Contemporary romance has been all the rage as of late (don't get me started on all these incredibly similar covers) but I haven't found all the books worthy of the praise they're getting in mainstream reviews. Red, White and Royal Blue, however, deserves every line of praise it gets. I didn't think it was possible for it to be as great as all the pre-publication reviews have made it out to be but boy does it deliver.

Alex Claremont-Diaz is the son of the United States' first female president. Together with his older sister and the vice president's granddaughter, they make up the White House Trio, the young millennials whose every move is followed by the eyes of the world. It makes dating pretty hard. Enter Prince Henry of England, Alex's nemesis and total jerk; so he thinks. After an incident at the royal wedding of Henry's older brother, the handlers for both men force them to spend time together in order to repair their image. They break down the barriers between them and slowly fall for one another, all while trying to maintain their own lives out of the public eye and navigate Alex's mother's re-election campaign.

Seriously guys this is so good. It's a great romance, it reads like a real story. It's a far fetched idea in some aspects, but the author is fantastic and uses her characters to ground the story and make it seem entirely believable. Every secondary character is multi-dimensional, interesting and fun to read. She gives layers to every character so the reader can identify their weaknesses and strengths through action rather than just telling us repeatedly what their personality is supposed to me. Family life is explored, as is sexuality, and man is it modern with it's politics As in there's a Bitch McConnell joke. And considering how Mitch McConnell is an absolute joke as well as the harbinger of the apocalypse and all my nightmares, I approved wholeheartedly.

If I had any criticisms of the book it's that it could have been a little bit shorter (nearing 450 pages is a LOT for a romance novel; no matter how much I liked it) and at times the conversation fell into what I consider "Gilmore Girls" territory. Sometimes I read bits of conversation and there were so many references and clever quips it was a little much for me (and I honestly didn't get a good amount of them), but in the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter. This book is fantastic and if you're a contemporary romance fan you might have a new favorite. It's worth checking out and worth a purchase in my opinion.

If there’s one book that’s going to stick with me for years to come, it is Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. I had no idea how much this book was going to make me smile, swoon, and cheer for every single character I came across. I’m not even exaggerating when I say these characters feel like actual, real people, and if you’re like me who is just… really unhappy with the way US politics has been going… then you’re probably going to want these characters to be real, too.

Firstly, I want to mention that this book is new adult (not YA!) So, yes, there are some steamy scenes! Most fade to black, but, nonetheless, still steamy!

So this book stars Alex Claremont-Diaz, a bisexual, 21-year-old, Mexican-American who is the First Son of the United States. His mother, Ellen Claremont, is the first woman president, and she’s coming up for reelection in 2020. You see, in this alternate reality, a woman president took office after President Obama. And, y’all, this book cannot come at a better time when all I want is to keep that hope alive that things here will eventually… get better?

And then there’s Henry, the Prince of Wales. Henry is gay but has not come out due to the pressure and expectations from the crown. Henry has two siblings: an older brother and younger sister. He’s such a soft guy, and he feels so much weight upon him to fulfill his royal obligations. But Henry’s also suffering from anxiety and depression after his father passed away, and his mother has been absent since his father’s death.

This story has my favorite trope of all time: enemies-to-lovers! Alex, the POTUS, and their entourage fly to England for a royal wedding (Henry’s brother’s.) Alex has met Henry before, and always felt like Henry came off as a jerk. So after a bit of arguing, Alex and Henry accidentally destroy the royal wedding cake, and the two families go into full recovery-mode in order to get the negative press off their backs.

Which then leads into… the fake-friendship trope! Now Alex and Henry have to pretend to be BFFs in front of the press so they can clear the air especially since President Claremont is running for reelection and she cannot have this international-wedding-catastrophe in the spotlight.

I’m sure you can guess what happens from here… but once they become fake friends, a real friendship blooms as the FSOTUS and Prince get to know each other. A romance then ensues, and soon they’re trying their best to keep everything a secret.

