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The Juliet Spell

3.34 of 5 stars 3.34 · rating details · 463 ratings · 153 reviews

I wanted the role of Juliet more than anything. I studied hard. I gave a great reading for it—even with Bobby checking me out the whole time. I deserved the part.I didn't get it. So I decided to level the playing field, though I actually might have leveled the whole play. You see, since there aren't any Success in Getting to Be Juliet in Your High School Play spells, I tho...more

Paperback, 272 pages

Published September 27th 2011 by Harlequin Teen

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Oct 12, 2011 Kwesi 章英狮 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: borrowed, douglas-rees, 2011

I only participated one play in my whole life, I mean bigger play, and that was Romeo and Juliet. This overrated masterpiece of the greatest poet and a playwright, William Shakespeare. I'm not a fan of him and never enjoyed long plays especially written by him but I'm enjoying watching kids, teens and actors playing roles of his own imagination. I know he was good but I just can't pass through from pages of his dialogues in old English. Please Shakespeare, give me a break for awhile.

But what i...more

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Aug 09, 2011 Isamlq rated it 2 of 5 stars

2.75/5

Not a retelling (thank gosh!) Cute? Right now though two things are clear: it was sometimes improbable but mostly sweet.

That it involved magic spells was not what rang unlikely to me. That it involved a time travelling English ~~man~~ boy was not a big deal either. I came into Juliet Spell knowing these two things. Rather, it was the characters reactions that confounded me. Everyone was so OK with how things unfolded. On a side note, I found the weeping that took place quite novel if a little...more 2.75/5

Not a retelling (thank gosh!) Cute? Right now though two things are clear: it was sometimes improbable but mostly sweet.

That it involved magic spells was not what rang unlikely to me. That it involved a time travelling English ~~man~~ boy was not a big deal either. I came into Juliet Spell knowing these two things. Rather, it was the characters reactions that confounded me. Everyone was so OK with how things unfolded. On a side note, I found the weeping that took place quite novel if a little annoying. Now to the reactions, Drew's and Miri's mother reacted very surprisingly... both simply went with the flow. Another improbable was the forgiving nature of both mother and daughter.

While the characters aren't the best of what I've read of late, they are different, cute and entertaining in their own right. Our Juliet is Miri; she's a take charge kind of girl but sometimes came off as (a lot of the time) clueless. Sometimes I liked her, other times I wanted her to open her eyes. One moment she's focused; the next she's so desperate to get the boy to like her. But at least she had a good relationhip with her mother! And speaking of, her mother was so easy going; too easy going, in fact, that I found her a tad unrealistic. Juliet/Miri's Romeo is a time travelling Englishman (an unintentional one, of course) was hilarious and annoying and cute and not as simple as I originally thought.

As to the rest of the players, some were developed, others were just extra. The one who stands out though is Drew: what a handy guy to have around! His explantion of the how behind the time traveling was long winded and confusing but entertaining to hear. It's obvious where the story was headed once he started showing up more... and that this was not obvious to Miri herself, is another one of those improbables.

But if the characters were OK with how things were, then so be it... I am too. Why? It's simply not meant to be taken too seriously; it's a simply a sweet love story... (view spoiler)

Thanks Netgalley!(less)

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Aug 20, 2011 Claire rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: high-school-and-beyond, high-school-fairs

Douglass Reese that author that romps among the genres turns his hand to a contemporary Shakespearean tale.
Miranda and her mother are actresses. To keep body and soul together now that Dad, a Jungian, Freudian, dream interpreting psychoanalyst has left in his battered Toyota “to find himself”, Mom is working double shifts at the hospital.

A community theater loosely attached to the high school is producing Romeo and Juliet. Miranda wants above all to perform Juliet in homage to her mother. To th...more

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Feb 22, 2012 Lyn Ching rated it 4 of 5 stars

FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS, PLEASE VISIT MY BOOK BLOG AT www.readingtsinoy.blogspot.com
THANKS AND HAPPY READING!

Romeo, Romeo wherefore art thou Romeo?

Is Perhaps the most famous line from William Shakespeare’s Tragedy, ROMEO & JULIET. The play itself is one that everyone seems to know most. Well, the story is given a new spin here in the Juliet Spell.

Miranda Hoberman is desperate to play Juliet in their town’s upcoming production of Romeo and Juliet. So one night she casts a witch’s spell for fame...more FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS, PLEASE VISIT MY BOOK BLOG AT www.readingtsinoy.blogspot.com
THANKS AND HAPPY READING!

Romeo, Romeo wherefore art thou Romeo?

Is Perhaps the most famous line from William Shakespeare’s Tragedy, ROMEO & JULIET. The play itself is one that everyone seems to know most. Well, the story is given a new spin here in the Juliet Spell.

