Juliet

Juliet by Anne Fortier takes Shakespeare's story of Romeo and Juliet and turns it on it's head. This novel jumps between present day and 1340 and flows well between the two times and stories that mingle with one another.

Julie Jacobs has been taught the story of Romeo and Juliet since she was in the cradle and has been strictly forbidden from going to Italy when she was in that cradle. But after her Great-aunt Rose dies, she is given instructions in the will to find a magnificent treasure in Italy that her mother (who has also passed away two decades previously) was on the cusp of finding. When she arrives in Sinea, she finds the box that her mother left for her alongside stockers in the night and long standing family feuds riddled with knives in the back. In her mother's treasure box she finds the true story of Romeo and Juliet and just how wrong Mr. Shakespeare was in his depiction as well as evidence showing that Julie Jacobs is actually the great-great + grand niece of the original Giulietta Tolomei. ie Romeo's Juliet.

With the mix of finding out the true story of Romeo and Juliet and modern day Capulet's and Montagues', there are twists and turns everywhere. Shadows hide in shadows and no one is what they seem to be, ever. Even Julie's, supposed Romeo has many skeletons in his own closet and climbing in and out of balconies is a thing he's not afraid of doing. That being said, there were many hypothesis that were dashed to pieces because of the unexpected.

I really enjoyed this book. I listened to as an audio book and the narrator (Cassandra Campbell) did a fantastic job between the different voices. I originally got it to listen to while I was running and it made me want to keep walking so I could listen more. I was sitting at my kitchen table, in my car, or walking around with my headphones in so I could finish it and know what happened next. All in all I couldn't put it down.

The setting, historical and present day, made me want to go and visit Siena. I am sure Anne Fortier spent much of her time researching there in Siena, trying to get into different places because the descriptions were vivid and full. I hope she went there and enjoyed herself. A lot of research went into this story and her hard work shows.

Characters, like the setting, were vivid and complemented each other. Past and present characters felt very much alive. My heart ached at some points and at others I physically fist bumped the air while at the gym that wasn't originally part of the exercise. Things they did, squabbles and bickerings, cute and quiet moments were well presented and made me really feel for them as betrayals, misunderstandings, and a plethora of other Romeo and Juliet moments happened.

It was well done and one I would recommend if looking for a romantic thriller.

I will warn the reader, because I don't like it, that Janice is rather crass at points. If it was a book I would have skimmed through the dialog and moved on. I was just glad I wasn't listening to those parts while preschooler was in the car.