Skip to main content

Book Review: When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle

When You Were Mine
Title: When You Were Mine 
Author: Rebecca Serle
Series: Standalone
Pages:  352
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Books
Date of Publication: 26th April 2012
Source: Publisher*
Synopsis from Goodreads: Rosaline has been best friends with Rob since they were little kids. Recently, something deeper and more electric has entered their friendship, and when Rob returns after the summer break and asks Rosaline on a sort-of date, it seems they are destined to become a couple, just as Rosaline always knew they would be. The next day at school, a mysterious, beautiful girl arrives: Rosaline's long-lost cousin, Juliet. And suddenly it looks as if Rosaline might be about to lose her best friend AND her new boyfriend…

This review is kind of spoilery. Not anything you couldn't guess from it being a retelling of Romeo & Juliet, but still it's kind of spoilery. But only a bit.

My Thoughts:
This book was amazing. I loved it so much more than I thought I would. I wasn't sure about the book at first, seeing as I'm not really a fan of Romeo & Juliet but the synopsis sounded pretty good and it was getting amazing reviews so I decided to see what all the fuss was about, and I'm so glad I did!

When You Were Mine tells the story of Rosaline and Rob - Rosaline and Romeo - before Juliet comes along, and it was nice to get a different take on possibly the most famous love story of all time. I haven't read Romeo & Juliet since we read it at primary school, so I don't really know much apart from the basic storyline, so I don't know if there is a romance between Rose and Romeo before Juliet... I could look it up, but I'm lazy so I'm not going to...

Once the story got started I could not stop reading. I was wide awake one night so I planned to read around twenty pages just to send me off to sleep... And I read 110 in about an hour. It hooked me in and I couldn't stop reading! I loved that we didn't meet Juliet properly until quite a way into the book, so that Rebecca Serle could really build up a relationship between Rose and Rob that we could root for, only to shoot it down once Juliet arrived, and it was this relationship between Rose and Rob - their easy friendship - that sucked me in.

I was kind of worried that I wouldn't be sad when Juliet came along - that I wouldn't be sad that Rose and Rob's relationship was falling apart. I don't know why, but I didn't exactly expect to be so affected by Juliet... I guess up until that point it has just felt like a short and sweet romance that I love while reading, but in the end I'd probably forget it. But once Juliet appeared I knew that wasn't the case. Seriously, I *hated* her. Eurgh, she was horrid... She stole away Rob from Rose without a second thought, and all for her own gain. I don't think I've hated a character as much as I hated her for a very long time.

So as you can guess, the whole way through I was rooting for Rose and Rob, and though I knew what would happen at the end, because of course it's based on Romeo & Juliet, I was hoping and wishing that it wouldn't end in the same way, but it does. And while that might be a spoiler, I think it's pretty obvious so I'm sorry if you didn't realise... But the ending broke my heart. Honestly, I was right there with Rose, feeling like if she hadn't said this to a particular person at that point in time, it would have ended differently; she could have saved both Rob and Juliet... *sigh*

Anyway, this book is incredible. It makes you happy to see Rose and Rob happy, and then Juliet comes along and you're right there with Rose, feeling crappy because Juliet's stolen the thing you want most. Then it looks like it'll all be alright again, and then it isn't. It's horrid, but at the same time it's everything you want from a book. I absolutely freaking loved it! I would most definitely recommend to all YA contemp fans, or if you're just looking for a really good read, because it will hook you in and won't let you go until you've read the very last page.

*Huge thanks to Simon & Schuster for sending me this in exchange for an honest review! In no way has this affected my opinion of the book! 

Comments

  1. I love the look of this-especially since we're studying R+J at the moment. It's nice knowing there's a completely different take on something so familiar. Great review!
    PS-would you be willing to part with your copy? Temporarily or permanently? For a book/gift vouchers?

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm really glad you enjoyed this book Bella .. I actually wasn't planning to read it but I really want to now!! I didn't know it was a standalone which is a good thing because I have too many series to read right now so When You Were Mine would be a nice break :) !!
    Fabulous review :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I really want to read this book. I have heard so many amazing things about it. Thanks for the great review!

    Sara @ Just Another Story

    ReplyDelete
  4. It was great wasn't it? Glad you loved the book as much as I did. It's definitely my favourite new Shakespeare:P

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh this sounds interesting!!! Fab review.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I HAVE to read this book! Only problem is that I'm so scared of the 'not happy' ending :(
    Definitely starting this one soon though! I just think it's such an interesting idea, and I can't wait to learn more about rosaline!
    So excited about this one :)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for commenting! :D I love comments, so comment away! :D

*I am no longer accepting blog awards :( I do not have time to go through all the things that come with it, and though I'm honoured you thought of me, I'm sure you can find someone who will love it, and be able to carry out the rules :)

Popular posts from this blog

REVIEW: A Sky Painted Gold by Laura Wood

Hello all! Hope you're all enjoying the summer! I'm currently on holiday in a huge castle in the South of France and enjoying relaxing, playing games, and of course reading a lot!  Today's post is a review of a dreamy summer romance that's perfect for your holiday TBRs! Title:  A Sky Painted Gold Author:  Laura Wood Series:   n/a Pages:   356 Publisher:  Scholastic Date of Publication:  5th July, 2018 Source:  Publisher for review* Synopsis from Goodreads: Growing up in her sleepy Cornish village dreaming of being a writer, sixteen-year-old Lou has always wondered about the grand Cardew house which has stood empty for years. And when the owners arrive for the summer - a handsome, dashing brother and sister - Lou is quite swept off her feet and into a world of moonlit cocktail parties and glamour beyond her wildest dreams. But, as she grows closer to the Cardews, is she abandoning her own ambitions... And is there something darker lurking at the

Book Review: Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Title: Where She Went Author: Gayle Forman Series: If I Stay #2 Pages: 260 Publisher: Random House Date of UK Publication: April 28th 2011 Source: Borrowed from friend Synopsis from Goodreads: It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever. Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future and each other. Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance. My Thoughts: Where She Went continues the story from If I

REVIEW: Floored by Sara Barnard, Holly Bourne, Tanya Byrne, Non Pratt, Melinda Salisbury, Lisa Williamson, and Eleanor Wood

Good morning! Hope you're having a good week! Today I have a review for one of the biggest titles at YALC this year. Title:  Floored Author:  Sara Barnard, Holly Bourne, Tanya Byrne, Non Pratt, Melinda Salisbury, Lisa Williamson, and Eleanor Wood Series:  n/a Pages:   320 Publisher:  Macmillan Date of Publication:  12th July, 2018 Synopsis from Goodreads: When they got in the lift, they were strangers (though didn't that guy used to be on TV?): Sasha, who is desperately trying to deliver a parcel; Hugo, who knows he's the best-looking guy in the lift and is eyeing up Velvet, who knows what that look means when you hear her name and it doesn't match the way she looks, or the way she talks; Dawson, who was on TV, but isn't as good-looking as he was a few years ago and is desperately hoping no one recognizes him; Kaitlyn, who's losing her sight but won't admit it, and who used to have a poster of Dawson on her bedroom wall, and Joe, who shoul