Forbidden Love: YA Retellings of Romeo and Juliet

There’s just something about a great forbidden love plot. The longing, the sneaking around behind the parents’ backs, the danger. Check out this book list featuring Forbidden Love: YA Retellings of Romeo and Juliet.

This list of YA Romeo and Juliet retellings includes ALL the genres: fantasy, historical fantasy, dystopian, paranormal AND romantic comedy! Please let me know about your own favorites in comments!

Forbidden Love: YA Retellings of Romeo and Juliet

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Fantasy YA Romeo and Juliet Retellings

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong (2020) An incredibly imaginative retelling of Romeo and Juliet set in 1920s Shanghai. Roma Montagov is heir to the White Flowers gang, while Juliette Cai has recently returned to the city to take over the Scarlet gang. They have a romantic past and must band together to discover who or what is killing their gang members.

Bright Smoke Cold Fire by Rosamund Hodge (2016) Once upon a time, a mysterious fog crept over the world, killing many. Only the walled city of Viyara is untouched. The heirs of the city’s most powerful—and warring—families, Mahyanai Romeo and Juliet Catresou, share a love deeper than duty, honor, even life itself. But Juliet has vowed to punish the enemies of her clan—and Romeo has just killed her cousin Tybalt. Which means he must die.

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay (2011) Romeo and Juliet re-imagined as a paranormal love story in which Romeo and Juliet are mortal enemies, Romeo kills Juliet, and she is repeatedly reincarnated to try to change her fate.

Contemporary YA Romeo and Juliet Retellings

Roman and Jewel by Dana L. Davis (January 2021) Jerzie wants the lead in Roman and Jewel, the new R and J inspired hiphopera. But will she fall in love with her co-star Zeppelin?

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord (2020) If you’re looking for a Romeo and Juliet retelling that reads like a rom com, check out this super cute and fluffy YA romance about two high school students whose families run rival restaurants. Each of them take over their restaurant’s social media and a Twitter war ensues!

Always Never Yours by Emily Wibberley and Austin Sigemund-Broka (2019) A girl who’s unlucky in love gets the role of Juliet in the school play and decides to re-write her own story.

When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle (2012) Rosaline and Rob are destined to be together. But then Juliet moves back to town. Juliet, who is gorgeous, vindictive, and a little bit crazy…and who has set her sights on Rob. He doesn’t stand a chance.

Dystopian YA Romeo and Juliet Retellings

All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin (2012) Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city’s most notorious (and dead) crime boss, goes to school, takes care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, tries to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.’s son, and avoids her loser ex-boyfriend. Then her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she’s to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight–at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.

Mystic City by Theo Lawrence (2012) A dystopian story about rival families. Aria Rose, youngest scion of one of Mystic City’s two ruling rival families, finds herself betrothed to Thomas Foster, the son of her parents’ sworn enemies. The union of the two will end the generations-long political feud—and unite all those living in the Aeries, the privileged upper reaches of the city, But Aria doesn’t remember falling in love with Thomas and can’t stop thinking about Hunter, a gorgeous rebel.

Have you read any of these? Have more recommendations? Talk to me in comments! Also check out my list of my favorite YA rom coms!