Blog tour: Fair Rosaline

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Welcome to the blog tour for Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons!

More about the book…

Romeo Montague is handsome and charming and the first time he sees young Rosaline Capulet, who has secretly snuck into his family's masquerade summer ball, he falls instantly in love.

At first Rosaline is unsure of Romeo's attentions but with her father determined that she join the nunnery, Romeo offers her the chance of a different life. Gradually he convinces her that only true love could make him feel this way, that he is enraptured by her beauty. Indeed, he cannot live without her!

And so begins the story of Romeo and Rosaline. These star-crossed lovers must keep everything hidden from Rosaline's family, at least until they are wed. But when a destitute young girl appears, claiming to be carrying Romeo's child, Rosaline starts to doubt all that she has been told. And as whispers of more girls reach her ears, what once felt like a courtship begins to feel more like a pursuit.

As Rosaline recognises Romeo for the villain he truly is, his gaze turns suddenly towards Rosaline's adored and beautiful cousin, thirteen-year-old Juliet.

Can Rosaline save Juliet, who falls under Romeo's spell just as quickly as she did? Or can this story only ever end one way?

More about the author…

Natasha Solomons is the author of seven internationally bestselling novels, including Mr Rosenblum's List, The Novel in the Viola, which was chosen for the Richard & Judy Book Club, and I, Mona Lisa. Her work has been translated into seventeen languages, and Fair Rosaline is her latest work.

She lives in Dorset with her family.

My impressions…

I grew up in Verona and I love Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. I do think it’s a great love story, despite Juliet’s age and everything… I do. In theory, I shouldn’t like retellings – or untellings – that shed a different light on the story but… I do that too! Last year I loved the musical & Juliet and this year I loved Fair Rosaline. I was excited to get a copy of this novel! So, so excited!

The plot cleverly combines the events of the play and this new version of what happened, which shows Romeo in a less than favourable light and gives Rosaline the voice that she was not given by the Bard. It’s an addictive novel that I couldn’t put down, and what a privilege to be able to read it in Verona, even though this city does come alive through the words of the author anyway.

Three words to describe it. Feminist. Powerful. Thought-provoking.

Do I like the cover? I love it. Love it, love it, love it!

Have I read any other books by the same author? No, I need to catch up! 

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