I wanted to love this one, I'm not going to lie. Because I love those what-if novels. However, American Royals was not one of those for me. As someone who enjoyed early American history including the American Revolution and as well as George Washington becoming President because of he basically refused to be a king, because after all didn't we fight to get read of a monarchy. So it's hard to picture a world where George Washington become king and passed the crown down when he himself didn't have any children.

Not to mention that the fact that other than the monarchy in the book the rest of the US history didn't really change which means during the Civil War the house of Washington literally would have been divided. So to me American Royals was two hard to believe.

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If you are a fan of the author's Thousandth Floor series then rest assured that you will most likely enjoy American Royals. I on the other hand was not a big fan of her previous books but I was interested in the premise enough to go ahead and pick this book up. I can easily say that I really enjoyed American Royals. It was an alternate world, yet with real and relatable emotions. Keep in mind there there was not a whole lot of plot/action, this is more a character driven story where the drama and interpersonal relationships make the book. I did notice that there were a LOT of the same personality types and relationship dramas as seen in The Thousandth Floor series, but the characters here (minus Daphne, she just might be the devil) were likable and at heart good people in tough situations.

If you like ensemble casts, then this is the book for you because it was narrated by four very different girls who each play a role in the drama that unfolds on the pages.
Beatrice is the first princess, in line for the throne as the oldest child, which will make her the first Queen in American history. Beatrice has never been allowed to make a mistake or have a dissenting opinion, instead she was basically the royal family and America's puppet- that is, until a certain guard came into the picture and showed her what being seen really feels like. I feel a little like she was one note and bland, a little too perfect and not a real person so she was harder for me to connect to. Sam, the "extra" princess has spent her whole life acting out to get some smidgen of attention from her parents aka the royal family. She and her sister have noting in common, until they do, in the form of Teddy. Side note, I loved Sam so so much! She was my favorite character and had such character growth in this book, I rooted for her even when nothing seemed to go right. Nina is Sam's best friend, a commoner who has not told her new friends she knows Sam so she can have a chance to have a normal college experience- but is love worth fighting for? Nina was the nice down to earth point of view, the sweet girl who was sucked into a world she could never be prepared for even when she grew up on the fringe. And that brings me to Daphne, the devil, or rather the ex-girlfriend to the prince (Sam's twin) who will do ANYTHING to make sure she gets a ring on her finger by Jeff. I hated her so much and her evilness never seemed to stop! I really hope she gets what is coming to her in the next book.

I feel like I went through the emotional ringer with this book, every time it seemed like things were going to work out, utter chaos and destruction would follow.
Heads up for those who thought this was a standalone (me, I thought this was a standalone!) the ending is a HUGE terrible cliffhanger and I have no idea how anything will resolve in the next book. This is the perfect read for those who love all things royalty and drama, and count me in to pick up the next book whenever it is available because I need to know how this train-wreck will end.

Beatrice Georgina Fredericka Louise of the House of Washington, Princess Royal of America is to be the first reigning Queen of the United Colonies of America. Quite naturally she is under unrelenting scrutiny, of a kind never witnessed in the two hundred fifty years of the monarchy. Thus far, she has been equal to the task, her intelligence, training, and sense of duty make her an icon in the eyes of her family and countrymen. But now, something has changed, her parents are forcing her to "interview" possible husbands at the Queen's Ball tomorrow night!

"American Royals" is an excellent YA romance filled with the pomp and circumstance of a ruling monarchy intermingled with the trials and tribulations of young men and women in the searing spotlight of public attention. The twins, Samantha, and Jeff, Beatrice's immature and wilder siblings play the wildcards, adding complications and contrast to the story. While a good girl commoner, Nina Gonzalez, Samantha's best friend, is juxtaposed against her royal friends' excesses. A social-climbing harpy, Daphne by name, circles through the lives of Nina, Sam, and Jeff, adding a frisson of danger. Her sole aim is to marry into House Washington; she will stop at nothing to achieve it.

This fantasy will interest those who enjoy reading about the British Royal Family and all their activities. The writing will not disappoint. The characters are well developed and conflicted, while the twisty plot moves at a rapid pace. Left out are the harsher realities of American history like slavery and the civil war, but it is a fantasy after all.

