O, Juliet

by Robin Maxwell

Before Juliet Capelletti lie two futures: a traditionally loveless marriage to her father's business partner, or the fulfillment of her poetic dreams, inspired by the great Dante. Unlike her beloved friend Lucrezia, who looks forward to her arranged marriage into the Medici dynasty, Juliet has a wild, romantic imagination that takes flight in the privacy of her bedchamber and on her garden balcony.

Her life and destiny are forever changed when Juliet meets Romeo Monticecco, a soulful young man seeking peace between their warring families. A dreamer himself, Romeo is unstoppable, once he determines to capture the heart of the remarkable woman foretold in his stars.

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Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Italy, Fiction, Historical, Shakespeare, Retellings

338 pages, Paperback

First published December 23, 2009

About the author

Robin Maxwell began writing novels about the historical figures she had been obsessing about since graduating from Tufts University with a degree in Occupational Therapy. Her first novel, "The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn," now in its 24th printing, won two YA awards and has been translated into fourteen languages. "The Wild Irish" - an epic tale of Ireland's rebel queen, Grace O'Malley - closed out her Elizabethan Quartet, and is now in development for a television series. "Signora Da Vinci" and "Jane: The Woman Who loved Tarzan" are tales of the remarkable women behind two of the world's most beloved wildmen - Maestro Leonardo and Lord Greystoke. She has jumped genres again with "ATLANTOS," now a #1 Amazon Bestseller. Robin lives with her husband of thirty-five years, Max Thomas, at High Desert Eden, a wildlife sanctuary in the Mojave Desert.

Reviews

[Misfit · Rating 3 out of 5]

**This review is based upon an Advanced Reader Copy and may not represent the final published version**

Juliet Capelletti is the daughter of a wealthy silk merchant with penchant for poetry. Her father is preparing to wed her to the odious Jacopo Strozzi to cement their new business partnership, but first Strozzi informs Capelletti of an attack of one of his ships and he blames the Monticecco family and an old feud takes on new life. Of course Juliet meets the Monticecco heir Romeo and its love at first sight and....well.....you all know *the rest of the story*.

Sounds pretty intriguing putting a new spin on an old classic tale of two star crossed lovers, right? Wrong. Unfortunately, the writing was mediocre to downright juvenile at times and the author just did not suck me into her world. Juliet was just a tad bit too modern and independent (what well bred miss says things like "damn" and "to hell with you all"?), and frankly I didn't pick up on much chemistry between her and Romeo, just stuff like this,

"I was last into the carriage, Romeo helping me in. My private scent, I thought, is on the hand that steadies me now."

Dear me, and no I won't quote from the wedding night, but it was pretty flowery. Although the worst sin of all IMHO is when authors have to reiterate how really really bad the baddies are by constantly reminding us of their yellowed teeth, smelly breath, flatulence and sweaty hands. Don't get me wrong, this not a bad book - it is just not a great one. Frankly, I wish I'd left well enough alone and rented myself a copy of Zeffirelli's fabulous Romeo & Juliet. Don't let me stop you from reading it though - everyone seems to go nuts over Maxwell's books so its probably just me.

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I must admit, that I did not love this book. The tale of Romeo and Juliet has never been one of my favorites, and while the new setting of Cosima d'Medici's Florence was interesting, not to mention well detailed, it was simply not enough of a new turn to make me really enjoy this. I just found this historical romance novel's characters to be no less sappy than their younger, original versions. The constant poetry was not my cup of tea, either... I am really just not the right audience for this book. And the villain was more of a caricature than character...
That is not to say that the book did not have its high points - there was a lot of beauty in the book, both the physical beauty of the cover, and the physical imagery of the setting. It just did not seem like that fresh of a re-telling. It was also a fast read, which was quite surprising since there was a remarkable lack of conflict in a book about such conflicted characters... It was really the characters that soured me on this whole book.

[Chioma · Rating 5 out of 5]

O'Juliet is a beautifully written novel that transforms the traditional story of Romeo and Juliet into an adventurous whirlwind of love, loss, and deciet.

Robin Maxwell does a beautiful job of recreating the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet into her own original plotline with characters that I can only describe as kick ass!!! I never read historical fiction. I usually find them boring and overly descriptive. This book had just the right amount of description to keep a great picture in my without distracting me from the plot.

