Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons

Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomans
UK Publication: 31^st July 2023
Reviewed by: Book Worm
Rating: [★★★★]

This ARC was provided by Bonnier Books UK (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.

Oney Wylde Ryde

Synopsis from Goodreads: Was the greatest ever love story a lie?

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 realises 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?

A subversive, powerful untelling of Shakespeare’s best-known tale, narrated by a fierce, forgotten voice: this is Rosaline’s story.

My Thoughts: Well that was dark and truly subversive. I loved it!

Romeo to put it mildly is a Romeo, to put it not so mildly he is a cad and a bounder leaving a trail of broken hearted girls in this wake, however when he chose to mess with Rosaline he chose to mess with the wrong woman.

While the reader knows from the beginning how the story will end it is a dark twisty road that gets us there and the author manages to pull a few surprises out of the hat.

I loved the afterword where Solomons explains the inspiration for her Rosaline (those familiar with Shakespeare’s works will recognise the source material) and more importantly why she has chosen to redress the “greatest romance of all time” and to show it for what it really is a morally questionable relationship.

Who would like this? If you are familiar with Shakespeare and love a retelling go for it. If you are not familiar with Shakespeare and love a good revenge tale go for it. In fact just go for it.

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