A completely unexpected, absorbing, and charming novel. Both a coming-of-age narrative and a deeply compelling enemies-to-friends-to-lovers story, I wasn't expecting to love this book as much as I did. But the characters are vivid and real, and the alternate political landscape is so hopeful and fraught. Highly recommended for fans of political humans, friendships, and people who fall in love and decide to fight for it. Alex and Henry are delightful, and the surrounding cast--their siblings, parents, friends, and staff--are a warm and hilarious family.

Netgalley review.

This book was truly amazing! Like, more than I even could have expected. It's diverse in all the best ways. The two main characters are the sweetest, truest little cinnamon rolls you could ever possibly read about. I already want to flip back to page 1 and start from the beginning. This is a book that I think everyone will be able to see themselves in or at the very least, everyone can get something out of this book. I will definitely be buying myself a finished copy when it comes out.

Red, White & Royal Blue is so completely far removed from my own frame of reference and experience, that I didn’t ever expect to be sat here, upon finishing it, with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. But it’s the hope for understanding and for change within the heart of this book that’s the most enduring and universal feeling of all. It’s a book that, the author acknowledges, felt like it had to be something more than just a fluffy, AU after certain events in US political history. This book being released at this time, in this climate, in this presidency, makes it feel personal. It’s a book which seems a simple set-up: First Son of the United States (yes, FSOTUS is his official acronym) has what seems like a feud resulting in fisticuffs with one of the princes of the UK so the two of them have to make/fake nice and pretend to be best buds so it doesn’t plummet both of their respective families’ approval ratings on either side of the Atlantic. Of course, what should be a fairly obvious, trope-filled contemporary instead becomes something much more political and pressing. Without wishing to ruin anything about this book, anyone with even a cursory background in romance books or films will know where this blossoming fake friendship between these two is heading – but what Casey McQuiston focuses on isn’t just the growth of their relationship but also the very real ramifications of such a relationship that they can’t escape, especially given each of their very different (but equally scrutinised) statuses on the world stage.

The part of me that misses my A Level Government and Politics class also really enjoyed the insight we got into election campaigns and the First Family of the United States. In much the same way as films such as Chasing Liberty and First Daughter name-check bits of the process, and the likes of Veep and The West Wing differently portray the day-to-day of executive power, I actually believed the Claremont-Diaz family as living in the White House. I can also say without a doubt that Ellen Claremont-Diaz would surely be a long-shot for president but if she harnessed the right time, the right moment, post-Obama presidency, it’s not that much of a stretch to imagine her badass self taking office in the right political climate; that’s why I think I felt so invested in seeing her re-election campaign play out. Part of what builds this plot point into more than just that is the plethora of side characters in the Residence, from their security to their staffers. Zahra, head First Family PR wrangler also ended up being one of my favourite characters in the entire piece so a lot of credit must be given to Casey McQuiston for making her side-characters so distinct and believable - and for letting the POTUS be so blunt and swear-y.

Red, White & Royal Blue also had a way of casually referencing snippets of pop culture, for example saying that Alex painted over Sasha Obama’s pink walls in the bedroom with blue when he moved into the White House, or that he enjoys surreptitiously watching a video of Justin Trudeau speaking French (dude, relatable), or pausing, mid-narrative to let the White House Trio take and caption an Instagram photo. Casey McQuiston managed to incorporate these elements into the narrative in such a clever way that it somehow made the First Family feel all the more real and situated in the book’s time, rather than the references coming across as cheap and easy, or simply forced into the narrative so that it seemed #relevant with the kids. There are so many examples of this sort of pop culture integration being done poorly in literature (and perhaps mileage may vary on how realistic a reader finds it) but I, for one, loved it and could definitely see the traditional media and social media outlets reacting in exactly the way portrayed during the course of the story. The White House Trio themselves were exactly of the age and disposition where their different attitudes towards public image would necessarily affect how they felt about social media and the pressure to be a certain thing in order to help their mother’s approval ratings stay solid in the wake of a presidential (re)election campaign.

