Fair Rosaline

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.

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

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.

Fair Roseline is a retelling of Romeo and a Juliet that (with artistic expression) tells the story of Romeo’s prior love, Roseline but with an even darker turn than the love story we all know.

Following the death of her mother, Rosaline Capulet is to be sent to a nunnery, the idea being to protect her heart from the pain and misery of love. Rosaline is given 12 nights before she must leave, she is free spirited and longs to see and experience as much as she can. On her first night, Rosaline sneaks into a party held by rival family the Montagues where she meets Romeo - they talk, she leaves, but then he starts to court her. However this isn’t a beautiful romance, what follows is a toxic, predatory relationship before Rosaline breaks free - only for Romeo to now start preying on her young cousin Juliet. With her days freedom ever reducing, Rosaline and her cousin Tybalt must try save Juliet from Romeo’s grasp.

I’ll admit I struggled at the start with this one - Romeo is gross, he’s described as an older man, he gaslights Rosaline, encourages her to steal money, emotionally manipulates and you experience this desperate girl’s need to be loved and the freedom he teases her with. It can make an uncomfortable, enraging read when you’re in Rosaline’s infatuated stage where she doesn’t see this as toxic. That said the moment that Rosaline breaks free from this cycle and gains her agency back, the experience of this book totally changed for me - that’s not to say that Romeo’s behaviour (now to Juliet) is any less tolerable but you’re no longer in the head of someone rationalising it.
The authors note at the end of the book is a great addition and does point out that Romeo is always assumed to be as young as Juliet but we’re never told that he is. The author decides to make Romeo (and Paris) an older man, a predator who grooms the innocent and highlights how this isn’t a story about romance but a story about the failings inflicted on a young girl who was not protected by those around her.

I’ll admit my knowledge of Romeo and Juliet is mostly reduced to a certain Leonardo DiCaprio film, but I have always been surprised how a story about desperation, death and the suicide of children has been romanticised. Juliet, and the girls before her, are still here caught as pawns in the cycle of greedy men and power, however here Romeo is a willing participant, the villain not the victim. Friar Laurence is also an awful person, working with Romeo to help dispose of his victims. Meanwhile Tybalt is And I can imagine yes that will be hard for some people to accept or adjust to, especially with more experience of Shakespeare - however it’s also important to take this at its own merit and own form of art.

Rosaline is described as free spirited, strong headed etc, which you don’t experience until she’s out of Romeo’s grasp. Unfortunately before this she is frustrating and reckless but, in her defence, desperate, mourning her mother and neglected by her father and manipulated by someone, and older man, who can see and wield this weakness and inexperience. However once free, after finally connecting the dots and breaking the illusion of Romeo’s devotion, Rosaline is a strong and enjoyable character who is fierce and cunning and motivated by love all while still showing signs that she too is still a girl herself. There’s not a whole lot to say really about Romeo and Juliet themselves as neither have a POV or any real growth, Juliet is just young and naive, but it’s not their story. I want to say Romeo at times is too dastardly, cold and manipulative to be realistic - but I also know that sadly there are likely men like him right now inflicting such harm on women and moving onto their next victims with the same obsessive abusive cycle, so I won’t be naive here. I do wish we had at least a chapter of Romeo’s POV to hear how he justified his actions, did he think what he was doing was wrong? You get the idea that Romeo thinks each time he is love but he is fickle and selfish, he indulges gluttonously and absolutely on love and desire until he is full and sated and then moves on to his next. Romeo does not think he is a monster. He was going to marry Rosaline, then switches his feelings off entirely and becomes infatuated with Juliet who he actually does marry. While I would have still hated him, I would have liked to have understood how his mind worked if his character is to be changed so drastically.

Tybalt on the other hand was my favourite character. I adored him (for once!) and how he was written as a cousin, friend and lover. In Tybalt you could really see how young these characters were, how boisterous and reckless but protective and loyal they are, in him you can see the hope of these characters to be away from rivalry and expectations and just live simply and with love - he’s a wonderful character and I would have loved more of him.

Writing wise, the pacing is good and the story keeps you engaged with themes of love, death, mourning, vengeance, empowerment etc, which builds up with intensity as the nunnery grows closer. I enjoyed the casual incorporation of Shakespeare’s work from Romeo’s regurgitated love declarations to Mercutio during the battle with Tybalt - a scene which is brutal and heartbreaking and brilliantly recreates this intense, life changing moment for all the characters.
Overall I thought this was an interesting and powerful reimagining, clever and well thought through with deep, complex characters and it stays with you after you’ve finished.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, I do not remember all of the details of the famous tale, but I think the author's version of events is outstanding.

This book is about Fair Rosaline, a very misaligned and unheard from character in Romeo and Juliet. The book tells the story from Rosaline's POV, she is a very strong and intelligent girl/woman and I felt that the author really bought the character to life. They also managed to depict the time and locale extremely vividly.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a hint of a thriller.

This has been quite an unexpected delight!

I went into this book with very little expectation; drawn in by the gorgeous cover and the title. Using beautiful, lyrical prose and persuasive storytelling, Solomons quickly draws the reader into a feverish story featuring Romeo and Juliet's oft-forgotten "Rosaline". Anyone who is familiar with Shakespeare's best-known tragedy, will remember the titular character. Well, perhaps not remember her. She is, after all, only mentioned briefly by Romeo and then cast-away quickly enough.

I have always felt that poor "fair" Rosaline deserved a bit more attention. Especially because I remember my highschool English teacher spending quite a lengthy amount of time concentrating on the passage in the play in which she is mentioned.

Rosaline is the older cousin of Juliet, and as such, one of the Capulet household. Her recently widowed father is dismissive and cold towards her, focused only on his own grief. He plans to send her to a nunnery. Rosaline is horrified but ultimately unable to do much, as she has very little power as a woman in the 16th century. She buys another few days of freedom and decides to sneak to a Montague party and see what all the fuss is about.

When she meets Romeo, she is enchanted and enthralled by his quick wit and use of romantic prosaic language. I will admit, I myself briefly felt charmed by Romeo in this novel. Which I think speaks for the strength of Solomons writing.

In the space of the novel, just like Rosaline, I go from finding myself charmed to being horrified when Romeo's deception is cruelly revealed. I won't spoil anymore, but will caution any purist Shakespeare fans or Romeo & Juliet diehard romantics --- this is NOT the story for you.