The plot may be a remake of that of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, but I can not say how original this book was. This book was action packed and filled with a romance that just felt so sweet and true; not rushed at all. I was just actually expecting a plain old romantic remake of Romeo and Juliet, but this book isn't all about romance. There is betrayal , decit, disgustingly annoying characters, and terrific loveable characters. The perfect blend of drama and passionate love, I coundn't get enough of this book.

Juliet Capelletti is a voice to be reckoned with. She is a strong role model who refuses to shrink down to the miniscule vision of women her society thrusts upon her. Throw at her an arranged marriage with a disgusting lying user, and she throws back at you a hidden passionate affair that she refuses to let go of, along with clever schemes to be with the one she loves. No one can stop her!!!

Romeo Monticecco, charming poetry writing Romeo. Sometimes I found myself frustrated with how calm he was in his horrid situations, but as softspoken as he was, he always had a plan up his sleeves that suprised Juliet as well as myself.

I was sad when this book ended. It seemed like the story could just keep on going and going and I wouldn't get bored with it at all. I loved the ending and everything about it. O' Juliet is one of my new favorite reads. It had so much romance, with equal amounts of drama, beautiful descriptions, strong interesting characters all packed into one book that I refused to put down. This book is based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, but it is completely original on its own and I found myself actually forgetting that it is based on that play!!!

I Reccomend: this book to all romance lovers. Any kind of romance at all this book will satisfy your cravings and have you begging for more. All lovers of historical fiction and lovers of the play Romeo and Juliet!!!

Robin Maxwell does a beautiful job of recreating the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet into her own original plotline with characters that I can only describe as kick ass!!! I never read historical fiction. I usually find them boring and overly descriptive. This book had just the right amount of description to keep a great picture in my without distracting me from the plot.

The plot may be a remake of that of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, but I can not say how original this book was. This book was action packed and filled with a romance that just felt so sweet and true; not rushed at all. I was just actually expecting a plain old romantic remake of Romeo and Juliet, but this book isn't all about romance. There is betrayal , decit, disgustingly annoying characters, and terrific loveable characters. The perfect blend of drama and passionate love, I coundn't get enough of this book.

Juliet Capelletti is a voice to be reckoned with. She is a strong role model who refuses to shrink down to the miniscule vision of women her society thrusts upon her. Throw at her an arranged marriage with a disgusting lying user, and she throws back at you a hidden passionate affair that she refuses to let go of, along with clever schemes to be with the one she loves. No one can stop her!!!

Romeo Monticecco, charming poetry writing Romeo. Sometimes I found myself frustrated with how calm he was in his horrid situations, but as softspoken as he was, he always had a plan up his sleeves that suprised Juliet as well as myself.

I was sad when this book ended. It seemed like the story could just keep on going and going and I wouldn't get bored with it at all. I loved the ending and everything about it. O' Juliet is one of my new favorite reads. It had so much romance, with equal amounts of drama, beautiful descriptions, strong interesting characters all packed into one book that I refused to put down. This book is based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, but it is completely original on its own and I found myself actually forgetting that it is based on that play!!!

I Reccomend: this book to all romance lovers. Any kind of romance at all this book will satisfy your cravings and have you begging for more. All lovers of historical fiction and lovers of the play Romeo and Juliet!!!

www.blackandblueink.blogspot.com

[Amy Bruno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like a lot of the world, I’ve been captivated by the story of Romeo and Juliet ever since the first time I read it. I was drawn in by the all-consuming passion these two characters felt for each other and the sad circumstances that led to their end. I remember thinking to myself that when I grown up I hope to have the chance to feel such an awe-inspiring love for another person. And once I met my husband, I knew what it was to feel that. It’s exhilarating, but scary at the same time!

In O, Juliet Robin Maxwell tackles her own version of Shakespeare’s golden couple – bringing new characters and plots into the mix. Juliet Capalleti is the 18 year old daughter of a prominent Florentine silk tradesman, and about to be married to a hideous soon-to-be business partner of her father’s, Jacopo. While loath to let his daughter go, this is the only way he can think of to save the family business. Jacopo, on the other hand, is quite happy with the situation – he gets to be part of Florence’s most famous silk producer and he also gets a wife, whom he plans on using as a baby-making machine, while still enjoying his mistresses.

