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A review by kba76
Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Even if you've never studied 'Romeo and Juliet' you will know the plot. The love story between these two characters is always referenced, and yet we forget that before the events of Shakespeare's play Romeo seemed to be in love with Juliet's cousin, Rosaline.
Fair Rosaline focuses on the character of Rosaline, a bold young woman and one who is not averse to taking risks. She has, since childhood, been loved by Tybalt but when we first meet her she is having to bury her beloved mother. Her father then makes the decision that she is to enter a nunnery, so Rosaline is in an emotionally vulnerable state that leaves her open to someone taking advantage.
In this book we see a very different side to Romeo Montague. A serial flatterer, determined to take the maidenhood of many a young woman and then find a way to remove the problem before moving onto his next conquest. We see Rosaline fall for his charms and almost reach the point of marriage, until she is visited by a pregnant maid who also fell for Romeo only to be cruelly abandoned once she has served her purpose.
Rosaline then takes it upon herself to do what she can to help Juliet making the same mistake. Unfortunately, there are some things she cannot change.
The story doesn't deviate that much, but it was certainly fun to see another side to the characters that we feel we know so well.
Fair Rosaline focuses on the character of Rosaline, a bold young woman and one who is not averse to taking risks. She has, since childhood, been loved by Tybalt but when we first meet her she is having to bury her beloved mother. Her father then makes the decision that she is to enter a nunnery, so Rosaline is in an emotionally vulnerable state that leaves her open to someone taking advantage.
In this book we see a very different side to Romeo Montague. A serial flatterer, determined to take the maidenhood of many a young woman and then find a way to remove the problem before moving onto his next conquest. We see Rosaline fall for his charms and almost reach the point of marriage, until she is visited by a pregnant maid who also fell for Romeo only to be cruelly abandoned once she has served her purpose.
Rosaline then takes it upon herself to do what she can to help Juliet making the same mistake. Unfortunately, there are some things she cannot change.
The story doesn't deviate that much, but it was certainly fun to see another side to the characters that we feel we know so well.