Enjoyed the first book and loved this one too. Fun read. Lots of character development, and it's nice to see the characters grow and change. Can't wait for book three!

Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine McGee, and Random House Books for Young Readers for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

While involved in a Book Challenge, I chose a YA book, American Royals, to fulfill one of my goals. I really enjoyed the characters, the descriptions of what it was like to be raised in royalty, the writing, and the story line. I was excited when I saw Majesty was coming soon, and I could find out what happened to this family.

Most people are curious about living as royalty in a big palace, but it’s not always as fun as it looks, especially if you are a teenager about to become Queen. Princess Beatrice was born to be the first Queen of America, exciting fo everyone but her younger sister, Samantha, who always felt invisible. Boyfriends, girlfriends, and competitors make this an unforgettable experience. Luckily, the new Queen is a strong female character, who realizes what it takes to become Queen and take care of her subjects with a fair hand. It’s not an easy journey to the crown, but these teens rise to the task! I hope there is a sequel!!!

Majesty begins right after the King of America dies, leaving his oldest daughter Beatrice queen. She was in the process of telling her father that she wanted to abduct and run off with her guard Conner. That all changed when her father dies.

Her younger siblings, Sam and Jefferson have their own issues. Sam thinks she's in love with Teddy who comes from a blue blood family but has no money. He's also the one Beatrice's family wants her to marry. Jefferson has broken up with Nina and she's back in college, trying to get her life back to normal. Only Daphne, the royal circles 'mean' girl has other plans

What worked: This is the second book in the American Royals series. I was a big fan of the first book and couldn't wait for the sequel. So when I got approved to review the second book, I was excited! And this book doesn't disappoint!!!

What I really enjoyed was revisiting this alternative universe where America has royalty. I especially loved how McGee weaves in backstory from the previous book so readers don't forget all the intrigue and secrets.

Beatrice's life changes when her father dies. Her character arcs toward the end of the novel when she has to make the personal decision whether to have the crown be forced on her or to take things in her own hands. That doesn't mean this comes easy. There's the question of loyal and how she fits as the new Queen of America.

Sam's the 'spare' and now finds she has to take her royal calling as the next in line more seriously. She also decides to make the object of her affections-Teddy-jealous by getting a 'fake' boyfriend. Only things don't turn out the way she planned.

Jefferson's story is intertwined with Nina and Daphne. Nina seems to have grown up more and her story and new relationship with Ethan is one that I especially enjoyed. Daphne of course is still the 'mean' girl who plots to do anything she can to get Jefferson's attention and become a princess that her mother desperately wants.Saying all that, Daphne isn't the one-dimensional, stereotypical mean girl. Readers see her vulnerabilities and weaknesses that drive her to make the decisions she makes.

I think the only weakness had to be Jefferson's story. He seemed to take a backseat to the others in the story. I wanted to see more on what he thought and for McGee to dig deeper into his character.

The ending of the novel is fast-paced with many of the loose ends being tied up. Hint, Connor shows up again.

Gossip Girls meets an alternative reality where America has royalty. Fast-paced, with court intrigue, back-biting, and friendship. This sequel is a satisfying continuation of the first book.

Originally posted at: https://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/25516-american-royals-ii-majesty

American Royals was one of my favorite reads last year. It was like reading a juicy gossip article that you just couldn't put down. Majesty had the same feel but I was so irritated by Beatrice's betrayal to her sister that I felt guilty even enjoying any developments with her character. I really enjoyed reading new relationships blossom and what would be decided in the end. I think the ending with Beatrice made me ok with how things unfolded. This is a world that normal is never what can or does happen. If you are looking for a juicy read that you will not be able to put down then this should be on your TBR.

None of the relationships in this book turned out like I thought I wanted in book one, but that wasn't a bad thing. What I would change is, I'd have liked more closure. By the end of this book, I had a sense of where all the relationships were heading, but I wanted more satisfying "endings" for some of them, as in, no loose ends. I'm really happy with Beatrice's growth in this book, and Samantha's as well. Really all of the girls went through some great character growth, but as far as Daphne goes, I didn't want her storyline to turn out the way it did. It was like, I got what I wanted, but not really. I can't say anything else without spoiling, so if you loved American Royals, you'll love this one, too, and then come talk to me about it so we can hash out all the feelings!!

I would totally love for there to be a third book!!!