I really had the best time reading this book. Alex is so sarcastic, witty, and has the best one-liners I’ve ever read. He’s also full of so much heart and he cares so much about his family and his background. His grandparents are Mexican immigrants, and I cannot help but relate so hard to how Alex struggles with his identity of being half Mexican and white (I’m half Thai/white); how sometimes we aren’t sure which box we fit into. I also felt such a deep emotional attachment to Henry as he wanted nothing more than to fulfill his royal obligations, but at the same time struggles with the thought of putting himself and his happiness first.

The romance in this book is top notch, and I would give my soul for a sequel. I not only fell in love with Alex and Henry, but the other diverse cast made this story so amazing. I love June, Nora, Bea, Pez, Tarah, and the POTUS (Ellen) so, so much. Like I said, I truly wish these characters were real people!

Okay, I’m done gushing about this adorable, swoon-worthy book. I sincerely hope you’ll pick this up; not only for the romance, but for the witty banter, hilarious characters, found families, close friendships, and glimmers of hope.

However, there is a lot of talk about US (and royal) politics in this book, so if that’s not your jam, then you may not love it. But even so, all the talks of politics throughout the book does have a purpose and makes sense as the story progresses (I know I’m being vague, but you’ll see what I mean if you read it!)

Trigger/content warnings: Homophobia, talks of cancer, death of a parent, outing, anxiety, depression, talks of drug use, talks of past sexual assault.

A romantic comedy with such a loveable and relatable cast and wonderful message. A timely and heart warming read.

The Characters Were Great
I absolutely loved the characters in this novel. It’s been a while since I fell in love with the characters of a book as much as I fell in love with absolutely everyone in this book. Alex is a fantastic main character, an easy one to root for and I absolutely loved everything about him. I loved how loud and boisterous his personality is, how confident he is, but also how soft he can be. And then to contrast that there’s Henry, who seems cold and aloof BUT HE IS SO NOT. He feels so deeply and is such a loveable character that you just want to PROTECT AT ALL COSTS. I loved them both so much.

And all the secondary characters in this novel were superb. I loved ALL of them and I want a book about each and every one. There’s so much room for more books with them and I would die if we got them. I loved Nora and June and I think their relationship with Alex is beautiful, but I also loved how they stood on their own. Also one of my favorite characters was Zahra and I want a whole book about her and Shaan. Please and thank you.

I Loved the Romance
Henry and Alex were adorable. I loved them together, I loved how genuine and honest their relationship felt. I loved the way it progressed and grew and it did not feel rushed to me, it felt very organic and I just loved their relationship so much. I also loved how they had real issues and how they dealt with them and just the way they communicated. They had problems and fights like any relationship does, but I feel like they weren’t trivial and that they were also handled really well. And I loved how they helped each other deal with their own issues and also grow from them together but also individually.

All the Good Stuff
And there was so much great stuff in this. There’s a lot of representation – Alex is half Mexican and bisexual, Nora is also queer, there’s a trans side character, there are POC characters… I just loved how diverse this was and how there were all sorts of discussions about identity, in every way possible and also in the context of both the USA and UK. There was also so many discussions about grief and depression and even substance abuse, and I just think it was all really well done.

I was also absolutely head over heels with Alex’s parents and their relationship with their kids. I love how supportive they were of him, and how they always put him first and also how they were both just kickass awesome people.

I also really enjoyed all the politics we got in here. Full disclosure – I am not American and I don’t know all the ins and outs of the American political system, but I do have some basic knowledge of it and for me personally, it was a nice addition to the story and I feel like it added another interesting layer. But again – I am not American so it might not be as good as I found it to be.

Really Genuine
And I will say that this book felt so genuine. I love when pop culture is incorporated into books, but I don’t think it’s done well that often. This was not the case. I loved how pop culture references came so effortlessly, how texting and generally communication were handled in here – it all felt so genuine and real and organic and I loved it.

