The first American Royals novel was a delightful twist on the royalty story. American Royals II: Majesty picks up with the delight and continues the drama filled story of the Washington family and their burden of the American crown.
Beatrice is now queen and has to find her voice and power, all while grappling with her grief and love life. Samantha is trying to outgrow her party girl image and finds a potential match in the scandalous Marshall. Nina battles between love with Prince Jefferson and a normal life. Daphne tries to maintain her tight control on everyone as her past mistakes catch up to her.

This is a fun story filled with love, hate, scandal and intrigue. It is also quite sweet at times. I highly recommend this to anyone who misses Gossip Girl and those who may cheer on a young Queen Elizabeth in the Netflix series "The Crown".

This was a super enjoyable sequel! I love that the novel added a lot more "historical" nuggets, which is just fun, and honestly my favorite thing about this series. While I love novels with split perspectives, I found the story was spread a little too thin between them and there were some things I feel like slipped through the cracks because we were already moving on to the next big moment. Overall, it was a highly enjoyable way to spend the afternoon and a satisfying sequel.. I am looking forward to the next one already!

I rarely read romance, or sequels, but this one was excellent! It was just as fast-paced and intriguing as the first. I ordered a second copy of American Royals because I am going to be recommending these books often. Sometimes when novels are written from multiple points of view it can be hard to keep all the storylines straight, but the author does a terrific job of weaving together all the story arcs. There wasn't one voice that was less interesting than the others, but of course the reader is rooting for Beatrice so hard, and her character is so satisfying bold and brave. And the kissing scenes! ooh especially the one in the swimming pool :)

I spent a lot of this book being frustrated with different people on the page, so clearly I care about the characters enough to care about their choices. That said, this felt like McGee really just wanted a reset of American Royals itself: book 1 was had much more actual plot and tension, book 2 erases a lot of that, slows things down, but ends with things in a much more settled place, character-wise. While the pacing is significantly slower (I wouldn't necessarily say there are many actual EVENTS until the last fifth of the book - the last quarter, if I'm being generous) it's certainly as light and soapy as the first. But considering the choices McGee made for the characters, it really felt as if all the pining and love angles and Drama™ of the first book were somewhat pointless. I didn't mind where things ended up per se, even if much of the conflict is defanged, but it made me wonder if the narrative would have been stronger had American Royals been the first half of the book alongside Majesty as the second rather than relying on a cliffhanger, with a followup focused on relationship building. As it is, the two books focused on new relationships/falling in love twice rather than actually solidifying the existing ones. Majesty also gave Nina something of the short end of the stick once again, and still left me feeling as if I wanted more world-building around the idea of a monarchic United States - and, tbh, why so much is still the same.

It's certainly a fun enough read, and those who enjoyed the first will want to dive back in, but some frustrations persist.

I loved American Royals and could not wait to see what would happen next with Bea, Sam, and Jeff. The sequel, Majesty, did not disappoint!! I loved this as much as the first! Such a great story that pulls you in, but is also somewhat light and fun and helps you forget about the real United States. If you read the first book, you definitely need to read book two!

In her acknowledgements the author said ...”witting sequels always causes more trouble than their predecessors.” I would disagree! I loved the sequel to American Royals. Spending time with Beatrice, Sam and Nina is so enjoyable. Their love interests may change but the emotions and loyalty hold strong. I hope there will be a third book!

I was really excited for this one, but it kind of fell flat for me. I loved Sam's relationship arc, Marshall Davis is the best! But Daphne just annoys the hell out of me and dragged the story down. Still enjoyed it though. 3.5 stars

I fell for this series from the very beginning of ‘American Royals’ and will gladly read anything and everything Ms. McGee ever writes.

Ms. McGee provides a very well-thought-out alternate history, fascinating plot, and complex and fleshed out characters who are (mostly) easy to root for and care about. Even the villains have understandable motives, though their choices were in poor taste.