Miranda Hoberman is desperate to play Juliet in their town’s upcoming production of Romeo and Juliet. So one night she casts a witch’s spell for fame and instead got an unexpected visitor in the form of Edmund Shakespeare, the brother of the bard, William himself. He took to his new life easily, so easy in fact that in no time at all, he snagged the part of Romeo and got himself a girl, much to Miranda’s chagrin. Good thing though she got the part of Juliet and starts getting close to other players such as the genius Drew and Bobby, who happens to like Vivian, the girl Edmund was dallying with. Eventually Edmund drops Vivian and realizes his real Juliet is Miranda all along. All goes well until time traveling, and life, gets in their way.

Miranda is a great heroine. She is funny with lots of biting comebacks for Edmund whose ignorance of all things modern does not minimize his skill at verbal tussles. not surprisingly, she fell for him really fast…as fast as day 2 actually. But he is gorgeous with brilliant blue eyes, long sandy hair and the perfect old british accent. The progression of their relationship is pretty slow. While Miranda has always liked him, he only realized it in the middle of the book, reluctantly too since he feels like he is betraying the trust not only of Miranda, but her mother as well. But they get it together enough to have some sweet, special moments, albeit few and far between. But then there’s also Drew. Of course Miranda is blind to his affections with Edmund around, but then he proves to be a great friend to her…and maybe more… all I can say is, He is the reason everything comes together…… and ends.

This is a fun read. it is nicely written and well paced. Short too, it just took me 3 hours of lazy reading to finish the entire thing. and even with the number of ayes, nays and old world words in edmund’s end of conversations, everything is easy to understand. Plus there is a twist ¾ into the book that you shouldn’t miss. Perhaps after reading this book, you’d go straight to reading the real thing. Aye? I think so….
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Mar 15, 2013 Rebecca rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: family-story, fantasy, humor, romance, school-story, young-adult

Miranda will do anything to win the role of Juliet in her school play, including trying a little spell (what does she have to lose?). What she does not expect is for Edmund Shakeshaft, William Shakespeare's younger brother, to materialize on her kitchen table. He's as dumbfounded as she, but soon they've both settled down, he's had a shower and some modern clothes, and Miranda realizes that he's rather dismayingly attractive. Since the school auditions are open to the community, Edmund tries out...more

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May 09, 2012 Sabrina *The REAL Princess* rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Juliet Spell was a nice little story. It was short, sweet and full of fluff and cuteness. There was just an overload of fluff and love that I loved but couldn't really grasp that I was reading a novel and not a fanfiction. That is not to say it wasn't written nicely, it was, but there was just something lacking (and not the amount of fluff)

I did enjoy the concept of the novel: A regular girl aspiring to be Juliet in her school's adaption of the classic play "Romeo and Juliet" accidently gets...more

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Apr 01, 2012 Preet rated it 1 of 5 stars

I wanted to like this book from the start, but it just didn't end up that way. I was always annoyed by the main characters. I'd usually always like a guy that spoke in Shakespearean English, but Edmund just didn't do anything for me. Other than being a relative, I don't feel like I was given much about who he was as a character. The issue I had with Miri was that the author gave very little into showing that she even liked Edmund. She also seemed a little overly whiny to me.

Another big issue tha...more

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Nov 09, 2011 Pamela Todd rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, read-in-2011, ya-mg

Miri’s school is putting on a production of Romeo and Juliet…and Miri is determined to be Juliet. She rehearses and memorises lines but it isn’t enough. When Miri is turned over for the part, she decides to take matters into her own hands.

Miri casts a spell but it backfires on her. Rather than getting her the role she wanted, she inadvertently plucked William Shakespeare’s younger brother, Edmund, out of his time, and dropped him in hers.

Edmund is confounded with the future, seeing everything...more

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Nov 08, 2011 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

Miranda wants to play Juliet. So she whips out her handy spellkit ('cause teen girls always have one)and casts away. Imagine her surprise when a strange, dirty (but undeniably hot)Elizabethan guy lands in her bedroom. Somehow she's conjured up Edmund Shakeshaft, William Shakespeare's younger brother (shaft, spear, you say tomato...). He's ready and willing to be her perfect Romeo onstage, but offstage, he's all about the bad girl looking for a good time.

This is a fun little story. It's a typi...more

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Nov 05, 2011 Rachel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Where I got it: Harlequin Teen via NetGalley -- Thanks!

