Review: The Juliet Spell by Douglas Rees

The Juliet Spell

By: Douglas Rees

Publication Date: September 27, 2011

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Pages: 304

Source: netgalley

I’m Juliet.

At least, I wanted to be.

So I did something stupid to make it happen.

Well, stupid and wonderful.

I wanted the role of Juliet more than anything. I studied hard. I gave a great reading for it—even with Bobby checking me out the whole time. I deserved the part.

I didn’t get it. So I decided to level the playing field, though I actually might have leveled the whole play. You see, since there aren’t any Success in Getting to Be Juliet in Your High School Play spells, I thought I’d cast the next best—a Fame spell. Good idea, right?

Yeah. Instead of bringing me a little fame, it brought me someone a little famous. Shakespeare. Well, Edmund Shakespeare. William’s younger brother.

Good thing he’s sweet and enthusiastic about helping me with the play...and—ahem—maybe a little bit hot. But he’s from the past. Way past. Cars amaze him—cars! And cell phones? Ugh.

Still, there’s something about him that’s making my eyes go star-crossed....

Will Romeo steal her heart before time steals him away?

First the title caught my eye, then the cover, and then the story just drew me in completely! The Juliet Spell is an original, fun and cute read and I highly recommend it if you are looking for that kind of story! I thought that writing was good and the pacing flowed nicely (well, except at the end, which I discuss later on in the review). Overall, it was a great and entertaining read!

Miranda really wants to be Juliet in her high school production of Romeo & Juliet. She decides to cast a spell to win the part, but instead gets Edmund Shakeshaft, William Shakespeare’s younger brother. Plucked from his 1597 world, Miranda has no idea what she is going to do with him, and how she is going to get him back to his own time.

I loved Edmund! He was so adorable and innocent while learning the ways of our world. He wanted so much to go back home, but at the same time, really embracing this new way of life. He became friends with Miranda’s friends and even got the part of Romeo in the school play. It was a nice change of pace from other guy characters in YA today because Edmund was so humble and sweet and not the arrogant, “must hide my feelings from everyone” type.

Miranda was a little annoying, but I grew to love her too! She and Edmund were so cute together and I love watching their friendship turn into something more. I absolutely adored Miranda’s friends, Bobby and Drew. Bobby comes off as such a jerk, but he really turns out to be a great friend. Drew is the adorable nerd who totally wants the girl, but can never have her.

I have two issues with The Juliet Spell. The first one is that I felt the ending came too quickly. The last chapter or so felt rushed, almost like the author realized he had more things to add and had to get it in the story quickly. Then, all of a sudden, the story was over. Second, I hated Miranda’s dad. What a douchebag! He leaves his family to “find himself” and doesn’t call them in years and one day realizes he needs his wife and daughter to be whole, and they welcome him back with open arms. Hello!?! If my father left and I hadn’t heard from in, he would not be so quickly forgiven. The dad had no consequences for the pain and heartbreak he caused his family and it felt unrealistic to me.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Juliet Spell and can’t wait to have a pretty copy of it on my bookshelf!