Synopsis: Piper Evans: an elementary school teacher by day—avid romance reader and anonymous podcaster by night. She lives a quiet, reclusive life, taking care of her mother, who struggles with mental illness, avoiding her regrettable ex, and trying to make inroads in a tight-knit island community that still sees her, five years in, as an outsider. And she’s happy with how things are—until British royals rent the property next to hers and their brooding bodyguard decides she’s a security threat.

I absolutely ADORED this book! Piper was an amazing main character, her love of romance books is something I related to a lot; as well as having to deal with mental illness. That’s a big point that I really appreciated in this book, it addresses mental illness and therapy in a way that normalized it (the way it should be) and showed us that it’s something anyone can be struggling and dealing with.

Then we have the slow burn romance between her and the brooding hard ass security man, Harrison Cole. He is a whole mood all on his own, very closed off and never revealing too much of himself. Their interactions had me grinning and smiling because the chemistry was beautiful and believable! I loved that their relationship develops over the entire book and isn’t something that just happens instantly and without work. Plus there are very descriptive sexy scenes, so if you love spice in your books you will enjoy the scenes in this one!

In the end, even though I loved this book, I gave it 4/5 stars because of the scenes with the royals. I’m not a fan of Meghan Markle and this book definitely felt like the royal woman was written to praise Meghan in real life; or in honor of her. It just felt like it was trying hard to make me like her and to paint her as the victim of the media and other royals; I wasn’t a fan of that!

This is a very light and low steam romance from Karina Halle. It is enjoyable, but it lacked that punch I’ve come to expect with her books.

What I loved:
1. The Royals. They were fun. I loved the scenes with them.
2. The discussion of teachers being able to read and discuss romance in a public forum.
3. Pushing the “stop shaming romance readers for what they read” message.
4. The discussion of mental health.

What I didn’t like:
1. I didn’t dislike the hero or heroine but they did t feel memorable to me.
2. There was steam. Probably normal for a romance novel, but Karina’s books normal have high steam or in sands chemistry. This was just okay for me.

There wasn’t truly anything I disliked about the book, it just didn’t have that oomph I need and expect from her. I was thinking this would be more like her other Royal romances but it wasn’t.

AUDIBLE REVIEW - I did enjoy the narrators. Good pacing, alternate voices and accents.

A heartwarming romance inspired by Prince Harry & Meghan Markle. Piper is living a quiet life as an elementary school teacher on a small island off the coast of British Columbia, when rumors start to circulate that the royal couple may be coming to stay. (They're not named Harry and Meghan here, of course.) She thinks nothing of it, but when she finds her shared driveway blocked by a massive security guard, she learns that the couple may in fact be moving in next door. And she keeps bumping into the handsome Harrison, head of security, even though he's so annoying.

The cover and marketing for this book made it seem like a frothy rom-com. However, the tone is fairly serious. Piper lives with and cares for her mother, whose borderline and dependent personality disorders mean she needs order and stability--not a paparazzi frenzy outside her front door. Harrison has some past trauma, too. And even the royal couple have their own challenges. But they just might be able to help each other grow and change.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

This was my first book by Halle and I really enjoyed it. I like the way this "royals" story was developed, not your average story. I was a little concerned because there are lots of issues in this book and I was afraid it would drag down the overall story, but the author did a great job of including positive aspects of the problems. The characters were unique and flawed and that's what makes them relatable to us. Great story!

The Royals feels a lot like the current drama with the English royal family which was a very interesting take on the situation, very pro- the cute new royal couple. I will say that the book is listed as a rom-com and the book is for sure a romance, but it was less comedy and more sad and angst as well as dealing with all kinds of mental health issues- which is not a problem at all, I was just expecting more humor and fun.

The best part of the story was the fact that strong, silent, tattooed, rigid (incredibly good looking) Harrison was a very skilled baker. I loved how that was such a dichotomy in his personality, the hard and the soft, and it made me like him so much better. I also liked that this romance was slightly more realistic since it is not a regular girl with a royal, but instead a regular girl and regular guy who just so happens to be a bodyguard for some super famous people. And this wrapped up super well with a HEA that will leave you happy.

It takes about half the book before there is any real romance (definitely a slow burn relationship, almost enemies to friends to lovers), but once it occurs the heat level is pretty dang steamy.

This is such a delightful, fun, bingeworthy read. I finished in two sittings and loved this royal-esque world. Very much Meghan and Harry inspired but I also loved that this wasn't a royal book, but more Piper's interactions living next to the royals and their bodyguard. I also really enjoyed the focus on mental health and how it was addressed for the characters.

Some of the twists were predictable. There was a bit more telling than showing, and the romance angle was a bit cheesy. However, if you're looking for an easy, quick read, this one may just fit the bill.

4 A Cute Fantasy Read Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
With all that has been happening all over the world, a little Royal Fantasy was just what was ordered. The smart cute idea was not to be the layperson who falls for the prince, or having the regular gal be the one chosen above all else for the hiding next in the Royal line.

