This is the second book in the American Royals series, and if you enjoyed the first one, then pre-order this book (pub date: September 1, 2020) now!

American Royals ended on a total cliffhanger and Majesty picks up right where it lets off, and dare I say that Majesty is even better than American Royals?!?! As Princess Beatrice transitions to Queen, from young woman to woman, from second-in-command to commander, I was quickly immersed back into the alternate history of American Royalty that McGee so masterfully created. Not only is Bee’s transformation a central point of the story, but McGee further develops the other characters in this book: Jefferson, Samantha, Nina, Everett, and Daphne. I can’t wait to read the next installment!

Royals...Really not my thing. Not in fiction, not in reality.

But I loved the Thousandth Floor series and have been impressed by McGee’s fun, snappy plots, so royals it is.

My feelings about this book are similar to my feelings about the first book. The subject matter isn’t for me and the premise isn’t as creative as that of McGee’s other series, but the characters are likable and the story propulsive.

Majesty boasts less big, shocking moments than the first book in the series. Technically, there’s a lot of plot happening here, but most of it doesn’t feel particularly momentous or important, aside from Beatrice’s actions toward the end of the novel, which were a highlight.

We get less focus on Nina in this book (a good thing, in my opinion. She’s not my favorite). Beatrice, who had one of the best plots in the first book, has an even better one here. Sam is probably the most likable of the lot, but her story feels stagnant. Jefferson is basically an intermittently self-righteous mannequin.

And then there’s Daphne. This could have been the best character in the series (if also the least likable). Except that she’s actually terrible at what she does. I wish the book would either improve her work or stop painting her as some sort of brilliant master manipulator. Sure, she’s able to hurt and manipulate people and damage their lives, but she almost never manages to achieve her own selfish goals in the end. It’s like she’s only good enough at it to get halfway there. Thus this series needs either a more competent villain or Daphne needs to become more likable so that at least we’re conflicted about what she gets up to.

I’m eager to see where Beatrice’s story goes as it currently stands. Otherwise, we’re going to need some fresh storylines in book three to keep this series going.

Last thing: Not under consideration for review/rating, but...GREAT cover.

I was given a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Is America ready for its first queen? In the sequel to American Royals, Princess Beatrice is preparing for her coronation after her father's death and faking a relationship with Teddy - the prospective groom. Princess Samantha and Prince Jefferson continue to party and juggle relationships with surprising choices. Will love or duty reign?

This book is a lot of fun and you don't want to put it down. #americanroyalsIImajesty #Netgalley

Excellent sequel! I loved this fresh and fun take on royalty and this installment did not disappoint. There was plenty of teen drama and political intrigue to go around!

All my issues with the first book are still present in this follow up: The endless expository dialog, the conflict for the sake of conflict, the lack of interaction between the point-of-view characters. However, McGee manages to improve upon "American Royals" by upending all the romantic pairings it established. I was not looking forward to more sister vs. sister drama and was happy to say goodbye to the doomed romances in favor of more grownup relationships. The character of Beatrice, in particular, shines. Whereas in the first volume she was mostly isolated with only her bodyguard to pine over, here she is much more active in her own story and I believe a great deal of that has to do with her increased interactions with others.
My greatest concern is McGee’s ability to write about race and the racist coverage public figures of color experience. She mostly alludes to it in vague platitudes and doesn’t hold her white royals accountable for their dismissive attitudes towards the trauma Nina and Marshall face. Nina is especially in need of a glow up similar to Beatrice. Her overt goodness is unnecessary and, frankly, makes her look like a pushover. A woman of color doesn’t need to be a perfect victim to be sympathetic. Let her be strong and angry! She’s more than justified. I also hope we’ll see more interaction between her and Beatrice. The cattiness is fun and all, and Daphne is still a compelling antagonist, but I’d like to see more attention paid to the female relationships. Beatrice and Nina seem well suited as friends and I’d be interested in seeing that explored. Overall, I am looking forward to the next installment. I am clearly invested in these characters.

