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Julieta and the Romeos
You've Got Mail meets a YA Beach Read with a bookish mystery at its heart in the newest rom-com from Maria E. Andreu. The ideal next read for fans of Emily Henry, Kasie West, and Jennifer E. Smith. Julieta isn't looking for her Romeo--but she is writing about love. When her summer writing teacher encourages the class to publish their work online, the last thing she's expecting is to get a notification that her rom-com has a mysterious new contributor, Happily Ever Drafter. Julieta knows that happily ever afters aren't real. (Case in her parents' imploding marriage.) But then again, could this be her very own meet-cute? As things start to heat up in her fiction, Julieta can't help but notice three boys in her real her best friend's brother (aka her nemesis), the boy next door (well, to her abuela), and her oldest friend (who is suddenly looking . . . hot?). Could one of them be her mysterious collaborator? But even if Julieta finds her Romeo, she'll have to remember that life is full of plot twists. . . . From the author of Love in English comes a fresh take on love and romance, and a reminder to always be the author of your own life story.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published May 16, 2023
68 people are currently reading
8175 people want to read
About the author
Maria E. Andreu
6 books181 followersMaria E. Andreu is the author of JULIETA AND THE ROMEOS, LOVE IN ENGLISH
(Balzer + Bray) and THE SECRET SIDE OF EMPTY. Her work has appeared in Literary Hub, Newsweek, The Washington Post, and the Newark Star Ledger.
LOVE IN ENGLISH is an Indie Next Pick, a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults book, and a Bank Street Best Book of the Year. Her debut novel, THE SECRET SIDE OF EMPTY, was a National Indie Excellence Book Award winner. Both titles were Junior Library Guild Selections.
She is a Red Dead aficionado, a cat herder,
and a believer in (and a skeptic of) happy endings.
Visit her at https://mariaeandreu.com.
(Balzer + Bray) and THE SECRET SIDE OF EMPTY. Her work has appeared in Literary Hub, Newsweek, The Washington Post, and the Newark Star Ledger.
LOVE IN ENGLISH is an Indie Next Pick, a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults book, and a Bank Street Best Book of the Year. Her debut novel, THE SECRET SIDE OF EMPTY, was a National Indie Excellence Book Award winner. Both titles were Junior Library Guild Selections.
She is a Red Dead aficionado, a cat herder,
and a believer in (and a skeptic of) happy endings.
Visit her at https://mariaeandreu.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 266 reviews
June 25, 2023
”Nothing can stop you but you”.
I thought this was cute ☺️. You’ve got your main character Juileta, who got accepted into a writing program for the summer and is now tasked with publishing some of her work online. When an anonymous user contributes to her story she wonders if it’s one of the three boys in her life.
I really enjoyed the writer aspect of the story, I love reading about our MC’s thoughts and feelings on this journey. I also enjoyed the family restaurant storyline as well. There was a lot of positive messaging here and I really appreciated that.
I don’t think I personally connected with the story and at times I didn’t see any connection between her and 1 or 2 of her love interests, but how the story progressed and then ended made total sense and overall felt right to me.
This was a cute YA contemporary and I think some romance lovers who are also aspiring writers may enjoy this one!
3.75/5⭐️
I thought this was cute ☺️. You’ve got your main character Juileta, who got accepted into a writing program for the summer and is now tasked with publishing some of her work online. When an anonymous user contributes to her story she wonders if it’s one of the three boys in her life.
I really enjoyed the writer aspect of the story, I love reading about our MC’s thoughts and feelings on this journey. I also enjoyed the family restaurant storyline as well. There was a lot of positive messaging here and I really appreciated that.
I don’t think I personally connected with the story and at times I didn’t see any connection between her and 1 or 2 of her love interests, but how the story progressed and then ended made total sense and overall felt right to me.
This was a cute YA contemporary and I think some romance lovers who are also aspiring writers may enjoy this one!
