Serle, Rebecca. When You Were Mine.

Serle, Rebecca.   When You Were Mine.  Simon & Schuster/ Simon Pulse    331p $16.99 978-1-4424-3313-7       hs          VG      Conflict   

This retelling of the Romeo-and-Juliet tale is heavy on gossip and first-person present-tense teenage angst, revolving around Rose’s discovery that her best friend Rob is actually “boyfriend” material.  When her conniving cousin Juliet turns up, nothing good can possibly come of the triangle that ensues.  Although Ms. Serle has a very interesting idea, the plot tends to drag as the reader is taken from one drama-filled teenage day to the next .  (Will he like me or not?  Will he kiss me or not?)  The friendships and relationships with parents are the strongest part of this book, the romance itself is less believable, and the plot moves much too slowly.                                                 --Carol Kennedy