A perfect continuation and a great book that shows that women can be the leaders a country needs and that love has different levels.

The second book in a series isn't typically as good as the first, but this book was amazing! It quickly picks up from where the first one left off. It has so many twists and turns. my mouth was hanging open at the end as things happened that I did not expect. I will absolutely be recommending this book to my friends and Bookstagram followers.

While I'd had copies of American Royals in my stack and queue to read, it hadn't bubbled to the top until a few days ago. I picked it up, knowing I had a review for the sequel and tore through it in two days. Often times the pressure that follows the sequel leaves fans of the original wondering if it will be as good, will the author stay true to the characters, and more. No worries, American Royals fans! I loved Majesty and already am eager to find out what happens on the tour, who is Ethan's father, what is next for Beatrice and America, and so much more. I am looking forward to getting a paper copy for my students to enjoy when the novel is published. Thanks so much to #NetGalley for the opportunity to preview #AmericanRoyalsIIMajesty by Katharine McGee - I devoured both stories and am hungry for more! Please let there be more!

There is something so magnetic about how McGee writes and I get sucked in every. single. book. After the cliffhanger of the first book, this one picks right back up and ties everything off with a great big bow. I didn't realize how much I missed these characters until I started reading, and seeing them grow into who they are at the end is a fantastic journey. If you liked the first one, definitely pick up this one!

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american royals was one of my favorite YA books I’ve read this year, and it had such a cliffhanger ending that I basically would’ve sold my soul to get my hands on the sequel immediately.

majesty: ★★★½

let me preface this by saying that it’s reaaaally hard to give my thoughts without any spoilers at all, so read with caution

the best way to describe this sequel is that it’s pretty much A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Literally no one is with who they were with in the first novel. It works well, but also makes the first book seem a bit pointless. Everyone grows up and matures a ton in this novel, making their characters seem much older and wiser. This story reflects that even when two people love each other, situations change and people change, and sometimes when you grow into being a new person, it’s important to find someone that’s steady for who you are now. It made me think a lot about love, to say the least, and I think we don’t get that enough, especially in YA romances, since it almost always just works out between the the main couple.

This definitely had some political undertones, and i was stuck between appreciating the author tackling the issues head-on and wishing that they been incorporated in a more subtle, not so in-your-face way. regardless, it is filled with #womanpower. I didn’t super love the ending, as Beatrice made a certain choice when I feel like it’s still possible to have both.

I do wish Daphne and Nina had more character development, but overall a good sequel. It wasn’t quite as unputdownable as the first one for me.

Goodreads:

3.5 stars, rounded up.

After finishing the last book, I basically would’ve sold my soul to dive right into this sequel. I’m so excited I got to read it early!

That being said, it felt kind of like A Midsummer’s Night Dream. Literally no one was with who they were with in the first book. I appreciate the growth in that people change, realize what they thought love was really infatuation in disguise, different people bring different types of love, etc. But it would’ve been nice to see at least one relationship progress. It made the first book seem kinda pointless since those relationships had little impact on what happened in this book.

I also would’ve really loved to see more depth/character development in Daphne.

This book clearly has the political statements and reflects the increasingly progressive society in America today, but sometimes I think it’s a little too glaring. I definitely appreciated it, but wished it had less in your face.

I also don’t super love the ending. It made me feel sad for Teddy. You can be a strong independent woman and leader and still be married, it just felt very either/or.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Okay this one is hard for me to review ! Was the book good? Yes it was but.. I was so invested in the relationships from book 2 it was hard for me to so abruptly move on From all of them 🤦🏻‍♀️ A few parts felt disjointed to me as well but overall I ddI enjoy it and I’m disappointed there won’t be a book 3 as some stories felt left open to me and daphne needs to get some karma her way.

The premise of this series is interesting, the US as a monarchy instead of a democracy, but this second installment in the series wasn’t as interesting as the first in the series. A little too much drama for my taste. Teen girls might feel differently.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

I have to say, the idea of a young Queen being in control of American politics right now is a fantasy that I can get behind. In the wake of the last 8 months of 2020, this is a dream I am support fully. Can we start a petition to make Beatrice real?

When I read American Royals earlier this year, it took me pleasantly by surprise. I definitely thought it would be a unique book, but didn’t expect for it to be such a quick and emotional read for me. It was a book that had me smiling, crying, and stressing. For whatever reason, August brought on a book slump, one which only deepened after I read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Being approved for a galley of Majesty perked me up IMMEDIATELY because I knew that I could expect to be swept up in drama and romance for at least a day.