All our beloved narrators and characters are back, with some new secondary characters thrown in the mix. Each narrating character has room to grow and change, and it’s really great to watch those who take advantage of this. McGee keeps us on our toes; this series is anything but predictable.

This is highly recommended clean YA reading for fans of 'Gossip Girl' and Katherine McGee's 'The Thousandth Floor' trilogy. ‘Majesty’ is a fabulous follow-up to 'American Royals'! Can't wait to get my hands on the next installment.

Grab ‘Majesty’ on September 1, 2020!

#AmericanRoyalsIIMajesty #NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

“The monarchy is over two centuries old, and I’m the very first woman to ever be in charge of it. The world keeps getting more diverse, but our family is changing at a snail’s pace! We can’t go on like this. If we want to survive into the next century, we’re going to have to find a way to stay relevant.”

Majesty is the second book in the American Royals series by Katherine McGee. Taking place in an alternate universe, Majesty depicts the United States of America as a nation under the rule of a monarchy. Rotating between four perspectives, we get the story of the royals through narration from Queen Beatrice, Princess Samantha, Nina Gonzalez, and Daphne Deighton. Unlike American Royals, McGee introduces diverse characters, disabilities, and social injustices within this sequel. Navigating familial loss, romantic complications, and the struggles that come with being a member of, or involved with, the royal family, McGee gives readers a taste of the royal life in this dramatic depiction of american royalty. Overall, this was a great read… and I was a huge fan of McGee’s decision to show the conflicting emotions that come with being a teen.

Plot
Majesty revolves around the lives of Nina, Daphne, Beatrice, and Samatha as they navigate life after the King’s death. While Beatrice is forced into growing up quickly by becoming the Queen, Samantha has some freedom in regards to how she lives her life--at least, she did until she learned of her role as the current heir to the throne. Having to accept that Teddy is marrying Beatrice, Samantha turns her attention to the Duke of Orange in hopes of making Teddy jealous. For Nina, she is learning how to live life as the ex-girlfriend to Prince Jefferson while also maintaining her friendship with Princess Samantha. Struggling to stay out of the public eye, Nina falls into a relationship with her ex’s best friend, Ethan. And then there’s Daphne. After successfully breaking Jefferson and Nina up, she is closer than ever to getting back her future princess position as she continues to vie for Jefferson’s heart. In an attempt to keep Nina away from Jefferson, she calls upon Ethan and requests that he get closer to Nina.

Throughout the novel, we see Beatrice grow into her position and fight for what she wants in life. Instead of letting people tell her what to do, she learns to fully embody her role as Queen. Meanwhile, despite entering into a fake relationship with the Duke of Orange, Samantha realizes that she truly likes the Duke and wants a real relationship with him. Samantha realizes that her feelings for Teddy were not real, but rather, they were simply her trying to prove that she is just as special as Beatrice. Nina fails at escaping the public eye, and further destroys her relationship with Jefferson, when she starts dating Ethan. Of course, as soon as everything starts going well for her, she learns that this happiness was yet another ploy by Daphne to keep her away from Jefferson. Lastly, Daphne finally begins dating Jefferson again, but she realizes that it isn’t what she wants. After having her friend, Himari, wake up from a coma, Daphne thought she had it all, but that is when it came crashing down. Himari remembers that Daphne is responsible for her accident, and Himari remembers that Daphne cheated on Jefferson with Ethan. Daphne also realizes that she doesn’t want to be with Jefferson; she wants to be with Ethan. It isn’t until she confronts Ethan declaring her love that she realizes she has lost any chance at true happiness; karma at its finest.

Writing and Setting
McGee brings royalty to the United States by having her story take place in an alternate universe. While life for the teens is relatable to our everyday struggles, McGee’s theme of royalty makes readers disassociate this read from reality. For the most part, this book takes place in Washington around the college and royal residences that the character’s inhabit. The story keeps you reeled in through its multiple storylines that revolve around the dynamic narrators. Although McGee leans heavily on romance, she gives depth to her characters that help showcase struggles that teenagers face as they try to find their own voice.

