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Twisted Lit #3
Anyone but You
These violent delights have violent ends...
Gigi Caputo is fed up. A vicious act of vandalism has dealt another blow to her family's proud pizza heritage, and the Montes--owners of a rival Italian restaurant--are clearly to blame. The hostility goes far beyond bragging rights for best pizza in Chicago. The Montes have been bent on destroying Cap's for four generations. Even if it means putting herself in harm's way, Gigi's determined to get to the bottom of the feud. Instead, in a secret encounter with Roman Monte, the very boy whose relatives have brought her family such grief, she finds both danger and love at first sight. If the daughter and son of these two warring families fall for each other, can it be anything but a recipe for disaster? Slowly, Gigi and Roman learn that their story is fatefully linked to the summer of 1933, when two twelve-year-olds, Benny and Nick, hop the turnstile at the Chicago World's Fair. The most stunning wonder of the fair is Stella, who innocently causes a lasting rift between the two boyhood. Wending its way through past and present day, this modern take on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is bittersweet, funny, and intensely exciting. It's classic romance--a tale of hate and the only force that can ever defeat it: love.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 2, 2013
4 people are currently reading
1945 people want to read
About the author
Kim Askew
10 books134 followersKim Askew is co-author of the Twisted Lit novels, critically-acclaimed, Shakespeare inspired young adult fiction, published by Simon & Schuster.
Kim's writing has appeared in newspapers, literary journals, and other publications, including the Wall Street Journal, SoMa Literary Review, and Elle Magazine, as well as the anthology The May Queen.
She wrote her Master's thesis, on Henry James, at Mount St. Mary's University, Los Angeles, and she's also a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for abused and neglected children in Los Angeles county.
Kim and her co-author, Amy Helmes, are managed by Jennifer Au of Untitled Entertainment and represented by Hannah Brown Gordon of Foundry Literary + Media.
Kim's writing has appeared in newspapers, literary journals, and other publications, including the Wall Street Journal, SoMa Literary Review, and Elle Magazine, as well as the anthology The May Queen.
She wrote her Master's thesis, on Henry James, at Mount St. Mary's University, Los Angeles, and she's also a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for abused and neglected children in Los Angeles county.
Kim and her co-author, Amy Helmes, are managed by Jennifer Au of Untitled Entertainment and represented by Hannah Brown Gordon of Foundry Literary + Media.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
January 22, 2014
I have read every book in this series. Each one can be read as a stand alone novel. By far my favorite book is this one. I loved the modern day twist that the authors put on the famed couple, Romeo and Juliet. It is hard to find anything original anymore that does this story justice. I thought that the authors did a good job of revamping this tale. However I must admit that I found I liked when I went back in time with Benny and Nick. They were really the "meat" of the story and how the feud between the Caputos and the Montes.
I could not stop reading this book. However in the beginning it did take me a moment to figure out the flow of the book. With each chapter alternating between the present and the past. So to stop and switch the flow from what was happening in the present to go back to the past was not as smooth. It only took me until the beginning of chapter three to figure this out. I liked the ending. Anyone But You is a charming, fun book to read.
I could not stop reading this book. However in the beginning it did take me a moment to figure out the flow of the book. With each chapter alternating between the present and the past. So to stop and switch the flow from what was happening in the present to go back to the past was not as smooth. It only took me until the beginning of chapter three to figure this out. I liked the ending. Anyone But You is a charming, fun book to read.
January 26, 2014
Anyone But You by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes (book 3 in the Twisted Lit series) was an emotional roller coaster I was not prepared for when I first heard about this retelling of Romeo and Juliet.
I'm not, and never have been, a fan of Shakespeare's story of love at first sight. No matter how many times I hear the story, I just can't connect to the characters because they seem so stupid and selfish to me. But Gigi and Roman's love, while still impossibly cheesy love at first sight, felt a little more grounded in reality then their 15th century counterparts. The romance, while obviously the centerpiece of the story, wasn't overpowering. And, actually, the romance sort of felt like it was brushed to the side compared to other parts of the storyline. But it was just enough for me to enjoy without wanting to roll my eyes.
Unbeknownst to me going into Anyone But You (probably because I only skimmed the synopsis before reading), there are actually two points of view as you flip between chapters. Gigi's, of course, but we also get to see the point of view of Roman's great-grandfather, Nick Monte, when he was young. Nick's point of view caught me off guard but his story was one that needed telling, or else Gigi and Roman's story would have never come about in the first place. The story of Nick Monte and Gigi's great-grandfather, Benny Caputo, plays a vital role in why the families have been feuding for almost a century, but it was also, to me at least, the most emotion part of the novel. Their friendship, and inevitable falling out, tugged at my heart strings and I'm not embarrassed to say I cried (publicly) while reading the last few chapters.
At first I wasn't sure I liked the way each chapter flipped back and forth between the two different stories and time periods. It's cool that you get to see the two different time periods and the history of the families, but was a bit of a headache going back and forth at first. But then the paced picked up in Nick and Benny's story and that was it. I fell in love with those boys and their friendship and struggles. And that just made me respect the story of Gigi and Roman so much more.
If you're a lover of Romeo and Juliet, or just love in general, I urge you to give Anyone But You a read. And if you enjoy it make sure you check out the rest of the Twisted Lit series for more contemporary retellings of Shakespeare's famous works!
I'm not, and never have been, a fan of Shakespeare's story of love at first sight. No matter how many times I hear the story, I just can't connect to the characters because they seem so stupid and selfish to me. But Gigi and Roman's love, while still impossibly cheesy love at first sight, felt a little more grounded in reality then their 15th century counterparts. The romance, while obviously the centerpiece of the story, wasn't overpowering. And, actually, the romance sort of felt like it was brushed to the side compared to other parts of the storyline. But it was just enough for me to enjoy without wanting to roll my eyes.
Unbeknownst to me going into Anyone But You (probably because I only skimmed the synopsis before reading), there are actually two points of view as you flip between chapters. Gigi's, of course, but we also get to see the point of view of Roman's great-grandfather, Nick Monte, when he was young. Nick's point of view caught me off guard but his story was one that needed telling, or else Gigi and Roman's story would have never come about in the first place. The story of Nick Monte and Gigi's great-grandfather, Benny Caputo, plays a vital role in why the families have been feuding for almost a century, but it was also, to me at least, the most emotion part of the novel. Their friendship, and inevitable falling out, tugged at my heart strings and I'm not embarrassed to say I cried (publicly) while reading the last few chapters.
At first I wasn't sure I liked the way each chapter flipped back and forth between the two different stories and time periods. It's cool that you get to see the two different time periods and the history of the families, but was a bit of a headache going back and forth at first. But then the paced picked up in Nick and Benny's story and that was it. I fell in love with those boys and their friendship and struggles. And that just made me respect the story of Gigi and Roman so much more.
If you're a lover of Romeo and Juliet, or just love in general, I urge you to give Anyone But You a read. And if you enjoy it make sure you check out the rest of the Twisted Lit series for more contemporary retellings of Shakespeare's famous works!
January 18, 2014
This smart, gripping, sigh-inducing update of Romeo and Juliet takes on serious issues but still manages to be fun. Anyone But You is the third entry in the wonderful Twisted Lit series based on Shakespeare--each story is independent and doesn’t need to be read in sequence--and so far the books just keep getting better and better.
Gigi Caputo and Roman Monte are Chicago teenagers whose feuding families own Italian restaurants that are just blocks apart. No one remembers how or why the feud started, but the back and forth sabotage by some of the hotheaded younger family members has gotten increasingly intense. When Gigi and Roman meet there are instant sparks, but the authors do a great job of making their mutual attraction credible and something you care about by deepening their connection beyond initial chemistry.
Chapters alternate between the present day with Gigi and Roman, and the 1930’s-1940’s which is when their great grandfathers were best friends before the feud began. Like the other two books in this series, Anyone But You has a vivid sense of place, rich with details that set and individuate the times and locations without long paragraphs of descriptions to bog down the story. Gigi works at her family’s restaurant and you can see the checkered tablecloths, smell the marinara, and feel the heat of the kitchen. The chapters with the great grandfathers as up and coming young men bring their older Italian neighborhood to life, incorporating the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair and WWII into the plot and allowing us to see the world through their eyes.
The plot and characters take inspiration from Shakespeare’s play, but there’s plenty of innovation which kept me in suspense about the outcome. Magic isn’t part of the Twisted Lit stories, but there’s something magical about them. Maybe it’s having timeless themes in modern settings, or maybe it’s the writing which without being “pretty” somehow has a subtle glow that I can’t define, maybe something like a Rembrandt painting. In any case, I hope there is a fourth Twisted Lit novel, and I can’t wait to see which play is chosen and how the authors remake it.
Gigi Caputo and Roman Monte are Chicago teenagers whose feuding families own Italian restaurants that are just blocks apart. No one remembers how or why the feud started, but the back and forth sabotage by some of the hotheaded younger family members has gotten increasingly intense. When Gigi and Roman meet there are instant sparks, but the authors do a great job of making their mutual attraction credible and something you care about by deepening their connection beyond initial chemistry.
Chapters alternate between the present day with Gigi and Roman, and the 1930’s-1940’s which is when their great grandfathers were best friends before the feud began. Like the other two books in this series, Anyone But You has a vivid sense of place, rich with details that set and individuate the times and locations without long paragraphs of descriptions to bog down the story. Gigi works at her family’s restaurant and you can see the checkered tablecloths, smell the marinara, and feel the heat of the kitchen. The chapters with the great grandfathers as up and coming young men bring their older Italian neighborhood to life, incorporating the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair and WWII into the plot and allowing us to see the world through their eyes.
The plot and characters take inspiration from Shakespeare’s play, but there’s plenty of innovation which kept me in suspense about the outcome. Magic isn’t part of the Twisted Lit stories, but there’s something magical about them. Maybe it’s having timeless themes in modern settings, or maybe it’s the writing which without being “pretty” somehow has a subtle glow that I can’t define, maybe something like a Rembrandt painting. In any case, I hope there is a fourth Twisted Lit novel, and I can’t wait to see which play is chosen and how the authors remake it.
