Shakespeare Retellings for a Modern Young Adult/ New Adult Audience

There are a lot of writers who have been inspired by William Shakespeare’s works. The evidence is overwhelming. You simply need to do a quick search of Shakespeare retellings to get an idea of just how many people are re-writing and being inspired by his works when creating books for a modern young adult audience.

This is by no means an academic assessment of these works, this is a purely for fun commentary on what I have read so far, and why certain books were chosen for our book boxes over others. For some of the better-known plays I have read dozens of books, and I know there are dozens more that I just won’t have the time to read myself, while for some of the lesser known plays I have only found a couple of retellings to read through before deciding which ones to offer.

The sheer breadth of creativity of these retellings is exciting, and I have truly enjoyed getting a glimpse into what authors are thinking when they read through Shakespeare’s works and then decide how they will reinterpret them for a young adult and new adult audience. Whilst we haven’t chosen all these books for our book boxes, we have brought some into the store to accompany play collections, and others we have filed away for future collections.

Here is my list of some of the YA and new adult retellings of Shakespeare’s Works that I have read so far, broken up by play, with my notes on what I felt to be the main strengths of each book.

*Please be warned, these reviews carry spoilers if you are not already familiar with Shakespeare’s works and the storylines of these plays*

Romeo and Juliet

Noughts and Crosses by Marjorie Blackman

This is a really powerful young adult retelling of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Set in an alternate world where Noughts, those of lower economic means, live in a world ruled by the Cross, those whose lives are that of privilege and power. Blackman expertly tells a tale of ill-fated first love when a Nought and a Cross fall in love and not only their families, but the entire society, stands in the way of them being together.

This is one that you will not be able to put down, it is an important story of race relations, bias, and explicit bigotry, all tied together as of one of William Shakespeare’s best-known plays. This book brings modern sensibilities to this age old story, making it a perfect choice for a present day young adult reader.

The Last Romeo by Justin Myers

This book is just fun! Justin Myers take on a young man navigating heartbreak and then using his heartbreak as a springboard for infamy in the form of his dating profile pseudonym Romeo where he chronicles his attempts to re-enter the dating game. This book is an enjoyable read for a new adult audience. Deceptively thought-provoking, Myers takes us on a journey of self-discovery in this laugh out loud tale loosely based on William Shakespeare’s famous romantic tragedy.

If you want something light-hearted, Myers take on Romeo and Juliet is a good choice for you. With drama throughout, this book will keep you invested in the main character through his entire journey towards love. 

Ramon and Julieta by Alana Albertson

Albertson makes feuding family’s fun and fiery in this modern retelling of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Set in Southern California, amidst the premise of feuding taco restaurant dynasties, this book will leave you hungry with all the beautiful descriptions of flavourful food!

I really enjoyed reading this new adult romance take on Romeo and Juliet. This book is filled with sexual tension and colourful descriptions of Mexican American cultural celebrations and the food that accompanies them. The book follows the Romeo and Juliet storyline but without communicating the intensity of desire that Shakespeare's tales of tragic lovers achieves.

This book contains scenes that are sexual in nature and may be best suited for an adult audience.

An Arrow to the Moon by Emily X R Pan

Emily X R Pan takes us on a winding journey through first love, set against a magical force infecting the lives of a young couple, as well as quite literally uprooting the town that they live in.

The story is slow and melodic in the way that it is written, and in its progression of our two main characters from friendship to first love, and eventually to fulfilling their destiny which is very much out of their control. This is a lovely first love story for young adult readers. 

The Hundred Loves of Juliet by Evelyn Skye

Evelyn Skye takes Romeo and Juliet as her inspiration for this new adult expansion on story. This book is set in present day where Romeo and Juliet live their lives being reincarnated throughout history, always destined to find one another and meet their fated doom. The book focuses explicitly on a particular reincarnation of the ill-fated lovers and takes the readers on a journey from first meeting all the way through to acknowledgement of their love for one another.

This book was enjoyable to read, but I would have liked more of a climactic moment to set off the ending of the story.

Between You, Me, and the Honeybees by Amelia Diane Coombs

This book is very cute. The romance is expected if you are going into this knowing that it is a retelling of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and it is enjoyable to read. Set amongst the backdrop of rural California, and with the premise of feuding honeybee farmers, this book was educational as well as being a nice escape. The young lovers in this retelling are sweet and their romance which in the beginning is enviable, soon turns sour as their families past begins to overshadow their feelings for one another.

I wish that this book had more of a climactic moment, unfortunately the end seemed to fizzle through for me and while I finished the book happy, it was easy to move onto the next book in my pile without any lingering thoughts of how the story played out.

American Panda by Gloria Chao

Set in Boston, on the prestigious MIT campus, Gloria Chao's take on Romeo and Juliet tells the story of a young Taiwanese-American girl and Japanese-American boy as they fall in love.

