Wow, was I ever pleasantly surprised by this book! It gave me all the warm fuzzies and the relationship between the two main characters was healthy and beautiful and raw. I was left with a complete book hangover, which is always a sign of a book well-written if you ask me!

Probably more towards a 2.5 stars...

I did not like the beginning of the book. It felt too frenetic and somehow out of order. There were terms used that were not explained until a chapter or two later and I ended up getting confused keeping the characters straight (no pun intended). So much of it seemed false, especially the “y’all” that somehow only occurred in the first couple chapters (and oddly not when they were back in TX the first time).

The second half of the book redeemed itself. You start to get to know the characters more and they become more real. Unfortunately, I still feel like Nora and June could have been more rounded. The conversation between Nora and Alex was strange. Maybe I am old but it didn’t seem like the way Nora would talk to him. Regardless, the history quotes and long emails worked to open Henry and Alex up. The text messages were flat out hard to read. It could be because it is a proof and it will be better in the final copy.

Ultimately, it was a feel good book and you couldn’t help but root for the two of them.

Notes:
- Bitch McConnell is the funniest line in the book
- How did Zahra have time? Although they seemed like a perfect match
- The Luna backstory was interesting in terms of how it related back to sexuality vs power

There was absolutely nothing about this book I didn't love. I wasn't even interested in reading until I saw all the hype and finally conceded. And boy, was I in for a ride. Red, White, and Royal Blue kept me constantly feeling so many emotions - elated, sorrowful, hopeful - that I did not ever expect. If it was possible for my heart to burst out of my chest, it would have numerous times while I read this novel. I absolutely devoured it and loved every second of it. I will definitely be sure to buy this novel the day it comes out - an honor I (as a broke college student) don't often bestow.

However, something to know before reading is that this book has explicit sex scenes in it, which is almost never my cup of tea. I want to know that it happened but not be there when it happens, you know? However, I didn't mind them in this book. McQuiston writes sex scenes with such intimacy and with just the right amount of imagery so that I didn't feel the need to skim over these scenes as usual. I would recommend those who are wary of these scenes (as I am) at least attempt to read this book as they were not bad like I thought they would be. Even if you do find them to dispel you, I would definitely read the rest of the book. The journey is well worth it.

This book has been cross-posted to Goodreads and Twitter.

I don't read a lot of NA books, and contemporary isn't the genre I gravitate towards that much but I still really wanted to read this one! Red, White & Royal Blue is exactly the type of contemporary story I do love to read. Super cute and honestly the most swoon worthy romance ever!

You can typically tell where a story like this is going to go so the plot wasn't that surprising to me. However, the way everything was handled, how most characters reacted, those things were pretty surprising to me. I don't think I ever read a novel where the supporting cast of characters was actually this supporting. For me personally, this all read very realistic but also extremely comforting. I loved the sibling relationships and how supporting Alex's parents were. 

From the moment you get Alex and Henry in a room together you start shipping them. Their banter was definitely #goals and I adored all their interactions. Although their emails might be my favorite! I highlighted so much of them. The opening to their emails was usually hilarious (To: Alex, First Son of Off-Brand England), the P.S. was usually beautiful and everything in between was both heartbreaking and heartwarming. 

I think that also sums up this story quite well, I laughed out loud, I cried quite some tears, mu heart broke, and it was also filled with a shit ton of love. This has quickly become one of my favorite contemporary novels ever and not many get that much praise. The romance between Alex and Henry was incredibly swoon worthy, they're the best couple of basically ever. I adore them so so much and I might be a little jealous of their relationship haha. The bar for a future bf is once again raised ;) Oh! We also get a ton of references to popculture and I always love that. 

The story was good, but what made it great and unforgettable were the characters. I adored every one of both the main and the secondary characters and I hope we get a novella of a companion novel with them haha. 

Alex is our main, main character as we only read from his perspective. He's the biracial son of the first female President of the USA and he's figuring out that he made not be straight like he always thought. Alex was a great main character and I enjoyed reading about him a lot! Henry is our other main character and the Prince of England. Does it get any more romantic than that? He is a closeted gay to almost everyone and he's the most precious thing ever. It breaks my heart that there are people out in the world who can't be themselves because other people are assholes. And reading about Henry just made that really clear once again. I truly hope reading this book can be a source of comfort for a lot of (queer) people. 

