I'll be honest. Me reading this book is one of those times I was totally influenced by the cover to pick a book up. It caught my attention almost immediately when I was scrolling through Netgalley because it looked adorable. Then I read the synopsis and I was immediately intrigued. It kind of gave me Red, White and Royal Blue vibes, which you all know I adored, so I requested it. Although, I will say the closest it got to RWRB was the fact that one of the love interests was the Prince of England.

Y'all! I'm so glad I did! This book was such a fun read! It had me laughing and tearing up. It's kind of like like reading a gay version of My Big Fat Greek Wedding but with royalty and a large Jewish family instead. It also had 100% more Ruth Bader Ginsburg and I was here for it! I really enjoyed when Carter's friends and family were on the page as well as Edgar's security team and valet/minder.

As much as I enjoyed it, the story had some pacing issues and was a bit all over the place and more than a bit over the top. I feel like if the author had added in another fifty or hundred pages that he could have slowed the pacing down and spent more time developing the plot so the book read as a continuous whole and not like a collection of moments that felt a bit disjointed at times.

The characters as fun as they were, felt a bit flat and not completely realized. The romance was cute but felt rushed and not as believable at it could have been. I kept wanting to knock some sense into each of the main characters. For all its faults, this book had me laughing and grinning ear to ear from the start and once I really got into the story I couldn’t stop reading until I had no pages left. It was truly a fun and fast read that would be perfect as a summer vacation or beach read.

Okay, I pushed through to the end of this one, and let me just say right now that it was a challenge to get there. I'm all for a romantic comedy. In fact, it's one of my favorites in the romance genre, but when everything is aiming for a laugh, the story gets lost - it's not romantic, and after so many quips and tries for laughs, it's not funny anymore, it's annoying. This one got annoying really fast. And somewhere underneath all that, we're supposed to believe Carter and Edgar have fallen in love? I know they were supposed to be in love because the book says so. I certainly didn't feel it. This whole story just fell completely flat for me, which is unfortunate because I really liked the blurb. Sadly, that promising story wasn't to be found - either that or I missed it amongst the overdone attempts at humor and the many, many stereotypes (seriously, I think this one threw in every single gay stereotype I've heard of). I guess if pushed to find something positive, I'd have to say that I did chuckle a couple of times in the beginning. That, and the book is relatively short - thankfully.

For a delightful change , here’s an mlm romance in which one of the couple isn’t struggling to come out! These two are fully out and looking for the perfect “one” to love and be loved in return. The author’s writing style is fast paced and the humor is laugh out loud excellent. Smart characters and witty humor all around even with secondary characters. This book really is hard to put down and the events seem to just fly off the page one after another. I think the cover does it a disservice because many might compare it to Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston and really the only similarities are the pink cover and one character happens to be the Prince of Wales. These are two adults with families (and even the Queen and Royal security) that accept them for who they are—these two just need to get over their own insecurities and fall in love!

I’m a total sucker for all the rash of smart romantic comedies that came out in the late 1990s like ‘four weddings and a funeral’, ‘love actually’ and one of my favorites, ‘notting hill’ where Julia Roberts played the megawatt star she was at the time who meets a travel book store owner played by Hugh Grant and despite everything they fall in love.

So take that idea except make the movie star the Prince of Wales and the book store owner a New York events planner and you’ll get the foundation for Paul Rudnick’s, #PlayingThePalace. Then, mix in a healthy dose of ‘my big fat greek wedding’ but with Long Island Jews. Or to simplify all of this, Meghan and Harry before it all went downhill and exploded on Oprah, but make it gay.

