I fell in love with this book almost immediately. I was screen-capping passages and tweeting about it by the first few pages. Instantly lovable characters that I fell hard for. A plot so absurd it works. Genuine hope and passion through positive political drama and idyllic democracy. I went in to this thinking it was YA and I would say it's definitely not. More new adult, although I could see it being marketed as YA as it has a similar style and sense to a lot of YA but would probably not catalogue it as such in the library.

I LOVE when I know the dumb characters are hopelessly in love way before they've figured it out themselves.

I LOVE when a book makes me genuinely laugh out loud.

Also this is my new favourite genre of escapism. Contemporary fiction where everything is the same except that politics isn’t making everyone lose their mind with fear that the world is on fire. True fantasy fiction ;)

It surprised me in a lot of ways as being a fluffy flirty romance but then hitting me with the smart politics more than I expected. It hits the mark when it shifts ever so slightly in tone. There's a moment, as there is in almost all happily-ever-afters, where you think maybe it won't work out. And from that part on it delves into the real, sad, thoughtful, and dramatic intricacies of their lives.

This book ended up reminding me of The West Wing in a lot of ways. With the way it handles political drama and setting a story in a world better than our own. Filled with more hope and love than currently seems possible. It reminded me that there is still merit in fun political dramas. That there is still hope to be found in watching or reading stories with a heavily idealized democracy, not just emotional terror and dread.

I spent the last few years avoiding stories like this because I thought it would be too depressing to compare it to the current political landscape. But this reminded me that it's nice to imagine better.

Also it's got two cute dumb boys that hate flirt with each other for half the book and I am weak and I love it.

I loved this book. It combines all my favorite elements. It’s a gay love story that has lots of cultural, political and historical references. It’s witty and romantic and fun. It has characters of all races and genders and sexuality. It’s set multiple locations including Austin and Houston. I’m from Texas so loved that also. I will Be ordering this book because I
Need it in my collection and I want everyone to read it. Five star read!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2677780584

I loved this book! It literally made me laugh out loud and cry. This a modern day fairy tale for millennials. I found the interactions between the two main characters so real and touching. I loved the writing too. I can’t wait to read her next book!

Red, White & Royal Blue is a rom-com featuring Alex Claremont-Diaz, USA’s First Son, and Prince Henry of England. After a small public altercation between the two, they need to do damage control and fake a friendship. That goes better than expected and they end up falling on love.

This book currently has 708 reviews on Goodreads and a rating of 4.57. Which it’s pretty good for a debut New Adult novel. But, honestly? It absolutely deserves all the praise it is getting.

Red, White & Royal Blue felt like I was reading fanfiction. But not like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, where nothing makes sense and you can't recognize the characters. This story is the finest example of how you can grab tropes that are regularly used in fanfiction, and deeply appreciated, and make them work even better in an original work.

This book hit all my favorite beats. The hate that goes to being fake friends, then maybe friends that text every day, then "I want to kiss your face" to "WE’RE IN LOVE". Mix some star-crossed love because of society, some modern royalty, and I’m SOLD.

The only thing I had trouble following was the political dynamic. But that’s because I’m not American. I have a general grasp on how it works but I couldn’t understand every power move.

All the characters feel so real. Casey created this diverse cast, with POCs and all kinds of sexual representation, and give it life in a way I’ve ever read in a contemporary romance before.

Alex has this charismatic, endearing and larger-than-life personality. But, at the same time, he is very driven and knows all the points he has to check to achieve his goal of being a politician. This dichotomy feels like it shouldn't work but, when you meet Alex, it makes sense. He cares so much and he can’t even realize how much at the beginning.

Henry is a boy that carries the world on his shoulders, but a world that, in his eyes, will never accept him for who he is. Like Alex, he cares about leaving a good, inspiring mark in the world. He is just so good.

June, Nora & Pez are the best sidekicks. They could have been a bit more explored, especially Pez, and I would love to read a spin-off in June’s perspective.

Alex and Henry's families couldn’t be more different. They’re both in positions of power, filled with responsibility and the pressure of maintaining a positive public image. But while Alex’s mom supports him and puts him above public opinion, Henry has to deal with the traditional values of the Royal family.

This is the story of two boys, with paths clearly defined for who they are and who they have to become, that find each other unexpectedly and say “screw it, we’ll find our own way”. They start by hating each other (was it hate though?) but, when forced together, they soon realize they have more in common than they thought. And when they do, believe me, you’ll be a goner. Alex and Henry are cute as heck, they are there for each other at all times, there are bits of angst, there are hot moments. You’ll be completely immersed on their relationship and you’ll swoon. 

