Fair Rosaline is a retelling if you will (runs in parallel to the original play) of Romeo and Juliet from Rosaline's perspective - remember her? The one who didn't die.

My favourite thing about this books was Rosaline and how realistic Solomons had written her. Knowing the time period and having read the play, I went in with this idea that Rosaline was pretty much going to have no character traits outside of well saving Juliet but for the wrong reasons. But I was gladly proved wrong. Rosaline was fleshed out to have interests, to have personal relationship (that weren't just superficial), she had a voice and she wasn't afraid to use it!

Not only that but Solomons uses Fair Rosaline to move away from the tragic romanticism that Romeo and Juliet makes us believe when we're young. Highlights the creepiness of Romeo going after thirteen year old Juliet, Friar Lawrence and his relationships with the star-crossed lovers and the abusive power dynamics of the whole thing.

To note a few things, Solomons' writing blends the Shakespearean and the modern, making Fair Rosaline more accessible which I really liked. I think that there's this perception that Shakespearean works is difficult and that you need a specific sort of background to really be able to understand the nuances of the language. You don't. Also, I liked that it turned into this whole other thing, I think it delivered exactly what it said it would: a retelling, taking the original text and then doing something completely different. Just don't get too attached to the original play and take it seriously.

To read or not to read? There is no question, please give Fair Rosaline, a fair go.

Thank you to Bonnier Books UK, Manilla Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.