Roman and Jewel by Dana L. Davis

Jun 22, 2020 jenny✨ rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: author-of-colour, poc-reppin, instalove, ya-contemporary, its-me-not-you, coverlust, lgbtqia-side-character, i-need-this-like-i-need-air, 2021, annoying-protagonist

I’ve never had my heart broken, but I’d imagine this is how it feels: being utterly let down by a book you’d pinned so many of your 2020 hopes and dreams on.

First: I was promised a hip-hopera musical retelling of Romeo and Juliet with a diverse cast. That sounds badass. That sounds amazing. Hamilton meets West Side Story by way of YA fiction… that’s gotta be one of the BEST things I’ve heard in a long time.

But there’s hardly a musical. Only the barebones: the names of a few songs, a sentence he ...more

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Dec 27, 2020 Melanie (mells_view) rated it really liked it

A modern theatrical Romeo and Juliet retelling, inside of a modern Romeo and Juliet retelling. Roman and Jewel is the updated HFN version of this story that I didn’t realize that I needed. Everyone knows that I’m a sucker for tragedy and angst, but Roman and Jewel provides a bit of both while still being a fun YA contemporary romance.

We meet Jerzie Jhames as a normal teen. Well a normal teen about to be in a Broadway production, who is an insanely talented singer, and has an incredible knowledge A modern theatrical Romeo and Juliet retelling, inside of a modern Romeo and Juliet retelling. Roman and Jewel is the updated HFN version of this story that I didn’t realize that I needed. Everyone knows that I’m a sucker for tragedy and angst, but Roman and Jewel provides a bit of both while still being a fun YA contemporary romance.

We meet Jerzie Jhames as a normal teen. Well a normal teen about to be in a Broadway production, who is an insanely talented singer, and has an incredible knowledge of music theory. What she doesn’t know is that her role in Roman and Jewel is going to bring her to the love of her life. Yes, this book has young instalove, BUT it is a Romeo and Juliet retelling, what were you expecting to happen here? While the love story and the obstacles in the way of Jerzie and her Roman run loosely parallel to the original story, the rest of Jerzie’s path from normal talented girl to IG celebrity and Broadway famous is it’s very own. There’s a modern day villain subplot, a bit of mystery, and so much growth from our heroine. She struggles with jealousy, first time love, making her family and herself proud, and the decisions of what life path she should ultimately take.

This book is honestly just sweet, and I enjoyed that there is representation in this book that feels real and natural. The theatre plot throughout the story isn’t as heavy as one may think, but I do love the world that was built, and the characters that we are given because of the world it’s set in. So if you’re not a big theatre/musical geek, you’ll still enjoy this read. I also loved that Jerzie was having her own coming of age during this read. She learned things about herself and her family, while falling in love and doing what she loves.

My only complaint is one that’s a bit spoiler-y, so I’m going to leave it vague. I didn’t like the way one of the characters was portrayed a bit poorly. That being said even though I have that complaint, by the end of the story I understood WHY the author made that move with certain characters, so while it made me sort of sad/upset in the moment I eventually appreciated it because it left room for growth and it truly shines through in the end as a connection between two of the characters we are following. One of those moments when you recognize your differences, but you see your similarities with someone as well. A good reminder that people are imperfect and characters are allowed to be as well. It makes them more well rounded.

All in all this was a great YA read. I’d highly recommend it if you like that “young girl gets her chance to live her dreams”, modern retellings, or just YA romance in general.

AVAILABLE NOW!
*ARC ...more

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Jan 04, 2021 sam rated it it was ok

Shelves: contemporary-read

Huge thank you to Turn the Pages Tours and Inkyard Press for sending me this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

this review is going to be a little short but i’ll have the full review up on my blog soon :)

I really wanted to like this book. I mean, the whole concept of it sounded so exciting when i first read the summary, which is why i was so excited to have gotten the arc for this book. Unfortunately, that excitement was short lived.

Personally, I felt that the summary was pret ...more

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Dec 30, 2020 Ms. Woc Reader rated it really liked it

Shelves: black-lead

Roman and Jewel was a fun read that didn't go quite as I expected. I thought Jerzie would end up taking over the role after Cinny had to leave the show and the fame would go to her head. And that's not exactly what happened.

Jerzie James is a talented teen who can sing, dance, and compose music. She's such a theatre geek and the obvious role for Jewel. However as a newcomer she just doesn't have the star power the producers think they need to sell this musical. But R&B superstar Cinny has the nam ...more

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Jun 29, 2020 Dana L. Davis rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

*Slight spoiler alert* I wrote this!

I wrote it for all the musical theater lovers who have always dreamed big dreams. And Shakespeare lovers too. It’s just a tiny piece of my heart. And I’m happy to share it with all of you. ❤️

“We are the music makers...and we are the dreamers of dreams...”