3.75/5⭐️
April 12, 2025
very cute and almost nostalgic in a way!! lowkey boring tho. idk it just lacked that spark that makes a book like amazinggg! the love triangle was too much, and then we had the bestie drama, and then the restaurant. I just think too much was going on at once🤷♀️
April 13, 2023
I have dreamed of this moment. I have written this moment more than once. But the actual thing is 3D and rich, saturated technicolor, a vibrant symphony of a moment.
i honestly didn’t expect to love this story as much as i did.
julieta dreams of becoming an author. she helps out her parents by working at their restaurant, but this summer she gets to take a writing class in nyc with a renowned author. over the summer, she also gets to know (or becomes closer with) three boys:
1. lucas, her dependable childhood best friend;
2. calvin, her abuela’s adventurous neighbor;
3. ryan, her rival and best friend’s brother.
while the plot technically centers around the three potential love interests and the romance, the story itself is actually a lot more about family and friendship and accepting change than i thought it would be. this turned out to be a positive surprise.
i loved reading about julieta’s family and their restaurant and her attempts at saving it from closing following the covid lockdown. i loved reading about her younger siblings and her role as a big sister. every single scene with abuela bubbles was a delight. i think she’s one of my favorite fictional characters of all times.
"What have you been writing?" he asks.
I reach for my notebook, which is on the scuffed-up old coffee table next to Jaime's latest graphic novel and Lucesita's violin bow. "Let me read it to you."
this passage gave me “on the way home, i wrote a poem, you say what a mind, this happens all the time” vibes and i am here for it <3
thank you to edelweiss, the publisher and the author for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review 💗✨
i honestly didn’t expect to love this story as much as i did.
julieta dreams of becoming an author. she helps out her parents by working at their restaurant, but this summer she gets to take a writing class in nyc with a renowned author. over the summer, she also gets to know (or becomes closer with) three boys:
1. lucas, her dependable childhood best friend;
2. calvin, her abuela’s adventurous neighbor;
3. ryan, her rival and best friend’s brother.
while the plot technically centers around the three potential love interests and the romance, the story itself is actually a lot more about family and friendship and accepting change than i thought it would be. this turned out to be a positive surprise.
i loved reading about julieta’s family and their restaurant and her attempts at saving it from closing following the covid lockdown. i loved reading about her younger siblings and her role as a big sister. every single scene with abuela bubbles was a delight. i think she’s one of my favorite fictional characters of all times.
"What have you been writing?" he asks.
I reach for my notebook, which is on the scuffed-up old coffee table next to Jaime's latest graphic novel and Lucesita's violin bow. "Let me read it to you."
this passage gave me “on the way home, i wrote a poem, you say what a mind, this happens all the time” vibes and i am here for it <3
thank you to edelweiss, the publisher and the author for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review 💗✨
November 23, 2023
This was an okay read for me. Definitely check out more of my thoughts here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trWSl...
June 7, 2023
this definitely had it's cute moments, i liked the family dynamics, especially between julieta and her abuela, but i didn't find the book all that interesting or memorable. so maybe, more like 2.5 stars for me. however, i definitely see why people like this book!
February 19, 2023
(4⭐️) Taylor Swift songs: “Glitch”, “Fearless (TV)”
I really enjoyed this new YA twist on “You’ve Got Mail”!! I don’t want to get too much into the tropes or the Taylor Songs, because I don’t want to spoil who she does or doesn’t end up with, but the love interests are: boy next door, childhood best friend, or best friend’s grumpy brother (her nemesis)!! All equally good options/tropes if you ask me!! This author would be good for fans of Emma Lord!! (I really liked the writing style!)
I liked how it was about a writer as well, so we got to see a couple of the main character’s writing pieces as we went through, as well as the piece that she posted to what is basically Wattpad, with her mystery editor’s responses to them!
I also liked seeing her family’s restaurant and their Argentinian culture represented throughout the book!
Overall, super sweet Romcom, with a bunch of character growth, and 3 swoony love interest options, so you can’t go wrong.
Age rating: 13+ (not steamy, no language)
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader ebook copy in exchange for an honest review!
I really enjoyed this new YA twist on “You’ve Got Mail”!! I don’t want to get too much into the tropes or the Taylor Songs, because I don’t want to spoil who she does or doesn’t end up with, but the love interests are: boy next door, childhood best friend, or best friend’s grumpy brother (her nemesis)!! All equally good options/tropes if you ask me!! This author would be good for fans of Emma Lord!! (I really liked the writing style!)
I liked how it was about a writer as well, so we got to see a couple of the main character’s writing pieces as we went through, as well as the piece that she posted to what is basically Wattpad, with her mystery editor’s responses to them!
I also liked seeing her family’s restaurant and their Argentinian culture represented throughout the book!
Overall, super sweet Romcom, with a bunch of character growth, and 3 swoony love interest options, so you can’t go wrong.
Age rating: 13+ (not steamy, no language)
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader ebook copy in exchange for an honest review!
