**REVIEW & Giveaway** Falling for Hamlet by Michelle Ray

Meet Ophelia: a blonde, beautiful high-school senior and long-time girlfriend of Prince Hamlet of Denmark. Her life is dominated not only by her boyfriend's fame and his overbearing family, but also by the paparazzi who hound them wherever they go. As the devastatingly handsome Hamlet spirals into madness after the mysterious death of his father, the King, Ophelia rides out his crazy roller coaster life, and lives to tell about it. In live television interviews, of course.
Passion, romance, drama, humor, and tragedy intertwine in this compulsively readable debut novel, told by a strong-willed, modern-day Ophelia.

  Telling you that I remember everything from Shakespeare's Hamlet would be flat out ridiculous.  Not that people don't remember but me in general.  Looking back I remember enjoying it and all the madness that was brought forth with the death of one man.  So upon reading the title and the little  teaser at the top I couldn't resist wanting to give this one a go.  Also who could pass up anything that has been modernized of Shakespeare's work?


  This is a fun and unique take on Hamlet.  I love that it was told from Ophelia's point of view!!  It brought something new to the table for me and honestly I have always loved stories that are retold from a different characters point of view.  Gives the story a little more depth you know what I mean?  I no longer felt on the outside looking in but like I was there watching it all unfold and break apart.  The madness and happenings take on an entirely new meaning.  You get a glimpse into just how much Ophelia loved Hamlet and just how far she would really go for love. 

"We're not making a mistake.  Don't you see we are meant for each other?
How can this bring us anything but happiness?" - Hamlet to Ophelia

  Due to this being an updated take on Hamlet you also get to see more about the relationship Ophelia and Hamlet shared.  You see all the things Hamlet wanted for Ophelia and all the ways he broke her heart before their final downfall.  There is actually quite a bit of romance and love between the two but it comes off clearly as a love/hate relationship most of the time.  Hamlet is portrayed perfectly and despite all of his madness and downfalls I think this book made me love him more.  He is actually more real to me than ever and I think I may have the same relationship as Ophelia does with him.


  Ophelia is a much stronger and intelligent character in this version of the novel as well.  She has a weak spot for Hamlet but she sees what is happening.  In the description it tells how she rides everything out but it really wasn't that simple for her.  She is constantly torn between her love for Hamlet, her family and her friends.  No matter how she tries to balance it, it wont work for her.  Even when Hamlets madness slowly starts seeping into her life she can't help but hold on to him and pretend it is all going to work out.  That's what you do when you love someone with all you have right?  This however costs her everything, including the life she once knew.

"I have put everything aside to be with you.  Everything.  My friends.  My Family.
My ambition.  Don't make a face.  I used to have it.  But the last few months, I
let everything else slide.  You want to know what I want?  Well, so do I! But I can't
see past this little world we have when we're together.  I can't see a future that doesn't
include you." -Ophelia to Hamlet

  The one thing that got to me from time to time was how the DDI(Denmark Department of Investigations) treated  Ophelia.  It made sense for her to be a suspect.  I mean she was one of the few survivors in this entire mess but it was like she was slow when speaking to them.  A lot of good humour came from Ophelia in these pieces of interviews/interrogations spread out throughout the book but I found the detectives to be just flat out offensive when it came to Ophelia.  On the other hand while she is on the Zara show she gets quite a bit of sympathy and it feels more like a place where she can just get it out.  In hindsight I guess the two balance out feelings and show you who Ophelia is and that she is a stronger person than you ever thought.


  Who would I recommend this to?  Everyone!  Lovers of Hamlet and people that have never read it alike are sure to love Michelle Ray's new take on the classic.  She nails all of the important parts and adds things that you never even thought mossing until you got it from Ophelia's point of view.  Yes the difference is that she lives in this tale and not in Shakespeare's but there is a totally logical explanation for that happening. I really loved how different this novel was yet you still know that you are reading Hamlet.  You can't shake the madness! 

GIVEAWAY

I would like to give one reader the chance to read this awesome book!

The only thing that I ask is the because it is an ARC that you post 

a review when you are done reading.  It isn't a must but it would be nice :D

I am doing this as an INTERNATIONAL for EVERYONE as long as you can

receive mail :)

GOOD LUCK!!

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