I've come across a few very venomous reviews online and can see why people aren't a big fan. I myself really enjoyed the read and sped through it much quicker than I thought I would.

I only have two rather small issues. My main one being that I felt that the latter half of the book was not as strong as the beginning. The ending felt overblown and unrealistic. My main issue with it being that I don't understand how or when Juliet went from being a child, hopelessly in love, to being a-okay with Rosaline having murdered Romeo. It feels like a chapter was missing that would have explained her change of heart. But I suppose then the whole last part could have been skipped.

Overall, an enjoyable and surprising read.

Fair Rosaline really strips back the "romance" of Romeo and Juliet to examine how women were (in some places still are) considered property, second rate, lesser than their male counterparts and if not capable of making a good marriage were condemned to the nunnery.

With this fate in sight Rosaline meets and falls for the charismatic Romeo, who promises the world but delivers on nothing.

A fascinating re-writing of the traditional tale from the perspective of the women in the family.

Well this was an absolute blast! If you buy into Romeo and Juliet being one of the greatest love stories you should step away from this book (I seriously urge you to - there's already at least one outraged GCSE English Lit essay that should have been a review on here, and the world doesn't need any more!). If you've always found Romeo fickle, the Friar useless, and wondered which part of 'dead children in a crypt' you're meant to find romantic then oh boy have I got a book for you!

This is an unabashedly feminist retelling from the perspective of Rosaline, and I thought it was glorious! The terrible options available to women are skewered with barely concealed rage. The Nurse is given the scant respect she deserves. The Friar gets his just desserts. And Romeo...well I don't want to spoil that for you but it's fitting! I wonder if this Rosaline is familiar with the poem from Much Ado About Nothing? I can't help but think she'd enjoy it:

"Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more.
Men were deceivers ever,
One foot in sea, and one on shore,
To one thing constant never."

"I cannot think of love or life, surrounded by and mocked by death on every side. It makes me see the end, before we've even begun."

A subversive, conceptual retelling of one of the most iconic stories of all time. Fair Rosaline invokes the true nature of the tale of R&J, the tragedy and pain that was meant to be the focal point of a story misconstrued as a romantic fairy-tale.

Giving a powerful, echoing voice to the voiceless Rosaline, this reimagining is a dark, electrifying tale with the poetic beauty of a classic but the cinematic intensity of a thriller. Rosaline was everything I wanted in a truly strong leading woman — she is unapologetic and fiercely loving, risking everything to protect her young cousin from a predator that could ruin her life. Young and naïve in some ways, but strong enough to fight with everything she has against a patriarchal world that she doesn’t believe in. It delves into dark, uncomfortable things that made me want to look away but I couldn’t put this story down until I’d read the whole thing.

As a narrator, Rosaline starts slowly building up the world and climate of Verona at the time, and the personal tragedies she’s lived through. Her storytelling was emotional, raw but clear — she’d go on tangents but it never felt like info-dumping or filler. As we move along, she begins to question why she’s a possession, why she’s treated so differently to the boys and men — and realises she cannot tolerate them to hurt Juliet too as she tries to unravel the Gordian Knot that has started to tighten around her. Her language was reminiscent of a classic Shakespearean but with a more accessible, readable style and beautiful subtle references to the original tale.

The setting was rich and vivid, transporting us to another place and time with cultures and superstitions from years gone by on the page for all to see. Telling a twisted version of a famous story is always risky — but this paid off. Fair Rosaline is a triumphant reimagination that is a classic of it's own in the making.

Fair Rosaline - Natasha Solomon
4/5

A different take on the story of Romeo and Juliet beginning with Romeo's love for Rosaline, Juliet's cousin. She finds out that he is not what he seems and she was not his first love. She then has to try and save Juliet from him but will she have time before she is sent by her father to live her life out in nunnery. I really enjoyed the story considering its not my usual genre and it was told very well. I think for me it seemed a bit too drawn out which is a shame because it made me lose interest a couple of times, apart from that it was an enjoyable read.

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★★★★☆

I can only imagine how daunting it would be to take on a text as infamous as "Romeo and Juliet" and somehow try to make it your own, but Natasha Solomons does just that.

Rosaline, although mentioned only by name in the original play, becomes a force to be reckoned with in this retelling. She has had to mature beyond her years, and is outspoken for the things and the people that matter most to her (I was getting strong Marian Halcombe vibes at several points, but particularly when Rosaline climbed up Juliet's balcony). This book is more about the sexism and lechery that occurred in the Elizabethan era, and throughout time itself. Both Rosaline and Juliet are perceived to be of value only because of their virtuosity and not because of their own character, and Romeo is painted much truer here than originally in the play. His age is never mentioned by Shakespeare, but the audience is frequently reminded that Juliet is no more than 13, implying that Romeo is much older than she. While "Romeo and Juliet" has morphed into the epitome of romances, the original plot is much more uncomfortable than people recall. Solomons brings this to the forefront and shows Romeo's manipulative nature from the beginning, as well as highlighting the failure of all the Capulet adults that failed both Juliet and Rosaline.

I did think that the first half lacked some pace, and I am not one for long chapters that this book does have. However, neither of these aspects bothered me enough to take away from a wonderful ending and a beautifully written novel. It's an interesting commentary on perspective, and really shows how it can warp who's side you are on just depending on how much of the story you are told.

A beautifully written take on the classic Romeo and Juliet, however in this book Rosaline is finally given her own voice. I really enjoyed reading this I loved the character of Rosaline, a strong female lead who wants to live her own life and not be condemned to the nunnery. This is truly a great feminist retelling which picks up on the problems in the original classic, mainly being how young Juliet truly is and how Romeo is actual a troubling character. I loved the modern spin on characters views and I think this is a must read.

Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons is a Romeo and Juliet feminist retelling.
The author writes such a significant take on the beloved classic. She gives Rosaline a powerful voice. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Rosaline Capulet, a maid spoken of but not seen in Romeo and Juliet. This is her story from before, during and after the star crossed lovers saga.

Like millions of others, as a curriculum necessity, I had Shakespeare thrust upon me. However, unlike many of my contemporaries I did enjoy the stories, and got to know them well. Well, with this offering put aside all you thought you knew about the story of Romeo and Juliet, and be prepared for a very different telling.