As a Brit myself, I liked that this book tackled the institution of the British monarchy head-on, bluntly talking about its legacy of colonialism and its tendency to close ranks whenever anyone remotely deviant might slip into its confines. Prince Henry’s father, for example, was a hailed actor but there’s still a tension between his mum and his grandmother, the reigning Queen, over her daughter’s decision to marry an actor of all heinous things. It is moments of truth like this that override any perceived “slip” when it comes to research about the British monarchy. For example, reviewers have flippantly said the author gets it wrong by calling Henry Prince of Wales but what she gets wrong is just who holds that office and title, so I’ll forgive her any perceived sins in that camp. And I actually thought she did a pretty decent job of avoiding most of the horrendously false “Britishisms” that authors not from the UK tend to ascribe to English characters – the main one being the tricky, sticky Britain vs England vs UK issue. (It’s something not even all people from this island understand so, hey, I can’t start pointing fingers!) Aside from the occasional “bloody” or “bloke”, I wouldn’t say Henry’s vocabulary or speech pattern is particularly caricature-like either, rather it’s probably quite indicative of what your common and garden royal sounds like nowadays. I was mildly surprised by the author portraying Prince Philip and his wife Martha as a little too close to the bone for comfort – squint and it’s William and Kate, or at least as their harshest critics would portray them i.e. boring but the plain face needed for the likely heir to the crown in the decades to come. I didn’t expect that underlying commentary, but it was there, if you’re willing to look for it amongst the overarching story of Henry and Alex’s relationship.

Henry and Alex’s relationship is undeniably the driving force behind the narrative and their interactions were full of genuine banter and moments that had me cackling aloud at my Kindle in a way that I haven’t in quite some time. (The amount of highlights I’ve done on this book is positively indecent.) Their personalities clashed and complemented, in the best way, and it was so very believable that they would challenge each other in ways that, at first, might seem like antagonism to the outside viewer and even, crucially, to themselves. But the main thing which powered this couple and their story was that Casey McQuiston took the time to build their characters fully, fleshing them out so they didn’t ever feel like stock characters or stereotypes easily dumped into a trope-y plot she wanted to tell; instead, I felt Henry’s deeply repressed anguish over his father’s death and his mother’s seeming lack of engagement with her family following this (something he’d never confronted because, he’s English, stiff upper lip, keep calm and carry on etc. etc.) just as much as I felt Alex’s hyperfocus on his planned trajectory for his eventual political career, ignoring any parts of his past that he didn’t feel like dragging into the light because it might cause a complication in his grand plans. Red, White & Royal Blue doesn’t shy away from portraying, in all its ugliness, the effects of institutionalised homophobia, whether that’s in the US or the UK. I knew, before reading this book, that it had to at least slightly address it (otherwise it would have felt a very convenient story far removed from the political reality), but I didn’t expect the book to confront it in such a real and honest way. My heart ached at some of the conversations in this book, and I’m not even exaggerating – the book made me so incredibly mad and sad all at once that prejudices about the gender of who people happen to love could be, in 2019, so bloody divisive and disastrous (potentially) for all involved.

I’m not gay, I’m not bisexual, I’m not royalty (more’s the pity, or maybe not after reading this), I’m not involved in politics in any way, I’m not Texan, I’m not even American for god’s sake, but something about this book punched me in the gut even so. It’s a life experience that is so far removed from my own that I have the luxury of not having to have confronted these kinds of issues in my life thus far.  And, even so, this book genuinely touched me and made me feel so very wrapped up in Alex and Henry’s story and rooting for everyone to come out of the book unscathed – I can’t imagine what its enduring note of belief in yourself and hope for change must do for the people whose experiences do feel represented by this book. Red, White & Royal Blue is a book worth far more than the run-of-the-mill “big-hearted romantic comedy” tagline of its synopsis; the emphasis should be on the big heart of the book itself because, truly, this book is one of the good ones.

I'm in awe of this phenomenal debut!! I ran to request a review copy when one of my book buddies was absolutely raving...yes Marissa...it was you girl! I am eternally grateful for her book love! I adored Henry and Alex...and every single supporting character. Watching them go from enemies to friends to lovers was a gift. Theirs was an incredible love story....gah!! It really did start my mind turning on how many people have been "locked" into their roles in the past and never allowed to truly be happy with the love that they would choose for themselves. I can't even imagine. This is quite simply a brilliant and original book! It was a brave and beautiful story about finding the love of your life and then fighting like crazy to keep them. Buckle up Casey McQuiston, this book is going to absolutely take off!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Six Star Read!!!