Carter Ogden has shelved the idea of love after having his heart trampled by his ex. But the unexpected happens when he crosses paths with the openly gay Crown Prince Edgar of England. Their courtship and him bringing his royal date to his sisters wedding is so funny. I mean like, tears running down my face funny, in part because of the audio book which I’ll address in a moment.
Rudnick has compiled a collection of characters straight out of central casting: The chorus boy roommate, the Jewish mother, the pushy but lovable aunt, and my personal favorite, James the royal attendant to the Prince. This is tailor made to be turned into a glorious rom com, and despite having a moment that seem to truly fly off the rails involving a silly celebrity interview in the latter half, it’s a terrifically fun book that should be one of the smash hot books of the summer.

Now, the audio. @michaelurie you are a national treasure! His performance, and make no mistake it’s a performance is by far one of the best audio book experiences I’ve ever had. It reiterates what so many already know and that’s what an exceptionally talented actor he is. The variety of voices is amazing. And I would honestly pay good money to have him leave me a message as James from the book. If you have an @libro.fm subscription I’d highly urge you to get this. A terribly fun and funny romp. Thanks to @berkeleypub & #netgalley for the advance copy.

I want to know I’m in love, no not even know it—I want to understand why it’s called being in love. I want to be overwhelmed by the miracle of another human being.” —Paul Rudnick, Playing the Palace
Playing the Palace by Paul Rudnick is the satirical romantic comedy take on a modern relationship in a royal romance storyline. Told from the eyes of main character, Carter Ogden, Playing the Palace is fast-paced, over the top and at times made me laugh out loud. Think of it as the humor of Schitt’s Creek combined with the snarky dialogue of anything created by Amy Sherman-Palladino.

I’ll be honest. I couldn’t connect with the story or with Carter until I looked into the author. I found out that Paul Rudnick is a satirist/humorist. I also knew that I needed to take off my straight, white woman gaze. Once I realized that I needed to suspend my own reality and embrace the completely zany and borderline deranged humor in the situations that Carter and Prince Edgar find themselves in, I felt more at ease with the story. Carter is an out and proud gay man who works in New York City as an events coordinator. I enjoyed the descriptions of his jobs—which he makes out to seem equal parts whimsical, annoying as well as fabulous. Carter is the epitome of a sunshine-character but has a lot of self-doubt and insecurities. The friends and family that surround him help to showcase his radiant personality.

Edgar is the complete opposite. Not the buttoned-up, stuffy royal prince that we expect to find in our currently reality, but Edgar is upfront about his sexuality even if he doesn’t fully embrace the lifestyle like Carter. Edgar has the outward appearance of confidence, but actually is a lot like Carter—full of self-doubt and defaults to hiding his true self, as well as his wants and needs. Have you ever watched The Crown? Edgar lives his life knowing that he will become king one day. It’s a big responsibility and burden to him in every instance, situation, and decision that he makes. Edgar and Carter are drawn to each other especially because they appear so outwardly different. While those differences are what each of them admire about the other. Those differences play into the insecurities that each of them have and ultimately create friction and drama. Both characters admit that they are new to relationships, or have had a bad track record. Regardless of their past, they both agree to explore a relationship together.

“His smile had a recklessness to it, which was why he held it in check. I’d made him smile, which was maybe the sexiest thing ever.”
Essentially, Carter is a PR nightmare for the Royal Family. Edgar’s grandmother, the Queen, is written in a way that makes you understand why I say that Playing the Palace is a satirical romantic comedy. She’s a caricature of the overbearing, straight-laced grandma. Her counterpart in Carter’s family is his Great Aunt Miriam. I’ll be honest, the Queen and Miriam are absolute scene-stealers. While Carter and Edgar navigate their feelings for each other , the two men also work on how to address the public opinion of their relationship—which is riddled with blunders and hilarious situations. It is Edgar’s Royal Secretary, James, who truly is the calming voice in what becomes a tornado of emotional chaos. I did notice that some simple communication would have solved a lot of the drama between Carter and Edgar, but I won’t begrudge them because without experience or foresight, we all make mistakes.

