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oakleylynch's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Death
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, and Sexual content
libroslibros's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
At first I didn't know this was an insta-love novel, but I gave it a shot (although it's not my favorite type) because it started out kinda sweet, with Zeppelin delivering some cute comments or whatever, but it got real basic real soon.
I really liked Aunt Karla's character and the retelling of Romeo and Juliet and how they mixed the plot of the play with the main character's relationship, but sadly it wasn't enough for me.
I really liked Aunt Karla's character and the retelling of Romeo and Juliet and how they mixed the plot of the play with the main character's relationship, but sadly it wasn't enough for me.
I get that the characters are kinda young (16 to around 20) and therefor some may still act childish, but they were so unprofessional at some points that it hurt. Plus I was so annoyed about what Jerzie expected of her relationship with Zeppelin, like when she was mad he kissed her on the cheek or expected him to burst in while she was changing ??
And to top it off the "conflicts" were so simple and they'd get resolved pretty quickly, which made me skim over some paragraphs to get to something interesting.
So yeah, I was disappointed by the story cause it had so much potential but I guess it could have been worse, so that's something.
And to top it off the "conflicts" were so simple and they'd get resolved pretty quickly, which made me skim over some paragraphs to get to something interesting.
So yeah, I was disappointed by the story cause it had so much potential but I guess it could have been worse, so that's something.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
leahsbooks's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use
Minor: Death of parent, Infidelity, and Suicide
writingbookscoffee's review
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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use
Moderate: Suicide
caidyn's review
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
When I requested this, all I really paid attention to was that it was some kind of Romeo and Juliet retelling. And it definitely is in multiple ways. Jerzie Jhames is a teenager auditioning for a play, which is a retelling of the Shakespeare play but as if they were reincarnated and had refound each other. While she doesn't get the female lead role, she is one of the understudies to that person, who happens to be a famous popstar. And then Jerzie starts falling for the lead male. It was a cute story but, at times, I definitely realized I was a bit too old for it. I could connect with the characters and understand them with their plight, but I was still seeing other ways to go about solving problems. The ending also wrapped up too neatly for me and I felt that the villain was one-sided throughout the story. So, it was a really good debut, but had some areas I felt could have been different.
When I requested this, all I really paid attention to was that it was some kind of Romeo and Juliet retelling. And it definitely is in multiple ways. Jerzie Jhames is a teenager auditioning for a play, which is a retelling of the Shakespeare play but as if they were reincarnated and had refound each other. While she doesn't get the female lead role, she is one of the understudies to that person, who happens to be a famous popstar. And then Jerzie starts falling for the lead male. It was a cute story but, at times, I definitely realized I was a bit too old for it. I could connect with the characters and understand them with their plight, but I was still seeing other ways to go about solving problems. The ending also wrapped up too neatly for me and I felt that the villain was one-sided throughout the story. So, it was a really good debut, but had some areas I felt could have been different.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Minor: Suicide
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