What I gave it: 2.5 out of 5

My thoughts:

Well, I got the book ARC back in the beginning of September and never really got to it (as well as many other books!), and put it off until now because there was other books that really caught my attention. I am not really sorry I put off this book until now (I honestly only read it because I needed a fast read and Barnes and Noble have yet to deliver me Crossed by Ally Condie, I am quite peeved!) beca...more

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Nov 02, 2011 Lynnea rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: in-the-past, paranormal, romance, time-travel

I love all things Romeo and Juliet. Which is pretty weird because I hate tragedies. I am all about the Happy Ever Afters. Anyway this story starts with Miranda. Her mother was an actress and preformed in many parts through her career all except Juliet. When an opportunity comes up to auditions for the part in a Community play she jumps at it. The audition doesn't immediately go that well so she falls back on a Spell book she purchased and preforms a spell for success. She finishes the spell, the...more I love all things Romeo and Juliet. Which is pretty weird because I hate tragedies. I am all about the Happy Ever Afters. Anyway this story starts with Miranda. Her mother was an actress and preformed in many parts through her career all except Juliet. When an opportunity comes up to auditions for the part in a Community play she jumps at it. The audition doesn't immediately go that well so she falls back on a Spell book she purchased and preforms a spell for success. She finishes the spell, there is a bright light and then an attractive young man is standing in her living room.

It turns out that he is the younger brother of William Shakespeare, Edmund.

Miranda goes about teaching him about all things 21st century when it is mentioned that they are having open auditions for the play and Edmund in interested in playing a part. How perfect would it be for him to play Romeo to her Juliet!!! Of course his audition is amazing and the girls interested in playing Juliet are encouraged to re-audition with him and the chemistry between Edmund and Miranda is perfect, she will play Juliet and he will play Romeo.

Everyone is working hard on the play, there are love interests and fights between friends, a threat to stop the play and a way to keep it going, plus a surprise visit from William Shakespeare himself. Just when you think that there can't be anymore craziness enter a mad man with a gun and messages through time.

I really liked this story. Edmund was a great hero for this story. He was everything that a 1590's something gentleman should be. He was kind to everyone, gentle with women (too gentle in Miranda's opinion) and helpful at the house with chores. Miranda was a typical teenage girl. She was confused about her feelings toward Edmund and unsure of how to approach him for a while. It was difficult sometimes as I was reading because she would sometimes sound like a man when she thought to herself and some of her dialog was more of what a boy would say. One thing that was annoying is how accepting everyone was about characters from the past suddenly showing up in our time. No one ever freaked out. They were just like of, you are Edmund Shakespeare from the 1590's, cool, want something to drink? Then, oh, so you are William Shakespeare, Play nice with your brother.... Not believable, but it made the story flow nicely without the characters thinking that they were all crazy.

**** SPOILER****

I wasn't completely happy with the ending, I like my Happily Ever After endings and this one didn't end that way. I understand that the author didn't want to change history so it had to end that way. I am glad that all characters seemed to be happy with the out come, even if it was a year later that they could move on with life.
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Oct 26, 2011 Maria rated it 2 of 5 stars

This is another example of a book that I was totally into and loving...and then they went and ruined the ending. Actually, in this case, they ruined the entire second half of the novel.

Let me explain.

The idea for this story is freakin' adorable! Basically, there is this girl named Miranda who desperately wants to be Juliet in her school play. She realizes that she's not going to get the part and decides to do a little magic spell to make sure she gets the part. But little does she realize that t...more

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Oct 16, 2011 Becky Moe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, netgalley, ya, wishlist

(A strong three-and-a-half star read, so I'll round up.) The Juliet Spell was a sweet story, if not exactly believable at times. The main characters were a bit too accepting of the fantasy stuff--Miranda and Edmund's response at the beginning was really the only one that was even remotely believable in this regard; everyone else found out and pretty much accepted it without question--but overall this didn't really affect my enjoyment of the book. Other than giving me a bit a of pause and a "real...more

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Oct 15, 2011 Saly rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Juliet Spell was an enjoyable book, it starts of with Miranda, who is sixteen auditioning for the role of Juliet in a school play, it is a role she really wants and isn't sure she is going to get.

For her the play makes her dream of mending her family back together, reliving and doing something her mom as an actress never did, so she casts a fame spell never expecting it to work but is terrified when a guy appears. After much shrieking and threats she finds out she has managed to get Shakespe...more

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Oct 07, 2011 Bibliojunkies rated it 3 of 5 stars

From Goodreads:

I’m Juliet.

At least, I wanted to be.

So I did something stupid to make it happen.

Well, stupid and wonderful.

I wanted the role of Juliet more than anything. I studied hard. I gave a great reading for it—even with Bobby checking me out the whole time. I deserved the part.

I didn’t get it. So I decided to level the playing field, though I actually might have leveled the whole play. You see, since there aren’t any Success in Getting to Be Juliet in Your High School Play spells, I though...more

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Sep 19, 2011 Karen rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Juliet Spell is the story of Miranda, a high school student, who wants to play Juliet more than anything in the world. She wants the part so badly she casts a spell to become Juliet. The spell, of course, goes awry and instead of making her Juliet it accidentally summons Shakespeare's brother through time to her house.

The word I would use to describe The Juliet Spell would be fluffy. It didn't have much substance and was light on believability. I didn't dislike the book but it isn't stickin...more

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Sep 13, 2011 Sara rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Juliet Spell by Douglas Rees is a romantic comedy staring Miranda who just wants to play Juliet in her school's production of Romeo and Juliet. She performs a spell to help her get the part and ends up bringing Shakespeare's brother to her living room. He is able to blend in and get a part in the show which they have to work to prepare.