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Jan 03, 2021 BeeButBookish ♡ added it

🪴Earlier this month I had the great opportunity to read Roman and Jewel by Dana L. Davis. The reason I wanted to highlight this book was because it was purely focused on Black joy, excellence, success and perseverance throughout trials.

🪴In this book we meet Jherzie James, a teenager with dreams of being on Broadway. She’s studied music theory, eats sleeps and breathes musical soundtracks and has a killer voice to boot. When she auditions for Roman + Jewel and makes it in as an understudy she is 🪴Earlier this month I had the great opportunity to read Roman and Jewel by Dana L. Davis. The reason I wanted to highlight this book was because it was purely focused on Black joy, excellence, success and perseverance throughout trials.

🪴In this book we meet Jherzie James, a teenager with dreams of being on Broadway. She’s studied music theory, eats sleeps and breathes musical soundtracks and has a killer voice to boot. When she auditions for Roman + Jewel and makes it in as an understudy she is thrown into a world of superstars and all of the mishaps that come with it. Cinny (international celebrity) is one of her role models and getting to work under her has been one of her dreams but she quickly learns that people aren’t all they seem to be in the media.

🪴While practicing as an understudy she meets Zeppelin Reid and they have an instant and powerful connection, but she knows there’s no way they could ever be anything while she’s not the lead. One day after practice a video of Jherzie and Zeppelin goes viral and she becomes famous overnight. Throughout the novel you get to follow Jherzie on an adventure of firsts; first love, first disappointment, and the first time she stood up for herself and what she deserved. The relationship between Zeppelin and Jherzie was really great to follow along with too and it had all of the fumbling and clumsy moments that teenage love often does.

🪴This book does feature themes of anxiety, depression, and suicide so please be aware of that. What I loved was the strong Black Family dynamic, the support, and following a Black lead that just got to experience life without an emphasis on any of her trauma at that point in time. As a lover of musicals and music in general it was so relatable to see Jherzie geeking out over Broadway greats and not having her Blackness invalidated. The book was sweet, well written, and messy at times. It was entertaining, empowering, and comforting. I can see myself re-reading this any time because every single character, even the supporting ones added something to the story and made it a wonderful production. Three cheers for Black joy today. ...more

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Dec 23, 2020 Stacee rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley, read-in-2020, title-in-the-story, theyre-tattoos-not-ink-or-tats, cover-lust

I will legit read anything R+J related, but throw in some Hamilton and I’m beyond sold.

I really liked Jerzie. She’s talented and smart and her passion for music coupled with her love for Broadway musicals was one of the best things to read. Zeppelin had potential, but he’s tempered through Jerzie’s love struck slash obsessed eyes, so it didn’t seem like we really got to know him. Oh, and Aunt Karla stole every scene she was in.

Plot wise, all insta-love, barely any musical, and a very liberal s ...more

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May 11, 2020 Katya rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I can't even with this book! HOW DID THE AUTHOR THINK OF THIS BOOK!?! The plot is so smart. And the story, OMG the story of love, the mirroring story of what real love is and if you can believe in it and if it can happen that fast, is brilliant. Jerzie Jhames is a true heroine - she is talented and funny and a good person, but also real and therefore flawed in a way that draws you to her. She's unassuming yet pretty damn amazing, and the author strikes this balance perfectly. Zepplin is the babe ...more

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Dec 22, 2020 Caitlyn DeRouin rated it it was ok

Shelves: ya-retellings, arcs-book-tour, ya-contemporary, ya-ownvoices, ya-theatre

Trigger Warnings: Death of a parent (mentioned), mentions of suicide (drowning), underage drinking, underage recreational drug use, age gap relationship (16 and 19), jokes about mental health, mentions of a car crash

You can read my full review here: https://teatimelit.com/2021/01/13/rev...

Roman and Jewel had been on my “most anticipated” book list for quite some time, and I was really excited that I was able to read an ARC in December. I loved the idea of a book centering on a new musical adapta ...more

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Jan 04, 2021 Delaney rated it it was ok

trigger warnings: mentions of suicide, police interactions (although it was nonviolent), mentions of car crash

I don't know what I was on yesterday, but whatever it was made me unable to write coherently. So I'm just re-writing this whole thing. Anyway...

Jerzie James is sixteen when she gets cast in her first Broadway role. And not just any Broadway role, in a new hip-hop musical retelling of Romeo and Juliet .Unfortunately, instead of getting the lead role of Jewel she was hoping for, she gets trigger warnings: mentions of suicide, police interactions (although it was nonviolent), mentions of car crash

I don't know what I was on yesterday, but whatever it was made me unable to write coherently. So I'm just re-writing this whole thing. Anyway...

