When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle

Book: When You Were Mine

Author: Rebecca Serle

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

I feel like I should send Simon and Schuster a note of thanks, cause they've published everything I've read this week! Go S&S! And three for three, they've all been good books!

When You Were Mine has a sense of inevitability about it. It's a Romeo and Juliet retelling, so we kinda know how it's gonna end, but to change things up this is told from the perspective of Romeo's (or Rob's) first love.
The protagonist, Rosaline, has been in love with her best friend Rob for years, but they've only just shared their first kiss when Rosaline's beautiful cousin Juliet moves back to town. The chemistry between Rob and Juliet is instant, and Rosaline soon finds herself forgotten by the boy who was her whole world. But such instant, devouring passion is not always a good thing, and Rosaline soon finds herself concerned not just for Rob's heart, but for his very life.

I've seen several people make this comment when reviewing this book, but I'm adding in my two cents for good measure: Rob is an ass, and Rosaline shouldn't have been so hung up on him. He and Juliet deserved one another, as she was not particularly nice either. She was very prissy and spoiled; she sort of reminded me of Naomi from 90210,before she mellowed a bit. Sadly, Juliet doesn't really get the chance to do a Naomi and win us all over.

The really great thing about this book is the supporting characters. Rosaline's friends Olivia and Charlie are really well developed in their own right, and very funny. Olivia is also a touch Naomi, but in a good way! There's also Len, Rosaline's stoner lab partner, who you like even though you know you shouldn't. I also like the ending, which was very well done, especially considering the fate we all know that Rob and Juliet are destined for.

This was a great debut, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Rebecca Serle does next.

Rating: Eight out of ten