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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 80 reviews
September 16, 2026
a sapphic shakespeare retelling and it’s a graphic novel?? absolutely!!
my first graphic novel arc, how exciting!! thank you NetGalley and Random House Graphic for this eARC in exchange for my honest review :)
Title/Author: Juliet and Juliet by Mel V. Vargas
Format Read: NetGalley eARC
Pub date: April 13, 2027
Publisher: Random House Graphic
Page Count: 176
Recommended for readers who enjoy: Sapphic retellings, Shakespeare, and Heartstopper!!
Notable Tropes: Forbidden Love, Royal Family Drama, Found Family Friend Group, and Social Media Aspects!
Minor complaints: None really!! It was kind of short, but I understand that is simply the nature of YA Graphic Novels.
Favorite Aspects: The art style is absolutely stunning, and the depiction of this age-old trope is so uniquely done! I went into this read thinking it would be very repetitive and not very interesting, but all of the characters were so cool to learn about. Every character had very diverse backstories and personalities, which was lovely! This is such a cute story, and I highly recommend it!
Final recommendation: 5/5⭐️’s! Loved the whole concept of this graphic novel!
my first graphic novel arc, how exciting!! thank you NetGalley and Random House Graphic for this eARC in exchange for my honest review :)
Title/Author: Juliet and Juliet by Mel V. Vargas
Format Read: NetGalley eARC
Pub date: April 13, 2027
Publisher: Random House Graphic
Page Count: 176
Recommended for readers who enjoy: Sapphic retellings, Shakespeare, and Heartstopper!!
Notable Tropes: Forbidden Love, Royal Family Drama, Found Family Friend Group, and Social Media Aspects!
Minor complaints: None really!! It was kind of short, but I understand that is simply the nature of YA Graphic Novels.
Favorite Aspects: The art style is absolutely stunning, and the depiction of this age-old trope is so uniquely done! I went into this read thinking it would be very repetitive and not very interesting, but all of the characters were so cool to learn about. Every character had very diverse backstories and personalities, which was lovely! This is such a cute story, and I highly recommend it!
Final recommendation: 5/5⭐️’s! Loved the whole concept of this graphic novel!
October 11, 2026
This Graphic Novel kinda took me by surprise! I mean this in a good way. I loved the art style, it is so pretty! I loved everything about about JM and JC. I loved how they were both nerdy and how perfect they fit together. I absolutely loved the LGBTQ twist that Mel created in this story. I loved all of the other characters, but, Ty and Monty did upset me at one point. I am curious about a couple of things. Did Mel pay tribute to KiKi's Delivery Service? Is JC a diabetic? It would be cool if thats the representation that they were going through as a fellow diabetic myself. What happened to JC's other parent? Nothing to crazy for questions and nothing that is a spoiler. I absolutely loved the ending and how Mel put their own twist on it. I also really loved the behind the scenes with them, It makes me want more books on the other characters! A very well deserved 5 star rating! I will definitely be recommending it. I will also need a physical copy for my collection! So glad I read this!
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
What if instead of Romeo and Juliet, we had two women falling in love. And what if everyone is dressed as though they were from earlier times, but with cars and elevators, and modern conveniences. And what if this is a world where people don’t get their panties in a bunch about anything LGBTQ+?
This is an interesting retelling where the two girls fall in love and worry about telling their parents because of the family’s anger about the rival families, more than anything else.
This is a much more hopeful version of the story, where the girls exchange phone numbers and don’t end up doing anything stupid. Not really a spoiler, to know that.
Once you get used to the mix of old and new, the story flows along, with the same beats as the original, except for the poisoning part.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This will be published on the 13th of April 2027.
This is an interesting retelling where the two girls fall in love and worry about telling their parents because of the family’s anger about the rival families, more than anything else.
This is a much more hopeful version of the story, where the girls exchange phone numbers and don’t end up doing anything stupid. Not really a spoiler, to know that.
Once you get used to the mix of old and new, the story flows along, with the same beats as the original, except for the poisoning part.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This will be published on the 13th of April 2027.
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
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
A retelling of Romeo and Juliet that blends modern technology with regency fashion, it follows mostly with the beats of the original story sort of except with a much more hopeful ending.
