Fabio & Juliet
I've just finished writing an ambitious YA/crossover trilogy called Fabio & Juliet.
Premise
“How could I say ‘no’ to him when I’m trapped in my own silence?”
Words fail 16-year-old orphan Livvy. So when a boy at her new sixth-form college uses a compromising photo to coerce her into sexual activity, she is powerless to refuse. She is rescued by fellow student Fabio, the only person she is, inexplicably, able to talk to. Together they uncover the sinister link between his family and the murder of Livvy’s pregnant teenage mum, Juliet. If the cause of Livvy’s mutism is locked in the past, does Fabio hold the key to her release?
Fabio & Juliet is written in Livvy’s unique ‘voice’, using wordplay and literary devices to explore dilemmas and express emotions she can’t say out loud. She sculpts language to help her reframe her relationship with sound, speech and silence in her efforts to reclaim her voice.
This immersive YA/crossover novel tackles consent, anxiety, emotional abuse, toxic relationships and the struggle for self-improvement in a sensitive and age-appropriate way.
Reader reviews
I sought feedback on the style and concept as part of the development process. I asked 20 of my target readership to read the book and tell me how it made them feel.
What do readers think?
“I thought the ending was really clever and surprising. I like to think of myself as someone who sees a plot twist coming, but I didn't predict half of Fabio’s misdeeds.”
Amy, 17
“I was truly surprised at every twist and turn throughout and had to pick my jaw up from the floor a fair few times. The ending of the story was unbelievably shocking. This level of surprise is hard to come by at the end of many stories, it is rare that I find an ending truly unpredictable but this one was exactly that, I was genuinely astonished.”
Rosie, 17
“I found Fabio & Juliet to be an emotional rollercoaster of a story, reducing me to tears as well as dropping my jaw to the floor. I felt like I had all the characters sussed out by the halfway mark, yet I couldn't have been more wrong. I think it’s safe to say that the ending completely and utterly shocked me. Not one bit of me expected such betrayal. This twist was incredibly thought provoking and tugged at my heart strings. This sudden shift was so essential to the way the whole thing came together.”
Lois, 17
“I loved Fabio’s white knight act, which turned into more of a wolf in sheep’s clothing towards the end. I liked the contrast with Livvy and her struggle to talk. It is easy to relate to a character like that and to root for her.”
Zac, 21
“The plot sucked me in from the beginning, especially with there being two Fabios, and it kept me guessing until the end. I read the last line and actually gasped aloud. That’s absolutely wild!”
Alannah, 25
How does Fabio & Juliet make readers feel?
“I am unbelievably impressed by the way in which you captured such a complicated and unexplainable feeling of anxiety so well. As someone who has struggled with similar issues throughout my life, I feel unbelievably seen and understood by your book.”
Rosie, 17
“Reading your book has made me love reading again. I actually used to hate it and it always felt like a chore, but your book was so engaging that I always read it in my free periods!”
Lila, 17
“All the twists and turns were amazing. I am sure I will end up reading all three books if the second two are anything like the first.”
Zac, 21
“I liked the way Juliet’s story unfolded with Livvy's. Knowing her fate added to the tension, as I wanted to see how it happened and if there was a chance she survived.”
Amy, 17
What do you think of style and form?
“I really enjoyed the parts where Livvy uses linguistics to express her thoughts, like Fabio as verbs, Juliet as nouns and Arlia as adjectives. Livvy’s A-Level English course lined up with mine and I liked the use of poetry, music, diaries, texts and letters to show different characters.”
Amy, 17
“The formatting of the text was unique – it really captured my attention and was very evocative. It really placed me in Livvy’s shoes and I think it was very well done. You could see how she grew throughout the book and how she drew strength as a character, which helped to pull me into the book even more.”
Izzy, 20
“It felt almost like a conversation, and I could understand how each character was feeling and who they were as people, which made the book flow nicely.”