December 21, 2024
Unlike anything I've ever read !!!! Wowwww
March 4, 2024
Why do we not have a movie on this book?!?
Restaurant rivalry and Romeo & Juliet retelling? SAY LESS
Restaurant rivalry and Romeo & Juliet retelling? SAY LESS
January 9, 2014
Review first appeared on my blog: Book Addict 24-7
I received a copy via NetGalley & the authors in exchange for an honest review
Anyone But You by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes is the third instalment in their Twisted Lit series, which is a collection of young adult adaptations of Shakespearean classics. For this instalment, the collaborative writing duo tackle Romeo and Juliet in a completely original and slightly less dark way. With its unique approach to the classic and with a storyline that is slightly addicting, Anyone But You is a novel that may remind us of how powerful (and sometimes disastrous) love can be.
Gigi, the protagonist, is the Juliet of one of the feuding families, which are ironically Italian. Her story and that of her great-grandparents’ is shown, displaying just how the feud began and how it affects the present. Not only is Gigi a more appropriate age than her predecessor, Juliet, but she’s also a little less quick to act when given bad news. One of the unique aspects that these two authors bring to every adaptation is the ability to teen-a-fie (let’s make it a new word) so many of the naïve and younger characters from “The Bard’s” plays.
The comic relief, I believe, comes from the love at first sight aspect of the novel. Not only is the immediate attraction between Gigi and her beau unrealistic, it’s a correct way of modernizing what happened in Romeo and Juliet. Through the over-exaggeration of the romance between these two characters, we see just how ridiculous such an immediate connection would be in today’s day and age. So, rather than worship the story of Romeo and Juliet as an end-all and be-all of romantic stories, Anyone But You satirizes the idea of these two star-crossed lovers.
In my opinion, the real winner of this novel is the sub-story showing us how the feud began. It showcases the power of friendship and just how much damage a broken heart can do. The fact that the two characters in the sub-plot were so well created shows amazing literary prowess. Oftentimes, I find sub-characters to be lacking in growth because the author(s) is so focused on the main characters set in our contemporary time, but not in this novel. Whereas Gigi’s infatuation with her enemy’s heir is light and perhaps sugary sweet, the sub-story about two male best friends is deep and has a heart that would have made Shakespeare want to do a rewrite. Not only do Askew and Helmes create a story that gives us a heartbreakingly honest reason for why these two houses are feuding, but also they offer an intense sort of redemption that, I admit, made me cry.
Of course, the pacing was great and each chapter walked me towards an eye-opening conclusion. Clues and red herrings are given throughout the story—which, I must say, is very tricky. Not only do we NOT know why these families are fighting until the end, but we also don’t know which boy (in the sub-story) represents which family. Tricky, tricky. This mystery plays on the reader’s curiosity and will have him/her wanting to snatch up any clue thrown his/her way.
In my opinion, Anyone But You is by far the best instalment in this series. Askew and Helmes write an adaptation that isn’t blatantly copying Shakespeare. They take what is classically shown and make it their own in every way—hence the name of the series, Twisted Lit. These two authors focus on the messages and warnings written within the classic plays and then present them in ways that teenagers and readers alike will not only understand and relate to, but will want to devour.
If you like romance, unique Shakespearean adaptations, and a heart-warming/heartbreaking story of how friendship can go awry, then please give this one a shot. The humour is palpable and the genius of the storylines is proven with every page.
I received a copy via NetGalley & the authors in exchange for an honest review
Anyone But You by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes is the third instalment in their Twisted Lit series, which is a collection of young adult adaptations of Shakespearean classics. For this instalment, the collaborative writing duo tackle Romeo and Juliet in a completely original and slightly less dark way. With its unique approach to the classic and with a storyline that is slightly addicting, Anyone But You is a novel that may remind us of how powerful (and sometimes disastrous) love can be.
Gigi, the protagonist, is the Juliet of one of the feuding families, which are ironically Italian. Her story and that of her great-grandparents’ is shown, displaying just how the feud began and how it affects the present. Not only is Gigi a more appropriate age than her predecessor, Juliet, but she’s also a little less quick to act when given bad news. One of the unique aspects that these two authors bring to every adaptation is the ability to teen-a-fie (let’s make it a new word) so many of the naïve and younger characters from “The Bard’s” plays.
The comic relief, I believe, comes from the love at first sight aspect of the novel. Not only is the immediate attraction between Gigi and her beau unrealistic, it’s a correct way of modernizing what happened in Romeo and Juliet. Through the over-exaggeration of the romance between these two characters, we see just how ridiculous such an immediate connection would be in today’s day and age. So, rather than worship the story of Romeo and Juliet as an end-all and be-all of romantic stories, Anyone But You satirizes the idea of these two star-crossed lovers.
In my opinion, the real winner of this novel is the sub-story showing us how the feud began. It showcases the power of friendship and just how much damage a broken heart can do. The fact that the two characters in the sub-plot were so well created shows amazing literary prowess. Oftentimes, I find sub-characters to be lacking in growth because the author(s) is so focused on the main characters set in our contemporary time, but not in this novel. Whereas Gigi’s infatuation with her enemy’s heir is light and perhaps sugary sweet, the sub-story about two male best friends is deep and has a heart that would have made Shakespeare want to do a rewrite. Not only do Askew and Helmes create a story that gives us a heartbreakingly honest reason for why these two houses are feuding, but also they offer an intense sort of redemption that, I admit, made me cry.
Of course, the pacing was great and each chapter walked me towards an eye-opening conclusion. Clues and red herrings are given throughout the story—which, I must say, is very tricky. Not only do we NOT know why these families are fighting until the end, but we also don’t know which boy (in the sub-story) represents which family. Tricky, tricky. This mystery plays on the reader’s curiosity and will have him/her wanting to snatch up any clue thrown his/her way.
In my opinion, Anyone But You is by far the best instalment in this series. Askew and Helmes write an adaptation that isn’t blatantly copying Shakespeare. They take what is classically shown and make it their own in every way—hence the name of the series, Twisted Lit. These two authors focus on the messages and warnings written within the classic plays and then present them in ways that teenagers and readers alike will not only understand and relate to, but will want to devour.
If you like romance, unique Shakespearean adaptations, and a heart-warming/heartbreaking story of how friendship can go awry, then please give this one a shot. The humour is palpable and the genius of the storylines is proven with every page.
January 16, 2014
The original Romeo and Juliet have nothing on their contemporary counterparts, Gigi Caputo and Roman Monte, if you are talking love at first sight, strong family ties and loyalties and a decades old feud between the their two families. In this “twisted” version of Shakespeare’s ill-fated romance, the feud seems to be something to do with pizza, Italian food and two competing restaurants. But is this the true cause for the rivalry and hatred between the two families or did something happen decades before, something both heartbreaking and unnecessary, maybe just Fate being particularly cruel. One thing for sure, Gigi “knows” their love can never be, as her family’s restaurant has struggled through hard times, vandalism, shady loan deals and the final insult, fire, destroying any chance for them to stay in Chicago. But one picture with a hidden message trapped in its frame for over sixty years may be all it takes to bring these two families to call a truce after Roman risks his life in a heroic act to save Gigi.
Told from two different points of view, as well as two different eras, the painful mystery of what started the feud is revealed, as well as how it was perpetuated through the generations. Anyone But You by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes may the best so far in this completely entertaining series. From the eyes of a modern teen trying to be what others want her to be, life seems overpowering at times, but Gigi’s character does have a refreshing sense of maturity when she needs it, right before she goes all teen-tears. Roman is more subdued in his role, clearly more a supporting actor than a star, but completely endearing from the start. The emotional history that Dominick lived, is the real tear-jerker and as that story unfolds, I could feel myself choking up at times, for all involved. I believe his role and his story made Anyone But You a much deeper, more intense read.
Did the story flow? Yes, in a meandering way…The switchbacks in time and POV was brilliantly done, and that last arc before the finish? I admit, I was saying, no, no, no way! Those gut-clenching scenes were magnetic! Is the story completely realistic and was each scene believable 100%? Nope, that’s part of good fiction, when you get to that last page, the imperfections don’t matter, because as a whole, you had a great ride!
I received this edition from Merit Press and the authors in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Twisted Lit, Book 3
Publication Date: December 2, 2013
Publisher: Merit Press
ISBN: 9781440570018
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Number of Pages: 226
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Told from two different points of view, as well as two different eras, the painful mystery of what started the feud is revealed, as well as how it was perpetuated through the generations. Anyone But You by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes may the best so far in this completely entertaining series. From the eyes of a modern teen trying to be what others want her to be, life seems overpowering at times, but Gigi’s character does have a refreshing sense of maturity when she needs it, right before she goes all teen-tears. Roman is more subdued in his role, clearly more a supporting actor than a star, but completely endearing from the start. The emotional history that Dominick lived, is the real tear-jerker and as that story unfolds, I could feel myself choking up at times, for all involved. I believe his role and his story made Anyone But You a much deeper, more intense read.
Did the story flow? Yes, in a meandering way…The switchbacks in time and POV was brilliantly done, and that last arc before the finish? I admit, I was saying, no, no, no way! Those gut-clenching scenes were magnetic! Is the story completely realistic and was each scene believable 100%? Nope, that’s part of good fiction, when you get to that last page, the imperfections don’t matter, because as a whole, you had a great ride!
I received this edition from Merit Press and the authors in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Twisted Lit, Book 3
Publication Date: December 2, 2013
Publisher: Merit Press
ISBN: 9781440570018
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Number of Pages: 226
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
November 24, 2013
Anyone But You is the third book in the Twisted Lit series. As with the two previous books, we are given an original but solid take on the source material (in this case, Romeo and Juliet) and the series' trademark warmth and intelligence. These books greatly remind me of the lit-inspired teen movies of the 1990s/2000s, especially "10 Things I Hate About You" which was inspired by The Taming of the Shrew.
