Book Review: "When You Were Mine" by Rebecca Serle

Rebecca Serle's When You Were Mine is a sort-of modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet, with a slightly different focus. (Apparently at the start of the play, Romeo is in love with Roseline, and he goes to a party to try and catch sight of her, then Juliet enters the picture. Story over.)

Roseline and her best friends are excited that senior year of high school is about to begin, and they’re ready to make it the best year ever. She’s hoping that she and Rob, her longtime crush, will finally be able to take their relationship to the next level.

Everything is going well. And then Juliet returns to town. Juliet is Rose’s cousin and former best friend, and they haven’t seen other in a long while. She’s the complete opposite of Rose—impulsive, emotional, confident—and she’s decided she wants Rob for her own.

When Rob falls prey to Juliet’s advances, Rose is angry and devastated. But the more rumors she hears about Juliet’s instability and neediness, the more Rose’s jealousy and hurt turns to worry about Rob and Juliet. Are they heading toward a tragedy?

This was an interesting, soapy YA romance. Nothing is really surprising but it’s still a captivating read.

I’ve loved Serle’s first two adult novels, The Dinner List and In Five Years, but I didn’t know she had written YA novels before this. When You Were Mine was originally published in 2012 but it’s recently been re-released.