
Member Reviews

Christina Dodd’s With a Kiss I Die is an exuberant, genre-bending romp through fair Verona with a heroine who refuses to be anyone’s tragic footnote. Equal parts historical mystery, snarky comedy, and gothic-lite romance, this second installment in Dodd’s reimagined Montague saga is as bold as it is bizarre—in the best possible way.
Meet Rosie Montague: twenty years old, proudly unmarried, scandalously opinionated, and the irrepressibly modern daughter of the still-very-much-alive Romeo and Juliet. (Yes, you read that right.) Rosie doesn’t do damsel, and she sure as hell doesn’t do destiny—not unless she can crack it over the head with a witty retort and a well-placed hairpin. So when the ghost of Prince Escalus the Elder recruits her to solve his murder in exchange for a reunion with her thwarted One True Love, Rosie reluctantly trades flirtation for investigation, and poetry for peril.
Dodd’s writing sparkles with self-awareness and irreverence. Rosie’s voice is delightfully anachronistic, full of sass, sarcasm, and poetic ineptitude. She’s not trying to imitate her parents’ brand of star-crossed drama—she’s here to survive it, outwit it, and maybe stab it in the back if it gets too sentimental. The book plays fast and loose with history, Shakespearean canon, and genre rules, and the result is a plot that’s wild, sometimes chaotic, but always entertaining.
The mystery at the heart of the story is cleverly woven and layered with political intrigue, spectral visitations, and a good dash of romantic angst. While the murder-solving elements are satisfying, it’s Rosie’s internal struggle—with love, with identity, and with the constant threat of being reduced to a tragic echo of her mother—that gives the novel its emotional heft.
One caveat: if you’re expecting solemn period drama or a historically accurate Shakespearean homage, this isn’t that book. This is for readers who like their history with a wink, their heroines with bite, and their ghosts with plot-relevant agendas. It walks the tightrope between parody and sincerity, sometimes wobbling, but never falling flat.
Perfect for fans of:
• Historical fiction with a snarky, modern twist
• Mystery wrapped in wit and high-stakes flirtation
• Heroines who break the mold (and maybe a few laws)
Final thoughts:
With a Kiss I Die is a delightful subversion of the tragic romance legacy. Christina Dodd turns Shakespeare’s world into a whirling carnival of satire, sleuthing, and subversion. Rosie Montague is the heroine you never knew Verona needed—sharp-tongued, soft-hearted, and hell-bent on not becoming anyone’s footnote.

I listened to the audiobook for this one and the narrator did a great job. This book is historical fiction and yet it uses a lot of modern language and phrases but it works and adds some humor into the story. This is book two in the series and I haven’t read book one but still enjoyed this one quite a bit. This book starts with the premise that the death of Romeo and Juliet were greatly exaggerated. Rosalyn is one of their children and she has been determined to avoid marriage until she she found her one true love. Unfortunately the prince tricked her and now she is engaged to him. She is resolute in her fate until she starts to see the ghost of his father determined that she figure out who murdered him. This book was quite a bit of fun and definitely I will keep an eye out for more of these books.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing | A John Scognamiglio Book. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.
Genre: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Paranormal Mystery, Mystery, Shakespeare
Audience: Young Adult & Adult (Protagonist is 20 years old, but I felt it fit more with YA)
Spice Level: Sex is referenced but not so much on the page.
Other: There is a graphic birth scene and threats of rape.
The Shakespearean references are fun. There are definite shades of Hamlet along with the obvious Romeo and Juliette ones.
Love of friendship vs love of passion—which would you choose? Rosie is conflicted because she's always been in love with the perfect man. She also has a ghost constantly bugging her, and I thought his character added a lot to the story as a commentary and great inconvenience to her.
This was a very fun story, and if you love Shakespeare, this book is for you!
Happy reading!

This series is just SO good. Christina Dodd at her very best and funniest! I can't wait for the next instalment. Rosie is such a fantastic heroine!

