The Royals Next Door released today! Do y’all like Prince Harry and Meghan Markle? If so, you will probably enjoy this book! I know I did!

The focus is not on the royal couple, although we see them often, but on Piper, the neighbor whose life gets thrown for a loop when they move in next door. Especially with the hot bodyguard that comes with them!

Piper and Harrison’s relationship was the perfect amount of buildup for me. I love when we actually get to see characters together for a bit, instead of just BAM at the end.

This is a great read to end the summer with!

Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypub for the arc! ❤️

From the minute that I was introduced to main character, Piper I was smitten. She’s an incredibly interesting and multifaceted character that felt so authentic. She was relatable too, she’s a huge romance reader and even has a romance podcast. Then there’s Harrison, who just made me swoon. Their relationship evolved in such a believable way too, it was a slow burn but they wait was way worth it in the end. They start off as enemies, then become friends before they hook up so you get a little dash of a few different tropes which was fun. Add in a small town that isn’t the usually depicted warm and welcoming kind of place and a Duke and Duchess living next door and I was completely enchanted.

Not only were the characters here complex the story itself was as well. There was wonderful mental health representation, which was so refreshing to see and it was the perfect balance of light and dark since some of the topics explored were heavy, but they were portrayed perfectly. Lots of humor, funny banter and steamy sex, overall this was charming and delightful and I can’t believe this was my first book from the author?!

This was a super cute and fun read! It was sweet, fast-paced, and entertaining. I loved the grumpy bodyguard and the quiet school teacher coming together and was thrilled when they got to their HEA.

I really enjoyed Piper and Harrison's first meeting and the antagonism and banter between them. I was so curious about Harrison, he's probably one of the reasons I read this so fast because I was excited to learn everything about him. I loved learning his history and watching him fight his feelings. I enjoyed learning about Piper, what she had going on with her life, and her relationship with her mom. Some harder subjects were touched upon and I liked learning about the growth taking place for both Piper and her mom and their special bond. I loved Piper really growing and gaining confidence and putting herself out there and standing up for herself.

There were a lot of engaging scenes and sweet moments taking place. The details were good but not overly in-depth, there was just enough information to keep it moving along. There is definitely a slow burn happening between these two and I enjoyed the build. The story had a very ripped from the headlines feel and I liked the author’s lighthearted take on what would happen if a royal moved in next door. I liked the royal couple and the friendships that Piper formed with them and the friendships they had with Harrison.

This was an entertaining story that I had a hard time putting down because I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next. It was the overall entertainment value that hooked me and I really enjoyed it.

I'm a sucker for a royal romance story, as well as a lover of small town romances in settings. All of that, plus the enemies to lovers vibes this one was packing, and I was more than sold and ready for it. Royalty who is more down to earth than you ever could have imagined, hunky and tatooed, blue eyed-body guard to tangle with and a quirky setting? Sign me up. And, if that's all this book had brought to the table, I'm sure I still would have enjoyed it. But this one delivered so much more.

Karina brought so much to the table when it came to mental health representation. Between the way that Monica described her treatment at the hand of the British tabloids (paging Meghan Markle), Piper's mother's diagnoses and Piper's own mental health struggles, this book kept it real and didn't shy away from things that might get uncomfortable. As someone whose own Mother struggles with various mental health issues, I felt a kinship with Piper in a very real way.

Plus, I loved so much Piper's defense of romance novels. To quote a passioned defense: "It's okay to read about sex. It's okay to have a book that's focused both on 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." I mean, this sums it up right here, what I want to yell anytime anyone looks down on me for loving romance.

This book brings the romance, but also brings the real issues and an impassioned defense of the genre it fits into. Not every book can tackle so much and do it well, but Halle knocked it out of the park (and gave some quality steam to boot).

Perfect to recommend to library patrons who read Hello! magazine and who are always ready to talk about the latest in British Royal news. You can definitely see that this was heavily inspired by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (it really just slaps you in the face), but over all this one is cute.

I went back and forth with my rating for this one and I think I'm going with a solid 3.5 stars. It was really good at parts, but some really missed the mark for me.

I feel like there was just too much going on and too many time jumps. Yes, this book covered about six months of time but the transitions felt choppy.

I did really enjoy Piper and Harrison together, and I loved Eddie and Monica as a fictional Harry and Meghan.