One night, while attending her best friend’s party, Juliet meets Romeo, a member of the Capalleti’s rival family – the Monticecco’s. Drawn together by their mutual love of prose, in particular, that of Dante Alighieri, the teenagers fall in love and begin to meet in secret - their affection for each other growing with each meeting. As the time for Juliet’s wedding to Jacopo draws closer, they become more and more desperate to find a way to be together.

All in all, I found O, Juliet to be a very pleasant and mellifluous read. Maxwell is an excellent author – her descriptions of Florence and her ability to bring uniqueness to each character is a real telling of her talent. Juliet is sweet, feisty, intelligent young woman, in love with the written word and not afraid to go after what she wants! And Romeo, oh Romeo, is such a charming and gentle soul…add into that a romantic poet and you’ve got one irresistible guy! Now, I do have one critique about this book – it wasn’t long enough! I wanted more!

O, Juliet is a great novel to curl up to by the fire, sipping hot cocoa (cause chocolate is an aphrodisiac), with a little Barry White playing in the background!

Chocked full of passion, love and poetry, O, Juliet would be a welcome addition to any literature lover’s bookshelf!

[Lisa (Harmonybites) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Inspired and based upon Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, but set in Renaissance Florence of 1444 and not Verona, and her Romeo and Juliet are a bit older--Juliet is 18 in this story, and the novel's primary first person narrator. (Some chapters are told by Romeo).

Something in Juliet's voice just put me off from the beginning. I think part of the problem is I had just recently read Sarah Dunant's excellent The Birth of Venus, published earlier, and there were several points of similarity, throwing the mediocrity of Maxwell's writing into even greater relief. Dunant's Alessandra wants to be a painter, Maxwell's Juliet a poet. Both tales are in first person from the heroine's point of view, both are set in 15th century Florence, both quote Dante, both heroines are closely connected with the Medici. The thing though, is in reading a lot of historical fiction lately, I've found there are two kinds of authors. Those that are really romance aisle with historic trappings such as Philippa Gregory, Cecilia Holland and Elizabeth Chadwick and those with more of a literary feel such as Sharon Kay Penman, Judith Merkle Riley--and Sarah Dunant. I'd place Maxwell with the first group, and I've been spoiled by the second.

I loved the idea of this novel, especially connecting the legend to the Medici, but the voice just can't carry it off. One reviewer called it "campy chicklit" and I think that's accurate unfortunately. Her Juliet sounds neither adolescent nor a woman of her times, the dialogue feels slangy modern, and the prose clunky and full of cliche. And I think making her a more mature teen is a mistake. It's a lot easier to buy that a 14-year old acts the way Juliet does than an 18 year old. Jacopo Strozzi, Juliet's betrothed, is a twirl-the-mustache villain complete with yellow teeth and reeking breath. Nothing in this novel makes me ever want to read this author again.

[Dorottya · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

I would like to preface my review with the fact that this rating is mostly an "it's my preference" sort of bad rating. I do feel as if your attitude towards retellings is going to affect your rating for this book a lot.

My biggest gripe with this novel was that it is not the type of retelling I like. I like 2 types of retellings: 1) the original story is kept as it is, the story is just filling the gaps and gives more depth to characters (or maybe regards certain events in the original story as items that seemed a certain way but in reality they happened differently, and there is legitimate explanation for that), 2) the original story is kept as inspiration only and most of the elements, references are changed (if I want to give a Romeo and Juliet-connected example, West Side Story)... where the inspiration is clear but not in a really obvious way. I don't like those retellings where certain basic elements are kept and certain other parts are changed. This makes me feel that the author wants to rewrite a famous story, and wants to have some other message than the original had, but keeps the most trivial elements of the original (like the main characters' names and certain references to the timeline and cities) in so it can be marketed better. I find that a bit lazy and self-serving, especially since in most of these cases the whole message and theme could be achieved without using the ever-so-obvious elements.