Jerzie James is sixteen when she gets cast in her first Broadway role. And not just any Broadway role, in a new hip-hop musical retelling of Romeo and Juliet .Unfortunately, instead of getting the lead role of Jewel she was hoping for, she gets the understudy. Instead, Jewel is going to be played by R&B superstar Cinny. As sparks fly between Jerzie and Zepplin, the male lead of the show, conflict erupts between Cinny and Jerzie, and Jerzie is about to learn that nothing is simple in love and theater.

The thing I appreciated most about this book was that it was obviously written by a theater lover for theater lovers. I honestly enjoyed all the allusions to different musicals. That being said, I don't know how someone who was not familiar with theater would feel about it.

As a result of my being a theater fan, my favorite part of the book by far was the story behind the production of Roman and Jewel. I really enjoyed reading about the audition, the rehearsals, and the building of the show. Unfortunately, the book strayed away from this in favor of the insta-love, creepy-age-gap romance.

I was on board for the first couple of scenes between Jerzie and Zeppelin. I saw some chemistry, and their banter was really cute. I was really disappointed to find that the rest of their relationship wasn't written the same way. Part of it was just due to the writing feeling lackluster. The other part was that Zeppelin was 19, while Jerzie was 16. As a 19 year old, there is no way I would date a 16 year old. It doesn't matter that she was "going to be 17 soon." It was still too weird for me. Especially because their relationship moved so fast. It felt like they had only known each other a few weeks before they said I love you.

In general, the fast-paced relationship also just felt unrealistic. I get that it was trying to mirror Romeo and Juliet, but in this particular instance it wasn't believable.

The other main issue I had with the plot was that the second half of the book had so much drama it felt like a reality tv show. It was just too over the top for me.

Besides the parts about the show, my favorite parts were definitely Jerzie's family. I really loved Aunt Karla's character, and I really enjoyed the family interactions. Those were a high point of the book.

Sadly, that wasn't enough to pull me through. And overall, I can't really say I would recommend this book.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC ...more

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Dec 16, 2020 Whitney rated it really liked it

Shelves: arcs-galore, great-retellings, black-books-matter, contemporary-reads, arcapocalypse-2020, why-not-ya

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll admit that this is not the book I thought I’d be reading when I picked it up, but once I started I couldn’t stop! I literally flew through this read and enjoyed it for the most part. It’s definitely a YA novel so if reading young adult books isn’t your thing, you may want to skip this one. The teen drama is dramatic, fast, and a little all over the place, but then again wasn’t t Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll admit that this is not the book I thought I’d be reading when I picked it up, but once I started I couldn’t stop! I literally flew through this read and enjoyed it for the most part. It’s definitely a YA novel so if reading young adult books isn’t your thing, you may want to skip this one. The teen drama is dramatic, fast, and a little all over the place, but then again wasn’t the original Romeo and Juliet the same way? Romeo and Juliet’s relationship was intense, immediate, electric and everything escalates so quickly and I think that Roman & Jewel captures that perfectly.

Despite the title of the book, this is really a story about Jerzie and Zeppelin, teenagers who are extremely passionate about Broadway and musicals. Jerzie’s been striving to be on Broadway for 10 years and on the summer on her 17th birthday she’s finally made it…sort of. Though she was told she’s perfect for the lead in the new Hamilton-esque Romeo and Juliet musical Roman & Jewel, she doesn’t have the big name that the higher ups think is necessary to garner attention for the show. She instead, she’s cast as the standby for superstar Cinny. By the time she’s supposed to begin coming to rehearsals the cast has already known one another for weeks and it seems like her dream isn’t all it was cracked up to be. Her first day is a whirlwind and to make it even crazier she literally runs into the lead actor for Roman, Zeppelin. She’s instantly drawn to him in a way that makes no sense, but then when does young love ever make sense. It turns out that he feels the exact same way, which is hard for her to believe. She’s determined to stay away from him because obviously everyone on set is in love with him too right? But Jerzie is the only one that Zeppelin wants to open up to. It’s actually pretty cute.

I do think the synopsis above is a little misleading. The conflict of the video link isn’t who should play Jewel. In reality, it’s about who the hell leaked the video and the drama caused by the superstar Cinny herself, who isn’t as likable as her fans, including Jerzie, may think. Obviously I won’t give any spoilers, but the bottom line is Cinny’s a bitch and Jerzie is a sweetheart. There’s also the little tidbit of Jerzie and Zeppelin coming together and trying to navigate this thing called love at first sight. Honestly is it a bit much at times? Sure. But sometimes overly dramatic, not always sensible, what in the world is going on situations are just what the doctor ordered okay. I will say that there’s an incident towards the end that is complete soap opera gold and I loved it okay.

