Review: When You Were Mine

Title: When You Were Mine
Author: Rebecca Serle
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: October 18, 2022
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

From the New York Times bestselling author of One Italian Summer and In Five Years comes an intensely romantic modern recounting of the greatest love story ever told—narrated by the girl Romeo was supposed to love.

What’s in a name, Shakespeare? I’ll tell 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 wild…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.

Review:

Rosaline Caplet knows she’s destined to be with Rob Montag, her best friend and next door neighbour. When they go on a date at the beginning of their senior year, Rose is certain her life is falling into place. Then, Rose’s cousin Juliet Caplet moves back to town. As soon as Juliet gets ahold of Rob, he ditches Rose to be with Juliet. Rose is devastated at the loss of her best friend and potential boyfriend. However, rumors of Juliet’s instability and suicide attempts make Rose worry about Rob’s life. Rose has to come to terms with the fact that her future isn’t going the way she planned.

Romeo and Juliet is one of my favourite plays, so I was excited to read this adaptation. This retelling of Romeo and Juliet focuses on a character who isn’t actually in the play. Rosaline was the girl who Romeo was in love with before Juliet. This story was set in contemporary California, but most of the main plot points of Romeo and Juliet were the same. I really liked seeing Rosaline’s perspective on Romeo and Juliet’s whirlwind romance.

When You Were Mine is a great Romeo and Juliet retelling. 

Content warnings: infidelity (off page), suicide, car accident (off page)

Have you read When You Were Mine? What did you think of it?