This book was like this latter category. I felt uneasy reading it with the names we all know so well from Shakespeare's play with the other elements tweaked in order to tell the author's vision. It feels as if the author was using the famousness of the play to talk about themes close to her heart... it could have been done in a more elegant way. Either without heavy-handed Romeo and Juliet references, or keeping more faithful to the original (especially since a lot of the added elements could be so easily added to the original without drastically changing the story - even the equivalent of the duel scene could be meshed together with the original with some explanation!... btw I have to say I liked that scene a lot on this novel... I mean, I liked it personality development / psychology wise more than the shakespearean version, really... it could have been explored more, though... I mean, the psychological effect on Romeo). I especially found the replacing of the location from Verona to Florence really self-serving and pretentious - like a cheap way to include some more widely known historical figures of renaissance Italy and that one supposedly magical scene of climbing the Duomo. But also, I did not really find any added value of molding new characters from already existing ones (Marco is molded from Mercutio and Tybalt, Jacopo Sprozzi is molded from Paris and Tybalt) - I mean, all what the author wanted to say could have been achieved by keeping them as they were. I also did not understand why the names should be changed for characters who serve the same exact purpose as their shakespearean counterpart (like father Lawrence to father Bartolomeo)
I also know that the ages of Juliet and Romeo are not stated anywhere in the play, but I have read a lot of studies and all seem to agree on (and I find the explanations 100% logical) that Juliet is 14-16 and Romeo is maximally 20-21. Especially in those eras, giving even 2 years to some character's age changes the dynamics and the status of a character in society a lot, but I saw little to no elaboration on this item (that the author decided to have Juliet be 18 years old and Romeo 25).

Other issues I had with the novel:
- we have two perspectives in this novel, Juliet's and Romeo's, but their voices are one and identical
- the writing I found nothing special for the most part; the parts which stood out I found way too heavy handed with literary allusions; in Juliet's recalling of events that happened to here, there were a lot of unnecessary details of mundane and trivial things (how she used her little toe to balance and things like that)
- the banter between Romeo and Juliet was sounding fake even for speech that wants to sound archaic
- ...I found the scenes with Juliet's fake illness nr.1. unbelievable - especially that literally no one except for her groom and his mother realized she was faking it... and why did they not call for a doctor who would have been able to call her out on faking in a second... I found the abscence of a doctor weird, because the parents seemed to be really worried and they were not dirt poor either, not to afford a doctor

However, the story itself was engaging. Some of the changes gave depth to the story and some characters, like the servant girl's story, the remorse that Romeo has to deal with after the duel... but mostly Juliet. I do appreciate the story for showing Juliet's side of the story, that Robin Maxwell made efforts for her to have her own character (because in the original she is none other than a character whose sole attribute is that she is an unexperienced girl having a crush and sexual urges for the first time). And she managed to create a complex character for her. That gets a thumbs up from me.
Plus, I started writing my own Romeo and Juliet prequel when I was 20, and believe me, it is 100x times worse than this book :D.

[kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a first-person retelling of the story of Romeo and Juliet. Most of the story is told in the voice of Juliet with small bits from Romeo. I liked the two voices, they are distinct and fit easily into the world in which they live, not sounding like modern people.
I think this could easily be enjoyed even if you know nothing of the Shakespearean tragedy of these star-crossed lovers. You will be pulled into their world and hope for them both.
There is a lot of depth to each of them. They don't fall in love simply because he sparkles and she smells good(like lunch), but Romeo admires her as much for her mind, her poetry, her conversation as much as how she looks. She sees more in him than his appearance. She loves his personality. I think that's important as the play is more of a love at first sight and not much more. Here, we're given the reasons that they fall in love, although, yes, they each like the other's looks.
The world they live in is well drawn and you can feel Juliet's frustration with the way things are and the tightrope she is trying to walk, to have a life that she wants without ruining her father's business. The enmity between their families is explained, not simply some age old feud that no one remembers, but there are actual reasons for the discord.
What I really liked is that there is so much with their families and the parents are fully crafted characters. They are more than set pieces simply shouting they hate each other.
I'm not going to go into details of the story other than to say that it does vary quite a bit from the Shakespeare version.
I'm struck by the thought that if there is an actual historical basis for these two and if their lives did, in fact, end in tragedy, that actually they did succeed. They are always together. Can you think of Juliet without thinking of Romeo?