I’m not sure how I feel about this retelling. It’s certainly a more hopeful one. With its bright colors and much nicer families for our leads and, of course, all the LGBTQIA rep. (Love.) My only complaint is that I feel it might have softened the edges of the original story a little too much. The original story was a lesson in how holding familial grudges and being intolerant only leads to suffering. Sometimes these feuds go on so long that no one even remembers why they are fighting. It is just “the way it is.” And that is not a good enough reason to be hateful and cruel. These are good lessons. Lessons that are taken away when the central conflict is just immediately resolved with a single conversation and no other conflict happens. Though, maybe this is meant to just be a cozy, low stakes retelling?
I’m not saying I necessarily want all of the death and conflict, but I guess I’m not sure why we would make it a retelling in that case? Just make it a completely original story.
The art is very nice. Very bold and bright and colorful! I loved the character designs. I loved the representation. But I feel like as a retelling, it lost all of the original story’s bite. It didn’t have to end in tragedy, but I feel if you’re going to do a retelling, there are certain expectations. I was expecting at least a little angst? A little conflict? Something with a little more to chew on other than misunderstandings and half-hearted apologies. This seems to be for a much younger audience, and maybe I’m just too old and jaded for this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the DRC!
I’m not sure how I feel about this retelling. It’s certainly a more hopeful one. With its bright colors and much nicer families for our leads and, of course, all the LGBTQIA rep. (Love.) My only complaint is that I feel it might have softened the edges of the original story a little too much. The original story was a lesson in how holding familial grudges and being intolerant only leads to suffering. Sometimes these feuds go on so long that no one even remembers why they are fighting. It is just “the way it is.” And that is not a good enough reason to be hateful and cruel. These are good lessons. Lessons that are taken away when the central conflict is just immediately resolved with a single conversation and no other conflict happens. Though, maybe this is meant to just be a cozy, low stakes retelling?
I’m not saying I necessarily want all of the death and conflict, but I guess I’m not sure why we would make it a retelling in that case? Just make it a completely original story.
The art is very nice. Very bold and bright and colorful! I loved the character designs. I loved the representation. But I feel like as a retelling, it lost all of the original story’s bite. It didn’t have to end in tragedy, but I feel if you’re going to do a retelling, there are certain expectations. I was expecting at least a little angst? A little conflict? Something with a little more to chew on other than misunderstandings and half-hearted apologies. This seems to be for a much younger audience, and maybe I’m just too old and jaded for this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the DRC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a copy from Random House Graphic through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Juliet Montague crashed a Capulet party, she never expected to meet a really sweet and amazing woman… Juliet Capulet! Now the two are running around in secret with the help of their closest friends. When friendships and family relationships are on the line, Juliet and Juliet have to be extremely careful with where they go and who they trust. It’s too bad a Capulet is about to kickstart the drama!
As a Shakespeare girly, I had to pick this up ASAP! I really enjoyed reading this LGBTQ+ retelling of Romeo and Juliet. I also loved that this is a modern take that combines modern clothing with period clothing, which the artwork really brought to life. The cast of characters are wonderful and mostly supportive, and that’s always nice to see. Juliet and Juliet are my favorite characters, but I did really like several of the supporting characters. Plus, almost everyone seemed mostly reasonable and supportive, and that was really nice to see.
That said, I don’t think this book captured the essence of the source material. There was significantly less drama on top of there not being much conflict between the families. Plus, no one remembered why their families were beefing even though they had access to technology and years of tabloid rumors and whatnot. At the end of the day, I think this could’ve easily been its own story because it wasn’t really much of a retelling. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy every second I spent reading it, but as a retelling, it’s loosely inspired by the source material.
When Juliet Montague crashed a Capulet party, she never expected to meet a really sweet and amazing woman… Juliet Capulet! Now the two are running around in secret with the help of their closest friends. When friendships and family relationships are on the line, Juliet and Juliet have to be extremely careful with where they go and who they trust. It’s too bad a Capulet is about to kickstart the drama!
As a Shakespeare girly, I had to pick this up ASAP! I really enjoyed reading this LGBTQ+ retelling of Romeo and Juliet. I also loved that this is a modern take that combines modern clothing with period clothing, which the artwork really brought to life. The cast of characters are wonderful and mostly supportive, and that’s always nice to see. Juliet and Juliet are my favorite characters, but I did really like several of the supporting characters. Plus, almost everyone seemed mostly reasonable and supportive, and that was really nice to see.