The story features two POVs: Teen Gigi Caputo in modern times and teen Dominick in the 1940s. Gigi's family Italian restaurant is continually sabotaged by their rivals, the Montes, who also own an Italian restaurant a few blocks away. No one knows why the two families dislike each other and things come to a head when a prank on Gigi's restaurant will force the family into bankruptcy. At her 16th birthday party, she meets a really nice boy, Roman, while fending off the advances of her father's suspicious business partner's son. But that boy might just be connected to the Montes. And in the 1930s, Gigi and Roman's grandfathers set the stage for the rivalry and hatred of the future.
I really enjoyed both tales - the present and the past. The authors presented interesting facts about 1940s Chicago, the Worlds Fair of 1939, and immigrant experiences in the large city. I also liked that the Gigi/Roman story was allowed to unfold naturally, didn't have overwrought teens hating instantly than falling madly in love, and that the family adults weren't annoying or evil. The mystery of the feud gently unfolds and the story has real warmth so missing in today's YA romances.
The Shakespeare update is well done. The heart of the source material is the bigger influence than simple plot points, which is how it should be. And there are a few really cute references to the original: e.g., at the end, Gigi notes, "In the trees above us, a nightingale - or was it a lark? - sang sweetly." (Act 3, Scene 5)
I do give it one star less for a couple of minor quibbles. The book is written very intelligently and the characters use words or phrases that I just can't imagine anyone ever using - especially the 1930s poor teens who didn't have a lot of education. I do appreciate and really like that the characters are intelligent and don't speak like Paris Hilton. But at the same time, some sentences were jarring with dictionary words.
In all, I am really enjoying this series. All the books are easy to read and follow, have great warmth and heart, do justice to the source material, and don't pander to a YA audience.
The story features two POVs: Teen Gigi Caputo in modern times and teen Dominick in the 1940s. Gigi's family Italian restaurant is continually sabotaged by their rivals, the Montes, who also own an Italian restaurant a few blocks away. No one knows why the two families dislike each other and things come to a head when a prank on Gigi's restaurant will force the family into bankruptcy. At her 16th birthday party, she meets a really nice boy, Roman, while fending off the advances of her father's suspicious business partner's son. But that boy might just be connected to the Montes. And in the 1930s, Gigi and Roman's grandfathers set the stage for the rivalry and hatred of the future.
I really enjoyed both tales - the present and the past. The authors presented interesting facts about 1940s Chicago, the Worlds Fair of 1939, and immigrant experiences in the large city. I also liked that the Gigi/Roman story was allowed to unfold naturally, didn't have overwrought teens hating instantly than falling madly in love, and that the family adults weren't annoying or evil. The mystery of the feud gently unfolds and the story has real warmth so missing in today's YA romances.
The Shakespeare update is well done. The heart of the source material is the bigger influence than simple plot points, which is how it should be. And there are a few really cute references to the original: e.g., at the end, Gigi notes, "In the trees above us, a nightingale - or was it a lark? - sang sweetly." (Act 3, Scene 5)
I do give it one star less for a couple of minor quibbles. The book is written very intelligently and the characters use words or phrases that I just can't imagine anyone ever using - especially the 1930s poor teens who didn't have a lot of education. I do appreciate and really like that the characters are intelligent and don't speak like Paris Hilton. But at the same time, some sentences were jarring with dictionary words.
In all, I am really enjoying this series. All the books are easy to read and follow, have great warmth and heart, do justice to the source material, and don't pander to a YA audience.
July 18, 2014
Ever since I discovered this series on Goodreads I've been intrigued by them. I love Shakespeare's stories although I haven't read Romeo and Juliet yet. I've wanted to start the Twisted Lit series but I never really got my hands on any of the books until I got contacted with a review request for the latest book in the series, Anyone But You. And because you don't have to read the other books in the series and because I adore retellings of any kind, of course, I jumped on the chance to do so.
Starting this book and meeting the main character and modern day Juliet, Gigi, I had a good feeling about Anyone But You right away. I liked Gigi a lot. She was very likable instantly and liked how, although she didn't want to tell her father that she really doesn't want to take over the restaurant, she has a pride about her family. Her encounter with Roman was short but I liked how their connection was like fireworks. They just clicked. One could say this is insta-love and I sure as hell don't want to scare people away by saying it the word but I personally liked it.
Beside the story about Gigi, Roman and the restaurants there were also chapters that involved flashbacks to the past where we find out how the feud got started into the first place. I loved, loved, loved those! But I must admit when that first 'flashback' chapter started I had no idea what was going on. It was a little confusing because when it's chapters in someone else's point of view I prefer there be some kind of warning at the beginning of the chapter that either says what year it is or who's chapter it is. But after the first two of those I was finally catching on and started to looking forward to finding out more because I was also interested just like Gigi as to why there was such a huge feud between the Caputos and Montes.
I also should mention that when it came to the feud I knew where things would be going. It was pretty obvious but it's not like that was something negative for me. It stil devoured this book like let's say... pizza. *chuckles*
But seriously, I really liked this book and there were also some parts where I was shocked with some things that happened. So it's not such an obvious book after all...
Overall, Anyone But You, the third in the Twisted List Series was a quick but entertaining story that I'm glad I got to chance to read. If you like Shakespeare, retellings or just a great book, you won't be disappointed with this one.
Starting this book and meeting the main character and modern day Juliet, Gigi, I had a good feeling about Anyone But You right away. I liked Gigi a lot. She was very likable instantly and liked how, although she didn't want to tell her father that she really doesn't want to take over the restaurant, she has a pride about her family. Her encounter with Roman was short but I liked how their connection was like fireworks. They just clicked. One could say this is insta-love and I sure as hell don't want to scare people away by saying it the word but I personally liked it.
Beside the story about Gigi, Roman and the restaurants there were also chapters that involved flashbacks to the past where we find out how the feud got started into the first place. I loved, loved, loved those! But I must admit when that first 'flashback' chapter started I had no idea what was going on. It was a little confusing because when it's chapters in someone else's point of view I prefer there be some kind of warning at the beginning of the chapter that either says what year it is or who's chapter it is. But after the first two of those I was finally catching on and started to looking forward to finding out more because I was also interested just like Gigi as to why there was such a huge feud between the Caputos and Montes.
I also should mention that when it came to the feud I knew where things would be going. It was pretty obvious but it's not like that was something negative for me. It stil devoured this book like let's say... pizza. *chuckles*
But seriously, I really liked this book and there were also some parts where I was shocked with some things that happened. So it's not such an obvious book after all...
Overall, Anyone But You, the third in the Twisted List Series was a quick but entertaining story that I'm glad I got to chance to read. If you like Shakespeare, retellings or just a great book, you won't be disappointed with this one.
January 19, 2017
Billed as a re-take on the original Romeo and Juliet, this story is indeed in some ways a modern 'Roman and Gigi / Julietta', Monte-Caputo family tale. Interestingly, the book moves chapters back and forth from the present to the past, around 1933 to post WW2. This keeps the reader guessing and paying attention! Restaurants and food, characters and hostility, laughter and tears.
Yes, I enjoyed it and will look for the other books written by Askew and Helmes, two good authors.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
Yes, I enjoyed it and will look for the other books written by Askew and Helmes, two good authors.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
May 1, 2020
A quick and enjoyable read! There was a lot more substance to this book than I expected. I cried a couple of times, and enjoyed the aspect of getting to see back in time to a previous generation, and see the family’s history. It’s a wonderful representation of the importance of family, friendship and forgiveness.
April 29, 2019
This was a pretty good book! I liked how the past and present stories were intertwined, with alternating chapters. It made the present story a lot more poignant. I liked Gigi and Roman, although they honestly weren't as expanded upon as they could have been. The past story - about Nick Monte and Benny Caputo - was pretty interesting, and I enjoyed the layers it added to the book. I had fun figuring out everything that happened. On that note, the scene at the end was very nice. It made me happy, after everything that had happened between them. I overall enjoyed this book, and would read it again. 4 stars.
August 5, 2022
It’s really cute. I’ve read it several times and it’s a quick read too. I like the modern take on Romeo and Juliet & think it’s just as easy to get sucked in. I will say though, the beginning of Benny and Nick’s story kinda slowed me down. After it gets going and pieces from the past start to make sense in Gigi’s and Roman’s life it’s really easy to just want to keep going.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2017
I loved how the story ended happily and that Askew came up with a story behind the families' feud.
April 4, 2020
As my son would say, Meh.
Not great literature. But an ok quick book to read when you've had enough of stupid tv during Coroanvirus
Not great literature. But an ok quick book to read when you've had enough of stupid tv during Coroanvirus
December 19, 2013
***Free ARC copy received by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ***
I should begin with the whispered admittance: I didn’t like Romeo and Juliet. Loved the concept, just…not a big Shakespeare fan—period, Romeo and Juliet perhaps least of all. That did not stop me from enjoying this story.
Also, I would probably give it three and a half stars... I wish GoodReads would let you add half-star ratings.
It took me a while to warm up to this book, even though I was actually quite excited to start it. I didn’t like the ways the chapters jump unceremoniously from modern day with MC to the past with Benny and Nick. I would have preferred for the present day/past scenes to be broken up into larger chunks. I found it very difficult to get into/stay into either story (until closer to the end), because by the time I finished one short chapter of Gigi’s story (before a scene was actually over) and was interested, I was thrown back into the past. It was jarring—like reading one chapter of one book and then a chapter of an entirely different book. Consequently it was a slow read, as I could only read a chapter or 2 at a time—3 chapters tops in one sitting (again, until closer to the end). I prefer to be sucked into a story and not want to stop reading, which I would’ve been several times if not for the constant back and forth.
The first 1/3 of the book was a little slow moving; it took some time to get through the backstory, but once I did, I was much more into it.
