OUR STRANGE DUET, by Erin A. Craig, Delacorte Press, Sept. 1, 2026, Hardcover, $24.99 (young adult, ages 14 and up)
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera is told from Christine’s point of view in Our Strange Duet, by Erin A. Craig.
A rising soprano with a gift she is only just learning to embrace, Christine Daaé has moved through the glittering world of the Opera Populaire longing to find her purpose. Instead, she finds herself caught between two men who refuse to let her slip quietly into the chorus.
One is Raoul, her childhood friend turned devoted admirer, offering her a future filled with warmth, safety, and a love that feels like sunlight. The other is a mysterious masked figure who lurks beneath the Opera House: The Phantom. His brilliance, obsession, and dangerous devotion to nurturing Christine’s talents ignites a dark and complicated passion in her heart.
As Christine’s star ascends, so does the tension between Raoul and the Phantom. She must decide who she is when the curtain falls—and what she’s willing to risk for the life she wants. —Synopsis provided by Delacorte Press
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera. And in honor of that Erin A. Craig has penned an authorized version of the story in Our Strange Duet.
As a fan of Craig, I wanted to love Our Strange Duet. I just didn’t. And the reason why is surprising. After all, music is central to the story. But in this case, Webber’s lyrics felt corny and got in the way. And I’m saying this as a fan of the musical production.
What I hoped for was a novel where Craig really got to show off her skills. Her books for young adults, House of Salt and Sorrows, Small Favors, House of Root and Ruin, and The Thirteenth Child, as well as her adult debut, A Land So Wild, are all excellent.
Unfortunately, there’s not a lot new in Our Strange Duet. If you’ve seen the musical on stage or on the screen, it follows almost perfectly in line. Craig is limited by the story, giving readers only glimpses of what could be.
That’s not to say Our Strange Duet is bad, it’s just not great. I suggest it as a library choice for readers ages 14 and up, who enjoy moody, gothic reads.
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