Nope, this thought was outside the box and yes, there were royals but the one who caught the romance eye was the Bodyguard! This had all a reader could want to enjoy a moment or two away from the everyday.

This book has so much going on, in a really great way. Although it is a Rom-com it is also so much more. It deals with BPD and DPD, and caring for a parent with those disorders, it takes on the criticism of people who read romance novels and shoves that notion aside, and it had a fun romance. Now all that being said there were a few things that I didn't like. The royal couple were kind of blah and not very memorable even though they had a fair amount of story time. I think they should have had less, or been more interesting. It may have been better if it wasn't based on Harry and Meghan because that was distracting. Also all of the side characters, besides the mother, were pretty crappy. The entire island kind of sucked and I think that gave off the wrong vibe for this story. Overall though I still enjoyed it and found it funny.

Here is the scoop....

Piper is a school teacher by day and avid romance reader with her own "anonymous" romance podcast on the side. She is also caregiver for her mom who loves to bake pies. She was a breath of fresh air. I love a good rom-com and throw in the royals renting a house next door, a hot bodyguard, and a secluded island setting and I'm all in.

I'm not a big royals follower, but it doesn't matter because they were just a side note. It is more about Piper and Harrison, the hunky bodyguard. I loved Piper's mom too, she was a breath of fresh air. It was fun/fantasy to imagine meeting Meghan and Harry, whoops, I mean Monica and Eddie!

Grumpy/sunshine trope, likeable characters with chemistry, just spicy enough,a slow burn romance and a little small town scandal made for a safe, guilty pleasure read.

Now I need a cup of tea and slice of pie!

I finished reading THE ROYALS NEXT DOOR by Karina Halle ( @authorhalle ) this morning. It was such a fun and sexy read. I give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

Piper Evans is a true individual and a hot mess when we first meet her. She is an elementary schoolteacher living on a small island in British Columbia with her mother, who has mental illnesses. I applaud how the author handles mental illness, its impact on one’s life, and treatment.

Piper is also an avid romance reader and anonymously hosts a romance book podcast. But even after living on the island for five years, Piper feels like an outsider amongst this tight-knit community.

Harrison Cole is the PPO ( Personal Protection Officer ) for the Duke and Duchess of Fairfax, Prince Eddie and his wife, former pop star. Monica. Friends, let me tell you, Harrison is HOT!

Eddie and Monica move into the mansion next door to Piper and her mother’s house. They are lovely and soon Piper and Monica become friends. But this is only a temporary move, and before you know it they are going to have to pack up and move back to London.

The witty banter exchanged between Piper and Harrison is fabulous from the start. And when they finally get together it is STEAMY y’all. In fact, one of their encounters becomes a town scandal thanks to the island busybody.

But, Piper and Harrison only have a short amount of time to decide whether what they have together is worth making sacrifices for.

Y’all are going to have to pick up a copy to find out if Piper and Harrison have their Happily Ever After.

I really enjoyed The Royals Next Door! I have to admit, I first picked it up because of the cover, but I'm super glad that I did. I thought Piper and Harrison were super cute together and I loved the moments with the royals, as they were based off of Harry and Meghan - who I LOVE!

I thought that there was a lot more to this story than meets the eye. I enjoyed the discussions about mental illness, gaslighting, and how helpful therapy can be. I also enjoyed Piper's hobby being her romance podcast, which she defends perfectly! It made me feel at home since I am also a romance lover and can relate to her in that aspect.

The relationship between the two main characters was slow-burn enough to satisfy me and I especially loved it once they were together. The spice was excellent, as was the cute and protective moments between them. I really liked the epilogue as well and getting to see everyone together again.

Overall, I'm really glad I picked this one up and recommend it! Especially if you're a Harry and Meghan lover like myself ;)

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, NetGalley, and Karina Halle for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review!

The Royals Next Door was a fun read. It was a cute romantic comedy full of heart.
I loved the banter between Piper and Harrison. From their first meeting to their budding friendship and then to more. This book is definitely based on the Harry/Megan relationship. Still, I enjoyed that they weren’t a big part of the book. The book was about Piper and Harrison, and I preferred it that way. Piper was a great rom-com heroine full of sass and spunk, but also with some baggage. Harrison was the brooding hero with a past, and together they were great!
The Royals Next Door also has a focus on mental illness. There was a lot of talk about the benefits of therapy and the effects of PTSD and gaslighting. I love seeing that in books like this. Books like this that are light and fun normalizing therapy and mental illness are so important.
The Royals Next Door is a great read, and I can’t wait to read more books by this author!

I’m not a big royals fan. It’s not that I have anything against the royals, I’m just not the type of person to get up in the middle of the night to watch a royal wedding, and don’t really care what the princes and their families are doing.

But for some reason, I like reading about fake royals, so The Royals Next Door caught my eye, and I’m so glad it did.