Thus With a Kiss I Die was a glimpse into an alternate past where Romeo didn’t drink poison and a grief-stricken Juliet didn’t stab herself. Instead they lived happily ever after with a whole bunch of kids to prove it. The oldest was Rosie, believed an old maid at the tender age of twenty. Our Rosie, was an intrepid amateur detective wannabe, determined no man shall cage her but that was before Lysander and suddenly her heart wants what it wants and for him, she just might make an exception…. once she rids herself of the annoying prince of Verona who’s decided Rosie do as his next wife – they have a habit of dying on him! So not only does she have to find a way to ‘Dear John’ a prince she also has to get rid of his father who wants her to solve his murder which only happened eleven years before…. did I mention it's technically his ghost who has engaged her?
I haven’t read the first book in the Daughter of Montague series and right now I’m kicking myself for missing it considering this one was a fantastic tongue in cheek romp with the irreverent Nancy Drew of her time Rosie, cavorting her way through the streets of fair Verona solving crime while trying to stay alive and single. The overall writing was fabulous and engaging with a fantastic flow and the characters were all likeable with the mystery element just intricate enough to capture a reader’s attention. I loved that the author chose to use popular language when writing instead of going down well a Shakespeare route. As it was, I was smiling throughout my read. If only Shakespeare’s prose had been written in this style, I might’ve paid more attention in school, and now dear citizens of Verona, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to download the first book

The first book in the series was one of my surprise favorites from last year. The sequel marks a fun continuation of the series. The mystery was good and the various plot points came together nicely, but I found the romance to be a bit lackluster. At the end of the first book, we see the prince has essentially tricked Rosie into becoming his bride. It takes way too long in this book to unpack those actions. When the moment finally came, I did enjoy it, but it just felt like we were dancing around it for the entire book which made everything feel a bit long.
Thank you Kensington Publishing, RBMedia and NetGalley for this ARC.

Rosie is back and has stumbled into yet another murder investigation. This time it's her soon to be (deceased) father in law who shows up as a ghost only she can see and asks for her help in solving his murder. Another round of outrageous fun ensues during her investigation. Rosie shows. a bit more maturity in this book but she is still as gusty and independent as always. There's so many fun and silly moments in this book and I had a blast reading it! I cannot wait for another one!
Thank you to Kensington Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

3.75 stars rounded up
Fare thee well, gentle reader. The second installment of Christina Dodd's Daughter of Montague series is fitting of fair Verona!
Our witty and resourceful Rosie Montague, the daughter of Romeo and Juliet, who lived to have many children, returns to have her life threatened yet again after she is forced into an engagement to Prince Escalus of Verona. Her pining heart still longs for her beloved Lysander. Never fear gentle reader, Rosie will not stop until she discovers who is behind the mayhem and death. But will she live to tell the tale and to whom will she give her heart?
This cozy historical mystery is delightful from start to finish. Fans of historical mystery, paranormal happenings, Shakespeare, and romance will find this as sweet as a rose!🌹❤️
Many thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books, Christina Dodd, and UpLit Reads for an advance reader's copy and a finished copy in exchange for my honest review.
#ThusWithAKissIDie #ChristinaDodd #KensingtonBooks #NetGalley #GiftedByUpLit #UpLitReads #ARCreview #bookreview #HistoricalMystery #Romance #Shakespeare #DaughterOfMontague #Paranormal #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #booklover #NetGalleyReviewer #bookinfluencer #bookclub #bookstagrammer #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #bookrecommendations

*Thank you to NetGalley & Kensington Publishing for providing a digital copy to review*
I absolutely loved the first book and was excited to continue with Rosaline’s hilarious narration. I still love the humor of this series. Rosaline is an entertaining character, and her POV is just amazing.
Poor girl can’t seem to catch a break, though. She’s solving another murder, this time that of her future father-in-law, who is a ghost and can only be seen by her, which is unfortunate for Rosaline.
The side characters are once again amazing and add more humour to the story. We get to see more of Romeo & Juliet, as well as the rest of Rosaline’s siblings, and get introduced to Escalus’ grandmother, who is just the best.
I just ate up Rosaline and Escalus’ developing relationship. While she proclaims she loves Lysander, we can see that the prince has an effect on her, and she is slowly falling for his unique charms. He is so gone for her, and I love it.
There is once again another murder mystery, but I wasn’t as invested in it as I was with the first book. The whole ghost thing also felt so random and kind of felt out of place. The characters and relationships are what really made this book for me, and I can’t wait for the next book.