In that sense, Majesty was absolutely everything I needed. It was a one sitting read for me as I set aside all adult responsibilities today so that I could devour it. I was once again wholly sucked into the dramatic and stressful relationships of the four leading ladies.

That being said, there were a few aspects of the book that disappointed me. I did feel as though two of the romantic plots were too similar for comfort. Both were fake relationships that turned into more. While I enjoyed their stories separately, the Author’s use of the same trope for two sets of couples in one book surprised me.

Additionally, while I am happy that I will have a guaranteed quick read next year, I do feel as though this series could’ve easily been a duology with maybe fifty pages added onto Majesty to wrap up the overall plot.

Overall, if you’re looking for a book to completely lose yourself in for a day, this will absolutely deliver, while simultaneously wondering at the simplicity and lack of drama in your friendships.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the advance Kindle copy of this 9.1.20 release. All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. This book was EXACTLY what I needed going into the first student days of school: a complete escape. In this sequel to American Royals, the story picks up right where it left off. The Washingtons, mourning the loss of their patriarch and the country’s king, have their sights set on Beatrice’s marriage. Daphne is still terrible, Samantha’s antics lead her to someone who is actually a good match for her, Jeff is mainly out of the picture in this one, and Nina is trying to move on. Beatrice and Sam’s relationship takes center stage and really develops, as does Bee’s confidence in her ability to govern. Highly recommend for grades 9+.

Like the first installment in this series, this is perfect popcorn fiction that will just help you escape from the real world. This book isn't going to shock you with a twist or teach you anything new and that's okay. It's pure fun with a huge side of drama and romance

I liked the sequel more than the original. I really appreciated the perspective of Samantha, who was always undervalued as a member of this powerful family. She was always my favorite character and her story is so heartbreaking as she continues to sacrifice her needs in deference to her sister. Since my emotional connection to this character was so much stronger, the resonance and layers of this story were much more satisfying.

This series is so wonderful- the concept is so interesting and the novels address a lot of the scandals and pitfalls that the British royal family has had over the past century. I breezed through it because it was so interesting and wonderfully dramatic and well-written. I want MORE!

Thank you so much Random House Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for the early copy!

American Royals ended on such a cliffhanger, I couldn't wait to read this sequel. I thought I knew where all of the characters stood and where I wanted them to be - and wow was I wrong. The more I read, the more I was so happy with where the author was taking their stories. Especially Beatrice, Sam, and Nina!

We left off with the death of the King and Beatrice taking over as Queen of America. She was engaged to Teddy, but in love with Connor. Sam was majorly angry with her sister because SHE loved Teddy. Nina. and Jeff had broken up, Daphne orchestrated that. Majesty picks up shortly after the funeral, and continues the stories of each character.

I like how the chapters alternate POV and I still can't stand Daphne. She is such a great antagonist, because she is so unlikable! I thought the writing was better this time, and I liked the focus on the characters as it needed less backstory this time.

I also liked that it didn't end on as big of a cliffhanger as the first book! There's definitely room for a third book, and I'm sure there will be one, but this book wrapped up better than the first.

5 stars for this one!

Posted to Goodreads: In an alternative universe where General George Washington was crowned king instead of being the United States' first president, his descendants are trying to find their places in the royal world. Beatrice is the country's first queen and she must learn how to put her duty before her personal wants. Samantha is the royal spare who is searching for a place and a person who will accept her for herself. Samantha's best friend, Nina, is reeling from her breakup with Samantha's twin brother, Jeffrey, and may find love in an expected place. Daphne, Prince Jeffrey's ex-girlfriend, will do whatever it takes to claw her way back into the good graces of the royal family. Each young woman must decide what she is willing to do and what she is willing to give up to earn her rightful place in this gilded world.

I found this book super frustrating. I remember liking the "American Royals" but I could never get into "Majesty". I found whole parts of the book to be too slow with plot points moving at a glacial pace except for the romantic connection which felt like they moved too quickly. I had difficulty remembering all the storylines from the first book and, unfortunately, the author did not retell any of the backstories. Also, I never connected with Nina because her storyline felt like an afterthought and I never found myself waiting to connect with Daphne because she was so horrible. The only parts of the book that I enjoyed were Beatrice and Samantha's storyline but the third person narrative made it very difficult to even care about them. I really hope that the series doesn't here because the ending of this book didn't work but I honestly don't think I am willing to any more of the series.