I do not remember the last time a book made me smile so much. I went into this one because the cute cover caught my eye. Well - Thank God!!

It’s a rom com. It’s an m/m love story. It enemies to lovers. It’s smart and sweet, & it’s so witty and funny I smiled like a loon the whole way through. Gah!

The pace is fast and the story moves along in a very genuine way. One special touch is all the on page correspondence that Alex and Henry share. My heart almost burst with how much I loved them! The characters are beautifully developed. Honest, complex and just the right amount of neurotic to make them interesting. The friendships and supporting characters make it such a rich story. And the dialogue - well it’s PERFECTION. I LOLd more in this book than I think I ever have. I swooned over their developing romance and my hurt ached in my chest at times, when the author reminded us of the very real world problems they faced - just because they are two men falling in love.

I absolutely recommend this story and cannot wait to see what this author comes up with next.

There's been such a hype about this book! I read this in one long binge-read and felt an extreme need to discuss this - not just to gush about it.
Here's the good stuff:
- This is a book of hope!
- M/M, i.e. Henry the English Prince & Alex, the son of the US president
- Forced proximity romance trope
- My absolute favourite part were the extensive & exquisite love letters. So much emotion, so much insights into how both of them feel, the quotes and references to other historical lovers
- LGBQT+, multi-cultural, multi-facetted characters
I see why this book is needed, who it is for, and why it’ll be a huge success. Even before publication date it's already been picked up to be made into a movie!

Here's what I would have loved to see
- I wished it would not have only been told from a US point of view but give the reader more insights into how the US is being perceived from the UK side by telling the story from Henry too. Even while we get to see Alex grow and discover his prejudices were misplaced, it still is mainly one-sided. Apart from my absolute favourite part of the book: the love letters!
- The book could have been told a lot tighter with approximately 100 pages less. It was "droning on" at times and at length about election details and other aspects that didn't drive the story forward.
- Also, what is this book? As a romance, there is too much ‘side-story’ going on that concentrates on the development of Alex and his family only. (Another reason I would have loved to see Henry’s side.) As a rom-com, it’s too dramatic and emotionally charged. As a novel, it’s somewhat selling itself short, I find. Does it really matter anyways?

It's somewhere around 3.5-4 stars.

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

This is the future liberals want.

This book lives up to they hype, okay? This is everything you want in a romance and more.

Great main characters
Amazing family dynamics
Enemies to lovers trope???
THE BANTER!!
When I say I loved this book, I mean I really loved it. I had to put this down every few pages because my face hurt from smiling so much. This just became my favorite book of the year. And you know what the best part is? It was completely unexpected. I came in thinking I'd get my cute romance (which I did) but I never expected to completely fall in love with this cast of characters.

This story is told through Alex's POV, the Mexican-American son of the first female president of the United States. For the past few years he's had this ongoing feud with the Prince of Wales, Henry. When a confrontation erupts between the two of them, both their families decide to stage a friendship between the two of them to show both countries can get along.

Alex was such a complex character, he was narcissistic and infuriating at times, but you couldn't help but find him charming and lovable anyway. His "sexual awakening" was super relatable to me. I want to be his best friend forever. Henry was a very sympathetic character. Being a part of the royal family is not easy for him, and being gay doesn't help things. He was just trying to survive his family's crushing expectations and the responsibility. If you don't like Henry then there is something wrong with you, and that's that.

All of our supporting characters were a fucking delight. We have the White House Trio, which includes, Alex, his sister June, and their friend Nora. They trio had one of the best friendship I've ever read. Pez, Henry's best friend, brought some humor into the story, though I would have liked to see a little bit more of him. Then we have Alex's parents. They are the parents queer kids deserve, okay? They weren't perfect, and I loved that the author made sure to show their flaws, but they loved this children and supported them throughout everything. This book will show you the ultimate family / friendship goals.

“Whatever, fine. Henry is annoyingly attractive. That’s always been a thing, objectively. It’s fine.”

The romance! The transition between nemesis, to fake friends, to kind of friends, to then lovers was iconic. Their relationship developed so naturally and it felt so authentic. I'm calling it now, they are the best couple to grace romance novels this year. The banter between the both of them? Perfection.

