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Juliet and Juliet:
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Expected 13 Apr 27Two Juliets. One iconic love story. What happens when Shakespeare's famous tragedy gets totally flipped? Tender, romantic, and ever-revelant in our modern age, this graphic novel retelling of Romeo and Juliet is made for today's readers with all the drama and romance of Shakespeare's original.
JULIET MONTAGUE is a tabloid darling -- a socialite whose face appears on the front page of the gossip column every weekend. She's had her heart recently broken and is looking to liven things up by crashing a party of her family's rivals. . .
JULIET CAPULET is shy, reserved, and a little naive. Her father is pressuring her to find a young man at the Capulet Annual Ball. (Juliet hasn't had the courage to tell her father that she's actually . . . not that into boys. . . ) But she's a good daughter and attends the party only to lock eyes with the most riveting (and forbidden) girl she's ever seen. . .
For Juliet and Juliet, it's love at first sight. These star-crossed lovers commit to romantic adventure, secret meetings, stolen kisses, and a promise intended to last forever. . .
JULIET MONTAGUE is a tabloid darling -- a socialite whose face appears on the front page of the gossip column every weekend. She's had her heart recently broken and is looking to liven things up by crashing a party of her family's rivals. . .
JULIET CAPULET is shy, reserved, and a little naive. Her father is pressuring her to find a young man at the Capulet Annual Ball. (Juliet hasn't had the courage to tell her father that she's actually . . . not that into boys. . . ) But she's a good daughter and attends the party only to lock eyes with the most riveting (and forbidden) girl she's ever seen. . .
For Juliet and Juliet, it's love at first sight. These star-crossed lovers commit to romantic adventure, secret meetings, stolen kisses, and a promise intended to last forever. . .
Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 13, 2027
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for this e-arc!
I love retellings of classics so I knew I had to read this one. The artwork is incredibly well drawn and so vibrant! This was pretty face-paced and a quick read, I do wish we had a little bit more of the family feud part but this was pretty light-hearted. A fun modern twist while still keeping a lot of the original story!
I love retellings of classics so I knew I had to read this one. The artwork is incredibly well drawn and so vibrant! This was pretty face-paced and a quick read, I do wish we had a little bit more of the family feud part but this was pretty light-hearted. A fun modern twist while still keeping a lot of the original story!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Advanced electronic copy provided by NetGalley.
Mel V. Vargas' take on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is a lighthearted read, though not intriguing enough that I could see myself rereading it in the future. A sapphic version of the tale that mixes clothing of Shakespeare's time with modern technology, the strength comes in the illustrations rather than the story itself.
Vargas' graphic novel is a quick read, but this is also a drawback. Characters feel underdeveloped and the story feels rushed. While Vargas reflects the original by the rapidness JM and Juliet fall for each other, I do wish Vargas had spent more time showing their relationship developing, rather than a montage of scenes.
The ending falls short of satisfying. While there is a reference to Shakespeare's ending, it more so emphasized how lackluster this ending was in comparison.
As mentioned, Vargas illustrations are the highlight of this book. Montagues and Capulets are color coded, making particular scenes such as the Montague ball beautiful. I did appreciate a joke about the color coding made later in the story, about the reasoning for Capulets not wearing blue having nothing to do with the feud. There are diverse characters, both those featured in the story and in the background - plus, Spanish is used with JM and the Montagues, and charcters express gender and sexual diversity. Vargas switches between using background settings to just colored backgrounds nicely, drawing emphasis as needed. My only critique of the illustrations is that at some angles, the faces looked askew.
While JM and Juliet are our leads, I loved Nance whenever she appeared. Nance, being Juliet's friend instead of simply aiding her, gives Juliet more character in turn. Another stand our for me was Paris. Though I guessed that Vargas' would include a twist with Paris, it still surprised me by what the twist was.
While I likely won't outright be recommending this book to others, it still a great tween read for those learning about retellings. While there are other Shakespeare retellings - and specifically Romeo and Juliet retellings - that I have enjoyed more, it's a good example of a modernized retelling. I see this more so useful for school projects, helping tweens better understand Shakespeare. While not my favorite book, I am interested in future graphic novels Vargas may produce.
Mel V. Vargas' take on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is a lighthearted read, though not intriguing enough that I could see myself rereading it in the future. A sapphic version of the tale that mixes clothing of Shakespeare's time with modern technology, the strength comes in the illustrations rather than the story itself.
Vargas' graphic novel is a quick read, but this is also a drawback. Characters feel underdeveloped and the story feels rushed. While Vargas reflects the original by the rapidness JM and Juliet fall for each other, I do wish Vargas had spent more time showing their relationship developing, rather than a montage of scenes.
The ending falls short of satisfying. While there is a reference to Shakespeare's ending, it more so emphasized how lackluster this ending was in comparison.
