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Roman and Jewel
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If Romeo and Juliet got the Hamilton treatment...who would play the leads? This vividly funny, honest, and charming romantic novel by Dana L. Davis is the story of a girl who thinks she has what it takes...and the world thinks so, too.
Jerzie Jhames will do anything to land the lead role in Broadway's hottest new show, Roman and Jewel, a Romeo and Juliet inspired hip-hopera ...more
Jerzie Jhames will do anything to land the lead role in Broadway's hottest new show, Roman and Jewel, a Romeo and Juliet inspired hip-hopera ...more
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Hardcover, 336 pages
Published
January 5th 2021
by Inkyard Press
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Cursing maybe? But explicit scenes no.
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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
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

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 ...more
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 ...more

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
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

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
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

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...”
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...”

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 ...more
🪴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 ...more

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
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

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

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
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

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 ...more
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 ...more

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 ...more
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 ...more

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 ...more
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 ...more

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 ...more
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 ...more

“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 ...more
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 ...more

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
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

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
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

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
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

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
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

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 ...more
And it was EVERYTHING.
“Roman & Jewel” is insanely readable: it’s fast-paced but doesn’t feel frantic and ha ...more

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
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

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 ...more
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 ...more

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
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

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
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

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

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
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

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!
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!

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!

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

“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 ...more
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 ...more

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
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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—
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“Jerzie, a girl like you is one you meet maybe once in a lifetime. Where everything you ever wanted fits into the prettiest person you ever saw.”
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