Chao's take on William Shakespeare's classic love story will steal your heart. Centred around the prejudice within a first generation Taiwanese-American family, this book teaches us about love, loss, self-discovery, and finally standing up for who you are. I really enjoyed this book and the love story between the main characters.

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

Set in Shanghai in 1926, this fantasy retelling of Romeo & Juliet tells the story of Juliette Cai of the Scarlet Gang and Roma Montagov of the White Flowers. These rival gang members are thrown back into one another's life after a fleeting friendship 4 years earlier. When monster sightings start occurring across the city and member of both gangs begin ripping their own throats in public spaces, the pair must work together to save their friends and family.

Roma and Juliette are drawn into working closer and closer together in the pursuit of the identity of monster and the origin of the 'madness' that is gripping their city, and the pair are forced to grapple with the feelings that they held for each other when they were younger.

This book is gripping and pretty gross in parts and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Once I picked it up, I couldn't wait to find out how it would turn out. 

Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong

In the conclusion to 'These Violent Delights' Chloe Gone takes us back to Shanghai 1927 and right back into the thick of the White Flowers and Scarlets feud. 

This book is graphic in its depictions of the violence erupting throughout the city, and draws on historical events such as the 'White Terror' to paint the picture of Gong's fictionalised Shanghai, complete with monsters and duelling heirs to gangster dynasties, Roma and Juliette. Once again Gong's writing is vivid and imaginative, immersing the reader in Roma and Juliette's world and making this book hard to put down.

I am being purposefully vague in this review as I don't want to spoil either of the books if you haven't started this duology. But I can honestly say that the second book did not disappoint after how much I enjoyed the first one. This book was moving and beautifully written and I would recommend it wholeheartedly.

One For My Enemy by Olivie Blake

I must preface this review by saying that I am already a fan of Olivie Blake’s writing, and this book certainly did not disappoint! Waring witch families set in a grimy otherworld New York City, what’s not to love!

This book is a dark and exciting take on Romeo & Juliet. Blake is able to successfully build a world in which our two main characters are pitted against one another in such a way that the desperation of their need to be together is believable. Filled with pulse-quickening encounters, and complex characters, this story weaves together multiple stories of love and loss in this exciting new take on Shakespeare’s best-known tale of woe.

Bride by Ali Hazlewood

Well this book was just a lot of fun to read, once I started I found that I couldn't stop and then I had read the whole thing! 

Putting a paranormal twist on William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, this book looks are waring Werewolves and Vampires and our two main characters, drawn together by some supernatural pull that doesn't care if they are different species. Hazlewood writes an enjoyable story, with lots of plot twists and turns throughout. Drawing on the feuding families and star-crossed lovers in Romeo & Juliet, this book is a fun romantasy take on Shakespeare's classic work.  

This book contains scenes that are sexual in nature and may be best suited for an adult audience.

 

Romeo & Juliet Book Box

 

Hamlet

Letters from Elsinore: I Loved Ophelia by Christopher Rush

Christopher Rush takes us behind the scenes of Shakespeare’s Hamlet in this in-depth expansion of Shakespeare’s best known tragedy. This book is beautifully written and does not shy away from the dark subject matter of Shakespeare’s tragedy. Told with biting sarcasm, and from Horatio’s point of view, I would recommend this book wholeheartedly.

I must mention that I was confused about the title of this book, this may be completely my own misunderstanding, but I thought that this book would have more of an overarching focus on Ophelia.

Ophelia by Anne Klein

Anne Klein expands upon William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, giving voice to Ophelia, in this lovely young adult novel based on the play.

I must confess that I watched the movie before I read the book, which I do not recommend doing because the book takes you on a much more expansive journey into what Ophelia was thinking at the time. This is a lovely YA expansion on Hamlet, told from Ophelia's point of view and giving further life to one of Shakespeare's lesser known heroines.

The Death I Gave Him by Em X Liu

Em X Liu’s depiction of a futuristic retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, set in an underground lab, with Horatio depicted as artificial intelligence is really creative and well worth a read.

I would like to say that I am a pretty open person to all depictions of love in books, but this one did take a minute for me to wrap my head around. I won’t say more because it will give too much away, but it did make me stop and think.

This book contains scenes that are sexual in nature and may be best suited for an adult audience.

The Taming of the Shrew

Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma

I had a lot of fun reading this book. Nisha Sharma paints a fun new adult retelling of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew which is filled with sexual tension throughout. This book is fun and flirty, and filled with miss-steps by the two main characters throughout.

This book is one that you won’t want to put down, a perfect escape into a no-holds-barred romance!

This book contains scenes that are sexual in nature and may be best suited for an adult audience.

Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler

Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler is a modern-day retelling of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. This book chronicles the forced match between a young woman and her father’s star employee who is desperately in need of a spousal visa in order to continue to work as part of the university research team.