Thanks to Partner NetGalley for the digital ARC of Katharine McGee’s Majesty in exchange for an honest review. The book will be published on Tuesday, September 1, 2020.

***Warning: It’s impossible to review Majesty without spoilers from book one, American Royals, so proceed with caution!




Katharine McGee’s YA novel Majesty picks up right where American Royals left off: After the death of King George, Beatrice is Queen of America . . . she just needs a coronation. Though Beatrice loves Collin, her guard, she’s still engaged to Teddy, who had a quick fling (of sorts) with Beatrice’s sister, Samantha. Samantha’s best friend, Nina, who dated Samantha’s twin Jeff for a while, is recovering after her relationship came to a brutal end at the hands of Daphne. And Daphne is still determined to win Jeff, even though she really likes Ethan.

It’s just the soapy goodness it sounds like, all set in an America that has boasted a royal family since George Washington first accepted the crown.

After we talked about American Royals on the Unabridged Podcast, I hoped for a second book that would offer some surprises, that would enrich the story beyond each of the four female protagonists ending up paired with the man she loved at the end of the first book.

While I won’t give away any details here, I’ll just say that I was pleased with the way that McGee developed her story. She allowed some characters to grow and change and find that they could love someone new, while other characters end up staying true to their original goals.

The details about this alternate America are just as fascinating as they were in book one, and watching Beatrice navigate being the first queen in the royal line raises some great feminist issues that I appreciated. I thought the author also added some nuance in her character development, which meant that there was plenty of story for these two books.

Overall, this is a fast, fun, romantic read with some serious questions sprinkled in. I think that fans of American Royals will be so thrilled.

The writing was well done and the book was an enjoyable read but the conflict was repeated three different ways--yet still remaining the same essential conflict. It seems like a very good writer with little imagination for plot.

I’m so excited to discuss Majesty today! I really loved American Royals and I was beyond excited to get my hands (and eyes!) on an ARC of Majesty. I’m going to make a bold statement- I liked it even more than the first book! ⁣
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If you aren’t familiar, American Royals is a story about if George Washington was the King of America and his teenage descendants in present day Washington, DC. I absolutely loved the British Royals so combining these into the US is a winner for me. ⁣
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Majesty picks up right after book 1 ends (on a major cliffhanger!) and introduces us to some new characters such as Marshall, the Duke of Orange and some old faces return, Daphne, ugh. The book also has some of my favorite romances tropes, like fake dating and this one delves into more serious topics of sexism and females working in traditionally male roles. It also deals with death and grieving. ⁣
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Overall, I really loved this book and I love all the discussion of the beautiful clothes and the palace. I am praying there’s a third book in @katherinemcgee and it would wrap this series up perfectly. Maybe even a movie series?⁣
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5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣

Didn't finish. I hadn't read the first installment of this series, so there was a lot of backstory I needed to catch up on. Even so, I found the characters unappealing and the plot predictable, and decided to move on to something else. I'm sure there are lots of readers who enjoy this series, but it's not for me.

Thanks, though, to NetGalley for the ARC.

The American Royals series continues to delight and be a complete page-turner! Katherine McGee brings it in this second installment. Depth is shown in the relationships with Beatrice and Samantha and love and romance are weaved in along the way. Read and savor each page!

Getting the Netgalley approval for Majesty was one of the high points of 2020, honestly, and it did not disappoint. I loved American Royals, and Majesty is a totally worthy follow up. It's soapy and delicious, and I felt that the characters stayed true to who we were introduced to in the first book. Beatrice is finding her way as queen and definitely having some struggles along the way, Sam is dealing with her new role as second in line to the throne as well as romantic complications, Nina is getting over Jeff, and then there is the wonderfully devious Daphne who is still up to tricks. Gossip Girl for the royal set, and this reimagining of what the contemporary US would look like as a monarchy is perfect fun.

This was a great sequel to American Royals! I really liked the first book, and I really wanted to find out what happened after the sad ending of the first book. I really appreciated the character development from all of the characters in the sequel, particularly Beatrice and Samantha. They both had new roles to play after the death of their father and I think they both matured a lot.
I did get a little bored towards the middle of the book, but all in all it was a great sequel!

*This review is based on an uncorrected proof copy provided by the publisher.*

4/5 stars

In the sequel to 2019's American Royals, Katharine McGee brings us back to an alternate America where Washington became king and his descendants rule.