[Barb]

At some point in the not too distant past I read 'To the Tower Born' by Robin Maxwell and really enjoyed it. That story revolves around the princes in the tower, Richard III and his niece Elizabeth of York. While some (or many) of the events that unfold during the climax of the story are a bit on the highly unlikely side I liked the book very much anyway. I liked the characterizations Maxwell gave to the historical figures and the relationships she described between them. In particular she really brought Anthony Woodville to life for me.

I was excited about getting a copy of O, Juliet through the Vine program and was looking forward to reading about Romeo and Juliet, who I've been out of touch with for over twenty years or so. Unfortunately, I did not care for this story at all and I didn't finish it.

Maxwell introduces us to Romeo and Juliet in fifteenth century Florence. However, Juliet's actions are bold even for a twenty-first century girl and unfortunately they aren't believable. There are many times when I've read something that doesn't necessarily hold true to life but I am willing to over look it because the author has gotten almost everything else right and written a wonderful story in many other ways.

In this story I couldn't get past the unrealistic actions of the main character because it was just too big a leap for my imagination. The whole reason for picking up a book like this is to read about a heartbreaking love story. This was not a love story but rather a romance novel with a historical setting. The whole basis for the story felt completely contrived and forced and there wasn't any chemistry between Romeo and Juliet.

Readers of romance novels might enjoy this, unfortunately it wasn't for me.

[Eythan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did Shakespeare reincarnate and publish a book in 2010?

It is very evident that everyone is fascinated on the way Shakespeare had written works, rich, classy and mostly tragic. Robin Maxwell has brought forth a retelling of Shakespeare’s ever famous “Romeo and Juliet” with the additional side stories narrated.

We only knew how Rome and Juliet had shared their love but never knew of their personal lives. On the cover, it says “Their love was the stuff of legend. But the legend is only half the story.” O, Juliet brings the readers to the more extended love story of the two.

Maxwell’s version of Romeo and Juliet as from the two warring families of Monticecco and Capelleti, respectively, is very vivid. We have seen the other side of them, Juliet is presented as a clever young girl who adores Dante as much as she adores poetry. As betrothed to a man that she doesn’t love, she had showed how strong and brave she is to prove what her real feelings are.

Romeo is still seen as a witty man, and just like Juliet, he loves Dante. It is good that Maxwell has shown in some parts of the novel some stories in the point of view of Romeo. From here, we could understand how he dwells with the tragic love story of them.

From some historical novels that I have read, this one is the best, yet, for Maxwell introduced the extended tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet, without the fear of giving a sort-of “rendition” to the ever-famous Shakespeare. Maxwell teaches and entertains the same time. This novel is a contemporary classic.

[Marie Z Johansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had just finished a book and looked at the rather tall stack of books on my shelf. What to read?! I picked up O! Juliet half expecting that I would put it down momentarily and select another book because I was not in the mood for a re-read of Shakespeare. I found, however, that I couldn't put the book down.

Yes, as others have commented, Strozzi's character is over stated and yes there are far too many references to his yellow teeth and his bad breath - he's the quintessential bad sort of dude. Yes, there is also some rather goofy poetry included in the book. It's a lightweight, easy read with characters who are somewhat predictable I suppose. No prize winning novel and not, perhaps, for those who may, because of the title, think that it will, in any way, compare to Shakespeare. It doesn't. I tend to try not to have expectations when I pick up a book other than I expect to always enjoy my favorite authors. I generally enjoy Robin Maxwell's books and although this was not, in my opinion, up to her usual standards, I found this to be very enjoyable none-the-less. I can't give it four stars because I don't consider it to be exceptional but I can say that my three stars are solid and that this book is worth a try if you're in the mood for a light, easy to read, enjoyable book.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the original "Romeo and Juliet," and as much as I respect Maxwell's craft and talent, I found her interpretation lazy. The story was so very similar, without much originality. And what was concocted, was on the coat tails of her other novel, "Signora Da Vinci". To add insult to injury, there were sentence fragments peppered throughout the novel, as well as modern day idioms. Additionally, Maxwell stole several of Shakepeare's work, adding a handful of his quotes throughout her novel. (Isn't this the definition of plagiarism?) All of this sadly had me thinking over and over one word: lazy.