There is a subplot about Zeppelin’s family history that may be triggering for some. It involves parental suicide and at one point Jerzie is afraid that Zeppelin may be contemplating suicide as well because of story events and what another character tells her. I just want to make sure you’re aware of it before going in, just in case.

Finally, let me admit that my favorite characters in this story were not Jerzie or Zeppelin. Nope that honor went Jerzie’s Aunt Karla. Sis was HILARIOUS. I just want to be friends with her because she had me laughing out loud the entire book.

All in all I think this is definitely worth the read and don’t Black YA readers deserve something that doesn’t take itself to seriously and is a good quick read? I think so. Be sure to give it a go when it gets released on January 7, 2021! ...more

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Jan 03, 2021 Elyse (ElyseReadsandSpeaks) rated it it was ok

Another 2 star read for 2021. This is my third 2-star read and it's only January 3rd.

First, let me start off with the major positive: This was a very readable book. The writing was direct, to the point, not overly flowery dribble, and I thought it was paced well. I flew through this book because of the writing. So yes, I'd be curious to read something else from this author in the future.

So why the 2 stars? Because I couldn't get past how unbelievable it was.

Jerzie is a 16 year-old (almost 17 y Another 2 star read for 2021. This is my third 2-star read and it's only January 3rd.

First, let me start off with the major positive: This was a very readable book. The writing was direct, to the point, not overly flowery dribble, and I thought it was paced well. I flew through this book because of the writing. So yes, I'd be curious to read something else from this author in the future.

So why the 2 stars? Because I couldn't get past how unbelievable it was.

Jerzie is a 16 year-old (almost 17 year-old) who is cast as a standby in a new musical on Broadway. The one part that is definitely believable is that although Jerzie was the best actor for the part of Jewel/Juliet, the production decided to cast Cinny, a big name in the music industry, because her name would sell tickets. Happens all the time in both theatre and film.

For me, this story started going off the rails at the get-go because Zeppelin (cast as Roman/Romeo) had immediate heart eyes for Jerzie and apparently didn't care about the fact that she was 16. I understand he wasn't that much older (I think he was 19 - feel free to correct me if I'm wrong), but that is still a line between legal/illegal and I think a new name that was starring in a new play that was bound to be a big deal would actually care about having feelings for a minor. Nothing inappropriate happened, but the insta-love combined with the fact that Jerzie's technically a minor while Zeppelin is an adult did not compute for me.

The rehearsal process for the show seemed realistic enough for me. (And if you're familiar with the actor life in NY, this whole setting is easy to imagine at Ripley-Grier Studios. Seriously.) I actually found the rehearsal stuff and the show itself more interesting than the "love" between Jerzie and Zeppelin. I suppose that's part of the point because they're supposed to mirror Romeo and Juliet which was also love at first sight, but when you put that into a contemporary story that's supposed to feel realistic, it again does not compute.

Now. Onto Bay Ridge. There is a section in here that made me fully roll my eyes. I am familiar with Manhattan. I am familiar with Brooklyn. My family is actually originally from Bay Ridge so I know just how far away it is from Broadway. And the fact that Jerzie's aunt happened to have a meeting in a building that was directly across the street from Zeppelin's family's restaurant was too much for me. Come on. And choosing "Patti LuPone" as your alias? Also unbelievable since that name is also a big freaking deal. Listen, I know that it sounds like I'm nitpicking, but when you're reading detail after detail like this, it just becomes too much.

Now let's move on from here to Jerzie and Zeppelin's "date" - they spontaneously decide to not walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, but to join Zeppelin's friends in Washington Park where Jerzie then proceeds to get high. 16. She's 16. I know 16 year-olds dabble in drugs, but I couldn't look away from the fact that this 19 year-old soon-to-be star in a musical thought it was a good idea to let his 16 year-old date get high in public. So much yikes.

And then there's Cinny. Cinny sucks. Hardcore sucks. She's supposed to suck so job well done there, but the amicable chat between Cinny and Jerzie at the end was just nuts after all Cinny did. And I call bull on the Cosmo quiz - Cinny, you're totally a sociopath.

Okay I honestly don't think that was a brutal review. I liked the writing itself, but I think I outlined why I just couldn't get behind the story. All of that being said, because of how quickly I zipped through this one, I think I'd try this author again in the future. ...more

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Oct 19, 2020 Brinley rated it liked it

Shelves: october-2020-challenge, fairy-tale-retellings, netgalley-arcs

For some reason, I just didn’t connect with this book. I enjoyed bits and pieces of it, but I was really thrown off by the romance, which was a shame, because as soon as I saw this book, I knew I needed it. In between the beautiful cover, the Shakespearean retelling, and a star-crossed romance, I figured I would love it. Sadly, I didn’t.

