Much Ado About Soulmates

by Elsie McLean

A modern take on Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, with a soulmate twist.

Everyone sees the world in black and white, that is, until they meet their soulmate. Then, with that person by their side, the world is in dazzling colour.

Happily ever after. Right?

But love is never that simple.

Certainly not for Beatrice Massey, whose soulmate, Ben Thackary, is a dick who broke her heart seven years ago.

Or for Ben, who doesn’t understand why his soulmate wants nothing to do with him.

When Beatrice’s sister, Imogen, discovers her soulmate is movie star Oliver Black, their lavish destination wedding in the Italian countryside of Messina is supposed to be the stuff of fairytales.

But as old friends gather to celebrate, they learn that nothing is simple when soulmates are involved.

Told through multiple different perspectives, Much ado about Soulmates tells the story of three different relationships that are changed forever over the course of six days.

Genres: Romance, Retellings, Adult, Contemporary Romance

392 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2025

About the author

Elsie McLean is the pen name for a pair of sisters, Laura and Caroline McLean, living in Vancouver and Toronto respectively. They share a love of rom coms, Shakespeare, and have been creating stories together since before they could write.

Reviews

[SJARR ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, this is apparently a retelling/reimagining of Shakespeare’s "Much Ado About Nothing”.
I have not personally read that story, but I don’t think it effected my ability to understand this one.

I really did like the premise of this story.
People see the world in black and white until they meet their soulmate.
But even when you do meet your soulmate- it does not mean that you will actually be together.
I think that is a really fun idea, with a lot of room for romance, and a lot of room for potential tragedy.
Very Shakespeare coded, right?

I did struggle a bit with this book, i must admit.
I think there are just too many POVs and too many characters. There is a lot going on here. While this does bring some uniqueness to the story, i found it difficult to keep up with.
I also didn’t feel like i was really able to develop a particular connection to anyone, because there was a bigger focus on the amount of characters, as opposed to their individual development.

With this being said, there were some things i liked about it!

The drama.
There is a point in this story in which things get pretty dramatic, and quite entertaining. Mainly for Imogen and Oliver. My reading pace defintley picked up here and i was really nervous to see how things would play out for them in the end.

I liked Beatrice and ben as well.
The idea of someone who doesn’t believe in or care about soulmates finally opening up and letting love into their heart is pretty simplistic, but it was done really well here.

Notable mention: The moment when people meet their soulmate? So CUTE! I mean it is actually adorable to imagine their black and white world developing to full color when they meet the one.
I really liked that.

Overall, there were things about this I really liked, and some things I didn’t like as much. But I do think it is an enjoyable story.

Thank you to Netgalley, victory editing, and author Elsie McLean for providing me with the eARC of "Much Ado About Soulmates", in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: September 1st, 2025

[corriature · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★☆☆

I want to start off by saying this is probably just not the book for me—I’m not typically a fan of retellings but wondered if this one might work for me since it’s in a contemporary romance world.

The writing was great, but for me, there were too many POV swaps. I’m also not a huge fan of long, drawn-out miscommunications. I know those are very popular in this genre, though, so I think a lot of people will really enjoy this, as it’s being set up for a series, I believe.

That being said, I think this would be such a fun romcom to watch! Really funny, dramatic, and chaotic all-around.

[Kez Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the concept of this, living in a world without seeing any colour until you meet your soulmate.
I loved the twist on the Shakespeare play, and seeing all the angst between Ben and Beatrice, especially as they try to pretend they can't see colours to their friends and try to deny their soulmate connection.
It was a fun journey, with all the chaos and drama with their friends wedding, and navigating all the miscommunication.
There was a lot of pov's to follow as it bounces between the friendship group and the 2 MC's, but it did add layers to the story and alternative angles for seeing how everyone saw Ben and Beatrice, as well as explore their own dramas and conflicts behind the scenes compared to the masks they wore externally.
It was filled with regrets, secrets, longing, and seeing that love means compromise and sometimes sacrifice.

[Miranda Dell'Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up with she’s the man and 10 things I hate about you. This book is reminiscent of that kind of storytelling from the witty banter, clever twists of Shakespeare’s plays, and satisfying endings.

The wedding of the century features a two soulmates, Imogen and Oliver, embarking on their fairytale Italian wedding with a group of friends like no other. Throw in a years long miscommunication between Beatrice and Ben and their friends behind the scenes scheming to bring them together, you have the makings of a reality tv show both on and off the page.

The soulmate concept has been over fanfic sites for ages it was so interesting to see it brought to life in a novel. In Elsie McLean’s writing, everyone sees the world in black and white until they meet their soulmate. Then, when close to their soulmate, colour creeps into the world.

The canon-compliant miscommunication trope fits right in as a retelling of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. I usually don’t like miscommunication tropes, but as a spin on Shakespeare, I was excited to see how the chaos would culminate and was not disappointed. Elsie masterfully built a web of miscommunication that was a delight to read.

