NOT MY ROMEO – ILSA MADDEN-MILLS

**Spoilers Ahead, Read On With Caution**

I’ve read books by Ilsa Madden-Mills before, and immensely enjoyed DEAR AVA earlier this year; I actually remember it as once of my top ten books of lockdown. She writes with a clear voice and strong plot structure, making it like slipping into a warm bath and instantly relaxing. 

I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed DEAR AVA, and it’s mostly because this book didn’t have as much bite. DEAR AVA was raw, unfiltered and dark, NOT MY ROMEO was slightly more lighthearted, but still had it’s greyer, grittier moments but they were few and far between. The main plot has a touch of fate implied as it’s so coincidental that Jack Hawke (Nashville Tigers’ Quarterback) and Elena Riley (Daisy Librarian and closet lingerie maker) should meet. It starts with Elena being on a blind date, and assuming that because Jack is sat in a dark corner in the back of the restaurant, wearing a blue shirt, that he must be her valentines blind date. The story sets off from here, and we see them set off passionately, and then timidly negotiate what it is that they’re doing. The whole main plot point is that Jack is seen in the media as an ultra bad guy never does interviews, whereas Elena is a sweet buttoned up southern belle. They both ultimately end up being cast in the Daisy Town Play, as Romeo and Juliet. Hence the title. 

Something I think was well done in this book was that Jack has terrible social anxiety. He doesn’t do well with talking to new people, crowds, or journalists generally. When Elena first sits at his table, she’s completely new to him and therefore he’s not exactly off-the-bat charming. The way it’s written to convey his racing, panicked thoughts is with a lot of half sentences, thoughts trailing off whilst another begins. The stark difference in Jack from when he’s anxious and overwhelmed, to when he’s comfortable and cocky is vast. 

I wish more depth had been used when going into Jack’s past. It’s obviously traumatic, as its what initially causes his anxieties towards people, but we don’t get much beyond the altercation with his Step Dad and Mum, and then later in life it’s with a girlfriend; but nothing is overly covered in depth. 

I enjoyed the story but didn’t feel it was at the full potential that I’ve seen in Ilsa Madden-Mills’ previous books. I wanted more depth, more passion maybe. I wasn’t keen on the whole town play, Romeo and Juliet aspect, but I did enjoy the chemistry and slow build. I’m looking forward to reading the next instalment of the series.