Really beautiful little romance retelling— I enjoyed this a lot and would love to have it in my classroom. I’m particularly fond of Juliet, an actual complex person in this! Love love love

I loved this! I buddy read it with a friend and we both found this to me so good. The romance was amazing and the end was super satisfying !

This book was a very interesting read and I am glad I picked it up. I enjoyed the remix of a popular classic and getting to see the characters I love from the play back in action in a different light. I enjoyed that this was only told from Romeo's POV, and I am happy that I went in blind to this one. I feel as though, if I did not go in blind, I would have held the book to higher expectations. I highly recommend going into this one blind. The retelling of this story and the changes made from the original were very interesting and I think it was a very fun read. I enjoyed every second of this one. The end was not what I was expecting as I was going through this book, but I did find myself fulfilled and happy with the way the author used the original to create this remix. I loved that this one was MM, I think it is so important that we read LGBTQIA+ books year round, and I am happy to see some of my favorite classics being retold in an LGBTQIA+ romance or storyline. The growth of the characters and the coming of age in this also played a big role in why I liked the changes of this one rather than the original. So many of the characters supported Romeo and Valentine in their journey to find each other and keep each other. Their story of making their own happiness and chasing after dreams they did not think were possible, was exciting to read, and I really want to dive into the other remixes in this collection.

Thank you to MacMillan for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book is for any reader that has dreamed about reading a Romeo & Juliet retelling that 1) includes queer characters, 2) gives all the characters more importance to the story, and 3) doesn’t end in a truly traumatic way just to teach the adults a lesson.

The lessons to take away from this story are about found family and acceptance. Yes, tragic events still take place and there is still a ridiculous feud between the two wealthiest families, but the love story and compromises that are made for a happy life are the main focus. That is all I will say without spoiling all the best bits of the book.

Recommended for: readers looking for queer historical fiction; fans of Shakespearean retellings

I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is, inarguably, one of his most famous plays. It is both comedy and tragedy as well as a love story between two teenagers whose lives are inauspiciously intertwined by “ancient animosities” between their families. In Caleb Roehrig’s enormously sublime reimagining of the classic tale, the patriarchy is the villain, and it’s the forbidden friendship that develops between Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet that paves the way for their happy endings.

Romeo’s and Juliet’s futures are being dictated by their fathers’ strict demands of unconditional submission. It is the crux of their individual dilemmas that what they each want cannot coexist with what is expected of them. They are, for all intents and purposes, hostages of the past and the future. Their present is one that’s fraught with intimidation and manipulation. It is when Romeo finds someone to fight for that Juliet becomes his greatest ally and a bold and brilliant adversary to the status quo.

Romeo has long known that he is not meant to take a wife. Meeting a beautiful stranger at the Capulet villa after sneaking into a masquerade ball is rife with an ethereal beauty. Roehrig weaves that spell amidst a dreamscape that is unspoiled by the reality surrounding them. When it’s revealed that the stranger isn’t a stranger at all, but Mercutio’s brother Valentine, the conflict is set in motion. It is, in fact, Juliet who is mistaken for Romeo’s infatuation, which wreaks both havoc and, ultimately, good fortune.

That Juliet is the hero of this story is not an overstatement of the facts, and I emphatically loved the twist Roehrig gave to his version of the play. She was indeed the master of her own destiny, and that it happened to coincide with a means to Romeo and Valentine’s happily ever after was the reward for the pain they all went through to get there. Friar Laurence, of course, also plays a role, as he does in the source material, and his gift for scheming and deception makes him an integral ally in the sleight of hand.

Caleb Roehrig is a consummate storyteller. I learned that firsthand when I had the good fortune of reading his YA Urban Fantasy The Fell of Dark. The kindness, compassion, and joy of found family makes Teach the Torches to Burn equally worth reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Teach the Torches to Burn is a unique take on Romeo and Juliet that not only gives it a fresh spin, but remains true to so many roots of the story. Even those who have never read Romeo and Juliet know the story and I think this take is an interesting mix that most people can enjoy, whether they've read the original or not.

The very first page captured my attention with the author's voice. The beginning sets the basics up for us about the dynamic of this world before being thoroughly introduced to Romeo, who is the center of the story. I think with this remix the author ran the risk of focusing too much on Romeo and disregarding Juliet entirely but I was pleasantly surprised that wasn't the route he went. She is not entirely an after-thought, having her own presence and arc. There is a kinship that grows between the two having families with similar expectations of them in the midst of a land-standing feud which I enjoyed.

