I’ve read one other book in the Remixed Classics series, and I absolutely loved it, so my expectations for this one were high … and this did not disappoint. I do not enjoy Shakespeare, in general, and Romeo & Juliet even less, but I wanted to give this one a chance, and I am SO glad I did.

I am blown away by this book - a queer retelling of Romeo & Juliet, that takes all the original characters and reimagines them into a heart-rending, nail-biting, achingly romantic story that actually ends well. Full of everything from the original (Rivalries! Familial expectations! Poison! Stabbings! Teenagers!), but so much better. It was refreshing to see how the different characters dealt with their circumstances, and how much of a badass Juliet was!

I’ve been wanting to read some of these remixed classics for a long time now, and I’m so glad I finally did! What could be better than Romeo and Juliet, you ask? Just make it gay. The representation in this book was incredible. It felt very fresh while still resembling the classic that we all know and love (or hate). I will definitely be picking up more of these remixed classics!

Always a fan of remixed classics and this one did not disappoint. I loved the take on this Romeo and Juliet story and the characters involved.

As someone who isn't really a fan of the classics, I think I could change my mind if Caleb Roehrig just keeps rewriting them.

As the narrator, Romeo was such a refreshing main character to read about. I loved his romance with Valentine. There are a few times Romeo touches on feeling like an outsider because of being gay, and I felt that with my entire soul and being. And same thing with Juliet, who <spoiler>I'm gonna go ahead and guess is an asexual character? At least, that was my interpretation of her here!</spoiler>

I kept guessing at what the ending would be, and I was partially right about it! Knowing how the original play ends, I was just chuckling nervously the closer and closer I got to being finished. This book really is amazing from beginning to end.

Excellent book! In general, I’m a fan of the recent trend towards reinventing the classics but with a gay twist. This book did not disappoint. I truly enjoyed watching the well-known characters from Romeo & Juliet interact and struggle with some of the same issues. The writing was excellent and I look forward to adding this book to my school library. I’m also going to take a good look at the other books by Caleb Roehrig as possibly additions.
Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Fierce Reads for the arc of this one!

Romeo and Juliet but make it gay!

Okay when I tell you the better you know R&J the better this is!!!! I have read Romeo and Juliet so many times because I'm an English teacher and I loved seeing all the little and big references and how things were twisted!

I think this book did a really good job retelling the original story without it feeling like a copy. The romance between Romeo and Valentine was so good!!!

Also an aroace Friar Lawrence and an aroace Juliet 🫡. I am pleased.

I had so much fun reading this and loved every second of it. This retelling series is always so good and this one is definitely one of my favorites!

CW: homophobia, death, violence, poisoning, emotional abuse

⭐️⭐️

𝙌𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧-𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙙 𝙖 𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨-𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙛𝙚𝙪𝙙 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙍𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤 & 𝙅𝙪𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙭 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙜𝙖𝙮.

I haven’t read too many Romo & Juliet retellings, but I was so excited to check this one out!

Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me. Shakespeare's retellings are so difficult to write, but I had such high hopes for this book - especially with gay characters.

While I loved the diverse characters, I didn’t really care too much for them. There was never a strong enough attachment to them.

While I understand what the author did here, I didn’t really connect with the writing. The way the story was written just didn’t resonate with me, also, I feel like the story itself was way too similar to the original tale. I didn’t feel much of a “retelling”.

I really feel like there was a great concept behind this book, but I don’t think it was executed that well - at least not for me. I always enjoy a good retelling, but unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!

