A bit of a unique way of updating an old tale of love. I found the characters thought out and enjoyable to watch as they waded through the many faucets of romance.

So, I read the first two in the Reluctant Royal's series and had major problems with each, but thought maybe it was just those specific titles. I thought to give the series one more chance, and unfortunately, I just do not think this series is for me.
I find the premises always interesting and exciting, and the main female characters feminist and unique, but I cannot get over my major qualms with the pace and plotting that come up in every book. There's always way too much going on, and a ton of plot points get introduced but don't get proper attention.
DNF at about 50%.

What a fun read! I was obsessed with the first two in the series and I am so excited that Alyssa Cole continued the series with these two characters! Such a fun story...

4.5 Stars

A Prince on Paper is my favorite from the Reluctant Royals series and I can easily see myself rereading this one in the near future. From earlier books, Nya came off as innocent and a bit mousy. She lived under her father's thumb and she spent most of her time playing online games, specifically of the romantic variety. Johan was introduced as her complete opposite. He was shameless and the tabloids loved covering his exploits. Each had a wall up that they may have not had realized that started to come down as their fake/political engagement became more and more complicated. I adored Nya and Johan individually and how they tried to deal with their problems only to realize that they needed the other. While Johan came off as a playboy, he was deep down a soft cinnamon roll and I wanted nothing more than to protect him. I was more invested with his family than I had anticipated and I loved Johan's younger sibling, Lukas. This was the perfect ending to this series and I can't wait to learn more about the spin-off series, Runaway Royals. I'm not sure, but I think there was a backdoor introduction to an upcoming couple. All of that rambling was to say READ THIS. I CRIED. WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT ME TO SAY?

Alyssa Cole did such an incredible job with book three in her Reluctant Royals series. I must admit- while I had not read the first two books in the series, I have sense purchased them and cannot wait to sink my teeth into them.
Briefest of summaries: Girl travels to friends wedding- ends up in fake engagement with famous playboy- hi jinks ensue.
This book had AMAZING representation. You go into this book knowing you are about to meet a lot of privileged characters. The opening scene takes place on a private plane. For some reason, I expected that would also mean a lot of flat 1 dimensional characters, rather than exposure to people of many cultures and backgrounds. Without giving too much away, there is a character with unexpected Otherness, and Cole did a BEAUTIFUL job telling their story.
In addition to having well rounded incredible characters, Cole wrote SUCH a funny book. You guys. There is a sex goat. WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR!?
I feel like this is the perfect book (and likely series) for people who want to give romance a try but believe it to be formulaic. Yes, this fun novel DOES fit the criteria for being a capital R Romance. There IS a happily ever after. There are humans who develop feelings for each other, face conflict, and then work things out in the end. HOWEVER – this book is so much more than that simple formula. There were strong female friendships – I feel like so much of the time, heroines in romance novels are completely isolated and cut off from the world. In this book you see Nya’s relationships with her two close friends (the stars of books one and two). Her friends are such an important part of her development as a person, and I love that the author doesn’t do Nya the disservice of isolating her. The word choice – oh man. Alyssa Cole never once assumes that her readers are stupid. Nya is so nerdy, in such a fun way without trying to justify or apologize for who she is. Due to her nerdiness, there are words that the reader may need to look up. There is even an entire non-english language scattered throughout the novel… Alyssa Cole never tries to explain any of this- she has an understanding that her readers are smart enough to look up any words, English or otherwise, that they may not understand. Last but not least, most formulaic romance includes a magical reformation in which the heroine helps the hero to find his truer kinder self. That does not happen in this book. The hero in this book is a playboy jerk on the surface, but there is never any doubt as to whether or not he is a good person. He is. Just not publicly. She does not need to “fix” him. Each character works through their issues supporting one another, but neither of them is out to fix the other.


TL;DR: Great romance for folks that are looking for something different. Hits great tropes: forced proximity, fake engagement, not exactly enemies to lovers but somewhere in that realm. Loved it.

Pretty Good Book :)
I am not usually into this type of book, however, the description got me curious. Overall the book was good, not my favorite as I felt like I really couldn't get into the characters heads, which I like doing. But was fun to read none the less. I liked how the Prince was always pretending to be something he is not and that his girl saw through all that to the nice guy underneath. Which she finally got out into the light at the end :) I definitely would recommend putting this in your TBR pile.
I volunteered to read this book in exchange for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.