As mentioned, Vargas illustrations are the highlight of this book. Montagues and Capulets are color coded, making particular scenes such as the Montague ball beautiful. I did appreciate a joke about the color coding made later in the story, about the reasoning for Capulets not wearing blue having nothing to do with the feud. There are diverse characters, both those featured in the story and in the background - plus, Spanish is used with JM and the Montagues, and charcters express gender and sexual diversity. Vargas switches between using background settings to just colored backgrounds nicely, drawing emphasis as needed. My only critique of the illustrations is that at some angles, the faces looked askew.
While JM and Juliet are our leads, I loved Nance whenever she appeared. Nance, being Juliet's friend instead of simply aiding her, gives Juliet more character in turn. Another stand our for me was Paris. Though I guessed that Vargas' would include a twist with Paris, it still surprised me by what the twist was.
While I likely won't outright be recommending this book to others, it still a great tween read for those learning about retellings. While there are other Shakespeare retellings - and specifically Romeo and Juliet retellings - that I have enjoyed more, it's a good example of a modernized retelling. I see this more so useful for school projects, helping tweens better understand Shakespeare. While not my favorite book, I am interested in future graphic novels Vargas may produce.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5/5 ⭐️
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of Juliet + Juliet in exchange for my honest review! ♡
i really enjoyed! it was such a cute and sweet sapphic reimagining of the classic romance, romeo and juliet. i loved seeing such a familiar love story turned into juliet + juliet while still keeping that forbidden-love feeling between the montagues and capulets.
i know one of the biggest criticisms is that the romance moves pretty fast, and i can definitely see that. the juliets meet at the ball and by the next day they’re already admitting that they like each other lol. BUT honestly, it didn’t bother me that much. this is a shorter graphic novel, and personally, i don’t need a 300–400 page graphic novel just to make the romance more of a slow burn 😭 for the length of the book, i thought it worked.
the artwork was BEAUTIFUL and probably one of my favorite parts. i also loved the representation throughout the book. one juliet is thicker while the other is slimmer, and i loved seeing different body types represented in the artwork. i also loved nancy! seeing a Black girl casually on facetime with her bonnet on was such a small detail, but i loved that representation. both juliets also had really great friends and support systems, which i enjoyed seeing.
i also really loved the setting. it had this older, almost shakespearean/fairytale feel with the clothes, balls, family dynamics, and the montague/capulet rivalry, but then they’re using phones, facetime, social media, etc. i thought blending that older world with today’s technology was really creative and cute. somehow it worked without feeling weird or out of place.
my biggest complaint is that i wish we learned more about WHY the montagues and capulets hated each other. the family feud is such a major reason the juliets can’t openly be together, so i would’ve loved a little more background on where all that beef actually came from.
overall, i thought this was such a cute read. beautiful artwork, great representation, supportive friendships, a sweet sapphic romance, and a creative spin on a classic. yes, the romance moves fast, but for me, that didn’t take away from how much i enjoyed it.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of Juliet + Juliet in exchange for my honest review! ♡
i really enjoyed! it was such a cute and sweet sapphic reimagining of the classic romance, romeo and juliet. i loved seeing such a familiar love story turned into juliet + juliet while still keeping that forbidden-love feeling between the montagues and capulets.
i know one of the biggest criticisms is that the romance moves pretty fast, and i can definitely see that. the juliets meet at the ball and by the next day they’re already admitting that they like each other lol. BUT honestly, it didn’t bother me that much. this is a shorter graphic novel, and personally, i don’t need a 300–400 page graphic novel just to make the romance more of a slow burn 😭 for the length of the book, i thought it worked.
the artwork was BEAUTIFUL and probably one of my favorite parts. i also loved the representation throughout the book. one juliet is thicker while the other is slimmer, and i loved seeing different body types represented in the artwork. i also loved nancy! seeing a Black girl casually on facetime with her bonnet on was such a small detail, but i loved that representation. both juliets also had really great friends and support systems, which i enjoyed seeing.
i also really loved the setting. it had this older, almost shakespearean/fairytale feel with the clothes, balls, family dynamics, and the montague/capulet rivalry, but then they’re using phones, facetime, social media, etc. i thought blending that older world with today’s technology was really creative and cute. somehow it worked without feeling weird or out of place.
my biggest complaint is that i wish we learned more about WHY the montagues and capulets hated each other. the family feud is such a major reason the juliets can’t openly be together, so i would’ve loved a little more background on where all that beef actually came from.
overall, i thought this was such a cute read. beautiful artwork, great representation, supportive friendships, a sweet sapphic romance, and a creative spin on a classic. yes, the romance moves fast, but for me, that didn’t take away from how much i enjoyed it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am always on the hunt for retellings of classical stories that are crafted in new and exciting ways. Graphic novels have become one of my favorite mediums for this because they are accessible, and the variance in how an author can expand the story is only limited by their imagination.