I enjoyed Playing the Palace. I’ve edited my review so many times, but ultimately, I’ve come up with this final takeaway. The timeline as well as the events in the book occur at a near breakneck pace, and while at first I liked the snarky and quick-witted narration given by Carter, there were times I got pulled out of the story. However, I liked that with every instance of drama there was a great solution. Playing the Palace is full of heart, tons of dry humor, snarky speech, and ultimately it’s about putting in the work to get your own slice of happiness. So if you’re in the mood for a humorous, sometimes ridiculous, but absolutely fun royal romance then give Playing the Palace a try.

Carter Ogden is weary of love, after his heart was broken by his cheating ex-boyfriend. He was closed off to romance until fate (aka his event planning job) led him to meeting the Crown Prince of Whales, Prince Edgar.

What a cute book! And, the perfect #Pride read! Many will compare this to Read, White, and Royal Blue - I wouldn’t, it’s completely different and deserves to stand on it’s own. It was so refreshing to see Carter’s family, chosen and by blood, be so supportive, kind, and loving to him. His Aunt Miriam and the Queen had me cackling on the NYC subway while I read this.

I think it was a honest portrayal of famous LGBTQIA+ folks (though I’m not famous, so I guess I don’t really know) and the scrutiny they are held to in their roles. The feelings towards of an out and proud Royal by the world seemed accurate and realistic too. The only unrealistic aspect of the book, for me, was how quickly their relationship moved. No spoilers, but...no, ma’am - I would have needed more time! 😂

@paulrudnick, I’d like the sequel now, please and thank you! 😘

Thank you so much for this #gifted copy, @paulrudnick, @berkleypub, @berkleyromance! 💚

This book is a beautiful royal romance about a prince and an event planner from New Jersey. It encompasses all things swoony and heartwarming. The prince character was less believable than I'd hoped, but the story was still good enough to read. Oh and it was about two gay men. I look forward to the day when clarifying gay romance is the abnormal thing to do. Everyone deserves to have romantic stories they can relate to.

While the blurb and the wonderful cover really drew me to this book I was unable to get into and enjoy it. The climate of the world currently has really effected my reading, and I"m hoping that was the reason for my inability to finish this book. I have added it to my shelf as one to revisit at a later time.

Though this book on first glance could easily remind someone of 'Red, White & Royal Blue', it was a nice surprise that it wasn't anything like that. This one felt more like a true romantic comedy and was a quick, fun read.

Carter Ogden, is a Jewish 29 year old event planner, who’s pretty much given up on the happily ever after. He’s funny, snarky, cares about his family, and has great friends. When he has the ultimate “meet cute” with Edgar, the gay Prince of Wales, his life is completely turned upside down. The sheer amount of struggle to be in a relationship is monumental, and everything that could go wrong does, but does that mean you should let the love of your life go?

Playing the Palace was such a fun read y’all. I loved everything about it! I had some discussions with my reading group, and we all have to agree that this is nothing like RWARB. Yes, the premise is similar in that it is a M/M romance about an American and a Royal, but their stories are completely different and I love that about them both. This was a quick, fun, and easy story to get through. I really enjoyed all of the characters, from his roommates Adam and Louise, the security team, both families, and definitely great-aunt Miriam and the Queen. They were all a hoot and I feel like they helped make this book so much fun. Carter’s sister Abby, was very over the top, and completely loyal to Carter, and for that she was one of my favs. But, I’d have to say that Carter and Edgar were still the highlight of the entire book (obviously)! I loved all of the outings they went on, even if things didn’t go according to plan most of the time.

I know that their relationship moved quickly, and at times seemed rushed, but I feel like that’s how it would have been in real life. I mean, we are dealing with a Royal, and their lives are anything but normal.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this M/M romcom! When I saw this recommendation come up on bookstagram, I knew that I needed to pick up a copy of it! Thank you to Paul Rudnick, Netgalley, and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Good, I don't have much to add, I haven't finished it, but not because it was boring, I just haven't picked it back up yet.

4.5 Stars

Playing the Palace is a fabulous, humorous royal romance. This Paul Rudnick read is simply wonderful.

