The characters seemed dull to me and not well rounded. I thought going into this it would have been cute and interesting due to how the plot sounded. I wanted to love this like I loved The Thousandth Floor. It was very melodramatic and felt like a soap opera.

I LOVED this book!!! An imagining of what the country would be like if instead of presidents and first families we had a Royal Family, the Washingtons. Beatrice (Bee) is the future queen and has all the stress and constraints that you can imagine would come with being the heir. I loved how we get to see her Royal, but also her young woman and personal, side. Seeing both made her so relatable. Samantha (Sam) and Jefferson (Jeff)are the younger Washington twins. They both have more freedom than Bee, but that freedom also comes with pitfalls of its own. Seeing the story through Sam’s eyes at times helps us to be able to relate and understand better. I was not at all a fan of Daphne, but as the “villain” I would say she is perfect. Also, I know we’re supposed to like Nina, but sorry I just didn’t. I like the idea of her character and the part (specifically with Sam and Jeff) the character plays, just not specifically how Nina was written.

This book was so much fun! There was lots of drama and insanity, I hope this gets turned into a movie or show someday. This story is what America could be like If we had a king and queen. It follows the Royal family, Queen to be Beatrice, and her two siblings Jeff and Samantha, as the drama of being royal swirls around them. There are four narrators for this story. We see the points of view of Beatrice and Samantha, as well as Samantha's best friend Nina, and Jeff’s ex girlfriend Daphne.

I thought the writing was great, and the voices of the different characters were perfect. There was a certain amount of cheesyness, but I was ready for it and it really made the story that much more fun. I am really excited to read the next one in the series!

I was given an advanced reader's copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Told through an alternate history perspective, George Washington became king instead of president. Three siblings enter the picture, Beatrice, Samantha, and Jefferson. Groomed from a young age to take over the American Throne, Beatrice is descended from George. She will be the first Queen of America, but who will be king? Her younger sister, Samantha has always been the “spare” and lived in her sister’s shadow, so has always done whatever she wants. Jefferson has some big decisions to make. Two girls are vying for his attention. Nina, Samantha’s commoner friend he’s known all his life, and Daphne, a social climbing crown grabber who will do anything to get her man back. The characters are flawed, likable, and easy to relate to. The character dynamics are well-done and mix well into the story. The plot is filled with drama without overwhelming the reader. For fans of the Crown and Gossip Girl, this book is a must-read.

All the ingredients were there, but they never quite combined into the tasty dish I'd been saving all my WW points to consume. You know? Just ... meh. Never bonded with the characters; felt no investment in their fates. It was mildly amusing and entertaining enough to finish, but ultimately unsatisfying.

On our must read Classy Mommy 2019 list! Fantastic reimagining of the USA with romance that all chick lit fans and those who love following the British royalty will enjoy! Relatable characters, fun, and a quick read that will make you all think " WHAT IF. We can't wait for the next release in the series!

I was very disappointed in this book. I love books about royalty but this was just a drawn out set up. I feel like the pacing could have been tighter and there could have been some conclusions in this book. It is just a set up for the series and contained little substance.

Fun and frothy, American Royals is an enjoyable young adult novel that will satisfy anyone who has ever read about England's royal family and thought, well, what if??? It's not a particularly deep read, but it's light and cute and entertaining.

American Royals answers the question: What if George Washington has agreed to be King of America? An interesting premise, right? It certainly grabbed my attention and I was pleased with KMcGee's execution of it.

American Royals is told from four POVs. That of the Crown Princess, Beatrice, her younger sister, Princess Samantha, Sam's best friend, Nina, and Prince Jefferson's ex-girlfriend, Daphne. Through these POVs, we get a great understanding of American royal life. Beatrice shows up what it's like to have been groomed your entire life to be the next monarch, never getting to make her own decisions. She's going to be facing adversity as America's first Queen and she's struggling with what she'll have to give up. Samantha demonstrates what life is like feeling like the spare heir. She and her twin brother, Jefferson, are rather aimless in life at this point but also so full of zest for living. Nina, shows us how it feels to have grown up as a commoner whose life has been entangled with the Royal family's thanks to her friendship with Samantha and her new relationship with Jefferson. And Daphne illustrates the lengths that some people will go to in order to attain a title. (psst, it isn't pretty)

American Royals kept me engaged, the character development was moving, and the day-to-day living juxtaposed with the considerations toward the future was interesting. There were a few plot threads that were predictable and a few moments of melodrama but they didn't detract from my overall enjoyment. I'm utterly invested in the Washingtons as the Royal family and I'm eager for the next installment.

Wow, I don't know what I was expecting from this book but I don't think it was this. I didn't realize it was going to be so soapy, think Royals and a CW show but in a good way. The characters are so well fleshed out and this alternate view of America that felt so real. Normally, when there are multiple viewpoints in a narrative I find myself not caring for most of the characters but each character added something new to the story and kept the story moving.