There is also the amazing cast of supporting characters. Most important are June, Nora, Pez and Bea. June and Nora are Alex's sister and best friend and they're the White House Trio. I adored their relationships and I think Nora was just the best. She was quite relatable for me! Pez is Henry's best friend and Bea is his sister and I believe the only person in his family that knows he's gay. I loved all of the sibling love in this novel! And Pez was one of the most colorful characters I ever read about haha. All of these characters are simply amazing and made this story so wonderful!

What a fun book! I love the concept. I can't wait for it to be published so I can start recommending it at the library. It was a charming story, the characters were lovely and I melted when they got together. All in all very satisfying.

3.5 stars to Casey McQuiston's smart, snarky and relevant debut, Red, White & Royal Blue.

As someone who has loved romantic comedies with a bit of steam the past few years (I'm looking at you Christina Lauren, Helen Hoang, Abby Jimenez), I was pretty excited to see that this genre was moving to include a male/male romance - obviously a straight female, you might wonder why - but who doesn't love to see representation of all relationships in their books! Love is love, y'all (yes, that is a nod to the Texas theme of this book)!

Royal families and politics antics galore, when first son Alex Claremont-Diaz and royal Prince Henry fall in love - things aren't as easy as they might be for two nobodies! Our two leads are adorable characters and the peripheral characters only add to the fun. The reason I am giving this a 3.5 is that I felt the book was about 100 pages too long for this kind of story and at times, the length took away from the enjoyment. I did love the banter and storytelling but felt the story would have flourished with less. McQuiston did an excellent job with her debut and I'd certainly be curious to see how her work evolves with her next novel!

Thank you to St. Martins for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Witty banter filled royal based rom-com . A delightful little read I really would recommend. This book was graciously provided via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hands down one of my favorite books this year. It has all these elements that I love: hate-to-love romance, British characters, LGBTQ+ characters, and more. The storyline was amazing, even though political intrigue isn't usually my thing.

Will update with links to my blog post when it goes live.

I want to start by saying that this book meant a lot to me. I'm not in politics, I'm not someone who identifies as LGBTQ, but none of that matters, because this book speaks for us all. I cannot avoid talking about the things addressed in this book. And so, with the publication of this book nearing, I warn you that I cannot write a review that doesn't contain plot points, character development, and the ending. The majority of this review will, like normal, be spoiler free, but bits of this review will contain spoilers.

I read this book expecting fluffy contemporary themes. I read this book knowing there was a gay romance between the Prince of England and between the First Son of the United States, and I was all for it. I read this book expecting YA angst, romantic elements, light politics, and to be honest, not a a lot more. I really couldn't have been more wrong.

This book was well written, funny, clever, knowledgeable, and so current. The author has absolutely mastered making this book feel so real and so raw. The characters are genuine, complex, reliable, and the relationships they have are those you expect to find in real life, and less in fiction. The themes and stories are also close to the bone, the issues faced throughout are represented EXACTLY how I would expect them to be in the world's media, the political landscape concerning close to real elections, and the general people's reactions worryingly real and phobic.

As always, let's start with the characters. I really don't know how to explain how much I love these characters. They're glorious in their honesty, they interact brilliantly, and they're flawed. A flawed character on his or her own is something that is difficult to perfect, and McQuiston has managed to create a book full of them. Whether it was the European or American side of the Atlantic, each character had been thought through, their importance to the plot planned, real, and understandable. There was no true character that proved to be an antagonist, more the ideas explored and the way stories handled, again something I think was a powerful message to carry in the subtext of the plot.

Alex and Henry were brilliant. They were the adorable squishes that I was desperate for them to be, yet this was far from their only claim on their story. They were paradoxically powerful and vulnerable, a wonderful mix of completely different and extremely similar. They were loving and kind, but they did not do this at the expense of others. They sacrificed themselves and their own happiness rather than those around them. They fought through the life they lived in the book with grace and grit and were so much more than I expected from the leads in a romantic novel. I believed in them and I routed for them, not because they were wonderful together (they were), not because I wanted them to be happy together (I did want this), but because they stood up and were themselves to everyone around them. And they were themselves throughout the book, they grew and evolved individually and together, and were impeccable examples of romantic leads being their romance and yet being so much more than their romantic storyline.