Carter is hysterically a bumbling fool, in a lovable way. I am still giggling at his antics.

It's adorable the way Edgar connects with him and feels comfortable with him. They truly feel right together, making for a swoony feel. Add in their chemistry, and woo hoo!

Carter's family had me in stitches. And then there's Edgar family. Just wow. Plenty of emotional moments, both good and bad, surrounding their families.

Playing the Palace is sweet and feel-good. Paul Rudnick had me entertained throughout this memorable tale. Be sure to check this out the next time you're in the mood for a gay rom-com.

Reading Playing the Palace felt a bit like being hit with an extremely dramatic wall made up entirely of stream-of-consciousness narration with a side of chaotic mess. This definitely isn't a bad thing - this style of narration and the drama levels will definitely appeal to some people - but it didn't work for me.

The instalove was strong in this one. Like, so strong. This was perhaps the first indication that I wasn't going to be the biggest fan of this book, because I prefer a slow burn. Carter, the main character, and Prince Edgar (which is an interesting name choice) fall in love, or perhaps lust, very soon after meeting. Their relationship progresses fast, with all the media drama that comes with an openly gay Prince of England entering a relationship with an American event planner. Somehow, even though their relationship was central to the book, it really didn't feel all that developed to me and I found it hard to actually ship them much.

Perhaps due to the style of writing, Playing the Palace was both a very quick read, and a slow one. It felt like I was getting through it much slower than I expected, but the plot felt like it was going much faster than that. This kind of affected my reading experience in a paradoxical way, but I also think that this was because I wasn't connecting with the style of narration.

The side characters did help bump up my enjoyment of the story: Carter's family were great, with some absolutely hilarious characters, and I liked his roommates too. There's some good humour too - there were several moments where I found myself chuckling out loud, and I think the author truly nailed the delivery on some of the lines.

I don't hate this book, to be clear. I think that I wasn't the intended audience, or my tastes just weren't compatible with this particular book, which resulted in me not enjoying it as much as I anticipated. If you're intrigued by this concept even after reading my thoughts, I think that this may be the book for you, and if you're looking for something to take you on a bit of a thought rollercoaster through the glamour and drama of a royal relationship, this is one to check out.

“Their love story captivated the world… the crown prince and that guy from New York.”

This is a true rom com, in that it is actually funny and full of witty humor/antics. I loved the personalities of the characters but what really stood out was all of the side characters. The author really took the time to give each of them a personality and shine in their own way. I loved Carter’s family! The romance was a bit of insta-love and fast paced but it worked for me. Just a fun story to be enjoyed and not taken too seriously!

🥰really liked \\ 💋some steam
🤟royal, witty, fast
📚The Crown Jewels series by Melanie Summers
🎶London Boy by Taylor Swift

Carter Ogden isn’t sure he’s meant for love, particularly after his latest boyfriend cheated on him. But that doesn’t mean his heart doesn’t flutter a little when he meets Edgar, Prince of Wales, while staffing a charity event. Carter can admit Edgar has long been the subject of his fantasies, especially since Edgar is an out gay prince, gorgeous, and next in line to the British throne. When Carter encounters Edgar preparing for a speech, he can’t help but offer some tips. Edgar is poised and elegant, but it is clear he also holds himself in such control he is unable to relax. The men have a bit of a moment before they are interrupted by all of Edgar’s assorted handlers, and Carter figures it will be nothing more than a dreamy memory. So he is shocked when Edgar reaches out, interested in seeing him again.

For an associate event planner from New Jersey, the idea that the gorgeous prince of England would want anything to do with him is hard for Carter to imagine. Yet, the men find a surprising connection with one another. Carter is able to offer some normalcy to Edgar, who has to live every moment of his life with thoughts for appearances and how he is representing this family. Both men have issues with trust, but are finding something special together. Yet, it is undeniable that their very different backgrounds are a roadblock. Carter seems to stumble into one PR nightmare after another. And when the pair move their tentative courtship over to England, the situation doesn’t much improve. Between disastrous public appearances, a disapproving queen, and the general impression that Edgar is far too good for Carter, things are not easy. Carter and Edgar have found something special, a love between them that neither expected. Now they have to figure out if their feelings are enough to build a future upon, or if all the outside conflicts are going to get in the way of their happiness.