On top of it all, I finished this book with such a warm and hopeful feeling. It was so good and it made me feel happy and good and I am so grateful to have read it because it was just a ball of happiness in book form.

Cons?
This book isn’t perfect. Its biggest issue, in my opinion, is the pacing – the pacing is truly off in here and the book is too long. There’s also these weird time jumps that happen, and the reader is never properly warned, so it takes some getting used to. I also feel like some of this was a bit far fetched. But then again, I don’t think that it’s supposed to be that realistic. Also, while Alex and Henry’s relationship did develop organically and it felt real and fleshed out, they went too quickly from enemies to friends, and while it makes sense in the grand scheme of things, I wish we got a bit more of the tension that comes with them “hating” each other.

However, while I might have really disliked these things in some other book, I really did not care that much about them here. I have said this before but I can forgive almost anything when I love the characters, and that was the case here. The things I mentioned above in no way lessened my enjoyment of this novel, because I loved it so much.

To Sum Up
If you want to read something that will make you feel genuinely good and happy and something that is filled to the brim with genuine, good stuff – this is the book for you. Fantastic characters that you will absolutely adore and a romance that is beyond adorable.

I’ll admit to being a little skeptical. Like I said, romance (especially contemporary) isn’t my favorite genre, and it’s definitely not something I read a lot of. But I just couldn’t resist a story about the son of the (female!) US President falling in love with the Prince of Wales. I mean, come on. This is all I want in a rom com. (And it’s just been optioned for a movie! I need it now please.)

Red, White & Royal Blue is exactly what the synopsis says it is. And it’s SO GOOD. Seriously, I haven’t had this much fun reading a book in a while (which is kind of on me for not reading more romantic comedies). I couldn’t put it down. Which is saying a lot because I generally don’t read romance or new adult (is that still a thing?), and I usually struggle to identify with millennial characters (even though I technically am one). But these characters just felt real, and I really liked that. Also, I’m a huge fan of nerdy female characters, and loved seeing that in Nora.

But the heart of this book (literally) is the relationship between Alex and Henry. It just made me so damn happy. We’re talking Pride and Prejudice levels of warm and fuzzy. Granted Red, White & Royal Blue goes a little beyond just warm and fuzzy (Jane Austen didn’t do sex scenes). Reading this at work was probably not the best idea, but it was worth it. Because I really truly loved it. This made me want to read more romance, and definitely more of Casey McQuiston’s work. I am really impressed that this was her debut novel, because it was so good, and a little disappointed that I don’t have five more of her books to read. I guess I’ll have to settle fo rereading this repeatedly. Which we all know I rarely do.

This was a refreshing take on the many, many books about royal love out there. While I didn't love the two main characters, I still loved their story and recommend this book.

For as long as I can remember, I have loved stories about royalty. I never dreamed of being a princess; it wasn’t a wistful, “I wish this could be me” kind of love, more so a fascination. So when I heard about Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, I knew I had to read it as soon as possible.

And ASAP I did. This is going to be one of my favorite books of the year, I guarantee.

The story follows First Son of the United States Alex Claremont-Diaz, who happens to be the son of the first female president of the USA. Not only that, his father is a Mexican American AND his mother and father are divorced. I would love to live in an America where a divorced woman with biracial children could be president. Like, what? Sign me up.

Anyway, Alex gets himself into a sticky situation with his “arch nemesis” Prince Henry of England which evolves quickly into a friendship that then grows into something more.

Yes, we have a gay Prince of England and bisexual First Son of US falling for each other.

I loved the hope this story gave, the representation it brought to light, and just the overall arc for all the characters. I loved Nora, who is the granddaughter of the Vice President. She’s intelligent, queer, brilliant, and a loyal friend. June is another delightful character as Alex’s sister. The family and friend dynamic is so strong.

My one issue is that there are a few too many F-bombs that seem unnecessary. I’m not a prude or annoyed by cussing, but sometimes in writing it can feel overdone. Believe me, I swear as much as your next person in real life. If it’s a character choice, like it’s one character’s thing, then fine. But when it’s every characters’ thing, it starts to sound more like the author’s voice and not theirs.