Princess Beatrice is quickly learning what it means to be queen. America has never had a queen on its throne and it thought it would have longer to adjust to this change. Now that Beatrice’s father is dead, everyone’s role is being pushed in a new direction. Princess Samantha is now the next in line to the throne and is having trouble living up to her reputation as a party princess. Daphne has always wanted to be royal and has not always done what was right to those around her. Now she is facing the troubles that are soon to follow a person without integrity. Three women in three different situations all trying to deal with a country usually lead by men. Will Beatrice get the man she loves? What does the country need from her?

Majesty is the second book in the American Royals series. I love this alternate reality where America became a country without democracy. These young women are all dealing with a life-changing dilemma and must determine who they can trust and love along the way. McGee has written a story that encompasses more than one tale that all weave together into a larger drama. I can’t wait for the third book to be released and I recommend this book to everyone who read the first book. If you haven’t started the series … why not?!

I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to have been approved for an advanced copy of the book because I loved the first book!

I think that the second book did such a great job of delving more into the characters personalities and motivations! Beatrice is struggling with the death of her father while also being thrust into his role as monarch. Nina is still recoiling from the public attention on her relationship with Jeff and maybe falling for someone she never expected. Daphne is still scheming to get back with Jeff and discovers that maybe that isn't what she wanted after all. Sam is dealing with her feelings for Teddy and his relationship with her sister and falls for someone else in the process. I think that this book does a really good job at intertwining all the characters' relationships and conflicts together and that's what really drives the book.

I love how this book goes deeper into the characters relationships with each other but I also wish that the book went more into the politics. Like Beatrice's role as monarch is completely swept under the rug and undermined by Robert and she really didn't have any authority in the book despite being Queen. I also wish that Marshall got his own point of view because we really didn't get to see his thoughts on everything and he and Sam just kind of get together. I love that he is a black love interest but other than him and Nina there isn't another person of color in the book and I wish that the author went more into the backlash that he got for being in a relationship with Sam and how he dealt with that along with his feelings for her. Also, Jeff really plays a passive role in the book, I really wish that he got his own point of view in the book as well because from Daphne's point of view it really just seems like he's going along with everything and can't make decisions for himself. I wish that Teddy got his own point of view too because he just got over Sam a bit too fast and I want to know how he fell for Bee so fast. I think that I just wanted there to be reasoning with who got with who because some of the relationships moved too fast without any reason or feeling why.

Overall though, the book is very sweet and I loved all the characters. I loved that the book dealt with the aftermath of everything that happened in the last book while also showing all the characters progressing forward and moving on in their new relationships.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Loved this sequel! Enjoyed reading about the struggles each of the characters must overcome to discover who they are and to become their most authentic selves. Great story of love and loss, overcoming heartbreak, and the consequences of poor decisions. Highly recommend. I hope there is a third book in the series!!!

I requested this book before reading the first one in the series, so the second I added Majesty to my shelf, I went and bought American Royals at the same time and read the entire series (so far) in a couple sittings. That quick transition from book 1 to book 2 is probably why this one gave me so much whiplash: literally none of the couples hinted at or established in the first book remained together by the end of the second. It seemed like the author had an actual plot planned out from the minute she began writing her first book, only to scrap the outline and change the entire plot halfway. It's natural for relationships to change and grow and end in real life, but the transition just felt cheap in this series, like I had put all that emotional labor into cheering on the couples from the first book for nothing.

The one thing that saved this book is the fact that I went from liking only one main character in the first book to liking (or at least tolerating) all of them by the second. Beatrice had always been my long-standing favorite, but I did feel like Majesty gave all the characters some much-needed depth so that I had reason to care for them beyond their mangled relationships. Overall, I wish the author had just picked a lane and stuck to it: that could have elevated Majesty to 3 or even 4 stars.

I think I liked this second book better than the first! It may have been familiarity with the characters or just the plot itself. Either way, this is a great continuation of the story.

What a great sequel to American Royals! This second book picks right up where the first leaves off and you are immediately pulled into the story once again. Loved the characters and seeing where this sequel takes each one of them.
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.