TW: blood, gore, parental death, murder, religious fanaticism
Ahh I love this series so much! Dodd is back again with Rosie Montague, daughter of famed and very much alive Romeo and Juliet. We pick up pretty much right after the last book ended. Rosie is betrothed to Prince Escalus (Cal) due to his trickery in taking Lysander’s place in his and Rosie’s scheme.
Honestly I think I might’ve loved this book more than the first. We get more of Rosie and Cal, Nonna Ursula is a pistol that had me laughing so much, the paranormal aspect was right up my alley and of course the lovable Montague clan was entertaining as always. There was a lot more murder and intrigue in this installment and trying to figure out who the murderer was kept me on my toes. Elder Escalus was so funny and I loved how much he grew to care for Rosie and respect her. I’m so ready for Cal and Rosie to be married already, this has been one of the slowest of burns I’ve read in a while but I’m here for it and I will be back for the next one. There is a bit of religious fanaticism due to an evil cult leader moving through the city. It’s brief but still, heads up on that if it’s triggering to you.
I did listen to most of this book and I think it is more entertaining in that format. Suzy Jackson is a superstar and really brings these characters to life. She really brings out the snark in Rosie and the gruff puppy dog in love in Cal. She’s just amazing and you would not regret listening to this book instead of reading it.
Thank you so much to Recorded Books Media for gifting me an ALC and to Kensington Publishing for gifting me an eARC via NetGalley!

This was a new author for me. I really enjoyed her story, characters, and the plot! It was such a great mystery with a little love story on the side! Highly recommend.

What if Romeo and Juliet didn’t die? What if they grew up, stayed madly in love, raised a whole gaggle of kids, and became the respectable power couple of Verona? That’s the premise Christina Dodd builds from—but this isn’t really their story. It’s their daughter Rosie’s. Yes, that Rosaline—the girl Romeo ditched for Juliet.
Now, full disclosure: I didn’t read the first book in this series. But I had no trouble jumping right into Rosie’s world. She’s got a lot going on—she’s the most grounded of her siblings, runs the family household, redirects suitors like a pro, and somehow finds herself engaged to a prince she doesn’t actually love. Also, there’s a ghost. And a murder. Maybe more than one.
Honestly? I think this sequel stands strong on its own. We get a lot of Rosie (delightful), a deeper look at the constraints she’s up against as a sharp woman in a very patriarchal world, and just the right amount of romance and mystery. There’s gossip, sexism, whispered rumors about her sanity, and some excellent supporting characters—her nurse, her sisters, a surprising future grandmother-in-law. And yes, both the one true love and the princely fiancé turn out to be unexpectedly compelling.
It’s a smart, quick read with real substance under the fun. If you like reimagined classics, strong heroines, or books that play with romantic tropes while still respecting them, give this a go. Sweet rather than steamy—I’d be more than happy to shelve this in a Grade 7+ classroom library.
Thank you to Christina Dodd, Kensington Publishing | A John Scognamiglio Book, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. On Sale June 24th, 2025

Huzzah! Thus With A Kiss I Die by Christina Dodd is another wildly entertaining and clever addition to the Daughter of Montague series. This book again follows Rosie, the eldest daughter of Romeo and Juliet, and the drama is as delicious as ever—especially with some perfectly woven nods to Hamlet. Yes, Shakespearean crossover chaos, and I am here for it!
Rosie’s strong-willed, quick-witted personality shines in every scene. In a time when women were expected to be silent and submissive, she boldly carves her own path—and it’s an absolute joy to watch her do so. I especially adored the way she frequently breaks the fourth wall with her “dear gentle reader” asides. It adds such a charming layer of intimacy and humor to the narrative.
The hijinks, the danger, the wit—it’s all so much fun. If you love Shakespeare, feisty heroines, and stories with both heart and humor, don’t miss this one!

I am LOVING this series. The humor, the people, the laugh out loud moments! I absolutely adore the mashup of dialogue...kind of Medieval with a touch of Valley Girl. The premise is fun and you never know what's going to happen next.
Rosie Montague, oldest child of Romeo and Juliet, (as noted in the book, rumors of their deaths were premature) is once again involved in a grand scheme to try to dump her betrothed, Prince Escalus...catch her One True Love, Lysander...solve the murder of Escalus the Elder...and keep everyone happy. The story is just so much fun! The whole Montague family is once again represented and as usual, they are hilarious! No wonder Rosie must be the calm within the storm. In addition to the fun, there is danger, suspense, and just a bit of the supernatural! Most of all it's just a rollicking time.
A great addition to this series and I can't wait for the next book!

I am so glad I received an advanced copy of this book because it spurred me to read the first one which I absolutely loved and now feel the same about this book.
Rosie, the daughter Romeo and Juliet ( yes she explains how that is possible) is a whirlwind of action. Extremely competent, the 20 year old must contend with her romantic parents, her 5 sisters and a brother, a Prince to whom she is betrothed, and his father, a ghost who was assassinated.
As in the previous book, she cleverly solves a murder .
So murder mystery, romance and a very funny take on Shakespeare with Dodd throwing in contemporary language and situations that just fit. These books are so clever and fun and I hope there will be more.
I couldn't help but research the actual history of Verona and it is actually quite interesting.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC. This is my honest review. Please read the first and the immediately read this one.