Not only was this my favorite R&J retelling/reimagining, it’s probably one of my all time favorites of any retelling/reimagining. It was the perfect blend of feeling true to the story and these characters while also bringing new life and energy to both. I loved the way every single character was written. I typically prefer Romeo to be portrayed in retellings as a bit of a…well, I’ll just say douchebag, but this Romeo was kind, artistic and brave and it worked so well. Also Mercutio and Benvolio were a HOOT! Their scenes were so funny to read, but also I loved how they really came through for Romeo and Valentine who were just lovely together. My absolute favorites though had to be Juliet and Friar Laurence. I loved how Juliet was not a romantic interest, but an ally and friend to Romeo and his group, especially when she stood up to Tybalt and Paris. This Juliet needs NO rescuing! And Friar Laurence was just an absolute delight. The author’s note at the end really moved me, talking about how R&J is no romance, but a tragedy set by adults who refuse to let their children be who they are and set their own course. My only complaint about this book is that it ended at all. I loved every second of it. I HIGHLY recommend it for readers who love retellings and queer romances.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

This next installment of Macmillan's Remixed Classics collection brings Shakespeare into the mix with a gay Romeo and a Juliet who has no desires to be wed.

I'll be honest, I was nervous about this one since Shakespeare's tale of star-crossed lovers kind of hinges on young teens from two warring families to fall in love and if Romeo wasn't falling for Juliet... I wasn't sure how TEACH THE TORCHES TO BURN was going to pull off a remix of ROMEO & JULIET. I had no need to worry though, Roehrig expertly takes the key plot points and themes from Shakespeare's play and weaves them into this version of Romeo and Juliet trying to find their places in a world where parental expectations tell them they cannot be their true selves. I appreciated that Juliet still had a hefty role to play, even if she was no longer the object of Romeo's desire - Roehrig didn't forget her or relegate her to the shadows. Honestly, the only thing I missed was Mercutio's Queen Mab speech, though Roehrig's Mercutio still has the same energy and charisma as Shakespeare's.

Roehrig kept this version within the same time period as the play and while spoken in modern English, much of the dialogue and phrases used are closer to classic literature than of YA literature in 2023. This may deter some readers, but I personally think it makes the plot more effective.

As the tension rises after the fight with Tybalt, and Romeo is frantically trying to find a path forward with Friar Laurence that doesn't include more death, my reader experience was one of intense anxiousness needing to know how Roehrig was going to end this tale and if it was going to stray from the original text. Does it? You'll have to read it yourself to find out. But I will say that I think the meeting between Romeo and Valentine through to the end are well executed and make this a satisfying read.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Feiwel & Friends in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not always a fan of retellings, but Caleb Roehrig did a great job with "Teach the Torches to Burn".
Romeo is at the age where he should be looking for a wife and settling down to have children and eventually take over the Montague estate, but Romeo has never found any of the same romantic fascination with women that his cousin and best friend have. He makes a deal with Benvolio to sneak into a Capulet party, where he meets a beautiful stranger in the shadows. Enter Valentine: Mercutio’s younger brother who has only recently returned to Verona. Their attraction is instant and intense, and Romeo finally has an answer to why he’s never felt attraction to and of the women his cousin has tried to set him up with. The story held most of the significant plot points of the original Romeo and Juliet: the feud between the Montagues and Capulets, forbidden love, Juliet avoiding marrying Count Paris, Romeo’s banishment in the aftermath of the brawl with Tybalt… and time quickly running out to save the love of his life from a slow acting poison.
Literally, thank god for the word “remix” instead of "retelling". The last quarter of the book had me insanely stressed about the outcome of Romeo and Valentine’s romance. I feared the worst, and I was tempted to throw my kindle if TTTTB ended like the original. Thankfully, Roehrig found the perfect way to skirt the edge of disaster and write an incredible ending where Romeo gets the love he deserves, Valentine lives, and Juliet avoids marrying the awful Count Paris. The ending was well thought out and well written, and it was a huge relief to avoid the massive tragedy.
Although there were no words explicitly used for it, it was nice to see the bit of sexuality representation in a far less modern setting: Romeo and Valentine are gay. Valentine possibly demisexual, as it was insinuated that he’d been romantically interested in Romeo even when they were kids when they played together with Mercutio and Benvolio, and showed no other romantic interest over time. Juliet is aro/ace, with it being clearly stated that she never understood the romantic or physical attraction all her friends seemed to develop towards boys.
Overall, a great job with remixing a classic and making it queer, I loved it!