Juliet and Juliet by Mel V. Vargas is unsurprisingly a Romeo and Juliet retelling. However, the key-point resemblance ends there in practice. This book is not a frame-by-frame retelling of the famous Shakespeare play. Instead, we get a modern-age retelling with a tabloid-famous socialite suffering after a recent breakup and a shy young woman who loves gardening and is reticent to attend the ball her father insists on throwing.
Juliet and Juliet is a transformative story highlighting the underlying relationships within the classic tale, while balancing a modern viewpoint. This story is full of creative, colorful characters, reminiscent of the ones you already know. My favorite aspect of this graphic novel was the sheer creativity interwoven by way of the art style. The backdrop, fashion, and some values are distinctly of a Victorian aesthetic, but the author has also woven in the element of technology. I really liked this interplay and found it a refreshing way of communicating the story. I think that many people will find this story thought-provoking and fun!
I think this book will work particularly for anyone who adores queer-norm books, wholesome romance, and classic reimaginings. I was extremely pleased with the balance between reference to the orginal Romeo and Juliet tale and this new angle to the story. I felt like many elements were tongue in cheek and fun to explore!
Thank you, NetGalley, Mel V. Vargas, and Random House Children’s Books for sending me this advanced review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily and with joy in my heart!
Juliet and Juliet by Mel V. Vargas is unsurprisingly a Romeo and Juliet retelling. However, the key-point resemblance ends there in practice. This book is not a frame-by-frame retelling of the famous Shakespeare play. Instead, we get a modern-age retelling with a tabloid-famous socialite suffering after a recent breakup and a shy young woman who loves gardening and is reticent to attend the ball her father insists on throwing.
Juliet and Juliet is a transformative story highlighting the underlying relationships within the classic tale, while balancing a modern viewpoint. This story is full of creative, colorful characters, reminiscent of the ones you already know. My favorite aspect of this graphic novel was the sheer creativity interwoven by way of the art style. The backdrop, fashion, and some values are distinctly of a Victorian aesthetic, but the author has also woven in the element of technology. I really liked this interplay and found it a refreshing way of communicating the story. I think that many people will find this story thought-provoking and fun!
I think this book will work particularly for anyone who adores queer-norm books, wholesome romance, and classic reimaginings. I was extremely pleased with the balance between reference to the orginal Romeo and Juliet tale and this new angle to the story. I felt like many elements were tongue in cheek and fun to explore!
Thank you, NetGalley, Mel V. Vargas, and Random House Children’s Books for sending me this advanced review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily and with joy in my heart!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Actual Rating: 3.75 stars
Thank you to Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! This comes out April 13th 2027.
Juliet and Juliet is loosely inspired by Romeo and Juliet. It follows Juliet “JM” Montague and Juliet Capulet as they meet and very quickly fall for each other. The problem? Their families hate each other and they must meet in secret.
This was very cute! I loved the art style. I also loved that Juliet Capulet is trans and that while it comes up, it’s never an issue for any of the characters. This is the second sapphic romance graphic novel I’ve read recently where one of the leads is trans femme. It’s so wonderful to see when trans femme characters are few and far between!
I’ve read graphic novels before where the story is set in the past and suddenly and randomly include a modern day item and found it really jarring. I think including modern day items throughout like in Juliet and Juliet works much better. Though I could see it turning off some readers.
I will say, Juliet and JM fell for each other incredibly quickly and I would have liked to see more development of their romantic feelings for each other. I guess them deciding to be girlfriends almost immediately is in keeping with the source material but it definitely had me less invested in the romance.
My biggest issue with this is - unless my ARC was missing pages or something, it’s literally never explained why the Montagues and Capulets hate each other. They also get over it incredibly quickly.
Overall, this was a sweet, quick read with lovely art. The story definitely wasn’t perfect but I’m open to reading more from this author because I thought it was a promising debut.
Thank you to Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! This comes out April 13th 2027.
Juliet and Juliet is loosely inspired by Romeo and Juliet. It follows Juliet “JM” Montague and Juliet Capulet as they meet and very quickly fall for each other. The problem? Their families hate each other and they must meet in secret.
This was very cute! I loved the art style. I also loved that Juliet Capulet is trans and that while it comes up, it’s never an issue for any of the characters. This is the second sapphic romance graphic novel I’ve read recently where one of the leads is trans femme. It’s so wonderful to see when trans femme characters are few and far between!
I’ve read graphic novels before where the story is set in the past and suddenly and randomly include a modern day item and found it really jarring. I think including modern day items throughout like in Juliet and Juliet works much better. Though I could see it turning off some readers.
I will say, Juliet and JM fell for each other incredibly quickly and I would have liked to see more development of their romantic feelings for each other. I guess them deciding to be girlfriends almost immediately is in keeping with the source material but it definitely had me less invested in the romance.