May 10, 2023
4.5 Stars
Fun, bookish and hopelessly romantic! Maria E. Andreu’s newest book takes all the sizzling chemistry of Romeo and Juliet and infuses it an intriguing, You’ve Got Mail-style premise guaranteed to delight fans, Emma Lord or Jenny Han.
It follows aspiring author Julieta who, during her summer writing course finds herself tasked with publishing a piece of her work online which, in a real life meet cute scenario—finds herself striking up a friendship with mysterious online contributor, Happily Ever Drafter.
And with a failing family business, her parent’s marriage woes and an increasingly distant bestie, Juliet’s writing becomes her only outlet.
But, in the process of drafting her (increasingly) romantic WIP Julieta begins to notice the three boys in her life: Ryan, Lucas and Calvin— and gets to wondering… could one of them be Happily Ever Drafter?
But like they say, the path to true love (or happiness) never did run smooth and—if she’s to find her true calling—Julieta must remember that life is full of unexpected little plot twists…
I enjoyed this soo much! The depth and nuance we explore in protagonist Julieta, as she embarks on such a deeply emotional journey (exploring her dreams, establishing her identity, and learning to embrace her future) was marvellous— I found myself identifying with soo many aspects of her character, especially in the way she finds comfort in stories (and creating/sharing them.)
We also get to read some of Julieta’s work throughout the story (including online chapter entries, scribbled idea notes and even a couple of poems) which really helped to understand her thought processes and really brought a sense of realism to her character. I was particularly impressed with Andreu’s evocative prose and the ease with which she was able to convey the all too familiar emotions and fears experienced by teens on the precipice of change.
The mystery surrounding the identity of Happily Ever Drafter was really well paced and, though I did manage to guess who it was, it wasn’t something that was immediately obvious (at least to me.) The chemistry Julieta has with all three love interests was also pretty good which made it nearly impossible to pick a fave.
I absolutely loved the inclusion of Argentinian culture (I pretty much salivated over all the foods mentioned) and, though this is the first book by Andreu I’ve ever read, I know it certainly won’t be the last!
So if you love coming of age rom-coms, authentic HEA endings and plenty of humour filled, swoon-worthy romance— I definitely recommend checking this out!
Also, a huge thank you to Harper360ya for the proof
Fun, bookish and hopelessly romantic! Maria E. Andreu’s newest book takes all the sizzling chemistry of Romeo and Juliet and infuses it an intriguing, You’ve Got Mail-style premise guaranteed to delight fans, Emma Lord or Jenny Han.
It follows aspiring author Julieta who, during her summer writing course finds herself tasked with publishing a piece of her work online which, in a real life meet cute scenario—finds herself striking up a friendship with mysterious online contributor, Happily Ever Drafter.
And with a failing family business, her parent’s marriage woes and an increasingly distant bestie, Juliet’s writing becomes her only outlet.
But, in the process of drafting her (increasingly) romantic WIP Julieta begins to notice the three boys in her life: Ryan, Lucas and Calvin— and gets to wondering… could one of them be Happily Ever Drafter?
But like they say, the path to true love (or happiness) never did run smooth and—if she’s to find her true calling—Julieta must remember that life is full of unexpected little plot twists…
I enjoyed this soo much! The depth and nuance we explore in protagonist Julieta, as she embarks on such a deeply emotional journey (exploring her dreams, establishing her identity, and learning to embrace her future) was marvellous— I found myself identifying with soo many aspects of her character, especially in the way she finds comfort in stories (and creating/sharing them.)
We also get to read some of Julieta’s work throughout the story (including online chapter entries, scribbled idea notes and even a couple of poems) which really helped to understand her thought processes and really brought a sense of realism to her character. I was particularly impressed with Andreu’s evocative prose and the ease with which she was able to convey the all too familiar emotions and fears experienced by teens on the precipice of change.
The mystery surrounding the identity of Happily Ever Drafter was really well paced and, though I did manage to guess who it was, it wasn’t something that was immediately obvious (at least to me.) The chemistry Julieta has with all three love interests was also pretty good which made it nearly impossible to pick a fave.
I absolutely loved the inclusion of Argentinian culture (I pretty much salivated over all the foods mentioned) and, though this is the first book by Andreu I’ve ever read, I know it certainly won’t be the last!
So if you love coming of age rom-coms, authentic HEA endings and plenty of humour filled, swoon-worthy romance— I definitely recommend checking this out!
