4.5 stars 
 "A Perfect Romeo is boring. It's more interesting to watch him struggle with his emotions." 
 Cassie Taylor dreams of acting though her parents would rather she pick a law school and more sensible career aspirations. She is a people pleaser and though she would typically submit to her parents' wishes, she feels strongly enough about her future that she sets her sights on acting school. The only person she doesn't feel the need to make happy with her choices and actions is Ethan, which from the very first day adds tension and dimension to their relationship that she doesn't feel with anyone else in her life. 
 Ethan Holt is on his last chance audition to The Grove. He is closed off, arrogant, and sees right through Cassie's personality. But nonetheless, he is drawn to her even as he tries to keep himself from falling for her. 
 When they are cast opposite each other in the title roles of Romeo and Juliet, sparks fly on stage and off, but can they find a balance between the sparks and the friendship they both cling to while also working on a performance that could make them stars? 
 I loved the alternating timelines, with scenes from the present day contrasting with those from six years before. The tension in both timelines remained high throughout, and though the time changes, the arch of the relationship fits well together when bridged as it is. The present day scenes reveal very little of what happened in the past (except for the scars leftover), making those past scenes that much more compelling. 
 There is so much built up angst and sexual tension, both in the past and present, that I couldn't help but read this was quickly as possible. And it flew. I've said recently that I don't usually like a lot of angst in my reads, but this was an exception to that statement. I didn't feel the angst, though I recognize it was there, perhaps because of the way the timelines were split. 
 Bad Romeo echoes so many aspects of the classic play it contains within. Even the play Ethan and Cassie are working on in the present day scenes contains hints of star-crossed lovers. 
 The end shocked me a little bit with where it ended. I really wanted an epilogue, because at that point I was so engrossed in the story I hadn't realized I was *that* close to the end. But I loved it just the same for it's abruptness, because just like in a play, when the curtain goes down it is up to the audience to draw the next scene themselves. 
 I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.