The rest of the super six were just phenomenal. I have to say that June is formidable and possibly the most gutsy of the lot. I never really realised until the end just how influential she was, but her companionship, tenacity, and intellect were actually quite inspirational. I loved Nora's powerful intelligence and absolute certainty in who she was. She oozed everything I would expect from a lesbian computer whizz, but she never did it at the cost of anyone else's shine. Bea was everything I imagined a female version of Prince Harry to be. She battled through her father's death in her own was, embraced press vitriole and the Daily-Mail-all-over title of 'Powder Princess' with impeccable grace and almost gratitude. She was unabashedly herself, a feminine power in a royal family full of powerful women that were different from her. She used their insistance on taking her down to forge a new path for herself, one based in addiction support, familial support, and ultimately trans-atlantic friendship. I feel like she is the royal we celebrate in Harry, and was a really great example of a woman neither pushing ahead of her masculine siblings, nor being hidden by them. And finally Pez, loud, brash, and eccenentric in a way that I think only rich people can be. There was no requirement for the Prince of England's best friend to be either African, Black, or eccentric, yet in this story, it would have been at odds if he had been what we have come to expect as run of the mill in our own royal family and in romance novels in general (something that is, once again, a testament to the author.)

When we expand outwards to her family, and to those associated with the characters, we find a complex mix of backgrounds, characters, and personalities that would be the example of a modern day working/personal dynamic. Alex's mother toes the line between mother and president incredibly well, and is not afraid to drop the Mum act and pick up the political standpoint when required, or to fall back to her family and drop her public persona when her family require her. They're accepting, and have a great family dynamic that really shows how divorce does not mean the end of relationships completely. I really commend the author on her supporting cast of characters, who were instrumental in making this a stellar read. Alex's father is a great example of acceptance and embracement of one's true self, supporting the efforts of his family, and his friends (especially Raf the hispanic gay politician).

My personal favourite was Zahra, whose no nonsense attitude was exactly what was needed, and I imagine would be present in a woman of her postion. Her relationship with staff around her is bordering on dictatorial and it is glorious that a woman has been given such power in a book which also has a female president. The incorporation of similar positions within the Prince's household was symbolic, their differences and similarities as marked and detailed as the differences between the Prince and FSOTUS themselves. They were the great example that the Royal family were not - some of which were thinly veiled satire of the current British Monarchy and made me cringe and laugh in disbelief.

I really don't want to spoil this completely, but I can't help but mention the incredible commentary on real life that is present throughout the narrative. In a world of social media and instant access to information, the power of the press and the manipulation of stories and how they are presented is painfully close to the current climate of modern day fame, monarchy and politics. I feel like such a small paragraph at the end of a rather large review is not justice enough, but to go into more detail would spoil elements of the story that I do not want to reveal. The use of relationships as smoke and mirrors, the denial of LGBTQ romance, the apparent sexual predilection of people in power and the cover ups that entail, the corruption within politics and the media, and the apparent ability to be above it all. It was painful to read this in fiction and draw parallels to the real world, to real presidents and press matters, and to realise that this sort of prejudice, racism, sexism, homophobia, and inappropriate, immoral, and illegal behaviour is still both present and somewhat accepted in modern day society.

Overall, this book was spectacular in it's delivery, hilarious and charming in it's story and character development, and monumental in it's message. It is a stellar example of using a genre to raise awareness and comment on issues whilst maintaining a charismatic and enjoyable ensemble of characters and storylines. It took me by surprise, made me laugh out loud and feel true pain, and was simply a special book that I cannot recommend highly enough.

ARC provided by St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

What can I say that hasn’t already been said about this book? I absolutely loved it. It is delightfully Gay- in both senses. As a queer reader, I find it difficult to relate to a lot of romance novels or really get into them. But this book is easily one of my favourites of the year.

I absolutely loved the inciting incident, I was initially under the impression that it would be something terrible that the protagonist would have to spend the whole novel fixing but instead, it bowled me over laughing. And that's the thing about this book. It was actually funny. I laughed out loud more than once reading this and that almost never happens. Casey McQuiston capitalizes on millennial humour and culture without being cringe-inducing or making up new words to replace a trend that died three months ago. This is a funny book about funny people written by a funny person.

But not only that her writing was personal, intimate and heartwarming. To see a story so romantic and outright LGBT friendly still shocks me, nothing about this book- for me, was fetishizing or uncomfortable like a lot of other Male/Male romances that I have read. It felt like a love letter to the gay community, Alex figuring himself out will be relatable for a lot of readers.

Diverse characters litter this novel and if I were to discuss every aspect of it then I would be writing an essay- not a review. Alex is bisexual and mixed race, Henry is gay, Nora is queer and it's implied that a lot of the other characters are too. (Overall just really good representation). Addiction, politics and the downsides of celebrity are all explored at length. The theme of grief also runs through the novel and I think it was handled very well for New Adult book. The discussions felt mature, realistic and the way the characters acted really emphasised that they were still struggling with it. I think it was an important part of the story and I would like to read more books that cover the topic in a similar way. (I recommend The Astonishing Colour of After by Emily X.R. Pan for a YA Contemporary that tackles the complexity of grief.)

