Book Review: Juliet by Anne Fortier

“Of all the great love stories ever told, hers is perhaps the most famous. To me, she is the key to my family's fate. To you, she is Juliet.”

Did Shakespeare get it right or not? Did Romeo and Juliet die as he said they did, or was something else altogether going on? And if Shakespeare was wrong, how could it affect Juliet’s modern descendant Julie Jacobs?

When Julie Jacobs leaves for Italy per the instructions of her late aunt's will, she never imagines that she'll be thrust into a centuries-old feud, not to mention one of the most legendary romances of all time. However, as she uncovers the story of her ancestor, Giulietta, whose love for a man named Romeo proved ill-fated, Julie finds herself increasingly under threat, and can't help but feel that the past and present are very much connected.

I loved this book. The historical characters are fascinating as is the modern heroine Julie. She shows great courage in confronting not only a centuries old feud but also the demons of her past. The supporting characters are well drawn and play their parts so well I was never sure whom Julie should trust. The mystery part of the book intrigued me as well as Julie seeks to unravel a 700 year old mystery as well as a current one. The ending was satisfying in all ways but left a hint of mystery which tantalizes the reader.

What I didn’t like so much was that the relationship between Julie and her hero seemed abrupt. Where are the tender kisses that thrill the heart? How did their relationship grow and flourish? On one page they are mere acquaintances who don’t really like each other, and in the next chapter they’ve fallen in love.

Still, it’s a great book and one I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.