This story will bring out a lot of emotions in you. The romance will make you giddy. The banter between our diverse cast will make you laugh. Some parts will probably make you angry. And I can admit to tearing up about 75% into the story. Considering the synopsis of the book, politics are definitely a focus here. This book dives into how institutionalized homophobia is in this world, you'll get a glimpse on how difficult it is for Alex's mom to be the first female president, and so much more.

“He's absolutely sure that guys who kissed the Prince of England and liked it don't get elected to represent Texas.”

The fact that this is a debut novel blows my mind. This book is worth your time!

P.S. President Claremont is the president we deserve.

Here's all you need to know.
This is the best book I'll read in 2019. Actually, this will go down as one of the best books I've read.
Ever.
I'll be perfectly clear. The cover is what initially drew me to the story. Illustrated covers are my new favorite trend in the romance community, and I am more apt to pick up a book when I'm attracted to the cover. Unfair? Maybe. But it’s pure fact. And how about that tagline…
“What happens when America's First Son falls in love with the Prince of Wales” 
Come on! How can you read that and not want to know more? I sure did, but I had no idea what I was in for. This book gets all of the stars! All of them. For a reader who rarely takes a chance on a new author, I don't think my life would have been the same if I had not read this brilliant, charming, stunning love story. Alex could have come across as your stereotypical pompous ass who is the son of a rich politician. And he kind of was… but he was also remarkable, sincere, and perfectly snarky. In short, Alex was pretty incredible. He comes with his sister June, his best friend/sometimes plus one, Nora, and his amazing mother, who happens to be President of the United States. They are all as much an integral part of the story as Alex and Henry. Nora and June are not written as boring side characters. They bring so much additional depth and emotion to a story that is already brimming with it. All of the people we meet in this story are important.
Then there is Henry. Poor, sweet, tortured soul Henry. My heart ached for the life he was handed that didn't exactly fit in with his sexuality. It's not easy being in line for the throne, and at the same time, gay. They sort of frown at that sort of thing. But Henry is who he is, and who he is, is simply extraordinary. Alex and Henry go from mortal enemies to ‘can't live without you’ lovers, and the transition is wonderful to watch. They fall in love over emails and text messages, sharing their deepest thoughts and wildest dreams. I'm fairly certain that I've highlighted over half the passages in the book, and as I re-read them, I find myself falling deeper in love with this story. The writing was engaging and well researched. It fit perfectly into our current political climate, and the politics were as important as the love story surrounding it.
There really is no way for a review to do this story justice. I could on for another five hundred words about how spectacular it is. But you just have to read it. I want to read this book again. For the first time. Over and over and over again. You have not read a truly exemplary love story until you've read Red, White, and Royal Blue.

Alex is First Son of the United States and Henry is the Prince of Wales. Living on opposite sides of the Atlantic means they don’t see each other often, but over the years they’ve managed to have some memorable and tense run-ins. Alex doesn’t quite understand his fascination with Henry, but he knows that Henry wants nothing to do with him. When the two are forced to meet again at a royal wedding, drunk and irritated Alex accidentally pushes Henry, who then grabs onto Alex, sending both men tumbling down a grand staircase in front of hundreds of guests and tabloid reporters.

Their parents are less than thrilled with the altercation, and in an effort to smooth over the politically embarrassing moment, Alex and Henry are forced to orchestrate a fake friendship for the next few months. Only the “fake” friendship begins to become something more as both Alex and Henry realize the other isn’t exactly what he seems. Friendship morphs into…romantic feelings? Kind of? Maybe? Which is especially confusing for Alex since he’s (mostly?) sure he’s straight. The two men must navigate their intense and complicated relationship, all while Alex’s mother campaigns for reelection in the States and the Queen scrutinizes Henry’s every move from the throne.

So. This was an interesting experience for me. I don’t usually read gay romance, but I have to say this was a really lovely book. Alex and Henry both are extremely well-developed characters. It didn’t take me long to feel like I knew them and was invested in their stories. The plot line itself is sweet and not as predictable as I was expecting. Plus, there’s a lot more going on here than “will they or won’t they?” That dilemma is solved pretty early on, and the second half of the novel is devoted entirely to delivering a much more nuanced message about the ethical boundaries of social media and politics, as well as the efficacy of how we interact with and support the LGBTQ community.