I liked Roman pretty immediately. I also had no issues with Gigi! (I have to exclaim about that, because I’m pretty picky about my heroines.) Their feelings accelerated a little fast for my personal taste, but this is based on Romeo and Juliet, so… it made perfect sense. It was also well-done, which made it easier to accept. Some of the dialogue when they first met (not the very first sighting, but… later the same night) was pretty on-the-nose considering the source material, which I’m 100% on board for, but… I kind of hoped for it to be delivered in a more playful/clever/tongue-in-cheek way. Since the reader (presumably) has either read Romeo and Juliet, or is at least familiar with some of the most famous quotes, I prefer for quotes that reference the source to material to be more like an inside joke—the author knows why the characters are saying it, the reader knows why they’re saying it, and it should make me smile a little, maybe snicker… I don’t know. Just a personal preference, no points off or anything! I just think it’s more fun that way. Essentially, be prepared for it to FEEL like a few translations of Shakespeare’s own lines that could’ve come from No Fear Shakespeare (I think that’s what they were called) instead of sounding like something these two teenagers would actually want to say to each other- especially all in the same clump of dialogue. (Later on in the book, though, I did get to experience a little, "Ha," moment when Gigi referred to them as Bonnie and Clyde without the guns, when most people in that situation would reference Romeo and Juliet. That made me smile a little.)
I didn’t particularly like Benny even early on in the book, but by the end, I liked him even less. Even when I know I was supposed to like him, I just kind of felt indifferent. Honestly, (and completely unexpectedly) I was more interested in Nick and Benny’s story than I was Gigi and Roman’s. Closer to the end of the book, I just wanted to keep reading what happened in Ben and Nick’s time, so I was frustrated again that before I could get to the next chapter to find out what was happening, I had to get through a chapter of modern-day with Gigi.
There were too many background characters, just a matter of opinion, but I would have preferred less background noise. There were more than enough characters to try to keep track of between the two time periods.
Overall, I liked it. It took a little while to get into, but it picked up a little over halfway through. There was even one scene that gave me chills. By the end, everything was tied up beautifully with a nice little bow. All in all, I would say it’s definitely worth a read!
I should begin with the whispered admittance: I didn’t like Romeo and Juliet. Loved the concept, just…not a big Shakespeare fan—period, Romeo and Juliet perhaps least of all. That did not stop me from enjoying this story.
Also, I would probably give it three and a half stars... I wish GoodReads would let you add half-star ratings.
It took me a while to warm up to this book, even though I was actually quite excited to start it. I didn’t like the ways the chapters jump unceremoniously from modern day with MC to the past with Benny and Nick. I would have preferred for the present day/past scenes to be broken up into larger chunks. I found it very difficult to get into/stay into either story (until closer to the end), because by the time I finished one short chapter of Gigi’s story (before a scene was actually over) and was interested, I was thrown back into the past. It was jarring—like reading one chapter of one book and then a chapter of an entirely different book. Consequently it was a slow read, as I could only read a chapter or 2 at a time—3 chapters tops in one sitting (again, until closer to the end). I prefer to be sucked into a story and not want to stop reading, which I would’ve been several times if not for the constant back and forth.
The first 1/3 of the book was a little slow moving; it took some time to get through the backstory, but once I did, I was much more into it.
I liked Roman pretty immediately. I also had no issues with Gigi! (I have to exclaim about that, because I’m pretty picky about my heroines.) Their feelings accelerated a little fast for my personal taste, but this is based on Romeo and Juliet, so… it made perfect sense. It was also well-done, which made it easier to accept. Some of the dialogue when they first met (not the very first sighting, but… later the same night) was pretty on-the-nose considering the source material, which I’m 100% on board for, but… I kind of hoped for it to be delivered in a more playful/clever/tongue-in-cheek way. Since the reader (presumably) has either read Romeo and Juliet, or is at least familiar with some of the most famous quotes, I prefer for quotes that reference the source to material to be more like an inside joke—the author knows why the characters are saying it, the reader knows why they’re saying it, and it should make me smile a little, maybe snicker… I don’t know. Just a personal preference, no points off or anything! I just think it’s more fun that way. Essentially, be prepared for it to FEEL like a few translations of Shakespeare’s own lines that could’ve come from No Fear Shakespeare (I think that’s what they were called) instead of sounding like something these two teenagers would actually want to say to each other- especially all in the same clump of dialogue. (Later on in the book, though, I did get to experience a little, "Ha," moment when Gigi referred to them as Bonnie and Clyde without the guns, when most people in that situation would reference Romeo and Juliet. That made me smile a little.)
I didn’t particularly like Benny even early on in the book, but by the end, I liked him even less. Even when I know I was supposed to like him, I just kind of felt indifferent. Honestly, (and completely unexpectedly) I was more interested in Nick and Benny’s story than I was Gigi and Roman’s. Closer to the end of the book, I just wanted to keep reading what happened in Ben and Nick’s time, so I was frustrated again that before I could get to the next chapter to find out what was happening, I had to get through a chapter of modern-day with Gigi.
There were too many background characters, just a matter of opinion, but I would have preferred less background noise. There were more than enough characters to try to keep track of between the two time periods.
Overall, I liked it. It took a little while to get into, but it picked up a little over halfway through. There was even one scene that gave me chills. By the end, everything was tied up beautifully with a nice little bow. All in all, I would say it’s definitely worth a read!
February 26, 2015
The Caputo/Monte rivalry has gone on for decades, and no one in the respective families is even sure what started it at this point. They only know they loathe one another and want the other’s Italian eatery to fail so they can mark themselves as the winners. After a Monte prank closes a struggling Cap’s for repairs, the Caputo family plan a grand reopening under the guise of their daughter, Gigi’s, sixteenth birthday party believing that not even a Monte would ruin a young girl’s party. When a handsome young man and his friend crash the party and takes Gigi’s first kiss, she finds herself quickly losing her heart to her enemy. Roman Monte shares her feelings, but being together is harder than they want it to be. Hoping to gain the approval of their families, they set out to discover the cause of the rift between them, hoping to right the wrongs to unite their families. Can they do it? Or will only a tragic ending bring their families together?
I should probably start off by telling you, I never liked Romeo and Juliet. I first read it when I was about five years old and hated it from the get go. Yes, the Disney movies I grew up with were far reaching, but a three day relationship that resulted in six deaths and was toted as being a tragic romance just wasn’t doing it for me. In true Twisted Lit fashion, my dislike for Romeo and Juliet wasn’t a deal breaker for the story. If anything, Anyone But You made me enjoy the story slightly better.
The story is written in two parts, switching between time periods alternatively between chapters. While reading about the current goings-on about Gigi and Roman, you are also getting to see Nick and Benny’s interactions and what caused the feud between the Caputos and Montes to begin with. The chapters aren’t advertised with font or header effects to tell you from the start which time period you are reading, but after being jarred by the story a few chapters, I got into the habit of scanning the page for a name before diving back into the story. While that is something that bothers me, it might go unnoticable to someone else. I think I just get carried away by the story and forget that things might change. My galley didn’t start new chapters on a new page, and sometimes I found myself just skipping over the chapter titles as I read, which is a habit I have always had. The writing is done well enough though that you never need to re-read more than a paragraph if you get the same jolt as I did.
The characters are nice. It’s fun to see who is playing the part of the original in this modernization. While Gigi had more depth to her than Juliet did, the rest of the characters were still rather shallow in their development. This kept it similar to the original, but didn’t exactly make the new characters endearing. What really saved the story was the relationship between Nick and Benny in the past tense. Showing their relationship with one another, seeing what caused the feud, really saved the story for me. Yes, Benny over-reacted, but trying to place myself in his shoes, I understood it. He was being horribly stubborn, but after everything he had been through, I at least understood why. I found his story to be far more captivating than anything Gigi and Roman had to tell. Just as Romeo and Juliet fell for one another quickly, Roman and Gigi jumped into their relationship just as quickly. I found their relationship to be more believable, but I did like how the homage to the original was left intact in an obvious way instead of changing it to be unrecognizable.
I did really enjoy this book. I laughed, I cried, I had a nice time with it. My heart just broke for Benny, even once he started acting the jerk. I’ve recommended the series before, this book just re-enforces that recommendation.
Read this and other reviews at my blog.
I should probably start off by telling you, I never liked Romeo and Juliet. I first read it when I was about five years old and hated it from the get go. Yes, the Disney movies I grew up with were far reaching, but a three day relationship that resulted in six deaths and was toted as being a tragic romance just wasn’t doing it for me. In true Twisted Lit fashion, my dislike for Romeo and Juliet wasn’t a deal breaker for the story. If anything, Anyone But You made me enjoy the story slightly better.
The story is written in two parts, switching between time periods alternatively between chapters. While reading about the current goings-on about Gigi and Roman, you are also getting to see Nick and Benny’s interactions and what caused the feud between the Caputos and Montes to begin with. The chapters aren’t advertised with font or header effects to tell you from the start which time period you are reading, but after being jarred by the story a few chapters, I got into the habit of scanning the page for a name before diving back into the story. While that is something that bothers me, it might go unnoticable to someone else. I think I just get carried away by the story and forget that things might change. My galley didn’t start new chapters on a new page, and sometimes I found myself just skipping over the chapter titles as I read, which is a habit I have always had. The writing is done well enough though that you never need to re-read more than a paragraph if you get the same jolt as I did.
The characters are nice. It’s fun to see who is playing the part of the original in this modernization. While Gigi had more depth to her than Juliet did, the rest of the characters were still rather shallow in their development. This kept it similar to the original, but didn’t exactly make the new characters endearing. What really saved the story was the relationship between Nick and Benny in the past tense. Showing their relationship with one another, seeing what caused the feud, really saved the story for me. Yes, Benny over-reacted, but trying to place myself in his shoes, I understood it. He was being horribly stubborn, but after everything he had been through, I at least understood why. I found his story to be far more captivating than anything Gigi and Roman had to tell. Just as Romeo and Juliet fell for one another quickly, Roman and Gigi jumped into their relationship just as quickly. I found their relationship to be more believable, but I did like how the homage to the original was left intact in an obvious way instead of changing it to be unrecognizable.
