Hump Day Spotlight Novel: Juliet by Anne Fortier

Hey everyone!! Hump Day Spotlight Novel is going to be my new weekly post on Wednesdays. They're designed to tell you about a new book to get you through the week! If I've read it, I will have a review that I've written about it posted with it. If not it will simply feature the information about the book. I hope this will introduce you to some new and exciting novels!! Here's the first one, enjoy!

Juliet by Anne Fortier

"NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

When Julie Jacobs inherits a key to a safety-deposit box in Siena, Italy, she is told that it will lead her to an old family treasure. Soon she is launched on a winding and perilous journey into the history of her ancestor Giulietta, whose legendary love for a young man named Romeo rocked the foundations of medieval Siena. As Julie crosses paths with the descendants of the families immortalized in Shakespeare’s unforgettable blood feud, she begins to realize that the notorious curse—“A plague on both your houses!”—is still at work, and that she is the next target. It seems that the only one who can save Julie from her fate is Romeo—but where is he?" (taken from Goodreads).

My review (Originally posted on Goodreads in July 2011) - 5 out of 5

I won this book from a GoodReads First Reads giveaway and I set out fully expecting to love this book and it didn’t steer me wrong. The main character, Julie/Giulietta, is not your typical character. She is far more relatable. Most main characters have something that makes them a little unattainable, but with Julie it’s different. She’s just like us: she has crushes on famous people that are unattainable, not just because they’re famous but for other reasons. For me it was Lance Bass from *NSYNC, for her it was Thomas Jefferson (reasons for both being unattainable should be fairly obvious). She has a sister that she can’t stand and will do anything to be the opposite of her. She also isn’t sure where she’s headed with her life. That’s where Romeo and Juliet comes in.

Her mom and her aunt, who kept her from her Italian heritage, send her on a quest to find a family treasure. She’s immediately thrust into a world of intrigue, mystery and designer clothes (c’mon, it is Italy!). Not sure who to trust she finds information and meets people that help her along the way. She also learns that everything is not as it seems. Was Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet based on real, historical fact? Are the descendents still alive today? And what about that plague on both those houses...?

Full of incredible plot twists, history, drama, intrigue and romance, Juliet doesn't slow down for a minute. I couldn't put the book down and found myself reading until 3 am. Giulietta is a heroine that will not soon be forgotten.