I really enjoyed Playing the Palace and found it funny and entertaining, with a lot of heart. I think your feelings about this book are likely going to rest on whether the humorous style works for you. The book is told through Carter’s POV, and he is a bit irreverent, sort of a drama queen, sometimes over the top, and a little awkward. I found him a charming narrator and really enjoyed his voice. He is a great everyman guide to this crazy world in which he finds himself, a regular guy who somehow ends up rubbing elbows with the Queen of England and who can’t quite get out of his own way. Carter lives with quirky roommates, has a fairly insane family, and talks to his picture of Ruth Bader Ginsburg for guidance. I think what makes this all work, aside from the fact that I found Carter kind of delightful, is that there is so much heart to this story. Yes, Carter’s family is sort of meddling and a little bit crazy, but he loves them fiercely and without reservation. We see it on Edgar’s side too, as his staff have no problems poking fun at him, and his grandmother the queen gives Carter a hard time. But again, it is clear how much affection and caring there is among them all and that is what really rounds out the story and makes it warm and fun.

Here is an example in a scene that made me laugh. Carter and Edgar are traveling to England on the royal jet, along with Edgar’s brother and security detail. It gives a nice sense of Carter’s inner voice, as well as the interaction with Edgar’s staff.

A smiling, relaxed flight attendant offered us menus, angora blankets and a choice of warm cashews or—no, I stopped her right after the cashews and she said, “I’ll bring you a large bowl, and don’t hesitate to request refills.”

Edgar was observing this, entertained. “I should mention,” he told me, “that I find the use of this jet reprehensible and I’m advocating to end my family’s private travel entirely and to have this plane recommissioned for use in transporting medical services and emergency food supplies to nations in crisis.”

“I’m with you on that,” I said, but my words were garbled by my mouthful of cashews and my experimenting with the control panel, which governed a choice of first-run movies, a raised footrest and task lighting.

“But meanwhile, there’s something else I should bring up. There’s a private stateroom at the rear of the main cabin.”

We both nodded, like the gutter rats we were. We should be flying MRI machines, mosquito netting and surgical gowns to war-torn lands, but instead I followed Edgar down the aisle, passing Gerald, who was playing video rugby on his iPad, and James, who murmured, “Well, aren’t we the dirty little mile-high whores. Your Highness.”

We waved to Edgar’s security team, and Ian said, “I win the bet. It took the two of you under three minutes to head back there.”

“We’ll be viewing your activities on the stateroom monitors,” said Lucky, and then, “No we won’t. Unless there’s nothing on Hulu.”

“We’re glad you’re with us, Carter,” said Terry. “Unless we have to kill you.”

I called out to the flight attendant, “Extra cashews for everyone!”

The relationship between Edgar and Carter moves along fairly quickly. The men have a way of seeing each other and understanding one another that helps them form a real connection. But the reality of their situation is that there is more at play here than just the two of them. Edgar must always represent the family well, not to mention that their every move is monitored and cataloged in both the press and every person standing around with a camera on their phone. And Carter, being Carter, stumbles into more than his share of chaos and mistakes. Things are often on the absurd side, but definitely amusing, and I appreciated that Edgar stands behind Carter in pretty much everything. Even if it means standing up to his tough, often disapproving, and occasionally cock-blocking grandmother, the Queen of England. Of course, not all is easy, and conflict comes for the men at one point where sore spots are prodded for both of them. But I liked how these guys make such a good team. They are just both a lot of fun. Of course, Edgar has a lot more weight on his shoulders and so he can’t let go quite as much as Carter, but I loved that there is a playful side to him and that he opens up so much when he is out of the public eye.