Also, a huge thank you to Harper360ya for the proof
Read
March 11, 2024I pretty much picked this one solely based on the cover because how can it not make you smile?
While cover love is 10/10, unfortunately the story was a miss for me. There was so much potential for this to be cute, but some of the content was a major turn off. I get that hook ups and partying happens in the teen world, but I’m not crazy about the way it’s normalized as okay in fiction like it was here. And just I don’t feel the need to read about finding drunk teens on a couch clearly engaging in sexual behaviour (even if it was pretty nondescript).
I found Andreu’s take on a post-pandemic world interesting as it’s rare to find that perspective in contemporary literature (and no, I’m not going to start my dissertation on how the event changed the “frame” of the contemporary genre).
A quirky, down to earth creative writing FMC was a fun choice for a YA protagonist. Julieta had her flaws and lessons to learn, but I really enjoyed the solid relationship she had with her parents (again, rare in YA) and her younger siblings. The culture immersion & allllll the ethnic food was also a major plus!
As for the romance, it’s pretty clean, and most definitely a love triangle (love square?). The trope usually annoys me, but here, I didn’t really care how it ended as I wasn’t really sold on Julieta’s connection with any of the fellas in question. Also, the drama was just… a lot.
The cutest of covers, but sadly not for me. 😕
Content: language; casual mentions of teens hooking up; teen partying with alcohol; drunk teens on a couch clearly engaging in sexual behaviour (even if it was nondescript)
While cover love is 10/10, unfortunately the story was a miss for me. There was so much potential for this to be cute, but some of the content was a major turn off. I get that hook ups and partying happens in the teen world, but I’m not crazy about the way it’s normalized as okay in fiction like it was here. And just I don’t feel the need to read about finding drunk teens on a couch clearly engaging in sexual behaviour (even if it was pretty nondescript).
I found Andreu’s take on a post-pandemic world interesting as it’s rare to find that perspective in contemporary literature (and no, I’m not going to start my dissertation on how the event changed the “frame” of the contemporary genre).
A quirky, down to earth creative writing FMC was a fun choice for a YA protagonist. Julieta had her flaws and lessons to learn, but I really enjoyed the solid relationship she had with her parents (again, rare in YA) and her younger siblings. The culture immersion & allllll the ethnic food was also a major plus!
As for the romance, it’s pretty clean, and most definitely a love triangle (love square?). The trope usually annoys me, but here, I didn’t really care how it ended as I wasn’t really sold on Julieta’s connection with any of the fellas in question. Also, the drama was just… a lot.
The cutest of covers, but sadly not for me. 😕
Content: language; casual mentions of teens hooking up; teen partying with alcohol; drunk teens on a couch clearly engaging in sexual behaviour (even if it was nondescript)
December 1, 2023
This book is marketed as a romance, and it’s certainly that. But it also weaves in themes of family, immigration, friendship, and how we find what we are meant to do in the world in ways that are brimming with humor and life.
The main character, Julieta, is instantly likable. We meet her during the eventful summer between her junior and senior years. She spends time with her best friend at the town pool, banters with her violin-playing little sister and comforts her younger brother, who is slogging through a “classic” book he doesn’t want to read. Her parents run an Argentinian restaurant that is struggling, as their marriage appears to be. In the midst of all this, Julieta enrolls in a writing class in New York City, and takes one assignment to heart: publishing her work online. When a mysterious online collaborator shows up and starts saying all the right things, Julieta is taken with the idea of discovering his identity, and the book’s central conceit is born. Is it Lucas, her childhood friend, who is suddenly hot? Is it Calvin, the “boy next door” (to her Abuela), who challenges her to look at the world in new ways? Or is it Ryan, her best friend’s twin and Julieta’s “archnemesis” who beat her out for class president and has suddenly shown up in her elite writing class with a whole new demeanor?
While Julieta is driven to find these answers, we see snippets of her writing (in a charming “story within a story”), pages from her writer’s notebook, as well as the surprising unraveling of what she thinks she knows about her parents’ marriage, about love, and about friendship. There is joy and self-discovery, and a few poignant moments that explore loss in fresh ways. There's one scene, in particular, that made me cry, but also made me feel like I'd learned something important. I flew through this book, because I wanted to find out the answers to all the questions it poses. This adorable, sweet coming-of-age book will leave you feeling like you just had a long chat with a great friend with a lot of interesting things to say.
