Reviews with content warning for Drug use - Roman and Jewel

Okay, so this was a super cute book that I really enjoyed. It’s a light, fluffy read with a cute premise. But, the plot summary is a little misleading. It made it sound like the whole story was about the clip going viral, but that wasn’t quite what the story was really about — it was more about an instalove connection, which is probably my very least favorite romance trope in the whole entire world. So why did I rate this book so high? Well, let me explain!

I adore the idea of a whole book centering about theater nerds, and especially about a Broadway show that features a diverse cast. The whole idea of the show is a hip-hopera retelling of a classic Shakespeare play. While I wish there was more of the behind the scenes involved in a Broadway show, I liked the general basis.

“‘It’s Shakespeare. A Romeo and Juliet reimagining. It’s called Roman and Jewel. But this version is a fantasy. After their suicide, they both end up in purgatory and are sentenced to infinite lives on Earth until they can meet up again to, you know, right their wrongs.’”

Jerzie is an adorable main character. While she did come off as a little young, she had this especially adorable habit of pressing her hands to her cheeks when she was nervous or embarrassed, and it made her feel more relatable. I wanted her to get the lead, but of course, because of connections, she was pushed aside for Cinny, a well-known star who turns out to be absolutely obnoxious.

“In all the interviews I’ve seen of Cinny, she seemed nice and gentle. Always talking about her spirituality and how Yoga keeps her super zen. Was it all an act? Or maybe she’s just not a morning person.”

Of course, Jerzie encounters Zeppelin, the guy playing Roman, and falls madly in love at first sight. Not lust, deep, head-over-heels-love. And the terms used to describe it are so over the top. They just get worse as the book goes on. I understand feeling like you’ve known someone before when you first meet them, but falling in love right away just seemed so hard to identify with. And of course it causes issues on set, since Cinny decides she also wanted Zeppelin. Naturally, Jerzie is willing to put a lot on the line for this guy she just met.

“I am a standby. Her standby. And as a standby, I have my own script to follow. Out of sight. Out of mind. I’m not here to be a star. And I’m certainly not here to fall in love.”

Overall, the story wasn’t bad. I would have liked to see the relationship develop a little more organically, but there were other aspects that I did enjoy. While the story focused on Jerzie and Zeppelin, the true star of the show was definitely Aunt Karla. She’s sassy and hilarious, and I couldn’t help but look forward to scenes with her in them. I think everyone needs an Aunt Karla, someone who isn’t afraid to tell it like it is and not hold back at all. The book also focused on the importance role that family and friends play in our lives, since they’re the people who hold us up when we struggle. It’s one of the cuter fluffy reads that I’ve read.

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I had high hopes for this book and it did not disappoint. I loved Jerzie and Zeppelin as characters and their relationship. I loved the spin of Romeo and Juliet and I only wish Roman and Jewel was really a musical!

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