I did really enjoy this book. I laughed, I cried, I had a nice time with it. My heart just broke for Benny, even once he started acting the jerk. I’ve recommended the series before, this book just re-enforces that recommendation.
Read this and other reviews at my blog.
November 27, 2014
Imagine a feud lasting for generations. None of the current family members have any idea why there has been a rift, a hatred, really, between the Caputo and Monte families, but they take turns lobbing pranks at each other, the latest happening just at the Caputos are struggling to keep customers coming to their old-fashioned Chicago Italian restaurant. The false alarm and subsequent deluge from the fire sprinklers did more damage than just dousing their customers and a restaurant reviewer with cold water. They were counting on a positive report to bring in more patrons.
The Caputos have a grand reopening under the guise of a Sweet 16 party for their daughter, Gigi. Her father has had to get an investor to help get them back on track, but, unbeknownst to him, it comes with a price. Gigi is expected to date the money man's son, Perry, an insufferable boor who'd rather discuss his digestive issues and who assumes Gigi will be thrilled to have him. In the middle of all of this, Gigi sees him. Some boy she has never laid eyes on before crashes her party, and when Perry starts to talk about an upcoming date that Gigi has not agreed to, this mystery boy swoops in and takes her away.
It's not until later that her furious cousins/protectors tell her the bad news...this perfect boy is Roman Monte, the son of their sworn enemy.
Nick and Benny were best friends from the neighborhood, with Benny's optimism is tempered by Nick's caution. Benny's the outgoing one, always flirting, so sure of himself. Nick is deliberate and wary of new things. But that doesn't stop him from talking to the most beautiful girl in the world who he meets while scared to death on the Sky Ride. He takes a chance and asks to meet her later, and she says yes. He never makes it, though, because Nick and Benny fight, and Nick misses his chance. Benny, once he realizes that Nick was serious about this girl, promises that he will find Stella for Nick.
A few years later, the friends open one of the first pizza joints in Chicago that isn't in an Italian neighborhood. Stella is lost and found again, and just as Nick is about to propose, Pearl Harbor is bombed. Will she wait for him?
There are twists and turns, missed opportunities, anger, bad timing, and broken hearts. Can there ever be forgiveness?
Whadja Think?: As a fan of Shakespeare and his universal stories that seem to ring true in any time period, I have always been a big devotee of the authors' Twisted Lit series. This take on Romeo and Juliet is so amazing; while it is a completely new and fresh story, you can definitely see and feel the original tale coming through. Not only are the characters there, the names are perfect variants of the Capulets and Montagues. Look for the Nurse, Tybalt and experience those "if he only knew" or "if she'd only waited" moments for which Romeo and Juliet is famous.
This is the first of this series to take place in two eras; both stories are deftly woven together, so at the end, when both tales merge, you can decide if you agree with Gigi when she says, "So it's a compete tragedy."
My only negative: I must say that I miss the type book cover that was on the first two books. They have an energy that is missing from the cover of this book. This one is pretty dull.
To Read or Not To Read: If you are a fan of this series, it is another home run, Honus Wagner. If you are a fan of Shakespeare or Shakespeare retellings, then this version is a rose that smells as sweet.
Anyone But You by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes was published January 1, 2014 by Merit Press. A free copy of this book was given to Ink and Page in return for an honest review. Big thanks to Merit Press and the Author.
Rating: 4
Genre: Young Adult Fiction Contemporary Historical Romance Series
Ages: 13 and up
You Might Want to Know: Nothing of note
The Caputos have a grand reopening under the guise of a Sweet 16 party for their daughter, Gigi. Her father has had to get an investor to help get them back on track, but, unbeknownst to him, it comes with a price. Gigi is expected to date the money man's son, Perry, an insufferable boor who'd rather discuss his digestive issues and who assumes Gigi will be thrilled to have him. In the middle of all of this, Gigi sees him. Some boy she has never laid eyes on before crashes her party, and when Perry starts to talk about an upcoming date that Gigi has not agreed to, this mystery boy swoops in and takes her away.
It's not until later that her furious cousins/protectors tell her the bad news...this perfect boy is Roman Monte, the son of their sworn enemy.
Nick and Benny were best friends from the neighborhood, with Benny's optimism is tempered by Nick's caution. Benny's the outgoing one, always flirting, so sure of himself. Nick is deliberate and wary of new things. But that doesn't stop him from talking to the most beautiful girl in the world who he meets while scared to death on the Sky Ride. He takes a chance and asks to meet her later, and she says yes. He never makes it, though, because Nick and Benny fight, and Nick misses his chance. Benny, once he realizes that Nick was serious about this girl, promises that he will find Stella for Nick.
A few years later, the friends open one of the first pizza joints in Chicago that isn't in an Italian neighborhood. Stella is lost and found again, and just as Nick is about to propose, Pearl Harbor is bombed. Will she wait for him?
There are twists and turns, missed opportunities, anger, bad timing, and broken hearts. Can there ever be forgiveness?
Whadja Think?: As a fan of Shakespeare and his universal stories that seem to ring true in any time period, I have always been a big devotee of the authors' Twisted Lit series. This take on Romeo and Juliet is so amazing; while it is a completely new and fresh story, you can definitely see and feel the original tale coming through. Not only are the characters there, the names are perfect variants of the Capulets and Montagues. Look for the Nurse, Tybalt and experience those "if he only knew" or "if she'd only waited" moments for which Romeo and Juliet is famous.
This is the first of this series to take place in two eras; both stories are deftly woven together, so at the end, when both tales merge, you can decide if you agree with Gigi when she says, "So it's a compete tragedy."
My only negative: I must say that I miss the type book cover that was on the first two books. They have an energy that is missing from the cover of this book. This one is pretty dull.
To Read or Not To Read: If you are a fan of this series, it is another home run, Honus Wagner. If you are a fan of Shakespeare or Shakespeare retellings, then this version is a rose that smells as sweet.
Anyone But You by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes was published January 1, 2014 by Merit Press. A free copy of this book was given to Ink and Page in return for an honest review. Big thanks to Merit Press and the Author.
Rating: 4
Genre: Young Adult Fiction Contemporary Historical Romance Series
Ages: 13 and up
You Might Want to Know: Nothing of note
January 17, 2014
More reviews at Mrs. ReaderPants.
WHAT I LIKED: This story follows Shakespeare's original in some unique ways. You have Gigi Caputo and Roman Monte (Romeo and Juliet) meeting at a party and falling for each other despite the inexplicable feud between their families. Gigi's cousin Ty (Tybalt) talks a lot of smack and ends up getting hurt at Roman's hands. Another boy, Perry (Paris), wants to date Gigi and attempts to use his family's influence to do just that. There is also a B-17 fighter plane called "Fair Rosaline," a "lark" singing sweetly, and several quotations from the original play. Better yet, each of the chapter titles is a quotation from Romeo & Juliet.
I liked how there are two stories going on simultaneously. Both are interesting and both are strongly connected. Readers will know early on that Benny and Nick are going to have a falling out over Stella at some point, but what will cause it? How is it that they never resolved it after all this time? What came of the situation? Askew and Helmes weave both stories together seamlessly and with perfect timing.
I liked the ending! It goes with Romeo & Juliet but the feud ends in a much happier way than its predecessor. Anyone But You would make a fantastic companion novel for high school English classes reading Romeo & Juliet. I think reading Anyone But You might help struggling readers draw modern connections to characters and dialogue from the original. It would also help introduce middle school readers to the classic story that they will most likely have to read in high school.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: As in R & J, the romance and "I love yous" come way too quickly, and I am never a fan of the insta-love. None of the characters are well-developed, and I never really bought into Roman and Gigi as a couple. We're talking like two dates here; what do they even know about each other? Why should readers care about whether or not they make it as a couple?
THE BOTTOM LINE: It's fun and cute and follows Shakespeare's original quite well. Teens will enjoy this story, even if they are not familiar with Romeo & Juliet.
STATUS IN MY LIBRARY: On order.
READALIKES: Tempestuous (Askew; twist on Shakespeare's The Tempest), Exposure (Askew, twist on Shakespeare's Macbeth); Romiette & Julio (Draper)
RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 4/5
Creativity: 5/5
Characters: 3/5
Engrossing: 3/5
Writing: 4/5
Appeal to teens: 4/5
Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5
CONTENT:
Language: mild; a few damns
Sexuality: mild; some kissing, Roman's hands start to roam under Gigi's shirt, but she stops the kiss before it goes further
Violence: mild; some empty threats of fighting
Drugs/Alcohol: none
Other: (highlight to view--contains spoiler)--Librarians/teachers/parents concerned about the suicide at the end of R & J can rest easy--there is no suicide in this one.
January 1, 2014
Review Posted on Reading Lark 1/1/14: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2014/...
I have become a huge fan of the Twisted Lit series by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes. I love how these ladies take Shakespeare's plays and update them with contemporary situations and characters. It's nice to see Shakespeare's plots and themes getting a modern face lift.
Anyone But You was inspired by Romeo and Juliet, one of my favorites. I have always found the concept of star crossed lovers to be intriguing and tragically beautiful. There is something poetic about two people who defy the odds to be together when the world (or maybe just their families) stand against them. I went into this one wondering if Askew and Helmes would follow the Bard's lead by killing off their romantic leads. That shall stay a secret; you will have to read this one to see if they stay true to that element or deviate to their own path.
Anyone But You is the story of two feuding Italian families in Chicago. Each family, The Caputos and The Montes, own popular restaurants. The two families can no longer remember what started the feud in the 1940's, but the tension is still going strong. Malicious pranks from both sides cause some series trouble - particularly for The Caputos when there restaurant is flooded - that lead to a path of financial ruin. Both families are too stubborn to work through their issues. A chance meeting between the young heirs of the businesses leads to a forbidden romance that could have dire consequences. Yes, there is a bit of instalove in this one, but let's be real, Shakespeare used instalove in the original.
