After years of bullying at school, 19-year-old Julian is depressed. He sees a glimmer of hope after meeting the similarly out-of-place Romeo at a party and sharing a kiss with him. The only problem: Romeo has always identified as straight and he hangs out with a group of intolerant guys. But as the two begin to fall in love, Julian finds strength he never knew he had. When Romeo's old friends come after the couple, a vicious fight puts both Julian and Romeo in the hospital. The two boys decide to take a stand for their right for respect.
Just Julian provides insight into the struggle against homophobia, reminding LGBTQ readers that they are not alone.
"Overall, an easy, quick read. I think it would work for upper middle (8th) grade students as well as high school readers. The content is approachable, and dramatic enough to keep their interest."
- Michelle Motyczka NetGalley
"This modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet is just as heart-wrenching as the original — but with a happy ending."
- Sarah Atkinson Resource Links
"The novel boasts empathetic characters and enough dramatic action to hold readers' attention to its happy ending."
- Michael Cart Booklist
"A unique way of telling a story in a new way to make it relatable to younger audiences. Would definitely be a good compare and contrast in a classroom and just a fun read."
- Nicole Kriener, Librarian NetGalley
"...these novels [Just Julian and Romeo for Real] provide much-needed representation for those whom society marginalizes."
- Kirkus Reviews
"The romance stories in Lorimer's Real Love series reflect the diverse world that teens live in — at a reading level for emerging readers."
- VOYA
MARKUS HARWOOD-JONES is a writer, visual artist and documentary filmmaker. He is the author of the short story collections Confessions of a Teenage Transsexual Whore and Everything & All at Once. His feature film, Mosaic, tells the story of his journey across Canada and the United States to learn more about the trans community. He lives in Toronto.
