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

I love this series so much, I can’t help it! This book was just as good as the other two. I hate the way it ended on a cliffhanger so I have to wait even longer for the NEXT one!

The development of Daphne and Nina's relationship kept this book going for me and I'll be sad to see it go away in future installments of the series. It was great to see them on the same side for once instead of on opposite sides of eyerolling drama. This book was good mindless entertainment.

I am very excited to say that “Rivals” was my favorite book in the series so far. If you enjoyed the previous American Royals books, you'll enjoy this one, but I do not recommend starting with this book, to understand the dynamics and cast of characters, you really need to start with the first book. It combines everything that I enjoyed in the first two books (alternative history, palace intrigue and gossip and glamour) with some deeper and more mature topics. It is definitely a testament to how much time and effort Katharine McGee has put into building out these four main characters. I really liked how each character continues to grow and you get to know more about each of them. Just when you think you know them well, they surprise you, and just when you think you know how things are going to play out, something unexpected happens. I also love reading the chapters from different perspectives, it breaks up the book and keeps it interesting.

I enjoyed the evolving dynamic between Queen Beatrice and Princess Louise, as well as the amusing other new younger international Royals introduced. It gave Beatrice a completely new cast of characters to interact with, and I loved it! I loved seeing Beatrice's relationship grow with Teddy. He is so perfect for her, but I was glad that they faced some bumps along the way together. Samantha's storyline was perfect, along with Marshall, and I loved how she grew into herself as she tried to figure out what it means to go from the spare to the heir and whether she can have love and still do her duty to the crown. I think “Rivals” does a better job of showing Daphne’s motivations and the pressure she faces than the other 2 novels, but just when I was beginning to like and kind of starting to feel sorry for Daphne, she had to go and ruin it and make me despise her again. I liked that this book spends a lot of space exploring what life is like for the significant others of the royal family, especially when they are also people of color. I felt that this book had more detail about the alternate reality of America as a monarchy and it was really fun to dig into that more. I enjoyed some of the Easter eggs like the joke about trying to imagine an elected executive branch. There had better be a fourth book, the ending of this took my breath away, and I NEED to know what’s going to happen next. I think that this would make a great female centric streaming series, as all of the 4 main women characters offer a different perspective on life and how they live it. Overall, the best installment in this series yet and a joy to read! I love these characters and all the new story lines were so great of an addition. Thank you to Katherine McGee, Netgalley, Random House Books for Young Readers and to Random House Children's for an advance copy of this book to review.

The latest installment of American Royals was fantastic! I loved how all the stories came together and the character development of each character from book 1 to book 3. Reading this book, I really left like I was in that part of the story living right along with the characters and feeling what they were feeling. I do however, think I love Nina the most.

I adored the first two books in this series, but this latest installment felt unnecessary and forced.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

“Sometimes the world changed in smaller ways: a boat ride over ink-dark water, the flip of a card.”

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy to read and review! This is out on 5/31.

I would be lying if I said I didn’t scream when I saw that I was approved for this title! I loved the first book, enjoyed the second, and devoured this one! I heard there’s a fourth coming out, and I need it like yesterday after the way this one just ended. Holy crap! I’m not sure if I’m excited or scared for the next book with everything that just happened.

McGee did another excellent job at making you love and hate her characters, as well as providing representation with her characters. Race and sexism were big topics in this book, especially Race, and I think that McGee did a great job with it.

Not much really happens in this book until the 60-65% mark. Then things pick up super fast and it’s one twist and one drama after another. It made the second half of the book fly by and be addicting. Granted, I didn’t really want to put this down at all when I read it, but the second half escalated that feeling.

We follow Nina, Sam, Beatrice, and Daphne. I think that all four women had some character development throughout the story. They all want one goal: a happy ending. Daphne really started to redeem herself and I was beginning to like her character a lot more. But, then she went and did some snakelike stuff, and she fell to the bottom
of the totem pole for me. I know it’s because every story needs a “villain” and this is what she is used to. She was raised to lie to get anywhere in life, especially since she was not born into the royal life. I’m still mad at her though.

Also the mention and description of Hawaii made me SO excited to go in July!

I think a big part of this book was overcoming loss, stepping out of your comfort zone, and fighting for what you believe in and love. All strong themes.

“He was her anchor amid the storm, the only thing she could cling to in this whirlwind of a world.”

I know now for sure that a fourth installment is coming based on the several cliffhangers this book provides. I really hope and would love to follow Jefferson, Teddy, and Marshall’s POV in the next one. And MAYBE Gabriella but that’s a big maybe. She was awful!