This is one of those books which isn't bad but isn't great either. The plot is fairly predictable, the romance tepid and the mythology didn't quire work for m...more

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Sep 08, 2011 Sumando Libros rated it 3 of 5 stars

Posted at: Sumando Libros

Veamos…

Quien no ha leído… o se sabe la historia de Romeo y Julieta?

A riesgo de recibir tomatazos… este clásico es uno de los que menos me gusta, lo siento pero es que a mí semejante cliché de amantes… no termina de convencerme…
No es que la historia sea mala… pero debí saber por el título, que encontraría algo bastante parecido.

Miranda es una tia que ama apasionadamente el teatro… y claro, desea interpretar a Julieta en una obra… lo desea tanto que la mujer se dejaría un...more

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Sep 02, 2011 Joni Thomas rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, teen

A very cute book. I can't say much more than that. Did I enjoy it? Yes. But if you want a book that is going to make you think deeply about issues, etc, this book is not for you. It's fluff, plain and simple. A simple, easy read perfect for a lazy summer day.

Miranda's dream is to be Juliet in her school's performance of Romeo and Juliet. When she doesn't think she is going to land the role she pulls out a spellbook and decides to cast a spell to make her Juliet. Well, somehow things go awry and...more A very cute book. I can't say much more than that. Did I enjoy it? Yes. But if you want a book that is going to make you think deeply about issues, etc, this book is not for you. It's fluff, plain and simple. A simple, easy read perfect for a lazy summer day.

Miranda's dream is to be Juliet in her school's performance of Romeo and Juliet. When she doesn't think she is going to land the role she pulls out a spellbook and decides to cast a spell to make her Juliet. Well, somehow things go awry and suddenly Shakespeare's younger brother Edmund is sitting in her kitchen.

Believable? Not in the least. But put that aside and the storyline is unique. I mean, who knew Shakespeare had a younger brother? And, in fact, he really did. Was he the same as he is portrayed in this book? Most likely not, but still. You can't say you learned nothing from this book.

Another thing I liked about this book is that instead of Miranda trying to hide Edmund from her mother she instead just lets her mother meet and talk to him. And after hearing the story and actually meeting him Miranda's mother believes her about what happened and who Edmund is. I hate books (and movies actually) where something incredible happens and the main character hides it from their parents. All the secrecy stresses me out. It made the book a much easier read for her mother to just know and accept that Edmund was in fact Shakespeare's brother, he appeared during a spell gone wrong, etc.

This book would be good for the younger side of the YA crowd as well. No sex scenes, there is a bit of cursing but nothing completely awful. I would safely hand this book to my daughter if she was 12 or 13 without thinking twice about it.

Basically, if you want a book that has true to life issues, if you lean towards a more contemporary issues type of YA, stay away from this book. If you can handle a bit of fluff now and then, give The Juliet Spell a try. After all, widely popular paranormal creatures such as werewolves and vampires are not believable at all either and those books are enjoyed. So what if the story is farfetched. It's cute, fun and a fast read.(less)

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Aug 31, 2011 Anita rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fiction, ya-romance, ya-fantasy-paranormal, netgalley, arc, ebook

3.5 Stars

The Juliet Spell had me wanting to go back to high school and read Shakespeare again. Or at least, to get a book and read with a little more appreciation than I had when I had the chance. The book as a whole, however, has given me mixed feelings.

On one hand, I loved it. The putting together of the play was entertaining, and did take me back to High School quite a bit. The camaraderie between the drama kids is exactly how Marching Band in High School was for me; there were clicks, but al...more 3.5 Stars

The Juliet Spell had me wanting to go back to high school and read Shakespeare again. Or at least, to get a book and read with a little more appreciation than I had when I had the chance. The book as a whole, however, has given me mixed feelings.

On one hand, I loved it. The putting together of the play was entertaining, and did take me back to High School quite a bit. The camaraderie between the drama kids is exactly how Marching Band in High School was for me; there were clicks, but also we were a unit that did quite a bit together, including long grueling rehearsals and after parties. I feel that Douglas Rees was right on in capturing the atmosphere of a High School Drama Club. Character development and interaction was great within the story, both are very important in my opinion.

Then there is the other hand. I can’t say “on the other hand I hated it,” that’s not true. There were just parts that didn’t sit well in my mind. This book walks the line of science fiction and just plain ole fiction. I think the biggest turn off for me was the way the sci-fi parts were presented. Miri is going to do a spell, as if it is the most normal, natural thing for a seventeen year old girl to do. The setting of the book does not give off anything but a normal, typical town in the United States, and while paranormal/science fiction/fantasy books are popular, I’m pretty sure any normal, level-headed seventeen year old is not off casting enchantments expecting any kind of result. Of course, it has been over ten years since I was in High School…so who knows.