Overall, it was fun, but didn't love the execution of some of it.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley*

WOW! I went in to this book blindly and I think I found a new autobuy author! This book was amazing! Romantic, steamy and funny but it also managed to touch on more difficult topics such as mental illness. I really enjoyed that. Thank you so much for allowing me a copy of this! Will be recommending Karina Halle to all of my friends.

Imagine if Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved next door to you... I'm a huge fan of all things royal, and I absolutely loved this book. I have seen a lot of rave reviews, so I had high expectations going in, and I'm happy to report that I was not disappointed. Piper lives in a small town and is a schoolteacher. She takes care of her mother, who has a mental illness, and she tries to keep her life as routine as possible. All of that is upended when Prince Eddie and his wife, along with their bodyguard, move in next door. Like Harry and Meghan,, Eddie and his wife are seeking solace away from the palace walls and tabloids. Harrison, their bodyguard, is all about control and safety, and his life too is upended by Piper. This book contained the perfect amount of snark and humor (the Garbage Pail), the perfect amount of romance and steam, and also the perfect amount of heavy topics and vulnerability. All of the characters were struggling in their own way, and Halle brings a lot of subjects to light in this delightful read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars, out tomorrow!! Thank you @berkleyromance @netgalley @authorhalle for my digital copy!

I went into this read expecting something different from what I got. The Royals Next Door starts off fairly funny, but it quickly becomes a romance with silly angst.

British royals descend on a close knit, stoic, east coast seaside town, and they set in motion a tornado of changes for all the main characters. The royals featured are a thinly disguised Harry and Megan. I'm not a fan of the real-life versions, so I found it difficult to care about the fictional versions. Their stereotypically gorgeous body guard, Harrison, is kept enigmatic with only hints of his backstory that lead to his stoicism and chosen profession. The main character and narrator, Piper, is a nutty kind of charming. She's much maligned in the community mostly due to her libelous ex-fiance and the woman who is interested in him. That situation coupled with her mental health issues makes her a self-imposed hermit.

Author Karina Halle respectfully portrayed the various mental health issues she included in her characters. The plot is interesting for Anglophiles and romance addicts, but could have been really engaging by exploring the royals' impact on the community and its inhabitants more. However, The Royals Next Door is primarily a romance and as such, it is a fun, quick read with characters who are pushed to examine their life choices and and color outside the lines they've drawn to define themselves.

3.5 stars

Schoolteacher Piper Evans's life is turned upside down when a royal couple move in next door, accompanied by their broody bodyguard, Harrison Cole.

The Royals Next Door was exactly the kind of light and comedic romance I needed after finishing The Heart Principle. I loved the cozy island setting, which really augmented the fairytale-like element of the story. Piper and Harrison's meet cute is hilarious and their banter made me laugh a lot. I was hooked from the moment they met. Their romance is a slow burn, but with strong payoff 🔥

Harrison is the starchy and broody type who doesn't like talking about himself. It was fun seeing the very controlled Harrison interact with someone like Piper, who's kind of a hot mess and who loves teasing him. I also loved how Harrison slowly opened up to Piper. The transition from tight-lipped Harrison to openly-in-love Harrison was well done.

There's not a lot happening plot-wise. The pace was slow, lowkey, but steady enough to keep me interested. The story is mostly character and relationship driven. In fact, the characters are very self aware. At first, it felt natural for the characters to openly analyze themselves and explain how therapy has provided them with the tools to improve themselves and their relationships. These kinds of discussions and monologues were seamlessly included in the story, in a way that felt authentic...at first, that is.

Unfortunately, the level of self awareness ends up being unrealistic at a certain point. The characters are so self aware that they almost feel like puppets being controlled by the author. They analyze themselves to such a degree that I was forced to study them through the lens they've provided me. I wasn't given the chance to study the characters on my own.

Self awareness is great and it's welcome. The discourse on mental illness and therapy is extremely important. I just wish the author had found a more...intetesting way to show that to us, as opposed to providing her characters with talking points and turning them into therapists in disguise.

Overall, this was a fun and light romantic comedy. Nothing special or memorable, but I had a good time reading it.