Every character is distinctly complex and likeable. Alex is the best kind of an asshole, June is bold, Nora is strikingly smart and Henry is literally Pince Charming and by the end of the book, they've all changed completely. Even their parents are first-class characters. That's something I really enjoyed about the book. The parents were involved in their children's lives and didn’t just let them swan around and bugger everything up. Actions had consequences.

But, it isn’t without its flaws. While I enjoyed the romance very much but I didn’t realise the book took place over such a long time scale. This didn’t take away from my enjoyment of it but sometimes I just missed the time skips and it felt slightly jarring when scenes changed so quickly. Although, I did receive an ARC so this may change in the final copy. Then that will be ‘History, huh?’

Overall, I loved the book and I intend on buying it as soon as it comes out on the 14th of May 2019.

Trigger Warnings for:
Homophobia, Racism, Depression, Panic Attacks and Anxiety, Cancer, Death Addiction, Assault and Being Outed.

I just couldn't finish this one. It was very cute in the beginning....it just didn't hold it for me. I almost felt like it was a YA Romance...with steamy scenes and cuss words.
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I wanted to like it. I loved the characters. I loved the idea. LOVED it...it just didn't deliver for me.
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I think other people will really enjoy it and if it hit the big screen...I would be there in a second. It felt like it would be a great romantic comedy on screen...but alas, it didn't work on paper.

I really really enjoyed this book!! I adored all of the main characters, but especially Alex, Henry, and June. Yes, this book was a little bittersweet because it's a possible "what could have been" scenario since Alex's mom is elected president following the 2016 election and this book deals a lot with the campaigning process for 2020. However, I still really liked the political aspects of this book with Alex working on campaign strategies and working on his mother's re-election campaign. The friendships in this book was fantastic. I especially liked reading Henry's relationship with his sister, Bea and his fried Pez (awesome nickname, btw). If you want a cute LGBTQ romance (especially one that involves British royalty), then definitely pick up this book when it comes out on May 14!

I loved this book. It was adorable, funny, and sweet, and I don't even LIKE romance (generally). I tend to find sex scenes cringy and decidedly not sexy (it's the word choice every time). But this was really well done! There were, like, kind of a lot of sex scenes, but I didn't once find them cringy. Nothing was described as throbbing. It was good. The characters were really well-crafted, and the world-building was fabulous. Plus Henry and Alex's relationship was really really cuuuute and I laughed out loud at Ellen's Powerpoint. Alex read as queer to me from the first page (especially the part about how he would touch the prince's photo and imagine he could feel his hair? that is so gay, dude, who are you kidding) so, aside from my initial confusion because I thought he was already out, I really enjoyed his process of self-discovery. It was super true-to-life.

Where to begin, I absolutely loved this book!!! The story was so heart tugging, I just loved it. I read it in one sitting, which is the highest compliment I can give a book/author. Alex and Henry will stay with me long after I finished their story. Casey has a way of making you feel like you are floating above the story, almost like a voyeur, I have not experienced this feeling, at this level in a long time. It is the highest praise I can give. I loved how real and flawed the character were, the way she put you inside their heads. This story was a joy to read, I highly recommend this one, absolutely stunning! Well done Casey McQuiston, I look forward to reading more from you :) Best book I have read so far in 2019!

I couldn't believe this was Casey McQuiston's debut novel - what a stunning and witty read!

Considering I'm not a very political person, I found the dialogue to be extremely funny and well-researched. The banter between Alex and Henry is captivating and the diversity of characters within the story had me hooked the entire way. It's rare to find an LGTBQ romance book these days, and I must say, McQuiston has really outdone herself.

Thank you to Netgalley, St.Martin’s Press and the author for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This review is basically just me gushing about Red, White, & Royal Blue. So, I absolutely loved this book; the characters, the setting, and plot, the pop culture references. It was perfect. There was nothing about this book that I did not love. The chemistry between Henry and Alex was electric. Just reading their emails made me smile. And oh my god they stressed me out with their sneaking around. I was in constant fear of them being caught. Also, Nora and June are the best friends I would love to have. Nora is unapologetically herself and says whatever it crosses her mind, and June is sweet and has a Jane Austin obsession. Oh, and Alex lives life with a reckless abandon that I appreciate. Another thing I appreciated was that their friend’s groups blended together and interacted with each other rather than staying isolated. TL;DR: You need to read this book. Everyone needs to read this book.