That said, I don’t think this book captured the essence of the source material. There was significantly less drama on top of there not being much conflict between the families. Plus, no one remembered why their families were beefing even though they had access to technology and years of tabloid rumors and whatnot. At the end of the day, I think this could’ve easily been its own story because it wasn’t really much of a retelling. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy every second I spent reading it, but as a retelling, it’s loosely inspired by the source material.
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.
October 3, 2026
3.5 / 5.0 stars
my favorite part of juliet and juliet was how queer-normative their world is. i wish the characters and plot had more room to grow and it felt very fastly paced, but nonetheless the retelling was fun for me still. the art style is also so beautiful and inclusive of all kinds of bodies, skin colors, hair types, disabilities, etc. i think people will be put off that it’s historical aesthetic and culture but there’s modern tech, personally i found it delightfully silly in the best way.
special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Graphic for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
my favorite part of juliet and juliet was how queer-normative their world is. i wish the characters and plot had more room to grow and it felt very fastly paced, but nonetheless the retelling was fun for me still. the art style is also so beautiful and inclusive of all kinds of bodies, skin colors, hair types, disabilities, etc. i think people will be put off that it’s historical aesthetic and culture but there’s modern tech, personally i found it delightfully silly in the best way.
special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Graphic for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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
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.
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 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.
October 20, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early!
Okay, take Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, flip the script, add two girls falling in love, and give the story a modern makeover. That’s basically the magic of Juliet and Juliet by Mel V. Vargas!
The story follows Juliet Montague, a socialite who crashes a party hosted by her family’s rivals, where she meets Juliet Capulet. What starts as an unexpected encounter quickly turns into a forbidden romance. Between family drama, secret meetings, and the pressure to keep their relationship hidden, the two Juliets have plenty of obstacles standing between them and their happily ever after.
One of my favorite things about this story is how it takes a classic that most people associate with tragedy and gives it a fresh perspective. Instead of simply repeating Shakespeare’s original story, Vargas explores love, identity, and what happens when people feel pressured to live up to their families’ expectations. The LGBTQ+ representation also makes the story feel more inclusive and gives readers the opportunity to see a familiar love story in a different light.
The artwork is another highlight. Since this is a graphic novel, the illustrations play a huge role in bringing the characters and their emotions to life. The mix of modern and historical fashion gives the book its own personality, and the supporting characters help make the world feel more lively. I also appreciate that the story includes friendship and family relationships instead of focusing entirely on the romance.
If I had one criticism, it would be that the love-at-first-sight storyline may feel a little rushed for readers who prefer romances that develop slowly. There is also a lot of drama surrounding the families and their expectations, which sometimes competes with the relationship itself. Still, those elements fit the forbidden-romance theme and help keep the story moving.
Overall, Juliet and Juliet is a charming, visually engaging retelling that puts a new spin on one of literature’s most recognizable romances. It combines familiar Shakespearean drama with LGBTQ+ representation, modern influences, and a more hopeful approach to love. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy graphic novels, sapphic romance, and stories that challenge traditional expectations. Shakespeare gave us the original star-crossed lovers, but Vargas proves that a classic love story can still be reinvented—and sometimes, all it needs is another Juliet.
Okay, take Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, flip the script, add two girls falling in love, and give the story a modern makeover. That’s basically the magic of Juliet and Juliet by Mel V. Vargas!
The story follows Juliet Montague, a socialite who crashes a party hosted by her family’s rivals, where she meets Juliet Capulet. What starts as an unexpected encounter quickly turns into a forbidden romance. Between family drama, secret meetings, and the pressure to keep their relationship hidden, the two Juliets have plenty of obstacles standing between them and their happily ever after.
One of my favorite things about this story is how it takes a classic that most people associate with tragedy and gives it a fresh perspective. Instead of simply repeating Shakespeare’s original story, Vargas explores love, identity, and what happens when people feel pressured to live up to their families’ expectations. The LGBTQ+ representation also makes the story feel more inclusive and gives readers the opportunity to see a familiar love story in a different light.
The artwork is another highlight. Since this is a graphic novel, the illustrations play a huge role in bringing the characters and their emotions to life. The mix of modern and historical fashion gives the book its own personality, and the supporting characters help make the world feel more lively. I also appreciate that the story includes friendship and family relationships instead of focusing entirely on the romance.
If I had one criticism, it would be that the love-at-first-sight storyline may feel a little rushed for readers who prefer romances that develop slowly. There is also a lot of drama surrounding the families and their expectations, which sometimes competes with the relationship itself. Still, those elements fit the forbidden-romance theme and help keep the story moving.