This was a dishy read if I’ve ever had one. Imagine Harry and Megan moved in next door with an Adonis of a bodyguard that was always in your business. Romance lover Piper doesn’t know what hit her - but she knows it’s going to be big!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the early review copy; all opinions are my own!

This was such a delightful RomCom, equal parts sweet and sexy, with compassionate portrayals of mental illness, therapy, trauma recovery, as well as struggling for privacy amid celebrity status. While I tend to prefer dual point of view (POV) for romance, I find that single point of view works well for me when there's a punchy, vivid voice, which Karina Halle had in spades; and when I still feel a strong sense of character development and growth in the love interest whose POV we don't get, which I absolutely felt with Harrison.

Piper and Harrison had solid chemistry, especially at the beginning. This book is the perfect end of summer treat. I got a really intriguing vibe from James, the other bodyguard, with his sad eyes and Scottish brogue, and I'm really hoping we'll get his story next, not only because he was a magnetic character despite having so little page-time, but because I can't wait to see more of Piper and Harrison down the road.

This was an enjoyable read! The lovely quiet hermit school teacher Piper is getting new neighbors and with the neighbors comes a handsome Brody bodyguard, at every turn Piper gets she loves pushing his buttons!
Harrison has one thing in on his mind and it’s his job, keeping Monica & Eddie safe and letting them have a comfortable vacation. Until he meets the neighbor and she’s everything he didn’t expect.
I love the dynamic between Harrison & Piper I probably would have enjoyed reading more of them together. The relationship between Piper and her mom is done so well and very informative.

Sexnotized! Love that word!!

This book was so cute and definitely a good weekend read.

Piper is a school teacher on her summer break living in a small town in Canada that all of a sudden is a buzz with press and traffic. She gets stopped by a large man in a suit and aviators while she's trying to get home. As she's trying to prove her residence and just proving her quirkiness with the mess in her car, she finally gets let past to find out the news the house next door is being purchased by royals.

Harrison the bodyguard comes by repeatedly on behalf of the Duchess and himself. There is so much chemistry.  And I wish I had a washing machine in my unit just btdubbs. (My husband likes when I send him scenes from my books tmi. Sorry). Piper thinks Harrison is this image of perfection but there is so much happening under the surface and from his past that make him think he is unworthy. A suit and a hot body look great but don't make him better or worse than her. Fing Joey. Side note the gossip mill in the town is ruthless and Piper has been talked about constantly.

There are parallels to Meghan and Harry with the royals. I loved how they took her under their wing and since they shared the same property spent time together.

There was also some fighting against romance reading stigma which I'm here for. I'm constantly talking to people about and think it's so healthy to read about sex and love.

Some of the characters had mental health conditions they were living with DPD, BPD and PTSD which there was some interesting info in the author's note.

Def recommend! 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥

Thank you berkleyromance and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

This was a sweet take on a Royal Romance, in that there was no royal person in this couple. It was also a cool twist on a bodyguard romance, as the bodyguard in this book is not guarding the heroine, but is Prince and Princess who move to a small island town. They cause quite a stir and there is an adorable meet cute between our couple when Piper tries to come and is stopped by Harrison when she doesn't have her ID on her.

It starts with a bit of hostility but I wouldn't call it full on Hate to Love, because there is a fun tension between them right from the jump. They do both try to resist most fiercely but their chemistry is too potent to deny.

I had a great time binging this book on a flight for vacation. It was mostly light and sweet, with a bit of a ripped from the headlines feels about the Royal Couple. They were obviously very involved in this romance, since they are Harrison's job to protect, and that was a little off-putting for me at times.

All in all, this was a sweet summer romance and I had a great time.

4/5 stars.

Piper Evans is in for the ride of her life. Her quite island life is about to be shaken up when the British royal couple decides to rent the house on the same property as her. With the royal couple of course comes their security team one of them being the hunky Harrison, a man of many secrets and intrigue to both Piper and fans of the royals. Can Piper get along with the royals? Why is Harrison so uptight? Can Piper keep one of the royals biggest secrets?