Teach the Torches to Burn 4.5/5 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for this book!

I have so much to say! First of all, this book is beautifully written. The prose is so captivating and magical.

Secondly, I love all the characters! Romeo and Valentine are wonderful. It was beautiful to see their relationship progress from trepidation to care for one another. Juliet is so intelligent and badass. Ben and Mercutio are hilarious.

It made me so happy to see everyone’s growth throughout the book, and most importantly their support of Romeo and Valentine. I can’t wait to read more of the remixed classics.

Overall, I definitely recommend checking this book out when it’s released! 🤍

This was such a beautiful, refreshing queer take on Romeo & Juliet. I loved all the components of the original that came out to play, and was delighted by the characters and their ceaseless chasing of hope.

Have you ever been reading Romeo and Juliet and thought, "You know, this story is great, but it needs two things--a happier ending and a heavy dose of queer."? If you have, then I have some GREAT news for you!

This retelling did a masterful job at pulling things from the original Shakespeare play and combining them with new twists. The Shakespeare nerd in me--we're not going to discuss how many complete works and individual plans I own--was kicking her feet in pure delight as I read. And on top of that delightful interpretation, the queer rep in this book is *chef's kiss*, with not only an Achillean relationship at the center but also ace and aro/ace side characters. There were so many positive affirmations of queerness in the book, I was tearing up. It was so beautiful and what every queer teen deserves to hear.

Now, was this book perfect? No. Some of the language was a bit flowery and complicated at times, but it did fit with the scene and time period. And some of the descriptions were a bit long and I was tempted to skim. But am I holding any of that against the book as a whole? Also no. Why? Because the happy vibes and utter enjoyment I received from this book far outweigh any of the insignificant bits I didn't care for. If I could dig through the couch cushions and find more than five stars to throw at this book, I would.

My gratitude for the ARC of this book goes to NetGalley and the publisher. It was an amazing read and every word of this review is 100% my own gushing feelings.

A great entry in the Remix series! The language in this was flowery without being overly complex. Another entry in a series that will help to make classic stories more accessible and relevant to new audiences.

3.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is the third book I've read in this series of remixes (the other two being MY DEAR HENRY and SELF-MADE BOYS) and I think this is my least favorite so far. It's not bad, but it's not great either. I thought the romance was really sweet, though a bit insta-lovey, and I liked Romeo's friendships with Mercutio and Benvolio. I also really liked Romeo's relationships with Juliet and Friar Laurence, and I particularly love the messaging in this book, though it is a bit heavy-handed. The pacing of this is a bit strange, but since the pacing of its source material is also suspect, it wasn't a huge deal to me. I do wish that we got more development for Romeo and Valentine. As I said, they were a bit insta-love, and even though og Romeo and Juliet were The Insta-Love couple, I still wanted more from Romeo and Valentine.

Overall this was cute with some nice messages, but not something I'll be aching to reread.

I love Shakespeare and I tend to like queer retellings but this just didn’t come together for me. There was a specific exchange where the characters complained about how boring and bad poetry is, and when you’re trying to put your own spin on some of the most famous verses in the English language that just falls flat. I think this maybe just wasn’t for me.

So, if anyone has been paying attention, I've been reading Shakespeare for one of my summer classes (Which I've been acing. Go me!). Granted, they were only histories and comedies, so, besides when I read Hamlet in high school, I still have not read his other renowned works, Romeo and Juliet, included. Despite me never reading a lick of the original work, I still feel insulted on how this remix tackled its adaptation.

Firstly, the writing irritated me so much. It feels so faux, as if trying too hard to sound flowery and pronounced as Shakespeare. It's just so limp and mind-numbing.