After the death of their father, Beatrice, Jefferson, and Samantha Washington are reeling. The country is in mourning, and now Beatrice is expected to take up the mantle as the first Queen of America in her own right. Romantic entanglements only get more complicated, as Nina and Jefferson struggle to navigate post-breakup, Beatrice struggles to decide where her heart lies, and Sam has to settle into her new role as heir. Daphne Deighton, Jefferson's ex girlfriend, only serves to complicate matters with her schemes and royal aspirations. What are the Washington's to do?

McGee has delivered a satisfying sequel that delivers just as much drama and royal excitement as the first installment. All the characters are put to new tests, building on their struggles from the first book and striving for more. Some storylines that appeared to be wrapped up are unraveled anew, which does lead to a bit of whiplash, but it is to be expected in a series with an indeterminate end.

Beatrice, the new queen, is forced to reckon with the effects of her father's death. Her relationships, position, and autonomy are all thrown into question, and she has to decide who she wants to be--and who she wants to be with. Her character is given more room to grow in this book, becoming more than just the royal who wants to give it all up for a commoner. She is sympathetic and more real in this second installment.

This story really is all about the girls, and we see that in the characterization. The women are more fleshed-out than most of the men, other than perhaps Teddy and Marshall (a new character). Because the women are the ones telling the story, you get a much better sense of who they are. The boys are rather left to be romantic leads without too much depth. Jefferson, a member of the Washington family, is not present much in this book other than in key plot moments. I would have liked to see more of him.

One thing this book does that the first did not is address the role of race in this alternate America. The first novel didn't tell us if slavery had been a part of the country, or if it had been retconned along with democracy. Now, we know that slavery did last into the beginning of the Washington dynasty, but we are also able to see how race plays out in the present. As a white person, I do not feel comfortable weighing in on whether this introduction and explanation of race was successful, but I was glad to see it addressed. No book can contain every aspect of a world, but race was a glaring omission from an alternate American story. Readers can judge for themselves how they find the author's work to include a broader American image.

This book was a fun romp that will appeal to readers who want drama, romance, and all things royal. The sequel did not disappoint, and I am eager to see how future installments will expand this universe. The Washingtons are an addictive, fascinating family with everything and nothing at their disposal. Enjoy the ride!

I was a little nervous going into American Royals II because sometimes sequels aren’t as good as the first, however I was wrong. This book is fantastic. It picks up right where American Royals left off. Since it is a sequel there’s not much to say about the plot without giving away some of what happens in the predecessor, but I will say so much happens that I didn’t see coming. There’s so much drama, twists and turns. I was hooked. Katharine McGee definitely knows how to write compulsively readable stories, she has become an auto-buy author for me! I love this series.

I generally enjoyed this sequel to American Royals. As with the first installment, the reader must accept the premise that George Washington, after fighting to rid the colonies of the king of England's tyranny, agreed to become the first king of America. Despite the fun and frothy escapades of the modern-day Washington royals depicted here, I'm even more convinced that General Washington made the best choice, thankfully.
It was fun to read about a similar but different Washington, D.C.: there is a palace with all the trappings you'd expect, a royal family with all the requisite glamour and gossip, and even the Statue of Liberty. I thought McGee's world building was well done.
The writing was what I expect in a YA novel, though I think (as with the first entry) that the ages and actions of the characters would suit a general fiction audience just as well. There were a few too many italics throughout, but McGee redeems herself by a number of astute observations about life that I appreciated. I did think that she missed an opportunity for a plot twist that I'd be interested to see fleshed out--will book 3 be a thing??
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.
Recommended

I loved that there seemed to be more character development in this second book! I was able to actually connect more with Sam and better understand her. I found the growth in the characters to be interesting too, but I really hope there is a third book because I have some questions about how the book ended...



Thank you to Penguin Randomhouse and Netgalley for the access to the e-galley to review this book.

I would like to thank the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

If you follow me on Twitter it is not a secret how much I loved the first book in the American Royals series. However if you did miss me gushing over this book you can check out my review for the first book here.

Starting this book, I didn’t think I could possibly love this series anymore then I did before but Katharine McGee really outdid herself with American Royals II: Majesty. Everything I thought and knew that I loved about the characters and plot in the first book McGee made me throw out the window and burn it. She then introduced me to a whole new thing that I can only describe as the new love of my life.

