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Romeo and Juliet: A Three-Day Situationship with a Body Count
Not yet published
Expected 15 Apr 26A Three-Day Situationship with a Body Count
Two teenagers meet at a party. Six people die. Shakespeare called it romance.
This edition keeps every word of the original play and adds the commentary you always wanted in the margins: sharp, funny, and brutally honest about impulsive teenagers, terrible adult supervision, and the most overdramatic relationship in literary history.
Questionable Classics: the books you were assigned… with the commentary you deserved.
Two teenagers meet at a party. Six people die. Shakespeare called it romance.
This edition keeps every word of the original play and adds the commentary you always wanted in the margins: sharp, funny, and brutally honest about impulsive teenagers, terrible adult supervision, and the most overdramatic relationship in literary history.
Questionable Classics: the books you were assigned… with the commentary you deserved.
258 pages, ebook
Expected publication April 15, 2026
About the author
William Shakespeare
28.4k books47.6k followersWilliam Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "the Bard"). His extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three long narrative poems, and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Shakespeare remains arguably the most influential writer in the English language, and his works continue to be studied and reinterpreted.
Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Sometime between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner ("sharer") of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men after the ascension of King James VI and I of Scotland to the English throne. At age 49 (around 1613), he appears to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive; this has stimulated considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, his sexuality, his religious beliefs, and even certain fringe theories as to whether the works attributed to him were written by others.
Shakespeare produced most of his known works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were primarily comedies and histories and are regarded as some of the best works produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until 1608, among them Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, all considered to be among the finest works in the English language. In the last phase of his life, he wrote tragicomedies (also known as romances) and collaborated with other playwrights.
Many of Shakespeare's plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime. However, in 1623, John Heminge and Henry Condell, two fellow actors and friends of Shakespeare's, published a more definitive text known as the First Folio, a posthumous collected edition of Shakespeare's dramatic works that includes 36 of his plays. Its Preface was a prescient poem by Ben Jonson, a former rival of Shakespeare, that hailed Shakespeare with the now famous epithet: "not of an age, but for all time".
Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Sometime between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner ("sharer") of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men after the ascension of King James VI and I of Scotland to the English throne. At age 49 (around 1613), he appears to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive; this has stimulated considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, his sexuality, his religious beliefs, and even certain fringe theories as to whether the works attributed to him were written by others.
Shakespeare produced most of his known works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were primarily comedies and histories and are regarded as some of the best works produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until 1608, among them Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, all considered to be among the finest works in the English language. In the last phase of his life, he wrote tragicomedies (also known as romances) and collaborated with other playwrights.
Many of Shakespeare's plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime. However, in 1623, John Heminge and Henry Condell, two fellow actors and friends of Shakespeare's, published a more definitive text known as the First Folio, a posthumous collected edition of Shakespeare's dramatic works that includes 36 of his plays. Its Preface was a prescient poem by Ben Jonson, a former rival of Shakespeare, that hailed Shakespeare with the now famous epithet: "not of an age, but for all time".
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 Stars
One Liner: Man, this was good!
We all know the classic play Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare. What if you can read it with some sassy one-liners and humorous commentary about the drama in it?
My Thoughts
This isn’t a book trying to play a literary critic and dissect a classic play. It’s a compilation of random thoughts that might pop up when we read certain books/plays/etc.
Not all comments are funny, but most of the ones that were meant to be were. Again, a personal preference, so it could be different for you.
It is not all snark and sass, though. The author also points out the use of wordplay by different characters and their distinctiveness. I love the analysis where she shows that Juliet uses language better than anyone else in the play. Given how she doesn’t have any agency, she uses whatever tools she can to handle the situations.
As we reach the darker scenes, the tone also changes, showing what Shakespeare did when structuring the play and how he created such a long-lasting impact.
