I went into this book relatively blind; having picked up book two in a charity shop because I'd heard good things about the series, I figured I'd best start at the beginning! So while I was a little thrown by the fact that it's more a Beauty and The Beast retelling than a Romeo and Juliet one, I certainly wasn't going to complain as BatB is on equal terms with Hades and Persephone whe  it comes to favourite retellings (I know, I know, basically same difference...). 

Firstly, I wasn't expecting to giggle quite as much as I did. From Dallas claiming Theo James as her 'freebie' (good choice, I approve! And if he'snot cast as Romeo if/when this becomes a TV show or movie, I will riot!), to the text banter between Romeo and his friends and the complete sass and stick that Dallas throws Romeo's way, I was surprised by how lighthearted the book was. And yet, it manages to weave in darker themes without killing the mood; the moments of violence, strife and raw honesty serve to forge that connection between reader and characters that has you wanting them to get their HEA.

I will admit that I found Dallas pretty insufferable for the majority of the book; she is a complete brat, a spoiled rich kid and a daddy's girl who basically throws a tantrum whenever she doesn't get what she wants. And yet, I didn't dislike her. Her fiery spirit and determination to make her husband's life a living hell is actually quite enjoyable to watch unfold, if only so you get to see Romeo's reactions. While she does seem to mature slightly towards the end of the book (and certain admissions and events do allow you to see her in a different light), I felt that this was purely down to the relationship development between her and Romeo, rather than due to any significant growth in her character personally.

As for Romeo... his story arc is very reminiscent of the Duke of Hastings in Bridgerton (which does get a name check, so assuming some inspiration here). While on the surface I can understand their knee-jerk reactions, their whole argument is based on faulty logic and that just bugs me. In Romeo's case, it's even starker given his intentions once he's achieved his coveted position within the family business. But aside from that, he's another gorgeous male lead that draws you into his orbit and makes you want to submit. Yummy!

While it is helpful to ground you in space and time, I did find myself wincing at some of the contemporary/pop culture references, which are going to cause this book to date poorly. Indeed, one of the running threads of Dallas' personality is a love of a series of books about a boy wizard with the initials 'HP'. Now, while details have been changed, we all know what the authors are actually referencing. And while I absolutely accept that they couldn't see into the future and were simply referencing a beloved series, now reading that reference just feels awkward. There are also lots of brand names, tech references and so on that make perfect sense now, but give it a few years and it'll just make the book feel 'old fashioned'. 

Otherwise though, the plot is well paced and the writing is engaging and easy to read. However, I would say that the character building is a bit patchy - I feel like we got an excellent grounding in Romeo's friends (who I assume are going to be the MMCs in the next couple of books?) and Romeo's father, but everyone else still requires more flesh. They're certainly more than placeholders - they all have 'something' about them, but not enough that I got a clear sense of the 'feelings' in their relationships with our MCs. 

This is another series I'm definitely happy to continue with and am very glad the next two are already sat on my TBR pile.