by Coleen Salcedo
THE STORY
Juliet represents the road less traveled. Will Lena take it?
Lena Newman is 17, her best friend’s a cheerleader, her boyfriend’s a football player, and as far as everyone is concerned, her life is sorted. But that’s before she befriends the new girl. Juliet is confident, slightly damaged, drop-dead gorgeous and a lesbian.
Lena realizes that her interest goes beyond just friendship. She sets off on a path of self-discovery where the loyalty of those closest to her will be tested. Read reviews: Goodreads
WHAT I LIKED
I enjoyed reading the novel from the very first page. It was light and fun. Charlotte Reagan clearly knows her craft with the way she managed to translate into words a plot that is simple yet addicting. One would probably think that the novel is just one of the usual high school romances but Just Juliet is different in a good way.
The description and portrayal of the main characters were just as lovely. It was nice to have a glimpse into Lena’s mind as she handled the newly discovered truths about herself. Then there’s Juliet. Juliet is the character that everyone would surely adore. She became strong after all the things she went through and she’s beautiful, deserving of being the titular character. Coming out is stressful on its own, which is why I also appreciated the fact that Juliet’s family is very welcoming. You don’t get that a lot from your usual LGBT reads and pop culture. And like every other romantic relationship, there are ups and downs and our lovely ladies were not exempted. The end part leaves you hanging but the epilogue ties whatever loose ends are left.
HOWEVER
I was a bit annoyed by the stereotypes present in some of the characters. For example, the only Asian in the group, Kiki, was your typical Asian kid who is really good at math and has a family that’s not so supportive of the LGBT community, also a characteristic of a traditional Asian household. And then with Lacey, I am not really sure if it should be emphasized that she’s black. But Lacey is a fun character to read so there’s that. And one important thing, I was hoping to know Lena’s family better. Maybe some solid views from her dad would have helped.
tl;dr
Just Juliet is something that will surely put a smile on your face while reading. It will bring you back to those high school years when you were just figuring out things about yourself. And most importantly, it will make you believe that love makes the world a better place for everyone.
BOOKBED 
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