There was something about this story that pulled me in from the first sentence. I loved both Gigi and Roman. In addition, I enjoyed the dynamics of the families and how they interacted with one another. It was easy to pick out which characters were directly inspired by those in the original play. This is my favorite novel in the Twisted Lit series so far.
In addition to loving these characters, I really enjoyed the narration style. It bounces back and forth between the present day and the 1930's & 1940's. The origins of the feud are slowly revealed through the past sections. The blending of history and contemporary made for a read I couldn't put down.
One Last Gripe: There is an ABC Family movie that is a Romeo and Juliet retelling that focuses on two Italian pizza making families. I kept thinking of that movie while reading this one and kept seeing the main characters as the actors. It annoyed me because other than the Italian food and Romeo and Juliet factors, the stories are very different. This is more a gripe about my brain than anything with the novel.
My Favorite Thing About This Book: I loved the historical sections and how they bled into the events of the present.
First Sentence: I took a deep breath and backed through the swinging stainless steel door, leaving the chaos of the kitchen and entering the hushed, dimly lit dining room.
Favorite Character: Gigi
Least Favorite Character: Perry
I have become a huge fan of the Twisted Lit series by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes. I love how these ladies take Shakespeare's plays and update them with contemporary situations and characters. It's nice to see Shakespeare's plots and themes getting a modern face lift.
Anyone But You was inspired by Romeo and Juliet, one of my favorites. I have always found the concept of star crossed lovers to be intriguing and tragically beautiful. There is something poetic about two people who defy the odds to be together when the world (or maybe just their families) stand against them. I went into this one wondering if Askew and Helmes would follow the Bard's lead by killing off their romantic leads. That shall stay a secret; you will have to read this one to see if they stay true to that element or deviate to their own path.
Anyone But You is the story of two feuding Italian families in Chicago. Each family, The Caputos and The Montes, own popular restaurants. The two families can no longer remember what started the feud in the 1940's, but the tension is still going strong. Malicious pranks from both sides cause some series trouble - particularly for The Caputos when there restaurant is flooded - that lead to a path of financial ruin. Both families are too stubborn to work through their issues. A chance meeting between the young heirs of the businesses leads to a forbidden romance that could have dire consequences. Yes, there is a bit of instalove in this one, but let's be real, Shakespeare used instalove in the original.
There was something about this story that pulled me in from the first sentence. I loved both Gigi and Roman. In addition, I enjoyed the dynamics of the families and how they interacted with one another. It was easy to pick out which characters were directly inspired by those in the original play. This is my favorite novel in the Twisted Lit series so far.
In addition to loving these characters, I really enjoyed the narration style. It bounces back and forth between the present day and the 1930's & 1940's. The origins of the feud are slowly revealed through the past sections. The blending of history and contemporary made for a read I couldn't put down.
One Last Gripe: There is an ABC Family movie that is a Romeo and Juliet retelling that focuses on two Italian pizza making families. I kept thinking of that movie while reading this one and kept seeing the main characters as the actors. It annoyed me because other than the Italian food and Romeo and Juliet factors, the stories are very different. This is more a gripe about my brain than anything with the novel.
My Favorite Thing About This Book: I loved the historical sections and how they bled into the events of the present.
First Sentence: I took a deep breath and backed through the swinging stainless steel door, leaving the chaos of the kitchen and entering the hushed, dimly lit dining room.
Favorite Character: Gigi
Least Favorite Character: Perry
December 24, 2013
I loved the previous books in the Twisted Lit series, and what makes them even better is that they can be read as a stand alone. As I've previously mentioned when reading these books I haven't read much Shakespeare, in fact one of the only books I have read was Romeo and Juliet for school, and that was years ago, but even if you haven't read Romeo and Juliet, everyone has heard of their story. Anyone But You is an updated, twist on this story and not only did I not hesitate in saying YES to review this book, I couldn't wait to make a start on it.
Gigi is the protagonist, her family have an Italian restaurant that is slowly declining, their perfect opportunity to get more publicity is dashed when a prank pulled by rival restaurant owners, and also feuding family, the Montes, ruins their chance, and shuts the restaurant down for a month. Things are looking extremely grim for this family, and to make matters worse Gigi is falling for Romeo Monte after he gatecrashes her party.
Throughout Anyone But You we are given flashbacks into the past, and over the years we get to see how these two families became enemies and how a presumption can change a friendship formed over the years.
I absolutely loved Anyone But You, so much more than the previous books. I laughed, cried, and smiled a lot whilst reading, and while I'm not going to give the details away, just know that I devoured every single page. I really like how the history of these two families is placed between present day chapters, giving us a better look into the past over a period of years, but also getting to see these families in the present day. Both time frames blended together perfectly to make read that really draws you in and lets you try to connect the dots yourself. It actually took me a while to make the connection over a certain character, and when I realised who it was I was shocked at myself for not picking up on it earlier, but also loved the way it connected the past with the present..
From start to finish I could not put Anyone But You down, and when I finally reached the last page I was sad to see it end. I would have definitely enjoyed this version of Romeo and Juliet's story if I could have read it in school.
Gigi is the protagonist, her family have an Italian restaurant that is slowly declining, their perfect opportunity to get more publicity is dashed when a prank pulled by rival restaurant owners, and also feuding family, the Montes, ruins their chance, and shuts the restaurant down for a month. Things are looking extremely grim for this family, and to make matters worse Gigi is falling for Romeo Monte after he gatecrashes her party.
Throughout Anyone But You we are given flashbacks into the past, and over the years we get to see how these two families became enemies and how a presumption can change a friendship formed over the years.
I absolutely loved Anyone But You, so much more than the previous books. I laughed, cried, and smiled a lot whilst reading, and while I'm not going to give the details away, just know that I devoured every single page. I really like how the history of these two families is placed between present day chapters, giving us a better look into the past over a period of years, but also getting to see these families in the present day. Both time frames blended together perfectly to make read that really draws you in and lets you try to connect the dots yourself. It actually took me a while to make the connection over a certain character, and when I realised who it was I was shocked at myself for not picking up on it earlier, but also loved the way it connected the past with the present..
From start to finish I could not put Anyone But You down, and when I finally reached the last page I was sad to see it end. I would have definitely enjoyed this version of Romeo and Juliet's story if I could have read it in school.
January 31, 2014
I'm a big fan of retellings, though I don't read nearly enough of them. Though I've seen plenty movie adaptions and retellings for this classic tale, Romeo and Julier, I think this is the first I've actually sat down to read. The similarities were quite eerie, with the last names of the family bearing a healthy resemblance. Our main character is Gigi Caputo, a teenage girl who helps out in the family pizzeria. Decades ago this family restaurant began, and for as long as anyone can remember, they have been at war with the Montes, another Italian family who owns a pizza shop in their small town. In fact, the feud has been going on so long no one is quite sure what started it all.
Through some interesting circumstances, Gigi finds herself meeting a handsome boy her age who goes by the name of Roman. Sparks fly instantly and before she knows it she is falling for this boy she barely knew: a very strong sense of insta-love here. Normally this is something I hate, but I was prepared and saw it coming since, after all, this is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, the biggest inst-love story of all time. It's not until she's already attached to him that she discovers he's a member of the Monte clan, one of her sworn enemies. Obviously her family freaks, and the story goes from there.
Throughout the book the couple battle for the right to be together, all while trying to solve the mystery that is the feud between their families. The book alternates between past and present, and I really liked slowly finding out why the feud began in the first place. I saw it coming long before it was revealed, but it was still a fun ride. We also get to see financial hardship and a lot of pressing times on the Caputo side, and the whole time I had my fingers crossed that they'd somehow manage to pull through.
Gigi and Roman were both decent characters, though I preferred Roman more. I loved how sweet he was, how he'd do anything to stay with Gig: and he was such a gentleman! Gigi was good too, though a bit whiny at times and pushy. As a teen girl under a fair share of stress though, this was understandable and didn't hinder my enjoyment of the story all that much. Anyone But You was short and sweet, a great reminder of why I need to pick up more retellings in the future.
Through some interesting circumstances, Gigi finds herself meeting a handsome boy her age who goes by the name of Roman. Sparks fly instantly and before she knows it she is falling for this boy she barely knew: a very strong sense of insta-love here. Normally this is something I hate, but I was prepared and saw it coming since, after all, this is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, the biggest inst-love story of all time. It's not until she's already attached to him that she discovers he's a member of the Monte clan, one of her sworn enemies. Obviously her family freaks, and the story goes from there.
Throughout the book the couple battle for the right to be together, all while trying to solve the mystery that is the feud between their families. The book alternates between past and present, and I really liked slowly finding out why the feud began in the first place. I saw it coming long before it was revealed, but it was still a fun ride. We also get to see financial hardship and a lot of pressing times on the Caputo side, and the whole time I had my fingers crossed that they'd somehow manage to pull through.
Gigi and Roman were both decent characters, though I preferred Roman more. I loved how sweet he was, how he'd do anything to stay with Gig: and he was such a gentleman! Gigi was good too, though a bit whiny at times and pushy. As a teen girl under a fair share of stress though, this was understandable and didn't hinder my enjoyment of the story all that much. Anyone But You was short and sweet, a great reminder of why I need to pick up more retellings in the future.
December 25, 2013
I read the first and second books in this series, which were based on The Tempest and Macbeth, so I was super excited to be able to read the third book by these amazing authors! They always make the Shakespearean plays much more fun!
Caputos hate the Montes. Nobody really knows where this hate started but they know that it will continue, anyway. Gigi is a Caputo. Roman is a Monte. They should be doing anything but falling in love with each other. Will these two be able to stop a decades old feud between the families, for the sake of their love?