Thus With A Kiss I Die
by Christina Dodd
Kensington Publishing
Out Today! 6/24/25
3.75⭐️ and I would continue with the series.
This was a very easy read. However I missed the part where it was a series and this was book 2.
However, I was able to follow along and only feel like a miss a little bit of background information. Rosie is a good, headstrong FMC trying to live up her to parents of Romeo & Juliet, but also know she is not them and she’ll do things her way while also protecting her family.
The humor was fun and cute, especially in scenes with all the Capulet-Montague siblings.
This is a cozy, slow burn continuing series with an air of mystery and action.
Thank you @kensingtonbooks and @netgalley for the #gifted copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, steamy, suspenseful, action-packed and I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed this book and will continue looking for new books by this author.

I thoroughly enjoyed A Daughter of Fair Verona, about Rosie, the oldest daughter of Romeo and Juliet, who did not actually die but enjoyed a happy life together, producing many children. I was pleased there was another book to continue the fun story.
In Thus with a Kiss I Die, Rosie has just been duped into becoming betrothed to Prince Escalus, the ruler of Verona. She had managed to evade a number of engagements, and had finally found her One True Love, Lysander. But this time, there seems to be no escaping. She’ll have to make the best of it and wed Escalus. At least he’s fairly young and a good man. Not handsome, but not everyone can be the golden boy Lysander.
Then one day as she and her family are visiting the home of the prince, a spirit appears to Rosie. No one else can see or hear him. It’s Prince Escalus’s father, Escalus the Elder, who was murdered a decade before, and he asks Rosie to solve his murder. She’s motivated because Elder promises he’ll help her get out of this betrothal and be with her One True Love.
So yet again, she has a murder to solve, and this one is from years before, and the initial leads are given to her by a ghost. Meanwhile, unrest is stirring in the streets of Verona, and it’s a dangerous time for all. Rosie must step carefully.
Thus with a Kiss I Die is a worthy successor to A Daughter of Fair Verona. Again, I wasn’t in it for the whodunit: I was in it to hang out with Rosie. She’s just a smart, sardonic spitfire with an entertaining voice. And I wanted to see how her love story would continue. (So really, this may be more of a romance book than a mystery, if you’re in it for love!) Not sure if there will be any more in this series, but I would love it if there were.

I highlighted so many brilliant passages in this book it would be easier to tell you what I didn't highlight than what I did.
This second book in Dodd's Daughter of Montague (yes, that Montague) series follows the continuing journey of irrepressible, irreverent, amateur sleuth, Rosie Montague, her big, loving, madcap family, another murder to solve, and her unexpected romantic dilemma. When you're being pursued by both the Prince of Verona and the impossibly handsome Lysander (her One True Love...or is he?) and everyone has an opinion, including your heavily and hormonal pregnant mother (Juliet), overprotective father (Romeo), meddlesome family nurse (aren't they always?), all of your younger siblings (so many opinions), and (never forget) a pesky ghost with a whole lot at stake, hijinks and hilarity are sure to follow, especially when placed in the uber-talented hands of Christina Dodd.
This one's a keeper. Along with book one, A Daughter of Fair Verona (I highly recommend reading them in order), Thus with a Kiss I Die is the perfect summer book to bring warmth, laughter, a twisty mystery, a bit of romance (who will she choose?) and a bright burst of sunshine into your life. I read it in one day then turned around and read it again. Already counting down the days until the 2026(?) release of book three!
ARC received from Kensington via NetGalley
Fair and unbiased review

I really enjoyed this one! Once again it was hilarious and had me laughing out loud multiple times while reading it.
I love the FMC in this series and her inner monologue truly is fantastic. She is just the right amount of sassy as well as smart and logical. She also stands up for herself when needed which I really appreciate in a FMC especially during this time period when it is frowned upon.
When there is a love triangle I usually lean towards one of the love interests more than the other but this one was hard 😭 I really do love both of the men and when she chose my heart did break a little for the other one. With that being said, the chemistry she had with the prince in this one 👀 the tension was tensioning and even though she kept commenting how he is not an attractive man lol he sure does have a way with words 🥵
I do think the mystery plot in this one was better as well and I enjoyed the addition of Elder’s ghost as even more comedic relief. I do think there were a couple of plot points that left me wondering, such as I was often wondering about her family as they were such a big part of the first book and felt more on the back burner of this one. However I do think that was needed to develop her relationship with the prince more in this book.
I’m guessing there is going to be a third one based off of the ending, and I will be reading it!