In sum, Red, White, and Royal Blue is a really charming book, and (can I say this without sounding ignorant?) I feel like I caught a glimpse into a life I know relatively nothing about and ended up learning a lot. I finished this one feeling happy, yes, but also a little more understanding and knowledgeable. What’s not to love?

Alex Claremont-Diaz is the same as every other 20-something -trying the finish college, dealing with his family and friends, looking forward to what comes after college. Okay, there’s more than that. His mom Ellen is the first female President of the United States and up for re-election, he’s coming in to his bisexuality, and oh- he just started falling for his biggest enemy, Henry, Prince Of Wales. And that’s just the start.

This book was so so good. I loved following Alex on his journey of self-Discovery and then his love story with Alex. The twists and turns kept coming, but it never felt cheap or obvious. It was fun and deep and unexpected. I don’t want to say much more about the story because I don’t want to ruin everyone’s experience! It really does need to be experienced without many spoilers.

I do hope we might get further adventures, but if not, this book will stand as a classic of lgbt young adult.

Alex Claremont-Diaz, the First Son of the United State and celebrated American heartthrob is on the fast track to Congress by 30. Alex can make friends and get along with almost anyone. That is, until he gets thrown together with HRH Prince Henry of Wales and his too-perfect, too-handsome face makes Alex crazy. This book chronicles the romance of the young royals of England and the USA coming to terms with their sexuality and their futures.

An enemies to lovers story about the son of the POTUS falling for the spare heir to the British throne and a definite entry on my best of 2019 list. This book is every bit as fun and sweet as you would hope it would be but it is also has surprising depth. Falling in love can be scary enough but Alex and Henry have the weight of their country’s expectations on their shoulder. I loved this book.

What a book! I was a little iffy about this one. But it definitely pulled at my heartstrings. Everyone wants a happy ending but what are you willing to sacrifice to get it? This book was new for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it! What a great light hearted (while also dealing with some serious issues) read!!

So, the First Son and the Spare have never gotten along but an incident at a royal wedding leaves them having to do damage control by spending time together. It turns out living in the spotlight isn’t easy for either of them and they have more in common than they thought—including a smoldering attraction. This is a smart, fun romance with two fabulous leads. I really appreciated the bisexual and multicultural representation as the refreshing way it tackles several serious topics. And it’s just such a wonderfully hopeful novel.

This book is a gem. Or, perhaps more accurately, a Crown Jewel.

With his mother being the first female President of the United States of America, Alex is the First Son of the United States of America, and eager to launch his own political career in the footsteps of both of his parents. His least favorite person in the world is England's "spare", Prince Henry. Their status of frenemies gets suddenly and violently upended--along with a very expensive wedding cake, oops!--and they are forced to pretend to be BFFs to soothe over a potential international scandal. But soon their fake friendship becomes real... and becomes something more.

Funny, witty, and full of fluff, "Red, White and Royal Blue" is a fantastic debut capturing all of the perks, downfalls, and nuances to being in the political and royal spotlight and a need for protection, perfection, and damage control--all while falling in love behind the scenes. All of the characters are fascinating, and the growth that Alex and Henry go through is deep, engaging, relatable (yes, even if your parents aren't politicians or royals), and profound.

Also. Alex and Henry. They are big huge dorks and I love them so much. They are just so sweet and soft but try too hard to be tough guys and fail so miserably. These boys...

*** ARC received for an honest review***

I cannot wait for you guys to read this. I CANNOT WAIT FOR YOU GUYS TO READ THIS! I can't wait to see your reviews and your reactions. You're updates. To see if you cried. And laughed. I can't wait to watch some of you fall in love.

I almost didn't read this. Y'all know that I regret at least 2/3 of the ARCs that I take. I waited a while on this one. Debated. I was thrown off by "rom-com." That phrase sits flat with me. Makes me think "silly," "frivolous" and frequently "I bet I don't think this is funny. I never think these are funny."

And then when it started I didn't get it. I was grabbing for the rhythm. A lot of characters at once. And McQuiston doesn't hold your hand. She's running ahead with a sparkler - laughing and telling you to catch up. For at least the first 6% I grasped for a handhold. A foothold. Some kind of solid ground.

But at some point I was in. I was there. And it was...everything. From Dolly Parton to Lil John to The Great British Bake Off to Star Wars. McQuiston threw open wide welcoming arms - making this reader feel at home and cherished.