The second book picks up right where we left off in book one. Beatrice Washington was fully ready to break off her engagement and commit her love to her Revere Guard, Connor, however her father’s sudden death and lack of her father’s blessing leaves the whole kingdom in chaos. This gives Beatrice only one option, she must take up her role as the first Queen of America, and all that entails - including her upcoming royal wedding to a man she barely knows.

Bea’s sister, Princess Samantha now has to let go of her partying ways to support her sister in her new role. Which is not easy considering her sister is engaged to the guy she likes! But with no sign of Beatrice’s wedding being called off, she's surprised to find someone else catching her eye.

Samantha’s best friend, Nina Gonzales, is raw from her break up with Samantha’s brother, Prince Jefferson. She’s always known that being close to the royal family is not easy and necessarily the best thing so after the breakup all she wants to do is forget all about the tabloid interest from her relationship last year. However, when Ethan, Jeff's best friend and someone she's known for years, gets close to her, she’s shocked. Here is someone, probably the only other person in the world who knows what it's like to be on the edge of royalty, the only person she thinks can really understand her. But you know where royalty is Daphne Deighton is not far behind and she’s definitely in the background of this relationship.

Daphne who was once the girlfriend of Prince Jefferson before he went out with Nina has been trained to be a princess her whole life. There is nothing she wouldn’t do to be a princess, not even her lingering feelings for Ethan will not stand in her way but will Himari, her best friend whose been in a coma for the past year and knows Daphne secret?

I still loved Beatrice and Nina, but Samantha also crept in there as one of my favourites as I found myself rooting for her the whole way through.

I loved how McGee reflected the vulnerability of Beatrice in the second book and also her journey through trying to figure out how she wishes to rule as Queen. One character I couldn’t stand had to be her Lord Chamberlain, Robert Standish, his constant hold onto the old regime irritated me and there was many times I felt like just jumping in the book and giving him a piece of my mind.

Katharine McGee definitely tested my love for a lot of characters and changed my mind on a lot of opinions I had on them. Samantha our partying princess was also vulnerable in her own way in this book and it honestly allowed me to love her a bit more as we got to know the true Samantha. She like Beatrice has had a new role pushed onto her, having to be the “heir” something she’s never had to contend with before. Also her trying to get over Teddy as he’s now engaged to Beatrice, is something I enjoyed reading about mostly because it bought in a new character that I loved Marshall Davis, heir to the Duke of Orange who understands Samantha and doesn’t try to change her partying and feisty ways. I have to say that the author did incredible development with Samantha, it was sensational.

While I still loved Nina, but she definitely fell down the ranking. I loved seeing Nina in university and more of her life outside the palace. I also liked her relationship with Ethan as it allowed Nina to have someone who understands what it’s like to be best friends with a royal and not be a royal. I also still loved Nina’s relationship with Sam, I love a good friendship.

I’m not even going to waste characters on Daphne because we all know she is just horrible, but I did warm up to her in some scenes in this book but honestly, I can’t wait to hear people’s opinions on her once everyone’s read it.

In regards to romance in this book my whole opinion has shifted, I don’t want to give away too many spoilers but essentially they’ve all changed for the better and I really hope we get to see them explored more in future books as I can’t see their stories ending there.



From what I hear there’s no third book in the works but let me speak it into existence because the series cannot, I repeat, CANNOT end like that. I need more, my soul needs more!

I absolutely loved this book and Katharine McGee couldn’t have done a better job with this book. I would recommend it to any and everyone!

Majesty picks up where American Royals left off, and turns up the volume. The relationship webs grow more complex - Beatrice, Teddy, and Sam adding Marshall, Jeff, Daphne, Ethan, and Nina invert - and Himari wakes up. There’s enough royal drama for two books! McGee deftly intertwines characters and your knowledge and understanding of them deepen. Readers will end up rooting for Sam and Beatrice, while yelling at Daphne and Jeff. I’m very much looking forward to the next installment.

After her father’s untimely death, Beatrice is now Queen of America. Now that she has more responsibilities, she can no longer balance her secret love life with Connor, her bodyguard. Instead, she has to bid him goodbye and try to make peace with the life she’s been forced into, as well as the marriage with Teddy.

Samantha’s love for her sister’s fiancé, Teddy, is still strong. Knowing that there’s no way she can get him back through conventional means, she turns to a certain “party prince” in the hopes that being with him will make Teddy jealous. Will her plan succeed?

Speaking of plans, now with Nina gone, Daphne has the path to marry Prince Jefferson clear. All she has to do is seduce him, and, of course, keep that meddling commoner, Nina, out of the way.

