Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix

Written by Caleb Roehrig

Narrated by Max Meyers

In the Remixed Classics series, authors from marginalized backgrounds reinterpret classic works through their own cultural lens to subvert the overwhelming cishet, white, and male canon. Queer star-crossed love amid a centuries-old feud takes center stage in this Romeo & Juliet remix that knows sometimes, the best way is to make it gay.

Verona, Italy. Seventeen-year-old aspiring artist Romeo dreams of a quiet life with someone who loves him just as he is. But as the heir to the Montague family, he is expected to give up his "womanly" artistic pursuits and uphold the family honor—particularly in their centuries-old blood feud with a rival family, the Capulets. Worse still, he is also expected to marry a well-bred girl approved by his parents and produce heirs. But the more Romeo is forced to mingle with eligible maidens, the harder it is to keep his deepest secret: He only feels attracted to other boys.

In an attempt to forget his troubles for just one night, Romeo joins his cousin in sneaking into a Capulet party. During a fateful encounter in the garden, he meets the kindest, most beautiful boy he's ever met, and is shocked to learn he's Valentine, the younger brother of one of his closest friends. He is even more shocked to discover that Valentine is just as enamored with Romeo as Romeo is with him.

So begins a tender romance that the boys must hide from their families and friends, each of them longing for a world where they could be together without fear. And as the conflict between the Montagues and Capulets escalates out of control, Romeo and Valentine find themselves in danger of losing each other forever—if not by society's scorn, then by the edge of a blade.

The Remixed Classics Series
A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. Lee
So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow
Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix by Aminah Mae Safi
What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix by Tasha Suri
Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna-Marie McLemore
My Dear Henry: A Jekyll & Hyde Remix by Kalynn Bayron
Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix by Caleb Roehrig
Into the Bright Open: A Secret Garden Remix by Cherie Dimaline
Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa

A Macmillan Audio production from Feiwel & Friends.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Aug 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9781250907042

Caleb Roehrig

Caleb Roehrig is a former actor and television producer who cannot seem to live in one place. Currently dividing his time between Chicago and Helsinki, he is an expert at writing on planes and recovering from jet lag. His young adult titles include Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix; the acclaimed thrillers Last Seen Leaving, White Rabbit, Death Prefers Blondes, and The Fell of Dark; and The Poison Pen—a tie-in to the CW’s popular Riverdale television series—and the Archie Horror original novel A Werewolf in Riverdale. His short stories have appeared in anthologies such as His Hideous Heart, Out Now, and Serendipity. Wherever he’s living at the moment, he’s there with his husband and an overabundance of books.

Reviews for Teach the Torches to Burn

[Sav · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well! I enjoyed this quote a lot! Also, Juliet baby~ I love you. I didn't expect your character one bit but I truly love you.

So, I wanted to give the book the full rating, especially in the beginning but I really try to be harsher with my rating so. Here we are.

I loved, LOVED, the beginning. This is one of that books that makes me understand why people like yearning so much. All the emotions were truly heartfelt in the first half. However, considering how romantic was the whole book I needed more - a lot more - development of the relationship between Romeo and Valentine. Despite being insta-love, the beginning was excellent and I needed something to solidify their bond. I wanted to see them spending more time together, to learn more about each other, perhaps to see them sneaking somewhere to foul around and in general just to have more fun together. But we had only a couple - one? two? - of scenes with them being truly together before some drama followed and we jumped in the "I love him" train.

A thing that also stopped me from giving the full writing because I personally felt that Romeo and Benvolio's friendship was grossly neglected. In the beginning we were shown so much potential but it was never developed. Sometimes I felt like Ben is even barely part of Romeo's life! It irritated me because it was hinted we'll get more of them but we just? didn't? Mercutio was fine but he was more present than Ben who Romeo literally called his brother. It was just annoying! I wanted more Romeo and Ben!

Outside of everything mentioned, the book was excellent! I actually loved the romance, the YA, the writing - most of it was pretty neat! Oh, and at places the dialog felt a little weird? Too contemporary at times for sure. But that's forgivable in my opinion, considering the book is focused on something different than the time period.

Now, excuse me, I'm going to watch my favorite Romeo and Juliet film because while I love queer happy ending, I also love tragedy.