REVIEW: Romeo Falling by Jesse H. Reign

It’s been a while since I yelled at a book. “Don’t do it, Jude!”, “Do NOT do it!”, “FFS you did it.” Yes, my husband asked what was going on.

What was going on was “Romeo Falling” by Jesse H. Reign.

This book is one of the ones that never fails to hit me right in the heart – childhood best friends who struggle with their relationship as they get older. And, that dear readers is by far the worst over-simplification of a novel I have ever written.

Shy, reserved, imaginative Romeo and outgoing, feisty, heart-on-his-sleeve Jude meet when they are kids. They immediately create a world in which they can be everything to one another: adventurers, dragonslayers, swordsmen, friends, protectors. In fact, Jude takes on the role of making sure that nothing bad ever happens to his best friend. The problem is that we can’t ever promise we’ll do that – because it’s impossible.

As the friends become older, they grow closer. They experiment with one another, pushing and pulling each other into manhood, into sexuality and more. But they are young, and they aren’t equipped to have conversations about how they are feeling. Tragedy strikes and the bond between the two becomes stronger and more fragile at the same time. When Romeo life is shattered, Jude says all he can think to say… “My window is open.”

I will never look at an open window again without thinking of this book. Romeo sneaks into his friend’s window and is comforted, protected from a horrible beast that is disintegrating his life: grief.

I do not want to spoil this book so I’m trying to be careful about what I write. Life takes the two characters in different directions. Jude knows he has feelings for his friend and moves away. Maybe he can’t face what he’s feeling, maybe he can’t face what his friend might not be feeling but choices are made that change the men’s lives irrevocably.

Reign has written a book that will resonate with people who remember the taste of popsicles on dry summer lips, fighting imaginary creatures in the woods until the sun goes down, believing without doubt that keeping your foot under the covers will protect you from monsters under the bed. The descriptions of the time the two main characters spend together are lyrical at times, gently lulling the reader back to summer friends and adventures.

This book is about love and heartbreak. Both are prevalent in this story. We grow and change when we experience both, especially if we experience them with the same person. Jude and Romeo are friends, lovers, enemies and everything in between as this story meanders its way through their lives. A beautiful, authentic, passionate tale of the road between friendship and everything else we will become to one another.

“Is your window open?”

“Always.”