I do think the meeting of Romeo and Juliet was a bit more natural-flowing than his meeting with Valentine (who becomes Romeo's love interest) but the story progresses very nicely in showing a platonic approach with Juliet. That being said, one trope I'm not very fond of is instant-love and this story hits that mark. I do think I'm in the minority on this however, so most readers will definitely enjoy their first meeting and the conversation that unfolds between them. Despite this being a dynamic, I didn't totally dislike where the story went and how everything unfolded in time. I think their personalities mesh well together, and Teach the Torches to Burn give us two main male characters who are on the softer side. Valentine being a bit more soft, though Romeo has that quality about him that I enjoy for a protagonist. Romeo deals with a lot of inner turmoil because of his sexuality and his place in society and what little choices he has, but it doesn't harden him.

I think pairing Romeo and Valentine with Benvolio and Mercutio, who are quite different personality wise, and having them so present offers another aspect that will keep readers entertained, like myself. They brought a lot of comedic relief and more casual angst to the story. And back to Juliet's arc, I see her as a more outspoken mirror of Romeo. She's fierce in a more subtle way, which I also enjoyed seeing. It shows another kind of strength for a woman character that I think should be as valued as any other character. Caleb Roehrig did this really well. In an effort to not spoil for any future readers, I will add that the direction he took with her dreams and her identity, I though was enjoyable and fit seamlessly.

The reason I ultimately held back from five stars is that I felt like the story lost a lot of steam toward the end. Even though the beginning was by no means action packed, it was moving from one place to another that was intriguing. I wanted to know how things would unfold, and once one thing was revealed, I was wondering about the next because of all the ways it could have gone. Toward the end, I felt like it was mainly discussion of plans that ran in multiple circles. It wasn't something I entirely disliked, but I did feel myself slowing down while reading and less eager to get from page to page.

I also felt like there was a bit of repetition and moments of really hammering in certain ideas and thoughts that Romeo has. Particularly about his future and everything changing from moment to moment. That is a huge aspect of the story so I understand why but I do wish some of it had been cut and more had been given to us about the Romeo and Valentine's past. Flashbacks or something to fill in some holes and add extra layers. I just felt like that was missing and found myself really wishing for some of that.

Overall, I think this is a solid story that again, is fresh but holds true to a lot of the roots of the original. There was a lot of care and consideration for Juliet that I appreciated, and characters that were good at heart that didn't feel like they were trying too hard to be good or kind or considerate or heroes. They were going through the motions and taking things day by day as they encountered them, and that was entirely refreshing.

romeo montague has to repress his true self to uphold his family’s name. this means no art and no being attracted to boys. but after a fateful encounter in the garden of his family’s enemy’s house, he’s not sure he can keep this up much longer. romeo and valentine begin a secret romance amidst the heightening conflict between the montagues and capulets, which puts them in great danger.

i don’t think i’ll ever get tired of romeo & juliet retellings, so when i heard about this remix, i was super excited to read it. i loved the originality of using another character for romeo’s love interest and keeping juliet, but making her aroace-coded. additionally, this book was just written so, so beautifully, and both kept my heart warm and broke it to pieces.

i highly recommend to anyone who loves the original story and wants a unique and achillean take on it.

“Teach the Torches to Burn” by Caleb Roehrig is a lyrical and hopeful retelling of the Romeo and Juliet story. In reweaving this tale, Caleb Roehrig has created something both beautiful and mesmerizing. The language is gorgeous, like poetry, creating visual imagery that is stunning. As I read this novel, I also found Romeo a far more compelling character than in the original, an artist with a sensitive soul. Valentine as his romantic interest is strong and vibrant as well. It is a wonderful twist on the play creating a story of resilience, found family, trust and love. 

As well as the passion that is sensuous and lovely, I found the secondary characters as fascinating as Romeo and Valentine. Juliet in this tale is far more dynamic and strong, willing to take on a far more active role in the story. Benvolio and Mercutio are wonderful. I love how much of a rogue Benvolio is but also how accepting he is of his cousin. Mercutio is far more complex and charismatic. They add to the novel, helping with the theme of found family. 

The resolution is hopeful in this story which I absolutely love, the change from tragedy and cautionary tale, to one of hope and love. If you love stories that are lyrical and hopeful, I highly recommend this lovely retelling of Romeo and Juliet, a story that features characters far more interesting than even the original play.