I also connected with Alex and Henry's love story because their dynamic reminded me A LOT of Sterek (Stiles and Derek from Teen Wolf). So, if you're a Sterek shipper, this is a must read!

Every scene with the group of friends of Alex, Henry, Nora, June, Bea, and Pez was a joy to read. They have the time of their lives when they are together and I kind of envy that.

This is a fun, adorable book filled with inclusive representation and characters you’ll fall in love with. I can’t wait to have a physical copy in my hands and reread it. If you like romance in general, you HAVE to read this book. Believe me, you won’t regret it. It is THAT good.

This is the book of 2019 that owns my heart and soul and my entire being. I have never felt so loved and represented in anything I’ve ever read and I cannot express how beautiful this book is.

If you haven’t seen this pretty much everywhere then I’m guessing you do live under a rock. This has been taking the book community by storm and I haven’t seen one person dislike this masterpiece. I received an e-Arc of this novel a couple of months ago and read this at the beginning of February but just haven’t been able to feel like I could put my thoughts into words, or even a decent review. So really this is going to be different than my normal review format because I just want to gush and explain what this story is about.

Red, White and Royal Blue revolves around a biracial/bisexual Mexican White Boy by the name of Alex. He is the First Son after his mother became President of the United States instead of … Trump. The love interest in this story is a gay man who is the Prince of Wales, sir Henry. I love both of these boys with my whole heart and they deserve the world.

Alex Claremont-Diaz, the First Son, is amazingly hilarious. All his life he’s never questioned his sexuality or who he is too much because he feels like he’s always had a duty to his mom and his family. But when he gets to know Prince Henry a little better, he starts to realize he needs to focus on himself a lot more. It’s tough on him as his parents are split up and a ton of responsibility is on his shoulders, being the First Son and all that. But his sister June and best friend Nora are always by his side and I love this family so freaking much.

Prince Henry also has a ton of pressure on him as he is, ya know, the Prince of Wales. He and Alex have known each other from a very young age as they are both important figures in the world but they’ve never really gotten along well at all. Some events happen and they’re pushed into a fake friendship that eventually leads up to one of the greatest romances I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. I’m a whore for a good “enemies to lover” story and this is just right up my alley.

Now, there is a lot of politics in this book. I have never been one to be involved in politics until about maybe about a year ago, so reading a book that features heavily on the LGBTQ+ community as well as our countries issues, is phenomenal. Casey McQuiston created a masterpiece when it comes to writing and storytelling, and just getting across that things in our country need to change but at the same time giving us a fantastic love story.

Alex and Henry’s love story is super cute and I loved every second of it. There wasn’t a time when they were together that I wasn’t dying inside cause I knew they were going to make me love them even more. This is uhm, a little more on the sexy side of reads as it is a New Adult novel but a lot of the scenes faded to black or just weren’t explicit at all. And overall their character growth and love growth is to die for.

But now for the Gush.

Reading this was just like being hugged tightly for hours on end while laughing and crying. As I’ve said already I’ve never felt more represented and that is because Alex is a Mexican Man who is half white and half gay. I didn’t know going into this that the main character is Mexican or bisexual so being able to read this and just find these things out made me feel so loved and accepted. Having someone who is exactly like me made me feel heard and loved and ya boi is CRYING right now, if you could see me, you’d probably laugh. Anyways though, as someone who has never felt good enough about myself and as I’ve always doubted myself, this is a breath of fresh air and a book that I will forever hold close to my heart.

Being able to see the dynamics of his family and how they reacted when he came out or how they supported him and wanted him to be loved was amazing. Seeing more into Alex’s dad side and the Mexican side of the story just AGH I love it so much, all of it was so relatable, even down to the salsa being in the butter tub and not having actual butter.

Growing up Mexican and White has always been an internal issue with myself, I’ve never identified with one side more than the other. It’s always funny because people don’t want to let you be both, you have to chose sides so for the longest time it was I’ve always been gay and I’ve always been Mexican. It didn’t become until recently when I’ve surrounded myself with better people that I’ve realized I don’t have to conform to one box, I’ve never been a full gay and I’ve never been a full Mexicano, HELL I can barely speak a couple words in Spanish. And being able to be inside of Alex’s head and see how he deals with his life really just made me feel secure in myself. I can’t really even think of anything else to say besides thank you Casey, this is the book I’ve been waiting for.