Roman and Jewel is the story of Jerzie, an understudy in Broadway’s newest hit. Cast as standby to the lead, and falling in love with a fellow actor, things are For some reason, I just didn’t connect with this book. I enjoyed bits and pieces of it, but I was really thrown off by the romance, which was a shame, because as soon as I saw this book, I knew I needed it. In between the beautiful cover, the Shakespearean retelling, and a star-crossed romance, I figured I would love it. Sadly, I didn’t.

Roman and Jewel is the story of Jerzie, an understudy in Broadway’s newest hit. Cast as standby to the lead, and falling in love with a fellow actor, things are about to get ugly. Shakespeare’s iconic play, Romeo and Juliet is tossed on its head, with a dose of diversity, opera, and hip hop thrown in.

My main problem with this book was the romance. Really, it was only the insta love. If the romance had been built over the whole book, I probably would’ve loved it. There was definitely chemistry between Jerzie and Zeppelin, but the speed at which they fell in love felt unrealistic. As soon as they met, they were obsessed with each other, which is always something I hate in books. And, even though this was technically a forbidden romance, it didn’t contain the same angst and anger that Romeo and Juliet did.

Part of the reason that the romance was so unbearable for me may have been the characters. Most of them felt overly perfect, like they could do me wrong. In order to feel realistic, every character needs to have a weakness, and sadly, Zeppelin and Jerzie were missing one. I also felt like a lot of the interactions felt super forced, not like conversations one would have in regular life. Zeppelin was also the typical “bad boy” character we see in so many YA novels, who only needs to meet the right girl to turn him good. Even though all I listed about the characters was complaints, I did really like how well their motivations were written. Every single one had to choose between family and friend, career or love. Hard choices weren’t skipped over, which definitely improved this book in my eyes.

Confession time! I’ve never actually read the actual play of Romeo and Juliet. So, I can’t necessarily speak on whether this was actually a retelling, or very loosely inspired. That being said, I wasn’t exactly a fan of the plot. When I read that our main character was a musical theater person, I was so excited! Sadly, the plot focused way too much on the romance, and not enough on the play. It took me a while to get into this, and I was never completely pulled in.

Despite all of my complaints, I did actually enjoy this. I loved the twists the author put on the story, and I loved the ending. This was fun to read, it just wasn’t my type of book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Dana L. Davis for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review! ...more

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Jan 04, 2021 Pine Reads Review added it

Shelves: young-adult

“Cinny has every right to be upset. I am a standby. Her standby. And as a standby, I have my own script to follow. Out of sight. Out of mind. I’m not here to be a star. And I’m certainly not here to fall in love.”

After auditioning for the lead in Roman and Jewel, a modern hip-hopera reimagining of Romeo and Juliet, sixteen-year-old Jerzie Jhames thinks she’s finally getting her big break on Broadway. Until she finds out that fame-obsessed superstar Cinny has snagged the titular role instead, an “Cinny has every right to be upset. I am a standby. Her standby. And as a standby, I have my own script to follow. Out of sight. Out of mind. I’m not here to be a star. And I’m certainly not here to fall in love.”

After auditioning for the lead in Roman and Jewel, a modern hip-hopera reimagining of Romeo and Juliet, sixteen-year-old Jerzie Jhames thinks she’s finally getting her big break on Broadway. Until she finds out that fame-obsessed superstar Cinny has snagged the titular role instead, and Jerzie is stuck as her understudy. To make matters worse, Jerzie may have a small crush on the actor playing Roman: the unfairly handsome and talented Zeppelin Reid, whom Cinny has claimed for herself. But when a viral video catches Jerzie and Zepp rehearsing together, setting Cinny off in the process, these two star-crossed lovers may just have their careers—and hearts—on the line.

Broadway fans and Romeo and Juliet connoisseurs unite because Roman and Jewel is set to be your new obsession. With plenty of musical references, romantic motorcycle rides, and one endearing and ambitious heroine, Dana L. Davis delivers a show tunes-infused YA romance that only left me wishing that Roman and Jewel was a real thing—make it happen, Broadway! And while Jerzie and Zeppelin shine together, I have to mention my absolute favorite secondary character, the equally hilarious and kickbutt Aunt Karla, who is always there to offer spot-on advice or crack a joke or two. Exploring fame, family, and young love, Roman and Jewel is a swoony read about finding your voice and following your heart.

Content Warning: discussion of suicide, parental suicide

(Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @pinereadsreview and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more! ...more

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Nov 28, 2020 Natalya Kahmann rated it it was ok

Thank you to NetGalley for give me an ARC of this book for my honest review.

