I have been highly anticipating this book since McIntire teased it. Romeo & Juliet is my favorite Shakespeare play (sucker for forbidden love) so I was foaming at the mouth for this one.

Let me start this by saying you're in for a treat if you love the forbidden/star-crossed lovers trope because McIntire delivered! The angst here was perfect and the tension between Roman and Juliette had me screaming. These two were destined for each other and the author does a wonderful job writing their chemistry and relationship. It's supposed to be insta-love but it doesn't feel like insta-love if that makes sense. I totally rooted for this romance and my angst loving heart was beating for these two.

I ate up the drama too. The small town family rivalry was written well and felt believable. I found the plot to be very entertaining.

Andi Arndt and Aaron Shedlock narrated the heck out of this book. I could not picture anyone else bringing Roman and Juliette to life. The way they delivered the angst and tension was magnificent. I was glued to my headphones.

If you couldn't already tell, I loved this and cannot wait to tell everyone I know to listen to this. Simply fantastic!

3.25/5⭐️ 2/5🌶️ 0/5😢

I am quite a fan of Emily McIntre’s Never After dark fairytale/Disney retelling series, so I was excited when she announced her next series would be in a similar “dark retelling” vein.

First off, I loved that she picked Romeo and Juliet—the original play is packed with drama and a large cast to characters to work with. Unfortunately, the cast of characters for this book felt a quite unwieldy as the characters didn’t have enough development to feel distinctive and memorable. I often lost track of who’s who while reading, which really took away from the overall experience.

Given that, I thought the book was just fine. It was an interesting read but nothing particularly novel about this retelling. Also to note, I wouldn’t consider this a “dark” retelling at all—for those who shy away from heavier themes.

Thank you to Bloom Books, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for advanced copies of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I DNF’d this book. While the book is well written, and the banter between the characters is witty and enjoyable, I was not able to get past the spice. I don’t mind spice in my books, but this felt very insta-lust and even the inner monologues of the characters (especially the MMC) were predominantly explicit thoughts about each other. I prefer a slower build and seeing the tension/yearning build through dialogue and body language rather than being fully privy to the character’s sex fantasies.

I wish I loved it. And there were aspects that I was enjoying, but ultimately it just wasn’t for me.

I do think readers who are less sensitive to spice and don’t mind a lusty instalove plot will really enjoy this one.

I devoured this book like a late-night snack I wasn’t supposed to have. Star-crossed lovers? ✔️ Angst? ✔️ Betrayal, jealousy, and tension so thick you could cut it with a spoon? ✔️✔️✔️

If you love that slow burn, high stakes, “just kiss already” kind of romance, this one DELIVERS. Bonus points for the small-town family drama — because when everyone knows everyone’s business, it gets messy in the best way.

Roman and Juliette had no business having that much chemistry, and yet… here we are.

By the end, I had questions. Many. But I’m fully hooked and already bracing myself for the rest of the series. One particular couple better get their story or I’m writing a strongly worded letter

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC

🎧 AUDIOBOOK REVIEW 🎧

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Burning Daylight is a modern-day reimagining of Romeo and Juliet, and Emily McIntire delivers it with her trademark intensity and emotion. This time, the star-crossed lovers are Juliette and Roman, caught between loyalty to their families and the undeniable pull of their connection.

I really enjoyed the way McIntire wove classic inspiration into a fresh, contemporary setting. Juliette is strong-willed and torn between duty and desire, while Roman has that brooding, protective edge that makes him such a compelling hero. Their chemistry was electric, and I found myself invested in their journey from the very start.

The narration worked beautifully for the audiobook format, bringing both the passion and tension of the story to life. The voices fit the characters well, pulling me deeper into the drama and emotion.

Overall, Burning Daylight is a gripping, romantic, and emotional retelling that balances forbidden love with modern grit. Fans of reimagined classics and angsty romance will love diving into Juliette and Roman’s world.

This is book one in the Defying the Stars series and is a modern take on Romeo and Juliet.

Roman Montgomery and Juliette Calloway first meet when they were seventeen years old and have a connection, but they don't see each other again for four more years. When they do, though, they both find that what they initially felt is still there between them. They soon learn that they are from feuding families and cannot be together.