I know this book touched a lot of souls, especially us Queer Biracials And I know it touched Texans and LGBTQ+ members and just pretty much everyone who has read it. But in good meme fashion, I’m just going to end this by saying that Casey McQuiston did THAT and created one of the best novels of all time. This does drop on May 14th so make sure to preorder your copies soon, this is definitely worth the read.

Thank you all for taking the time out of your day to read this, I hope you’re having a wonderful day.

Happy Reading friends,

~ Sol

To NetGalley, the publisher, and the authoress: thank you to the moon and back for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating: 1.5 (rounded down)

Okay, don’t hate me for this, because my review is certainly in the minority when it comes to this book; I simply couldn’t make up my mind: one star? Two stars? Three stars? Oftentimes, I was annoyed by it— the biased politics— more than that, perpetually frustrated about all the lovey-dovey stuff and incessant faire l'amour (it was damn excessive!!). Then again, there were moments that really struck me deep, and Lord knows I’m an emotional reader. One key scene towards the end made me tear up a bit, and it’s not often that happens. So, kudos for that. I know this book is going to be a big hit for many people, and I’m fully prepared to defend my unpopular opinion here on out.

Let me say this: it was very clear from the beginning how this story was going to end. It wasn’t surprising... like, at all! But, the joy should be in the journey, no matter the outcome, right? Well... no. It was written beautifully, I’ll give it that. It was truly, honestly good. There were many moments of inspired, descriptive passages and pretty prose. It’s a shame that you had to trudge through the too-frequent, unrealistically crude, sarcastic banter to get to it, though, but still...

Almost every side character is a person of color, which should feel great, but instead comes off as incredibly forced (which sucks). Their inclusion I perceived as only to be used as a statement, which feels wrong somehow. I dig that here the First Family is biracial, but again, it didn’t feel organic (couldn’t it just be, “This is us. This is who we are” and leave it at that? Instead of it trying to hammer home social commentary?). It’s totally all contrived political correctness. Mostly, for the entirety of the novel, I couldn’t connect with the main characters. They didn’t feel real enough: too smug, snarky, narcissistic, and the romance was all-consuming (and I hate that)... Give me diversity and representation, but let it make sense! Let it be real!!!

A hell of a lot happens in the first 10% of the book (it felt like it was crammed in, or one giant prologue that’s multiple chapters long): White House to London, back to USA, then London again, a wedding and three public events— I didn’t know how it was going to be dragged out for the remaining 90%. I wish more time was actually focused on a few of Alex and Henry’s outings earlier on, because they came and went so fast I got whiplash: the trip to the stables was over in a blink, the talk show (I think it was?) was probably a paragraph or two before it jumped abruptly into a charity event. There was SO MUCH room for elaboration... these were missed opportunities for interesting depth progression, and could’ve saved on so much unnecessarily long-winded ramblings later on. After about a third of the way through, the books starts to evolve into something different— more sincere, if you will. It’s a welcome shift. The first 30-odd percent seems like an infinitely different story/tone.

(Side note: the whole ‘young adults debate Star Wars’ schtick is SO overdone).

Speaking of Young Adult, I know this is technically billed as such (even though all the main characters are in their early twenties), but it is MUCH closer to Adult than anything. Fair warning for anyone sensitive to it: there is extremely frequent crass language, and lots of graphic sexual material— one of the more... intimate scenes plays out for like, several pages (too long, in my opinion). We get like, a dozen (I am not exaggerating!) different sex scenes. Now, I’m no prude (and wholly sex positive), but that’s just TOO-DAMN-MANY! Like, chill out and put it back in your pants, Ms. McQuiston. Something with this much fanfiction-y smut getting tagged as YA is beyond me...

I also can’t believe I’m saying this, but there was just waaaaay too much banter for my liking. It was all sharp, biting humor all the goddamn time. I craved moments of actual sarcasm-less depth and seriousness, and was frequently disappointed most of the way through.

(Not to sound nit-picky, but...)— cool. Another politically-charged book out to vilify Republicans. I get it: it’s about the First Family. They’re Democrats. I’m fine with that, obviously, because I don’t judge people or outright reject anyone based on political affiliation. But couldn’t this book just leave out all the name calling, ignorance, and horrible right-wing stereotyping? I mean, the entire RNC is completely demonized for *spoiler reasons*— because the only message I see being pushed here is that Republicans are nothing more than bigoted, racist, fascist, evil, rapist homophobes. The authoress could’ve done the decent thing: play nice and be pro-bipartisan, but that’s too much to ask with such clearly imbedded bias. Her disgust for Republicans is scary and, frankly really, really sad. I almost, almost was willing to give the benefit of the doubt, but come the conclusion after the whole “Waterloo” leak, I’m just resigned to the fact that Left-leaning authors will never tolerate opinions outside their own. And it makes me feel bad.