The commentary is not about insulting the work or poking fun. It is more of a humorous analysis combined with realistic reactions. The author doesn’t just leave it there. She compares people, events, and situations to modern times and exposes the parallels. The note at the end is terrific. It is not about laughing at dramatic teens.
To summarize, Romeo and Juliet*: A Three-Day Situationship with a Body Count is an entertaining and insightful commentary on the play and how it still (sadly) very much aligns with the modern world.
Thank you, NetGalley and Sterling & Stone (Story Merchants), for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley
One Liner: Man, this was good!
We all know the classic play Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare. What if you can read it with some sassy one-liners and humorous commentary about the drama in it?
My Thoughts
This isn’t a book trying to play a literary critic and dissect a classic play. It’s a compilation of random thoughts that might pop up when we read certain books/plays/etc.
Not all comments are funny, but most of the ones that were meant to be were. Again, a personal preference, so it could be different for you.
It is not all snark and sass, though. The author also points out the use of wordplay by different characters and their distinctiveness. I love the analysis where she shows that Juliet uses language better than anyone else in the play. Given how she doesn’t have any agency, she uses whatever tools she can to handle the situations.
As we reach the darker scenes, the tone also changes, showing what Shakespeare did when structuring the play and how he created such a long-lasting impact.
The commentary is not about insulting the work or poking fun. It is more of a humorous analysis combined with realistic reactions. The author doesn’t just leave it there. She compares people, events, and situations to modern times and exposes the parallels. The note at the end is terrific. It is not about laughing at dramatic teens.
To summarize, Romeo and Juliet*: A Three-Day Situationship with a Body Count is an entertaining and insightful commentary on the play and how it still (sadly) very much aligns with the modern world.
Thank you, NetGalley and Sterling & Stone (Story Merchants), for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley
March 30, 2026
Advance copy received from Netgalley.
As someone who has always loved Romeo and Juliet, I was really excited to pick this one up, and overall, I had a great time with it. Shakespeare adaptations and commentary can be very hit or miss for me because I’m a pretty big Shakespeare fan, and sometimes modern takes can feel a little too surface-level or like they miss the heart of the original work. That said, Ellis Keen’s take on Romeo and Juliet felt thoughtful, engaging, and refreshingly relevant.
While there were definitely a few moments where the commentary didn’t fully align with how I personally interpret Shakespeare or the original text, I still really appreciated the perspective this book brought. It felt less like a dismissal of the classic and more like a conversation with it, which I enjoyed. I especially liked how the author connected the themes of the story to current times and modern relationship dynamics, social pressures, and the way we tend to romanticize intensity.
What worked best for me was that this didn’t feel like it was trying to “fix” Romeo and Juliet, but rather examine why it still resonates, why it’s so often misunderstood, and why people continue to return to it. Even when I didn’t fully agree with every point, I found the discussion interesting and worthwhile.
If you enjoy classics, literary commentary, or re-examining well-known stories through a modern lens, this is definitely worth picking up. It may not have perfectly matched all of my personal views as a Shakespeare reader, but it was smart, compelling, and clearly written with a lot of passion.
I can’t wait to see what Ellis Keen does next!
As someone who has always loved Romeo and Juliet, I was really excited to pick this one up, and overall, I had a great time with it. Shakespeare adaptations and commentary can be very hit or miss for me because I’m a pretty big Shakespeare fan, and sometimes modern takes can feel a little too surface-level or like they miss the heart of the original work. That said, Ellis Keen’s take on Romeo and Juliet felt thoughtful, engaging, and refreshingly relevant.
While there were definitely a few moments where the commentary didn’t fully align with how I personally interpret Shakespeare or the original text, I still really appreciated the perspective this book brought. It felt less like a dismissal of the classic and more like a conversation with it, which I enjoyed. I especially liked how the author connected the themes of the story to current times and modern relationship dynamics, social pressures, and the way we tend to romanticize intensity.