I loved this romance! It's full of angst and complications, I wasn't sure wheter or not it would have a happy ending! It definetely lives up to the emotional tool of the original.
Romeo and Valentino are such a sweet couple! I love their moments together, including how they talked and shared their plans with each other (which the OG Romeo and Juliet didn't, otherwise they would've lived in the end).
Juliet also has a huge role in this novel, which I greatly appreciated! She showed that she wanted more than the life layed out for her, that she wanted to follow her own path!
Mercutio, the priest and Romeo's cousin are great friends to Romeo, who help him get rid of his family and run away!
The feud between the Capulets and the Montagues is very complex, but it still follows the source material. It's sad that even though they lost their kids, they still wound't give it up.

TW.death, murder, duel, poison, implied sexual content, homophobia, sexism.

3.5 stars. This is pretty good. The characters were charming, but ultimately forgettable. The highlight of this book was definitely the prose. Since it’s a Romeo and Juliet retelling, the prose is very flowery, which is beautiful. Also, the narrator for the audiobook did a great job! He put so much emotion into the performance and it added so much to make the reader care about the characters

(3.5 stars)

Thank you to Feiwel & Friends/NetGalley for a copy of Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix in exchange for an honest review. 

Of Remixes and Romances 

I've been a fan of Feiwel & Friends' remixed classics series, both the books and the concept, for a while. Basically, authors from marginalized backgrounds take over classics and spin them so they're not so irritatingly white, cishet and dude-heavy. Here, Caleb Roehrig has taken Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet but made it gay. (Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix is still white, cis and male, though!)

As a fan of Roehrig's, I was also pretty stoked to see what he'd do with this classic play. My feelings are mixed -- the author does romance fantastically. The butterflies and stomach flips are swoony, adorable and realistic. As is realizing oneself through finally having your feelings reciprocated.

Of Realism Slowing Pacing

In his author's note, Caleb Roehrig mentions the extensive research that went into Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix, a book that is almost 100,000 words. I did appreciate the thorough approach to historical accuracy and following with the actual source material. However, the pacing was too slow, and events were often repetitive. Ultimately, book this long shouldn't feel so long.

The trouble with -- and beauty of -- remixes is we can guess which story beats will remain the same and which will change. So, to hold our focus, the storytelling needs to know where to be airtight and where to breathe -- even more so than in original material. To its detriment, Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix was one long exhale. 

Should You Read It?

Yes. Moreso than other books I recommend, Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix is imperfect. However, if you're a fan of Shakespeare or "but make it gay," it will scratch an itch. I may also be less patient a reader than many. I liked the novel, just not as enthusiastically as I was hoping. There are definitely readers out there who will love it. 

Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix is out on August 22, 2023. Pick up a copy at your local indie bookstore or library. 📚🔥👬

I love these remix stories and Teach the Torches to Burn is probably my favorite so far. I, like many others, had to read Romeo and Juliet while I was in High School and it was by far my least favorite Shakespearean play that I read. I just couldn't stand the characters and the ending didn't feel tragic, it felt like a forgone conclusion for a couple of kids in over their heads. That was not the case in this story. Romeo was such a sweet soul and I loved his and Valentines romance. Sure it still had that aspect of inst-love, but they were at least friends before so it didn't feel quite as rushed as it did in the original. I also enjoyed that Juliet still had an important role in this story, and appreciated her Aro/Ace representation.

Overall, Roeheig did a fantastic job of bringing new life to this centuries old tale. I definitely need to pick up more of his books, I read Fell of Dark and enjoyed it, but this one was on a whole nother level! I look forward to the next book in the remix series; Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite romances, so I am beyond excited for a queer retelling of the story!

Firstly, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a really well-crafted retelling of Romeo and Juliet. It is changed in some really smart ways to make it a great and joyful queer retelling. It avoids some of the pitfalls of the original and tries to stay true to Shakespeare's intentions, which is more than I can say for some English teachers.

The pacing is really solid, only having a few moments of being a touch slow. The characters are fun and I loved the banter between them. I also love the changes related to Mercutio and Juliet's character. So, while I had a general idea of where things should be going they were twisted just enough to keep me entertained.

Overall, I think fans of the original will enjoy this. But I also think readers with some problems with the original will enjoy some of the twists and changes here. It's a cute, fun, read.