Secondly, the characters are big ole nothing burgers: All carbs but no meat nor flavor. Romeo is boring, Ben and Mercutio are more interested in Romeo's love life than any person should, and the rest are one note and/or forgettable. I did find Juliet interesting, as it's implied she's aroace and has got a pretty strong backbone against her stupid male relatives, but it wasn't enough to make me care too much.

As I said, I haven't read the original Romeo and Juliet yet, so I don't know how to compare this to the original story. But I think I can safely say Shakespeare put much more thought into the themes and hidden meaning behind his work than the author did when adapting it. I still generally know the beats the original story plays out, and the remix hit those without fail and without making it more interesting.

All in all, the queer Romeo and Juliet angle did not work here. I kinda wish I spent the 3 hours I spent reading this on the original play, instead.

In my opinion, this retelling fell short and didn't live up ANY of my expectations. The writing itself felt lacking in strength and depth. Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE retellings. Some of the best ones like the splintered series by A.G. Howard, Roseblood by A. G. Howard, Bridgid Kememerer's Cursebreaker Trilogy, ACOTAR or TOG by SJM or Marissa Meyers Gilded duo or The Lunar Chronicles are some of my favorite retellings and with all of them they took the skeleton of a story and ran with it making it their own. The aim is typically to offer a fresh and unique perspective. This book missed that mark. Instead, it felt like a poorly executed rendition of the same story.

Teach The Torches to Burn is the optimistic rendition of a famous story that spans from a moral lesson to a forever love story, and this remix by Caleb Roehrig has woven those two unforgettable aspects beautifully. The weariness I felt going into this novel is expected; A tragedy about two two teens who fall in love amidst family rivalries and societal expectations among the two most influential families in Italy.

What I loved most of all in this novel is Juliet. Though she has a significant role in the story as a badass ( presumedly with aro ace represntation ) heroine whose fighting for her autonomy as the Capulet daughter, in an arranged marriage in a society where women hold no privacy, rights or a voice of their own, Juliet is a force to reckon with. Against all odds she's found herself in this life and taken it by the reins, and I thoroughly loved every scene she was in. Juliet was by all accounts the most fleshed out character despite only coming in late into the book, and having ended the story with her hopes and dreams and happiness.

My only complaints are these: I felt that this story was written in such a way that it only felt like a story. There were times I felt drawn into the world in which I felt invested so much so that I could see this story playing out in my head. However, on the other side there were times where I felt uninvested during the journey. The two characters Romeo and Valentine suffer from Insta Love just like the original Romeo and Juliet, only in this hopeful reverse, we are meant to believe that their voices are genuine. My opinion is that the author intended for the reader to fall for Romeo and Valentine and to know them, and see their love as genuine and to, unlike the play, understand them as "people" rather than characters. Unfortunately I wasn't entirely swayed, and found Valentine's character direly lacking of important features as a love interest and pivotal character in the story, both this and the inspiration.

A couple of times I was taken out of the story from dislike of the character interactions. This was a long story by all accounts, and I will say that more than all of the supporting characters had more flare, dramatics, and intrigue than the main character and love interest, the two sole characters centering this world. I simply felt like the author perhaps didn't know them well enough, though I was able to feel the intensity of Romeo's soul as a queer person.

Slight disappointments aside, if you enjoy this novel you will quickly find yourself tabbing or highlighting impressive dialogue and comical moments that linger after you've read them. Benvolio is hilarious, Mercutio is to simp for, Romeo is authentic, and Juliet is a QUEEN.

I enjoyed reading this story and I will always be grateful for having a copy such as this in my hands. It's an incredibly important piece of HOPEFUL queer literature with minimal disaster, a lot of gay pining, and feminism!

Highly recommend.

It was so refreshing to see a more diverse version of the classics that bored me so much in school. I am always a fan of LGBTQ representation, and this was well-written. Valentine and Romeo were both likeable and engaging, and I rooted for them the whole way through.