The other thing was the level of acceptance of Edmund and his situation. First Edmund himself, while he cried like a baby…more than once might I add… did not have a mental breakdown. In fact, his adjustment to the modern world wasn’t even funny – and let me tell you, the scenario has SOOO MUCH “funny” potential. That was a letdown. But then, as the book moves forward, an additional four people are added to the “in the know” crowd when it comes to where he has come from, and not one of them really acts shocked, appalled, distraught, or even unbelieving. They act as if crazy things like this happen every day. Once again, this does not sit well with the, “this is a normal town” scenario.

Mostly, the book was a great read; entertaining and fun. I absolutely love all the Shakespeare talk, banter and references. I really want to read Much Ado about Nothing, right about now because of this book.

To see my full review visit my blog: I Loves to Read - Juliet Spell Review (less)

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Aug 30, 2011 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-releases

I didn't really expect a lot from this book. The synopsis intrigued me, but I'm such a Shakespeare nerd that I wasn't sure it would be possible to make me happy.

Apparently it was possible.

Well, okay, I totally disagreed with a few of the characters' assessments of Romeo and Juliet's qualities as a play, but that's what people who like to talk about Shakespeare do – they disagree on everything. Noel Streafeild (author of the wonderful Ballet Shoes and rest of the Shoes books) once wrote something...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Rachael rated it 3 of 5 stars

Miranda wants the role of Juliet in the school play more than anything. But even though she’s sure she’s perfect for the part and that she has what it takes to be Juliet, she knows not everyone may think that way. So in order to bolster her chances, she casts a spell. Since she can’t really find any spell to ensure being cast as Juliet, she settles for the next best: a Fame spell. But something goes a little awry, and Miranda gets a little surprise in the form of Edmund Shakeshaft, also known as...more Miranda wants the role of Juliet in the school play more than anything. But even though she’s sure she’s perfect for the part and that she has what it takes to be Juliet, she knows not everyone may think that way. So in order to bolster her chances, she casts a spell. Since she can’t really find any spell to ensure being cast as Juliet, she settles for the next best: a Fame spell. But something goes a little awry, and Miranda gets a little surprise in the form of Edmund Shakeshaft, also known as Edmund Shakespeare, as in William Shakespeare’s younger brother. Yes, Will’s younger brother is now living in the twenty first century as Miranda’s houseguest. So maybe it’s a little weird that Edmund is confused by televisions, not to mention modern plumbing, but it’s also kind of cool to be living and acting with a real Shakespearean player. But the more time Miranda spends with Edmund, the more she’s convinced that he’s the Romeo to her Juliet, and the more she fears what will happen when it’s time for him to go.

The Juliet Spell is a book with some promising ideas but an overall mediocre story. I was initially intrigued by the prospect of a girl who wanted a role in a play so badly she’d resort to casting a spell. In all honesty, though, this spell, the catalyst for the whole story, felt rather random and certainly strange. The story really isn’t about the spell. It’s about Miranda’s relationships with her friends and family, with the added angle of a historical figure. Unfortunately, I really wasn’t very impressed or taken by Miranda’s character, and her voice got to be rather annoying. My interest was briefly recaptured toward the end when the more technical reasons for Edmund’s modern day presence are revealed, but it wasn’t enough to change my opinions of the entire story. The Juliet Spell may be a cute quick read, but it’s one that isn’t particularly much of anything else.

The Juliet Spell appeals to fans of The Espressologist by Kristina Springer and The Oracle of Dating by Allison Van Diepen.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com (less)

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Aug 17, 2011 Lacey Weatherford rated it 3 of 5 stars

I found this story on NetGalley and I have to say the title was what caught my eye on this book, which is saying something since I’m not ashamed to admit I’m a cover girl. I read the blurb for this story and thought it sounded really good.

I found this book to be entertaining for the most part—a nice escape from reality for a leisurely time of reading. There were some pacing issues that irritated me a couple of times, place where some things needed more explanation and others that had too much. I...more

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Aug 12, 2011 Brob rated it 2 of 5 stars

I came across an interesting modern story of Romeo and Juliet on Netgalley and thought I would give it a try. I really enjoyed the modern Pride and Prejudice that I read and was hoping for another hit. Here’s the description on Netgalley:

I’m Juliet.
At least, I wanted to be.
So I did something stupid to make it happen.
Well, stupid and wonderful.
I wanted the role of Juliet more than anything. I studied hard. I gave a great reading for it—even with Bobby checking me out the whole time. I deserved th...more I came across an interesting modern story of Romeo and Juliet on Netgalley and thought I would give it a try. I really enjoyed the modern Pride and Prejudice that I read and was hoping for another hit. Here’s the description on Netgalley:

I’m Juliet.
At least, I wanted to be.
So I did something stupid to make it happen.
Well, stupid and wonderful.
I wanted the role of Juliet more than anything. I studied hard. I gave a great reading for it—even with Bobby checking me out the whole time. I deserved the part.
I didn’t get it. So I decided to level the playing field, though I actually might have leveled the whole play. You see, since there aren’t any Success in Getting to Be Juliet in Your High School Play spells, I thought I’d cast the next best—a Fame spell. Good idea, right?
Yeah. Instead of bringing me a little fame, it brought me someone a little famous. Shakespeare. Well, Edmund Shakespeare. William’s younger brother.
Good thing he’s sweet and enthusiastic about helping me with the play...and—ahem—maybe a little bit hot. But he’s from the past. Way past. Cars amaze him—cars! And cell phones? Ugh.
Still, there’s something about him that’s making my eyes go star-crossed....
Will Romeo steal her heart before time steals him away?

I’m afraid for me this book was not a hit. I had several problems with the story. First the spell itself is odd. Some random spell happens to work and then later on the explanations get really crazy for the age group the book is written for. Being a math major I could relate to several mentions of higher level math or science facts, however, I feel like most teenagers would have no clue.

I also didn’t care for the entire second half of the book. A lot of characters and obstacles are introduced to the plot. I would have preferred a much simpler plot. In the end, too much ends up going on and in a way that distracts you from the real story that is going on with the main characters.
I did like the first half of the love story between the main characters. I felt like there was a definite chemistry between the characters and it definitely piqued my interest in the book. However, as things kept going I was less enthused.

Overall I would give the book a 2/5. For me it wasn’t a great book. I do feel like it will have an audience though and while I didn’t love it others might enjoy it as a quick read.

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Oct 09, 2011 Brenna rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-galley, harlequin

2.5 Stars (rounded up to 3)

I'm a huge Shakespeare fan and have been since I was a child: I've read quite a few plays, I thoroughly enjoy going to see live performances of them, and I've never been much of a Romeo & Juliet fan. So I appreciated the fact that The Juliet Spell didn't treat it like THE BEST PLAY EVER WRITTEN!!!!!1

But it still didn't manage to cast its spell on me.

Reasons to Read:

Descriptive Scenes:
This was by far my favourite part of Douglas Rees' writing; his descriptions of t...more 2.5 Stars (rounded up to 3)

I'm a huge Shakespeare fan and have been since I was a child: I've read quite a few plays, I thoroughly enjoy going to see live performances of them, and I've never been much of a Romeo & Juliet fan. So I appreciated the fact that The Juliet Spell didn't treat it like THE BEST PLAY EVER WRITTEN!!!!!1

But it still didn't manage to cast its spell on me.

Reasons to Read:

Descriptive Scenes:
This was by far my favourite part of Douglas Rees' writing; his descriptions of the play as the characters were rehearsing literally jumped off the page for me. I was totally engrossed by them, and I could perfectly imagine seeing such an outstanding performance in real life. Those scenes were utterly captivating, and I was pleased that a book about a play was written well when dealing with said play.

A marshmallow read:
Why a marshmallow? It's light and fluffy. Sometimes, I find that you really need a book like that. A quick, sugary sweet read that doesn't require a lot of depth and isn't overwhelmed with symbolism and angst. Definitely chick lit, so if that's something you enjoy, then here's a pick for you.

Unfortunately, I don't really like marshmallows. And I had a few problems with The Juliet Spell by the end of it. It wasn't that the story was so improbable, because that doesn't bother me. Nearly all books I read are improbable. But what was improbable were the characters' reactions; they rarely seemed surprised or nervous by the bizarre events taking place.

And I really wasn't a fan of Miri. Her language was off with how often she ended her sentences with "man" and "dude". Almost like she didn't have any female friends...
Oh, right. She didn't. In fact, she didn't seem to have any friends at all until this book came along. A few acquaintances, but it seemed like the author just forgot to write in friends for her outside of the people she interacted with during the rehearsals for Romeo & Juliet. Plus, she was kind of a doormat. She would get upset, and then just completely forgive and forget. Which would be admirable (I don't like long, drawn out angst and I think some of her reactions were mature) but for someone whose father abandoned her and her mother, as well as someone whose crush continually snubbed her, she didn't seem to care much.

I didn't see the ending coming from a mile away, because there really wasn't much of a lead up to it. And I didn't feel that it added very much to the story either.