But overall, this book is getting 5 stars from me. I want to live in this America. I think this will give a lot of people who are struggling with our current administration’s mission to erase their existence hope to keep fighting. Bring on 2020 and this kind of presidency!

Thank you, Casey McQuiston for this story. And thank you St. Martin’s press for the advanced digital copy! Red, White, and Royal Blue is available May 14, 2019 but you can preorder your copies now!

Already put in my top 10 books I've read so far this year. Incredible Royal Romance, that has lovable characters. Every character has a depth and a story. I can't help but want to start a re-read right away. There was one minuscule confusion with the changes in scene for time lapses but the rest was everything I craved and wanted. Instant pre-order and cannot wait until I can get everyone talking about this romance.

I'm calling it right now--Red, White, & Royal Blue is going to be the "it" contemporary romance of the summer. It's going to be 2019's The Kiss Quotient, or The Hating Game: a romance that pulls in non-romance readers and ends up a crossover hit.

Why? Because it's one of the most delightful books I've ever read. In addition to a wonderfully sweet enemies-to-lovers romance, it's got a ton of humor, great friendships, and a political component that's perfect for readers like me who are a fan of The West Wing and/or Veep.

Red, White, & Royal Blue follows Alex, the snarky and ambitious First Son of the United States; his aspiring journalist sister June; his best friend Nora, who's his ex-girlfriend and also a genius, in an alternate 2019 where Alex's mother, a Texas Democrat, has succeeded President Obama and is currently working on her 2020 reelection campaign. (I know. Part of the fun of this book is living, just for a little while, in that world.) When Alex accidentally embarrasses himself at the Royal Wedding by getting into an altercation with Henry, the Prince of England that Alex has always held a grudge against, the two are forced to pretend a friendship in front of the media to salvage international relations. And thus begins an adorable hate-to-friendship-to-love romance as both boys learn about themselves and each other through finding that their worlds aren't so different after all.

Red, White, & Royal Blue is a book that, to put it simply, will make you happy. There are complications along the road, of course, but it's sweet and genuine even amidst the snarky humor. There were a few places where the plot felt meandering to me, but I was completely gripped by the story and relationship throughout, and Alex and Henry are a couple you can't help but root for. I think in a lot of ways this is a book that we need right now, and even if you're not traditionally a romance reader, you're still going to love it.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of Red, White, and Royal Blue.

BRILLIANT!

MARVELLOUS!!

WONDERFUL!

I could spend ages telling how amazing this book was. How much fun it was. How much I didn’t want it to end! Honestly, Casey McQuiston, if you wrote another book in this series or three, wink wink , nudge nudge (view spoiler), I would totally be down for that.

Ever since I heard about this book, I knew I had to read it, and I’m so glad I was able to get an ACR of it because this is going down as one of my all-time favs. I saw someone say about this book that its “everything [they] never knew they needed” and damn if that isn’t true.

Alex Claremont-Diaz is the First Son of the USA and with that comes the obvious responsibilities, but Alex doesn’t mind, he’s wanted to be in politics for as long as he can remember. His Mother, Ellen, the President, is up for re-election so the last thing the campaign needs is any scandals.

At the Royal Wedding of the Prince of England, Alex manages to cause quite the scene with the other Prince, Henry, also known as Alex’s sworn enemy.

To avoid and international incident the heads of the two states decide to get these two acting friendly in front of the press. So, they play at friendship, but as they get to know each other and what the other has had to face and deal with, maybe they become friends along the way. Maybe they become something more than that even. But they have more than their families to deal with, they have whole countries to manage if their relationship becomes public. And with Ellen’s re-election in the works, can the campaign handle such a scandal?


This story was funny, heartfelt, and just plain fantastic. I want more of Alex and Henry and the whole gang. I laughed, I cried and I hoped with these amazing characters.