I loved that Rosaline, after initially succumbing to Romeo’s charms, became a feisty young woman. With time not on her side, her endeavours to release Juliet from the clutches of not one, but at least two predators were heroic.

Shakespeare repeated the age of Juliet, but no mention of Romeo’s, so I like to think that he thought the morals of the days were suspect, and there is no doubt in this telling that the issue of Juliet being a child was important to her peers, but simply seen as an asset to her morally deficient elders.

I think both should be read as independent stories, though as a companion novel to the original, Fair Rosaline is excellent.

Thank you NetGalley.

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!!!

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...

Fair Rosaline was one of those books I just had to read as soon as I saw it advertised on Twitter. I was not disappointed! Beautifully written and heart rending, this exploration of womanhood in a man’s world had me reading past my bedtime. 5 stars! I want to read it again!

Actual rating 4.5/5 stars.

An entirely new spin on Shakespeare's well-known Romeo and Juliet, that paints each character in an entirely new light, all told from Rosaline's perspective.

I adore Shakespeare's original and so when I received an arc for this retelling I dropped all my other reading plans to start this, straight-away. I did not read any of the synopsis and so feared it might be too accurate a revisit to the original, and so provide the reader with nothing new, but I need not have feared.

Rosaline is given life, rather than being a female who hides off page, and through her insights we start to see both Romeo and Juliet for who they are, which is very different from the star-crossed and ill-fated lovers we already know them as. All characters feel far more human here and I loved this new take on such a beloved tale. It remained a sinister tragedy and I mourned the events that occurred just as much as I did the conclusion to this tale, that meant my time with these characters was done.

Take everything you think you know about Shakespeare's famous star crossed lovers and think again! Knowing Romeo and Juliet so well, I was surprised (in the best way) about how much this story got turned on its'head, giving new perspectives to such well known characters.

Don’t think I’ll ever think on Romeo & Juliet in quite the same way after being given this alternate view of their love story. He’s gone from a teenager so desperately in love and ready to give up all for his love to nothing more than a philanderer of indeterminate age!
Very often, reworking a classic story is a disastrous idea and just doesn’t work but on this occasion, it’s excellent. It leaves us with a whole new story and really, the reader could write any ending they wanted.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to any Shakespeare fan.

I thoroughly enjoyed this retelling of Romeo and Juliet from the point of view of Rosaline. I now need to go back and watch the original from a totally different perspective and wonder what I missed. The book is a bit slow to get going but I was thoroughly invested in our protagonist and rooting for her as we relive the events of the play. A real sense of the heat of Verona and the fear of plague as characters fall in and out of love and destinies are fulfilled.

A dark and disturbing retelling of Romeo and Juliet that was gripping and chilling in its suspense and tragedy. The story is told from Rosaline's point of view and paints Romeo as a emotionally unbalanced older man and groomer of younger women whom he uses and discards often driving them to their deaths. Rosaline, once she extricates herself from his net, must try and save Juliet who is his next and very willing victim. It's a very different view of the famous doomed lovers and a story I could not put down.

This was an incredible ‘pretelling’ of the story of Romeo and Juliet, and completely turned the traditional story on its head for me. I will never think of Romeo in the same way again. It’s rich, compelling, clever and conjures up Shakespeare’s play beautifully while at the same time subverting it. Highly recommend

Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons is the story of a girl who is only very briefly mentioned in one of the most famous "love" stories of all time, Romeo and Juliet.

After the death of her mother Rosaline discovers she is to be sent to a convent. Desperate to experience some of life she attends a party where she meets and falls in love with Romeo. After experiencing doubts over some of Romeos claims Rosaline breaks off the match leading Romeo to set his sights on Juliet, Rosalines cousin. Fearful for not only Juliets reputation but also her life, Rosaline sets out to try to put a stop to their love.

Having read Romeo and Juliet and seen a few different versions of movies etc this was an interesting take on the story.

Thank you @Netgalley and @Bonnier Books UK for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Was the greatest love story a lie? Maybe? Or maybe it’s just a bit more, no, very much more complicated? For before Romeo set his sights on Juliet, there was Rosaline.

Recently bereaved 15 year old Rosaline, a Capulet but of the very lowest order, is destined to be sent to the convent. She, a mere girl has no say in the matter; as Masseto, her father, frequently reminds her, she is nothing but his property to do what he likes with.

However, she does negotiate 12 days to live life to the fullest, and this clever and spirited young woman wants to experience all she can while she can.

One night she secretly sneaks into the Montague family's masquerade summer ball, dressed as a man, but her disguise cannot fool Romeo, who is much older than Rosaline, falls head over heels in love with her instantly.

Rosaline is unsure of Romeo's attentions, but with her father determined that she join the nunnery, Romeo offers her the chance at a different life.

He sets about wooing her and easily convinces her that only true love could make him feel this way, that her beauty enraptures him. Indeed, he cannot live without her, but their relationship must remain secret as its revealing would mean disastrous consequences for the both of them.

And so begins the story of Romeo and Rosaline. But life is never that simple, is it?

Enter stage right, young Juliet. She is innocent, playful and desperate to appear more mature than her years in order to gain her older cousin, Rosaline’s, admiration. Unfortunately, she catches the eye of lecherous, predatory Romeo and the rest, as they say, is history.

Described as Hamnet meets My Dark Vanessa, this read is fierce, feminist, captivating and chilling. I felt all the emotions reading this well-constructed modern take on this historical fiction.

Think you know the story of Romeo and Juliet? Think again! If you've any interest in Shakespeare, you need to read this stunning retelling. 4.5⭐️

Out in August, this is set to be a hot summer read. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advance copy in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this retelling of Rosaline’s side of the story of Romeo and Juliet. The writing is brilliant. It is readable and accessible yet conveys the style of the time and has a Shakespeare feel to it that really immerses you in the time period and story.
I loved Rosaline’s character and really felt I could empathise with her as she moved through her story. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep the story interesting and exciting despite having some idea of how it will progress due to the retelling of a classic story.
Overall this is a really interesting retelling of a character that is mostly forgotten about and really makes you question what you thought you knew about the other characters.