So, yeah, I feel let down from a great height. That is all.

<i>Thank you netgalley for the review copy!</i>

OMG. If you're wondering if this book is worth the hype, IT'S WORTH IT. This book is EVERYTHING.
From the loveable, complex, diverse cast of characters, to the heart-stopping enemies-to-lovers romance, to the political aspects that absolutely break your heart because of what could have been, this book stole my heart and ran away with it and got a tattoo of this book cover on it's ass.

PRE-ORDER THIS BOOK. REQUEST IT FROM YOUR LIBRARIES. SHOVE IT INTO THE HANDS OF EVERYONE YOU KNOW. You won't regret it! <3

Honestly, this may be my favorite book that I have read this year! I didn't even want to finish it because I didn't want it to end!! I will anxiously be awaiting everything Casey McQuiston publishes in the future!

"If Alex's head is a storm, Henry is the place lightning hits the ground."

There is such a buzz and a huge amount of hype circulating about this book. Does it live up to it all? It lives up to it and so much more!!!!

I've been perusing some of the reviews and one thing I noticed is that they are very long reviews. It's like everyone can't get out their true feelings without going into great detail. The reason is, is that this book is absolutely amazing and will stay with you long after you read the last page.

Alex and Prince Henry. Two young men victim to the social spotlight because of the families they were born into. Sworn enemies, now forced to make fake nice in order to maintain a close relationship between two power countries.

What will transpire when they both come to the realization that maybe their so called hatred was really never there for either of them, what happens when secrets are disclosed and it's time to chose if you will live for your country or live the life you would choose for yourself if the decision was really truly your own?

Some people will see that this is a male/male book and pass it over for that reason only. This book is about so much more. It's about acceptance, self love and learning that just because you think something is different does not mean it is wrong. In fact, it shows us that love is love. You can't hide from it.

To say this book is phenomenal is an understatement. Pretty sure this is going to be a top read of 2019 for a lot of readers including me!!!!

**Received an ARC copy through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed**

That was so flipping cute! I loved the escapist aesthetic and the jaunty tone and the banter and the fact that it felt like a royalty AU fic full of trope-y deliciousness. And it was LONG! (like the fic I love best!) So you got to really luxuriate in it.

It's "new adult" (the protagonists are in their early 20s) are so it has an older YA feel to it, with the addition of lots of explicit sex. As my coworker said when I described it, it's basically a really gay Disney Original Movie. There's nothing gritty or edgy here beyond mentions of past drug use from a character who is now sober, and a lot of drinking (but no driving). Depending on the reader -- if safe, consensual, mutually satisfying sex scenes and drinking are ok, basically -- it would be a solid read for an older teen or young adult.

This book actually does a lot of what romance does best: modeling relationships between complicated, flawed characters (not just romantic relationships, but parents, siblings, and friends), focusing on process rather than the ending. That's why the all-romance jacket copy isn't a spoiler even though there's tons of pages of fake friendship and buildup before that... it's how you get through the story that counts. And it gives you legitimate barriers -- HOW will they make this work out?? -- but you know that you're getting to the HEA/HFN eventually so you can just enjoy the ride.

It's very much of a moment, of now, from the Casper Mattress reference to every other pop culture everything, and who knows how it will age. For now, though, it's the perfect escapist beach fantasy read and I'm looking forward to recommending it all widely. I've already started.

I do not have enough adjectives to describe my love for this book. Its been a week and I am still reading my favorite passage. This book was PERFECTION! It made me swoon, cry and smile. I loved that they couldn't keep their hands off each other, Henry, Alex, Nora, June, Pez.... I miss yall! Seriously, I can't recommend this book enough. Highly recommend to any and all peoples.

As a fervent republican, royal romances aren't my usual cup of tea but this new adult novel about the US president's son Alex falling for British Prince Henry was so charming. The author says she wrote this book as a fantasy after the 2016 election, and its exactly that. Instead of Trump the president is a liberal woman with half-Mexican kids, and the prince is critical of his family's imperial past and busy opening queer youth shelters while trying to meet his family's expectations.