I love Romeo and Juliet. I love their young, innocent love, and their insistence to stay in love even when they know that their families will never approve of each other. This element was present in this book, too, and i LOVED it. But what I really appreciated about this book, was the style of the retelling. Although most of the book is Gigi and Roman's story, it's also Nick Monte and Benny Caputo's story, the two ancestors who started this. It started from the very first and told us exactly why this all started and i KNOW that if this was told in another kind of way, it wouldn't have been so effective. These two authors definitely know how to present their back-stories and they did it perfectly.
The characters in this story are colorful, three-dimensional and altogether lovely! I loved Gigi and her bravery. And Roman was the typical, swoon-worthy guy in YA. But what bothered me was the insta-romance. I know that it's a factor from the original Romeo and Juliet, but I wished there was more development to the romance. Not just an "Hello. I just met you. But I love you". I hate that, but because this book was so good, it didn't bother me as much as it should have done.
I am definitely waiting for more from these authors. Kim and Amy have a witty, intriguing and daring writing style. And there take on the Shakespeare plays is one to behold! If you're a fan of a much more fun retelling of the tragic Romeo and Juliet, then this book is for you!
Caputos hate the Montes. Nobody really knows where this hate started but they know that it will continue, anyway. Gigi is a Caputo. Roman is a Monte. They should be doing anything but falling in love with each other. Will these two be able to stop a decades old feud between the families, for the sake of their love?
I love Romeo and Juliet. I love their young, innocent love, and their insistence to stay in love even when they know that their families will never approve of each other. This element was present in this book, too, and i LOVED it. But what I really appreciated about this book, was the style of the retelling. Although most of the book is Gigi and Roman's story, it's also Nick Monte and Benny Caputo's story, the two ancestors who started this. It started from the very first and told us exactly why this all started and i KNOW that if this was told in another kind of way, it wouldn't have been so effective. These two authors definitely know how to present their back-stories and they did it perfectly.
The characters in this story are colorful, three-dimensional and altogether lovely! I loved Gigi and her bravery. And Roman was the typical, swoon-worthy guy in YA. But what bothered me was the insta-romance. I know that it's a factor from the original Romeo and Juliet, but I wished there was more development to the romance. Not just an "Hello. I just met you. But I love you". I hate that, but because this book was so good, it didn't bother me as much as it should have done.
I am definitely waiting for more from these authors. Kim and Amy have a witty, intriguing and daring writing style. And there take on the Shakespeare plays is one to behold! If you're a fan of a much more fun retelling of the tragic Romeo and Juliet, then this book is for you!
February 9, 2014
Anyone But You Other reviews at The Book Babe's Reads.
Romeo & Juliet is one of my least favorite Shakespeare plays. I just can't get over the stupidity of the entire story, and I really don't find it romantic. Insta-love, then everyone dies. That's a real winner there. Which is why I was pleasantly surprised to find that I actually enjoyed Anyone But You. I was expecting the humor and the sense of romantic comedy that comes with these girls together, but this was the first book of theirs that I really liked.
At first, I was a little bit confused, and kind of unsure - as y'all know, I don't follow POV switches very well - unless they're very well written. And while the POVs in Anyone But You weren't badly written, not at all, the first switch was very confusing. Not only did it switch POVs, it all switched eras. Like, all the way back to the thirties - and that was a tiny bit disconcerting at first.
I didn't connect with the main character, Gigi, and I didn't really buy the romance between Roman and Gigi - but I'm willing to forgive the instalove. Because, as I mentioned before, the original play was built on insta-love. I would have liked to have seen more development, but I'm fine with what was presented.
I actually liked the scenes from the past, told through Nick's eyes, better than the present day. Nick was a more complex character, and it was nice to see all of the things that tore Benny & Nick apart. The development in that part of the story was absolutely phenomenal! I predicted what the problem would be, but since I'd already read the play... it was okay.
The most interesting part of Anyone But You was picking out names and faces and personalities from the original play - and comparing them. That was a lot of fun. All in all, Anyone But You really wasn't a bad read. I actually really liked it, and it was a wonderful re-imagining of Romeo & Juliet.
Romeo & Juliet is one of my least favorite Shakespeare plays. I just can't get over the stupidity of the entire story, and I really don't find it romantic. Insta-love, then everyone dies. That's a real winner there. Which is why I was pleasantly surprised to find that I actually enjoyed Anyone But You. I was expecting the humor and the sense of romantic comedy that comes with these girls together, but this was the first book of theirs that I really liked.
At first, I was a little bit confused, and kind of unsure - as y'all know, I don't follow POV switches very well - unless they're very well written. And while the POVs in Anyone But You weren't badly written, not at all, the first switch was very confusing. Not only did it switch POVs, it all switched eras. Like, all the way back to the thirties - and that was a tiny bit disconcerting at first.
I didn't connect with the main character, Gigi, and I didn't really buy the romance between Roman and Gigi - but I'm willing to forgive the instalove. Because, as I mentioned before, the original play was built on insta-love. I would have liked to have seen more development, but I'm fine with what was presented.
I actually liked the scenes from the past, told through Nick's eyes, better than the present day. Nick was a more complex character, and it was nice to see all of the things that tore Benny & Nick apart. The development in that part of the story was absolutely phenomenal! I predicted what the problem would be, but since I'd already read the play... it was okay.
The most interesting part of Anyone But You was picking out names and faces and personalities from the original play - and comparing them. That was a lot of fun. All in all, Anyone But You really wasn't a bad read. I actually really liked it, and it was a wonderful re-imagining of Romeo & Juliet.
January 10, 2014
I'll come right out and say it: Romeo and Juliet is my least favourite Shakespearean work that I've read. But when I got the opportunity to read and review the latest book in the Twisted Lit series, I took it on anyway.
This one is told in alternating past and present chapters. I'm not a huge fan of alternating chapters, but these ones were wildly different between narrators and situations, that at least I wasn't confused. I ended up preferring the past chapters over the present ones.
Our main character is Gigi (short for Julietta) Caputo, who, not surprisingly, falls in love with the enemy, Roman Monte. This was a major case of instalove. Like three days to "I love you". But Romeo and Juliet is kind of the definition of instalove, so I guess it fits right? But I didn't enjoy Gigi and Roman's relationship as much as I would have if it hadn't gone so quickly.
The past story centers on two best friends: Nick Monte and Benny Caputo. Like I said above, I actually preferred Nick and Benny's story over Gigi and Roman's. And it was sad! I actually cried in this one, which I was completely not expecting.
This one took me ages to get into. In fact, the first 70% of the book was kind of meh for me. I didn't connect that well with Gigi and reading about a couple of young boys decades ago didn't connect with me that well either. However, I loved the last 30%. That's when all the excitement happens and I raced through the last few chapters to see exactly how things would end up.
As far as being a retelling, the basics were there, but there was definitely a lot of original content as well. It's been a long time since I read the orginial, but there were some characters I definitely found familiar (a headstrong, fiery Ty anyone?).
Overall, Anyone But You started off slow for me, but I ended up loving the final chapters. I'll definitely keep my eyes open for the next Twist Lit installment.
This one is told in alternating past and present chapters. I'm not a huge fan of alternating chapters, but these ones were wildly different between narrators and situations, that at least I wasn't confused. I ended up preferring the past chapters over the present ones.
Our main character is Gigi (short for Julietta) Caputo, who, not surprisingly, falls in love with the enemy, Roman Monte. This was a major case of instalove. Like three days to "I love you". But Romeo and Juliet is kind of the definition of instalove, so I guess it fits right? But I didn't enjoy Gigi and Roman's relationship as much as I would have if it hadn't gone so quickly.
The past story centers on two best friends: Nick Monte and Benny Caputo. Like I said above, I actually preferred Nick and Benny's story over Gigi and Roman's. And it was sad! I actually cried in this one, which I was completely not expecting.
This one took me ages to get into. In fact, the first 70% of the book was kind of meh for me. I didn't connect that well with Gigi and reading about a couple of young boys decades ago didn't connect with me that well either. However, I loved the last 30%. That's when all the excitement happens and I raced through the last few chapters to see exactly how things would end up.
As far as being a retelling, the basics were there, but there was definitely a lot of original content as well. It's been a long time since I read the orginial, but there were some characters I definitely found familiar (a headstrong, fiery Ty anyone?).
Overall, Anyone But You started off slow for me, but I ended up loving the final chapters. I'll definitely keep my eyes open for the next Twist Lit installment.
July 8, 2019
DNF before the eight chapter and let me tell you why.
First off all there's Perry, who's you know that guy. The non-love interest who the author makes all placid and boring so you root for the other guy. But did the author have to be so obvious about it?
You chicks are suckers for flowers. And, well, I am nothing if not a gentleman.”
Seriously what teenager speaks like that?
None.
And there's Gigi's and Roman's first meeting. It has to be interesting and intense, right? If there going to go against their family's wishes, (as the synopsis states) to see each other, then it stands to reason that their first encounter will special.
“And the crazy orders people come up with: ‘I’d like a house salad, only hold the onions, dressing, tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce.’ Why not just order a plate of croutons?” “Yeah,” he said. “Don’t even get me started on splitting a check nine ways.”
I'm serious. That cringe worthy, obviously forced, conversation is their first time talking to each other. Woah, I can practically see the love blooming between them. Not.
And then there's what Roman says to Perry which is :
“Sorry, Barry—” “It’s Perry.” “Perry, right. See you around."
As if I didn't see that move a thousand times before. If you're doing something cliché, at least make it come out sauve and cool.
And then, when Gigi finds out who Roman is :
I gasped and cupped the palm of my hand over my mouth.
Rolling my eyes. Like, she's in some low budget movie and can't act.
And then,
I’d met the boy who was most likely going to haunt both my dreams and my every waking hour, but my cousins had all but promised to skin him alive if I ever saw him again.
Of your dreams? You literally met him a second ago! And had one awful conversation about being a waiter/waiteress.
Insta love at it's finest.
I'm probably being too harsh but I was really looking forward to a good 'enemies to lovers' romance and instead I got this.
First off all there's Perry, who's you know that guy. The non-love interest who the author makes all placid and boring so you root for the other guy. But did the author have to be so obvious about it?