Summary: The story of Romeo and Juliet is one of the most well known love stories of all time but what ever happened to Rosaline, the woman Romeo loved before. Natasha Solomon helps us learn about Romeo’s first love in this powerful retelling.

Review: I could not put this book down. The writing is beautiful, reminiscent of Shakespeare but far more accessible.

The story is so compelling and Natasha Solomon manages to bring in so many twists and turns which kept me guessing throughout.

Rosaline is fierce and prepared to sacrifice anything to protect the ones she loves. Tybalt is a great defender of her honour. Juliet is hopelessly naive and Romeo the master villain.

Underlying all of this is a theme about the role of women and the decisions made by men with power over them.

I loved everything about this book and will be recommending to anyone I know.

I really enjoyed this book, it was such an interesting premise and well written. I really like the idea of taking secondary characters from other fiction or offering alternate views of stories.

My only problem was that I studied Romeo and Juliet as a teenager when the Baz Luhrman film came out and Romeo is always Leo DiCaprio, my first love. Because of this I struggled to see Romeo as an older man (and a bad one at that). I found the author notes at the end interesting and I sort of wish I’d read them first to give the story more context and nuance, it wouldn’t have spoilt anything. And actually if I picture Leo as he is now, especially with his penchant for younger women, then it makes perfect sense.

I would definitely recommend this and read more from this author.

A thoroughly entertaining and unique revisiting of the famous play, this time through the eyes of Rosaline, Shakespeare’s silent totem for Romeo’s unrequited passion. Solomons tells a much darker story, even than Shakespeare’s.; this Verona is a seedy world of humid squalid, corners, pungent markets, and the abuse of young girls is not only endemic but facilitated by those with influence.
The much maligned Tybalt is reimagined as an impulsive hero, and rather than his more sensible accomplice and friend. Definitely worth the read.

Absolutely brilliant, loved it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me an advance copy, I will definitely be recommending.

Parting is such sweet sorrow ★★★★☆

This dark untelling of Romeo and Juliet centres on Rosaline, Juliet’s cousin, and plunges us into plague-riddled 14th century Italy.

In this version, Romeo is a deadly middle-aged seducer of young girls and Rosaline, having been taken in by him, is desperate to save her even younger cousin Juliet from a terrible fate.

Rosaline is a strong and fascinating character, limited by the confines of the female sphere. Can she unmask Romeo as a predator and even them can Juliet be saved?

A depressing take on an iconic love story which makes for a very powerful retelling.

Wow - what a great premise for a book. The retelling of Romeo and Juliet from Rosaline's perspective. I absolutely loved the feminist take on this narrative, it really made me look at Romeo and Juliet in a different light. Everything about this book is brilliant, the setting, the characters, the themes, and the writing is exquisite.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an arc of this book.

I was so excited to read Fair Rosaline after hearing so many good things online not to mention the FIRST RATE marketing that the publishers pulled out.

And if you love a twist on your traditional, then this is definitely for you. It took me a while to get into the style of times, as this is very much set in the time period and is NOT a re-imagining. I absolutely loved how the author was able to bring new life into the well-known tale of Romeo and Juliet.

I could probably go on for hours about this but I'd just be posting spoilers. So all I will say is - forget Leo. He is not THIS Romeo (and thank the Gods he's not).

This is a retelling of a classic Shakespearean play, Romeo and Juliet, with a twist.
Rosaline is a character mentioned briefly in the play, and this novel builds a whole other side to the story of the romance, which is Romeo and Juliet.
It's like a twisted fairytale, as everything romantic and heartwrenching is proven to be incorrect and, in fact, tortured, horrific and incredibly sad in those versions of events.
We, as a reader, if we know the original play, are made to question so much. There is enough ambiguity within the play to make a lot of what happens in Fair Rosaline a distinct possibility.
The point is, do we want to believe that there could have been a more sinister plot at play behind the scenes?
I have studied different texts like this, for example, Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, by Tom Stoppard, based upon two characters mentioned in passing in Hamlet. and they create fascinating backstories which may not have been on our Bard's mind but can add another level of depth to an already well-known story.
I have to say it did hook me, and made me feel a bit upset at the thought of Romeo not being who we always thought he was!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books, Manilla Press for an ARC.

We all know of the story of Romeo and Juliet but why did they meet.
The romance between Rosaline and Romeo is mentioned but only in the crudest terms.
This story shows how fickle and shallow Romeo's affection are.

This was such an interesting read! I found myself so engrossed in the story, the characters had such incredible arcs, and I can't wait to follow this author's journey!

This was an unexpected delight to read. There have been other reimaginings of Romeo and Juliet from Rosaline's perspective (one of which led to a film on Disney +) but this is one of the best. I think it's really important for the up and coming generation to be aware of how unromantic Romeo and Juliet is and this retelling does exactly that. We see the truth behind these famous lovers. But the most important elements of the story are when Rosaline is taking on the patriarchal machine that her family and community have built so she can save Juliet. The connection between Ros and Tybalt was also very sweet and again gave us another interpretation of Tybalt beyond the hotheaded and violent young man he is usually portrayed as. Overall a brilliant read and definitely one to recommend to English GCSE students when they study the play.

Romeo and Juliet were star-crossed lovers, but what about Rosaline, the Capulet girl Romeo loved before he set eyes on Juliet? In an atmospheric retelling of Shakespeare's play, the author paints a vivid and engaging picture of a passionate young woman in love with life. When Romeo abandons her, it seems her destiny is the convent, but first she must try to save her cousin Juliet from the fate she fears awaits her.
What a fabulous retelling of Romeo and Juliet. Natasha Solomons plunges us into Shakespeare's world, with all its motifs and poetic prose that mimics Shakespeare's language, but is far more understandable. The plot as it progresses is just as convoluted as any Shakespeare could contrive, with girls dressed as boys, messengers going here and there, just missing each other, poisons and antidotes, and dark secrets at the heart of it all. But this is essentially a feminist story - the women of mediaeval Verona may be subject to the patriarchy, but some draw on their own resources of courage and loyalty. Rosaline may be a young girl, but she has the strength to deal with life's challenges, the wisdom to see the truth, and the compassion to try to set things right for others, even if she cannot change her own destiny.
This is one for lovers and non-lovers of Shakespeare alike, a wonderful story in its own right, with an admirable heroine at its core. I loved it.