Overall, Juliet and Juliet is a charming, visually engaging retelling that puts a new spin on one of literature’s most recognizable romances. It combines familiar Shakespearean drama with LGBTQ+ representation, modern influences, and a more hopeful approach to love. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy graphic novels, sapphic romance, and stories that challenge traditional expectations. Shakespeare gave us the original star-crossed lovers, but Vargas proves that a classic love story can still be reinvented—and sometimes, all it needs is another Juliet.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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
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
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC review; thanks to Random House Children's Books, Random House Graphic, and NetGalley for the early access to this ebook. Pub date: Apr 13, 2027.
I read this at my nail appointment, and it was a delight. A modern, lesbian, graphic novel retelling of Romeo and Juliet that has a lot of fun with the original material. It's straightforward; it doesn't really subvert any expectations, and that's fine. It was funny, easy to read, heartwarming, full of diversity, and beautifully illustrated. The art style is incredible, so full of life and color, and I really loved the way this mixed time periods. The mix of antiquated fashion and modernity was super fun!
My only criticism, and it's based on personal preference more than anything, is that I didn't feel the romance. This was insta-love, of course, and I expected that because that's how a lot of people interpret Romeo and Juliet, but the issue is that I never really connected with the romance. It was cute, but I didn't feel strongly about it; it was just fine. I enjoyed the coming-of-age, standing-up-for-yourself, and fighting-for-what-you-love aspect more.
Overall, this was really good! I think its YA audience will love it.
I read this at my nail appointment, and it was a delight. A modern, lesbian, graphic novel retelling of Romeo and Juliet that has a lot of fun with the original material. It's straightforward; it doesn't really subvert any expectations, and that's fine. It was funny, easy to read, heartwarming, full of diversity, and beautifully illustrated. The art style is incredible, so full of life and color, and I really loved the way this mixed time periods. The mix of antiquated fashion and modernity was super fun!
My only criticism, and it's based on personal preference more than anything, is that I didn't feel the romance. This was insta-love, of course, and I expected that because that's how a lot of people interpret Romeo and Juliet, but the issue is that I never really connected with the romance. It was cute, but I didn't feel strongly about it; it was just fine. I enjoyed the coming-of-age, standing-up-for-yourself, and fighting-for-what-you-love aspect more.
Overall, this was really good! I think its YA audience will love it.
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
Thank you so much for the arc of this story!
I was really looking forward to reading this one. As a modern, sapphic retelling of a classic story, this definitely piqued my interest. In terms of the illustrations, I though they were incredibly delightful and the perfect amount of simple yet detailed. At the same time, I did feel like the color schemes were a bit strange at times. I felt as though they were sort of inconsistent. For the actual story itself, I thought it was very charming. Personally, I would've loved some more elements of the original story, particularly more building up of the rivalry instead of it being just something that exists. Overall, I do think this is a good read and I would recommend it to those looking for a feel good graphic novel to escape into. Additionally, I absolutely LOVED the behind the scenes glimpse at the end of the book! Such a great way to peak behind the curtains.
I was really looking forward to reading this one. As a modern, sapphic retelling of a classic story, this definitely piqued my interest. In terms of the illustrations, I though they were incredibly delightful and the perfect amount of simple yet detailed. At the same time, I did feel like the color schemes were a bit strange at times. I felt as though they were sort of inconsistent. For the actual story itself, I thought it was very charming. Personally, I would've loved some more elements of the original story, particularly more building up of the rivalry instead of it being just something that exists. Overall, I do think this is a good read and I would recommend it to those looking for a feel good graphic novel to escape into. Additionally, I absolutely LOVED the behind the scenes glimpse at the end of the book! Such a great way to peak behind the curtains.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I want to thank Net-Galley for an E-ARC.
3.75⭐'s
Juliet and Juliet was both a fun romp and annoying time. I loved the representation and how it was handle and done. Both with the characters themselves and the world around them. I do think the worldbuilding is by far the worst part of this. In a lot of ways it wants to be a Romeo and Juliet retelling in a queer lens. I've read quiet a few at this point and it wouldn't be a quality of it I would recommend. The characters are the best part. The relationship is adorable. But there is no explanation to why they can't be together. Or even a cute nod to be like read the play to understand. Nothing at all. Except for a throw away line that was more annoying than anything else. Also, sometimes the mix of modern and historic doesn't bother me but here it did. I wanted the book to take a stand in both of these camps.