You chicks are suckers for flowers. And, well, I am nothing if not a gentleman.”
Seriously what teenager speaks like that?
None.
And there's Gigi's and Roman's first meeting. It has to be interesting and intense, right? If there going to go against their family's wishes, (as the synopsis states) to see each other, then it stands to reason that their first encounter will special.
“And the crazy orders people come up with: ‘I’d like a house salad, only hold the onions, dressing, tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce.’ Why not just order a plate of croutons?” “Yeah,” he said. “Don’t even get me started on splitting a check nine ways.”
I'm serious. That cringe worthy, obviously forced, conversation is their first time talking to each other. Woah, I can practically see the love blooming between them. Not.
And then there's what Roman says to Perry which is :
“Sorry, Barry—” “It’s Perry.” “Perry, right. See you around."
As if I didn't see that move a thousand times before. If you're doing something cliché, at least make it come out sauve and cool.
And then, when Gigi finds out who Roman is :
I gasped and cupped the palm of my hand over my mouth.
Rolling my eyes. Like, she's in some low budget movie and can't act.
And then,
I’d met the boy who was most likely going to haunt both my dreams and my every waking hour, but my cousins had all but promised to skin him alive if I ever saw him again.
Of your dreams? You literally met him a second ago! And had one awful conversation about being a waiter/waiteress.
Insta love at it's finest.
I'm probably being too harsh but I was really looking forward to a good 'enemies to lovers' romance and instead I got this.
May 1, 2017
Check out the authors' guest post and a giveaway here.
I have been looking forward to reading Anyone But You as I enjoyed the first two books in this series and because it's a retelling of Romeo and Juliet. I was really curious how the authors would set the story, who would be our star-crossed lovers, and what the ending would be, tragic or not.
I just have to say that I loved the characters! I loved Gigi and Roman! They played their parts perfectly. I would have loved more dialogue from them, since they pretty much experience love at first sight. I also enjoyed all the other characters: The Monte and Caputo families, the other friends, family, and restaurant staff. The lingo was fun, as was the memories back in time.
The story was fun and romantic, except for the heartbreaking moments when Gigi's family struggles and the issues and events dealing with the feud. There were parts towards the end, where we slip into the past, that just about had me crying! Then there were sweet and swoon-worthy moments. I also enjoyed the teasing that went on in the restaurant and between family. I liked how the story switches from the present to the past as Gigi tries to find out how the feud between her and Roman's families even started.
This was an enjoyable story that felt historic and sweet, but had plenty of humor, heartbreak, and romance. If you enjoy reading Contemporary YA, retellings, and enjoy Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet then I would definitely recommend Anyone But You.
Content: There is some mild swearing and some crude discussions, but relatively clean and consistent with the setting and characters.
Source: From the author & NetGalley, which did not affect my review in any way.
I have been looking forward to reading Anyone But You as I enjoyed the first two books in this series and because it's a retelling of Romeo and Juliet. I was really curious how the authors would set the story, who would be our star-crossed lovers, and what the ending would be, tragic or not.
I just have to say that I loved the characters! I loved Gigi and Roman! They played their parts perfectly. I would have loved more dialogue from them, since they pretty much experience love at first sight. I also enjoyed all the other characters: The Monte and Caputo families, the other friends, family, and restaurant staff. The lingo was fun, as was the memories back in time.
The story was fun and romantic, except for the heartbreaking moments when Gigi's family struggles and the issues and events dealing with the feud. There were parts towards the end, where we slip into the past, that just about had me crying! Then there were sweet and swoon-worthy moments. I also enjoyed the teasing that went on in the restaurant and between family. I liked how the story switches from the present to the past as Gigi tries to find out how the feud between her and Roman's families even started.
This was an enjoyable story that felt historic and sweet, but had plenty of humor, heartbreak, and romance. If you enjoy reading Contemporary YA, retellings, and enjoy Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet then I would definitely recommend Anyone But You.
Content: There is some mild swearing and some crude discussions, but relatively clean and consistent with the setting and characters.
Source: From the author & NetGalley, which did not affect my review in any way.
January 23, 2014
First off: don't worry about the fact that this is the third book in a series. All that connects the books is the authors and the fact that they're all based on Shakespearean plays. You can read them in any order.
ANYONE BUT YOU is Kim Askew and Amy Helmes' take on Romeo and Juliet. In this case, Roman and Gigi are the heirs to competing Italian restaurants. The book switches back in forth through time, telling the story of Gigi and Roman's romance as well as the history of their families' feud, which started with two boys (Nick and Benny) and a girl (Stella).
Honestly, Romeo and Juliet is not my favorite play by any stretch of the imagination. And I was never fully into the romance. There's nothing wrong with Gigi and Roman, but they meet, find each other cute, start dating. It doesn't span that much more time than the original either.
On the other hand, I love love loved the flashback story. You've got the World's Fair, two best friends sticking by each other no matter what, ambition, love, jealousy, war . . . I'd have happily read an entire book just about Nick, Benny, and Stella. I particularly liked how my sympathies shifted throughout as more became clear about the characters and their actions. It was also so tense since the future parts were there and thus it clearly has to go terribly awry at some point. (And, oh, how it did.)
ANYONE BUT YOU doesn't reinvent the forbidden-romance wheel, but it does keep it rolling along nicely. While I am enjoying the Twisted Lit series, the past parts do bode well for when Askew and Helmes venture out into other projects.
ANYONE BUT YOU is Kim Askew and Amy Helmes' take on Romeo and Juliet. In this case, Roman and Gigi are the heirs to competing Italian restaurants. The book switches back in forth through time, telling the story of Gigi and Roman's romance as well as the history of their families' feud, which started with two boys (Nick and Benny) and a girl (Stella).
Honestly, Romeo and Juliet is not my favorite play by any stretch of the imagination. And I was never fully into the romance. There's nothing wrong with Gigi and Roman, but they meet, find each other cute, start dating. It doesn't span that much more time than the original either.
On the other hand, I love love loved the flashback story. You've got the World's Fair, two best friends sticking by each other no matter what, ambition, love, jealousy, war . . . I'd have happily read an entire book just about Nick, Benny, and Stella. I particularly liked how my sympathies shifted throughout as more became clear about the characters and their actions. It was also so tense since the future parts were there and thus it clearly has to go terribly awry at some point. (And, oh, how it did.)
ANYONE BUT YOU doesn't reinvent the forbidden-romance wheel, but it does keep it rolling along nicely. While I am enjoying the Twisted Lit series, the past parts do bode well for when Askew and Helmes venture out into other projects.
January 3, 2014
I have to be honest, I have never been one for retellings! I think the originals are so unique that we shouldn't redo anything. But I understand the wants and needs of the public to rehash things and make them better or switch them up and make it more current. So I'm going with it!
Romeo and Juliet has to be one of my favorite "old school" stories. I can cry with the best of them when I read it and so I was very interested in seeing where this book would lead me! Now the story jumps from modern times, back to the past and it makes me crazy, as my fans know, I am not ever a fan of jumping around. It's a slow read and you really need to know your Romeo and Juliet to know this book.
I love the rapidness of the romance. I think that is so much like Romeo and Juliet that I just love the feel of true love and all that jazz! The authors did such a great job of keeping the romance real and current. Gigi and Roman are so well written characters that you want to help them and root for them til the end of things. This reminds me of, "Pizza my Heart" movie which surrounds the story line with a pizza shop and two love birds.
I would really love to read more Twisted-Lit after reading this.
My rating:
4 stars
Romeo and Juliet has to be one of my favorite "old school" stories. I can cry with the best of them when I read it and so I was very interested in seeing where this book would lead me! Now the story jumps from modern times, back to the past and it makes me crazy, as my fans know, I am not ever a fan of jumping around. It's a slow read and you really need to know your Romeo and Juliet to know this book.
I love the rapidness of the romance. I think that is so much like Romeo and Juliet that I just love the feel of true love and all that jazz! The authors did such a great job of keeping the romance real and current. Gigi and Roman are so well written characters that you want to help them and root for them til the end of things. This reminds me of, "Pizza my Heart" movie which surrounds the story line with a pizza shop and two love birds.
I would really love to read more Twisted-Lit after reading this.
My rating:
4 stars
February 24, 2014
I loved this modern 'twist' on Romeo and Juliet. Both the past, and present stories, were so absorbing.
My heart broke for Nick when he realized who Benny's girl was. He was an awesome friend to Benny and, when he thought that Benny and Stella had betrayed him, it was so heart-wrenching. This showed how, being stubborn and not talking about situations can change the whole course of a person's life. I kept thinking, "If only Nick would've talked to Benny... " "If only he would've let Stella explain... " I thought about this long after I finished the book. I love a book where the characters seem real to me and that makes me think.
Gigi is also a terrific character. I could feel her frustration with her family despite her loyalty. It would be so hard to go against your family for something you really want. There'd always be that guilt, but if you didn't go for what you wanted, there'd probably always be regret. I loved her relationship with her family and I was so thrilled, though saddened, by the ending.
A very fulfilling and satisfying story. One that stayed with me for quite a while and will always be on my 'Keeper Shelf'.
My heart broke for Nick when he realized who Benny's girl was. He was an awesome friend to Benny and, when he thought that Benny and Stella had betrayed him, it was so heart-wrenching. This showed how, being stubborn and not talking about situations can change the whole course of a person's life. I kept thinking, "If only Nick would've talked to Benny... " "If only he would've let Stella explain... " I thought about this long after I finished the book. I love a book where the characters seem real to me and that makes me think.
Gigi is also a terrific character. I could feel her frustration with her family despite her loyalty. It would be so hard to go against your family for something you really want. There'd always be that guilt, but if you didn't go for what you wanted, there'd probably always be regret. I loved her relationship with her family and I was so thrilled, though saddened, by the ending.
A very fulfilling and satisfying story. One that stayed with me for quite a while and will always be on my 'Keeper Shelf'.
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