Roman and Juliette were raised in two different households. She is from the powerful Calloway family, and he has been a ghost for a lot of his life. He doesn't exist. Roman has a big heart and will do anything for those he loves--like his sister, Brooklyn.

I enjoyed this story and seeing Roman and Juliette fight to be together while learning of some of the town's secrets and characters. Roman's mother is...ugh...quite the character-and not in a good way.

I also listened to the audiobook narrated in duet by Andi Arndt and Aaron Shedlock. Both are so good.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advanced listener copy. Thank you to the author and Bloom Books for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is going to be long. But that because I loved it so much!!

Burning Daylight by Emily McIntire completely stole my heart. I have read and loved her books before, but this one is by far my favorite. The story had me hooked from the very beginning, and what made the experience unforgettable was the duet narration. The narrators were absolutely incredible and brought so much life and emotion to the characters that it felt like I was right there with them. I never wanted it to end.

What I loved most is that this story is based on Romeo and Juliet. You feel the tension and intensity all the way through, and you never quite know how far Emily McIntire will take it when it comes to the end of that tragic tale. It kept me hanging on every word.

A huge thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ALC. I am so grateful I had the chance to listen early to what I truly believe is Emily McIntire’s best book yet.

Emily McIntire delivers again with a story that’s heartfelt, passionate, and beautifully immersive. The narration brought the characters and emotions vividly to life.

Thank you Netgalley for an advance copy of this audiobook.

This is a reimaging of Romeo and Juliet. It's a modern day retelling with a darker twist.

I was really excited for this one. I have enjoyed past books by the author. However, this one kinda fell flat. There were so many side characters that it was a little confusing. The story of the main characters was pretty good....it just didn't really pull me in.


The dual narration was marvelous.

I very much enjoyed the set up of Burning Daylight. Five things I like about the book: Roman willing do something he doesn't want to do to take care of his sister, Juliette's friend who has her back, a certain bathroom scene ( you will know when read it), Juliette writing her book and of course Roman and Juliette relationship. I enjoyed putting together who was betraying who. The narration for the book was very well done. I couldn't put the book down. I can't wait to go back to Rosebrook Falls.

🎧 ALC Review 🎧
Narrated by Andi Arndt and Aaron Shedlock
Dreamscape Media

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Emily has done it again! Burning Daylight is the first book in the Defying the Stars series. It is a sultury, high-stakes contemporary romance. I absolutely loved this more than just a retelling of Romeo and Juliet. This book is a reimagining of forbidden desire, legacy, and secrecy.

Juliette Calloway, the polished daughter of one of the most powerful families in Rosebrook Falls. She is tired of living a life curated for appearances. Roman Montgomery is unofficially dead - a ghost. He's dangerous, and he is the heir to her family's rival empire. Their chemistry when meeting is instantaneous and fu//king electric!

Andi Arndt brings Juliette's character to life with her signature blend of elegance and vulnerability. Aaron Shedlock voices Roman's character with a gravelling intensity that's equal parts dangerous and magnetic. Both narrators deliver on the internal conflict and unraveling, adding depth to the banter of the characters. Absolutely beautifully!

I cannot wait for the rest of this series.

Tropes:
Forbidden Love
Rival Families
He Falls First
Corrupt Small Town
Morally Gray Hero
Secret Identity

"And you, Juliette, are the sun."

I just ate this one up. I couldn't stop listening to this retelling. As a fan of Shakespeare's original Romeo and Juliette, I loved all the homage paid to the original while also writing a completely new story. The dual narration was absolutely necessary, and the voice actors did a really good job of bringing all these characters to life. The main characters have that snarkiness and cockiness that I love, and the chemistry they have feels authentic. Definitely pick this one up if you love a spicy, forbidden lovers tale filled with a ton of secrets and powerful families.

This a reimagining of Romeo and Juliette.

We follow Roman and Juliette-rival families etc set in a modern time period.

This was cute-stuck to the storyline pretty closely for a modern reimagining.

“What do I taste like?”
“Mine”
🤭

If you like Emily Mcintire’s work you’ll probably enjoy this! Nothing too out of the box.

The audiobook is a duet and was done SO WELL.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape media for the ALC. all opinions are my own.