I enjoyed this book! 4 out of 5 stars. I like the alternate setting . Well written. The cover is gorgeous ! There is endless drama ( soap opera style) But you get caught up when reading and it all goes together well and doesn’t come off badly. I can’t wait for book 3.

It is enormously difficult to write a sequel that lives up to the original, but Katharine McGee takes on that responsibility with ease.

When we left American Royals, Beatrice was left standing in front of her country as the new Queen. Majesty picks up in the midst of the family's grief as they deal with their new reality. Bee no longer has the luxury of following her heart, Samantha realizes her antics are even more unacceptable now that she's first in line, and Jeff continues being...rather useless.

I honestly felt like no time had passed since I read American Royals. I love how this story picks doesn't skip any time and we're right back into their lives. Everything about this book feels like a continuation of the first, which is exactly what I was looking for!

It was so satisfying to see the progression of Samantha, Beatrice, and Nina as they discovered what they truly wanted from life. Everything felt authentic, with mistakes, but also growth along the way. In the end, I was thrilled with where they all ended up.

Both of the novels in this series are undeniably fun royal reads and I'll be recommending that everyone reads the sequel now in addition to the first book!

Loved the second book in the American Royals series, the story keeps getting better and the various plot twists kept me on my toes. The details put into weaving what history might have looked like if the United States was a monarchy is an extra bonus that enhances this series. I loved the drama of each of the characters while also seeing how they are growing into their own individuals. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

The amount of growth Samantha and Beatrice go through in this sequel is amazing! I went from being annoyed by Samantha to actually respecting her and having her be my favorite character in the series. I would have liked to see the same kind of growth for Nina and Jefferson but overall I thought it was a really strong and fun sequel.

I have been following McGee's carrier from the beginning, and I have loved her writing style and stories for many years with my favorite being American Royals, so I knew going in that I would not be disappointed! I love the premise of America having a royal family, and this second installment was such a fun adventure back into the amazing world that she has created! As we are mourning the devastating ending of the first book, we meet a new character that is charming and completely swept me off my feet, we continue with the american nuisances that have a royal twist (I'm a sucker for them), and we dive deeper into the characters of this series (truly a strength of McGee's writing)! The only thing that is holding me back from adding that fifth star is because there was a lot of insta-love that I struggled with. I didn't hate it, but I did struggle with it a bit...

I am deeply hoping that there is a third book though because I am not ready to give up living in this wonderful world that McGee has created!!

Majesty is the sequel to American Royals, a story about what present day America might be like if George Washington had been the first king of America instead of the first president. After her father's death, Beatrice becomes the first queen of America. She's juggling the grief of losing her father with her new responsibilities, planning her wedding to someone she's not sure she loves, and saving her relationship with her sister in the process.

It took me a while to get into American Royals because there are so many characters and story lines going on. Having already met the cast of characters, I was able to jump right into Majesty being familiar with who was who. The characters were well developed and I was anxious to keep up with each story line. I laughed, I cried, I was hopeful the characters would find love. I highly recommend this for anyone who read American Royals.

I absolutely loved American Royals, so I was so excited to get my hands on Majesty! It has all of the romance, angst, and drama of the first book, along with some amazing character growth. I can’t wait to see where the series goes next!

This second book, much like the first in the series, was a sugary, fun romp. There were four romantic relationships at the heart of the drama and it is full of gossip, court intrigue, and some sexual tension. The premise for this series, an American monarchy resulted from the revolution rather than a democracy, is so interesting and could go deeply into the politics and social/cultural impacts. The series, however, stays firmly on the surface, not delving into identity, politics, or social structure. It is fun, but mainly feels melancholy due its amazing premise that is left unfulfilled.

Yes! Love this book so much. I absolutely flew through the first book in the series and could not wait to get to this one. Live the characters and want to keep reading more about them!

Majesty is a good follow-up to American Royals, however, it felt sort of lackluster. I wanted more of the characters to bounce out of their respective boxes, but the story ultimately turned out to be just about love and only love. I would have liked more talk of politics, family history of the Royals, and overall less...love.