The characters are great and the art work is fun. Would recommend but lower expectations.
3.75⭐'s
Juliet and Juliet was both a fun romp and annoying time. I loved the representation and how it was handle and done. Both with the characters themselves and the world around them. I do think the worldbuilding is by far the worst part of this. In a lot of ways it wants to be a Romeo and Juliet retelling in a queer lens. I've read quiet a few at this point and it wouldn't be a quality of it I would recommend. The characters are the best part. The relationship is adorable. But there is no explanation to why they can't be together. Or even a cute nod to be like read the play to understand. Nothing at all. Except for a throw away line that was more annoying than anything else. Also, sometimes the mix of modern and historic doesn't bother me but here it did. I wanted the book to take a stand in both of these camps.
The characters are great and the art work is fun. Would recommend but lower expectations.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Graphic, for this ARC! Juliet & Juliet is a sapphic, modern-day retelling of Shakespeare’s play, with a happy ending. It deals with Juliet Montague and Juliet Capulet, who are opposites and come from rival families and, against all odds, meet and fall in love. The story was short and sweet, and the art was breathtaking. I loved the juxtaposition of people wearing olden-day outfits in modern settings, making every page feel like one out of a Halloween party (minus the ghosts). If I had to criticise one thing in the book, it would probably be the drawing in the middle section on page 90, because I found it unnecessary, out of place, and not something that belongs in a book that celebrates diversity and inclusion. However, all things considered, this is still a great book and a must-read for anyone who loves graphic novels and women getting their happily ever afters with other women!
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
This was a quick and easy read and a super cute lesbian Romeo and Juliet retelling. I appreciated that it opted not to go for a strict tragic retelling but instead went for a much more positive one (with a nod to the tragic ending of the original in a whew glad that didn't happen sort of way). It was a very interesting mix of historical inspired costume and modern technology.
The illustrations are gorgeous and the highlight of the story. I love the colors that were chosen. The characters are wonderfully diverse (race, body size, style, gender, etc). The only thing I didn't notice was much in the way of disability representation. There is a scene of one character taking her hormone shot and I greatly appreciate the trans rep.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Graphic for providing an advanced copy for review.
The illustrations are gorgeous and the highlight of the story. I love the colors that were chosen. The characters are wonderfully diverse (race, body size, style, gender, etc). The only thing I didn't notice was much in the way of disability representation. There is a scene of one character taking her hormone shot and I greatly appreciate the trans rep.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Graphic for providing an advanced copy for review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*thx to Netgalley & the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*
This was a wholly charming graphic novel. It does not reinvent the wheel on a Romeo and Juliet retelling but it doesn't need to. The setting toes the line between modern and mystical (both smartphones and horse-drawn carriages exist and everyone is in period-esque garb) and the illustrations are delightful. The updates to the characters all work very well and I really enjoy how the author manages to keep both sets of parents respectful and supportive. The queerness of the relationship is never the "real" issue which is great. All-in a very fun adaptation.
I do wish the ending packed a little more punch but as a whole it's a charming read and I'm very curious to see what the author does next.
This was a wholly charming graphic novel. It does not reinvent the wheel on a Romeo and Juliet retelling but it doesn't need to. The setting toes the line between modern and mystical (both smartphones and horse-drawn carriages exist and everyone is in period-esque garb) and the illustrations are delightful. The updates to the characters all work very well and I really enjoy how the author manages to keep both sets of parents respectful and supportive. The queerness of the relationship is never the "real" issue which is great. All-in a very fun adaptation.
I do wish the ending packed a little more punch but as a whole it's a charming read and I'm very curious to see what the author does next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5/5 stars-- oh my goodness... i went into this thinking "oh yay a cute little sapphic r&j retelling" and was shocked to leave with ZERO complaints and (my favorite compliment to give any book) i laughed out loud MULTIPLE times! this was so so SO adorable. i think if you want to write a cozy romeo and juliet retelling (re: not a tragedy) you have to be very intentional about your choices and this was just executed perfectly. the character interpretations were lovely, the modern-with-a-medieval-flair art style was really charming, i adored the diversity of the cast, and again, i cannot emphasis enough how darling the romance was and just how amusingly this was written<3
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Pacing: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Enjoyment: 5/5
Art: 5/5
thank you to random house children's books and netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Pacing: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Enjoyment: 5/5
Art: 5/5
thank you to random house children's books and netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
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