Red, White & Royal Blue is Casey McQuiston’s debut novel. This romcom follows the First Son of the United States, Alex, falling in love with the Prince of Wales, Henry, in an enemies-turned-lovers whirlwind. I was initially super excited to read this book for various reasons:
* The author is going to have a book event at a local bookstore near me in June.
* Her book is turning into a movie.
* There were great reviews on GoodReads.

After I finished the book, I had mixed feelings about it. First, let me start off with the positives:
* The premise of the book intrigued me and I can totally tell why this was being picked up for a movie.
* The diverse set of characters was definitely refreshing.
* The strong overall message and representation in this book is wonderful to see and I'm glad to see that this is becoming more mainstreamed and discussed about.

Now with all the points I mentioned above, you would think that I would give this book a 4 or 5 star review, however, there were so many little things that made this book not so great which outweighed the pros and made it a 2 star review instead. There were a couple of times where I really wanted to DNF the book, but I decided to go through to finish it hoping it would get better and to also provide a fair and unbiased full review. Here is the list of issues I had with the book:
* Political Ideas: Now I understand that because we are talking about the First Family that there will be some political ideas shared in here, but the author basically shoves all her political ideas into this book and calls it "romance." I typically avoid books that are over political and thought this would only have light politics, but there are so many political digs thrown to the reader that it's poorly executed no matter what political party you affiliate with.
* Characters: All the characters, especially the main characters, are so unlikable and so rude. The characters are a bit immature - more to come on that later.
* Dialogue: The things the characters say are either too much slang, profanity or just downright corny.
* Plot:The plot is a bit all over the place and it seems like some of the things in here
* Writing style: The story reads like "fan fiction" that you would find on the internet, but not in an actual novel. Also I was a bit surprised on how this read more of a YA than an adult romcom instead. I assumed since the characters were in their early 20s, it would be a bit more mature, but the writing ended up being a bit more cheesy instead.

Overall, the book just wasn't for me. With that said, I wouldn't say to disregard this book completely, but it wouldn't the best book you've read in romance though.

Disclaimer: I received a free advanced digital copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest opinion. This has no effect on my opinion, review or rating.

Yes, it’s true:
The story is unique and creative.
The MC’s have terrific chemistry.
The banter is witty and plentiful…

There’s a ton to love about <i>Red, White and Royal Blue</i> and it’s astonishing that this is Casey McQuiston’s first published novel. Eloquent and smart, though I tripped over the present tense a few times, McQuiston leaves no loose ends. So much went on in this story and looking back over 400 pages of laughter, love, and tears… well, wow.

What an amazing debut! It's full of humor, heart, and heat--definitely lots and lots of heat! The relationship between Prince Henry and Alex, the ups and downs, the trials and tribulations, rang so true, and I was thrilled to be along for the ride. Also, in addition to an amazing cast of supporting characters--June and Norah, Pez and Bea--it was refreshing to be immersed in a game of politics that, no matter how dirty it got, was still vastly more positive than what we currently face in real life.

There was a huge buzz around this book, and know I know why! It’s as sweet as the cover, drawing me in with an amazing couple that refused to let go until the very last page!

This book has heart and humor in spades! I agree with some other thoughts that I've seen; I would have liked to see the animosity/enemy aspect of Alex and Harry's relationship expanded on a bit more in the beginning. I've already preordered this and I can't wait to get a chance to read the physical copy and mark all my favorite bits and quotes (there were so many). LOVED the bisexual male rep, so good, so necessary and important, and it was all handled so well. I really enjoyed the friendship and sibling relationships in here as well. They were well written and each person had their own unique personality and dynamic to the group so that it felt different when they were absent.

Red, White & Royal Blue is a special book to me. It had everything I was hoping for, but it also had so much more. And I’m going to find it hard to put the exact visceral reaction I had whilst reading into words.