I will be honest I think I was expecting more out of this book. While I love the main characters everyone else around them seems to be very one dimensional. Even Piper's mother who has mental health issues seems to come off very normal. Now Piper does do a lot of things in the book to keep her mother in a healthy state of mind so that may be why, however it just felt almost as if her mom didn't have as many issues as Piper sometimes expressed that she did. I also liked the plot line but it moved very slowly and then when it did get to point where action was happening it just seemed to speed through it. I also thought it was interesting how Piper having a romance podcast was highlighted but then it feel away only to become really important towards the end of the book. I feel like it could have played more a part in the story and the plot line. I did truly love when Piper got sassy. She has quite a bite and it is so much fun to read her standing up for herself. Overall I would say this is an decent book. Great for people who are looking for a light romance.

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy.

Thank you to Berkeley Romance and Netgalley for an free copy of this book for my review.

I was very excited to read this title, and I definitely enjoyed it. I will say that the royal couple in the book, is very clearly and obviously (maybe a little too obviously at times) Meghan and Harry.

However, the story really revolved around schoolteacher Piper Evans and the royal bodyguard, Harrison Cole. I kind of, super loved this dynamic! Piper has been living on this small island in this small town where everyone literally knows everyone else. She is having a hard time finding her place after some things that happened when she first arrived, prevent her from trying to make friends with anyone. She is also caring for her mom that has DPD and BPD.

One day, her world is tipped upside down, when actual royalty decides to move in next door to her and share a driveway with her.

Harrison is the cold, brooding, serious Brit and Piper is the peppy, romance book loving, elementary school teacher. I loved their banter. Although, when I was waiting for the *big* conflict to arise, that is where I felt the novel fell a little flat for me.

But I mean, the steamy sections - I was not mad at.

Looking at laundry rooms a little differently now. ;)

This book releases on August 31, 2021! If you’re down with living next to royalty and having some chemistry with a bodyguard, then pick this one up!!

I LOVE A BODYGUARD ROMANCE!!
Harrison was the perfect bodyguard hero. He's very dedicated, and the quiet, brooding, silent type. When he meets the overly curious, school teacher neighbor, Piper, he has no idea what he is really in for with her.
The slow burn feel of this one was great. Things got a little too convenient in the end for me personally. It was too tidy of a bow.
But this is still a really fun, summer read.

The Royals Next Door
By Karina Hale

I enjoyed this romcom so much! First of all the pacing was excellent, it didn’t follow the same tried and true formula that most romcoms have which was refreshing, and boy was it steamy!
If I can’t wait to get back to a book then I have to give it 5 stars!

Synopsis:
Piper Evans is a second grade teacher living on an Island off the coast of British Columbia. . Her life is quiet, and her social life is pretty non-existent at the moment after breaking off her engagement. Even after living in the community for five years she can’t help but feel like an outsider. She loves to read romances and runs a romance podcast anonymously. She takes care of her mother who has some mental illness issues. All this changes when the Duke and Duchess ( think Meghan Markle and Prince Harry) move in next door and with them, a hot body guard named Harrison.

Harrison and Piper don’t see eye to eye at first but it doesn't take long to realize they have an intense attraction. Both of them bring baggage and have obstacles in their life that make being together difficult. For the first time Piper has a chance at her own HEA, and has made a good friend with the Duchess, Monica. Will she get the happy ending she deserves?
I highly recommend this romcom! Not only is it delightful and entertaining but it deals with mental illness through an authentic lens. I read in the acknowledgments that some of Karina Hale’s mental health issues came through in this book. I think it’s very brave to write about it and I hope that it opens the door for more authors to write about mental health with their characters.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing for a digital copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

Well color me smitten! I adored this arc from NetGalley and Berkley so much that I smiled through most of the reading-which took 2 days because I did not want to stop reading, but alas, sleep beckoned.

In this HEA romance, Piper is a schoolteacher living her life on a little island when the Duke and Duchess move in next door, along with their stunningly hot PPO (Personal Protection Officer, or as Piper calls him Petty Paralegal Oaf aka Perfectly Pissy Oligarch) Harrison. Anyway, much to no one's surprise the two hit it off quite well and after a lot of tension they REALLY hit it off in a few steamy scenes.

But in addition to the sex, the two genuinely care for each other as each has their time to shine as knight in shining armor-whether it be in standing up for the other or in taking care of the other. It was just really sweet.

I also adored that Piper is a romance book lover and has a secret podcast talking about romance books! I mean come on! I loved it.

This is one that I will have to reread because I can't see it not putting me in a good mood :)