Characters
Nina Gonzalez is a commoner, and the best friend of Princess Samantha. In her freshman year of college, Nina wants nothing more than to live a normal teen life; however, when your best friend is a princess, it’s hard to stay in the shadows. Feeling like she never truly gets heard, Nina struggles with the relationship she has with Samantha, but she remains supportive despite their differences. When Nina starts dating her ex’s best friend, she complicates her life even more, but at least she has someone who understands what she’s going through. What Nina doesn’t know is that Daphne orchestrated the whole thing and is determined to keep Nina far away from Jefferson.

Beatrice Washington is the Queen, but her Lord Chamberlain, Robert, refuses to let her do any tasks of utter importance. Instead, he relegates her to managing her wedding by insisting that she needs to make Teddy her King Consort. Despite her displeasure in Robert’s guidance, she continues to do as he advises’--that is until she gets the courage to stand up for herself. As for Teddy, what once started out as a forced marriage has turned into a budding romance. Throughout the novel, we see Teddy and Beatrice glow closer together as their bond strengthens. Beatrice begins to confide in Teddy, and Teddy supports Beatrice in her endeavors. At the beginning of the story, Samantha and Beatrice are not on speaking terms, but they eventually find their way back to one another. On the day of Beatrice’s wedding, she must confront her former love, Connor, and Samantha is there to help save the day. Beatrice finally stands up for herself, stands by Teddy, and becomes the Queen her father knew she would become.

Samantha Washington lives a carefree life despite her title, but she feels betrayed by Beatrice’s decision to marry Teddy. Determined to show Teddy what he is missing, she enlists the help of the Duke of Orange. What starts out as a stage relationship turns into much more. Samantha falls for the Duke and finally makes peace with Teddy. Over the course of the novel, Samantha learns that she can’t keep comparing herself to Beatrice because she is her own person. This is a true coming of age tale for Samantha, and it shows that being true to yourself is what matters the most.

Daphne Deighton is the ex girlfriend of Prince Jefferson, but she is determined to win him back. After successfully breaking up Nina and Jefferson, she enlists the help of her “friend” Ethan to keep Nina distracted. While the media portrays Daphne as the perfect girl for Jeff, she is far from innocent. Daphne slept with Ethan on multiple accounts, drugged her own friend, and leaked information to the press to make herself look good. When Himari wakes up from her coma, Daphne begins to worry that she will remember everything that happened the night of her accident. Which, of course, she does. Karma takes its turn on Daphne as Himari remembers what happened, Ethan chooses Nina over her, and she is left with the fake relationship she worked so hard for. This is a great depiction of what can happen if you treat others poorly.

OH THE DRAMA. Oof this made me stressed. I finally got my hands on American royals and Jen DEVOURED this one. So much drama and stress. It was kinda awesome though haha,
I HATE Daphne so much it makes me so uncomfortable and I’m just glad everything worked out for Sam.
This was a fun and immersive read— loved that!

The American Royals concept is one of my favorite book ideas in a long time! The sequel is just as captivating as the original. Majesty shows us even more character development for Beatrice, Sam, Daphne, and Nina. Their relationships are richer and their choices are even wilder! I didn't love the ending of this book but completely understand the reasons behind it. I am very curious if we will see a book 3 or not!

I was thrilled to get an advance copy of the second American Royals book, Majesty. However, I found that the storyline fell a bit flat for me. I think a big part of that was the way the story pivots away from what I was expecting into new territory. I still enjoyed it very much! My advice would be to leave your presumptions from the first book behind and come into Majesty fresh and without expectations.

*I was very excited to received an ARC of "Majesty." Thank you Random House!*

I really enjoyed "American Royals" until I got to the end--and realized that it was just the first installment in a series and was ending on a cliff hanger! The general premise of the series is that America never became a Democratic Republic and, instead, remained a monarchy. The series follows Princess Beatrice (next in line for the throne), Princess Samantha (the spare that becomes the heir), and Prince Jefferson (the handsome prince) and their friends (and sometimes significant others) as they navigate finding love while constantly in the public eye. If "Gossip Girl" and "Princess Diaries" had a love child--this series would be it.

