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.

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.