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A review by theespressoedition
Waking Romeo by Kathryn Barker
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-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? Yes
5.0
This book was nothing like I expected, in the best way possible! Go ahead and read the synopsis. You'll get a gist, but you definitely won't get the full picture.
I'll admit that I wasn't anticipating fireworks of any sort while reading this. I thought I might enjoy it, but I figured it would be a 3-star read. 4, if I got lucky! However, after a somewhat slow and confusing start (it picks up right in the middle of mayhem and takes a bit for you to adjust to your surroundings and understand the characters), the fast pace and nonstop action kept me so hooked that I really had a hard time putting the book down. I genuinely had one evening where I couldn't keep my eyes open, I was so tired, but I was only 100 pages from the end and everything in me was screaming to just keep reading! Yes, it was that intriguing.
Trying to give a nutshell explanation for this plot gets a little tricky. However, if I had to do it, this is basically what I'd say:
The year is 2083 and the world is coming to an end. Time travel is real and it has screwed everything up. Jules (Juliet) didn't die when she was supposed to, and Romeo is in a coma. Then, out of nowhere, a guy named Ellis shows up from the LITERAL end of the world (a few years later - he traveled back in time) and says they need to wake Romeo because the fate of the world is dependent upon it. This Ellis guy happens to be Heathcliff Ellis, on who Emily Bronte based her novel, "Wuthering Heights". So yes, it's a mash-up of classic characters in an almost apocalyptic world.
Does that sound complicated? Probably terribly so. But it's the best I can muster. Needless to say, if you're looking for something really interesting, with lots of great action, fantastic character development, a wonderfully diverse cast, and with a nod to classics (without actually being a classic), you'll want to pick this up!
This book had me shaking my head over and over again, trying to sort out the time travel pieces. It's definitely a "thinker" of a story, and it will leave you wanting to pick it right back up again after you've finished it. That's certainly how I'm feeling right about now!
I'll admit that I wasn't anticipating fireworks of any sort while reading this. I thought I might enjoy it, but I figured it would be a 3-star read. 4, if I got lucky! However, after a somewhat slow and confusing start (it picks up right in the middle of mayhem and takes a bit for you to adjust to your surroundings and understand the characters), the fast pace and nonstop action kept me so hooked that I really had a hard time putting the book down. I genuinely had one evening where I couldn't keep my eyes open, I was so tired, but I was only 100 pages from the end and everything in me was screaming to just keep reading! Yes, it was that intriguing.
Trying to give a nutshell explanation for this plot gets a little tricky. However, if I had to do it, this is basically what I'd say:
The year is 2083 and the world is coming to an end. Time travel is real and it has screwed everything up. Jules (Juliet) didn't die when she was supposed to, and Romeo is in a coma. Then, out of nowhere, a guy named Ellis shows up from the LITERAL end of the world (a few years later - he traveled back in time) and says they need to wake Romeo because the fate of the world is dependent upon it. This Ellis guy happens to be Heathcliff Ellis, on who Emily Bronte based her novel, "Wuthering Heights". So yes, it's a mash-up of classic characters in an almost apocalyptic world.
Does that sound complicated? Probably terribly so. But it's the best I can muster. Needless to say, if you're looking for something really interesting, with lots of great action, fantastic character development, a wonderfully diverse cast, and with a nod to classics (without actually being a classic), you'll want to pick this up!
This book had me shaking my head over and over again, trying to sort out the time travel pieces. It's definitely a "thinker" of a story, and it will leave you wanting to pick it right back up again after you've finished it. That's certainly how I'm feeling right about now!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Gaslighting, Body shaming, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racism, Drug abuse, and Gun violence