Fair Rosaline tells the story of the character quickly tossed aside by Romeo when he meets his Juliet, As a huge Shakespeare fan, this was one of my most-anticipated reads.
For those wanting to keep the romantic version of the star-crossed lovers, be prepared to be shooketh. Here, we have a very different Romeo from the one we currently see depicted. He is older, seductive, very aware of what he is doing, and ultimately a predator, moving from one young girl to the next. While this surprised me at first, I loved Solomon's movement away from the expected and into darker territory. Even darker was the representation of Friar Lawrence, whose dealings I won't reveal heal but are sinister. As much as I love Shakespeare, interpretations that take the story and characters in places I never thought possible are fascinating to read. I also loved fierce Rosaline herself, and seeing a warm side of Tybalt was equally pleasing.
The book uses some quotes from the play or variations of them, but some of them didn't quite work for me. I wasn't sure if Romeo was either repeating lines shared with Rosaline to show how much of a 'player' he is, or if Solomons wanted to take those words and give them to Rosaline. There were also lines spoken by Juliet about Romeo in the original play that here are used by Rosaline to talk about Tybalt. Maybe it's a way to show that the love between the latter pair is more worthy of those lines, I don't know. It just didn't quite work for me but that's probably just a personal taste thing!
I did enjoy the book and Solomons has created a descriptive and well-paced story in a darker Verona than we are used to. Obviously giving a voice, and such a feisty character, to Rosaline is well-overdue, but it's Romeo's character that is truly twisted. Be prepared to have the idea of a young, fawning, innocent Romeo smashed to pieces. It's about time we all grew up anyway.

Was the greatest love story of all time a lie?
Romeo Montague sees young Rosaline Capulet and he falls instantly in love. Having just lost her mother Rosealines father announces that Roseline is to be sent to the nunnery.

Rosaline, being headstrong and independent, is unsure of Romeo's attentions at first but this handsome stranger offers her a chance at a new life. Rosaline begins to doubt all that Romeo tells her so she tells him she no longer wants to be with him.

Romeo's then turns his gaze towards Juliet, Rosealines younger cousin. Rosaline begins to realise that it is not only Juliet's reputation at stake, but also her life. Will Rosaline save Juliet from Romeo? Or will this story only ever end one way?

Having only ever read 2 of Shakespeares stories, Hamlet (meh) and Romeo and Juliet I was interested in this retelling. The writing flows well and I really enjoyed Rosealines character. Romeo on the over hand I hated with a passion. This book turned his character into well let’s be polite and call him a slug that preys on girls, not even women, GIRLS. I want to call him worse but I don’t want my review banned. I really have enjoyed reading this book and I don’t think I will ever read Romeo and Juliet in the same light ever again. Highly recommend this book especially if Shakespeare is not something you would normally read as this author has made the story interesting and so easy to read.

I’d seen a fair bit of buzz around this on bookstagram and was so pleased to be able to get an advance copy. The premise intrigued me, it sounded like it would be right up my street and was such an interesting way of re-telling such a huge story.

I wasn’t disappointed at all. Solomons writing is fantastic! She weaves in so many of the big moments that we all know and some passages and dialogue that I remember from the original. I’ve read “Romeo and Juliet” more than a few times thanks to a Leonardo DiCaprio obsession in the late 1990s/early 2000s and I just thought Solomons’ use of the original text was so clever.

I absolutely love Rosaline. Solomons has created such an incredible woman. She’s not perfect, she has her flaws, but that’s what makes her so great. She stands up for Juliet when nobody else is and I am absolutely here for that. She trusts her instincts, even in the face of intense gaslighting, and isn’t afraid to do what’s right. I love her relationship with Tybalt, thanks in no small part to John Leguizamo’s portrayal in the film I’ve always had a bit of a thing for Tybalt and the version Solomons has created here is even better.

As a teenager I was always caught up the whole forbidden love story but as I got older I came to realise how problematic the relationship is between Romeo and Juliet but Solomons has taken that a step further and pointed out how rotten the whole system is! Friar Lawrence in particular becomes much more sinister than before and the Capulets themselves need to take some of the blame for what becomes of Juliet.

I cannot recommend this highly enough, Solomons has put an incredibly unique spin on the tale. I found myself completely lost in the story and couldn’t stop reading it. I’m definitely going to have to check out more of Solomons’ books!

I thoroughly enjoyed this reimagining of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet 💞

🎭This version gives Roseline (Romeo's lover prior to Juliet, who is briefly mentioned in the play) a voice and a leading role. And what a feisty young thing she is!

🎭Very cleverly put together, this new story weaves it's way through the original play with such style.

🎭Be prepared to really dislike the reimagined Romeo. A lothario who chase's and breaks the hearts of a plethora of underage girls 🙈...what a brute!

🧙If you've watch the stage play of Wicked and loved it then this book is absolutely for you.
I'd also recommend this to all historical fiction lovers out there

Fair Rosaline is a spellbounding 'untelling' of one of the worlds greatest love stories.

I was instantly intrigued by this novels premise - Romeo and Juliet but not as we know it. I was not disappointed. We meet Rosaline who is only fleetingly mentioned in Shakespeare's play and we meet Romeo as a manilipulate, practiced liar, who preys on vulnerable young girls.

There is a contrast in the prose between the characters inner thoughts that are contemporary and the written speech which is more Shakespearian. This works really well as it reads fluidly, while still evoking the historical time period.

As Romeo's deceit is unravelled, the story becomes page turning. I loved the character development of Rosaline who emerges from meek and naive teenager to a determined, brave and strong lady.

The alternative plot line made me viscerally angry - a fabulous feminist take. Fair Rosaline is a cautionary tale that is still relevant in today's society.

The ending is highly poetic and lest anyone forgets, do not under estimate a woman scorned. The author notes are utterly fascinating and well worth reading.

I really enjoyed Fair Rosaline, and would happily recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bonnier Books / Manilla Press for the eArc in exchange for a honest review.