I was a huge fan of Love in English, Andreu's previous book, and I love what she's done in this follow-up. I can't recommend this book enough.
The main character, Julieta, is instantly likable. We meet her during the eventful summer between her junior and senior years. She spends time with her best friend at the town pool, banters with her violin-playing little sister and comforts her younger brother, who is slogging through a “classic” book he doesn’t want to read. Her parents run an Argentinian restaurant that is struggling, as their marriage appears to be. In the midst of all this, Julieta enrolls in a writing class in New York City, and takes one assignment to heart: publishing her work online. When a mysterious online collaborator shows up and starts saying all the right things, Julieta is taken with the idea of discovering his identity, and the book’s central conceit is born. Is it Lucas, her childhood friend, who is suddenly hot? Is it Calvin, the “boy next door” (to her Abuela), who challenges her to look at the world in new ways? Or is it Ryan, her best friend’s twin and Julieta’s “archnemesis” who beat her out for class president and has suddenly shown up in her elite writing class with a whole new demeanor?
While Julieta is driven to find these answers, we see snippets of her writing (in a charming “story within a story”), pages from her writer’s notebook, as well as the surprising unraveling of what she thinks she knows about her parents’ marriage, about love, and about friendship. There is joy and self-discovery, and a few poignant moments that explore loss in fresh ways. There's one scene, in particular, that made me cry, but also made me feel like I'd learned something important. I flew through this book, because I wanted to find out the answers to all the questions it poses. This adorable, sweet coming-of-age book will leave you feeling like you just had a long chat with a great friend with a lot of interesting things to say.
I was a huge fan of Love in English, Andreu's previous book, and I love what she's done in this follow-up. I can't recommend this book enough.
May 27, 2023
I found this book really cute and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves YA romance!
Julieta and the Romeos by Maria E. Andreu is a young adult novel that explores themes of identity, love, and family. The story follows the journey of Julieta, a high school student who finds herself caught between three different boys, each of whom represents a different aspect of her personality. I enjoyed how the author juggled three different romance tropes at once( the Best Friend's Brother, Childhood Friends, and Rivals to Lovers) making the story exciting and a bit of a mystery.
My favorite element of the novel was the cohesive liteary quotes and tips-for-writers sprinkled throughout the story. It was fun to hear Julieta and XX discuss books, and I love books about writing and writers so that also made the book very gripping to read. Julieta's messages with Happily Ever Drafter gave me You've Got Mail vibes, which was another compelling reference that was woven into the story!
Overall, really enjoyed this book and recommend to anyone who loves bookish Rom Com's!
Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for this e-arc of audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Julieta and the Romeos by Maria E. Andreu is a young adult novel that explores themes of identity, love, and family. The story follows the journey of Julieta, a high school student who finds herself caught between three different boys, each of whom represents a different aspect of her personality. I enjoyed how the author juggled three different romance tropes at once( the Best Friend's Brother, Childhood Friends, and Rivals to Lovers) making the story exciting and a bit of a mystery.
My favorite element of the novel was the cohesive liteary quotes and tips-for-writers sprinkled throughout the story. It was fun to hear Julieta and XX discuss books, and I love books about writing and writers so that also made the book very gripping to read. Julieta's messages with Happily Ever Drafter gave me You've Got Mail vibes, which was another compelling reference that was woven into the story!
Overall, really enjoyed this book and recommend to anyone who loves bookish Rom Com's!
Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for this e-arc of audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2023
2.5 stars, rounded up because I didn't not like it. I just feel very "ehh" on it.
I wanted to love it, but a lot of just didn't come together well enough for me. I just didn't jive with the Jules, some of the plot choices, and the ending.
I wanted to love it, but a lot of just didn't come together well enough for me. I just didn't jive with the Jules, some of the plot choices, and the ending.
Read
September 22, 2023too many goddamn boys omg. i finished this two days ago, ask me to name which one she even ends up with??? idk??
also they kept mentioning the pandemic and it really pissed me off like lol fuck off though.
also they kept mentioning the pandemic and it really pissed me off like lol fuck off though.
November 28, 2023
Very cute, well written paced. I kinda figured out who it was, though. I would have liked to see Julieta express stronger emotion for the boys, and make her choice clear throughoutthe process. Overall, a fun, fluffy, YA rom-com, as expected.
January 3, 2024
Not enough Romeo and Juliet
May 12, 2024
As a warning, this book talks about LOT about the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the isolation of lockdown. Julieta lost a grandparent to COVID-19 before the story takes place.