The romance between Alex and Prince Henry is so tender and lovely, and I could have spent hundreds more pages just reading their letters to each other. However given their public positions their relationship is constantly challenged by the intrusion of press and politics which forces them both to make difficult decisions, for Alex risking his mother's re-election and for Henry risking his relationships with his family. It felt like the perfect balance of romance and conflict and I was either swooning or crying for most of the book!

I've already added it to my comfort reads for sad times list, and think it will appeal to fans of YA, queer romance and political dramas like The West Wing and Scandal.

I truly wanted to love this one so much but unfortunately I found myself skimming excessively due to boredom and more often than not being pulled out of the story but the clumsy prose. I thought there were too many supporting characters which took the focus off of Henry and Alex. The bright spot I did find were Henry and Alex - I did enjoy their characterizations, their dialogue, their romance arc. I am not sure if I would recommend this title.

This was not for me. I just couldn't get into it. It was not what I like to read at all. I couldn't relate to any part which is usually what keeps me read.

My rating: 4.5 stars

Honestly, this might be the best book I've read in 2019. You won't believe how good this is! If you're in the mood for an LGBT, coming-of-age, hate-to-love story, you can't miss this one.

Alex is the son of the first female president (elected in 2016!!!!) of the United States. He and his sister are very close and with the granddaughter of the Vice President, the three of them make up the White House Trio. These three have political jobs that must be upheld, especially during this period of the re-election campaign.
Alex HATES Prince Henry of Wales - he finds him "as compelling as a wet ball of yarn." He decides, after drinking quite a bit, that he's going to speak that truth right into Henry's pretty face at the Royal Wedding. However, this doesn't go over too well, and the boys end up ruining the cake. To save face, they have to appear to be best friends to the media for a while, so it looks like they were just rough-housing and not causing a scene.
Let the fun begin!
Throughout the course of this novel, Alex and Henry get to learn not only all about each other, but about themselves as well. There's great representation of politics, both American and English, and the LGBT community as well! We get to see the difficulty in non-hetero sexualities and how they interact with government jobs.
This book is hilarious! I usually try to avoid laughing out loud while reading and looking like a maniac, but that was impossible with this one! Alex is a hilarious person by himself, but his interesting dynamic with each of the other characters brings in its own dose of humor to ever single scene!
I fell in love with everyone in this book. I'm used to falling in love with the actual love interest of a story, but everyone was so lovable! Not just the main characters either, but even the assistants and secret service had depth. Just waiting for Casey McQuiston to announce a whole series of sequels about each character! Especially the relationship details between N*** and J*** because we all know it's there and WE NEED MORE!

I don't even know what I can say about this book other than READ IT! I would recommend it to anyone and everyone that thinks they might be interested in it. It won't disappoint!

Blog post goes live 5/13
Youtube Review 5/13

When I picked up Red, White & Royal Blue at Apollycon 2019 I knew I was interested in the book’s plot, but I didn’t realize how much I needed it in the current climate. Casey McQuiston acknowledges she started this before 2016’s election and it gives the idea of a future much different than today’s. It’s full of hope and love something we need more of every day.

We follow Alex Diaz-Claremont and his journey of self discovery and love with none other than His Royal Highness Prince Henry (HRH). I have to say that Casey McQuiston really delivers the angst in a fast paced and delightful story. I at the very least experienced a lot of emotions in my reading of this book. The act of discovering one’s sexuality and coming to terms with it was very real for me. It resonated in so many ways.

I will say this book hits more of the new adult category than adult romance. It’s angsty it’s that age of inbetween (21-23) with a lot of self discovery. I don’t think people who generally don’t read YA and romance would enjoy it. I really found it bridging the gap between the two for me.


I’ve marked up my book and I can’t wait to read this one again and again. If you need a little hope and joy right now I can’t recommend Red, White & Royal Blue eough.


HEA/HFN: Yes!
Representation: Mixed Race, LGBTQIA+
Content Warnings/Trigger Warnings: Child Abuse (off page), drug abuse (off page talk of rehab too), deceased parent

5/5 Stars !!!
It has been a while since I have read a feel-good book. The one that fills you up after reading. You think about it for a while even after you are done. It sparked my love for reading even more. This was such an amazing book. Put in politics from the U.S and Britain, this was the perfect mix.

We meet with Alex and Henry. Alex is the first son of U.S president who happens to be Latino and a woman. Then we meet Henry who is the Prince of Wales. It is an enemy to lovers book, but I don't think they were true enemies. I would say more " I was attracted to you, but you were too full of yourself first meet" feeling if that makes any sense.