At this point I am wondering if there will be a sequel, there certainly is room for a series of them. I recommend "American Royals" for those looking for something unusual.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

I was so excited about this book when I first found out about it. I just feel like this had such potential and really didn't live up to any of it. I was expecting a salacious, scandalous, juicy story but it fell flat. Not a single character was well-rounded or felt fully fleshed out, and I never understood why they did the things they did. I can sacrifice characters having literally any personality if they're doing messed up things or at the very least are remotely interesting. Unfortunately, I didn't get that either. I will say the second half of the book was a minor improvement on the first, but I wanted to DNF about halfway through. I'm definitely disappointed, as I had high hopes and was sure I was going to love this.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the eARC. This review will be posted on Goodreads and to Amazon's and Barnes & Noble's websites.

A fun read, that would have been better if not so slow paced, but overall good read. Loved all the different points of view, which I felt gave me a better picture of the story, since narrators can be so unreliable at least in my normal genre. A nice break from thrillers. Think those who love the celebrity, royal family themes will enjoy this book.
Will be telling those who love a light hearted, fun read to grab a copy!

Really enjoyed this book a lot. The pacing is slower, but I really enjoyed how real it was. I didn't feel like our characters problems were overly dramatic. The topic of having a monarchy in America was very interesting and I enjoyed the plot that it creates with our characters. I also really loved the importance that it put on having a relationship with your sister and that family comes first. The ending was insane and I cannot wait to read the next one.

I received a copy of this book for an honest review. What if George Washington became king instead of president? This book gives us a peek at what modern America might look like if that were the case. This book is not a genre I usually read so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I LOVED it. It was funny and quirky. The characters were relatable and likable. The end was left with room for a sequel, which I would read in a heartbeat.

I really loved this book. I've been recommending it to friend like crazy. My only real issue with the story was the lack of representation. There were only tokens for people of color and queer people. DC is being presented as though it is much like the real world's version, yet everyone is exceedingly white and straight. I am able to suspend my belief that Washington would go against his beliefs to take the crown enough to enjoy the story. It is un and dramatic and I love that there is a YA novel with college-age characters.

The changing POV was so numerous it was a bit hard to follow. The fact that it was a different alternate history plotline from what I've read before was enjoyable. Sadly, the romance didnt follow suit and was the same as most other romances. Leaving it very predictable.

America is a monarchy, years of kings reigning since George Washington himself. Now, Beatrice will be the first reigning queen and she must find a husband to rule beside her. Samantha is tired of watching her older sister become someone important, while she is left in the shadows. If it weren't for her spontaneous, disapproved behavior and her twin brother, Jefferson, would people even know Sam exists? Nina has loved Jefferson her entire friendship with Sam, but will Jeff be able to see beyond her commoner status with his ex looming nearby? Daphne will do whatever it takes to get the crown. Jefferson will love her and she will become part of the Royal family. No matter what it will cost, she must become queen.

Told in alternating points of view, American Royals is a fresh, exciting new take on an alternative history. Each character is developed in a relatable way, even Daphne who is essentially a villain. The plot was fast paced and the historical context placement throughout the story was extremely helpful. There was never a "here's how we got here" chapter because this information was perfectly sprinkled throughout the whole plot. My only complaint is that it's the first in a series and I didn't know this until I finished reading it. This means I have to complete the dreaded task of waiting for the next book before I can continue this series. Fun, exciting, and just a really cool concept, American Royals is a great read for middle schoolers and beyond.

3.5 stars. The premise of this was interesting - monarchy instead of democracy in contemporary America. I did not make the connections other readers have who took issue with this alternate history considering America's past regarding indigenous peoples and slavery - If you are curious about that, check out some of the negative reviews on Goodreads for a better discussion of that.

My rating and review are based solely on the book and characters. The only strong feelings I could drum up about the central 7-9 characters (depending on how you define "central") is hatred for the villain. But the rest of the characters didn't inspire a lot of feeling.