I have conflicting feelings about the many viewpoints. On one hand, it added to the storytelling to see the miscommunications from different angles. However, just as I was learning about one narrator, the viewpoint would switch again. I would have loved to see more time spent with the main characters.

Overall a good balance between staying true to Shakespeare’s play and clever world building that culminated with a satisfying ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for an advanced digital copy of this book. This review is my personal opinion.

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I’ve always loved retellings and I’ve been trying to branch out into retellings of plays and novels and I am so glad I came across Much Ado About Soulmates while doomscrolling through NetGalley. This magical realism adaptation of a Shakespearean comedy took a new approach to the concept of soulmates.

Finding your soulmate changes everything. The world goes from black and white to vivid colour in an instant - literally. But what happens if you never meet your soulmate? Or your soulmate isn’t a good fit? Or you lose yourself in an effort to conform to this preordained relationship? Beatrice Massey isn’t buying into it. In fact, she’s made a career out of reminding people that their self worth isn’t dependent on other people. Of course, then her sister discovers her soulmate is one of Bea’s best friends AT Bea’s book launch and her world shifts again because now she’s wrapped up in a whirlwind romance the media is having a field day with. A whirlwind romance that requires her to be in close proximity with one of her other best friends. At least Bea gets to enjoy her sister’s wedding production in colour.

Obviously I know how the story goes but the way the authors brought it all together was fantastic. I don’t always love a bunch of perspectives but in this book it makes it feel very much like a play where everyone knows something but no one knows what everyone else knows. All the clues just fall into place and the major conflict had me itching to start throwing punches because what on earth is wrong with them!!!! And the ending? I loved everything about it!

[Ashley Zawojski · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Much ado about soulmates is a modern take on Shakespeare.

In this novel, the world is black and white- except for those who have soulmates. Matches can see everything in color once they find each other.

Beatrice found her soulmate years ago, but when she thought it was one sided and going no where, she dedicated her life to trashing the idea of soulmates and seeing colors.

Ben also believed in joking about soulmates, having been in a one sided one himself.

Until Ben and Beatrice are together after 8 years and their world explodes in color again. As they get together for their best friend Oliver and sister Imogen’s wedding, will they realize the matching wasn’t so one sided after all?

I can admit I’ve never read much Shakespeare. I know this is based off of much ado about nothing, but honestly I don’t think you need much prefacing to read this story.

For the most part I did like it! It goes between multiple point of views which I didn’t love, I truly loved the main focus of bea and Ben (who the main cover is based on). The other characters are good, but some don’t have as much significance to the plot until minor points throughout the story.

Overall it was cute read! Different than the typical romance story which was refreshing.

Thank you Elsie McLean and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Demreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3.5 stars
Received this ARC ahead of release.

Much Ado about something - Elsie Mclean

This was a fun twist on a classic Shakespeare – Much Ado About Nothing! (bare with me the last time i read the original was over 10 years ago) The soulmate twist was a really cool concept and felt refreshing. I haven’t read anything quite like it before.

Beatrice and Ben had so much history and tension, which made their scenes feel authentic. I usually struggle with multiple POVs (i get lost), but this one was easy to follow and flowed nicely.

Some of the characters didn’t feel as fleshed out as I’d have liked, but it’s a short book and there was so many POV's, so I get that there probably wasn’t the space or time to really hit that sweet spot.

Overall, a fun, fresh read, it was a nice pallet cleanser between the bigger books i usually read.

If you’re into romance with a bit of Shakespearean flair and a unique concept, give it a go!

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Admittedly, I haven’t read Much Ado About Nothing since high school, which was *cough cough* years ago. So, I may have missed some of the parallels, but this was a clever and unique twist on the classic Shakespeare comedy. The twist in this version is that everyone sees in black and white until they meet their soulmate, when they can finally see in color. This was my first soulmate AU fic and I will for sure be looking for more!

Be forewarned! Much Ado About Nothing, and therefore Much Ado About Soulmates, is the king of all misunderstanding stories. One misunderstanding after another, for basically every single character, culminating in a massive cluster of chaos in the third act. I am a self proclaimed misunderstandings trope hater, but felt that it works well in this instance (if only because it is a retelling of Much Ado.)

I mostly enjoyed that we got multiple POVs throughout the book. We hear from nearly every character, including each member of the friend group/wedding party and some others involved in the wedding and media circus surrounding it. However, just as I was getting settled with someone’s POV and it would get interesting, it nearly always flipped to a different POV. At first I found this infuriating, but understand it is a way to keep the reader guessing what is going on as we can only know as much as the person on the page knows.

On a similar note, there may have been a few too many POVs. For example, I don’t feel we needed to hear from Donna (a wannabe influencer) and at times it felt that these extra POVs were taking time away from the main friend group and plot. The constant flipping left me feeling like some of the characters weren’t as fleshed out as I would have liked (Aisha felt mostly non existent as a presence in the friend group and in the story.)