My biggest issue with this is - unless my ARC was missing pages or something, it’s literally never explained why the Montagues and Capulets hate each other. They also get over it incredibly quickly.
Overall, this was a sweet, quick read with lovely art. The story definitely wasn’t perfect but I’m open to reading more from this author because I thought it was a promising debut.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 stars
I was living for this cover, so when I decided to do a Labor Day weekend graphic novel binge, I simply had to push this far up on the TBR. No regrets!
The art, representation, and central relationship are highlights of this graphic novel. It is extremely appealing to look at, and I loved the way Vargas brought in so many vital details - as one should in this genre - through the images. There's a deeper, important story happening in that space. I also really enjoyed the notes at the end of the novel where Vargas talks about their choices when it comes to blending periods. This gave me an added appreciation for and understanding of the thought process and choices here.
One challenge I had while reading is the instant Shakespearean connection. I've taught British lit at the college level for over two decades now, not to mention whatever I had to do in advance to get to that point, so it was a bit of a struggle to REALLY see this as a modern take or remix. The main connections are the characters' names and the fact that there is some family feud. I'd have loved this book even more without that attempted tie. Give me two random royals merging time periods. Love it. For me, this element felt like more of a distraction than a bonus feature.
I'll definitely recommend this one but with the caveat that readers might find more success with casting aside any Shakespearean associations and just thinking of this as a really fun love story with outstanding queer rep.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Graphic for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I was living for this cover, so when I decided to do a Labor Day weekend graphic novel binge, I simply had to push this far up on the TBR. No regrets!
The art, representation, and central relationship are highlights of this graphic novel. It is extremely appealing to look at, and I loved the way Vargas brought in so many vital details - as one should in this genre - through the images. There's a deeper, important story happening in that space. I also really enjoyed the notes at the end of the novel where Vargas talks about their choices when it comes to blending periods. This gave me an added appreciation for and understanding of the thought process and choices here.
One challenge I had while reading is the instant Shakespearean connection. I've taught British lit at the college level for over two decades now, not to mention whatever I had to do in advance to get to that point, so it was a bit of a struggle to REALLY see this as a modern take or remix. The main connections are the characters' names and the fact that there is some family feud. I'd have loved this book even more without that attempted tie. Give me two random royals merging time periods. Love it. For me, this element felt like more of a distraction than a bonus feature.
I'll definitely recommend this one but with the caveat that readers might find more success with casting aside any Shakespearean associations and just thinking of this as a really fun love story with outstanding queer rep.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Graphic for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books | Random House Graphic for providing me with this ARC.
Classic stories retold in different formats and with more expansive types of characters are some of my favorite things to read. Juliet and Juliet is a LGBTQ+/Sapphic graphic novel retelling of Romeo & Juliet (with liberties taken for the ending). It maintains the main premise of the story (two warring families) and does a bit of a mash-up between old and new (the Juliets have cell phones). I really enjoy how much of the story is actually told through comic slides; much of Juliet and Juliet’s dating is in picture format and that’s so clever. We see (presumed to be) hormone shots as an image and no explanation needed. We see various characters and fluid genders and gender expressions and it’s done so well. There’s no explanation because there’s no phobia. Not that everything is perfect and everyone is accepted; there is still the Capulet / Montague rivalry. There’s still parents making decisions that dramatically affect their teens’ lives. There’s still friends and cousins pulled into the frey. And miscommunications abound. But this is also a story of early love and finding a person to be yourself with. It’s a classic story - classically retold for a new generation of readers.
Classic stories retold in different formats and with more expansive types of characters are some of my favorite things to read. Juliet and Juliet is a LGBTQ+/Sapphic graphic novel retelling of Romeo & Juliet (with liberties taken for the ending). It maintains the main premise of the story (two warring families) and does a bit of a mash-up between old and new (the Juliets have cell phones). I really enjoy how much of the story is actually told through comic slides; much of Juliet and Juliet’s dating is in picture format and that’s so clever. We see (presumed to be) hormone shots as an image and no explanation needed. We see various characters and fluid genders and gender expressions and it’s done so well. There’s no explanation because there’s no phobia. Not that everything is perfect and everyone is accepted; there is still the Capulet / Montague rivalry. There’s still parents making decisions that dramatically affect their teens’ lives. There’s still friends and cousins pulled into the frey. And miscommunications abound. But this is also a story of early love and finding a person to be yourself with. It’s a classic story - classically retold for a new generation of readers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Two Juliets is such a lovely and refreshing take on Romeo and Juliet. I loved the idea of taking such a well-known story and completely flipping the romance on its head. 💕📚
Instead of Romeo and Juliet, we get two Juliets from rival families. Juliet Montague is a glamorous socialite who loves the spotlight, while Juliet Capulet is shy, reserved, and struggling with the expectations her family has placed on her. When they meet at the Capulet ball, it’s basically love at first sight.
