My first completed read of the year was one I started and put down several times in 2020. I just couldn’t get into the right headspace for a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, but when I picked this up on the first day of the new year, I was able to sit down and read the whole thing through without issue. Reading slumps can be funny in that way, but I’m so glad that I didn’t stop trying to pick up this story. It’s a delightfully dramatic story about an aspiring young broadway actress and the scandal she becomes embroiled in. It’s romantic, funny, and most of all, I think will satisfy romantics of all ages.
Jerzie Jhames has done everything in her power to land a lead role in Broadway, and with Roman and Jewel, a Romeo and Juliet inspired hip-hopera, she has the opportunity to do just that. The cast is diverse and features lots of interesting twists on the original play. However, she’s beat out on the lead role by superstar R&B singer Cinny, and cast as an understudy. At rehearsals she begins falling for Cinny’s co-star Zeppelin Reid, which is a terrible idea, considering Cinny seems to be going after him as well. When a video of Jerzie and Zeppelin singing together goes viral and the public starts weighing in, it spells a world of trouble for Jerzie. She’s going to find out very quickly that while the price of fame can be costly, family, love, and friendship are priceless.
If I’m being completely honest here, the beginning was a little rocky for me. I felt like I was thrust into a cacophonous world and needed to find my bearings, much like Jerzie is trying to quell her nerves on the way to her audition. Jerzie is quite a likeable young person in my opinion, she’s quirky, but has studied hard and is confident (mostly) in her abilities, that her feelings of disappointment are palpable when Cinny is announced as the lead. I also loved the relationship she had with her Aunt Karla. It was a genuine connection with a family member. Honestly, her whole family dynamic was really sweet and supportive, which I enjoyed seeing. Her parents, brother, and friends are behind her even when she’s doing things she’s not supposed to. They do their best to guide her, but aren’t afraid to set her down and let her know what the deal is.
As with many retellings, I often find myself falling into the trap of comparing the two stories. I didn’t feel myself doing that as much with this story, and I loved that I could point out elements within Roman and Jewel that were similar to Romeo and Juliet, but also appreciate the diversion from the source material. Dana L. Davis certainly made this story her own, and I loved that. While the story still centres around young people doing some foolish things, I feel like Dana L. Davis gave them a little more common sense, which I appreciated. After all, while teens can be impulsive, they can also make some pretty solid choices.
This is probably going to sound ridiculous coming from me (because you all know I love romance) but I could have gone without the love triangle sub plot. I felt like it was a pretty loosely explored part of the story, and while if it had been fleshed out could have had some serious potential for even more drama, I think the conflict that wound up developing with Cinny within the musical and on a professional level took centre stage. That one had more collateral damage and I think really was what pulled me into the story more completely than anything else. Of course, Jerzie and Zeppelin were adorable, and I loved the inclusion of Italian into the story.
While this story is about a Broadway musical and centred around the play, I honestly wished I had more of this. Aside from musical references and some minimal stage production words, I felt that this needed to be more fleshed out. While the bare bones of this might make it more appealing to a reader that doesn’t know anything about Broadway or about how musicals work, it didn’t work for me. In my own personal opinion, I don’t feel like this added anything to the story, other than an occasional “oh I love that musical/song”.
Overall, Roman and Jewel was quite an enjoyable way to spend my first evening of the year, and I’m excited to see it published and out on the shelves. My personal rating is a 7/10, and I can’t wait to see what the author writes next! If you’ve been looking for a fun and quick Romeo and Juliet retelling, this should definitely be on your list!
Roman and Jewel is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
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 featuring a diverse cast and modern twists on the play. But her hopes are crushed when she learns mega-star Cinny won the lead…and Jerzie is her understudy.
Falling for male lead Zeppelin Reid is a terrible idea–especially once Jerzie learns Cinny wants him for herself. Star-crossed love always ends badly. But when a video of Jerzie and Zepp practicing goes viral and the entire world weighs in on who should play Jewel, Jerzie learns that while the price of fame is high, friendship, family, and love are priceless.
