#104 Book Review: When You Were Mine

When You Were Mine
Release Date: May 1st 2012
Author: Rebecca Serle
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Australia
Source: Publisher for Review
Format: Paperback
Where to Buy: Amazon | The Book Depository
More Info: Goodreads

Summary from Goodreads:
What’s in a name, Shakespeare? I’ll tell you: Everything. Rosaline knows that she and Rob are destined to be together. Rose has been waiting for years for Rob to kiss her—and when he finally does, it’s perfect. But then Juliet moves back to town. Juliet, who used to be Rose’s best friend. Juliet, who now inexplicably hates her. Juliet, who is gorgeous, vindictive, and a little bit crazy...and who has set her sights on Rob. He doesn’t even stand a chance. Rose is devastated over losing Rob to Juliet. This is not how the story was supposed to go. And when rumors start swirling about Juliet’s instability, her neediness, and her threats of suicide, Rose starts to fear not only for Rob’s heart, but also for his life. Because Shakespeare may have gotten the story wrong, but we all still know how it ends….

My review:

Cover:
I adore the yellow sunset background and the image of the boy and the girl about to kiss which I assume represents Rob and Rose. I think I like the UK/AU cover more than the US one!

Story:


What if the greatest love story ever told was the wrong one?

When I first heard of When You Were Mine, the only thing I knew was that the book is a re-telling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, set in the modern world. What I didn't know was that it's told from the POV of a character called Rosaline which is in fact, Romeo's first love in the play. I never actually read Romeo and Juliet's play but I know how the story goes and I know how it ends. I never knew that a character called Rosaline existed. This makes the whole book very interesting because we see the story through her eyes and her character. But, this book is not exactly the same like the play.

In the play, Rosaline was Romeo's first love and that Rosaline rejected him. When You Were Mine is the opposite. The 'Romeo' of the story, Rob Monteg, leaves Rosaline 'Rose' Caplet for Juliet Caplet, Rose's cousin. There is a unique twist to the original play in When You Were Mine and it makes it very enjoyable and wonderful. The only thing about this book is since it's a re-telling of the play, we all know how it ends. When You Were Mine introduced me to a new way of seeing the original play and things can completely change when the play is written differently. I liked how Rebecca Serle turned the play to a modern re-telling and I thought it was really creative. The ending was powerful and beautiful. I loved how it wrapped the whole story.


Characters:
When I read this book, I was certain that I would love Rob since he's the Romeo and Romeo was such a romantic, sweet, gentle and swoon-worthy guy. Rob might be sweet and gentle but I disliked him. He was absolutely not swoon-worthy and totally not 'Romeo'. He easily dumps Rosaline and left her for Juliet even though they kissed and he acted as if he really loves Rosaline. Sorry Rob, you are no Romeo.

I really liked Rosaline in this book. I felt her pain of being dumped by Rob because he left her for her cousin. Rosaline found a new love in this book and it definitely was not Rob although he was perfect for Rosaline.

Juliet was very annoying. She was the 'It' girl in the story, pretty, brave, daring and boys are bound to love her, just like how Rob fell in love with her. She was in fact, not really in love with Rob and was just using him. Juliet is very different to the Juliet from the original play.

I also loved and adored Charlie and Olivia, Rosaline's best friends. They were very supportive of Rosaline and tried to ease her pain after Rob left her. They are friends that will always stay by your side no matter what.

The twist of the characters compared to the original play was very well-written! I really adore Rebecca's creativity in making her characters have different personalities compared to Romeo and Juliet from the play.

Overall:
Do you remember Rosaline from Romeo and Juliet? Have you ever wondered what her story is like? When You Were Mine is a creative unique re-telling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet with a gorgeous twist to the story and characters. Beneath the romantic story, When You Were Mine carries a deeper theme for us to think and savour. I definitely recommend this book to those who adore re-tellings of stories, particularly Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet itself!

4 Forget-me-not flowers for When You Were Mine!

Thank you Simon & Schuster Australia for the review copy!