I really enjoyed how the story keeps so many elements of the original, while giving them a completely new context. The secret meetings, stolen kisses, family rivalry, forbidden romance, and all the drama are still there, but seeing everything unfold between two girls makes the story feel fresh and different.
The graphic novel format also makes this a really quick and enjoyable read. It’s romantic, dramatic, and cute without taking itself too seriously. I especially loved seeing a classic love story reimagined through a sapphic lens.
Overall, this comic is a fun choice if you enjoy queer romance, forbidden love, and modern retellings of classic stories. It’s sweet and definitely an interesting way to revisit the classic.
Instead of Romeo and Juliet, we get two Juliets from rival families. Juliet Montague is a glamorous socialite who loves the spotlight, while Juliet Capulet is shy, reserved, and struggling with the expectations her family has placed on her. When they meet at the Capulet ball, it’s basically love at first sight.
I really enjoyed how the story keeps so many elements of the original, while giving them a completely new context. The secret meetings, stolen kisses, family rivalry, forbidden romance, and all the drama are still there, but seeing everything unfold between two girls makes the story feel fresh and different.
The graphic novel format also makes this a really quick and enjoyable read. It’s romantic, dramatic, and cute without taking itself too seriously. I especially loved seeing a classic love story reimagined through a sapphic lens.
Overall, this comic is a fun choice if you enjoy queer romance, forbidden love, and modern retellings of classic stories. It’s sweet and definitely an interesting way to revisit the classic.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
i love the idea of turning a classic shakespearean tale into a queer semi modern tale! so often we see how this can work brilliantly to the point that audiences may not even realize that they’re reading and adaptation of Shakespeare.
While this is definitely a more in your face adaptation, that is to say, it’s hard not to know that you’re reading a sapphic version of Romeo and Juliet here, I think there were still things that worked well. The mix of modern technology into antiquated times is something that really works well in a graphic novel format. Getting the plot, moving in a way that is easily digestible for young readers also really worked well here.
For me, where this fell a little bit flat, was the deviation of the source of material. Without giving spoilers away, I’ll just say that I think it’s very important that queer people can see themselves in media that isn’t a tragedy, but maybe an adaptation of maybe the most famous tragic romance of all time wasn’t the time to do that.
she’s cute! but some… choices… were made.
thanks to netgalley and random house for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
While this is definitely a more in your face adaptation, that is to say, it’s hard not to know that you’re reading a sapphic version of Romeo and Juliet here, I think there were still things that worked well. The mix of modern technology into antiquated times is something that really works well in a graphic novel format. Getting the plot, moving in a way that is easily digestible for young readers also really worked well here.
For me, where this fell a little bit flat, was the deviation of the source of material. Without giving spoilers away, I’ll just say that I think it’s very important that queer people can see themselves in media that isn’t a tragedy, but maybe an adaptation of maybe the most famous tragic romance of all time wasn’t the time to do that.
she’s cute! but some… choices… were made.
thanks to netgalley and random house for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 2, 2026
I want more books in the world like Juliet and Juliet. It's a soft place to land with low stakes and a lot of sweetness for characters who are marginalized because of their identities, bodies, genders, and love. The cast is diverse on multiple spectrums, and are lovingly illustrated so that no two characters are overly similar. The visual world of the graphic novel is playful and pretty in candy colors that have fun with an anachronistic setting. There is ultimately no character death, which honestly is a relief after books that kill off queer characters too easily.
While the read might not be what every teen or adult needs, and there was room for some deeper development in the plot, I am ultimately very glad it is here for the ones that need need the simple sweetess. Juliet and Juliet offers our most vulnerable teens and youth a window into something that is gently hopeful while offering cute references to the classic. It makes it an easy recommend for an appropriate aged reader.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for the ARC of this book.
While the read might not be what every teen or adult needs, and there was room for some deeper development in the plot, I am ultimately very glad it is here for the ones that need need the simple sweetess. Juliet and Juliet offers our most vulnerable teens and youth a window into something that is gently hopeful while offering cute references to the classic. It makes it an easy recommend for an appropriate aged reader.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for the ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Two Juliets. Two rival families. One love worth breaking all the rules for.
💕
In this modern graphic novel retelling of Romeo and Juliet, socialite Juliet Montague crashes a party hosted by her family’s rivals and meets shy Juliet Capulet, who is struggling with her father’s expectations. The two immediately fall for each other, beginning a forbidden romance filled with secret meetings, stolen kisses, and plenty of Shakespearean drama.
⚔️
I’m always up for a creative Shakespeare retelling, and making Romeo and Juliet into Juliet and Juliet is such a fun twist! I loved the contrast between outgoing, rebellious Montague and quieter Capulet, especially as Capulet figures out who she is outside of her family’s expectations. The young adult graphic novel format makes the classic story feel really accessible for teens while keeping all the forbidden romance and family drama of the original. The color palette was beautiful! This title releases April 13!