What worked best for me was that this didn’t feel like it was trying to “fix” Romeo and Juliet, but rather examine why it still resonates, why it’s so often misunderstood, and why people continue to return to it. Even when I didn’t fully agree with every point, I found the discussion interesting and worthwhile.
If you enjoy classics, literary commentary, or re-examining well-known stories through a modern lens, this is definitely worth picking up. It may not have perfectly matched all of my personal views as a Shakespeare reader, but it was smart, compelling, and clearly written with a lot of passion.
I can’t wait to see what Ellis Keen does next!
March 23, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and Sterling & Stone for the ARC of Romeo and Juliet by Ellis Keen (from the Questionable Classics series—aka “the books you were assigned…with the commentary you deserved”) I was expecting something gimmicky, and instead got one of the most genuinely enjoyable ways to revisit Shakespeare.
This edition stays faithful to Shakespeare’s original text while layering in modern, sharp, and often hilarious commentary that actually enhances the experience rather than distracting from it. The updated notes make the language feel immediate and accessible without stripping away its poetry, which is a rare balance to pull off.
The added commentary feels like the inner monologue you wish you had while reading Shakespeare in school, pointing out the drama, the absurdity, and the very real teenage chaos at the heart of the story. It makes you realize just how relatable (and honestly, a little unhinged) these characters are. It is like sitting next to a snarky audience member who keeps leaning over making side comments.
This version transforms Romeo and Juliet from something you had to analyze into something you actually want to read. It is smart, funny, and incredibly approachable. This version is perfect for students, reluctant readers, or anyone who wants to revisit a classic with an additional updated twist .
I would specifically recommend Ellis Keen’s version for anyone who’s ever thought, “I probably would’ve liked this more if someone just explained it like a normal person.”
This edition stays faithful to Shakespeare’s original text while layering in modern, sharp, and often hilarious commentary that actually enhances the experience rather than distracting from it. The updated notes make the language feel immediate and accessible without stripping away its poetry, which is a rare balance to pull off.
The added commentary feels like the inner monologue you wish you had while reading Shakespeare in school, pointing out the drama, the absurdity, and the very real teenage chaos at the heart of the story. It makes you realize just how relatable (and honestly, a little unhinged) these characters are. It is like sitting next to a snarky audience member who keeps leaning over making side comments.
This version transforms Romeo and Juliet from something you had to analyze into something you actually want to read. It is smart, funny, and incredibly approachable. This version is perfect for students, reluctant readers, or anyone who wants to revisit a classic with an additional updated twist .
I would specifically recommend Ellis Keen’s version for anyone who’s ever thought, “I probably would’ve liked this more if someone just explained it like a normal person.”
March 25, 2026
“For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.”
What is there to say about Romeo and Juliet that hasn’t already been discussed at length? I think that’s why I was so drawn to this book because it is the full play plus commentary from Ellis Keen.
Her description - Ellis Keen reads the books you were assigned in high school and says things your English teacher couldn’t was spot on! She had some great commentary that made me laugh out loud or nod my head in agreement.
Things like:
Shakespeare told you the ending before the story starts. That’s not an accident. He doesn’t want you wondering what happens, he wants you watching how it happens.
He literally just said “I’ve never actually been in love before” AFTER SPENDING THREE SCENES CRYING ABOUT ROSALINE. The poetry is gorgeous. The self-awareness is catastrophic.
Tybalt heard someone appreciating beauty and poetry and thought IT’S MURDER TIME.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this advanced reader copy. I think I enjoyed this more now than I did in high school. And in high school we watched all the movie versions (in and outside of school) as well as discussed the book at length for a whole semester.
I’m surprised to see that it is no longer on the curriculum for high schools (at least in Queensland, Australia) maybe they don’t want kids reading a book about a murder-suicide of some barely teenagers.
What is there to say about Romeo and Juliet that hasn’t already been discussed at length? I think that’s why I was so drawn to this book because it is the full play plus commentary from Ellis Keen.