I loved Ben and Beatrice and really wish the focus had been more on them. Their chemistry and banter was so good. Their constant bickering and poking at each other while carrying their secrets, longings, and hurt for 8 years. WOW! You could feel the tension between them!

Controversial take (maybe) but I loved the ending!

Overall, a fun and unique easy read, perfect if you want an angsty comedy or Shakespeare retellings.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Patricia (Spellbound Stories Trish) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little taken aback by the “soulmates” idea but in the end I loved the whole idea and storyline behind it. It’s such a beautiful way to show the difficulties of love.

This story is told through many different perspectives and so at times you’re ping ponged but it’s written in a way that you can easily pick up what’s going on and the anticipation of what’s coming is what keeps you turning pages.

I was a little shocked at the turn of events and I hope we haven’t seen the last of Imogen and Oliver. That storyline ugh my gosh. But Ben and Beatrice….PERFECTION!

[Sky]

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an eARC!

It needs to be said that Much Ado About Nothing is my favourite Shakespeare play.

It also needs to be said that I'm not a stickler for accuracy when it comes to Shakespearian adaptions. I grew up on 90's and Y2K teen romcoms. 10 Things I Hate About You is one of the greatest movies of all time. I'm very much a fan of taking an older story and placing it in the modern world. I think that there can be a lot of insight to the orignial story's themes when you do that, and the writer can craft a dialogue with the source material that often adds such interesting and complex layers that sometimes even surpass the OG.

I wish that this was the case.

It is not.

Regardless, this is still a fun, romantic read. It suffers a little from telling instead of showing. I found that the many characters kind of detracted from the main story of the book. The celebrity wedding/documentary was such a weird choice for a plot device, and I thought I would hate it, but it was surprisingly funny, if under-utilized. It was great for buiilding pressure in the scenes and illustrating the different relationships and personality's of the characters. I think Shakespeare would have approved of it, honestly. I would have loved to see more, with cut in's of scripts, call-sheets, more meetings with the producers and directers and the characters, Just so the stakes of the filming felt a little more insidious.

My favourite part was that this was a group of friends that actually acted like a ground of friends. It follows a group of four people who were tight in high school and found success and fame in their respective fields. (Well, mostly), as well as family and other friends. I liked seeing them play games and tease one another, how their dynamics changed depending on who from the group was there. It felt real. Like watching an old 90s sitcom.

I also really liked Ben and Bea. I was always going to like Ben and Bea. I think the addition of them being soulmates was so much fun, even if the miscommunication around their relationship doesn't hold up under scrutiny. (Not that OG Ben and Bea were any less ridiculous either, I must add).

Actually, I think the soulmate magic system was curious and fun. I liked that their was layers to the "seeing colour" variant of soulmate tropes. It really allowed the author to delve into her messaging around relationships, and the complexities of them. The system, at its base, is the stronger the relationship, the farther apart a couple can be and still see colours. It also goes into how bonds between individuals break or change. Like any good fantasy book, the magical elements reflect the themes of the book, and in this one, they illustrate that magic can't solve everything. Even soulmates, the most idealized version of love, falter in the face of human nature. Everything needs work. Every relationship needs communication.

[Zaneb · Rating 4 out of 5]

disclaimer: i never read shakespeare's much ado about nothing.

i wasn't expecting so many povs! i thought the story's focus would be divided by the two couples, but instead we have 8 povs—beatrice, imogen, ben, oliver, diego, aisha, tony, and donna.
i wasn't a fan at first, but halfway through, i resigned myself to it and ended up not minding it at all.

the soulmate thing? loved it. we get a world where it's black and white from the moment you're born until you meet your soulmate, at which point you finally see colours. if you never meet your soulmate, you will remain in a colourless world. if you do find them and then your soulmate dies, you also go back to a colourless world. this is a concept i've read for years on ao3, so it's pretty awesome to find this book.

ben and beatrice were interesting because none of their friends or family knew their story. to everyone else, they have always been friends. ones who bicker and seem unsupportive of one another, but friends.
for the past eight years, they've kept it quiet, and it worked because they didn't spent a lot of time together—at least until the wedding. misunderstandings played a huge role in their relationship.

the second couple oliver and imogen, seemed perfect on paper, but immediately you know that's not true. i did get frustrated with their relationship at the beginning, particularly with oliver. he wasn't a bad person, and he definitely cared and loved imogen, but. well. let's just say, i think the ending was perfect. then there's imogen. out of all the characters, i definitely felt the most connected with her. she loved oliver, but his world wasn't hers and it slowly wore her down—the fact she knew this, and tried anyway, hurt my heart.
becoming soulmates doesn't guarantee that everything will be rainbows and sunshine. it's easy to forget how important communication and compromise are in any relationship, and i love that we see the roots of these issues in an already established couple.

all in all, the writing was easy to read, if a little clunky, and while the romance was nice, the humour was not. i did not laugh once.

fyi stacey needs to be buried alive.

thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the arc. my opinions are my own.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚✨ ARC REVIEW ✨📚
Much Ado About Soulmates by Elsie McLean
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In this modern retelling of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, the world is seen in black and white (literally) until a person finds their soulmate — and then they can see color for the first time.