CW: homophobia, violence, death, grief, suicide, alcohol
💕
In this modern graphic novel retelling of Romeo and Juliet, socialite Juliet Montague crashes a party hosted by her family’s rivals and meets shy Juliet Capulet, who is struggling with her father’s expectations. The two immediately fall for each other, beginning a forbidden romance filled with secret meetings, stolen kisses, and plenty of Shakespearean drama.
⚔️
I’m always up for a creative Shakespeare retelling, and making Romeo and Juliet into Juliet and Juliet is such a fun twist! I loved the contrast between outgoing, rebellious Montague and quieter Capulet, especially as Capulet figures out who she is outside of her family’s expectations. The young adult graphic novel format makes the classic story feel really accessible for teens while keeping all the forbidden romance and family drama of the original. The color palette was beautiful! This title releases April 13!
CW: homophobia, violence, death, grief, suicide, alcohol
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Juliet and Juliet reimagines Shakespeare's classic tragedy as a modern sapphic graphic novel with a wide range of diverse characters. The story was so cute, and even though it's an adaptation, I was surprised by certain moves Mel V. Vargas made to make the story their own.
Vargas "mashes-up" time periods through technology and fashion, allowing the story to be told in a new way with art and designs that call back to the original story and era. I loved seeing the different outfits for each character and how their stories changed to fit a more modern, inclusive world.
I do wish we had gotten more characterization of the side characters, especially Benny, Monty, and Nancy. While this is ultimately the love story of Juliet and Juliet (JM), their best friends felt like just that. Characters with no stories of their own and whose only purpose is to push forward the narrative of the main romance.
I do love this adaptation though and hope to see more of Vargas' work in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!
Vargas "mashes-up" time periods through technology and fashion, allowing the story to be told in a new way with art and designs that call back to the original story and era. I loved seeing the different outfits for each character and how their stories changed to fit a more modern, inclusive world.
I do wish we had gotten more characterization of the side characters, especially Benny, Monty, and Nancy. While this is ultimately the love story of Juliet and Juliet (JM), their best friends felt like just that. Characters with no stories of their own and whose only purpose is to push forward the narrative of the main romance.
I do love this adaptation though and hope to see more of Vargas' work in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Juliet & Juliet, let’s talk about it. So, I absolutely loved this one! The art style was so beautiful and eye catching, while the color palette matched the vibe perfectly. This is a fun modern sapphic take on a classic story and it really revamps the events we all know and love! Romeo & Juliet is a story I have so much love for and I really enjoyed this retelling. The lgbt+ aspect adds some new stakes to this story keeping it fresh and new, while also taking the place of some of the heavier parts of the original. The representation in this graphic novel was well done and extremely touching. All in all, this was a very fun take on a classic. With stunning art and an entertaining plot, this one was a winner for me! (And the behind the scenes at the end was a great little touch!) Thank you to Random House Children’s Books for access to this title. Check out Juliet & Juliet on April 13, 2027!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Okay, so this grew on me. It was a SUPER quick read. Like, I read it on Netgalley so I didn't even have to turn pages and it took me like 15 minutes. SUPER FAST!!
The art was pretty cute, and I'm always down for a lesbian retelling of a classic<3 I liked how they summarized the story, without making it just a copy-paste of Romeo and Juliet. The modern twist (with cellphones and Pjs and such) was so fun! Though it was a little confusing at times when they all wore period piece outfits...
Both Juliet's were so cute and fun in their own way! JM was my favorite🙂↕️and she would have made a very good pirate. Uhm, but yeah. It was pretty good. Not the bestest graphic novel I've ever read, or anything close, but sweet and fun and if you're looking for a little graphic novel to get your lesbian niece or something, I'm sure she would like it!
That's my two cents, but feel free to give it a try! You might love it!
Thank you to Netgalley and Mel Vargas for this ARC!
The art was pretty cute, and I'm always down for a lesbian retelling of a classic<3 I liked how they summarized the story, without making it just a copy-paste of Romeo and Juliet. The modern twist (with cellphones and Pjs and such) was so fun! Though it was a little confusing at times when they all wore period piece outfits...
Both Juliet's were so cute and fun in their own way! JM was my favorite🙂↕️and she would have made a very good pirate. Uhm, but yeah. It was pretty good. Not the bestest graphic novel I've ever read, or anything close, but sweet and fun and if you're looking for a little graphic novel to get your lesbian niece or something, I'm sure she would like it!
That's my two cents, but feel free to give it a try! You might love it!