My main criticism of this book is that it is sometimes hard to believe the level of sexism displayed by the male characters in this book when considering this as set in modern day.

 

The Taming of the Shrew Book Box

 

The Winter’s Tale

Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E K Johnston

This book takes a very serious subject matter and sets it against the background of rural Ontario during cheerleading camp. Johnston talks candidly throughout this young adult book based on William Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, about mental health and the importance of seeking help in the wake of a tragedy.

This book looks at social stigmas around rape and contains mature themes that are better suited for an older young adult audience. This book also deals with discussions of abortion access in the light of the main characters attack.

Much Ado About Nothing

Under a Dancing Star by Laura Wood

Laura Wood paints Shakespeare’s famous enemies to lover’s romance amidst a backdrop of 1930s Italy. Within the confines of her uncle’s estate, 17-year-old Bea, sent to Italy by her parents to learn how to be a respectable young woman of breeding, ends up finding herself instead.

This book is as much about finding love as it is about finding the courage to be oneself. Enjoyable from start to finish, this book is one that you won’t want to put down.

Much Ado About Margaret by Madeleine Roux

Madeleine Roux takes on Shakespeare’s beloved enemies to lovers’ comedy in this new adult retelling of Much Ado About Nothing. Roux’s main characters are loveable and flawed, and I rooted for their romance from the start, hoping that Roux would follow Shakespeare’s lead and give her novel a happy ending.

I really enjoyed reading this book but would have liked more world building in this historical drama with modern sensibilities.

Tastes Like Shakkar by Nisha Sharma

Sharma does it again with her new adult retelling of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. With two main characters who burn off the page and into your hearts, Sharma continues her If Shakespeare Was an Auntie series with this feisty enemies to lovers’ drama.

This book will keep you laughing throughout as the two main characters navigate their oh so obvious sexual attraction to one another. This book follows the same formula that Sharma uses for her first book.

This book contains scenes that are sexual in nature and may be best suited for an adult audience.

Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese

Chloe Liese takes on William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing in this romantic new adult retelling. I found the main characters likeable and their romance fun to read throughout. I did feel that this book relied too heavily on its sex scenes instead of further development of the main characters that I wanted to know more about.

This book portrays a neurodiverse main character and discusses issues that effect this character's every day life based on the authors own experiences.

This book contains scenes that are sexual in nature and may be best suited for an adult audience.

 

Much Ado About Nothing Book Box

 

Macbeth

Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin

This is a book about revenge most foul and I absolutely loved it!

Capin does a fabulous job of taking a very serious subject and making it the main theme of this dark retelling of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth without diluting the seriousness of the crime that has taken place. Jade Khanjara is a main character motivated by revenge, who will do anything, including committing murder, to get even with her attackers.

This book contains mature themes such as rape and murder and may be best suited to an order young adult audience.

As I Descended by Robin Talley

This is a haunting young adult retelling of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Our main characters are a female couple who conspire together to achieve a coveted scholarship for university by any means possible, including murdering their classmates.

Set amidst the backdrop of a haunted boarding school in what was once a working plantation in the Southern United States, this book is atmospheric and just down right spooky!

 

Macbeth Book Box

 

Twelfth Night

The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake

Julia Drake’s retelling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is a deep dive into love, loss, and self-discovery. Set amidst the backdrop of rural Maine, in the fictional town of Lyric, a town which has been built around the lore of a shipwreck and the lone female survivor who washed ashore and dressed as a boy to earn her keep.

Touching on themes of mental health and suicide, this book is a whimsical young adult retelling for a modern age. This book deals with themes of sexual identity and suicide as the overarching themes. 

Marriage and Masti by Nisha Sharma

Nisha Sharma’s finale to her If Shakespeare Was an Auntie series, is a fun and sexy new adult retelling based on William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

Set across luxury resorts in Goa and then luxury apartments in New York City, this book is fun and flirty throughout. Filled with missed opportunities and the things that weren’t said between friends who pretend to be lovers who become lovers who started out as friends.

This book follows the same formula that Sharma employs for her first two books of the series.

This book contains scenes that are sexual in nature and may be best suited for an adult audience.

Butcher, Baker, Vampire Slayer by Juliann Whicker

A paranormal retelling of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night set in the fictional town of Candlestick and filled with vampires, werewolves and the butchers who slay them and the bakers who keep the butchers full and healthy for the fight. 

The ideas in this book are very creative and I love the idea of pulling together Twelfth Night and a nursery rhyme. I would have liked more character development and relationship building to really pull me into the story. 

This book is geared for a younger reading level. 

 

This is not a full list of all YA and new adult retellings of Shakespeare’s plays, only a list of what I have read and considered for our collection and specifically for our play inspired book boxes. We know that there are many more retellings out there and we look forward to continuing to explore this ever-growing catalogue of stories.

 

Written by Jennifer (eCommerce Manager)