted to give Juliet a happy ending

Some more thoughts:

📚 Very much an UNTELLING rather than a re-telling.

🙋 Character backstory for Rosaline is great. The other characters are not who you expect them to be.

📍Verona & Mantua & surround (DUH)

👩‍🎓 A lot of Shakespeare's language is used but is attributed differently than in the original. I think this may be more enjoyable if you really dislike R&J.

If I separate it from Romeo & Juliet and think of them as different characters then I enjoyed the story. The main issue for me was it felt like it was trying to destroy my love of the original.

This novel is...ambitious. And to a great degree, it succeeds.

Solomons takes a minor - so minor she never actually appears - character from Romeo and Juliet, and then twists the entire narrative, shockingly convincingly. As she says, the novel's set in a 'Verona-upon-Avon', weaving in numerous other plays and trying (not always successfully but not usually too disturbingly) for a Shakespearian note even when it's not directly quoting.

I liked it, very much, and as a way of highlighting the more disturbing elements of R&J I think it's fabulous. Stylistically, it isn't always quite hitting the right note - there's the odd lumpiness of style - but I was quite taken aback by how much I enjoyed it. Whether it's one for the non-Shakespeare buffs is another matter...

In truth, I have never been convinced that Romeo and Juliet is the greatest love story ever told. Upon reading the play during my first year of university, when I was closer in age and able to relate to its characters' intense feelings, I found that their love was more akin to lust. Theirs felt the kind of love that burns bright but fades just as quick, not meant to endure. Romeo, in particular, seemed fickle, easily and desperately infatuated with one girl to the verge of ennui, but then quickly forgets her name once another comes along, more receptive to his courtship.

This sentiment is echoed in 'Fair Rosaline', a bold feminist retelling of the Shakespearean classic. Deviating significantly from the well-known story, it follows Rosaline, a 16-year-old girl whose wealthy father wants to send her off to a convent in order to keep her dowry. Unable to undermine the parental decree but nevertheless wishing to experience life to the fullest, Rosaline cross-dresses as a man to sneak into a party. There she first encounters Romeo. Their brief courtship echoes the original text, as if lifted directly from it, highlighting this way the lack of earnestness in Romeo’s sentiments, before he transfers his attention onto Juliet.

It is a stunning character-driven novel, which gives Rosaline the voice and agency that was previously denied her, releasing her thereby from being merely a peripheral female character filtered only through a male gaze. Taking inspiration from other Shakespearean ladies, Solomons' version of Rosaline is strong, clever, and sharp-tongued like a poniard. Her struggle between filial duty and her own desires, as does her difficulty in taking control of her own destiny, reflects the vulnerable position of women at the time, who were depended and often exploited by powerful men. In this vein, Solomons does not shy away from imagining a darker side, more violent and predatory, to Romeo. At the same time, the well-written novel feels incredibly relevant. Rosaline’s motivation to push boundaries and become her cousin’s protector resonates a burning need for female solidarity.

Wholeheartedly grateful to Bonnier for the opportunity of reading this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for this arc. As soon as I saw this reimagined, retelling of the classic Romeo and Juliet I was dubious, but I am so happy that my first impression was wrong. Fab read! 4/5

We all know the story of Romeo and Juliet the legendary star crossed lovers but this isn't about them, it's about Rosaline, a girl Romeo passed over for Juliet.

Heartbroken and destined for the nunnery, she has one final mission before the lifetime behind the walls begins. This is a unputdownable book about Rosaline and her fight to make sure Juliet doesn't have the same fate as her.

This retelling of the classic 'Romeo and Juliet' love story from the perspective of Rosaline, the rejected former lover, had me completely engrossed from the first paragraph.

I value the way Natasha Solomons has interwoven the best-known elements of the tale from Shakespeare's play with a much more comprehensive account of the lack of worth and conditions for girls and women, the tragic feud between the families, and related them to the (ever-present?) contemporary issues of grooming, exploitation and abuse of girls and young women.

This is to me a powerful means of examining challenges that persist, personifying what have become idealised romantic images from fiction into harsher realities, and awakening us all to the inequalities that still exist for women. It is also a testament to feminine strength and courage, and the power of real Love and understanding to bring hope for the future change for the better.

Highly recommended.

I was intrigued by the concept of this novel and the idea of retelling Shakespeare's famous Romeo and Juliet that has a less tragic outcome in terms of lovers united in death. Natasha Solomons characterisation of Romeo, as a predator and has form for seducing and manipulating young women, is an interesting take on the play. Romeo's romantic past is not touched upon in Shakespeare's version and this retelling fills in the gaps in a way. Rosaline's staging of the scene of Romeo and Juliet in the tomb to tie in with the original ending was a clever. In a twist having the idea that fiction and reality blur over time with many people changing the story of events to fit a specific narrative that is far from the truth was amusing. This idea suggested that Shakespeare's version is the the watered-down version of what actually happened that has changed over time.

However, the language was difficult and dense in places that attempted to emulate Shakespeare's language for a modern audience. I liked this element, but the story and clarity of events, thoughts and feelings was lost in places throughout the novel. This lack of clarity halted the pace in the second half of the novel.

I initially enjoyed the idea that Rosaline, before being sent to a Nunnery, would experience life to the fullest and this begins her ill-fated love affair with Romeo. However, I was expecting more illicit activities and Romeo exposing Rosaline to this darker and dangerous side of life. But the story focused on Rosaline's deceptions by Romeo and saving Juliet. Similarly, Rosaline's honour was touched upon throughout the novel, but there were no real consequence for her losing her virginity before marriage. I think this element could have been exaggerated more, considering the values and ideals of the time period. Rosaline and other characters brush this off as irrelevant and not life-changing.

The novel explores a darker and violent side of Romeo who falls in and out of love quickly and becomes emotional in bursts of anger and love - this was interesting character development that fleshed out his personality. However, I would have liked an exploration of the Montague family and understand what caused Romeo to become the 'monster' that he is in Fair Rosaline.

Overall, I enjoyed the alternative idea of this retelling that presented a dangerous side of the male characters, but the language was difficult at points and lacked pace in the middle of the novel. The exposition and danger needed to be greater and explain the consequences of these character's actions in the wider sense of society and how this impacted their families.

It’s been a hot minute since I read anything Shakespeare- esque! And boy did I love being back in that world!

The minute I heard about this book I had to read it. I love when classics get redone with a twist but keep the heart of the original in play.

Will I be reading from this author again? Yes, yes I will.

In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet the character Rosaline is not seen or heard. We hear various snippets from other characters discussing her but never see or hear her. This book is a really interesting take on the play and highlights the many reservations that those of us who have studied the play have raised. Child protection was very much part of my job and from the first time I read it I was wary of the standard interpretation of star crossed lovers. It's a play that has been done in so many different guises, all worthy, but this is the first time I have seen Rosaline centre stage. Rosalines in other plays, yes, but not in Romeo and Juliet. Rosaline here reminds me very much of myself at that age and that is probably why I loved her so much. The author was very brave to write this book, challenging the play and risk being labelled woke but actually I think Shakespeare would have agreed with her. Well written and perfect for a book group discussion