This was a really lovely story, with all of the fun heart-fluttering moments of a rom-com, but also a lot of real depth and beautiful prose that is going to stick with me for a while.
My main takeaways from this book:
-It’s possible to have three equally viable and compelling live interests in the same story.
-Argentinian food is incredibly delicious.
-Your One True Love is the person you choose, and keep choosing. Your life is the one you choose, and keep choosing.
-StoriedZone is not a real website (I had to Google it).
Read if you like:
-Romances that you can’t predict
-Wattpad
-Telenovelas
-New York
-Small towns
This was a really lovely story, with all of the fun heart-fluttering moments of a rom-com, but also a lot of real depth and beautiful prose that is going to stick with me for a while.
My main takeaways from this book:
-It’s possible to have three equally viable and compelling live interests in the same story.
-Argentinian food is incredibly delicious.
-Your One True Love is the person you choose, and keep choosing. Your life is the one you choose, and keep choosing.
-StoriedZone is not a real website (I had to Google it).
Read if you like:
-Romances that you can’t predict
-Wattpad
-Telenovelas
-New York
-Small towns
February 5, 2023
RTC for blog.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my earc.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my earc.
Want to read
May 16, 2023curse my need to read everything You've Got Mail 3
May 13, 2023
*3.5
This was cute but I don't think that having all three boys was necessary. I think that just having Lucas and Ryan would be perfectly fine. Ryan and her were so adorable and I was rooting for them the whole time. I'm always a fan of any variation of enemies to lovers.
I received an arc through netgalley.
This was cute but I don't think that having all three boys was necessary. I think that just having Lucas and Ryan would be perfectly fine. Ryan and her were so adorable and I was rooting for them the whole time. I'm always a fan of any variation of enemies to lovers.
I received an arc through netgalley.
March 2, 2025
Rating: 2.5-3 stars; overall okay read
It was cute. I liked this, but nothing more. I was kinda in a reading slump with this one, so it took waaaaay longer than it should have to finish. This is probably the first pure romcom I’ve read, and thought it was overall cute, but could get cringey at times. The boy I wanted to “win” didn’t and I’m a bit sad about that.
It was cute. I liked this, but nothing more. I was kinda in a reading slump with this one, so it took waaaaay longer than it should have to finish. This is probably the first pure romcom I’ve read, and thought it was overall cute, but could get cringey at times. The boy I wanted to “win” didn’t and I’m a bit sad about that.
June 12, 2024
it didn't take me long to finish reading this book, in fact it only took around 3 hours. the plot was pretty obvious and in my opinion the climax wasn't very exciting or surprising. it was a really predictable book, but you will still find things that you would like.
💜 = 5/10
💘 = 5.25/10
🪻 = 7/10
🌷 = 6/10
🔥 = 3/10
*for rating key, check my profile "about me" section
💜 = 5/10
💘 = 5.25/10
🪻 = 7/10
🌷 = 6/10
🔥 = 3/10
*for rating key, check my profile "about me" section
August 17, 2023
Out of the 3 love interests, Calvin is most forgettable as he's a rando who starts hanging with out her abuela and doesn't have anything interesting about him/no chemistry. Ryan is cute enough of an option in a fellow-writer-that-challenges-her-takes-the-bus-every-single-day-with-her-brings-her-tea-on-rainy-mornings kind of way. Nice as Julieta's pick in the end, but their relationship is mal-constructed from the very beginning since he's supposed to be her best friend's pesky brother who constantly needles ever since they were kids; any semblance of this past is nowhere to be found when the two start hanging out again. It isn't an enemies-to-lovers deal because they have 0 tension and aren't actually enemies.
Now there's Lucas who is the smack-you-in-the-face obvious best choice. There was chemistry, he is so very obviously into her and vice versa, and their families are already tight so it would be just perfect. Unrelated, but Lucas and Julieta's families go to a lake house for a week in the book for their annual trip and I would adore a rom-com based on this exact plot. I'm sure it exists but google won't quit recommending me drivel like TSITP. Get over yourself already grrr.
After every chapter or so, there are these excerpts from the pseudo-Wattpad story Julieta is writing or from her journal that I skipped past every time I got there. I will commend Andreu for crafting romantic pursuits that are all equally treated by the plot (excluding personal feelings) to the point that I didn't guess who would be the final guy. I also did not guess that the She was getting increasingly irritated with Julieta for being so consumed with her crushes that I thought Ivy was going to come out and be into her. Sadly no. Her brother got the girl instead.
