CALLING ROMEO By Alexandra Potter Black Swan Books(UK)/Downtown Press(US) September 2003 ISBN # 0-552-77003-5 {Click here to buy this book} Calling Romeo is Ms Potter’s third novel in what the British call “chicklit”, women’s fiction. Chicklit caters mainly to the 24-30 age

Juliet Morris is 30 years old, living with her long-term boyfriend Will Barraclough and feeling very much in a rut. It has been 2 years since their last holiday, the closest things to dinner and a movie was getting take-away and a the movie of the week at the local video store, and worse, Will has stood her up on Valentine’s Day. When he back out at the last minute for a fancy dress party put on by the advertising company Juliet works for she could only feel the final straw breaking her back. She’d grown complacent to Will’s lazy attitude…the not going out at the weekends, leaving dirty clothes all over their flat, not washing the dishes when it’s his turn, all the take-aways and nights alone in front of the TV while Will was working, etc. But this was the last straw. This party was important to Juliet and Will knew it. To back out the minute they were walking out the door was more than she could handle.

At the party Juliet is a presenter of two tickets for a romantic evening on the London Eye, the new Ferris wheel built to celebrate the Millennium in London. She was pleased when the bids reached 500 pounds, then suddenly a mysterious man bids 1000 pounds but only if Juliet will accompany him on the ride. Before she can protest the gavel is struck, sending Juliet’s life into a world of romance, exotic destinations… and deceit.

Will Barraclough quit his 9 to 5 job to pursue his dreams of becoming a landscape architect with his friend Rolf. Instead of finding himself on just the design end of the job Will finds himself up to his scalp in mud, working late nights to meet deadlines and giving up the luxury of weekends. Especially the long Sunday mornings lounging in bed with Juliet! He knows the first year is the hardest for start up companies. It takes a lot of work. At first he doesn’t see Juliet’s detachment. Even now when he’s too tired to wonder where Juliet is. Until he realizes that he’d missed Valentine’s Day! He knows Juliet is very upset with him. Her silent treatment proved that. But when he’s forced to cancel out on her company’s party something tells Will he’s losing the woman he loves.

Calling Romeo is the story of a woman looking for love in all the wrong places. Ms Potter tells this tale expertly. Her ability to make strong emotions leap from the page and into the readers hearts seems to be doe effortlessly. Each character is well fleshed out, the problems between Will and Juliet are believable and each secondary character helps t give this story multiple dimensions. For example, Juliet’s best friend Trudy is an up and coming fashion designer who finds herself pregnant and alone. While she seems flighty and eccentric much of the time she actually helps Juliet to focus on her situation. And because of the relationship the two women share Juliet can help Trudy to make the right decision about her pregnancy.