"Majesty" picks up where "American Royals" left off. The King has passed away and Beatrice is now the first Queen of America to rule in her own right. She is left to decide if she wants to continue her relationship with Connor and call off her wedding to Teddy (Duke of Boston) or set aside love and do what is best for her country. Meanwhile, the Prince, Princess, and their friends work to sort out their own love lives--and we meet a new character along the way.

When I finished "American Royals" I was sure that I knew the direction that McGee planned to take the series, but I was both assuredly wrong and pleasantly surprised. There were more than a few unexpected twists and turns. This light and breezy YA novel doesn't disappoint--until of course you realize you have to wait for the third installment.

5 out of 5 stars.

American Royals II: Majesty is even better than the first American Royals! I loved how the characters continue to developed and how well McGee portrays each one. This feministic story was so empowering and eye-opening. I can not wait to read the next one! If you love The Princess Diaries, you'll love this series!

This book is so fun, and a worthy follow up to American Royals. I will definitely keep in mind for future coverage opportunities at Mashable.

In American Royals II, Katherine McGee brings back the characters who were loved and hated in the first book. Beatrice slowly takes her place as monarch in her own right and Samantha starts REALLY growing up.

Their friends change as well with realizations of how the royals have impacted their lives, for better or worse. This sequel sorts out many of the questions left to the reader at the end of book one.

It's a feel-good/romance/coming of age read that young adults will enjoy.

I loved American Royals, and Majesty had everything I was looking for in a sequel: palace intrigue, backstabbing, and resolutions to many of the questions that were left unanswered at the end of the first book. As in the first book, I loved the little nuggets of alternative history sprinkled throughout and was especially delighted to learn more about Orange. I did feel some of the stakes were a lot lower this time around, which made it feel less propulsive around the middle of the book. Overall a satisfying sequel (and conclusion?) to American Royals.

I enjoyed this book specifically for the character growth that occurred. Often in romances, the first person a character falls for is who they end up with, but not in this story and I appreciated that. I felt that this was a quality continuation of the first story!

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

I was SO EXCITED to get this ARC because I read American Royals in January and couldn’t BELIEVE that ending! I had to know what happened next! Majesty was JUST AS GOOD as the first book! I loved all of the twists and turns and character development. I would have loved to see a little more Nina, but Beatrice and Sam definitely deserved the spotlight. Is there going to be a book 3?! P.S. Daphne is the WORST. I swear she has no redeeming qualities!

Our favorite royals are back! While they are grieving the loss of their father (the King) life must go on, as must Beatrice’s wedding to Teddy. Connor is gone, and while Samantha works to mend her heart, she throws a fake relationship into the mix to make Teddy jealous. Jeff is back to his single ways, but maybe he overlooked someone from his past? Ethan is still doing Daphne’s bidding, which leads to keeping Nina away from Jeff, and Nina just wants to have a normal college experience, without the press that comes with the Royals. Can everyone possibly end up getting what they want?

Ahh Katharine, you have done it again. Now I am once again just dreading the wait for the third book in this series! All of our favorites (and not so favorites ::cough:: Daphne ::cough:: are back and better than ever. Beatrice is such a bad ass, and the perfect Queen, even if it is taking America some time to figure that out! I absolutely loved her and her arc in this book as she moved from grieving her father, to taking over the throne. Of course I always love Samantha’s antics, as she acts out when she feels most insecure. Ahh and Jeff. Jeff is a boy. And to be honest, he is the perfect example of boys being idiots sometimes! It always did and still does drive me nuts that nobody seems to be able to see through Daphne’s asshole ways. I just want to scream, stop trusting her! Overall, my only complaint with this fantastic sequel was that it didn’t include any trips to Wawa!If you haven’t read American Royals yet…what’s wrong with you? And if you have, get excited for this excellent sequel!