I also really liked the two U.S. and royal politics clashing together yet the foundation of running a nation is so similar. I would like to call this book true escapism. It creates a world for you that seems so much better than what's going on. It reflects love, family, race, etc. And the best part is that love doesn't need to define a certain gender, role, or, be socially acceptable because then we are caging love in labels. Alex and Henry gave us a love story that shows that when it comes to love even a whole nation can't try to taint it. Love is love, Love is pure. As Alex says, "Love is Shakespearean".


******ARC Review********

5 stars, no question about it. This book should be shelved under "fantasy," because it's so far-fetched in today's world, but oh how I wish it could be true. The narrator and first MC Alex is the half-Latino son of the female, divorced, progressive President of the United States. His BFF is the Jewish granddaughter of the Veep. The President's closest advisers include a Muslim chief of staff and a transgender Secret Service Agent.

Oh, and Alex doesn't know it yet as the story begins, but he's in love with the grandson of the Queen of England, the very royal Prince Henry of Wales.

This is one of those books that you can't put down because it's so engaging, but at the same time you want to put it down because you need it to last longer. The writing is sharp and clever, and debut author Casey McQuiston creates a hilarious, sweet and swoony enemies-to-friends-to-lovers romance that hits all of the emotional feels in a perfect arc (no Big Misunderstandings, no long separations, no rehashing the same issues over and over). Plus she sets it in a world in which goodness triumphs and crooked politicians go down in flames. If only!

Alex is a wonderful MC, ambitious, loyal, snarky as all get out, but it's really Henry who steals the book with his wounded heart and quiet courage. He has the tougher obstacles to overcome - as he says, Alex can choose a different career besides politics, but Henry will always be a royal, with all of the obligations that involves. I couldn't help wishing that some of the chapters were told from Henry's POV. I'm not a fan of duologies that show the same events from different perspectives, but in this case I think it might actually be warranted. Either that, or I just want to spend more time with these delightful characters.

It's rare that I read a book that lives up to the hype, but Red, White & Royal Blue does that and more. If you have been heartbroken since November 2016, this book ease your pain, at least for a little while.

ARC gratefully received from Net Galley in exchange for honest review.

Imagine Veep political drama meets Christina Lauren 🔥 romance but the cast is made up of the whose who of British royalty and America’s first family. Alex Claremont-Diaz has grown up in American politics. He’s the son of Ellen, a Texan Democrat that climbs her way all the way to the White House and who is divorced to Oscar, a Hispanic Senator. Henry is the gay Prince of England but has been forcefully closeted by the Queen his whole life. Alex has never really questioned his sexuality until Henry. This is a story of American diversity, the fears of coming out, the pressures of politics, and, above all, love. The entire cast is so endearing. In the words of the author, it is an “escapist trauma-soothing, alternate-but-realistic reality” to our current American political situation. I didn’t know I needed this story, but it was such a fun read and I couldn’t get enough.

I wasn't overly sure how I would feel about this book. I've made a rule of not reading a book that is written by the opposite gender of queer fiction, tired of reading a fetished version of a relationship written by people who don't understand being queer. But thanks to looking it up and seeing that the author is nonbinary and queer, it made me relax. And I'm happy that I gave it a chance without worrying about what it might be. All in all, it was an amazing read with a enemies to lovers, an open discussion of being queer and how living in the spotlight can leave those traumatized due to the lack of protections for their privacy. This book really got down to what it means to be queer as well, and I feel like that was one of the biggest things to come away with along with what people of color face and bigotry.

Alex, first son of the US hates Prince Henry. But after an incident that forces the two of them together as ‘friends’ brings out a real friendship with them, to sex with benefits, and then a full fledge relationship. This story is a slow burn that deals with emotions in an amazing way that will leave you in tears by the end just like me. It deals with the fact neither men were able to be fully out without hurting the other. Alex’s mom, the president, is up for reelection. Henry is second in line to throne and is expected to produce an heir in case his brother doesn’t. Both are supposed to be seen as a shining example of happy heterosexuals. But that wasn’t their truth. Thankfully, despite some homophobic characters, there are more that are accepting and let them be themselves. It shows the change in values in England and America, and the rest of the world when it comes to queer rights. And the fact this book has a number of queer characters, from a trans character, to bisexual, pansexual, gay, and so on.

The story of this book, what it brings to the table has been something I think a lot of us who are queer have needed. It’s sweet and brings together an amazing love story that gives all of us hope. And for that, I’m thankful and why this has quickly become a personal favorite for me.