Nina is still recovering from her break-up with Jefferson, but it’s hard to avoid reminders when her best friend is Samantha, the prince’s sister. However, a chance encounter with Ethan, Jefferson’s best friend, is proving to be nice and distracting. Will he help her get over Jefferson?

I received an advanced reading copy of Majesty in exchange for an honest review.

Majesty is the sequel to American Royals (which I reviewed on my blog sometime last year). Both books are part of the American Royals young adult series by Katharine McGee.

When I read the first book in this series, I loved the concept of the United States having a royal family (I also did some major complaining on the use of the word “America,” which you can go see in my previous review). I thought the media storms and the drama were wonderfully appropriate, and enjoyed reading about four characters who couldn’t be more different. So, when I got a copy of the sequel, I was definitely excited to see what was in store for them!

The first thing I want to cover in this book was how shocked I was at so many developments. It’s so hard to write this review without giving you guys some major spoilers, so I’m going to give some vague spoilers in this paragraph. If you want to avoid them, just skip to the next paragraph and leave this one be. OK, SKIP! Without saying too much more, I will mention that any hard-core shippers from the first book may be disappointed in this one. Characters (I won’t say who, so I can keep being vague) are moving on from their previous loves, and it happens exceedingly quickly, without too much time feeling sad or in pain. I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve been through breakups before, and they tend to be pretty painful. I’m shocked that the characters in question recovered so quickly!

OK, now I’m done with the minor spoiling. Let’s get back to the review! In terms of the characters, Sam and Beatrice stand out with their growth. One learns how her personality can help, rather than hinder, her family, while the other grows into a real queen. Beatrice especially has a lot to go through in this book, what with taking control of a whole country, and I sort of wish that we’d spent more time with her as she learns all this. A lot of her storyline is focused on her love life, and while I think that’s all well and good, reading about how she’s working to take control of the country would have also been great. In fact, those scenes where she tries to make herself heard in the current political environment were my favorites in the whole book. I would have loved a lot more of that, but I guess I also have to understand that Majesty is, at its heart, a romance, and politics aren’t something most romance fans are clamoring for.

As for Nina, she’s now relegated to the sidelines, with a pretty uninteresting plot, if I have to be honest. We get a lot less of her now that she’s not dating a member of the royal family, and it was hard to continue being interested in her.

Daphne is still one of my favorite characters in the book, though. I just adore characters who are morally gray, in it to obtain rewards for themselves rather than to do things because they’re “right.” Daphne fits right into that, with her scheming and conniving. I will say, however, there is one moment near the end of the book that had me say, “Wait, what?” There was one unexpected twist regarding her characters, and while I saw it fitting with the rest of the story, and sort of saw it coming, I was still shocked when it came. While us, the readers, might have understood this part of Daphne’s character, I’m not sure she herself understood it. But, I’m still very satisfied with where her story ended, although I’m sure not too many others will enjoy it as much as I did.

I know I’ve talked a lot about the characters, but this is a book that is specifically character-focused, so it’s hard to talk about anything else. Their romances and personal growth are what lead the reader through the novel, and what takes the characters to their conclusions. Was the ending to every character satisfying? I think so, but some more than others. I’m still confused by some of the leaps they made emotionally and in growth, which sort of rendered some of the first book’s points moot, but it was at least a fun read.

Majesty was an entertaining sequel to American Royals, and I believe it’s also the conclusion to the series. It does leave some things open, but enough plotlines have been tied off to make it a satisfying end.

Majesty will be released by Penguin Random House on September 1. You can preorder your copy from them here.

After I finished the first book, I was desperate for the second.
Majesty by Katharine McGee is the second in her American Royals series. In a world where George Washington became King, his descendants are still on the throne. The story follows the new Queen Beatrice after her father's death and the women who surround her. Queen Beatrice is trying to get over her love for her Royal Guard and is preparing to get married to her fiancée, Teddy. Her sister Princess Samantha is struggling with the star crossed love she feels for her sister's fiancée. Samantha's best friend, Nina, has just broken up with Samantha's brother Prince Jefferson. Finally, Daphne has plans to win Prince Jeff back after orchestrating Nina and Jeff's break up.
This series has so many twists and turns that I absolutely adore. The author does a fantastic job of creating a world in which the United States has a monarchy and the royal intrigue is fantastically plotted.
I can't wait for the continuation of this series.