But it is an interesting spin, and some of the writing was very effective. For those who enjoy simple reads and tidy endings, it may be worth picking up for you.

e-galley received from publisher via netGalley in exchange for my honest review; no other compensation was received. (less)

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Oct 10, 2011 Mrs. ReaderPants rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011, net-galley

More reviews at http://readerpants.blogspot.com

OVERALL RATING: Recommended; 3/5 stars

MOVIE COMPARISON: Shakespeare in Love meets Encino Man

WHAT I LIKED: The Juliet Spell is a cute, funny story that teen girls will like. It is an easy-read with lots and lots of Shakespeare references, quotations, and even the man himself. Miranda is a likeable and realistic main character, and many girls will relate to her lack of confidence, confusing family problems (what's up with her parents?), and strong fe...more

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Feb 16, 2013 Alexandra rated it 4 of 5 stars

Miranda Hoberman is an average theater-junkie with a lot of not-so-average ambition. After an amazing audition for the female lead of Romeo and Juliet, she finds that her director isn't satisfied with the talent. So, in an attempt to get the part, she casts a Fame spell. Instead of making her famous, though, it brings her someone famous - Edmund Shakespeare, William's younger brother. After the initial shock of the situation wears off, Edmund agrees to help Miranda get the part. The only proble...more Miranda Hoberman is an average theater-junkie with a lot of not-so-average ambition. After an amazing audition for the female lead of Romeo and Juliet, she finds that her director isn't satisfied with the talent. So, in an attempt to get the part, she casts a Fame spell. Instead of making her famous, though, it brings her someone famous - Edmund Shakespeare, William's younger brother. After the initial shock of the situation wears off, Edmund agrees to help Miranda get the part. The only problem is helping him fit into twenty-first century life. With no identification, there's not much he can do in the present world. As Miranda helps Edmund and he assists her with the play in return, she finds herself falling for him... but even if their relationship works out, can they conquer time?
I had a good idea of what to expect from this book. I thought I'd read plenty of novels like it before: a cheesy romance barely backed up by some magic and time-travel. I was dead wrong. Douglas Rees managed to spin a tale that was not only believable, despite the laws of the world, but also entertaining. The romance was not cheesy in the least. I found that Edmund was not the macho superman, but instead, a caring, gentle boy who was not afraid to be himself. In the beginning of the book, when Edmund found out what had happened and realized he may never see his family again, he broke down crying. Shoulders-shaking sobbing. At the time, I found this to be not very attractive. But as the story progressed and came together, and the reader could discover more of Edmund's character, I saw it for what it was: strength. Because a strong man can show his emotions, no matter who else is with them. I also enjoyed the magic. There were laws to it that stemmed from science, and there wasn't a lot of magic withing the story. Normally I would be disappointed, since that was the main reason I picked up the book: for the magic. But I found that the way Rees told this story, without focusing on the magic that brought Edmund to present-time, was very interesting.
I had one issue with the authenticity of the historical facts. When Edmund was praying for his family, he mentioned William Shakespeare's children. Their names were Susanna, Judith and Hamnet. However, when Edmund mentioned them, he said Hamlet, as in, the play Shakespeare wrote. This play was written after his son, Hamnet, dies, at age eleven, of the plague. Many historians believe the play is related to the boy, but no one can know for certain. Up until that point in the book, I was loving the way I could really believe that Edmund was from the past. The words, he used, words he didn't understand, even his dialect was mentioned. But when he said Hamlet, I again realized that the Edmund of the book wasn't a real person; his personality was merely a figment of Rees's imagination. Back to authenticity, though, I did like the fact that Edmund was a real person in the past; William Shakespeare really did have a brother named Edmund. And aside from that one error, I couldn't find anything else historically incorrect.
I really enjoyed how Rees brought the theater to life in a such a way that even someone who knows not the slightest about acting or plays could picture themselves in a starring role and feel the magic. The book contained a lot of information about acting in such a way that it didn't feel like the reader was learning a whole new topic, like from school, but an interesting fact, like from a magazine or such. None of it was boring. Of course, I can't speak for people who hate theater, acting, movies, and anything related, but I thought everything was realistic, relevant to the storyline, and engrossing.
Overall, I am proud to say I may have found a new author to look for books from. I enjoyed Rees's style of writing and story. I would rate this book four stars. I simply hated to put it down, and always wanted to pick it back up again. I would give this book to someone looking for mystery, love, and theater.(less)

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Sep 21, 2011 Cassie McCown rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Juliet Spell
By: Douglas Rees
ISBN: 9780373210398
Expected Publication: September 27, 2011 by Harlequin Teen
Available Format: Paperback, ebook

My Rating: ★★★★☆

Miranda has waited her whole life to be Juliet, and her chance is finally here. Instead of depending on fate, and the judgment of the director, Miri puts together a fame spell that will ensure she snags the role. Much to her surprise, a handsome young man appears in the middle of her table—a young man that says he is Edmund Shakeshaft, the...more The Juliet Spell
By: Douglas Rees
ISBN: 9780373210398
Expected Publication: September 27, 2011 by Harlequin Teen
Available Format: Paperback, ebook

My Rating: ★★★★☆

Miranda has waited her whole life to be Juliet, and her chance is finally here. Instead of depending on fate, and the judgment of the director, Miri puts together a fame spell that will ensure she snags the role. Much to her surprise, a handsome young man appears in the middle of her table—a young man that says he is Edmund Shakeshaft, the younger brother of none other than William Shakespeare himself! Miri finds this might be a bit more than she bargained for, and the balance of time and history has been seriously disrupted. She and her friends have to find a way to make things right even if it means breaking Miri’s heart.