Now there's Lucas who is the smack-you-in-the-face obvious best choice. There was chemistry, he is so very obviously into her and vice versa, and their families are already tight so it would be just perfect. Unrelated, but Lucas and Julieta's families go to a lake house for a week in the book for their annual trip and I would adore a rom-com based on this exact plot. I'm sure it exists but google won't quit recommending me drivel like TSITP. Get over yourself already grrr.
After every chapter or so, there are these excerpts from the pseudo-Wattpad story Julieta is writing or from her journal that I skipped past every time I got there. I will commend Andreu for crafting romantic pursuits that are all equally treated by the plot (excluding personal feelings) to the point that I didn't guess who would be the final guy. I also did not guess that the She was getting increasingly irritated with Julieta for being so consumed with her crushes that I thought Ivy was going to come out and be into her. Sadly no. Her brother got the girl instead.
June 14, 2023
Book Title: Julieta and the Romeos
Standalone or Series: Standalone
Author: Maria E. Andreu
Genre(s): YA, Romance, Contemporary
Recommended Age Rating: 11-12+
Reasons Why: No language that I notice, romance (kissing), alcohol (mention)
Recommended for Fans of: Romance and A Phở Love Story by Loan Lee
Overall Rating: A+++
Brief Summary: Julieta has always wanted to be a writer, but working at her parent's Argentinian restaurant has made her question whether it was a viable carrier for her after all. When she gets the opportunity to go to a prestigious writing program in NYC for the summer, everything seems to be going right with her life. Especially when an online publishing assignment leads her to come in contact with the mysterious Happily Ever Drafter.
Well, until she meets the Romeos. Three guys enter, but who will win her heart?
Is it Ryan, her BFF's twin brother who she's never gotten along with.
Is it Lucas, the boy who's worked at her parent's restaurant forever and really gets her.
Or is it Calvin? The one Julieta's abuela introduces her to and is carefree in life.
Who is the mysterious writer? Who will win her heart?
I loved this book so much!!! It's totally worth the read. I had so much fun exploring the characters. Everything about this story was amazing.
Standalone or Series: Standalone
Author: Maria E. Andreu
Genre(s): YA, Romance, Contemporary
Recommended Age Rating: 11-12+
Reasons Why: No language that I notice, romance (kissing), alcohol (mention)
Recommended for Fans of: Romance and A Phở Love Story by Loan Lee
Overall Rating: A+++
Brief Summary: Julieta has always wanted to be a writer, but working at her parent's Argentinian restaurant has made her question whether it was a viable carrier for her after all. When she gets the opportunity to go to a prestigious writing program in NYC for the summer, everything seems to be going right with her life. Especially when an online publishing assignment leads her to come in contact with the mysterious Happily Ever Drafter.
Well, until she meets the Romeos. Three guys enter, but who will win her heart?
Is it Ryan, her BFF's twin brother who she's never gotten along with.
Is it Lucas, the boy who's worked at her parent's restaurant forever and really gets her.
Or is it Calvin? The one Julieta's abuela introduces her to and is carefree in life.
Who is the mysterious writer? Who will win her heart?
I loved this book so much!!! It's totally worth the read. I had so much fun exploring the characters. Everything about this story was amazing.
March 18, 2025
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a cute and lighthearted read. I was looking for something fluffy and happy and I certainly found it in this book. Julieta and the Romeos follows aspiring writer Julieta who, after being recommended to do so by her teacher, posts her work online for all to see. Her work attracts attention and all of a sudden, she has a mysterious contributor working with her to write this story. Julieta doesn't know their identity but she thinks it could be one of the three boys in her life - her best friend's brother, the boy next door or her oldest friend.
While this book was very cute and fluffy, there were times where I struggled to connect with the characters, wanting more layers and dimension to them especially in the first half of the book. The characterisation did get better as the book went on but it didn't stop me from feeling disconnected at times. The second half of the book was much stronger in my opinion as chemistry blossomed and we were getting closer and closer to our happily ever after.
All in all, this cute and I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a light-hearted read.
This was a cute and lighthearted read. I was looking for something fluffy and happy and I certainly found it in this book. Julieta and the Romeos follows aspiring writer Julieta who, after being recommended to do so by her teacher, posts her work online for all to see. Her work attracts attention and all of a sudden, she has a mysterious contributor working with her to write this story. Julieta doesn't know their identity but she thinks it could be one of the three boys in her life - her best friend's brother, the boy next door or her oldest friend.