First of all, I am not the target audience for this book. I understand this but I overall feel like I didn't get the book I was promised. As a theatre kid, I enjoyed the musical references and seeing the few rehersals shown. But we mostly got an underdeveloped romance and drama. I also feel like the author put too many Harry Potter references for no reason and explained too much most of the time, but didn't explain when ...more

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Jan 15, 2021 Jawahir the Bookworm rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary, fluffy-and-sweet

I would like to thank Edelweiss and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my personal opinion.

Description Summary | All the musical references was heaven to a theatre lover like me but the over the top dramatics and lackluster character developments made this book a slightly above average read.

Score: 3.5 / 5

This was theatrical in every sense, in the main characters' developments and feelings, in the comical villain, and the over t ...more

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Nov 30, 2020 Cassie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: anticipated-releases, arc, read-in-2020, ownvoices, fiction, young-adult, retellings, romantic-comedy

I absolutely adore this book! 4.5 stars! This is the perfect YA romance on Broadway. Add in some Shakespeare and a funny aunt and I’m all in!

This isn't so much a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, but a total redo, and it's so refreshing! I love the diversity and rapport of the characters. Their relationships are tense and strained, as well as warm and silly. Such a great mix!

Dana L Davis handles the topics of loss/grief/love/fame/friendship so beautifully, that it doesn't feel like a book with an ...more

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Nov 19, 2020 Samantha (WLABB) rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary, romance, ya, diverse

She had been working towards this moment her whole life, and finally, Jerzie was cast in a Broadway musical. Though she was only a backup for the lead actress, it was an opportunity with the promise of more. However, when she meets and falls for Zeppelin, the actor playing Roman, she finds her future could be in jeopardy.

I am always up for a re-telling, and Romeo and Juliet is such a classic to tackle. I thought Davis put a great spin on it and found myself entertained and engrossed in all the ...more

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Jun 26, 2020 Sarah Salisbury rated it it was amazing

I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned this, but I was your garden-variety high school theater kid. I obsessively listened to Broadway cast recordings, starred in every school production, and tried to pretend I could belt when I was home alone and/or driving (spoiler alert: I couldn’t). So my delight when I saw that there was a musical theater-themed YA contemporary coming out was unmitigated.

And it was EVERYTHING.

“Roman & Jewel” is insanely readable: it’s fast-paced but doesn’t feel frantic and ha I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned this, but I was your garden-variety high school theater kid. I obsessively listened to Broadway cast recordings, starred in every school production, and tried to pretend I could belt when I was home alone and/or driving (spoiler alert: I couldn’t). So my delight when I saw that there was a musical theater-themed YA contemporary coming out was unmitigated.

And it was EVERYTHING.

“Roman & Jewel” is insanely readable: it’s fast-paced but doesn’t feel frantic and has a pretty quick start, so it never feels like it drags; the characters are compelling even if I hated them (look, I *know* we’re supposed to sympathize with Cinny at least a little bit, but I COULD NOT STAND HER OKAY???), the author’s knowledge of the inner workings of a theater is evident, and the rehearsal scenes are *magical.* I couldn’t wait to read more about the musical itself, which is a modern retelling of Romeo & Juliet – basically, for all you fanfiction readers out there, this version of the play is a reincarnation AU (yes, I just outed myself, and yes, I’ve written 50k+ words of Zutara fanfic in the last month, SHUT UP) where the leads have to find each other in all of their lifetimes. The way Davis described the rehearsals, songs, and choreography made me feel like I was really watching, and it was impossible not to root for Jerzie. She was perhaps the only major character who wasn’t at least a little bit morally grey, but that honestly worked in her favor. By setting her up as the only reliable source of information we had (and even that was a little debatable given how many people deceived her, though that obviously wasn’t her fault), it gave us ample reason to root for her. Add that to her easy likability, and Jerzie made for a protagonist I could get behind. And although the romance wasn’t always my favorite (SPOILER I know he turns out to be a good guy but uhhh…what was going on in the middle there?), it certainly kept me guessing.
Simply put, “Roman & Jewel” was the compulsively-readable musical theater romance of my dreams, and EVERYONE needs to run out and get this when it’s released!

ENDNOTES:

Best Scene: the “I Think I Remember You” scene, DUH.

Most Underrated Side Character: Jerzie’s brother was SO SWEET. He was protective but knew when to back off, which reminded me a little bit of my own older brother (we have the same age gap as they do) if he weren’t determined to rat me out to our mother every time I so much as liked a boy. :/

Content: some cursing, one instance of drug use (not glamorized and the character makes a point of saying she doesn’t intend to do so again), and one kiss scene that gets a little…*spicy.* Other than that stuff, this was a pretty clean read.

