The coming out story that will completely change the way you look at love. 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. … 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.
“It feels real without being tedious, and heart-warming without being sappy. It’s not all roses, and it’s not all doom and gloom. It’s great.” – Jon
“Just Juliet is the story I wish I could have given to my parents to read when I was 16 so that they knew what I was going through.” – Caro M.
more
Would have felt complete without the epilogue, leaves a decent book hangover with it. Other reviews tell you mostly what to expect from the book. I found it highly enjoyable.
Lena comes from an upper-middle class loving family, has a gorgeous football boyfriend, and great friends. Perfect, right? Close, but not quite. While Lena’s parents may love her, their lives are consumed with their careers, barely qualifying them as actual parents. And her boyfriend? Well, he may be cute and nicer than she thinks she may deserve, their relationship is void of any romantic feelings, especially on her part.
Enter Juliet.
Juliet is the new girl at school. She’s tall, beautiful, fun, and artistic. Lena finds herself quickly preoccupied with her, not understanding why. As their friendship deepens, she begins to realise that she is physically/sexually attracted and borderline obsessed with her. Never having questioned her sexuality before, and having dated boys exclusively, Lena goes through a period of confusion, trying to make sense of her feelings. She searches her past, researches the topic, and confides in her gay friend, Scott. At the end of this journey, Lena discovers and learns to accept that she is bisexual.
Just Juliet touches on, not only the topic of self discovery, but the struggles of “coming out”. It deals with a variety of situations ranging from love and acceptance to physical end emotional abuse, drug abuse, self-harm, and suicidality. Reagan does a wonderful job of incorporating a huge range of real-life struggles for homosexual and bisexual teens without deflecting from the story or bogging it down.
Although I don’t recommend Just Juliet to young readers do to the sexual nature of the story and the language (that seemed to increase as the book progressed), I do think that it’s an important read, evoking much needed compassion.
Too much swearing for my taste, but the book made me feel things and that is a sign of great writing.
Just Juliet is a twist about a teenage girl named Lena who finds that her sexual path is not as straight and normal as she thought it to be.
The most memorable setting for me is when Lena visits the James’ house for the first time. I could imagine myself being there and enjoying the family atmosphere where they joked, laughed, and made me feel like I was a part of it. Even with the household chores!
Lena’s relationship with her boyfriend Quinn, was definitely something every teen should take notice of. The warning signs are all there. When your friends don’t like your boyfriend and he doesn’t remember important things that everyone else does, and doesn’t listen carefully to your feelings or what you are saying, then he isn’t the right one for you.
I enjoyed reading this simply because it was typical teenager days of school, parties, friendships, love, lust, plans to be made, dirty language, and reminders of having to answer to parents.
I would recommend this book to any young adult who wants to read about differences in character, gay v. straight, and choices that are made early in life. And for adults who want to reminisce about their high school years or how to speak to their child about sex and handling the choices that are made regardless of whether you agree with them or not.
This book was incredible and all around perfect in portraying a girl coming to terms with coming out. It will tear your heart out for the surrounding characters’ stories about how they became who they are and opened themselves to the world. It will make you laugh with the camaraderie between everyone and it left me craving more. Truly beautiful!
A good book for coming out lesbians and their parents to understand what it is like to come out.