Lila, 17
“The style in which Livvy’s perspective was written was entirely unique to other things I have read, I felt it provoked a great deal of understanding for the complex network of Livvy’s personality and the sickening discoveries and experiences she withstood throughout the story. I particularly enjoyed her references to the written word; this really emphasised my perception of her solitude and entrapment within her own mind”
Lois, 17
“I really enjoyed the physical manifestations of Livvy manipulating language as she talks, trying to make sense of it all. Her struggle to communicate was a great way of exploring the malleability of the English language, how it isn’t rigid and set, but actually at our disposal to do with it as we please. Through her first-person narrative we can see how she overthinks, ruminates, and obsesses over little details in even the most standard interactions, verbal or otherwise, that she has with others.
“My favourite part of the novel for its impact and sheer importance was the portrayal of Juliet’s unfolding abusive relationship with Livvy’s dad. I thoroughly enjoyed the journal format and found myself looking forward to when Liv would find another hidden notepad so we could find out more and piece the clues together. It made me feel like an active participant in the unravelling of the narrative, facing revelations in ‘real time’.”
Chloe, 25
“I found Liv's interest in grammar and literature to be a great aspect of her personality and it ended up being very vital to her character and I could really see how the English language had been an outlet for her as she battled with using her words to express herself. Usually, books written from the perspective of a teenager tend to feel a bit clunky and artificial but I can guarantee you that was not the case with this book.”
Rosie, 17
“I think it’s an incredible idea to actually put Fabio’s posts on Instagram! It was so amazing to see the posts in the real context. It really brought it all to life and makes it feel like I'm witnessing it all, like I am in the thick of it.
“I wanted to mention my love for your reference to music as well as poetry and literature. It made the book feel very close to reality and tied very nicely into Livvy’s love for linguistics.”
Lois, 17
“You can’t help but wish the best for Livvy, for her to triumph over her condition and, most importantly, to realise that she indeed has a voice worth listening to.”
Chloe, 25
What did you think of the sensitive themes and issues?
“I believe your book would be an incredible tool for spreading awareness about how quickly relationships that are seemingly loving can turn rotten and a way to teach young girls that this type of control and behaviour in a relationship is not normal or safe.”
Rosie, 17
“The coercive situation was very relatable, and is probably one of the most common things to happen in or out of a relationship. It often leaves the girl feeling powerless for not ‘speaking up’. Girls often feel obliged to do things they don’t really want to do. I am pleased that you shed light on this issue, as it spreads awareness for both girls and boys to know boundaries and encourages people to find their voice to say stop or no.”
Lila, 17
“I have friends who have been in abusive relationships that could potentially have been avoided by powerful educational tools that educate young women about warning signs. I definitely support any book that gets people talking about topics like this.”
Alannah, 25
“The abuse and other themes were all done very well and each of them was impactful.”
Zac, 21
“Reading her diary entries opened me up to Juliet’s perspective, I was able to understand how someone could fall into such a deep trance as someone intensely manipulates and controls them. The way their romance progressed from something so innocent and lovely to something unbelievably abusive and volatile was unbelievably sad, I really do feel for Juliet, no one should go through such a horrid and terrifying thing, especially not at such a young age.”
Rosie, 17
“I can’t help but feel the message portrayed through this is incredibly thought provoking and holds immense relevance in today's world. There was a sense of recognition and understanding for the desperate struggle many young girls and women have experienced in emotionally or physically abusive relationships. It raised my awareness of the ways in which this can be presented.”
Lois, 17
“The warning signs of abusive, coercive, controlling behaviour were laid out before us, and I think it is excruciatingly important, particularly for young girls, to be made aware of these signs. I liked that Liv’s anxiety-inducing interactions with Zeke allowed us to look at the topic of consent and the new-age dangers of revenge porn/sextortion. It made me reflect on how many young girls go through chillingly similar experiences and feel they are without voice. Girls need conversation starters on the dynamics of relationships and how they can fall into damaging or abusive territory. This book would equip them with knowledge on toxic relationships, just as they foray into the world of dating.”
Chloe, 25
© Lisa Rajan 2019 - 2025