In retrospect, I suspect that had I not been a fan of the original "Romeo and Juliet" I still would've found this book trite. Even worse to me is the idea of any modern day author presuming they could tell a better story that (arguably) the world's best poet. So, again, although I love Maxwell's original works, I just wasn't a fan of this read. I gave two stars only for the imagery she painted in the story, which was the only glory (I believe) she can claim for this novel.

[Carole Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oooooooooooooooooh where to begin?!

This is a remake of the original 'Romeo and Juliet' by Mr. Shakespeare himself. I adore Billy, but ooooh I hated 'Romeo and Juliet'! It was missing depth and realism. It always bugged me how Juliet and Romeo only knew each other for a week before they killed themselves. C'mon! No offense to my love Billy, but this remake was much better then the original.

Yes, there were many similar elements and references to the original. Some call this lazy, I call it a nod of respect to the original. All remakes do the same thing, they have some similar references of the old piece. I find it makes it better in many respects. However, the story has its own personality. The characters (though some share the same name) are completely different. Juliet is strong, smart, challenges Romeo, and older (no 13 year old child here). Romeo is more well-versed in the world (he actually did some travelling), educated, and wanted peace before even meeting Juliet. Marco (Juliet's cousin) actually plays a bigger role in the book and after a while becomes friends with Romeo.

The biggest difference though would have to be the timeline. Juliet and Romeo actually had time to fall in love and meet each other. They had more then a couple secret meetings with each other. It wasn't all kissing and sweet words, but they had real conversations too. They fall not only in love with each other's looks, but with the person inside. I simply loved this! THANK you Robin Maxwell for doing this.

Sighs, I want to spoil the ending, but I shall not. All I will say is that I had mixed feelings and Robin Maxwell tricked me! Ultimately (after some thought), I do like the ending. While reading it, however, I hated it, because I was tricked and my hope was dashed. Sighs.

In the end, this was a great book. This is on my list of 'Potential Favorite Book of the Year'. I've always liked Robin Maxwell, but this made me like her more. This remake is so much better then the original. The characters are more developed and the timeline is a wee bit longer. I was also a huge fan of the switch in settings. I would recommend this to those that like historical fiction/romance. In the end, I shall stamp this with 5 stars.

Favorite Character(s): Juliet (loved this version of her), Romeo, Marco (adored him to no end), and Lucrezia (I secretly wished she and Marco would fall in love)
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Strozzi (snake)

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Robin Maxwell sets out to tell the "real" story behind Romeo and Juliet. Based on the meager author's note and the Q&A, it's clear that this "real" story is actually a highly fictionalized version of Romeo and Juliet. Why tamper with a good story? Didn't Shakespeare tell it best?

Maxwell's O Juliet is set in Florence instead of Verona. The plot is similar, of course, to the Bard's telling. However, Juliet is 18, as is Romeo. They are brought together by a love of poetry - specifically Dantee - not just love at first sight. In Maxwell's version, the feuding Capelleti and Monticecco clans are close to reconciling their ancient feud thanks to the efforts of Romeo the peacemaker.

In this version, Juliet is destined to be betrothed to the loathesome Jacopo Strozzi. He is not only unatttractive, with a nasal voice and yellow teeth, but also an evil villain. Juliet is no wallflower, but a highly assertive intellectual, close friends with Lucrezia Tuornaboni, who marries into the Medici family. Maxwell's Juliet does not ring true. Her assertiveness (called boldness in the novel) is anachronistic.

Similarly, Romeo does not ring true either. He simply is too good to be true, too perfect. Romeo and Juliet were annoying, compounded by terrible writing. I had read a book by Maxwell in the past (Mademoiselle Boleyn) and I didn't remember her being such a cliche writer. But this novel was beyond "cheesy" - I think Maxwell was trying overly hard to be poetic.

Frankly, I came away from this novel wondering why it even existed. Better to leave Shakespeare's version of Romeo and Juliet alone. Unlike other plays (for example, the plays about the English Kings), there really was no true story to uncover. O Juliet simply was an overly romantic and overly sexualized version fo a classic.

