Book Review: ‘My Dark Romeo’ by Parker S. Huntington & L.J. Shen (Booktok made me buy it)

Does anyone read book reviews any more? Sometimes I read a book, like ‘My Dark Romeo’ and I won't type up a review right away because I often have this thought flash across my mind. Who are reviews for these days? Potential readers? Or people who have already read the book and want to know if others share the same thoughts and opinions?

Really, it's neither here nor there because I'm still going to write the review. I like writing them. Someone might read them? Hello, if that someone is you, I'm glad you found our corner of the internet!

‘My Dark Romeo’ by Huntington and Shen (abbrv.) is fairly new to me. It wasn't one that I've been waiting longingly for the release, nor has it been sat on my TBR for an age. I actually first encountered it on the Waterstones website and I fell in love with the cover.

The cover design is a very interesting and clever marketing ploy. I think it utilises the same kind of psychology as other series in the same wheelhouse. See: ‘The Fine Print' by Lauren Asher. What it's doing is selling an aesthetic, and setting itself apart from its peers to attract a different audience.

I LOVE marketing strategies and psychology. Even when I can spot a maketing ploy a mile away I'm still suckered in. It's about making informed decisions, at the end of the day.

Sorry for the big tangent. What I'm trying to say is that the cover for ‘My Dark Romeo’ ticks so many boxes, and most important of all is that it is so aesthetically pleasing! I’m just in love with it.

The summary (from Goodreads) reads as follows:

“It was supposed to be a harmless kiss at a lavish debutante ball.

A clandestine moment with a handsome stranger.

But unlike his namesake, my Romeo isn’t driven by love.

He’s fueled by revenge.

To him, I’m a chess piece. Leverage.

His rival’s betrothed.

To me, he is a man deserving of poison.

A dark prince I refuse to marry.

He thinks I’ll accept my fate.

Well, I plan to rewrite it.

And in my story, Juliet doesn’t die.

But Romeo? He perishes.”

Content warnings courtesy of The Story Graph include: Sexual content, Violence, Toxic relationship.

You could be forgiven for thinking this might have ties to the infamous Shakespeare story, but it takes inspiration from the themes and characters rather than borrowing anything from the narrative arc. And that's not a bad thing, in my opinion, because I like being surprised, and if you already know where something is going, like in a retelling, it can quickly become a bit stale.

This book is fun. I think that's my main takeaway. If you're a big spicy booktok fan then this absolutely should be on your TBR list.

I found myself easily pulled into the story and it held my attention throughout. It's what I would coin “dark wish fulfilment”. The behaviours displayed and the scenarios the characters are in, should not be anything anyone aspires towards, nor wishes for. But, it's fun for a few hundred pages isn't it?

We're talking billionaires, arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, mafia, high stakes action from page to page.

The writing is easy to follow, there's just the right balance between drama and uplift, push and pull, quiet and loud… And the right amount of spice and seasoning… If you get what I mean.

I'm looking forward to book 2 in the Dark Prince Road series, and I really hope it has a cover to match it's stunning predecessor. Watch this space!

‘My Dark Romeo' is currently on Kindle Unlimited (at the time of posting this) so if you have a KU membership it's essentially free!

Written by Sarah