Thank you to Netgalley and Mel Vargas for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love the opportunity to gender swap a classic story but I’m not sure Romeo and Juliet was the best choice. By making this a queer story, the author is faced with two choices. They can either play into the bury your gays trope or change the plot to remove the tragic ending. The latter seems like the obvious choice but it fails in this case. All the tension and conflict is stripped out of the story. Neither Juliet knows why there is a feud and even their fathers don’t remember. When it comes down to it, the fathers come together much too easily. The only real conflict comes from the cousin and that’s just basic meddling.
While the plot was lacking for me, the artwork was beautiful and I could see some folks enjoying it if they’re just looking for a happy take on an old story
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
While the plot was lacking for me, the artwork was beautiful and I could see some folks enjoying it if they’re just looking for a happy take on an old story
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's Books, and Mel V. Vargas for the Advanced Reader Copy of Juliet and Juliet!
What a cute retelling of Romeo and Juliet! I loved how colorful, creative, and inclusive this read was. The mix between modern and period-appropriate made this story unique. It was similar to "& Juliet" in this sense, and I personally love adaptations that use this approach.
The illustrations were incredible detailed. I loved zooming into panels to see everything that Vargas included, and the little details I would have missed if I hadn't looked closer. And again, I love that the world Vargas created for this story was so inclusive and diverse. It is so nice to see a story where the world itself is so welcoming of everyone.
Overall, this was a cute, sweet story! I loved this graphic novel, and I can't wait to see what else Vargas creates!
What a cute retelling of Romeo and Juliet! I loved how colorful, creative, and inclusive this read was. The mix between modern and period-appropriate made this story unique. It was similar to "& Juliet" in this sense, and I personally love adaptations that use this approach.
The illustrations were incredible detailed. I loved zooming into panels to see everything that Vargas included, and the little details I would have missed if I hadn't looked closer. And again, I love that the world Vargas created for this story was so inclusive and diverse. It is so nice to see a story where the world itself is so welcoming of everyone.
Overall, this was a cute, sweet story! I loved this graphic novel, and I can't wait to see what else Vargas creates!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As a long-time teacher of Romeo and Juliet, I am always interested to read/see different interpretations and presentations of the story. With that said, I must say that this one was not one of my favorites. I am an avid reader, with queer literature among the things I read, but this one did not hit the mark for me. I found the storyline to be corny, very loosely based on Romeo and Juliet. In addition, the artwork was okay, but the book as a whole is not something I could put in my classroom library. I'm sure there is an audience that will love this book, but unfortunately, I am not among that crowd. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for making this ARC available for me to read and honstly review.
September 1, 2026
I'll be honest and say I was lured in by the cover, which I know you're not supposed to do, but technically does that count when it's a graphic novel because the art got me. WHICH was super gorgeous and colorful!! I loved it so much.
I also very much love retellings and I don't care to admit it. And I love a Shakespeare retelling, especially when it's sapphic and queer. Is this a great place to say She's The Man should have been queer? Anyways.
This was super sweet and lovely. Maybe a little too fast paced and short for me to become too invested in the romance or friendships, but it was a little breath of fresh air after something heavy.
Thank you to Random House Children's Books and netgalley for the arc!
I also very much love retellings and I don't care to admit it. And I love a Shakespeare retelling, especially when it's sapphic and queer. Is this a great place to say She's The Man should have been queer? Anyways.
This was super sweet and lovely. Maybe a little too fast paced and short for me to become too invested in the romance or friendships, but it was a little breath of fresh air after something heavy.
Thank you to Random House Children's Books and netgalley for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC.
This is a short graphic novel about Juliet Montague (JM) and Juliet Capulet meeting, falling in love, and struggling to tell their parents that they are dating “the enemy”. Juliet & JM’s friends get involved to help them meet in secret because they believe in love!
Lots of representation in this graphic novel, the art is gorgeous and I enjoyed that these two finally get a happy ending. I took one star off of my rating because the story felt rushed at times and could have been more drawn out, in depth, or created some yearning or suspense.
This is a short graphic novel about Juliet Montague (JM) and Juliet Capulet meeting, falling in love, and struggling to tell their parents that they are dating “the enemy”. Juliet & JM’s friends get involved to help them meet in secret because they believe in love!
Lots of representation in this graphic novel, the art is gorgeous and I enjoyed that these two finally get a happy ending. I took one star off of my rating because the story felt rushed at times and could have been more drawn out, in depth, or created some yearning or suspense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Graphic for this amazing ARC💕
I had so much fun reading this and I really loved the character development from all the characters.
It’s fast paced and the timing is really lovely because it made it just right and I loved the art style so much.
The mixture of fashion from timelines and blending it to one and also the fusion of technology too. Brilliant I must say.
A very cute romance book between two girls named Juliet which made so much sense they had the same name and even better, from rival families.
I enjoyed it and the found family too. It was amazing.
I had so much fun reading this and I really loved the character development from all the characters.