I came to this book ready to love it – I really enjoy classic stories being reimagined and looked at from a female point of view, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the author’s previous books ( especially Mr Rosenblum’s List, which I highly recommend).
You can probably tell there’s a ‘but’ coming, and that is that this is so far from the original material, so lacking in connection with the original, that it’s not so much a re-telling as a dismantling and creation of something, that apart from character names, is almost a completely new tale.
We do get some interesting and clever fleshing out of Rosaline’s character, but the extreme re-imagining required of most of the other characters to make this story work is so dark and distorted that I felt it shifted much too far from the source material.
I could imagine Romeo being a hormone-driven, fickle, and tempestuous young man, but making him a honey trap for a paedophile ring involving most of the grand men of Verona, was just too much of a stretch for me.
Having said that, this is an interesting, well-researched story in its own right, and I enjoyed reading it. I liked looking at the story from another Rosaline’s point of view, and getting to know better some of the relatively minor characters such as Tybalt.
So yes do read it, but be aware that if you are fond of the original tale, you will be seriously challenged!
with thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for an ARC

I loved this book. It is a very clever return to Romeo and Juliet. What if all was not as it appeared in Shakespeares version? The narrative weaves together several strands and sits believably into the lives and times of the Montagues and Capulets. Read it, you won’t be disappointed.

I confess to never having read Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, but I saw the modern film of the play, so had a sanitised view of the story. It therefore came as something of a shock to see Romeo cast in this novel as not the great romantic hero of all time, but part of a paedophile ring made of up wealthy powerful men, and men of the church.

The story builds steadily from Rosaline's loss of her mother, the lies she is told, her rebellion when faced with banishment to a nunnery, her exploitation by Romeo and her fight to protect Juliet from falling prey to the same fate as many women before. Rosaline is a very strong character though at the end her scheme to save Juliet becomes somewhat unbelievable, and faced with such powerful men I cannot believe she could succeed.

I love the language of this novel, so firmly set in its historical time, but so accessible. I love too that the setting is far back in history but the author makes it so relevant to today, a sad reminder that the world has not changed in hundreds of years.

After a slow start, 'Fair Rosaline' develops into a book that makes you rethink your opinions on one of the most famous stories of all time, 'Romeo and Juliet'. Shakespeare's play mentions several times that Romeo was in love with 'fair Rosaline' before meeting Juliet. In fact, he seemed extremely keen on her, only to drop her with indecent haste once Juliet came on the scene. She's never seen in the play herself, and disappears as the story of the 'star crossed lovers' continues to its inevitable end.

Natasha Solomons takes this unseen woman and makes her the narrator and hero of this retelling, which starts a couple of weeks before the events of 'Romeo and Juliet' and continues through to end at the same point. One thing I always forget is the ridiculously short timescale of Shakespeare's tragedy - the action in 'R&J' takes place over only four days. This imposed timescale makes events seem rather rushed and gives less time for good character development. Yet the first part of the book drags somewhat as it features a lot of Rosaline rhapsodising for long sections about how wonderful Romeo is, and how unfair life is, which isn't very interesting to read.

Rosaline is a strong main character, at least once she's stopped mooning around over Romeo. Her lot in life is appalling - as a woman, she has no say in her future and is treated literally as property. Her options - and she doesn't even get to choose between them herself - are to be married to whomever her father chooses, or confined to a nunnery for the rest of her days. She is dismissed, belittled and ignored throughout the book, as are the women around her.

Romeo does not come off well in this story at all. In fact, he is the villain of the piece. Initially I found this interpretation uncomfortable - it seemed so maladjusted with my own preconceptions about the story. But when I thought about it more critically I began to realise it is a reasonable interpretation of the information in the play. If we go only on that, and not the assumptions and reputation that has grown up around it, then you can't deny Romeo's behaviour could be seen as obsessive and predatory. By the end of the book, I was half convinced that the greatest love story of all time was in fact a seedy tale of child abuse.

It's not Solomons' best book, but it is an interesting concept and the second half is much more readable once it finally gets going. Her authorial decisions have been restricted by the need to fit around Shakespeare's original and some of the things that I would criticise about the plot are more Shakespeare's fault than Solomons'. If you are interested in Shakespeare, or like retellings with a twist, it is definitely worth reading.

This certainly paints a different portrait of Romeo! It was much darker than I expected and I'll read Shakespeare's play with different eyes now - I knew Juliet was young but guessed they both were. This is a very different story, which I found well written and compelling.

— 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 —

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Fair Rosaline
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: N/A
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): Natasha Solomons
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Historical Fiction
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: eARC
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 3rd August 2023
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 7th July 2023
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 4.5/5

”Young men’s love, I fear, lies not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.”

When the words Romeo & Juliet are expressed, the connotations implied are love & tragedy. Whilst the plot is entirely different in Fair Rosaline to the original Shakespeare, these themes remain the same.

The original Shakespearean character of Rosaline isn’t given a single line, and is consistently spoken about through the mainly lewd observations of men. The author takes this Rosaline and allows readers to stop ignoring her, giving her qualities of tenacity and cleverness, whilst still keeping her young and naive, someone susceptible to a man’s charms but with all the defiant righteousness to carry out justice.

Romeo is cast into a new, villainous role in Fair Rosaline. As more of a Lothario than a victim of star-crossed love. A few reviews seem to hate this, but I have no loyalty to the original Romeo and was able to welcome and enjoy this new, darkly retold character.

I thought that the writing was deeply romantic. Even when romance wasn’t at the forefront of the plot, the author writes with a blend of contemporary prose and Shakespearean dialogue. I thought that the effect was poetic whilst still managing to be a page turner.

Fair Rosaline works as a modernized retelling that is still truly reminiscent of Shakespeare, though, dare I say it, more dramatic? I read a few reviews before writing my own and was surprised at the divide from reviewers. It seems that most people have either loved it or hated it.

I am in camp love for Fair Rosaline.

—Kayleigh🤍
@ Welsh Book Fairy🧚‍♀️✨

This book was every bit as good as I hoped it would be! Romeo in Romeo and Juliet always gave me the ick and this novel explores exactly why from the perspective of the woman he loved 5 minutes before he met Juliet. Highly recommend it when it comes out on 31st July.

Fair Rosaline reimagines the popular and well known story of Romeo and Juliet using Shakespeare's play to retell with lines that are so recognisable now. I grew up learning about the play at school and the first time I was allowed to go to the cinema with friends, without an adult, was to see Baz Luhrman's amazing film. One of my favourite parts is near the end with Mercutio: "a scratch, a scratch" and that was quoted here fully.