Reviewed for Amazon VINE

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book brought me closer to the Romeo and Juliet story than ever before. In all other versions of this story, their love for each other could have always passed as lust. yet in Robin Maxwell's story, we see a deeper and more meaningful love blossom despite their young age. And best of all, this love is born out of respect in a time when men did not see women as equals. The respect and true admiration that Romeo feels for Juliet is pivotal in this retelling . . . I had no trouble believing that they both had indeed found the love of their lives.

[Renee Wallace · Rating 1 out of 5]

Shakespeare's original would have been better left alone. Maxwell's campy chick lit read cannot hold a candle to it, and in the end, it is the same overblown story of adolescent dreams gone horribly awry.

[Diane Willman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I knew the ending, the story took me in and was a delightful read.

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this retelling of Romeo and Juliet. I'm not really a fan of the original. Honestly, it wasn't one of my favorite Shakespeare plays though I know most people love it. I sympathized with both Romeo and Juliet's characters a lot more in this version than in the play. There was much more depth to their romance that made the story more believable for me. It was certainly more realistic. Like they both bonded over being fans of the poet Dante and his works.

I also love that Juliet was much more her own person rather than simply a love interest for Romeo. She even writes her own poetry which is badass considering the time the story takes place (Florence, Italy, 1444, I think). Most of the story is told from her point of view though there are Romeo chapters to clarify what happens when Juliet isn't there, since women are extremely limited by what they are allowed to do in this time.

I like how the author blends real history with the story of Romeo and Juliet. Juliet's friend Lucrezia was a real person who married into the famous Medici family. She was an influential supporter of the arts and poetess herself, which may have been why the author chose to make Juliet a poet as well.

However, I really hoped they would have lived this time. Up until the end I was hoping that the ending would be different. I was rather disappointed to find that it wasn't. The story is beautifully told but it is still true to Shakespeare's play in that it still ends with their deaths.

[Kathryn, the_naptime_reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

So ultimately when you’re attempting to rewrite a book that is a timeless classic, written by someone who many consider to be one of the greatest authors of all time, you really have to offer something new and special and different, and though Maxwell attempted this, she really didn’t deliver. She still set her story in Italy, in a similar time period, with a very similar plot. So despite telling it as a first person narrative and adding real historic figures, I still finished thinking “why bother? The original is far superior.”

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This read like fan-fiction, which I suppose it kind of had to be given the subject, but it went too far in that direction. Juliet was too perfect and Jacopo too mustache-twirlingly evil. And then to contradict myself somewhat, there wasn't enough from the original play -- no Mercutio, no nurse, no Benvolio apart from one out-of-nowhere line. It just hit oddly.

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

O, Juliet is a sweeping historical novel based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the most beloved and romantic couple in literary history. Robin Maxwell, author of historical fiction (The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn, Signora da Vinci, among others) weaves this rich and compelling tale into novel form for the first time in history, making the Bard’s classic play accessible to today’s audiences. Releasing in stores 2/2/10, hopeless romantics everywhere will be delighted to receive O, Juliet as a gift for Valentine’s Day. The cover alone is enough to stop you in your tracks – it is visually stunning with its lush and romantic flowers cascading over a marble balcony, followed by a second inside cover that features Dicksee’s famous painting of Romeo and Juliet.

As for the book’s content, I myself will borrow from Avonian Willie and liken it to “a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear”. While I don’t think the author had any intention of competing with Shakespeare, but rather, celebrating his work in honorable tribute, Maxwell’s version of the classic play runs prettily on the pages using the master’s rendition as an outline. The author has filled in the gaps of Shakespeare’s story with fluid historic details surrounding the emergence of Renaissance Florence, which give the couple greater roots from which to stem their story. While Shakespeare’s lovers were a few years younger, full of lust and tragically whimsical flights of fancy, Maxwell’s Romeo and Juliet are lustful still yet more rational, risking all for love but with better reason: Juliet is to be married off to her father’s vile and malignant business partner, Jacopo Strozzi (the Strozzi were a powerful Florentine family, though the author’s note at the end states that Jacopo was a figment of her imagination). The uniting thread between the lovers that makes their adulation for one another all the more evident throughout the story is their mutual adoration of the poet Dante Alighieri, who among many great works wrote La Vita Nuova, recounting his love for a woman named Beatrice. Maxwell draws parallels between Beatrice and Dante’s tragic love story with that of Romeo and Juliet, bringing the romantic aspect of this story to a whole other level with the recitation of quotations from Dante running through the novel. Not only do Romeo and Juliet admire Dante’s poetry, but they themselves are aspiring poets, something that adds another spark to the fire of their passion for each other.