This was a dark Romeo and Juliet retelling. I love Emily's writing style. Her books are always an immersive and fun read. But this one didn't hit me as hard as some of her other books. The plot felt a bit meandering and there were too many side characters but not all of them made a significant impact to the storyline. The narration of both narrators are AMAZING! This would be 5-stars on the narration alone.

This was a bit of a tough read. The dialogue and banter was extremely cheesy and immature, and it was made worse by the voice actors. The unbelievability of many characters’ actions and the insta-love was also off putting. I understand it was a Romeo and Juliette retelling, but it lacked depth.

🩷 Romeo & Juliet-esque
💜 forbidden romance
💙 He falls first
💚 Corrupt small town
🩷 secret heir MMC
💜 rival families

The forbidden love trope wins so hard here! The betrayals and back door alliances had me gasping! As things were unraveling, I wasn't sure who to trust.

Roman claiming Juliette at the restaurant was amazingly hott, iykyk. Wonderful start to a new series.

Audiobook is narrated in duet by Andi Arndt & Aaron Shedlock. They were phenomenal 🙌

Thanks to Dreamscape Media & Netgalley for ALC.

✨️ ALC review ✨️

Very excited I got the chance to listen to the audiobook before the release date! Loved the dual narration, the narrators did a fantastic job 100% made it more enjoyable, they played the characters perfectly.

The story itself is a modern-day twist on the old story of Romeo and Juliet with some spice. But still has lots of family drama and betrayal. I was happy there wasn't a third-act breakup.

If you loved the original story of Romeo and Juliet but want something spicier and with a HEA plus he falls for her first. Definitely add this to your TBR.

** Thank you Netgalley, Author Emily Mclntire, and Dreamscape Media for this ALC. **

The audio of this book was the only reason I got through this- I am a sucker for retellings, but this one didn't hit for me as much as others have :/ I loved the duet narration and enjoyed the back and forth of Roman and Juliette but was so frustrated by Juliette's character. She was so vanilla, so naieve, so blah. The insta lust was also a lot for me- I hoped with a 500 page book that the reasons that they were together would be more flushed out but no. Also, towards the end, when there were references to Shakespeare plays even though the rest of the book there was none but quotes from the OG play? It didn't feel right at all.

I have loved everything else Emily McIntire has written but this one wasn't for me :/

I have become a fan of McIntire's writing with the Sugarlake series and excited to see her retelling of Romeo and Juliette.

She did a great job with the setting and keeping the story close with the town name, and characters. It is set in current time and the family rival had a mafia vibe. The story is engaging and kept me interested. I loved the banter between the 2 characters and Roman's identity and character was really good.

With this set in current times, the use of some of the original R&J lines felt out of place. I can't imagine a young man today saying any of those things.

The narration by Andi Arndt and Aaron Shedlock was perfection.

Thank you @dreamscape_media for the audiobook.

This is an ARC review. I want to thank Emily McIntire and Dreamscape Media for allowing me the chance to read this book ahead of release day! Really I want to thank the Rosebrook Rag for the leak of sending out early ARCs and I was just somehow lucky enough to end up with one!

This Romeo and Juliet retelling was the next retelling I needed in my life. In Rosebrook Falls there are no secrets thanks to the Rosebrook Rag and I am here for it (fictionally of course)!

Juliette Calloway aka Princess/Little Rose found herself during college as most young adults do but then was dragged back home before even being able to cross the stage. her saving grace is her bestie Felicity who keeps her grounded and of course constantly running into Trouble.

Roman Montgomery aka Trouble is truly a possessive FMC who loves fast and hard! I’m obsessed with him! He’s a huge family man which is even how he went from living with his mom (who seriously needed rehab years ago) to living with his father (who wanted absolutely nothing to do with him until it benefited him).

The tension, BANTER, and longing between Roman and Juliette is truly CHEF’S KISS! The plot moved smoothly and each scene I felt more and more intrigued with the story. The last 20% of the book is absolutely diabolical! Oh my goodness. Emily McIntire…HOW DARE YOU! The ending reminded me that closure looks different for everyone and sometimes we don’t always get the pretty wrapped bow on top.

Now for the narrators…they did this story justice! Oh, I loved their interpretation and it really brought the characters to life! The fact that is a Duet…makes it soooo much better!