So I be remiss not to address what many romance readers might be wondering, and that is potential similarities to one of the best known LGBTQ romance royal/commoner stories and breakout hit, Red, White, and Royal Blue. I’ll admit to wondering when I read this blurb whether the stories would feel similar, but let me assure you, that is not at all the case. The very basic concept of British prince paired with an American may be the same, but everything else about the books is totally different, from the characters, to the conflict, to the tone, to the plot.

Overall, I found this one to be just a lot of fun. I was caught up right away in Carter’s voice and found myself eager to keep reading right through to the end. If you are looking for a light-hearted, humorous story with a lot of heart, check out Playing the Palace.

I absolutely loved this book! I feel like Connor would be one of my gay best friends in real life. I loved everything about it especially his obsession with RBG!

Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Playing the Palace by Paul Rudnick
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After being cheated on Carter thinks maybe love isn't in the card for him anymore. However while organizing a charity event, he meets the openly gay Prince Edgar of England. Being in the spotlight might be a little too much for their blooming relationship to handle, and unfortunately a lot of obstacles stand between them and their happily ever after, including the Queen herself.
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This book was highly enjoyable. It was funny and light, it had me blushing in embarrassment and swooning for these two messy and adorable men. This is the type of book that you have to ignore the inaccuracies and ridiculously implausible situations to truly enjoy it. Their relationship developed very quickly, but when they were together I could feel their chemistry and enjoy their banter. I think what I loved most about this book was the side characters. The way they formed a supportive community around them, rooted for both of their happiness first and foremost. The banter and dialogues in this book was golden, the number of time I snort-laughed through this book is very high and embarrassing in itself. On a final note, this book was quite charming, like a good first date, it was funny and awkward, but I wouldn't necessarily go in for seconds.
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Thank you to @berkleyromance and @netgalley for the advanced readers copy. As always, all thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.
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Coverage at Parade Magazine's website parade.com: Self-effacing American event planner Carter Ogden has certainly never dreamed of marrying a prince, even if he has just been dumped by a callous actor boyfriend. And yet, the Prince of Wales is openly gay, very handsome and very determined to see if their transatlantic tryst might blossom into love. Celebrated humorist Paul Rudnick (of Whoopi Goldberg’s Sister Act fame) delivers a sweet story that’s both hilariously funny and as romantic as any harlequin. -- Michael Giltz

*2.25 stars rounded down

eARC provided via NetGalley. All opinions are my own

Let me preface this by saying that I actually had a fun time reading this book. It was very enjoyable and a cute, quick read, but it did fall short for me in a lot of aspects.

In terms of positives, I loved the banter and writing. This book had me laughing out loud on multiple occasions, and I was always curious to see where it was going. It was also cheesy in the best way possible.

What I didn't love so much was actually the main relationship. I actually have nothing against insta-love, which this book very much is, but I expect even more development in a relationship if this is the case, and I didn't get that. The two MCs really don't have any goodreads for falling in love other than the classic 'one is uptight and the other is very laidback' trope. Honestly, we don't get to see much of their relationship, and that was a little upsetting given how fast they move. Basically my big issue was that I didn't like the character arcs and I wish we had more of a reason to love Carter and Edgar, both alone and together.

It was overall a book that I enjoyed and had fun with, but I wanted more from it than I got.

Playing the Palace is funny and quirky but it seems to move at a breakneck speed with the men meeting, dating, falling in love, breaking up, the ending just hurtling. Also, EVERY. SINGLE, THING is over the top and exaggerated.

This is where I say it's a me thing – if that’s what you enjoy as a reader then go forth and read! It has a large cast of enjoyable characters and the guys are sweet. Just not my thing.

(also – this is not Red White and Royal Blue – nor was I expecting it to be but I guess a lot of readers thought it would be similar but nope. Much lighter and rom-com-ish)