But this does not have the love story as a focus, but Rosaline, who is mentioned only through the eyes of men in the play, is given her voice and character here. She is an amalgamation of several of Shakespeare's Rosalines and the popular story is told through her perspective. Romeo here is much older than the young Juliet and much is made of the age difference. Popular lines have a much more sinister meaning when read through this lens.

I really enjoyed this. I think Shakespeare makes a point of stating Juliet's age and that Romeo has felt this extreme love before but this is a different spin on Romeo and I found it interesting and different. Purists will not find the differences so obvious as at first believed and this would be great to study alongside the popular play.

The author's note at the end is illuminating and goes a long way to explaining why Solomons wrote Romeo this way. I grew up studying the play, like many UK students this was my first encounter with Shakespeare, and I don't feel it is entirely based on text. Silly, immature Romeo yes, but paedophilic? Womaniser definitely, groomer of young women? I'm not so sure. But this is clever at least and I will give all the stars for that ❤️

My thanks to Bonnier Books U.K. Manilla Press for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Fair Rosaline’ by Natasha Solomons.

This work of literary historical fiction made quite an impression on me. First, some plot details for context.

Verona is just emerging from the devastation of the plague. Fifteen-year-old Rosaline Capulet is upset to learn that her father intends that rather than be married, she is to enter a convent. After all, her older brother has already supplied the requisite heir and dowries are expensive. To add to her woes, it appears that her recently deceased mother had supported this plan. She stamps her feet in frustration at being locked away from the world.

Rosaline manages to get her father to agree to a twelve day grace period before she is sent away and she is determined to pack as much living into those days as possible. Her cousin and best friend, Tybalt, is all for them running off to the Greenwood to join Robin Goodfellow and Titania’s faerie revels. Yet Rosaline feels that sneaking into the Montague ball might be more her style….

At the ball her path crosses with that of Romeo Montague and it’s a case of insta-love. He proceeds to woo her with familiar lines and pretty soon she is dreaming of a secret marriage and running off with Romeo to Mantua. However, she soon has reason to doubt his honeyed words. Then Rosaline realises that Romeo’s gaze has swiftly shifted to her thirteen-year-old cousin, Juliet, who is even more naive than she had been.

As things heat up in the streets of Verona between the houses of Montague and Capulet, can Rosaline save her cousin from what appears to be the fate of all star crossed lovers?

Rather than describe her latest novel as a retelling of Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’, Solomons has defined it as an ‘untelling’; asking “was the greatest love story of all time a lie?” As such, she subverts key elements of the story turning it on its head.

Having read her novel, ‘I, Mona Lisa’, I knew that Solomons was capable of taking risks in her approach to literary fiction. Here the story is told from the perspective of Rosaline. In Shakespeare’s play before Romeo met Juliet he had loved Rosaline. She never speaks in the play although she is the reason that Romeo sneaks into the Capulet ball thus setting in motion the meeting between he and Juliet and all that later occurs. As such, Rosaline serves as an important catalyst.

There is a lot to admire in this novel, including the expansion of the character of Tybalt, who was my favourite, while Rosaline generated mixed feelings given her whining and petulant behaviour. Many of the novel’s scenes were vividly described allowing me to feel immersed in its characters and events. The sword fights that took place were especially well executed and thrilling.

However, despite these positive points I had a turbulent relationship with this novel with my feelings about it shifting considerably during the course of my reading. I was initially unsettled by some of the changes that Solomons had made to the story as well as the muddling of time and place, between the original 14th Century Italian setting and late 16th Century England.

Rosaline’s constant angst about the restrictions of convent life jarred as this was not true of the original 14th Century setting although such had been imposed in the 16th Century by the Catholic Counter Reformation. Yes, it’s a small niggle likely only noticeable to history nerds aware that convent life had allowed women more agency in this male dominated society.

Solomons’ concluding Author’s Note did clear up some of my reservations as she clarified that her novel is set in ‘Verona-Upon-Avon’, so although the story is intended to take place in late medieval Italy there were recognisable elements of Elizabethan England as indeed there was in Shakespeare’s day.

By the time I reached the concluding chapters, I had come to better appreciate the reasons for her various changes, though I did continue to feel that some reflected modern sensibilities rather than those of the novel’s period settings.

I also appreciated the interview with Natasha Solomons that was included at the end of the audiobook edition. In it she expressed her worry about negative reactions to her untelling. A close friend, who is a director, suggested that she should imagine herself not as a writer but as a director and that the novel is her production, her version of the story of Romeo and Juliet. That ‘Fair Rosaline’ wasn’t negating the other versions of ‘Romeo and Juliet’; they still exist.

However, one thing that did remain constant throughout my reading was my admiration for Natasha Solomons’ exquisite writing. I also appreciated the numerous allusions to other works of Shakespeare. I would love an annotated edition of this novel as I am certain that I only caught a fraction of them. It also made me long to revisit his various plays.

Overall, I found found ‘Fair Rosaline’ an extraordinary novel even though I found some aspects challenging. It certainly is the kind of novel that is bound to generate plenty of discussion. I plan to reread it in due course and hope to see it nominated for the 2024 Women’s Prize for Fiction.

An absolutely stunning book, beautifully and cleverly written, giving a voice and bodied character to Rosaline, telling her story and encounter with Romeo Montague. We do not find Romeo to be a young star-crossed lover, but rather a fiend who preys on vulnerable young girls and abuses their innocence and trust. Rosaline is unlike any of the young girls that have been discarded to whither and die, but is clever and feisty and willing to take risks to save her cousin Juliet. The story glides closely to the Shakespearean play Romeo and Juliet, with echoes of the language and embedded quotations. The storyline is very powerful. I devoured this in a day. A compelling page turner with women at its centre. #fairrosaline #natashasolomons #womensfiction #netgalley

This is a reimagining of the Romeo and Juliet love story written from the viewpoint of “fair Rosaline”, Romeo’s previous lover and Juliet’s cousin. Romeo is not a hero in this version, but a predatory lothario with a track record of seducing and discarding young teenage girls, aided and abetted by his friend Friar Laurence. Rosaline is a strong and determined character who is protective rather than vengeful and although the outcome differs from the Shakespearean version, it is by no means inconsistent with it. A great book club choice as it gives rise to many discussion topics and opinions.