Rating: 5/5 Confused Emu ...more

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Dec 22, 2020 Ariel rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya, netgalley, blog-tour

This book was Romeo and Juliet inception; a retelling of Romeo and Juliet where the main characters are in a play about Romeo and Juliet. And I was totally here for it!! Humor, heart, and raw energy come together to create this beautiful book. It is an absolute must-read of 2021!

Can I start with the romance? I'm going to start with the romance. I wish I could copy + paste a million heart eye emojis here. Jerzie and Zepplin were so cute together. There is a bit of insta-love/love at first sight ( ...more

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Dec 27, 2020 Athena rated it really liked it

The publisher kindly offered me a reader copy via Edelweiss. Yet, this is an honest review of the book expressing my own opinion.

Roman and Jewel is a heartwarming YA Broadway story with a talented Black heroine who dreams and makes her dreams come true. This story will touch so many hearts and make so many Black girls believe in themselves and in their dreams. That they can reach for the stars. That they can do anything.

What I liked the most about this story was the positivity and how lightheart The publisher kindly offered me a reader copy via Edelweiss. Yet, this is an honest review of the book expressing my own opinion.

Roman and Jewel is a heartwarming YA Broadway story with a talented Black heroine who dreams and makes her dreams come true. This story will touch so many hearts and make so many Black girls believe in themselves and in their dreams. That they can reach for the stars. That they can do anything.

What I liked the most about this story was the positivity and how lighthearted it is. If you picture a happier reality, then you'll land in Roman and Jewel. It's a story about people making their dreams come true--no matter their background and identity--and that is as hopeful as it is powerful. We need the more solemn stories, of course, but we also need a Roman and Jewel to make us believe again. To remind us that dreams can become reality and that there are decent people out there.

The romance was cute and authentic, and I really enjoyed it, as well.

Personally, I didn't like the first meeting of Jerzie and Zeppelin, because partly the Zeppelin we see there isn't exactly the same guy we discover later on. I also didn't like with how a sub-plot got resolved at the end. One of the themes of the book is that actions have consequences, but in that resolution, we didn't get that, and I felt like, it was where we needed it the most.

[Also, this is not about the story itself, but the summary can be a little misleading about the video leak, depending on how you interpret it. Yes, it went viral and everyone had an opinion, but *without spoiling anything* it was more about each girl and their skills/performance. The major drama following the video leak is about who leaked it, not who should play Jewel. I hope I didn't spoil it for you, but it was important to point out the discrepancies in the summary. But again, this has nothing to do with how good the actual story is.]

As a future English teacher, I'll gladly recommend it to my students, and as a reader, I can definitely recommend it to my peers and friends. This is a lighthearted, "easy-going" YA story about a Black girl who wants to be a Broadway star and is on the way to become one. It will move and inspire so many Black teens in the world, and I am so happy it will soon be on the shelves to be discovered.

4 stars - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Author: Dana L. Davis
Publisher: InkyardPress at HarperCollins ...more

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Jan 18, 2021 Paige Green rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Disclaimer: I received an e-arc of this book. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Roman and Jewel

Author: Dana L. Davis

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 4/5

Diversity: Black main character and side characters

Recommended For...: contemporary lovers, ya readers

Publication Date: January 5, 2021

Genre: YA Contemporary

Recommended Age: 16+ (romance, drug usage, slight language)

Publisher: Inkyard Press

Pages: 336

Synopsis: Jerzie Jhames will do anything to land the lead role in Broadway's hottest ...more

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Jan 13, 2021 Amaris (amarisafloria) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: listened-on-audio, contemporary, read-in-2021, young-adult-fiction, 2021-releases

Loved the audiobook narrator (Channie Waites)—she had excellent energy and added life into the story. Very dramatic, which fit the characters well 😂

I think teens will find Roman and Jewel entertaining. I mean, I still did as an adult (to some extent), but this book was definitely made up of your typical YA drama. The romance was very juvenile. Jerzie falls in love with Zeppelin SO QUICKLY but don’t ask me how … ~he is the love of her life, she can’t imagine living without him~ … I guess that’s w ...more

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Jan 10, 2021 Shaurya Verma rated it did not like it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I really really wanted to like this book, even tried hard but couldn't, so much so that, I basically skimmed through after the first few chapters.

Jerzie Jhames is ambitious and a great singer who aspires to be the lead role in the hottest Broadway new-show, Roman and Jewel', a modern retelling of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' except that it's not really that. That being said, she meets Zeppelin Reid during the rehearsals and they fall in love and the story moves on such.