It is first and foremost A Queer Book. What with all the hype this debut has been receiving, I was worried that it might fall in to that fetishised m/m romance catered to straight women. But it’s absolutely entrenched in queer history and queer culture and the queer experience. The narrative feels rich in culture with it's references to historical figures, and queer politics of the past -- and this nods to the novel's current day political plot line. I loved the imagining of a parallel current day America, the almost cruel imagining of a world where they elected their first female President. You can really tell how passionate McQuiston is about it all, that it came from the heart, and that she honestly cared about what she was writing.

The characters were one of my favourite aspects of the novel, and I loved them all so much. Even the minor characters were so vivid and distinct. The main ensemble had such a great chemistry, and the page came alive every time they all appeared together. Alex's arc meant a whole lot to me, particularly seeing as he was our protagonist. I loved seeing a slightly older character question their sexuality for the first time -- and that it wasn't in an angsty way? Sure, this novel has it's share of angst, but Alex working out his bisexuality wasn't part of that. He was also just a hilarious, and brash, and relatable main character. But despite that, it was Henry that got to me the most. Something about his desperate avoidance of confrontation, his need to please and to keep up appearances, that underlying snark and sadness... just hit a bit close to home. I hate to say it's the British thing but maybe it is.

As I mentioned briefly, politics are a big part of this story. Alex's entire life and the entire novel ultimately revolves around the American political system, and his Mother's appointment as President. It was a gripping and interesting aspect to the novel. And whilst the British side is obviously much more geared towards the monarchy than parliament; it was interesting to compare the way the US and UK handled things or reacted differently. Alex is overwhelmed with the need to enact change, and to use his privilege to his advantage -- and it weighs on him. And I think it was so important to see a bisexual, biracial character in this situation. 

Alex and Henry's relationship was deliciously tender. They become completely consumed with each other, and in turn the reader becomes completely consumed with the pair of them (I was at least). It was intense, but without being unhealthy or overbearing. It manages to evoke both the feeling of heart-aching, romcom-worthy love, and desperate, relatable, first love. It's an interesting dynamic of a completely un-relatable situation -- a secret relationship between a Royal and son of the President -- that still manages to feel down-to-earth and REAL. McQuiston puts the private and the public side-by-side; makes the common place news-worthy; raising the stakes on every aspect of the story.

On to McQuiston's writing. She managed to strike that perfect mix between something that was modern, funny, and realistic, but without being too cheesy or too reliant on references. There was some almost surprisingly beautiful and lyrical prose, not to mention the clever and witty dialogue. The historical references are weaved in to the plot seamlessly, and add gravity to the story. Everything feels momentous, because they mirror what has come before them -- but also represent a future that none before could have had. The plot hit all the beats perfectly, and managed a lovely compromise between light and angsty. She really shines when it comes to both her prose style, and her narrative/structural style. 

Overall Red, White & Royal Blue was an emotional rollercoaster, and ultimately so so life-affirming. I laughed and cried in equally large amounts, and became much more attached to the story than I could have imagined. I finished it over a week ago, and since then I keep returning to read over favourite scenes and chapters. I can already imagine that I'll be rereading it again in physical copy, once it's released.

***Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review***

Attention enemies to lovers fans: Red, White & Royal Blue is your next obsession. Picture this: Alex, the First Son, is forced to fake a friendship with his arch nemesis Prince Henry of Wales. Throw in excellent banter, swoon-worthy emails, a romance for the ages, and you have the perfect recipe for a rom-com.

In this story, Alex’s mom is the President of the United States and her reelection is coming up very soon. Alex and his sister, June, are used to the attention they garner from the media, but one day Alex accidentally creates a media frenzy. At the wedding of Prince Philip, Alex encounters Prince Henry, his arch nemesis. However, what Alex didn’t expect or intend was to trip and knock the $70,000 wedding cake over. Oh, and did I mention he dragged Henry down with him?