The other day I mentioned to Jus that I hadn't cried in a while. The next I ended up crying myself to sleep over hockey. Last night I happy cried for the last 20% of this book. It felt like Care Bear hugs, and finding your tribe, and falling in love, and ice cream and fireworks. That happy ache in my chest that tells me I'm ensconced in the extraordinary.

I cannot fathom the research that went into this. The politics alone was...meaningful. Thought-provoking. Happy and sad. And then you add in England and museums and Texas and nerf-herders. Awe-inspiring from cover to cover.

It's April, and I'm saying it now. This is my 2019 Book of the Year. It's going on the short list of books I'll reread. Of all time favorites.

Guys, I can't wait for you to read this book.

This is one of those books that I fell so completely in love with that words will not be enough. Red, White and Royal Blue will easily make my list of best books I read in 2019. It's the kind of book that works its way into your heart and leaves a lasting impression. It is one of those rare occurrences where a premise that dazzled me was executed to perfection.

This book a salve for those of us who were weary and broken after the 2016 election. It offers up a very bittersweet ‘what if’ but also manages to bring such joy. A female president may be something that only exists in fiction but this, somehow, makes the reader hopeful for it to one day happen in reality. It also paints a portrait of a powerful woman who can be there for her family and run the country. It is not that this should be a shocking idea, but the way that Casey crafts President Claremont circumvents some of the expectations I anticipate people are going to have. She could have been a very different character, as we see elsewhere, but I am glad she wasn't.

We get to know Henry mostly via Alex’s perspective as the story mostly exists through him. We also get to know both of them through the achingly romantic email exchanges that they exchange. The emails are the stuff of romantic legend. The kind of thing hopeless romantics dream of receiving. They, much like the relationship between the characters themselves, are a mix of humour, banter, and emotion with just the right amount of sexual tension. I found myself swooning one minute, giddy the next, and delirious from the amount of emotion showcased in this correspondence. The little details make all the difference and Casey McQuinston obviously gets this. The inclusion of quotes from various famous writers not only revealed a lot about the characters but their feelings in a simple, yet clever, way.

The romance is much more complex and complicated than I was expecting. This shouldn't have surprised me, but it did. I anticipated reading more of a fluffy rom-com. A book where Henry and Alex falling in love would not have ignited any backlash just some tabloid fodder. Instead, this book is very much grounded in our reality. It's a poignant look at what falling in love in the spotlight would look like for the First Son and Prince of England. It is messy and real but always tinged with hope.

Both Alex and Henry have baggage that they need to deal with. It is baggage that relates to their romance, but would have surfaced at some point regardless. Having a story for your main characters that is separate from the romance always makes the story richer and this story is made all the better because of the detail given to building up the characters. It really is the characters who make you fall in love with this story because you wholeheartedly root for them. The obstacles they face are ones that feel organic and real that this, at time, feels like it could have been inspired by real events.

The relationships outside of the core romance are just as important to the story. The family bonds and friendships showcased add nuance and texture to the story just as well as the romance does. These other relationships add layers to the main romance and flesh out the book in important ways. I loved the dynamic and friendships that exists between Alex's group and Henry's group. They're the cool kids you want to hang out with. A group whose lives come with certain expectations that make them cling to the people who understand what that is like. Their love for one another is evident as we see them be there for each other time and time again.

I can only hope this novel finds the readers who need it. It might inspire them to, like Henry and Alex, make some history of their own. Casey McQuiston became a must read author for me after this knock out of a debut. I cannot recommend it highly enough. I expect you'll love Alex and Henry's love story as much as I did.

This is the best book I've read this year, and also I want to be the author's best friend.

I can't think of enough high praises for Red, White, & Royal Blue as a romance, as a New Adult novel, as just a damn good read. I didn't want to put it down, and I will absolutely be buying this book. Red, White & Royal Blue is a Gay New Adult romance that falls under "Political/Royal" Romances - it follows the antagonists/enemies to lovers story of First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz(!) and Prince Henry of Wales.

Yes, that exclamation point is because as a fellow bisexual mixed-Mexican-American I was thrilled to be able to see the first (fictional) family be kind of like mine. I think a lot of people will see themselves in this book in some way - and in organic and fulfilling ways. I don't know if McQuiston is also latinx but I do know Alex feels real in important ways (shout out to the oven being full of pots and pans, and also no butter in the butter tub). The tapestry of his life, his upbringing, the fact that he takes different things from both sides of his family feels genuine -- and those details make the romance between him and Prince Henry spark even more.