“And of course people can change. What kind of world would this be if they couldn’t? We need to believe that, or there’s nothing worth fighting for.”

This was probably not my favorite of the series as I felt there was a lot of filler until the very end, and I wasn't a fan of how Samantha's story played out. I wanted more for her!

However, Nina and Daphne teaming up made me do a 180 on Daphne as a character and I felt that she was much more human in the third book. I loved that Jefferson was more involved in this story too and that it was clear where his heart lies.

The writing style of these novels, especially Rivals, is such a joy to ease into. It's simple, straightforward but also so interesting. It makes for easy reading and a story you can get lost in. The ending was not what I expected and it left me in tears, and of course, wanting a fourth book because there is so many different ways the Washington siblings stories' can go!

American Royals III: Rivals is the 3rd book in this series by Katharine McGee. This book picks up where book 2 left off. Beatrice is learning to be the new queen, Sam and Marshall are now together, and the infamous love triangle of Nina, Jefferson, and Daphne. I love this series as it give a new take on the monarchy and everything that comes with it. Through romance, rivalry, friendships, and more, this book is sure to deliver on what was left.

RIVALS is the third book in Katharine McGee’s YA American Royal series. I absolutely LOVED AMERICAN ROYALS then she shook me with the direction relationships took in book two: MAJESTY. I was anticipating where book three would take us and welllll, it took us to another freakin’ cliffhanger!

My thoughts:
-it took me 12 days to read this so that should say something
-there were so many name drops for characters that served no purpose. it was unnecessary fluff that is a pet peeve of mine
-Sam & Marshall storyline vaguely mirrors Prince Harry & Meghan Markle so I enjoyed that
-i’m over the love triangle storyline

While I loved the start to this series I felt RIVALS was really lacking. There didn’t seem to be much of a storyline and the cliffhanger at the end seemed unnecessary. I had hoped everything would wrap up nicely buttt I am a sucker and once I start a series, I must see it through so I’m sure in a year or so you’ll be seeing my review for the next book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children’s for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

An improvement over the second book in the series and ending in a brutal cliffhanger, American Royals III: Rivals still simplifies the plights of women in power to a binary fun-vs-dull conflict, and does not quite succeed in subverting or calling out the sexism therein. That being said, I will still be definitely reading the next book when it comes out.

What a fantastic series! American Royals: Rivals does not disappoint. I’m beyond excited to see where these storylines go. Highly recommend!

Returning from what would have been their honeymoon (had they gotten married), Beatrice and Teddy are back after spending a few blissful weeks in the Caribbean. Teddy hopes to define his role as king consort to give the unprecedented position meaning and purpose. Beatrice has a lot of work to do to prepare for the League of Kings conference. For the first time, Beatrice is hosting the conference as Queen of America, and she plans to bring her father's climate accord to vote, despite the uphill battle she'll face as a powerful woman. Princess Samantha went on the Royal tour at Beatrice's request and convinced her best friend Nina to go along. In love for the first time, Sam is figuring out who she is and how to be the heir her family needs. And with the League of Kings taking place in Orange, Sam is looking forward to spending some time with Marshall. Meanwhile, Jeff filled as Regent (with Daphne by his side) in at the capital during his sisters' absence. As the royals settle into their roles, friendships and old rivals are put to the test. No matter where the Washington family goes, drama seems to follow. Spoiler alert, the League of Kings conference will be no different.

THOUGHTS: Tackling some tough topics like gender roles, privilege, and racism, the characters take on more dimension in this title than the past two, and readers will find themselves rooting for each rival as they get to know them. They also desperately will hope for another title in this series!

This series is pure fun. Storylines built around royalty also interest me and Katharine McGee writes a great plot. This is the third in the American Royals series and the books really should be read in order to fully appreciate the drama. There is romance, rivalry (as the title suggests), and friendship to explore with the fictitious American royal family. This book picks up where we left the family in the second story. Beatrice is figuring out how to be the new queen, Sam and Marshall have gotten together, and the messy triangle between Nina, Daphne, and Jefferson continues. This was a fun revisiting of a very unique series idea (What if America had it's own royal family?) and I enjoyed seeing where each character had landed. The plot points moved forward in an interesting way and I am intrigued about what will happen next. There will be a fourth book (the ending leaves you hanging).

Thanks to Katharine McGee, Random House Books for Young Children, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Holy Cliffanger!