If you enjoy DRAMA - this is the book for you. I will admit, I am not a fan of DRAMA, but I was intrigued by the synopsis of this book, so I pushed my way through. I will preface this review with the fact that I am definitely not the audience for this book. I enjoy McGee's writing style, however, the DRAMA is over the top. So, what would the United States be like if George Washington accepted the Founding Fathers' offer of being a regent rather than a democracy being created? In modern times, the Washington family is still in power, with Princess Beatrice next in line for the throne (this is a huge change as prior to her birth, patriarchy was still rearing its ugly head *ahem" *ahem*.) She must do her duty to the crown by marrying one of the eligible aristocratic bachelors as her father doesn't think America is ready for a woman queen to rule on her own. Just a bit of problem though, Beatrice is already in love with someone else, but feeling duty bound she proposes to the bachelor she feels most comfortable with, who her sister Samantha just happens to form a tendre for. Speaking of Samantha, her twin brother, Jefferson, is in love with Samantha's best friend, Nina, but she is a commoner and this is creating a problem, especially for Jefferson's ex Daphne who wants a title and the only way she will get it is by marrying Jefferson, whom she doesn't love, but what's love when there is titles to be had? So I could have totally done without the Daphne story line - there was enough DRAMA without it (and WTF? concerning what she did to her "BFF" so she could keep a secret from Jefferson?) With the exception of Daphne, I enjoyed all the female POV's (Beatrice, Samantha, and Nina,) but I don't feel we got to really know the male characters enough to like 'em or leave 'em. I do plan on reading the second book because I want to see where the story will lead, but I am hoping beyond hope that the Daphne story line just peters out. There are too many good parts to have it ruined by that psycho title grabber.

A lot of people are hating on this book, but hey, I really enjoyed it! It was an easy read that kept me entertained. I mean, she definitely could have gone deeper with all of America’s issues, but I honestly don’t think that was her point. It was just a cutesy “what if” drama and I liked it. (Trust me, I read lots of hard hitting books and this was one that was strictly for entertainment and it entertained me haha!) 5 stars!

Sigh... My feels. They are so mixed. I really enjoyed the book. It took me forever and day to get into it (initially I didn't jibe with the 3rd person POV narrative for 4 different characters), but once I did, I could NOT PUT THE BOOK DOWN. Katharine McGee did a superb job of crafting real characters; they were all so fallible and realistic. In fact, that was actually an aspect of the story that both troubled and compelled me - from one moment to the next Beatrice, Samantha, Nina, and Jeff got on my ever-loving nerves (but not Daphne - it was hate 24/7 for her), then I would feel sympathetic and compassionate towards them. They are all young people existing in a rarefied stratosphere, thrust in positions and situations that no one could truly be prepared or well-equipped for. That being said - some of the decision making between the lot and the lack of communication (and outright cowardice in some situations) left me baffled and ready to throttle someone on several occasions. I'm so glad that this looks to at least be a duology (though I see real potential for a multi book series), because I not only long to see what happens next, I want to get lost in this novel world of American royals again. 4 out of 5 wine glasses.

Loved this one! It would be so cool if we actually had a royal family. I know this one was marketed as YA, but I had no trouble getting invested as an adult!

American Royals is an alt history book- what if Washington decided to be King instead of President, what if we had a monarchy instead of a democracy. I love the idea of the book, and would have loved even more of the history and world building, however instead it was more a New Adult romance cliche.

I do love Beatrice- she reminds me so much of Queen Elizabeth from The Crown, and i love Connor. The other characters I could take or leave. It does a good job of setting up the story and I will read the next one to see how it ends. I do think the concept would make a great show.

I really enjoyed this book! I love books about royalty, and this one hit the spot. I loved the plot and the execution, I think the author did a fantastic job.

Imagine if George Washington hadn't become president but rather a king? This royal twist on American history was a juicy, drama filled contemporary romance and I LOVED IT.

Beatrice has America on her shoulders as she's next in line to become their first Queen. Thanks to her grandfather for breaking tradition and declaring the Crown will go to the oldest child no matter their gender, Beatrice has been preparing for this most of her life.  She's always played the part of a regal, sophisticated lady who always follows the rules and sticks to tradition, but when the future seems so close, will she listen to her heart or the Crown? Her parents are putting the pressure on her to find a suitable husband, even going so far as to making her a list to choose from, but she quickly realizes the one she loves isn't on that list.

This was a great start to a series- it's fun, juicy, and royally romantic- I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel in 2020! If you enjoy reading YA or books regarding royals, give this one a go!

I loved the idea of this novel and I couldn't wait to get it! Honestly I was so excited and worried that I might not get approved for an ARC that I preordered it to make sure I had it the day it came out.

I am a huge fan of anything royal and when Katherine announced this book I could not wait for it. Then it arrive on my kindle and it was an all co summing race to the end. Lush and intriguing, this novel is her best one yet.

This was such a surprise to me, and has made my favorite books of the year. It feels so salacious and fun, and it's just the book I was looking for at the time.
The only thing I wish is that there was an LGBTQ character more central to the story than one of the POV's mothers, but that's a personal preference.
This is such a wild ride and twisty with highs and lows, and the characters are so lovable, and the love interests are so swoony. I do wish that the antagonist POV was humanized a little more because although I understood her motivations, I didn't really sympathize with her, and I wish there was more complexity there.
I just now realized this is the same author as the Thousandth Floor series, and that makes a lot of sense.