I knew precious little about Romeo&Juliet and had never come across Rosaline. This, then, was educating aswell as entertaining. I found the first third a wee bit long winded, but then it started to really move at a pace. As for Romeo? uergh!

Romeo and Juliet was never one of my favourite Shakespeare works, but this is one of favourite book based around a Shakespeare play.

Romeo is not a young boy, fallen hopelessly in love, he is a grown man who is manipulative and wicked.

This book tells the story of one of his former loves, and how she tries to save the very young Juliet. It is a story of how women have no power and their lives are upturned by fathers, brothers, husbands and lovers. Even the one true love story, between Rosaline's father and mother, is one of a huge imbalance of power.

A very enjoyable retelling of a very famous story, with a feminist view. I really enjoyed it.

Fair Rosaline is a retelling if you will (runs in parallel to the original play) of Romeo and Juliet from Rosaline's perspective - remember her? The one who didn't die.

My favourite thing about this books was Rosaline and how realistic Solomons had written her. Knowing the time period and having read the play, I went in with this idea that Rosaline was pretty much going to have no character traits outside of well saving Juliet but for the wrong reasons. But I was gladly proved wrong. Rosaline was fleshed out to have interests, to have personal relationship (that weren't just superficial), she had a voice and she wasn't afraid to use it!

Not only that but Solomons uses Fair Rosaline to move away from the tragic romanticism that Romeo and Juliet makes us believe when we're young. Highlights the creepiness of Romeo going after thirteen year old Juliet, Friar Lawrence and his relationships with the star-crossed lovers and the abusive power dynamics of the whole thing.

To note a few things, Solomons' writing blends the Shakespearean and the modern, making Fair Rosaline more accessible which I really liked. I think that there's this perception that Shakespearean works is difficult and that you need a specific sort of background to really be able to understand the nuances of the language. You don't. Also, I liked that it turned into this whole other thing, I think it delivered exactly what it said it would: a retelling, taking the original text and then doing something completely different. Just don't get too attached to the original play and take it seriously.

To read or not to read? There is no question, please give Fair Rosaline, a fair go.

Thank you to Bonnier Books UK, Manilla Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another cracking read from Natasha Solomons - I loved 'I, Mona Lisa' and think that this is another ingenious story using a lesser known character from our cultural knowledge.

Rosaline - one of the earliest characters we hear about in 'Romeo and Juliet', yet, she never speaks for herself and is a shadowy character which Shakespeare devises as a 'vehicle' to set Romeo's romantic nature against. This is a play I teach to Year 8 pupils, and know it well, but I will never be able to read it in quite the same way in the future! Rosaline - what a character - Solomons spins a devastating story which is compelling and feels authentic. There are many lines from the play which are lifted and woven into the tale and are cleverly used to develop the story. This novel is probably not suitable for my pupils, it is a little graphic in places, but extracts would work well as a comparison. Romeo is quite a different character to the one we usually expect through the play. He is modernised in this novel to be cast as a predator, which, terrifyingly, works exceedingly well!

I am not sure I was convinced by Rosaline's apparent freedom to slip in and out of the family home to make numerous visits to different houses as she truly understands and plots her revenge against Romeo. Tybalt is less hot-headed and obnoxious in this narrative than I would have expected, but I think these tweaks were needed to develop the plot.

By the end I had so much respect for Rosaline - her actions are admirable and brave. Juliet's future will have a different path to the one Shakespeare devised and I enjoyed that hopeful note as well.

So so clever. A weaving of the tale of Rosaline avenging Juliet and other cast of loves of Romeo into the Shakespearean play we know. We view the main characters in a new light - although Romeo remains sappy just with a bit more of a past. Excellent exploration and challenge of something I thought I knew well. A pleasant few hours of being topsy turvy.

Many years ago, Romeo and Juliet was one of the books I studied for English Literature O-level. Despite failing the exam I have always enjoyed the play, so when I heard about this new book telling the story from Rosaline's point of view I jumped at the chance to get an advance copy, and I wasn't disappointed.

In the play, when we first meet Romeo, he is feeling lovesick: not for Juliet, as one would expect, but for her cousin Rosaline. She doesn't have a speaking part, and after the scene where Romeo attends the Capulet ball and sees Juliet she is only mentioned in passing.

In this version of the story, Rosaline is much more involved, and is present during some of the most dramatic scenes; the omission of those facts from the play being cleverly handled by the author. Although some liberties have been taken with the story, and the ending subtly changed, all is explained satisfactorily as the book unfolds. The story isn't just a prequel, but runs alongside the events of the play, just seen through Rosaline's eyes. There are many familiar pieces of dialogue borrowed from Shakespeare's original which anchor the book and the play together. For example, two mentions of Queen Mab as well as Mercutio's dying words, "Ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man" will resonate with anyone who is familiar with the play. Fans of the scene early in the play where the servants of the two houses quarrel will be pleased to hear Rosaline saying she "does not bite her thumb" at Tybalt.

Midway through the book it becomes more of a thriller, especially when Friar Laurence's role in the story and his involvement with Romeo becomes clear. Although you think you know how the story ends, the precise details are up in the air, and you are no longer sure. The last quarter of the book becomes a rollercoaster of twists and turns as the finale approaches.

If you think that Romeo is the most romantic character in the history of literature, then this book may disappoint you. They say you should never meet your heroes, and in this book you get a much earthier view of Romeo's character than in Shakespeare's play. Certainly, from Rosaline's point of view, Romeo is not the romantic hero of legend we have all come to know. This retelling of the story of Romeo and Juliet turns a classic Shakespearian romance on its head. Although there is plenty to engage lovers of the original work, nothing more than a general knowledge of the play is required to fully enjoy Rosaline's story.

Was there ever a tale of more woe, than that of Juliet and her Romeo? You will have to read Fair Rosaline to find out.

Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC.

I requested this book because of the title and premise. I’m so glad that I did.

Historically, we never hear from Rosaline, she is a support character at best. But this is her story.

It did take me a few chapters to get into this book but once the events started happening, I was hooked. We learn about her and the Capulet family in far more detail. We learn far more about Romeo and who he was before he met Juliet.

The descriptions and language throughout are true to the Shakespearean that some people will have come across before. I also really liked the descriptions of ‘Italy’ in this.

If you like historical fiction then this one is for you.