Red, White & Royal Blue was a breath of fresh air and holy cow...Casey McQuiston can write! Enemies to lovers is my favorite romance trope and this book knocked it out of the park. There was so much to love here: the perfect male/male romance (and hilarious banter) between Alex and Henry, the family dynamics, the diverse cast of characters, the political aspect, and the fact that it was all so relevant!

Casey McQuiston’s writing is witty, and so damn funny, yet she eloquently handles issues of race, sexuality, and politics like a seasoned pro. This book is one of a kind and I highly recommend it!

Thank you to Netgalley, St.Martin’s Press, and the author for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. Red, White & Royal Blue was not what I was expecting for a debut novel. I am utterly impressed. This book touches on several different themes including politics, the LBGTQ community and coming out, family ties and relationships, and the love and duty to ones country. Casey McQuiston has written a novel that pulls it all together. A journey of self-discovery. The inner turmoil of coming out and the implications it could have on families in prominent positions. And the aftermath. My heart was cheering for Henry and Alex throughout the book and my heart hurt every time they encountered roadblocks to their relationship. I wish everyone in this world would just accept and love everyone without judgement. Great book. Highly recommend. Will likely be a book that can inspire many people who are struggling to come out. Oh, and can we talk about how perfect the title is for this book?!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

I just want to start off by saying that this is the best debut novel I have ever read. And I'm going out on a limb and calling it now - I think this will be my favorite book of 2019.

Now buckle up, I'm about to gush for long hot minute.

But the truth is, also, simply this: love is indomitable.


Summary
This follows Alex, the First Son to the first female president of the United States, and Henry, the Prince of Wales. The two of them have been rivals since they met as teens. Now, a scuffle at the royal wedding leaks to the press and threatens international relations. To try and fix the situation, they are forced to pretend to be best friends until things calm down.
But what starts of as a simple press scheme, turns into so much more. And their secret relationship threatens more than just their own futures.

Overview
This is told in third person from Alex's point of view as well as email exchanges between Alex and Henry.
This is one of the single most quotable books I've ever read - I highlighted 26 passages on my first read through.

Content Warnings: Racism, grief, drug abuse, homophobia, anxiety.

Alex wishes he could help, but he doesn't particularly mind. He's just as attracted to Henry's cloudy tempers, the way he comes back from them, and the millions of shades in between.


What I Liked
1. Alex and Henry are the most precious couple and I would protect them with my life. Reading and following their relationship was so beautiful and heartwarming. Everything was stacked against these two and I was pulling for them from page 1.

I don't know if I'll ever be allowed to tell the world, but I... I want to. One day. If there's any legacy for me on this bloody earth, I want it to be true, so I can offer you all of me, in whatever way you'll have me, and I can offer you the chance of a life.


But the thing is, jumping off cliffs in kinda my thing. That's the choice. I love him, with all that, because of all that. On purpose. I love him on purpose.


2. These are some of the best side characters I've ever read. There are a lot of side characters - family, friends, security, etc - but I connected to all of them. I don't know how McQuiston gave so much substance to so many characters but everyone felt like a fully fledged character.

3. The banter and one-liners. Oh. My. God. The dialogue in this was utter perfection. McQuiston captured how 20-somethings talk so perfectly. It was funny, and witty, but still intelligent.

The phrase "see attached bibliography" is the single sexiest thing you have ever written to me


4. The family dynamic. Alex talks frequently about his family's history - their Mexican and Texan roots, the difficulty of having both of his divorced parent's last names, and dealing with their mentally/time intensive careers. You were shown the tension that caused but also how it brought everyone together. Despite tension, everyone stood by each other unwavering. It was such an amazing but real depiction of a strong family unit. And Alex and his sister June are one of my favorite sibling duos ever.

5. This book hit so many difficult things - gender, sexuality, grief, race, etc. And it had me running the gamut of emotions, I laughed, cried, and everything in between. But in the end I was swept away by the hopefulness of this book. This book just leaves you feeling so inspired and hopeful in the end. I absolutely want to believe in this future.

This is it. October 2, 2020, and the whole world watched, and history remembered.


6. Read the Acknowledgements! McQuiston shares about her writing experience and it made me tear up all over again.

What I Didn't Like
Literally nothing. This book is complete and utter perfection.

I can't recommend this book enough. Please, please pick this up. This story was moving and so important. And it left me feeling so hopeful and full of love for these characters.

So good! Just read this already! I loved the outlandish premise, but the author made all the characters so real and heartwarming that I couldn't stop reading.