ARC Review: When You Were Mine

When You Were Mine, Rebecca Serle

Rating: 3 of 5 Stars

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Young Adult

Publication: 5/1/2012, Simon Pulse

# of Pages: 334 (Hardcover)

Source:  I received an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis from Goodreads:  In this intensely romantic, modern recounting of the greatest love story ever told, Romeo’s original intended—Juliet’s cousin Rosaline—tells her side of the tale.

What’s in a name, Shakespeare? I’ll tell you: Everything.

Rosaline knows that she and Rob are destined to be together. Rose has been waiting for years for Rob to kiss her—and when he finally does, it’s perfect. But then Juliet moves back to town. Juliet, who used to be Rose’s best friend. Juliet, who now inexplicably hates her. Juliet, who is gorgeous, vindictive, and a little bit crazy...and who has set her sights on Rob. He doesn’t even stand a chance.

Rose is devastated over losing Rob to Juliet. This is not how the story was supposed to go. And when rumors start swirling about Juliet’s instability, her neediness, and her threats of suicide, Rose starts to fear not only for Rob’s heart, but also for his life. Because Shakespeare may have gotten the story wrong, but we all still know how it ends….

My Review: Hmmm. I think I wanted this to be so much better than it was. My fault. The highest expectations often lead to the biggest disappointments. It wasn't that I thought it would be some moving, life-altering, legendary piece of literature. I just wanted a great love story.

This is how it's billed on Goodreads: In this intensely romantic, modern recounting of the greatest love story ever told, Romeo’s original intended—Juliet’s cousin Rosaline—tells her side of the tale.

Is it too much to ask then that this reworking offer me something intensely romantic? I just didn't feel it. I'm sorry. Rose & Rob's love wasn't sweeping and epic. It was two childhood best friends deciding to give the whole, let's-see-if-we-should-be-more-than-friends thing a go. Then the instant another pretty girl walked into his line of sight, he forgot all about Rose. Huh? If they were so meant to be together, IMO, Juliet wouldn't have been able to tear them apart merely by existing. Seriously, Juliet had Rob hooked and tore him away from Rose a mere two days after her introduction. They had spoken maybe twice before then.

It wasn't a terrible book though, so I won't take my disappointment out on it. I liked the growth of Rosaline's character, how she came into her own towards the end and started to see that there would be a life after Rob. I also really enjoyed her budding relationship with Len, though why he liked her in the first place, I'll never know. She was awful to him.

In the end, When You Were Mine is just a good book that failed to live up to my expectations. Doesn't mean you won't love it, so give it a go. If you do choose to read it, or have already read it, I'd love to hear what you think.

Goodreads / Amazon