While this book was very cute and fluffy, there were times where I struggled to connect with the characters, wanting more layers and dimension to them especially in the first half of the book. The characterisation did get better as the book went on but it didn't stop me from feeling disconnected at times. The second half of the book was much stronger in my opinion as chemistry blossomed and we were getting closer and closer to our happily ever after.
All in all, this cute and I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a light-hearted read.
August 19, 2024
I loved the scenes with her and her family, but this doesn't stand out to me in terms of a good young adult romcom I've read better
June 22, 2023
I'm giving this a 3 because I think the intention was good but the execution was lacking. I understand why there were 3 love interests but I think there were too many things happening with them and the writing (which we also hardly ever saw her in that class??) so nothing was really developed and so I didn't really care about anyone. I predicted what was going to happen at the end but I think maybe it was supposed to be obvious. Lastly, I actually didn't know it was about a teen who had parents from Argentina until I started reading and listen I'm not about to discredit another person's experiences because I know the author is from there but some of that stuff seemed not from Argentina (I have never heard anyone there ever say mija but maybe it's different for goys idk)
July 25, 2023
I was going to chalk it up to the fact that this is YA so these characters are obviously much younger than myself, but Ivy was mature enough to not only notice Julieta’s behaviour but also to call her out on it and she STILL played the victim. Talk about frustratinggggg. I think if you’re a fan of the Netflix show Never Have I Ever (like me), you’d like this book. I really enjoyed that show, but Devi could be infuriating at times and that’s exactly how Julieta was. These boy-crazy girls!!
May 21, 2023
This YA is a cute read for those readers who enjoy teenage (going into junior year) characters.
Cw: minor language
Cw: minor language
August 17, 2023
This was an EXCELLENT little coming-of-age contemporary set over the summer. Julieta is the daughter of Argentinian immigrants who have a struggling restaurant post-covid pandemic, is working on figuring out HER dreams (writing!) and potential love with three different boys. There's a hint of You've Got Mail with a mysterious online writer/suitor (this will always draw me in) and it's just a really sweet story. The writing itself was high quality to me, especially for the genre. (This is not a knock on YA contemp romance - I love it - but sometimes you want to roll your eyes at the phrases used, and this was not one of them!!!) I love that Julieta was driven, focused, realistically stressed and ultimately had realistic results to a lot of the plot points.
At its core, this is a story about love of all kinds, of family, of dreams pursued and dreams you have to grieve for letting go. And despite being about the Romeos, it is not just about the romance. I'd recommend this one for sure.
At its core, this is a story about love of all kinds, of family, of dreams pursued and dreams you have to grieve for letting go. And despite being about the Romeos, it is not just about the romance. I'd recommend this one for sure.
August 19, 2024
I found Julieta and her whole faily to be very endearing and lovable. I love the way the plot unfolds, with the ever-drafter mystery and the family's financial struggles. There were some stunning quotes, and Julieta always felt like a real-life person; the narration is very effective in building up her character. I also loved the way Julieta's relationship to Argentina is explored, and weaved throughout the whole book.
I can't give it a full five starts because it didn't engage me quite as much--hence why it took me so long to read. I just didn't find myself wanting to pick it up as frequently as other books I was reading simultaneously. It felt similar to The Summer I Turned Pretty in that I probably would've enjoyed it ore had I read it in middle school/high school. This is, after all, a YA novel.
I can't give it a full five starts because it didn't engage me quite as much--hence why it took me so long to read. I just didn't find myself wanting to pick it up as frequently as other books I was reading simultaneously. It felt similar to The Summer I Turned Pretty in that I probably would've enjoyed it ore had I read it in middle school/high school. This is, after all, a YA novel.
February 14, 2025
This was a cute book and I did wanna keep binge reading. I will say it does give off that YA vibe (it is a YA book but sometimes those books don’t seem that way but this one does). I enjoyed the story of following Julieta trying to figure out which of the boys she liked most as well as following the story of her families restaurant and repairing her friendship with her best friend Ivy. I also enjoyed that it was written in the period of the pandemic (which was when the author wrote the book) and it hits hard for how many small businesses really struggled during that time and weren’t able to make it. Also really enjoyed Jules’ little writing notes and her story with HappilyEverDrafter! Cute book/story!
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