Oliver and Imogen are getting married in a villa in Italy, with cameras rolling since Oliver is a famous movie star. Among the guests are Beatrice (the bride’s sister) and Ben (Oliver’s close friend/Bea's secret ex). Both are famous for their views on soulmates - namely that they want nothing to do with finding one. They bicker as if they are enemies, but their friends believe them to be soulmates and plot to get them together before their time at the villa ends.

The ensemble cast also includes Aisha, a scientist studying soulmate neuroscience, and Diego, an actor who longs to find his match. Over the course of the week, love, friendship, and chaos unfold, proving that love is never simple.

I am a HUGE Shakespeare nerd (like, took a Shakespearean acting class in 5th grade-level nerd), so this retelling was right up my alley. The play-like structure and witty banter gave the story a unique feel, while the reality show–style wedding filming added a fun modern twist. The concept of soulmates may not be original, but the world going from black and white to a technicolor dream after finding yours is, and the premise instantly piqued my interest.

I love the intense friendship that turned into a found family among Beatrice, Ben, Oliver, and Diego as young college students. Their prank wars and reminiscing on years past made me nostalgic for my own college days and the friendships I formed there. This is a group that cares deeply about each other, experiencing their happiest moments when they are together.

✨ For fans of: 🎭 Shakespeare retellings | 🖤 Enemies to lovers | 🎥 Reality show drama | 🌈 Soulmate magic | 🏛️ Italian villa settings | 💕 Found family vibes

#ARCReview #BookReview #MuchAdoAboutSoulmates #ElsieMcLean #ShakespeareRetelling #ModernRetelling #SoulmateRomance #FoundFamily #EnemiesToLovers

[Brooke-Lynn Price · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an eARC of Much Ado About Soulmates.

A modern take on Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, with a soulmate twist.

I have never read Much Ado About Nothing, so I probably didn't get the parallels to the classic Shakespeare comedy while I was reading this book. I will admit it was written like no book I have ever read, and I did feel like it was written as a play while reading it. It was a fast read for me.

Author Elsie McLean creates a twist in a world where everyone sees in black and white, that is, until they meet their soulmate. While that person (soulmate) is by their side, the world is always in color. Then they are living their happily ever after. Right?

But we all know that love is not simple.....

Sisters Beatrice and Imogen start the story with a book signing and one sister meeting her soulmate, just as her older sister was about to tell her about her one-sided match with her soulmate...

I was not expecting all the POVs of each character that came into the story. At first, it was like Where is the author taking me but once I got more into the storyline, I caught on to getting the point of all the POVs. It gives you the chance to read about how each character sees/feels the world they are living in. You get a glimpse into the sisters' relationship. How the friends all met from each character, but not to where you reread it, but like you're right there with them. You get to see the soulmates' perspectives.

Most of this book, I was like What happened to Beatrice and Ben and was delighted that we got glimpses from other POVs about them and still got their banter. I felt how much each of them wanted from the other but didn't know how to go about whatever misunderstanding each of them had.
I loved the character and how humane the story was. I certainly loved the banter between Bea and Ben.

Overall, the ending made me sad but understanding, and wondering if there will be another book or turn into a series. That and the many different POVs are why I gave this book three stars.


Thank you again, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this book.

[Bee ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

As someone who’s familiar with Much Ado About Nothing, I really appreciated how this book reimagines the original in such a creative and modern way. Much Ado About Soulmates is a fun twist on Shakespeare’s classic, blending the soulmate trope with reality TV chaos—and somehow, it works.

The worldbuilding was clever: people live in black and white until they meet their soulmate and finally see in colour. Watching those moments unfold added something really tender and visual to the love stories. It was such a thoughtful way to show emotional connection, and I loved how it was woven into the plot.

Beatrice and Ben were definitely the highlight for me. Their dynamic had real depth and a great balance of tension and vulnerability. Their slow reveal and emotional growth felt earned, and their arc stayed true to the spirit of the play while still feeling fresh.

The writing style has a distinct voice, and the reality TV setting added a modern, playful layer to the story. With multiple perspectives in play, the focus naturally leaned more toward the central characters, but once the story found its rhythm, the momentum really carried through.

I especially loved seeing how some scenes from the original were reinterpreted or flipped in unexpected ways. The way the “villain” role was reinvented was smart, and the ending wrapped things up in a satisfying and heartwarming way.