It’s fast paced and the timing is really lovely because it made it just right and I loved the art style so much.
The mixture of fashion from timelines and blending it to one and also the fusion of technology too. Brilliant I must say.
A very cute romance book between two girls named Juliet which made so much sense they had the same name and even better, from rival families.
I enjoyed it and the found family too. It was amazing.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was super cute! I loved the art style and colors. I also particularly loved Juliet Capulet’s thematic wardrobe (I will almost always fall for celestial imagery). I thought this retelling of Shakespeare’s classic was nicely done, if incredibly compact. The pacing was very quick and the penultimate conflict was resolved rather quickly, but it didn’t really bother me much. If you would rather more time spent on that aspect, then this may not be for you. But I enjoyed some of the tongue in cheek jabs to the original source material and also adored all of the queer representation. I’m super glad younger audiences will have this book to look forward to and hopefully see themselves in!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This graphic novel was okay. Just okay. It didn't break new ground or was even a good retelling. It is very, very loosely based on Romeo and Juliet. Honestly, I feel like maybe it would have been stronger if it stood on its own. There was no real need to have it been a "retelling." There was not even a real hatred between the families, and a lot of the characters bear little resemblance to their classic counterparts. It's a nice graphic novel, especially for those looking for Sapphic stories with a happy ending. Very little conflict, but also very little to draw the story forward.
August 29, 2026
I appreciate what Juliet and Juliet was attempting to do however I would not call this an LGBTQIA+ reimagining of Romeo and Juliet. Essentially this book just takes the names and family situation (feud) and creates a story around that. It is an interesting mash up of antiquated fashion and modern technology. While I appreciate what the author attempted to do, I mostly just found it confusing and bizarre. I did love the art style and the amazing LGBTQIA+ representation, but the story was just not enough for me. 3⭐️
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read Juliet and Juliet.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read Juliet and Juliet.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
The cover is absolutely stunning, and the gorgeous artwork continued throughout the story.
I loved the fresh take on a classic, this was a captivating style to a familiar story. While this is no doubt a cute read, there is so much depth on these pages. The author brings a deeper meaning to graphic novel, creating representation that is deeply empowering.
Even though this isn’t an exact retelling, it honors great parts of the original while making its own waves.
🎨 Queer Romance
🎨 Shakespeare Retelling
🎨 Family Pressures & Identity
The cover is absolutely stunning, and the gorgeous artwork continued throughout the story.
I loved the fresh take on a classic, this was a captivating style to a familiar story. While this is no doubt a cute read, there is so much depth on these pages. The author brings a deeper meaning to graphic novel, creating representation that is deeply empowering.
Even though this isn’t an exact retelling, it honors great parts of the original while making its own waves.
🎨 Queer Romance
🎨 Shakespeare Retelling
🎨 Family Pressures & Identity
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I absolutely loved this book! While not an exact retelling of Romeo and Juliet this book still showed many similarities whilst remaining its own story. The amount of details and color that went into every page was spectacular!
I especially loved seeing the creator’s notes at the end, it really made the book special.
My only complaint is how short it is, I fell in love with the characters and wanted more😩
This book was given to me through Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
I especially loved seeing the creator’s notes at the end, it really made the book special.
My only complaint is how short it is, I fell in love with the characters and wanted more😩
This book was given to me through Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I don’t know that I would call this a retelling as much as a reimagining. A retelling, to me, will have more core things in common with the source material. Juliet and Juliet is a lot less star-crossed, and a lot more low stakes. I loved the representation, but would have loved more development overall.
e-arc provided by Netgalley ❤️
e-arc provided by Netgalley ❤️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved this graphic novel so much! The illustrations are fantastic. It's the perfect reimagining of the classic tale. I enjoyed the moden vibes mixed with period pieces. I think Juliet and JM are absolutely adorable together. And all of the representation was done really well. If you like diverse young adult stories, this is for you. I definitely recommend it!
September 11, 2026
This was such a cute rendition of Romeo and Juliet. I am a SUCKER for queer retellings of stories. This was a cozy read and made me adore Juliet and JM. I enjoyed that it was a modern setting and had modern terminology without completely changing the plot of the original story. So happy that there was a happy ending and it didn’t end in tragedy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a lovely, cozy R&J retelling that stayed surprisingly faithful to the source material, minus the tragic ending. Juliet and Juliet are fully realized modern young women, balancing family expectations with living rather publicly known lives. I loved the inclusion of phones and texting to their love story and thought the addition of tabloids raised the stakes!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An absolutely lovely read. It was very cute and sweet and an absolute delight to read. I liked the conflict between JM and her friends as well and how they actually addressed it. The art style is lovely as well, everything was so colorful and pleasing to the eye. Every aspect of this graphic novel was just charming. If you want a quick and cute read, I'd definitely recommend this!
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