This was, hands down, my favorite book in the Reluctant Royals series so far. The first two books in the series (A Princess in Theory and A Duke by Default) were definitely cute, smart, well-written books with awesome female protagonists, but I really didn't love the actual central romances in either one, which isn't really what you want in a romance novel. A Prince on Paper had all of the awesomeness from the first two books in the series--extremely supportive female friendships, political drama and intrigue, imaginary countries, etc--with the addition of a central romance that had, in my opinion, much more chemistry than the previous two books combined.

Our heroine, Nya, is dealing with the aftermath of emotional abuse by her father, but she's also on a journey to figure out her own brand of self-confidence and path to happiness. She's always been intrigued by Johan, the bad-boy tabloid prince of what is basically Luxembourg but isn't, and the two of them begin to grow closer at their best friends' wedding, which leads to a fake engagement to help with various political things. It's cute, it's sexy, it's a super fun read about two people struggling with their own issues and coming together to support each other. Highly recommend!

This series is good for romance fans who like a finding-yourself story free from mixed-in other-genres. The main characters in this series installment are solid and likable. Both characters are, if not particularly grounded in realism, then at least realistically flawed based on their unrealistic histories.

The only difficulty is that the timeline felt a bit off. Having skipped the novella that fits between books 2 and 3 (this one), I can't say if the larger story is super dependent on what happens in the novella, or if it somehow fell out of whack. Definitely to be read in order.

I wanted to read this book because I’d read the other two that came before it, but I was somewhat disappointed. The first section of the book drags quite a bit and there is absolutely no chemistry between the two main characters until we get to know them better. I probably would’ve DNF’d it in the first few chapters if I wasn’t already invested in the world that had been built in the previous two books. I was glad to see familiar characters again, but they couldn’t carry the awkwardness and stilted dialogue that was throughout the first 25% (ish).

However. However. It definitely got better. When the characters started opening up to each other and we got to know them a little bit better, their care for each other was more plausible. BUT—and I know that this review might create whiplash with how many caveats I’ve included—the writing was still stilted. I’d noticed it in the previous two books but it bothered me more in this one.

There were definitely some redeeming qualities—great LGBTQIA rep and a great character growth arc for Nya, but those things don’t change my opinion. It was good and I do still like the series, but this one is probably my least favorite.

I cannot tell you how much I loved this book. Johan and Nya are excellent characters and the fake-relationship trope is one of my favorites. It was nice to see the various kingdoms in Africa and then in Europe. Cole is really able to bring you into the setting for each scene. I read this book in one sitting and was completely immersed. I also loved the added touch of the online romance game. I'm not saying I've gotten caught up in those but I totally have.

It's not a surprise that A PRINCE ON PAPER is another fantastic entry in Alyssa Cole's Reluctant Royals series. I'm a particular sucker for a fake dating romance and this fauxmance between paparazzi-baiting the red-headed step-prince of Liechtienbourg Johan and Thesolo-expat game designer Nya is an absolute delight.

I had been waiting so long to read this book, and I was definitely not disappointed. Alyssa Cole is an incredibly talented writer and I applaud her decision to write diverse and inclusive romance novels. A Prince on Paper is the third in Cole's Reluctant Royals series, and just might be might favorite of them. Nya and Johan were both introduced in previous books and I was already invested in their characters. Nya is the daughter of a super controlling and emotionally abusive father who is currently in prison for trying to overthrow the royal family in their small kingdom of Thesolo. Johan, known as the bad boy prince of Liechtienbourg, hides his good heart and uses his bad boy persona to shield his little brother, the actual heir to the throne. Nya must return home for her cousin's wedding to the prince of Thesolo, who happens to be Johan's best friend. They begin a fake relationship to help them both out of an awkward situation, but their fake relationship quickly becomes something more.