I'm in love with this series! While this one read a little slower than the first one, which got 5 stars from me, this was a super fun and juicy follow-up that answered a lot of questions but still leaves you wanting more at the end. I loved the twists and turns and character development in this sequel and can't wait for the third.

The first American Royals novel, by Katharine McGee, promised a unique on American history - what if instead of a democracy, we were still ruled by the Washington royal family? The premise was intriguing, and after all the hype by book bloggers, I pre-ordered and started reading the minute it was available.

And I was disappointed. While the world creation was interesting, the plot seemed to revolve around the heterosexual, romantic pairing off of every main character by the end of the book. The pairings all felt predictable, and there was nothing engaging about any of these relationships. I honestly kept putting the book aside for others, and I ended up never finishing it. But when I saw Majesty was about putting a woman on the throne, I pushed through the first book so that I could approach the second with proper context.

I'm quite glad I made that choice. The second American Royals book fixes most of what I disliked about the first book. While there still is emphasis on romantic pairings, these relationships are turned upside and switched around, and the new prospects feel much more interesting and suited to each character. I liked that Beatrice was more worried about being a good queen and setting an example of what it means to be a strong female leader than about who she would end up with, and I appreciated all the character growth in each of the women.

I always love a good villain, and Daphne, the social-climbing, wannabe princess continues to deliver. McGee does a great job of making you slightly sympathetic to a woman who does horrible, selfish things in the name of power, and I'm excited to see where her story is taken in future books.

This is a fun, quick read, and not only did it erase my not-as-amazing experience with the first novel, but it left me excited for book three.

There's no sequel slump here in the pages of Majesty. McGee brings all your favorite characters back with wonderful new characters added to the mix. Beatrice steps into her new role just as you would expect, but there are quite a few other unexpected moments that make this novel just as magical as the first.

Majesty: American Royals 2 picks up right where the last book left off. We jump back into the drama-filled lives of the youngest members of the Washington family and their friends and significant others in another page-turning story.

All four characters that give voice to this story struggle, each in their own way, to discover more about themselves and to find their places in their families, relationships, and in society as a whole. Some characters do this in an honest and genuine way, while others, mainly Daphne, continue to destroy and sabotage as they claw their way to the top. There is plenty of drama, romance, and back-stabbing as we follow the characters on their journey, which makes the book hard to stop reading.

Katherine McGee writes a very fun, addictive, drama-filled story while also pointing out some honest, thought-provoking truths as we watch Beatrice struggle to assert herself as America’s first queen in a traditionally male-dominated culture and all the characters struggle with media and image. Overall a great read, and I can’t wait to read book #3!

I’m going to start this review by comparing Majesty to another one of my favorite sequels, Toy Story 2 (yes, seriously): Like Toy Story 2, I loved Majesty AS MUCH as the original and loved the new characters who were introduced!⠀
Readers who enjoyed American Royals will devour Majesty! The sequel picks up soon after the first book leaves off. I enjoyed reading more about the characters’ stories, their personal growth, and their drama filled relationships. Just like your favorite teen drama (think Gossip Girl or The O.C.), the drama and twists and turns are nonstop, and I was here for all of it! I don’t want to spoil too much so I’ll just say a few things about the main characters, but trust me: you’ll LOVE Majesty.
Beatrice: I loved her personal growth and how she adjusted to her now role as Queen.
Sam: I also loved her storyline, especially her love story (my lips are sealed), and the development of her relationship with Beatrice.
Nina: Her story in the sequel really surprised me!
Daphne: Well, she kept on being Daphne.
Jefferson: Prince Jeff, I love you, but your decisions frustrate me!
The second book doesn’t end on as much of a cliffhanger as the first, but I still need a third book! I would read as many books about these characters as Katharine McGee will write!
If you haven’t read American Royals yet...get on that ASAP! You have a few months to read it before the sequel comes out.⠀
Thank you to Penguin Random House and Net Galley for the advanced copy! Majesty comes out on September 1, 2020.