I had been pretty stok ...more

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Jan 09, 2021 Paige Green added it

Disclaimer: I received an e-arc of this book. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Roman and Jewel

Author: Dana L. Davis

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 4/5

Diversity: Black main character and side characters

Recommended For...: contemporary lovers, ya readers

Publication Date: January 5, 2021

Genre: YA Contemporary

Recommended Age: 16+ (romance, drug usage, slight language)

Publisher: Inkyard Press

Pages: 336

Synopsis: Jerzie Jhames will do anything to land the lead role in Broadway's hottest new show, R ...more

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Jan 11, 2021 Deborah rated it it was amazing

Shelves: tayshas2022

I loved this retelling of Romeo and Juliet...with a dash of Broadway Hip Hop thrown in. Diverse characters along with betrayal, first love, believing in yourself. The story didn’t focus solely on the Broadway aspect however the writer of the play was definitely a reflection of Lin Manuel Miranda...and it made me smile a lot!

I listened to the audio and the narrator did an awesome job with the voices and inflection. I would definitely recommend this to lovers of R&J!

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Sep 15, 2020 Gina Malanga rated it really liked it · review of another edition

There is a new Broadway production based on the tragedy Romeo and Juliet and Jerzie, a true Broadway fan, wants the lead part more than anything! She knows she can play Jewel and when she meets Zeppellin, who plays Roman, she knows she won’t have to fake love. But just like their star crossed namesakes Jerzie and Zeppellin aren’t going to find love that easy. A cute shakespeare inspired romance that will make your heart sing!

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Jan 15, 2021 Lydia Hephzibah added it

It's a DNF from me I'm afraid 😬 something about the teen age gap romance puts me right off (16yo girl and 19yo boy feels wrong) and after 62%, there's hardly been any musical talk. Just instalove and snippy drama. ...more

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Sep 12, 2020 Medha Upadhyay rated it it was ok · review of another edition

“The road less traveled? That road is a nightmare. It’s less traveled for good reason.”

I was really excited to dive into this one. But, my God was I disappointed.
Let’s start with Jerzie. Her general attitude toward everything is so irritating. She is “crushed” to not get the lead role on a Broadway play. Hunny, you can’t logically expect to go from performing in your high school musical to leading Broadway. I mean, it’s possible, but it’s not the end of the world if you get understudy. Like she “The road less traveled? That road is a nightmare. It’s less traveled for good reason.”

I was really excited to dive into this one. But, my God was I disappointed.
Let’s start with Jerzie. Her general attitude toward everything is so irritating. She is “crushed” to not get the lead role on a Broadway play. Hunny, you can’t logically expect to go from performing in your high school musical to leading Broadway. I mean, it’s possible, but it’s not the end of the world if you get understudy. Like she had the opportunity to network with and impress the heavyweights who could easily call her in for another show a few months down the line. According to the story, Jerzie is a Broadway genius who can learn the blocking of an entire scene after watching it once, compose new musical numbers in minutes, and sing like an angel. She could use this opportunity as a stepping stone; she’s working with an internationally acclaimed pop star for God’s sake! But all she wants to do is mope around and feel bad for herself. Her pessimism is honestly disheartening. Basically, I was unable to get invested in the plot because, from my point of view, there was no problem. Jerzie gets to work on Broadway. She gets to work with legends. She gets famous. It’s not the end of the world if you don’t get the lead role on your very first try, Jerzie.
Then comes Zeppelin. Who cannot tell the truth about anything, ever. Not only is he nineteen to Jerzie’s SIXTEEN, but he also has the personality of a cardboard cutout. By the end of the book, I know more about his featherlight hair than his personality. Everyone in Jerzie’s life tells her that she’s being reckless, and honestly, I agree wholeheartedly. Wandering around alone at night in NYC is not a good idea, Jerzie!!
Finally, we have Cinny, who also has no set personality. Random flashes of emotion do not actually serve to make her any more relatable or realistic, and she just seems like a snake.
This entire story is a cycle of: Zeppelin betrays Jerzie, Cinny is nice to Jerzie, Cinny betrays Jerzie, Zeppelin is nice to Jerzie. And Jerzie keeps throwing herself into this toxic environment instead of, I don’t know, focusing on her career.
In all honesty, I have zero patience for Romeo and Juliet, but I was drawn in by the theater angle.
I understand that the play is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, but the book is supposed to be about Broadway and the art of drama. I was really looking forward to an inside look at the world of Broadway but I was served a painfully superficial love triangle drama instead.
...more

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Sep 03, 2020 Katharine (Ventureadlaxre) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: review, read-2021, favourites, read-2020

This was exactly what I needed right now. My full review will go up a lot closer to January and I am SO glad I read it early to try clear my NetGalley list! (Trying to get to zero and then go on a review break.)

tl;dr version is while I felt some areas could be expanded upon (like, the villain was redeemed a little too easily, and the ending was a bit sudden when other areas were probably longer than they needed to be by comparison - pacing, etc), this is EXACTLY what I needed right now without ...more

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