If you love modern retellings, clever worldbuilding, or seeing Shakespeare through a new lens, this one is worth checking out.

Tropes included:
🌈 Soulmates / seeing colour for the first time
💔 Enemies to lovers
📺 Reality show wedding setting
🏠 Group living / proximity
🫂 Found family
🎭 Modern Shakespeare adaptation
🔄 Second chances & reconnected history
🗣️ Multi-POV

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op & Elsie McLean for the ARC! 🫶

[Jade · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟 / 5

This is my first time reading a book by this Author (Pen name for the two McLean sisters), and it won’t be the last! 💗

A comedic retelling of the Shakespeare play of ‘Much ado about nothing’, the story follows a multi POV of a group of long term friends as they navigate old wounds, soulmates, miscommunication and an old pact when they meet up for a wedding. I found the group dynamic to be very natural and intertwined, from their retellings of their past to the way they look out for each other in the present time, whilst keeping things light and funny.

It had an overall fast and easy pace throughout the story, and it didn’t lag when there were some slower parts to the plot. There were introductions to new characters throughout which left me slightly confused initially as to their relevance in the story - this was due to us (the reader) meeting them in their POV with no transition or introduction from our other characters but it does all add up in the end especially with there being a preface for all of the characters to enlighten readers with at the very start 😆.

One slight misinterpretation on my behalf was the magical dynamic of soulmates bringing colour to each others lives when they meet in a world that is viewed in black and white - for over 50% of the book i genuinely thought this was being described in a non-literal sense.. turns out i was wrong and actually this is a very cool soulmate concept once i realised 😂.

Overall:

3.5 / 5 🌟🌟🌟
Wound recommend this book if you like light hearted quirky modern adaptations of classic literature.
I quite enjoyed this book 🫶🏼

I would like to thank NetGalley for this advance copy of eARC. This review is based on solely my own opinions and thoughts on the book. This review is written on behalf of the Spicy Sword Society.

[Jen Sheldon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes:
* Magical realism
* Soulmates
* Enemies to lovers
* Forced proximity
* Multiple POV’s
* Modern Shakespeare retelling

Thank you to NetGalley, Elise McLean, and Victory Editing for this eARC! Immediately the summary reminded me of Taylor Swift’s lyric: "The rest of the world was black and white / But we were in screaming color". Soulmates that have discovered each other are the only ones who see color; a very interesting concept to include in this otherwise realistic romance.

I liked the multiple POVs! The banter between all the friends while they are together for Imogen and Oliver’s wedding was fun to read, but I also liked that each character were dealing with their own internal challenges that was revealed as each POV is provided for them. I like that this was written like a play, which this is based off of Shakespeare’s play “Much Ado About Nothing”. This was a unique way to modernize this play, and I appreciate how well the author did with pacing all of these different characters.

Bea and Ben were the two I focused on most. Their angst and tension was very centered in this plot overall. As you begin to find out what really happened between them, you become invested in wanting them to work things out! But all of their relationships make this well-rounded, and I also liked that many were well-known celebrities. Tony and Diego’s first meeting really helped me understand just how astounding it is for someone to first meet their soulmate, and I really liked them together! Imogen and Oliver’s story was the opposite, but I could tell throughout that Imogen wasn’t as happy she led everyone to believe. I don’t want to give any spoilers beyond that, but I think having those 3 relationships made this a very interesting read as you go through all of their romances with them in great detail!

[Mare · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️/5

I would recommend this if you enjoy:
- Shakespeare retellings
- Multi-POV books
- Character focused books
- Forced proximity
- TV-show settings
- No spice

I read this as an ARC on Netgalley from Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op. All opinions are my own.

This book follows a wide variety of characters that come together for a wedding on a TV show. It has multi-POVs following said characters but it wasn't what I expected.

From the book cover I assumed we would follow one couple (Beatrice and Ben) and we would get just their POVs but when the other characters started to get one as well, I began to get confused. The POVs would switch up multiple times a chapter which led to the confusion as to whose POV we were in and a sense of both frustration and dissatisfaction because I didn't feel we got to the characters well enough leading the romances to not feel as developed either.

I picked this book up because the concept was unique and nothing I have read before - you can see colour when you find your soulmate - and I liked that aspect of it. It was interesting to hear how the spectrum varied including how strong the connection was the further their match was away from them and how they could sense when their match was close even if they couldn't see them.

I haven't read the original Shakespeare play that this was based on so I can't comment on the similarities but maybe if I had I would've understood the different character roles throughout.

I think that Imogen should've gotten her HEA and that the author could do a spin-off where that does happen.

Overall, I probably wouldn't re-read this book again but I would pick up another book by the author as their writing was both digestible and entertaining.

[Sarah M · Rating 5 out of 5]

A retelling of William Shakespeare's comedy 'Much Ado About Nothing' with an added soulmates twist. A classic tale of two people who desperately love one another, but convinced that the other has broken their heart they instead make biting comments at one another. This version is set in the modern day and uses the twist of including soulmates who find one another by never seeing colour until they meet for the first time.

Firstly, I am a big fan of Shakespeare's plays, I usually watch a couple a year, and this is my very favourite one. It is a great example of how the stories in his plays transcend time - it fits in as well today as it did in Elizabethan England. Some tales are truly as old as time. I was really happy to see the references to the original lines in the play, and they felt like little easter eggs!

The story was lovely - it was inviting and really pulled me along. I honestly didn't want to put it down and before I knew it, a quick 30 mins to start the book before going to sleep turned into staying awake till 2am to finish it. I am not even a bit mad, it was a charming read. I really loved Bea and Ben, and their path back to one another. Was it a little too quickly? Yes, but that's exactly how it happens in the play, and this is also a story of three couples - some with more prevalence than others, Diego and his partner are not featured too much, but the story with Imogen and Oliver is also a large focus. I like the slight twist on how their story plays out compared to how Claudio and Hero's tale is in the original text - it's a twist that I definitely prefer and it fits much better in a modern setting.

A thoroughly enjoyable read and a sweet romance. 4.5 out of 5 stars

[Anna Christodoulou-Vega · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ ARC Review: Much Ado About Soulmates by Elsie McLean ✨

A brilliant, heart-thumping, technicolor twist on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, Elsie McLean delivers a smart, emotional rollercoaster of a romance that explores soulmates, second chances, and the messy truth about love.

In this world, everyone sees in black and white—until they meet their soulmate, and suddenly the world bursts into breathtaking color. For Beatrice Massey, that moment came and went, thanks to Ben Thackary—the man fated to be hers, who also shattered her heart seven years ago.

Ben doesn’t understand what went wrong—or why Beatrice now treats him with ice-cold indifference—but when fate (and family) brings them together for a soulmate wedding in sun-soaked Messina, Italy, sparks fly in every direction.

Add in a movie star soulmate, a dreamy Italian villa, and a tight-knit group of old friends, and you get a summer wedding no one will forget. But as secrets surface and emotions boil over, Much Ado About Soulmates proves that nothing is simple when destiny is involved—especially when it comes to love.

💘 Witty banter? Check.
💔 Angst and longing? Absolutely.
🎭 Shakespearean vibes with a soulmate twist? Perfection.
📍 Setting that feels like a romantic dream? Bellissimo.

If you love second chances, star-crossed connections, and fierce heroines who refuse to be defined by fate, this one’s for you. Elsie McLean delivers a soulful, funny, and deeply satisfying love story that will stay with you long after the final page.

[A.Onstad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not my typical read because I usually do not read books under 300 pages, and I usually do not enjoy 3rd person, BUT....I was amazed at the retelling of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing--one of the most underrated of his plays (IMO).

Did I love this because it IS a retelling of my favorite Shakespeare play? YES!!
Did I love this because it is the OG "enemies-to-lovers" story? YES!!
Did I love this because in every scene I was trying to see how the author modernized important scenes from the original story? YES!!
Did I ABSOLUTELY LOVE how the ending played out? 1,000 times YES!!
Did I appreciate how they essentially created another "villain" in the story? YES!!

So, quite simply, if you enjoy Shakespeare or enemies-to-lovers or found family or a good wedding story, then this is for you. It is the story of Imogen and Oliver's on-location nuptials that brings together friends and family. But Oliver just happens to be a big star, so the film crew is there to record the entire week leading up to the big day. Within this story, so many of the wonderful scenes from the Shakespeare play are included, and I was there for every word and every page.
I hope to see more of this type of story from this pair of author sisters! Well done!

I also highly recommend picking up the OG play as well.

Thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the advanced copy.

[Jen | Momsbookbreak · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Elsie McLean’s witty, modern twist on Much Ado About Nothing, the world exists in black-and-white until you meet your soulmate—then, everything bursts into vivid color. For Beatrice Massey, that soulmate is Ben Thackary, the man who broke her heart seven years ago. Now her sister Imogen is marrying movie star Oliver Black in a lavish Italian wedding, bringing together old friends, tangled histories, and a magic system that can’t be ignored. As in the original play, romance, mischief, and plenty of misunderstandings ensue.

I love this premise...it’s a clever blend of magical realism and Shakespearean comedy, and the Easter eggs from the original play are a delight. The character parallels are fun to spot: Oliver feels like Claudio, Imogen is a modern-day Hero, and Diego has shades of both Don Pedro and Don John.

This Beatrice, however, gave me pause. I generally liked her, but In Shakespeare’s version, she’s razor-sharp and devastating in her wit but never cruel to those beneath her. Here, a scene where she’s unnecessarily rude to a reporter rubbed me the wrong way. Some beloved beats are the same as the original, but lacking some of the creative wordplay and charm. However, the core setup and miscommunication-driven chaos remain.

The multiple POVs can get a bit unwieldy, but I understand why McLean chose them. Without dipping into minor characters' perspectives, we’d miss key elements of the plot that drive the misunderstanding between Imogen and Oliver. It’s a quick read, and while some ending changes veer from the source material (Oliver and Imogen breaking up, for example), it works in this context, especially given the slightly toxic elements of their relationship.

If you adore Much Ado About Nothing, you’ll likely find this charming and clever. If you haven’t read or seen the play, the endless miscommunication might be frustrating—but that’s part of the magic (and mayhem) of the original. Personally, it left me smiling...and itching to rewatch the 1993 film with Emma Thompson and Denzel Washington.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy. All thoughts and views are my own!

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to ARC*

Much Ado About Soulmates was a fun little twist on a Shakespearean classic, Much Ado About Nothing. I loved the author's take on soulmates and how they bring the magic of color to the world. It was cool to see throughout the book, how different people handled meeting their soulmates and seeing color for the first time. This is not my usual kind of book, but I would love to read more from this author. The multiple POVs kept me intrigued throughout the book. This book had me emotional and rooting for the happiness of each of the characters. I appreciated the perspective of Beatrice and her thoughts on soulmates. I loved that Ben saw what Beatrice was really trying to say with her words, that soulmates are complicated and that while, yes, a soulmate is great, it is not happiness and colorful rainbows from there. It takes work and understanding and the knowledge that just because you have met your soulmate, it isn't going to be easy, but it will be worth it. Also that just because you are soulmates, it is not guaranteed it will work out. I will be honest, I have never read Much Ado About Nothing, so I went in blind for this book and I am so glad I did. By the way, my favorite part of the book is Beatrice's rant towards the end. A great read, with romance, humor, realism, and a little heartbreak. This one is sure to give you a few laughs, Diego and Ben are comedian/actors after all. I would suggest this book!

[Whitney Kellar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the premise here—everyone sees the world in black and white until they meet their soulmate, and suddenly, they see in colour. Instant chemistry, instant connection… or at least, that’s the idea. In Beatrice and Ben’s case, not so much. These two have been soulmates for seven years, but they’re also kind of mean to each other, and the story takes its time revealing why.

This is a modern retelling of Much Ado About Nothing, which I’m sure I would have appreciated more if I was familiar with the original play. The Italian wedding setting is lush, and there’s plenty of comedy of errors, misunderstandings, and hidden feelings—classic rom-com territory.

Where it faltered for me was the number of POVs. We follow not just Bea and Ben, but Imogen, Oliver, Aisha, Diego, Tony, and Donna. That’s a lot of heads to be in, and it kept each scene emotionally shallow, making it harder to connect with the central romance. I would have loved to spend more time deepening Bea and Ben’s relationship.

As a romance, it’s a 3/5 for me. As a fun, ensemble “chick lit” style story about messy friendships, sibling dynamics, and soulmates, it’s a solid 4/5.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[L.A. Dupier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t read Much Ado in a loooooong time but this book took me right back to the utter chaos that is cacophony of misunderstandings in the original. This is by far the best retelling I’ve read, truest to the original in terms of the emotion of the story. But with an amazingly fascinating twist. I LOVED the role that color plays in this story. That the first time you see the world in color is the first time you’ve met your soul mate. Almost like a werewolf fated mate situation. The way that color ebbs and flows as a soulmate moves closer or farther away, the idea that a couples range has to do with how well they’re connected. It’s a really interesting concept and I would not be upset in the slightest to get another story in the same world.
While I would have loved even more of Ben and Bea, their animosity turns reconnection is definitely the high point of the story. Followed closely by Tony and Diego. “I’ll be damned” had me grinning so hard, my face hurt afterwards.
Not gonna lie, the ending gutted me a little. Like audible gasps. And the way the color bond plays a role in that is just beautifully heartbreaking.
It’s such a fun world. I tore through this title in a day and a half. I could not wait to read what was coming next for this host of characters. Keep an eye out for the Romance and Ruin podcast episode on this one because it’s definitely coming. (@romanceandruinpod)

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this title!

[giovannab · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a delightful surprise. This universe, where soulmates exists and are able to see in colour only when they meet each other, is one of the most romantic settings I have ever read. And  for me even better than the concept was the way it was executed. 


I really liked how the story was conducted and think the multiple povs fit really well in this story because we are able to access different nuances of falling in love in this world. I usually am not be able to really connect with the second chance trope but I was really happy that Bea and Ben's romance made me so involved with them - their banter was really good and the presentation of their (and other characters) backstory was so natural - in a friends conversation, without breaking the rhythm of the story. 


