Fair Rosaline : The most exciting historical retelling of 2023: a subversive, powerful untelling of Romeo and Juliet

Was the greatest love story of all time a lie?Romeo Montague is handsome and charming and the first time he sees young Rosaline Capulet, who has secretly snuck into his family's masquerade summer ball, he falls instantly in love. At first Rosaline is unsure of Romeo's attentions but with her father determined that she join the nunnery, Romeo offers her the chance of a different life. Gradually he convinces her that only true love could make him feel this way, that he is enraptured by her beauty. Indeed, he cannot live without her! And so begins the story of Romeo and Rosaline. These star-crossed lovers must keep everything hidden from Rosaline's family, at least until they are wed. But when a destitute young girl appears, claiming to be carrying Romeo's child, Rosaline starts to doubt all that she has been told. And as whispers of more girls reach her ears, what once felt like a courtship begins to feel more like a pursuit. As Rosaline recognises Romeo for the villain he truly is, his gaze turns suddenly towards Rosaline's adored and beautiful cousin, thirteen-year old Juliet. Can Rosaline save Juliet, who falls under Romeo's spell just as quickly as she did? Or can this story only ever end one way?The subversive, powerful untelling of Shakespeare's best know tale. A fierce, forgotten voice: this is Rosaline's story.

<p><b>One of the most anticipated novels of the year - the captivating and powerful untelling of Romeo &amp; Juliet . . .</b><br><br>The first time Romeo Montague sees young Rosaline Capulet he falls instantly in love . . .<br><br>Rosaline, headstrong and independent, is unsure of Romeo's attentions but with her father determined that she join a convent, this handsome and charming stranger offers her the chance of a different life.<br><br>Soon though, Rosaline begins to doubt all that Romeo has told her. She breaks off the match, only for Romeo's gaze to turn towards her cousin, thirteen-year-old Juliet. Gradually Rosaline realises that it is not only Juliet's reputation at stake, but her life.<br><br>With only hours remaining before she will be banished behind the nunnery walls, will Rosaline save Juliet from her Romeo? Or can this story only ever end one way?<br><b><br>A subversive, powerful untelling of Shakespeare's best-known tale, narrated by a fierce, forgotten voice: this is Rosaline's story.</b><br><br>&lt;font size="+1"&gt; <b><i>Hamnet</i> meets <i>My Dark Vanessa </i>in this fierce, feminist, intensely gripping novel; captivating and chillingly relevant, FAIR ROSALINE </b><b>takes everything you thought you knew about <i>Romeo and Juliet </i>and turns it on its head . . . </b>&lt;/font&gt;<br><br><b>'Irresistible</b>. <b>An excellent spin on a timeless classic</b>'<br>Jennifer Saint<br>'<b>I have not been able to stop thinking about this book . . . <i>Fair Rosaline</i> is a gripping, spellbinding and wonderfully immersive'</b><br>Elodie Harper<br>'<b>Brilliant and beguiling . . </b>. <b>A terrific novel - very clever and alluring'<br></b>William Boyd<br><b>'Thought-provoking . . . a </b><b>rich and atmospheric'</b><br>Katherine J. Chen, author of <i>Joan<br></i>'A <b>gripping story of female agency and strength. Rosaline is a compelling heroine and I was rooting for her from the first page</b><i><b>'</b><br></i>Isabelle Schuler, author of<i> Lady Macbethad</i><br><b>'Intelligent, imaginative, irreverent. A gripping <i>Romeo and Juliet</i> for the 21st century'<br></b>Annabel Abbs<br>'<b>A brilliant, feminist re-imagining of<i> Romeo and Juliet</i></b>. <b>I absolutely devoured this</b>'<br>Jillian Cantor, <i>USA Today</i> bestselling author of<i> Beautiful Little Fools</i><br>'<b>Exquisitely written, wonderfully lyrical and richly immersive - this a story we all know made fresh and chillingly relevant'</b><br>Ellery Lloyd<b><br>'A deliciously dark take on the iconic love story'<br></b><i>Woman &amp; Home<br></i><b>'A dark, powerful and thought-provoking novel'</b><br>Culture Fly<br><br><b>SELECTED AS ONE TO WATCH IN 2023 IN THE <i>EVENING STANDARD<br></i></b><b>EDITOR'S CHOICE IN<i> THE BOOKSELLER</i><br>ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS FOR AUGUST IN THE<i> I NEWSPAPER</i></b></p>