Each of the 3 royal kids is part of a love triangle. In general, I hate love triangles. These were intricate enough to capture my interest and pull me through the chapters to see what would happen. But through it all I couldn't drum up a lot of interest in seeing what happened to any of the main characters. I just never liked them. I'm not sure if I will read the sequel when it comes out to see how the relationships play out in the end. (Sex, drinking)

Katharine McGee brought us The Thousandth Floor trilogy that I still have on my tbr. I dunno when I will get to that but for now I ventured into her next trilogy by reading the first book, American Royals which came out earlier this month.

American Royals explores the notion of America being a monarchy. We mainly follow the lives of the royal siblings and their friends. Multiple POVs keep us company and provide a glimpse into the inner workings of all the truths, lies and manipulations and just plain survival.

Circumstance and perspective rule this book along with the usual politics and agendas and dreams that royalty and/or associations entail.

The last scene was quite sad and I loved how it was written. And it made me all the more curious and interested in the sequel.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the Publishers for this review copy

Why to recommend it:
-It has something for everyone! It has a little romance, a little family drama, a little faux history lesson, and even some laughs. This entire book is non-stop entertaining and it will hook contemporary readers from the first chapter.

-It has a unique hook. This book relies on an alternate history of America that will keep readers interested. The rewritten history makes this an easy recommendation or booktalk because it sets up a world that teens can easily imagine. This book would also pair nicely with a book about real American history and a discussion about why America chose to avoid a monarchy.

-This book features a character a little older than the average YA protagonist and it’s a great read for teens who are looking for a book with an older feel. Princess Beatrice is college-aged and dealing with her eventual takeover of the monarchy, family drama, and finding a suitable spouse. She’s still a relatable and interesting character for teens but also fills a gap for “new adult” aged characters.

-This is a perfect read for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider. CeCe voluntarily goes to the Christian summer camp but that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t feel like a total alien at a camp where everyone else shares their testimony and spouts Bible verses. Hartl perfectly captures what it’s like to be on the outside looking in.

Who to recommend it to:

-Teen readers who love books with gossip, glamour, and drama! This book is pure fun and full of secrets, high fashion, and peeks into the world of the ultra exclusive world of royals.

-Book clubs! The alternate history of this book can spark an interesting discussion between book club members.

-Romance fans! This book delivers three different romance storylines that will make a romance reader happy. This is a great recommendation for teen romance fans who aren’t ready for adult reads yet. It has fade-to-black sex scenes and lots of swoony moments.

-This drama filled book is perfect for adult fans of Red, White, and Royal Blue, Gossip Girl, & The Royal We

I loved this one! The concept of America being monarchy instead of a democracy was quite interesting to explore.
The royal children have larger-than-life personalities and even larger problems.



Thank you thank you thank you to RHCB for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review! I’ll be posting and in depth review on curlybookowl.com on 9-10, be sure to check it out!

Princess Beatrice is poised to take over the throne as the first queen regnant. Princess Samantha and her twin Prince Jefferson are the rebellious second and third in line for the throne. Nina is best friend to Princess Samantha and about to become even more embroiled in the royal family. Daphne is the ruthless ex-girlfriend of the prince. Together they are the American royals. In this alternate-history take on America, George Washington became the first king instead of president. This is definitely a high drama story for fans of GOSSIP GIRL with a royal twist.

I received an e-ARC of this book for free from Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.

People have always had a fascination with royal families. What if America had a royal family instead of a President? This book had all the glitz and glam I was hoping for! It was part Gossip Girl, part Crazy Rich Asians and I loved every second of it!

I was immediately intrigued by Daphne’s character and the crazy ambitious nature of her personality. She has no concerns for anyone or anything, but her own social status. This girl is cray-cray!

I also really enjoyed all the blossoming and crumbling romances. There were so many feelings being thrown around and the bombshell that is dropped on us midway through the story was the icing on the cake. I admit getting a bit teary eyed at the end there.

I really can’t wait to read the next book and see how these socially elite characters take on the new challenges that they are facing. Also, I really want to see what happens with the romances I’m rooting for! I am so here for all the royal mischief and can’t wait to be immersed in this alternate history again!

I picked it up and tried to read it on several different occasions; it's a great premise but I have so little time to read in college that when I do take the time, this isn't the book that comes to mind. I might give it another try a different day but for now there's just other books that I enjoy more.