Her description - Ellis Keen reads the books you were assigned in high school and says things your English teacher couldn’t was spot on! She had some great commentary that made me laugh out loud or nod my head in agreement.
Things like:
Shakespeare told you the ending before the story starts. That’s not an accident. He doesn’t want you wondering what happens, he wants you watching how it happens.
He literally just said “I’ve never actually been in love before” AFTER SPENDING THREE SCENES CRYING ABOUT ROSALINE. The poetry is gorgeous. The self-awareness is catastrophic.
Tybalt heard someone appreciating beauty and poetry and thought IT’S MURDER TIME.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this advanced reader copy. I think I enjoyed this more now than I did in high school. And in high school we watched all the movie versions (in and outside of school) as well as discussed the book at length for a whole semester.
I’m surprised to see that it is no longer on the curriculum for high schools (at least in Queensland, Australia) maybe they don’t want kids reading a book about a murder-suicide of some barely teenagers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Full text of Romeo and Juliet with entertaining and thought provoking commentary.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sterling & Stone for the ARC My review is voluntary
It was fascinating to read the play from the 2o26 perspective. How things have changed. A very long time ago I studied under the academics who were at the time developing the literary theory of Presentism, which changed the way English Literature is taught. None of them, not even our ardent feminist professor, mentioned the issue what is now glaringly obvious. Juliet is a child. This proves their point; that historical text is inevitably shaped by the reader's experience in the present. It is so reassuring to see that young people are being taught Shakespeare with reference to all the awareness of issues that are now being spoken about.
So what of those young people that this book is obviously aimed at? One slight reservation. Teens can be a cynical bunch. Old people are trying to make the laugh is embarrassing. The book has probably been stress tested for this and hopefully they will read it because it is excellent.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sterling & Stone for the ARC My review is voluntary
It was fascinating to read the play from the 2o26 perspective. How things have changed. A very long time ago I studied under the academics who were at the time developing the literary theory of Presentism, which changed the way English Literature is taught. None of them, not even our ardent feminist professor, mentioned the issue what is now glaringly obvious. Juliet is a child. This proves their point; that historical text is inevitably shaped by the reader's experience in the present. It is so reassuring to see that young people are being taught Shakespeare with reference to all the awareness of issues that are now being spoken about.
So what of those young people that this book is obviously aimed at? One slight reservation. Teens can be a cynical bunch. Old people are trying to make the laugh is embarrassing. The book has probably been stress tested for this and hopefully they will read it because it is excellent.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This edition of Romeo and Juliet pairs Shakespeare’s original text with modern commentary by Ellis Keen, and I found it completely engaging from the first page.
I went through a Shakespeare phase in college and own his complete works, but I haven’t revisited them in years. Reading this made me want to pick them up again—this time with a different perspective.
The commentary woven throughout the text was my favorite part. I’m usually a fast reader and rarely stop to reread passages, but I often found myself going back to sections after reading the notes. They encouraged me to slow down and think more deeply about the language and themes.
Shakespeare can feel like an entirely different language for new readers, so I think this edition would be especially helpful for students. At the same time, it’s just as enjoyable for readers who want to revisit the play with fresh insight.
I went through a Shakespeare phase in college and own his complete works, but I haven’t revisited them in years. Reading this made me want to pick them up again—this time with a different perspective.
The commentary woven throughout the text was my favorite part. I’m usually a fast reader and rarely stop to reread passages, but I often found myself going back to sections after reading the notes. They encouraged me to slow down and think more deeply about the language and themes.
Shakespeare can feel like an entirely different language for new readers, so I think this edition would be especially helpful for students. At the same time, it’s just as enjoyable for readers who want to revisit the play with fresh insight.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I never thought I would be re-reading Romeo and Juliet having had two college courses on Shakespeare.
This book was entertaining to read! I found myself laughing out loud with the commentary and explanations in modern terms. It was refreshing to read someone else's take on such a studied and famous work.