Another trope that often makes me want to scream in frustration is miscommunication, but in this book it WORKS. It is, of course, the retelling of the Shakespeare play and those who know Much Ado About Nothing know it is a key element in it - and thats another win for me. The book is marketed as a modern take on the original play and delivers that. Even if it has so many unique elements, it has many recognizable characters and scenes of the play and it has a theatrical atmosphere about it which I often miss in other retellings. (I think an adaptation as a film would be perfect for this book). 


Of course there are changes, considering a 1600 play would not seamlessly transport into a modern scenario and those makes the story even more special: ending of the book I'm talking about you!! I was very satisfied with how that played out. 


However, being able to trace the parallels gives more context and fun to the experience, but it is not a requirement. I enjoyed the book without knowing the original play story and only after watched one of the many adaptations of this classic. 


The whole friend group is very interesting to follow, as well as other secundary characters, and I wish the book would be longer, because there are so many interesting characters that I wanted to see the development of all their stories. 


Overall, a very great reading and I can't wait for the next books in this series!

[Minami · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Much Ado About Soulmates" is a tasteful balance of Shakespearean adaptation with enough of its own twists to stand on its own. It was in many ways a light, cheery romance yet didn't feel completely fluffy either. The pseudo-science explanation for the colour changes, ensemble cast of characters with mixed careers, and realistic ending made me feel like I could let loose into the chaos and fun of the book while also feeling like the author respected my intelligence as a reader.

The dialogue is quippy, full of sarcastic daggers and cheeky side glances. The colour-changing premise brings so many possibilities that had my brain chasing ways that the story could unfold. Shout out to Diego, who was my favourite character. I giggled, I screamed, I kicked my feet (both giddily and in frustration at the characters).

P.S. bless the author for putting a character guide in the front cover. I referenced it regularly in the first two chapters/"days" of the book and then got the hang of who-was-who.

Spice note: Lots of longing, but no spice. This is safe to share with family or coworkers!

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much Ado About Soulmates is such a refreshing take on the soulmates trope and weaving it into a Shakespeare classic makes for a fun romcom! The idea of everyone seeing in black and white and only seeing in colour when you find your soulmate is such a fun one! I loved seeing the reactions as people found their soulmates and got to see colour for the first time.

I thoroughly enjoyed the friends/enemies to lovers storyline with Ben and Beatrice, they had the most developed storyline and it showed as their backstory was revealed.

I wasn’t sure if I was going to finish the book when I started, the writing style is quite off putting, there’s a lot of POVs and I’m not a fan in general of reality tv shows so reading about one didn’t really appeal. However I got used to the writing style about 15% in and from then on I really enjoyed the book. I still think there were too many POVs, it just lead to underdeveloped characters which is a shame.

Overall a really fun, modern take on Shakespeare. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Sam Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Much Ado About Nothing is by far my favourite Shakespeare play and I do love a retelling - this one was quite good, I had a good time with it.

The soulmate concept was definitely not something I'd read before and certainly opens up a lot of interesting questions. Its highly nuanced and sweet, but raises the idea of not taking that sort of thing for granted. Though the idea of living without colour until you (hopefully) met your soulmate seems painfully cruel.

It was fun guessing who the players were (to their OG counterparts) and I appreciated how prose and acts were incorporated. It was quite a faithful adaptation all things considered.

I both liked and didn't like how it ended (loved Ben and Beatrice's part) but I think it left the story on a hopeful note despite what went so wrong for Imogen and Oliver. I'd like to catch up with them in the future, but I suppose we'll see!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of the eARC for my review - this is my honest review*

[Denisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75
ARC review
Mucho ado about soulmates by Elsie McLean

At first, I have some trouble understanding the story (it lost me a little) because there are too many different POVs. Honestly, I am not a fan of so many POVs - I prefer just two.
I also struggled a bit to keep track of the charcters and who is who.

But I really liked how some words, quotes, topics were expressed in the book. They feel very meaningful. I also acutally enjoyed the different perspective on soulmates and the individual story of each character.

It was easy to read, and at some point I was very hooked.
The story is acually really interesting, and I especially loved the interaction between Bea and Ben.They carry the whole book.

Still, there was at first so many characters that it was a bit difficult to keep up.
But overall, I really enjoyed it. I haven't read a book like this before.

Thank you Netgalley and Victory Editing for a copy of this book. 💗✨️

[Monica Beard · Rating 4 out of 5]

My fanfiction loving heart was so excited to see that someone has brought the soulmate trope into mainstream writing (how has alphaverse made it to romance novels and soulmate tropes haven't??), and Shakespeare is the perfect place for it to start.

In this retelling of Much Ado about Nothing, McLean leans into both the comedy of errors of it all (there is nothing more comedy of errors than reality TV) and the difficulties that a soulmate trope would lead to - does knowing you have a soulmate mean that you adjust your life for them or that you will certainly work out?

I'd love to see McLean continue this theme with other classic pieces of literature - and perhaps to see some characters who are left with a bittersweet ending to get a second chance at love. Thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the early copy to review.