Review: The Juliet Spell by Douglas Rees

Paperback: 304 pages
Published: September 27, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin Teen

I wanted the role of Juliet more than anything. I studied hard. I gave a great reading for it - even with Bobby checking me out the whole time. I deserved the part
I didn't get it. So I decided to level the playing field, though I actually might have leveled the whole play. You see, since there aren't any Success in Getting to Be Juliet in Your High School Play spells, I thought I'd cast the next best—a Fame spell. Good idea, right?
Yeah. Instead of bringing me a little fame, it brought me someone a little famous. Shakespeare. Well, Edmund Shakespeare. William's younger brother.
Good thing he's sweet and enthusiastic about helping me with the play...and—ahem—maybe a little bit hot. But he's from the past. Waypast. Cars amaze him—cars! And cell phones? Ugh.
Still, there's something about him that's making my eyes go star-crossed..."

This is another example of a book that I was totally into and loving...and then they went and ruined the ending. Actually, in this case, they ruined the entire second half of the novel.

Let me explain.

The idea for this story is freakin' adorable! Basically, there is this girl named Miranda who desperately wants to be Juliet in her school play. She realizes that she's not going to get the part and decides to do a little magic spell to make sure she gets the part. But little does she realize that the spell will work - just not in the way she thinks. What happens is that she ends up bringing Edmund Shakeshaft (William Shakespeare's brother) into the 21st century. The book is still good at this point. Miranda has to take Edmund around and teach him about technology and cars and tv - which is all pretty hilarious, and then she takes him to the school play auditions where he (naturally) gets the part of Romeo and she gets the part of Juliet. It's completely adorable!

Then comes the second half of the book: where Miranda's best friend, Drew, learns how to communicate with a doctor in the 1500's via email (and the doctor gets it through a weird water battery thingy). Things are starting to get a little murky for my tastes but I continue reading. By the end of the story, Drew has learned how to make an app on his phone that will send someone to the 1500's, William Shakespeare has come and visited the future, and everyone acts like nothing it out of the ordinary. That's when it all became just too much for me.

I finished the book. I liked the way it ended. But I totally disliked the 2nd half. I wish that the author had just stuck with the idea of magic or something...anything!

Do you disagree with me? Let me know what you think?!

2 1/2 out of 5 stars