Not my normal read but it was well written and told the story of Ro and Jules- a not quite Romeo and Juliet romance.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the arc for my honest review.
5 out of 5 stars/3rd pov with the characters being Ro and Jules
Two classic Italian families in new york city. One San Gennaro festival. A revamp to the classic Romeo and Juliet story.
Ro and Jules are two 14 year old girls who are the children of the rival Italian restaurant owners. They meet at a street fair party, share a moment on a Ferris wheel, and then continue to see each other even after they find out about their feuding families. Will they have a happy ending or will their families drive them apart?

I loved this book for it's modern take on Romeo and Juliet. I loved how they referenced it but it's still very unique. I also looked every cooking moment. The food seems to a character as well.

Cute retelling of Romeo and Juliet, but the main characters - Ro and Jules - seemed younger than 13/14 years old. The way they acted, the dialogue, etc. didn't sound like 8th graders and the overall feel of the book was closer to a 5th/6th grade romance. The story idea, the setting, etc. were great. I also appreciated the way the author dealt with ADHD and autism in the characters, however, overall, this book was pretty vanilla.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Romeo and Juliet is a classic tale of woe and romance between children of two warring families. In this case, Ro and Jules are two 14 yr olds, children of two competing and combative Italian restaurant owners. The girls meet at a street fair, fall for each other, and have to both deal with their own budding romance..,,and their parents’ animosity.

Like most LGBT romances, this is extremely age appropriate. As in, the romance is hand holding and a few kisses on top of a Ferris wheel, the dates are making pasta and trying out food, often in the company of friends and family, and the girls are just plain sweet characters.

Happily, the ending is much happier than in the original, with the help of a couple of Italian nonnas :).

Overall, this is an enjoyable book that would be very appropriate for middle school age readers. Unfortunately, the fact that it has two female co-protagonists likely means it cannot be used in classrooms in my state. I hope it makes it into homes instead.

This book was so cute and cozy, all the Italian food made my mouth water, and also made me yearn to visit nyc again 😭. The third person pov was a little new for me to read and a little odd on getting used to but it wasn’t terrible. The novel switched from Jules to Ro and so forth and sometimes the voices of the main characters would blur into one.
I like how romance is represented in a lighthearted way especially geared towards middle graders.
Would definitely recommend to those looking for a quick, light hearted coming of age middle grade novel with queer and neurodivergence rep. 🍝 🫶🏼

Set against the backdrop of New York’s vibrant San Gennaro Festival and two feuding Italian restaurants, this charming YA romance brings heart, humor, and just the right amount of spice.

Romea (Ro) Marino is fiery, passionate, and happiest when she’s cooking up bold fusion recipes in her family’s kitchen. Julianna (Jules) Cangelosi is quiet, thoughtful, and deeply connected to the traditional flavors of her heritage—though her anxiety makes the hustle of restaurant life a challenge. When these two very different girls meet, their chemistry is instant... until they realize their dads are bitter rivals in the restaurant world.

What unfolds is a tender, slow-burn love story full of food, family drama, self-discovery, and lots of heart. Ro and Jules each carry their own insecurities and strengths, and their growing bond offers a beautiful look at how love—and acceptance—can flourish even in the most unexpected places.

This fun, sapphic take on Romeo and Juliet was everything I wanted it to be. It was cute, charming, and perfectly paced. I loved getting to know Romea and Julianna, and they felt very believable to me as characters. The supporting cast was charming, sweet, and developed enough that I understood the friendships. Tracy's descriptions of food left me excited to explore the Feast of San Gennaro sometime soon, and I loved watching the girls learn how to cook together. The romance was cute and charming, and I was rooting for them from the very beginning. I appreciated the extra character development for Romea and Julianna - they felt much more relatable and substantial.

I can't wait to give this to the library kids!

I loved the premise and the cute cover, but unfortunately third person, present tense is an automatic DNF for me. I simply can't stand that POV.

I won't be reviewing on Amazon on Goodreads, since I only got one page into the book.

A cute and heart warming YA novel with a lot of love woven between the pages. As a native New Yorker I loved reading about the 2 classic Italian families and the San Gennaro festival. I am giving it 3 stars because the 2 girls and the 2 families were very, very similar - and often it was hard to tell who was related to who. Because of this, I think it lacked a bit of depth. However it was a really adorable read and I think teens will love it!

Thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for the ARC!

This was super cute! A sapphic middle grade romeo and juliet retelling with ADHD, autism and anxiety rep! I really related to the characters and thought the representation was well done. It's also much needed in this genre!