This history of O, Juliet is what I found most interesting and unique in comparison to Shakespeare’s portrayal of the lovers. Maxwell has seamlessly woven in true historic political intrigue that explains the centuries-old feud between the Monticeccos and Capelettis (Montagues and Capulets from Romeo and Juliet), putting the warring families into greater historical context. “Fair Verona” is not where Maxwell lays her scene; she has instead opted for Florence – an arguably controversial choice, but one that fits this story well, as the tale takes place just as that city is beginning to emerge from the Dark Ages and is starting to blossom into the Renaissance. One cannot even mutter the word “Renaissance” without Florence, the epicenter of art and humanist philosophy at the time, coming to mind. And Verona is not left completely out of the picture, as Romeo has family there with whom he visits at one point throughout the story. Also new to Maxwell’s story is the inclusion of the Medici family, which makes the change of setting come full circle (for more info on the Medici, see Robin’s Guest Post). Juliet’s best friend and real historical figure Lucrezia Tornabouni marries into the wealthy and powerful Medici family (later to become the mother of Lorenzo “il Magnifico” de’ Medici – a main character in Maxwell’s Signora da Vinci), Romeo and Juliet having met at the Medici celebratory betrothal ball. The paterfamilias of that illustrious family, Cosimo de’ Medici plays a major role in peacekeeping operations between the Monticecco and Capeletti families, attempting to keep his beloved Florence free of chaos and rebellion.

Fans of Shakespeare and of Romance alike will devour this genre-crossing story (I did in two days). Shakespeare’s fairytale has been retold in many different formats over the centuries and is already rooted in our culture’s collective unconscious—Robin Maxwell’s version brings it to today’s modern audiences in a way that refreshes an old classic. If you enjoy either Historical Fiction, Romance, YA (note: there are a few sex scenes, and though tastefully done, I’d rate this a PG-13 novel), and don’t mind tradition done with a twist, then you will love this book. I think the timeliness of O, Juliet’s release date is also important to note – as people tend to incline towards the quixotic this time of year, with the Valentine’s Day right around the corner. In addition, there are several romantic movies releasing in theaters soon (Dear John, Letters to Juliet, Valentine’s Day), which might also help to put you in a sentimental frame of mind. But be prepared to shed a tear or two by the end, “for never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.”

FTC Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher for review.

[Chela · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb retelling of Shakespeares tragic lovers!
I believe he would have loved this! I have seen every film version and was so happy to have found this ..at Goodwill! It brought the play I had read only and seen on screen to my hands as a novel! This will stay on my shelf as a classic!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Lois Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this version of the old legend. Shakespeare was not the first (or the last) to write this tale. I loved the descriptions of the city when the lovers were on their dates. The care and spunk each showed for the other would set a good example for today.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different take on the relationship of Romeo and Juliet. I liked the changes (i.e. They are both older than 18; the families are trying to repair a rift; there is a person who is "playing" both families, etc.).

[Jeanne (love2cook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprise! I found this story to be very interesting. It is not my usual type of book. I'm glad I decided to read about Romeo and Juliet. It had all the romance one could want in a story of two lovers. It also had a sadness that I would not have wanted. But I wasn't the author.

[Brandy Miner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little different then the others, but I like this Version better.

[Teresa White · Rating 4 out of 5]

O, Juliet is a beautifully written novel that portrays Romeo & Juliet in an enjoyable format. I found myself rooting for Juliet every step of the way.

[Sami Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. It follows Romeo and Juliet but a bit of a “modern” twist (still fifteenth century but in Florence).

Characters are fine and villain is obvious and unlikeable.

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Cringey, juvenile writing and insta-love is an instant pass. Yes, I realize it was insta-love in the original source material. But it’s the 21st century; we can do better.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing profound or a literary masterpiece but a nice fun read