When You Were Mine
The Novel That Inspired the Movie Rosaline
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4.4 • 98 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
THE NOVEL THAT INSPIRED ROSALINE—NOW A HULU MOVIE
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 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 wild...and who has set her sights on Rob. He doesn’t 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.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
History forgot Rosaline, the girl Romeo loved before Juliet, and the clever premise of this underdeveloped but still satisfying romance is an updated imagining of Rosaline's story. Rose Caplet lives next door to Rob Montag, her male best friend who becomes something more as they begin senior year at their posh Southern California private school. But then Rose's estranged cousin, Juliet, and her family move back to town, and Rob is instantly smitten. The cousins were close before their families had a falling out for reasons Rose later discovers, and Rose is devastated by Juliet's betrayal. Serle's debut mirrors the plotting of the original play, but events are filtered through Rose's perspective, with Rob and Juliet kept at a distance. Tapping into familiar Shakespearian devices, Serle places Rob and Juliet in a school production of Macbeth; Rose's role as a stagehand enables her to eavesdrop on their stormy interactions. Though Rob and Juliet are disappointingly one-dimensional, Rose's pain and growth feel legitimate, and her love interest, Len, is distinctive. But it's Rose's longtime friendship with girlfriends Charlie and Olivia that form the heart of the story. Ages 14 up.
Customer Reviews
AMAZING
It’s an amazing novel. It made me sad and happy the author is probably one of the best authors I’ve ever read books of.I totally recommend.
Loved It!
Based on the author’s introduction, I knew where this story was headed. I continued nevertheless and am so pleased that I did. I have found my new favorite author! This is the second book of Ms. Serle’s I’ve finished in less than a fortnight and I’m headed to the next one now. So glad I discovered her!!
AMAZING!
I loved this book so much! I laughed and cried. It was a great story from a perspective that is rarely read.