Review: The Juliet Spell by Douglas Rees

Title: The Juliet Spell

Author: Douglas Rees

Genre: YA, paranormal romance

Publication date: September 27, 2011

Published by: Harlequin Teen

Source: the publishers via Netgalley

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Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

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...

My rating: ★★★★☆
All Miranda wanted was to be cast as Juliet. So after tryouts, just to be sure that she would get the part in the famous Romeo and Juliet play, she did a little spell. The spell was supposed to be a harmless. It was supposed to get Miri the role of Juliet. It was not supposed bring William Shakespeare's younger brother Edmund back from the past! But it did. Now Edmund is stuck in a future with weird contraptions like the car, TV, and cellphone...yes, these things amaze him, which I find pretty hilarious!

But since he's here, Miri decides, he might as well help her out with the play, right? Who better to coach her on the play than the own Shakespeare himself? Err, his brother, I mean.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I thought it was very cute in a way :) Edmund trying to adjust to the 21st century was very entertaining, and I have to say quite funny. I'm not sure how to describe this story...I'm used to reading darker books with more, uh, sinister/suspenseful plots. At first I thought it would be a light read...and it was, compared to other books I've read. But it was also more profound than I thought it would be. It wasn't just about a stupid girl casting a spell which brings back Shakespeare's younger brother who she falls head over heels for...Well, okay, it mostly was about that. But there was more to the story.

The characters I thought were interesting. I was kinda left wondering if Miri had any friends at all! The only people she talked to were 2 guys cast for the play that she never talked to before the actual play!

There was also one little thing that bothered me: So Miri's mom is a nurse, and one day when she came home from work and told Miri that the patient she helped operate on was someone she knew...then she told Miri who it was!! This was going through my mind when she said that: OMG she didn't just say the patients name!!! HIPAA!!!! Patient’s confidentiality! Miri would’ve found out anyway, you didn't have to tell her! Why am I overreacting? Well, I'm going into nursing so I know a bit about the medical field. And a super important thing they drill into your head when you first start is about patient privacy and confidentiality, which means that you CANNOT disclose patient information to ANYONE!!! I haven't gotten into nursing school yet, but my aunt is an RN. She told me one time that she saw someone she knew where she worked. This person greeted my aunt and told her to say “hi” to my aunt's mother or something. The thing is, because of HIPPA, she couldn't do that! Much less tell someone who they operated on!

Okay, enough of my little rant, lol.

For someone who doesn’t really like to read standalone novels, I actually found myself really liking this one :) I would totally recommend it!

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it? If not, what do you think? Does it sound like something you might want to read? Leave me a comment! :)