I follow this series because I'm always curious where the selected authors will go with the original story and this one provided a fresh take on Romeo and Juliet that's more Romeo and Mercutio's younger brother Valentine that Romeo and Juliet, though Juliet herself makes some solid moves in the story as well.

The feud of the Montague's and Capulet's exist. And it's wrests control of the (as explained in the notes and what Roehrig wanted to do) to take the play away from a message for adults and making it a solidly teen story because the teen's become the one's making the decisions rather than the puppeteering adults where the teens get caught up in the drama too.

It's creative enough to feel more reinvigorated than some of the others in the remixed series. Ironically I was just having a conversation about Romeo and Juliet with my teen son because he's reading Bullfinch's mythology and talking about the Romeo and Juliet of mythology and how these stories are "tales as old as time"!

Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, Caleb Roehrig, and Max Meyers (audio narrator) for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo and Juliet Remix in exchange for an honest review.

So as the title suggests, this is a remix of Shakespeare's classic play, but remixed to be gay! Now, I suppose the twist I mention in the blog title isn't quite unexpected. It's not Roemo and Julian or some such thing one might suspect, but as mentioned in the book blurb, it's Romeo and Valentine, Mercutio's brother!

While holding true to many of the major plot points, it is Valentine that Romeo meets at the Capulet party, and Romeo knows what his feelings are telling him. Despite Benvolio's push for Romeo toward this woman or that woman, the guy is definitely interested in boys.

Tybalt remains a key player as an antagonistic Capulet, but Juliet is more of a friendly ally and defends Romeo against her cousin. We have inquiries with the Friar and duals in the streets--all the things that make the plot of Romeo and Juliet. There are some different twists and turns throughout, with some unexpected marriages, expected deaths and exiles, and a plot to save Romeo and Valentine's relationship.

For those familiar with Romeo and Juliet, I won't spoil all the differences in detail. It is fun to compare the two, but also to have a different story told with an LGBTQ light as a novel instead of play format. An excellent retelling/remix version of the original play perfect for fans of LGBTQ fiction.

I've been reading these classic remixed series for a while now, and the results have always been mid. I generally find that even when classics make me want to bash my head against a wall, I can always understand what gave them their longevity. (Save for Great Expectations, which I think carries only because of it's authors name, and should have been left to waste away in Dickens' trash.) When they are taken and spun into young adult tales I have found them patronizing, and lacking any charm of the orginal story. There had yet to be one that I didn't think would have been better off if it was just a story on its own instead of one with a giant looming over it's shoulder. Until now. I adore Shakespeare. I have read Romeo and Juliet more times than I can count. And Teach the Torches to Burn gets Shakespeare, in a way only a chronic theater kid could ever. It doesn't feel like this is Romeo and Juliet because the assignment was, but because the author had a genuine love for the story they were remixing and the story they were telling. My biggest critique is I want to read this as a play. I want to see this story on stage. I wish there was a script to go along with it because it feels unjust for this to only be a book. And when I started, I was thinking 'you better still kill them in the end, coward' but by the time their lives were on the line, I was furiously turning pages because I could not reconcile if this turned out to be a tragedy after all. And I think the author's note is more than right, we have told plenty of queer tragedies. I adored this book.

This was a delightful queer retelling of Romeo and Juliet. While it has been years since I last read the original, I felt this retelling was true to the story in the feud between the Montagues and Capulets, the large cast of characters, the nod toward suicide by poison, and even the language which, while certainly not Shakespearian levels of archaic, gave a nod to the style.

The story was very complex and I was pleased to see that, while Juliet is no longer the love interest in this version, she is still an important character. I liked that all three of the main characters in this queer tale of rash teenage decisions were able to get a happily ever after.

A beautiful take on a classic Shakespeare.

The writing was lush and stunning, painting a gorgeous picture of love and hurt.

This was a cute queer YA retelling of the original classic Romeo and Juliet.
I liked that Juliet wasn’t simply replaced by a man, instead there was a new love interest and Juliet still existed and had her own story and motives. It modernised the story a little, where the females sole interest wasn’t getting a guy.
I liked the characters and the story itself still made sense with the changes.
If you read the original it was a little too predictable though and didn’t really grip me.

I loved this book! I’m a sucker for any retelling and even more for a Romeo and Juliet retelling. I loved how diverse this one was and the interaction between Romeo and Juliet. I would definitely read this one again!