Dramatic Life of Jonah Penrose
Dramatic Life of Jonah Penrose
Dramatic Life of Jonah Penrose
Description
Description
Red, White & Royal Blue meets the theater world of London's dazzling West End in this nuanced, queer debut romance in which a fake dating publicity stunt between rival co-stars results in romantic sparks neither of them expected.
After winning his first Olivier Award for his performance in the West End's top musical, The Wooden Horse, fabulously talented Jonah Penrose is the new shining star of London's theatre scene. But Jonah's success can't erase the pain of a recent breakup, fix his self-doubt, or remedy his father's ailing mind.
Enter stage right, Dexter Ellis: the West End's golden boy, the newest cast member of The Wooden Horse, and someone Jonah finds to be intolerable and arrogant.
Everything about Dexter is infuriatingly perfect, from his dashing looks and casual but cutting notes on Jonah's performances to his obnoxious sweaters that cost more than Jonah's rent. Worse yet, while Dexter was supposed to play Jonah's enemy in the show, his role switches to his love interest after a bout of illness temporarily sidelines half of the cast.
Jonah's plan to stay as far away from Dexter as possible is thwarted when fans mistake their on-stage tension for romantic chemistry and tickets start selling like hotcakes. With fans desperate to catch a glimpse of the West End's 'hottest couple, ' the show's producer pushes the co-stars to put on a show of their own and convince the world that they are in love.
While pretending to be head over heels for his co-star is the last thing Jonah wants, he reluctantly agrees. Yet as he gets to know Dexter better, he learns there's more to him than meets the eye. As the lines between fiction and reality begin to blur and Jonah's feelings become less of an act, he must decide if he's willing to entrust his heart to someone again.
At turns both passionate and poignant, heartfelt and intimate, The Dramatic Life of Jonah Penrose is a love letter to the theater, to life in your thirties, and to what happens when you throw out the script and improvise the life you want.
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
"Read it if: You want some theatrical flair in the best romance books of November 2025. Two musical-theatre costars clash, only to be mistaken for a couple by fans." - Fangirlish
"I know we are all ready for something charming, sweet, and fun, and this theatre romance set in London's West End totally delivers just that with a healthy dose of delightful romance tropes. It's exactly what you want to read this season, and then lend to a friend who also needs a queer romance pick-me-up." -- Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
"The Dramatic Life of Jonah Penrose reads like a perfect Broadway night out; you'll laugh, you'll cry, and your heart will be lighter from having experienced it. Robyn Green delivers a sassy romcom for every theater kid who ever dreamed of headlining an epic West End romance, capturing all the magic and mayhem of a love that goes delightfully off-script. If only novels could win an Olivier!" - Venessa Vida Kelley, author/illustrator of When the Tides Held the Moon
"This book had me chuckling away to myself as Jonah juggles making a career for himself, supporting his parents from a distance and struggling with his sometimes all consuming love life. Cue Dexter Ellis... Mortal enemy? Deeply infuriating? Actually quite hot? Robyn Green perfectly captures the excitement and frustration of figuring it all out. This is a gay rom com to get wrapped up in, as it pulls you into its drama, touches your emotions and warms your heart. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this!" - James Phoon, Actor
"Hilarious and full of heart--a tender story of chasing dreams while holding yourself together. From the dazzling, electric highs to the gut-wrenching lows, Robyn Green has spun an endearing ode to life in beautiful, messy, intoxicating showbiz." - Zachary James, Actor
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
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