Piper is an elementary school teacher on a quiet and tranquil Canadian island. She lives with her mother, who struggles with her mental health, and enjoys their time together baking, as well as recording her podcast on romance novels.

So when Prince Eddie and his wife Monica, who is a Black former rapper, move in to the mansion next door, Piper is not prepared for the media circus. She’s even less prepared for Harrison, the duke and duchess’s sexy, brooding bodyguard who keeps turning up at her door.

The Royals Next Door is a fun, sexy romp with characters who are believable. Harrison has his own past to deal with, the duke and duchess have reasons for hiding, and Piper needs to learn to not use her mom’s illness as a crutch.

Content warning: The Royals Next Door is steamy at times, definitely a closed door romance. But don’t let that stop you from enjoying this page-turner that’s perfect for an end-of-summer weekend.

The Royal Next Door is an entertaining, fun read. I don't follow the IRL Royal family, so this book didn't necessarily wow me, but if you love the Royal family and some sexy bodyguard action, look no further!

One of my favorite aspect of this book is that the conflict didn't result in a big breakup or argument. Overall, it is a charming read and will definitely send you to your local bakery for a cinnamon roll after!

Many thanks to @berkleypub and @netgalley for providing me with an earc in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cute, feel-good story that had less to do with a Prince than I thought.

The story between Piper and Harrison was so cute (that banter tho!) and I loved the setting of the island as well. I appreciated the mental health representation and the dynamic between Piper and her mom. I also really enjoyed the friendship with Piper and Monica (who I assume was based off of Meghan Markle).

My biggest criticism of the book I’d say was the fact there really didn’t seem to be a big conflict that happened. Everything was almost too perfect or there were only small conflicts that were easily resolved.

I enjoyed it overall and got through it pretty fast!

THE ROYALS NEXT DOOR by Karina Halle

If you’ve ever fantasized about Princess Megan and Prince Harry moving in next door, this is definitely the book for you. I read this one by the pool on my surf vacation, and absolutely feel in love. Piper is a school teacher-slash-romance junkie-slash secret podcaster who lives with her mom, who is sometimes struggling and sometimes coping with mental health issues. One day she find out that British royals have moved into the mansion next door (I love when that happens) and Piper has a few run-ins with their yummy bodyguard, Harrison Cole.

Harrison is exactly the gruff, no-nonsense character we’d expect him to be, and Piper is both fascinated by her royal neighbors and irritated at the media frenzy happening 24-7 on her driveway.

But… Harrison’s impromptu visits, mixed signals, and kind heart begin to win Piper over.

This was a fast read, with some really great laughs, and just the right vibe for fans of enemies-to-lovers and royals rom-coms.

Piper is a second grade schoolteacher and caregiver for her mentally ill mother, Harrison is the PPO (that’s personal protection officer) for ….



Well, a fictional equivalent.

To be 100% honest, I wasn't sure I would like this and so I sort of avoided it like the plague after receiving an advanced copy. I'm just not into the whole "royal" thing. The good news is this isn't really about the royals at all. They're basically the neighbors that ocassionally have Piper and her mom over for dinner. The real meat and potatoes (or poutine hyuck hyuck) is between Piper and Harrison. I guess technically this would fall under the enemies to lovers trope, but it was less like true hatred for each other and more that they were inconveniences in each other's lives.

This book does several things right. First, it jumped on the royal fever before it became too tired of a trope. Second, it tackles mental illness in the way I like best - with kid gloves and not a whole lot of detail for the trolls to pick apart. And most importantly it reminds us that ….

It's okay to read about sex. It's okay to have a book that's focused on both people falling in love and the woman's own pleasure. The genre has a lot of stigma attached to it, but only because some people are afraid of women's empowerment and sexuality.

Amen. It's okay to read whatever the eff you want. Like romance? Read it! Like young adult, but you're a geezer? Who gives a poop - read it! Like the stabby stuff that might make your friends question your sanity??? Find new friends and read it!!! All reading is good - just read. And thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

Y'all know I love myself a #royalread so when it came, I freaked out and read it in one day!

This particular read is about a teacher who ends up having Prince Eddie and his new bride (AKA Harry and Meghan) move into the house next door.

Sparks fly with the royal bodyguard, friendships bloom with the Duke and Duchess, and I am basically the person on the cover.

Clearly, this book found its ideal reader. I hope we get Eddie and Mred’s prequel at some point in the future.♥️ 👑

I don't quite know what to make of this book. I think it was just firmly not for me. It had its cute and funny moments, but it was a little too quirky for my taste, I found most of the story a little too ridiculous, and I didn't like Piper or the love interest very much, so I didn't feel invested in their romance.

I didn't like the way Piper treated her mum, who has a personality disorder, for most of the book. It felt like she only saw her as a list of symptoms and it felt like she was ashamed of her. Luckily this was addressed at the end of the book, but I'm still not quite sure how I feel about it