I am so happy this book is finally here! It felt like putting on your favorite most comfortable sweater. I loved that, for once, everyone was GETTING ALONG! Nina and Daphne teaming up? YES PLEASE! Sam and Beatrice getting along? HELLO YES! a background cast of world-wide Royalty all in one room. I'M HERE FOR IT! For once all the enemies and rivals were characters we hadn't met yet and they were all written so well. I also felt like we also get more substance in this book rather then just drama and glamour. We see it in race relations between Sam and Marshall and talks about climate change between the gathering of the nations, However, by the end it felt a little repetitive. Don't worry, though, I still will pick up the next book. I am hooked with the cliffhanger at the end! I just love this theory of American Royalty so much, I'll keep coming back for more every time! Hey Hollywood PLEASE bring us an American Royals series ASAP!

One of my biggest regrets is that I read this as an advanced copy. I was so excited to read this that I devoured it as soon as I received my copy. The problem is I now have so much I want to discuss, but since I got the sneak peek before my friends and book club, I have to keep my thoughts to myself. So, here's the thing, I loved the first book in this series. It was such a unique premise, and it was so interesting to think about America as a monarchy and to learn about this alternate reality through the stories of the women in the book. The third book wasn't so much a love for me, and much of that has to do with why I fell in love with this series. The very title Rivals accentuates the stuff I don't like as much. I don't like the fighting and the gossip and the deceit that is a component part of some character's stories, and I didn't like that it took center stage here. The story picks up where the last left off as Beatrice is learning what it means to be queen, Sam is in her new relationship with Marshall, and the Nina/Daphne/Jefferson love triangle continues, but also has some new dimensions. What I ultimately wanted and didn't get was way more Beatrice. To me, her story is the most powerful and one I love the most. I wanted to see her centered so much more. Again, given the title that just wasn't what this was, but a girl could dream. I should also note this ends on a cliffhanger, so there's likely going to be a fourth read. Even though this one wasn't my jam, I'll be back for that one as I'm too invested to quit now. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this upcoming release!

wow. katharine mcgee swooped in with a real SHOCKER of an ending! thank god the acknowledgments confirm a fourth book! 🤯🤯🤯🤯

After the cliffhanger that Majesty left us on, I knew we were in for a ride with Rivals! I found surprising stories I really enjoyed for each character, except for Sam. I'm not surprised by Sam's choice by the end of this book - even if I do think it was probably too soon for it, and was definitely done for dramatic effect. Despite that, I'm very interested in the consequences of this choice.

Bea's story is fairly interesting. It's a balancing act to be Queen of America, and I really enjoyed seeing her try to find that balance alongside her still fledgling relationship with Teddy, trying to be her own ruler, and making friends for the first time.

Daphne and Nina's story was by far the most interesting. I've been wondering what Katharine was going to do with Jeff for the last two books, so the complexity of his relationships with these two women - and what brings them together as cautious allies and... possibly... friends. The end of the novel shocks each character's choice and rocks their worlds, and I cannot wait to see what happens in book four!

Less romantic entanglements than the previous books (so minus one star for lack of squeeeeeee factor), but still love these characters and this world so much!

Katharine McGee, thank you thank you thank you for writing us a third installment of the American Royals! This one did not disappoint! I have always been partial to Beatrice, but in this novel, I found myself liking so many of the other characters too. Watching their development across the three books has made me invested in their growth. Sam's so different in this novel in a way that I loved. Her depth is so much more evident and as a reader, I felt more privy to her internal turmoil that felt relatable as opposed to Book 1 Sam, who I found whiney. Nina continues to be as brave, strong-willed, and endearing as always. Who really shocked me, was Daphne. I found her hard to stomach in all the previous novels, but in this one, I understood her more. If you have not read the previous two books, you must before you pick this one up! This is a storyline that has been developing for quite some time. It cannot be treated as a standalone. I really am hoping for a sequel, because as always it was just so good! I must admit, I wished and wished to get access on NetGalley and my wishes came true. Then, I did something so typical of myself, I avoided reading it, because I didn't want to start it and quickly finish it and have to wait forever for the next. I'm glad I picked it up. It was worth it.

A fun, delightful read full of drama as the author imagines what an imaginary American royal family would look like. This one focuses more on Beatrice stepping into her new role as her siblings picture what they want out of their lives. My favorite part is getting to hear more from Nina and Daphne as their rivalry continues to develop and change.

There are parts of this book that make me wonder if we’re supposed to completely ignore/forget about the whole Ethan & Nina thing in Majesty?? I don’t think Ethan’s name was mentioned once in the book which was very strange to me.

This book really set up for a book 4 but I think I’m done with the series after this one. I really like the Samantha and Beatrice plot lines but the Jeff, Nina, & Daphne drama is exhausting. Daphne is so awful and I’m reminded of how mean the girls are in gossip girl.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this one!