This was really fun! The story gives a great idea of what it would be like to be in that position - constantly in the spotlight, and having to conform to rigid sets of ideals, like our current American princess right now. The writing was quite good, and I liked all the characters, including the villain. I enjoyed seeing how each of them changed and grew. It's interesting to think how America would be if we had a royal family, and what impact that would have on the world. I'll definitely read the sequel - I want to know what happens! This is a fun read for any royal watcher, and for those who like a good romance. Recommended!

Actual rating: 2.5 stars

Thanks to Random House Children’s via NetGalley for giving me a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review. I ended up getting a physical ARC from a local indie bookstore before I was approved for the eARC.

Well, this was and wasn’t what I expected it to be.

Oh boy. Perhaps this was filled with too much drama for my taste. There’s a lot going on. The book has four POVs, and it took me a while to settle into each character. This mainly had to do with everything feeling shallow–too surface level. It’s not like the author doesn’t give a backstory to each character, but I found it difficult to care a bit. I didn’t particularly care for one POV because I didn’t like the character at all. I sympathized with the two other POVs, Samantha and Beatrice’s, while completely agreeing with a lot of what Nina, Samantha’s best friend, had to say in her POV. Perhaps if there had been less of this, and more energy spent on digging deeper, I would have liked this book more. The concept was good, though I have a wandering through in the back of my head. The whole American Revolution was about rejecting the British king and now I have to believe the American people bent a knee to give George Washington a crown? And he accepted? That part is too hard to believe. Due to this alternate history route, we also see royal families in other countries (even ones who no longer have a royal family today) and how America is even broken up into different duke and earldoms. I mean, I really live for this stuff in general. I expected something lush and sumptuous but unfortunately this book really feel flat for me.

You know what I really would give an arm and a leg for? A whole book focused on Beatrice and her actual love interest. I felt like so much could have been explored there but again…there’s the falling flat part. The internal struggle she and Samantha both faced really captured me though. All the characters here are older–Beatrice is 21, while Samantha and Nina are both college students. It fell into the “upper YA” category that probably doesn’t actually exist but here I am. Maybe that’s why I wanted more? Who knows.

Let me tell you what though, I absolutely did not like Daphne. She’s shallow and self-absorbed. There’s one particular character who sees right through her facade and for good reason. I don’t think even Daphne knows who she is or what she wants because, like everyone else in this book, people have been telling who and what she ought to be so she assumed the mold. It’s tragic, really.

The prince, Jefferson, also seemed kind of wishy-washy. I don’t think he fought hard enough for the girl he truly wanted. I can’t figure out if this means he’s just a nice person or he’s just…meh about everything.

I haven’t read McGee’s previous series, The Thousandth Floor, so I can’t compare this book to her previous work. I met her last year during an multiple author book tour and bought The Thousandth Floor because she made it sound so interesting. Well, surprise surprise that I haven’t read it yet. 🙊 The writing style wasn’t bad, per se, it was just…lackluster, hence the whole “I wish there was more” vibe I keep giving the book. This doesn’t mean I won’t read her previous series; I’m simply not sure I would read the next book in this series. The ending was such a shocker, and that was mainly due to the fact that I didn’t know there was a sequel, LOL.

Katharine McGee quickly became one of my favorite authors with the release of The Thousandth Floor. If you've read that series, you know that she loves writing messy romance and complicated plot lines that are portrayed amongst numerous different perspectives. American Royals keeps this trend going on both counts, with much success. Beatrice has always been the perfect daughter. She's never really been given the chance to do anything otherwise; she's next in line for the throne of America. Meanwhile, her younger siblings Samantha and Jefferson are free to do nearly anything they want, because they aren't going to inherit the throne. Understandably, this causes both parties (particularly Beatrice and Samantha) to have resentment for one another, as they think that the other has the perfect life. There are quite a few swoony boys and catty girls in American Royals, and romance that blooms where I didn't see it coming. I was fully invested in everyone's story, and there wasn't a single character's perspective that I didn't look forward to reading. If it's not clear, I loved American Royals. It lived up to every bit of hype that I had built up in my head for it. I gave it 5/5 stars. I'm already anxiously awaiting the day I get my hands on the next book.