Needless to say, the tabloids are making it seem as if America and Britain have strained relations due to Alex and Henry’s dislike of each other. There is only one possible solution to solve this PR crisis. Alex and Henry will convince the world that they have been best friends secretly all of these years. As you can imagine, Alex is less than thrilled with this idea. He can’t imagine anything worse than hanging out with dull, seemingly perfect Prince Henry. But, soon Alex starts to realize that there is an actual human being underneath Henry’s flawless exterior and persona. Before he knows it, Alex is actually friends with Henry, and then he starts to fall for Henry.

This book is unbelievably raw and realistic. You get to experience Alex’s sexual crisis right along with him. He’s always been into girls...right? Surely, he would know if he was bisexual...right? So why is he thinking about Henry and kissing Henry so much?

Casey McQuiston writes this book perfectly. You’re right there with Alex and Henry as they find themselves falling for the other. You witness their struggles and fears. Alex coming out as bisexual during his mother’s reelection campaign is less than ideal. Henry coming out as gay to his family, let alone all of Britain is a seemingly insurmountable task. The image of the crown is far more important than Henry’s personal truth or happiness.

I fell in love with these characters as soon as they appeared on the page. Each page only caused me to fall deeper in love with them. Their relationship is beautiful. Their personalities are complete opposites, but they complement each other perfectly. I dare you to read this book and not fall in love with their relationship.

Quite honestly, I can’t praise this book enough. Red, White & Royal Blue forces the characters--and readers-- to question how far they will go for love. *sigh* I definitely recommend this book to everyone. However, you should know that this book does talk of politics quite a bit. It may be labeled as a romantic comedy, but this book also delves deep into the politics of America. If you aren’t a fan of political talk in your books, then this book may not be for you, but I encourage you to give it a try anyway. The romance in this book is extremely well done. More stories like this deserve to be told. I’m so happy that the book community is publishing more diverse books.

Each step of Red, White & Royal Blue is a wonderful journey of friendship to romance cumulating to a kiss at a New Years Eve party. One of my favourite parts of this as while Alex struggles with the fact that he enjoyed Henery’s kiss there and what that means, it is an open exploration empty of any tortuous self-hate. It helps that this book is just chock full of queer characters, from transgender security guards to gay Latino Senators. I especially enjoyed the flamboyant and avant-garde African character Pez who while reading as gay is shown to be bi or even maybe straight.

Where this book steals my heart though is when Henry and Alex flirt through emails quoting Alexander Hamilton, Alex Ginsberg, Radclyffe Hall, and Eleanor Roosevelt. While this book is a romantic comedy doesn’t shy away from the darker topics like the political scandal that erupts when our boys are caught. Henry’s character especially deals with the grief of the loss of his lost father and being constantly told to live a lie by the monarchy.

I’m just going to outright say it, this is one of the best books I have read this year.

I have so much love for Red, White & Royal Blue! This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2019 and it surpassed all my expectations. One of my favorite things as a reader is discovering an author’s first book and finding magic on the pages. Red, White & Royal Blue hit every note perfectly. It is a funny, romantic journey with diverse, smart-mouthed, witty, big-hearted characters who you route for every step of the way. I loved Henry and Alex's clandestine meetings and heartwarming, hilarious banter via email and text. The characters make mistakes, stumble and fall, but always manage to recover. It's set in the modern political world and doesn't shy away from tough topics like racism, homophobia, and intolerance, but the reader comes away with a feeling of hope and happiness. In today's cynical political climate, this story is so refreshing. Red, White & Royal Blue is a romance done right and is a stellar debut by Casey McQuistan.

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

Man, I really wanted to like this book. I’ve been waiting for months to read it. I’m an Anglophile, a political junkie, and a sucker for a good romantic comedy - so basically I’m the target audience for this book. But it was just really disappointing. Neither the characters nor the plot felt believable. Even small details felt jarring it false - like the claim that Alex had final exams at Georgetown at the end of January ... Or that Alex, Nora and June, three young kids, were basically running a Presidential campaign. Also, readers should be prepared that this book is less “The Royal We” and more “50 Shades of Gray”. It gets pretty graphic at times - all fine and dandy, but you should know what you’re getting yourself into.