Alex actually begins the book resenting Henry for being inscrutable - stiff upper lip Brits who are a bit too picture-perfect when royal. Alex is not white, his mother is the first ever female president, and he comes from a world of "work twice as hard to get half as far." It's why he works himself to exhaustion, why he disdains the facade of ease Henry maintains. Henry, of course, was born into pedigree and has impossible standards to live up to. He feels alienated by his older brother, the Heir, and his family is still working through the tragic loss of his father (a James Bond actor).

What Alex initially perceives to be his own intense hatred of the prince, however, turns out to be...intense chemistry. It's sharp and quick witted. Henry and Alex verbally spar with each other in fantastic ways - and also get the chance to both relate to each other given their circumstances, and also teach each other new things.

I don't want to spoil the developments of this book, so I'll keep the rest of my review brief. The romance is extremely well-paced and absolutely grin-inducing. The humor is fantastic. The politics and literary references and LGBT history shout outs are amazing. Even the side-characters are lovable and I would adore a sequel with any one of them. The characters grow up and develop in important New Adult genre ways and the politics are just as riveting as the romance. Stakes are high but it never feels tragic. Also, admittedly, I feel like the author directly transmitted some of the humor and pop-cultural references directly from my brain.

I'm going to read this book again and again.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Sometimes I read a book and I go in with no expectations, and I get halfway through and depending on how much I'm enjoying it, I'll start having some either low or high expectations, and that will pretty much decide how I feel about the book. I enjoyed this book from the start, so when I got to about midway I knew I'd hold the whole thing to pretty high expectations, yet it still managed to exceed all of my expectations!

The main description of the book gives a clear preview of the enemies-to-lovers trope, which is probably the main thing that the book focuses on at the start. As the story deepens, it turns into friends-with-benefits-to-lovers, which isn't really something I've read in a book before, and I loved it! I think one of the most important notes to make about this book is that despite the romance-based plot, the book deals with a lot of other important themes; Alex discovering and coming to terms with his sexuality, the consideration he is giving to his future career goals, divorce, death, and grief.

The impact of both Henry and Alex's political/royal statuses on their relationship, and in turn the impact of their relationship on their statuses is also a key aspect of this book, and it is interesting to consider how people with such statuses have to consider every detail of their life in this way - it's like they have to make decisions about their relationship based on how other people will like it, and if they won't, they often can't do it. I think this is something a lot of people can take for granted, and it's thought-provoking to read about it outside of an environment that's not necessarily based on differences in culture.

I loved all the relationships in this book - obviously, Alex and Henry's relationship was my favourite, but there were many other relationships that in some way were key to the story. I enjoyed reading about Alex's relationship with his sister; sibling relationships can often include a lot of fighting in books (I hear this is often true in real life too, but I'm an only child so I have no personal experience), but the way Alex and June were written felt real, and they were both portrayed as very mature characters.

Alex's mum, Ellen, doesn't have many scenes in the book (she's busy off doing her presidential business - although she is talked about often), but I like how supportive she is of Alex. It was interesting to read about how Alex often sees her as 'president mom' as well as just mom, and in these moments she has to deal with something personal in a business-like way, making sure they're right for her presidency as well as her family.

In terms of relationships, I think my favourite thing is the fact that every character has depth, even if they're not one of the main characters, and I loved discovering things about their lives, or about how they fitted into Alex's and Henry's lives.

The only small criticism I have is that the story often jumped from one key time-point to another, although this could just be the fact that the ARC doesn't have any dividers in place. If this is not the case however, it did make it a little bit confusing at times, although I am sure this will be changed in the final printed copy of the book. Overall, I finished this book grinning and teary-eyed, which definitely means it was a great read!

thank you fr Arc granted from net galley and publisher
WOW WOW WOW I just didn’t want this to stop the best royal romance in the world and one of my favourite books of the year and I would love it if there was a sequel to this book cause I just wanna see the life that happens after the election period aswell even though we saw loads I just want more and more of these two characters who have now been added to some of my favourite people ever in books and just brought me so much joy while watching this book because it had such cute and funny moments throughout that just made ur heart flutter from page 1 right to the end.