I have to say, Douglas Rees is pretty in tune with the teenage girl. Miranda is an entertaining female character, and thank goodness she isn’t angsty or whiney! I think some of the things she has had to face in her life have made her a stronger girl, and she handles this new adventure with grace and flair (as does her mother!). Conjuring up this crazy spell in the middle of a table with a volcano of salt was brilliant—absolutely something I could have seen myself doing once upon a time, just for kicks. And, I probably wouldn’t have been too upset if some handsome, charming guy just happened to show up, even if he was from the sixteenth century and needed a good bath.

This little novel is full of wit and charm, and you really can’t go wrong with a bit of Romeo and Juliet. I especially love the banter between the brothers, Edmund and William. I also love the fact that Miri’s dad is a psychologist who has gone away to “find himself”—priceless! My favorite part of the book was where they performed the play at the outdoor mall. I could picture every bit of it, and I WANTED to be there!

This book isn’t going to make you contemplate the meaning of life or run for president. There are things that are simply unbelievable or unrealistic, so don’t try to read too much into the plot. It is purely a fun, YA (mostly chick) lit that will most definitely make you smile.

I’m just wondering why I haven’t read any of Rees’ other work yet??
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Dec 24, 2011 Era rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was an absolutely wonderful story! The Juliet Spell was not exactly what I was expecting but I wasn’t even disappointed. In fact, I was very much entertained with its concept of a hilarious and innocent love story.

Douglas Reese has crafted a fantastic tale that I could not let go. It was the way it was written that you would keep on reading until you ran out of pages. Well sometimes, you don’t want pages to run out if it’s that beautiful. I think it’s also because of those characters that y...more

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Nov 29, 2011 Gilbert&Gomez rated it 3 of 5 stars

A cute read. Seriously, I was grappling with how to describe The Juliet Spell and those were the words that came to mind. The Juliet Spell is like a a truffle: sweet and light. There's no paranormal drama, no dystopian society, and there isn't ridiculous relationship drama. For readers looking for something sweet and unique, this is the book for you! Anyone on a Shakespeare kick or fulfilling their theater obsession will enjoy this book. And hey, if you're enjoying some time traveling/bending bo...more A cute read. Seriously, I was grappling with how to describe The Juliet Spell and those were the words that came to mind. The Juliet Spell is like a a truffle: sweet and light. There's no paranormal drama, no dystopian society, and there isn't ridiculous relationship drama. For readers looking for something sweet and unique, this is the book for you! Anyone on a Shakespeare kick or fulfilling their theater obsession will enjoy this book. And hey, if you're enjoying some time traveling/bending books pick this one up!

The theater kids are spot on. I did talented theater and I chuckled at just how accurate Douglas was about drama kids. Miranda is great: spunky, driven, funny, and smart. The book is about the theatrical production being put on, so if you don't like that kind of stuff be warned. I liked the odd friendship of Drew and Bobby, even better was the trio of Bobby, Drew, and Edmund better. Of course the action leading up to that particular friendship seemed a little to easily mended, but I like it enough to overlook the almost unrealistic uniting.

Speaking of Edmund Shakeshaft (or Shakespeare), he is a hoot! I wasn't gushing over Edmund. His complete fascination with the modern world and the way he talks just tickle me pink. I liked him and he's a character, but I never felt enamored with him. I think it's a good thing though, you know those time traveling stories always have tricks up their sleeves. I won't give away details but Edmund is dashing and I had a change of heart about him toward the end. I also enjoyed Douglas Rees' take on a certain brother of Edmund; there were some great moments featuring Will.

Speaking of characters, the adults in The Juliet Spell felt weird to me. I was okay with suspending reality with the time-travel, but some of the adults seemed a little unreal. Now parents don't normally have a powerful influence in YA books, but I had a hard time accepting Miranda's parents' behavior. Mrs. Hoberman is easier to believe than Mr. Hoberman- I mean changing his mind just like that? I guess it's possible, but I just found their acceptance of the time travel stuff and some of their decisions to be a little odd. Some of the adults in the book where just quirky, which may have been what threw me off a little.
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About Douglas Rees

I was born on October 19th, 1947 in the hospital at March Air Force Base just outside Riverside, California. My father, Norman, was a career sergeant who'd served as an aircraft mechanic and infantryman in the Philippines campaign early in the war and was taken prisoner on Bataan. My mother, Agnes, was a nurse at the hospital where he was sent to recuperate after the war was over.

Until I was fift...more

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Quotes from The Juliet Spell

“I cast a spell to make me Juliet. It worked. But I forgot that Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy. I got what I asked for.” — 11 people liked it

“Careful, Edmund,” I said. “She eats guys for breakfast.”
“Should I pour milk on meself?” Edmund asked me, and grinned.” — 7 people liked it

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