Both Nya and Johan are misunderstood characters who struggle with the image the rest of the world sees of them, as opposed to how they see themselves and each other. As always by Cole, the book was extremely well written. While I found that A Prince on Paper wasn't as humorous as the previous books, I don't think that was a problem at all, as this book dealt with lots of serious subject matter. I was emotionally invested in the lives and relationships of all of the characters. Of course Nya and Johan's relationship was the star of the show, but Nya's relationship with her father and Johan's relationship with Lukas were just as interesting. I think that is a testament to Cole's ability to write strong multidimensional characters.Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I didn't want to put it down. I loved the development of the relationship between Nya and Johan. I really enjoyed watching Nya break out of her shell. She really grew throughout the book and I was rooting for her the whole way. Alyssa Cole writes great love scenes and I thought the way she eased them into a physical relationship was very true to the characters and added to the story. I loved that there was also an bit of mystery and intrigue in the book, I would definitely say this was a five star read for me, and I look forward to reading much more from this author.

Well, I absolutely loved this book. Johan and Nya make an unlikely but ultimately heart-warming pair. I've been dying to read Johan's book ever since he was introduced in book two as a "f*ckboy with a heart of gold" and I must say that his romance did not disappoint. He is absolutely dreamy.

The basic plot of A Prince on Paper is that Nya has been a wallflower most of her life, kept from doing what she wants by an abusive father. Johan has spent his life acting like a jet setting playboy to keep attention off his younger sibling. Johan has always felt drawn to Nya but he hasn't wanted to act on it because he's afraid of falling in love. But he just can't seem to stay away from Nya. MEANWHILE, in his home country, there's referendum approaching about whether to dissolve the monarchy, which will put Johan's stepfather out of a job and leave the future fate of his sibling very much up in the air. Johan's stepfather suggest that Johan dating Nya might help their cause. Johan hates the idea but he finds himself going along with it because he finds Nya irresistible.

I loved the honesty that Johan and Nya share in this book. There were so many opportunities where Alyssa Cole could have gone the easy route for conflict and had things blow up because of a big misunderstanding, but instead she always, always pivots away from that and has Nya and Johan talk honestly with each other. It was so refreshing, and it definitely gave me a firm belief in their happily ever after because they were so willing to communicate honestly with each other.

I also loved the friendship that develops between them in the beginning of the book. They both want more from each other and are disappointed when (they wrongly believe) the other one doesn't, but instead of pouting about "the friendzone" both of them shake themselves off and decide that just friendship can be pretty wonderful too. This creates a strong foundation for their relationship, and when things started to get more steamy I loved how much trust and intimacy they had already built with each other.

All in all, a wonderful modern romance and a very satisfying read. I highly recommend this book.

NOTE: A free copy of this book was provided to me on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I read A Princess in Theory during a really difficult time in my life and I now associate this author and this series with comfort. I went into A Prince on Paper with very little expectations and lots of excitement for finally getting Johan's book.

I'll bet this is advertised as a standalone but you really get a lot more out of it if you have read at least the first book in the series. That book introduces Nya, a cousin to the Thesolo royal family and a new friend to Ledi. Nya has been diminished her entire life by her father (on purpose), her grandparents (lovingly and not on purpose) and the entire nation. They think she is weak and fragile and, now that her father is in prison, sullied. She finds some freedom in going to grad school in New York but returns home for Thabiso and Ledi's wedding.

Johan is the stepbrother to a prince and the proverbial "red headed step child" to a king. His mother died shortly after becoming queen. Johan has spent his life being a tabloid prince so the public eye stays away from his sibling Lukas. I have loved watching Johan in the previous books and he did not disappoint again. He strikes a deal with Nya to help his family with a referendum to abolish the monarchy and give her time to decide where she wants to take her life.

I loved the two of them together. Both had major life trauma and were sensitive, emotional, and empathetic. Johan hid his hurt by acting out and Nya embraced her hurt by learning how to love freely. Their slow fall into love was beautiful and I really enjoyed Nya's willingness to meet Johan and his sibling Lukas at their level. This book also handled LGBTQIA so, so well.

I'm not sure if there will be more books in this series but I would read the phone book if Alyssa Cole wrote it. This book did not disappoint and I'm ending my night with a big, happy grin after finishing this book.

My favorite of the series! Johan is such an enigma through much of the series and delving into his character is quite fun. I read this one after A Princess in Theory so Nya’s father’s actions are still fresh in my mind. What he did was so awful but I’m so happy Nya was able to gain her HEA.

Thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC!

Not my favorite in this series, but a strong entry from Alyssa Cole. Nya's urge to get out from under her past made me root for her but she was a little too fragile at times and Johan, while adorable got a touch grating with all his secret goodness. Overall a good story about two people who have experienced a great deal of pain and are judged unfairly.

I enjoyed this story more for the anticipated HEA than the journey to get there. Both Johan and Nya deserve such happiness, their respective emotional baggage made me want to hug them both and never let go. Seriously, such sweet babies. And perhaps it was that reaction that overwhelmed the story a bit for me. Yes, they had good chemistry and I enjoyed their honesty, but mostly I just wanted them to go to therapy and gain self confidence. So on one hand the HEA was incredibly satisfying, and on the other Nya’s last interaction with her father felt odd. Not that she owes him anything, but I’m not sure their last scene together made much sense from Nya’s motivation. The biggest impression this book left was the desire to research and download dating RPGs for my phone.

I got an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Prince on Paper is the third novel in the Reluctant Royals series. I think you would be better off reading the first two books before you start this one so that you have a context for Nya and Johan.

Alyssa Cole writes great characters. I love her characters. I love that in a grand sweeping romance, the heart of her romance is still two people falling in love and through that learning more about who they are as individuals. I never leave a Cole Romance feeling like there is anything other than Happily Ever After.

One of Nya’s big obstacles to her HEA are the words her father often used to diminish her, “you dream too big, girl.” Naledi, Portia, and Nya have all been made to feel small. The women find their power and learn to take up space. Without this growth, none of the romances would have reached a happy conclusion. I loved reading about these women fall in love with themselves as much as I loved reading their romances.

I struggled a little more with A Prince on Paper than I did with A Princess in Theory and A Duke by Default. In the previous two Reluctant Royals books, I had an immediate sense of who Naledi and Portia were. With Nya, I didn’t have as much of a sense of who she is until I was well into the book. To a degree, that’s because Nya suffered emotional abuse at the hands of her father to the point where she doesn’t quite know who she is. Another reason I struggled was because I don’t deal well with knowing that someone is about to embarrassed. For a good chunk of the book I had a lot of anxiety around the virtual dating game that Nya is playing. It ends up resolving in a way that wasn’t as bad as my anxiety told me it would be, but it was a barrier for me in fully engaging with the book.

Over the last year I have heard a lot of hype about author Alyssa Cole so I was excited to finally read one of her books. Not to mention that the Reluctant Royals series, of which the book is the third, are all about falling in love with princes and dukes which is one of my favorite themes in romance! While this book wasn't perfect there was a lot that was really great. I will definitely be back to read more of her books.

in "A Prince on Paper" Nya and Johan are forced together when they are both members of the bridal party for the Prince of an African nation. I liked both of these characters immensely and believed their love story as it evolved. While I liked all the political intrigue that they had to navigate sometimes they spent too much time on the stories of secondary characters and family drama. I also wondered about the consistency of Nya's character. She's a 27-year old virgin who has had no prior romantic relationships yet she professes to love porn and loses her virginity in a public place. Nonetheless, I really did love Nya and Johan together. Their chemistry was hot and they both really grew individually and as couple. The story was young, hip and fun and I stayed up late reading it.

Alyssa Cole's Reluctant Royals series is so engaging and adds something new and wonderful with each book. A Prince on Paper follows Nya Jerami and Johan von Braustein as they navigate family, identity, a fake engagement, and a very strong attraction to each other despite the odds. While there are several recognizable and well loved romance tropes in this novel, it keeps the genre fresh by giving us characters that are open emotionally, communicating the problems they are having in their own lives and with each other. It's much more enjoyable to read this type of book than one where the central conflict comes from characters not telling each other things are very obvious! Johan makes for a very likeable protagonist, with great care and thought put into a character that seems to portray traditional toxic masculinity in the public eye, but actively works against it in private. A gender nonconforming character introduced late in the novel is easily incorporated with the correct pronouns - and a suggestion to others that if they don't get it, it's not their job to explain! This is definitely a series I will continue to follow and for those of you that have already been reading, you won't be disappointed.