Fair Rosaline

A shattering untelling of Romeo and Juliet

The first time Romeo Montague sees young Rosaline Capulet he falls instantly in love. Rosaline, headstrong and independent, is unsure of Romeo’s attentions, but with her father determined that she join a convent, this handsome and charming stranger offers her the chance of a different life.

Soon though, Rosaline begins to doubt all that Romeo has told her. She breaks off the match, only for Romeo’s gaze to turn towards her cousin, thirteen-year-old Juliet. Gradually, Rosaline realizes that it is not only Juliet’s reputation at stake but her life. With only hours remaining before she will

be banished behind the nunnery walls, will Rosaline save Juliet from her Romeo? Or can this story only ever end one way?

This audiobook includes an exclusive author and narrator Q&A.

©2023 Natasha Solomons (P)2023 Recorded Books

Reseñas de la Crítica

"There are many things to love about this retelling of Shakespeare's ROMEO AND JULIET, and Sheila Atim's narration is one of them.... Atim's tonal variations and vocal range allow listeners to relax and examine this new perspective.... Sheila Atim is a gifted and experienced actor, and her narration highlights her skills and the suspense of the story beautifully." (AudioFile)

Female Rage, but make it *Shakespeare*

Love, LOVE this untelling/perspective shift on the play. it would make for an excellent book club conversation piece!

Fabulous “untelling”

I’m a huge fan of this author after stumbling on her works through Audible. This newest novel did not disappoint. I kept wondering how the story would be different and recalling Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Highly recommend. Loved the interview with the actor who performed the novel. She was the perfect fit. Enjoy!

Fabulous

Loved this clever untelling. Made me feel so much better about Romeo and Juliet the play, which has always felt wrong.

A very different take

3⭐️

Keep in mind when going into this book that Romeo is traditionally a teen of around 16, and Juliet was only 13, making Rosaline somewhere between their ages. If Romeo seems practiced and predatory, he was, he was a teenager in a time when teenagers were supposed to be adults. Able to fight, marry, and have kids.

in this retelling, Romeo is portrayed between 25 and 30 years old. by today's standard his is grooming and despicable. problem is for the time period, the age discrepancy is normal if not ideal. in a time when most young girls were married off to old men chosen by their fathers, romeo would have been dashing but more importantly appropriate.

That being said..... this book could have been done very well. The premise was there. The story basically writes itself. unfortunately, the author did not hold true to chatacter characteristics. Romeo has basically been made into a charlaton,a cad, a Wayward disgrace of a man. A users of people. Able to grasp onto Rosalines naivety to exploit it. Manipulating her feelings and plight in life. Even though the historical age difference didn't bother me as much as it would if it was set in todays time, I still found parts hard to read.

if I wasn't fully versed in the story of Romeo and Juliet, I probably could have set aside the age thing and thoroughly enjoyed this read. at last, it's hard to be alive and be at least aware of the basics of the Shakespearen love story of woe. Unfortunately, this tale perverted the love of our youngest tragedy.

it's well written. well researched of the time period. the characters are likable and grow. it's engrossing and enchanting.

Yet it doesn't quite work. the author strayed to far from a well-known story. By raising Romeo's age from teenager to maturity, she betrayed the love. Instead of the intensity of first love, she twisted it to a predatory nature. She even had the audacity to pollute the friar!