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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
I didn’t know what to expect from this book but the twist and turns kept coming until the very end. It’s a nice refreshing take on Romeo and Juliet and I appreciate the parallels to the original but I still couldn’t anticipate anything that was coming.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I never want to have head-lice ever again because of this book.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book from the beginning just did not catch my full attention. I also felt like 50-100 ppages worth of information or scenes could've been deleted. The Romeo/Juliet star crossed lovers thing, meh. Also 1920s Shanghai is not the enviornment or culture I was getting throughout the book, as it seemed to be placed in present day. The "madness" was actually interesting. The book just felt like a mish mesh of multiple different things going on including the characters with their uniquely different back stories.
dnf around 35%, lost interest - just couldn't get into it but i do think that the setting is rather interesting.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
roma falling off his chair after too many tequila shots is the media representation ive always needed
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
“A love like theirs was never going to survive in a city divided by hatred.”
4 ½ stars. When I read the grand finale of this book at the start of summer, I was speechless. The cliffhanger and the emotional turmoil that this book made me feel during the entire journey broke my heart into tiny pieces and for a long time I wasn’t able to find the proper words I wanted to explain how much I love this book. But I think it’s finally time.
This is a gorgeous novel that paints an evocative portrait of Shanghai in the ‘roaring 1920s’. We’ve grown accostumed to the conventional image portrayed in American media of parties and glamorous dresses and speaksies, but the harsh reality is that it was a rough time period in many places. Political instability between the Nationalists and the Communists, ruthless gang fights, poverty, revolts, illness… Chloe Gong geniusly captures both the bright and bleak side of this notorious Chinese city in such a controversial era: the years before the Second World War. Tensions and fear control Shanghai, dictating loyalties and sentencing innocents to death. And in the heart of the story, Roma and Juliette fight for the freedom of their city, and for their star-crossed love.
“These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which, as they kiss, consume.”
I have always been mesmerized by Shakespeare and his poetic plays, and coincidentally Romeo and Juliet is the first play of his I’ve read. This novel is, at its forefront, a reimagining of a beloved classic, and it did not disappoint. Roma and Juliette’s tale is a heartbreaking romance that was doomed from the start of their youthful years. The whole city is against them; their families’ bloody feud, the betrayals, the regret, the thirst for revenge, the fear of vulnerability, their traitorous desire despite everything: all of it makes up the noose that slowly tightens their necks and will inevitably hang their tragic love story.
“I was raised in hatred. I could never be your lover, only your killer.”
But not all is miserable in this novel. Roma and Juliette’s teenage friendship was pure and wholesome and made me smile until my face hurt. Even in the present day, as much as they pretend to hate each other, their banter and chemistry was surreal and made me laugh out loud just because of how ridiculous their interactions were. And of course, what kind of enemies to lovers story would it be if there was no knife to the throat scene? Absolutely riveting. On their own, Roma and Juliette are also compelling characters. Juliette is iconic & badass, and needs to learn to trust others. Roma is painful to read about, full of secrets and mystery and remorse.
The other elements of the novel also fascinated me and hooked me from the very first page: the monster that comes alive in the river & terrorizes the people, the blood feud & gang rivalries, the secondary characters (I especially adored Marshall and Benedikt— their interactions were hilarious, and they deserve to fall in love in peace without second-thoughts or shame), the glittering setting of Shanghai, the political intrigue, and needless to say, the alluring ambience of the 1920s. I also particularly appreciated the criticism of colonialism, imperalism, and segregation.
This novel is a love letter to Shakespeare, to Chloe Gong’s Chinese background, to friendship and adventure and romance. I cannot recommend it enough. And I cannot wait for the sequel!
*~*~**~*~*
first thoughts just after finishing the book:
MISS CHLOE GONG I HOPE YOU’RE READY TO PAY FOR MY THERAPY—
the pain i’ve felt reading this book was too much
4 ½ stars. When I read the grand finale of this book at the start of summer, I was speechless. The cliffhanger and the emotional turmoil that this book made me feel during the entire journey broke my heart into tiny pieces and for a long time I wasn’t able to find the proper words I wanted to explain how much I love this book. But I think it’s finally time.
This is a gorgeous novel that paints an evocative portrait of Shanghai in the ‘roaring 1920s’. We’ve grown accostumed to the conventional image portrayed in American media of parties and glamorous dresses and speaksies, but the harsh reality is that it was a rough time period in many places. Political instability between the Nationalists and the Communists, ruthless gang fights, poverty, revolts, illness… Chloe Gong geniusly captures both the bright and bleak side of this notorious Chinese city in such a controversial era: the years before the Second World War. Tensions and fear control Shanghai, dictating loyalties and sentencing innocents to death. And in the heart of the story, Roma and Juliette fight for the freedom of their city, and for their star-crossed love.
“These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which, as they kiss, consume.”
I have always been mesmerized by Shakespeare and his poetic plays, and coincidentally Romeo and Juliet is the first play of his I’ve read. This novel is, at its forefront, a reimagining of a beloved classic, and it did not disappoint. Roma and Juliette’s tale is a heartbreaking romance that was doomed from the start of their youthful years. The whole city is against them; their families’ bloody feud, the betrayals, the regret, the thirst for revenge, the fear of vulnerability, their traitorous desire despite everything: all of it makes up the noose that slowly tightens their necks and will inevitably hang their tragic love story.
“I was raised in hatred. I could never be your lover, only your killer.”
But not all is miserable in this novel. Roma and Juliette’s teenage friendship was pure and wholesome and made me smile until my face hurt. Even in the present day, as much as they pretend to hate each other, their banter and chemistry was surreal and made me laugh out loud just because of how ridiculous their interactions were. And of course, what kind of enemies to lovers story would it be if there was no knife to the throat scene? Absolutely riveting. On their own, Roma and Juliette are also compelling characters. Juliette is iconic & badass, and needs to learn to trust others. Roma is painful to read about, full of secrets and mystery and remorse.
The other elements of the novel also fascinated me and hooked me from the very first page: the monster that comes alive in the river & terrorizes the people, the blood feud & gang rivalries, the secondary characters (I especially adored Marshall and Benedikt— their interactions were hilarious, and they deserve to fall in love in peace without second-thoughts or shame), the glittering setting of Shanghai, the political intrigue, and needless to say, the alluring ambience of the 1920s. I also particularly appreciated the criticism of colonialism, imperalism, and segregation.
This novel is a love letter to Shakespeare, to Chloe Gong’s Chinese background, to friendship and adventure and romance. I cannot recommend it enough. And I cannot wait for the sequel!
*~*~**~*~*
first thoughts just after finishing the book:
MISS CHLOE GONG I HOPE YOU’RE READY TO PAY FOR MY THERAPY—
the pain i’ve felt reading this book was too much
I predicted a lot of the major plot beats, but it was still a pretty good time