Now, to why I rated it a 4 star. The commentary began to morph into what felt more like a term paper/analysis assignment. It still explains in modern terms what happened in a scene, but in an analytical way, whereas in the beginning of the book it was more translating a scene into funny/relatable terminology.
Also, the ending commentary was exactly like a thesis wrap-up in a term paper. Overall, I enjoyed this book. I had some good laughs and it sure brought up memories of college classes! Now I'm off to watch Romeo + Juliet with Leo and Claire 😄
This book was entertaining to read! I found myself laughing out loud with the commentary and explanations in modern terms. It was refreshing to read someone else's take on such a studied and famous work.
Now, to why I rated it a 4 star. The commentary began to morph into what felt more like a term paper/analysis assignment. It still explains in modern terms what happened in a scene, but in an analytical way, whereas in the beginning of the book it was more translating a scene into funny/relatable terminology.
Also, the ending commentary was exactly like a thesis wrap-up in a term paper. Overall, I enjoyed this book. I had some good laughs and it sure brought up memories of college classes! Now I'm off to watch Romeo + Juliet with Leo and Claire 😄
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
POV: Romeo and Juliet finally has the commentary it deserved.
Ellis Keen turned Shakespeare’s most chaotic love story into something hilarious and ridiculously fun to read. The added commentary had me laughing while also breaking down the scenes in a way that actually makes the story easier to understand.
It’s witty, relatable, and somehow manages to make a centuries-old tragedy feel fresh again.
Honestly? Reading this felt like having a very funny friend sitting next to me whispering, “Okay but why are these teenagers making such terrible life choices?”
Shakespeare… but make it entertaining.
Ellis Keen turned Shakespeare’s most chaotic love story into something hilarious and ridiculously fun to read. The added commentary had me laughing while also breaking down the scenes in a way that actually makes the story easier to understand.
It’s witty, relatable, and somehow manages to make a centuries-old tragedy feel fresh again.
Honestly? Reading this felt like having a very funny friend sitting next to me whispering, “Okay but why are these teenagers making such terrible life choices?”
Shakespeare… but make it entertaining.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Hilarious! It’s genius.
Here’s a taste:
“If this random guy I kissed twice is married, I’ll die.” She spoke to him for three minutes.
I don’t care how poetic you think this is, climbing walls to get to someone’s house without their knowledge or consent is stalking.
It’s seriously laugh out loud funny. The wit is relentless, yet the poetry survives. Spoiler alert: The romance does not.
I hope Keen will follow up with the entire Shakespeare folio!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
Here’s a taste:
“If this random guy I kissed twice is married, I’ll die.” She spoke to him for three minutes.
I don’t care how poetic you think this is, climbing walls to get to someone’s house without their knowledge or consent is stalking.
It’s seriously laugh out loud funny. The wit is relentless, yet the poetry survives. Spoiler alert: The romance does not.
I hope Keen will follow up with the entire Shakespeare folio!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I never thought I would ever reread Romeo and Juliet almost 20 years out of high school. But here we are. Keen’s commentary is hilarious and insightful and brings new light to the obviously troublesome story Shakespeare presented so long ago.
March 26, 2026
This version of "Romeo and Juliet" not only offers the full original text, but also adds modern commentary that gives fun recaps on the the stage play, adds a modern perspective, and some food for thought.
I also really liked the short summary / thesis statement at the end of the book.
I would definitely read other books from the series.
I also really liked the short summary / thesis statement at the end of the book.
I would definitely read other books from the series.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
thanks netgalley and Ellis Keen for the ARC.....
This was a fun read Romeo and Juliet with a fun take from the mind of Ellis Keen, so much fun to read some extra thoughts from one else
I remember reading this classic story years ago. even though it ends in tragedy its worth the read.......
This was a fun read Romeo and Juliet with a fun take from the mind of Ellis Keen, so much fun to read some extra thoughts from one else
I remember reading this classic story years ago. even though it ends in tragedy its worth the read.......
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews