I just finished reading this and my jaw is still hanging! This is how I've felt after reading all of the books in this series so far. I'm always left wanting to read more. I cannot wait for the next one! (Hoping there is another one). I'm going to try my best to give my review without giving away any spoilers. I really liked how each character continues to grow and you get to know more bout 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. If you were a fan of the previous two books, you will also enjoy reading this.

The third of the American Royals series was exactly what I wanted it to be. It continued the stories of Beatrice, Samantha, Nina, and Daphne. These four women have changed in many ways from the first book of the series, but in many ways return to their key character traits. I especially loved Beatrice's story line in this one, and how she grew into her role as Queen.

I would LOVE a backstory of King George IV and Adelaide! So far, we mostly see their relationship through the eyes of their children, and they all seem to think they had the perfect marriage. I'm sure there is more to this story.

Pub date: 5/31/22
Genre: YA romance
In one sentence (from publisher): Beatrice is queen, and for the American royal family, everything is about to change.

I've enjoyed the American Royals series for the pure escapism, and I think this third book is my favorite! Each of the main characters Beatrice, Sam, Daphne, and Nina have compelling arcs, and McGee also weaves their storylines together well. I especially enjoyed seeing schemer Daphne team up with outsider Nina to take down the powerful Gabriella. The League of Kings, a meeting of all the world's monarchs hosted by Beatrice, was a fun plot device to introduce some new characters to the story. And of course, there's a major twist near the ending...so I really hope we're getting a book four.

If you liked the first two books in the series (or if you liked book one but hated book two), I think you'll like this one!

Thank you to Random House Children's for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story was so much better than Book 2. The author dug so much deeper into each character’s lives, thoughts & feelings. Four POV but never once did it detract from the story. Each woman is strong, fighting for what they believe it. Each has her own rival, be it another person or just their hearts and deciding what is best for them. I did NOT expect that ending,so the 4th book needs to come out fast! I have a lot of hope for the next installment..thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

#netgalleyarc #nospoilers Without any spoilers I have to say I LOVED this book. I’m so glad the author continued the series and I hope there will be a 4th book. There were some slow moments but overall this is a great continuation of the first two books. Great characters, great story, a great read.

American Royals III: Rivals is the follow-up we were all waiting for. When McGee left us with her first cliff-hanger ending in book one, we all anticipated book two more than ever. And while book three wasn't quite the same level of shock and awe, the ending left us salivating for more and begging Penguin Random House for a third book. And I could not have been happier when it was announced we would get one!

However... however... when I said I wanted a third book, it was so I could finally have an ending. This book does not have an ending. It has perhaps even a worse cliffhanger than book one. Some research reveals that McGee is contracted for a fourth book (thank God), but, to be honest, I'm worried she won't end that one either. It seems that she just doesn't know how to write a satisfying conclusion to, well, anything. And that's why I can't give this book five stars.

Is it otherwise fabulous? Indisputably. We get all the characters we know and love, plus romance, heartbreak, friendship, scheming. It made me tear up at points. There's no contest it's incredibly well-done and takes advantage of its creative premise. But it doesn't feel like a complete book. It feels like half a book. At this point, I think the series would actually be BETTER suited for a television show, where it's normal for there to be season cliffhangers and mini arcs throughout episodes, and you can count on getting more of the story each week. It would make a fabulous television show--like a better, royal Gossip Girl. But at this point I'm frustrated with the book form.

Thanks to Penguin Random House for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 stars - 8/10

I was so glad to see there was a 3rd book because the 2nd installment just didn't really do it for me as a reader! That said, this book is clearly set up for a 4th. I hope that's where the series wraps, and we can some resolutions for these characters! Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this book and read it in an afternoon.

There were several things I liked about this book. One, I found Sam and Marshall to continue to be delightful. I kept rooting for them to be together as they seem to be the most genuine and on somewhat equal footing. Neither really understands or feels totally comfortable in their family roles (a bit of a change for Sam). Secondly, I liked the teaming up of Nina and Daphne to take down a rather vindictive noble- Gabriella Madison. While working together for a common cause, it seems like they start to form a genuine friendship AND we get a glimpse of the real Daphne. Lastly, I enjoyed the idea of the League of Kings-- some of the other royals from different countries were fun, and it was nice to see Beatrice step outside of her comfort zone a bit.

On the other hand, there were a few things I found frustrating. The primary one being Daphne reverting back to her manipulative self. I also cannot say I enjoyed her latest lie to trap Jefferson. Teddy and Beatrice's relationship needs serious help. I fully expected Bea to come into her own more in this book, but she is still full of self-doubt. Thus, she and Teddy never really address their issues that they have together. Jefferson keeps falling back into the Nina vs. Daphne choices, and they keep falling for it too! The ending felt too similar to Majesty for my liking as well. There is some great potential for several different possible endings.

As the third book in the American Royals series, I had really high hopes for this book. I’d really enjoyed the first two books, and I honestly expected this book to be the final one in the series. Well, it’s definitely not the last, and now I’m wondering how long this series can be drawn out.

This was an enjoyable read, and I still love the premise of this series, but it just started to feel kind of repetitive. By the time I got to the end I was wondering when the will-they-won’t-they was going to end. It was the exact same thing in this book with all three of the major couples having ups and downs. I do appreciate the idea that Beatrice has room to grow on her own without a relationship, but I felt like so much of her story was STILL tied to her relationship with Teddy that she never really had a chance to come into her own.

Honestly, it feels like we didn’t really get anywhere in the past 1.5 books. Daphne has so much potential but is still her sad, manipulative old self that is more focused on status than her happiness. Nina is still secretly in love with Jeff, which throws the same love triangle we’ve been dealing with back into the story. Sam has some what embraced her place in the royal family but then decides she doesn’t want to do that after all. And Beatrice is still struggling with her newfound position and what to do about Teddy.

I’d love to know how much longer this series will run and what we can expect. Honestly, all of the characters would be so much happier if they stopped lying to themselves.

So glad to be back in this world! I was really worried when I thought we were only getting 2 books. To start, I loved the first book! Loved. The second book fell a little flat and I didn’t love how it was tied up. This book brought back my original love for the series. If you have enjoyed either of the first 2 books then you will most definitely enjoy this one as well.
I just hope we get a 4th!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the arc! Rivals (American Royals #3) by Katharine McGee is out May 31, 2022!!

Okay here we go with this review because I have many mixed thoughts. I want to start out by saying that American Royals was one of the first books that got me back into reading in 2020 so it will always hold a special place in my heart. I was beyond excited to get my hands on this book and dive back into this universe with all of these characters I've grown to love. It was interesting that McGee expanded on this world she had created with its connections to other nations and I appreciated its discussion on the intersection of race and politics.

However, I would be lying if I didn't say that I was disappointed. Like the other books in this series, I did find things to move slow in the beginning, which was a weird adjustment considering how the previous book ended. I also found myself invested in certain storylines (ex: Daphne and Nina) more than the others, which isn't necessarily on fault of the author but just overall made it challenging for me to get into. This whole book felt like "one step forward, three steps back" which was honestly pretty frustrating for me.

BUT THE ENDING!!! WOW. I am glad the book picked up and got more fast-paced and exciting, but ugh here she goes with those cliffhangers again. I do think we are in a position for the fourth book to be really good so that I'm hopeful about. But I still stand by the fact that feel like I shouldn't have to wait until the 80% mark for it to get this good. Despite my disappointments, I'm still a sucker for this series so I definitely recommend picking it up! I am already looking forward to getting my hands on book 4!

I really like a lot of these characters and I love reading a book series because you get to spend so much time with all of the characters! I also love reading the chapters from different perspectives, it breaks up the book and keeps it interesting. This book was certainly better than book number 2, but I’m still having a hard time with the damage that book did. All of the relationships became so messy and now the author is trying to back pedal to make things work. Teddy and Sam having a connection first makes it hard for me to ever root for him and Beatrice or Sam and Marshall, it’s all too messy. In book one Beatrice and Connor seemed so happy together, I thought she would give up the crown to be with him or even more bold marry him and keep her title. Everything with Jefferson, Daphne, Nina, and Ethan was such a mess and continues to be in this book. I hate how Jeff flip flops between the girls and each of the girls also had their own relationship with Ethan. It all seems problematic. Some of these mismatches feel too messy to come back from. This book was left open for the series to continue, which I of course know I will want to read! However I still find so many flaws within the series. The first book was so great and the whole series had so much potential but sadly the sequels have not lived up to that first book. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for the advanced copy of the book!

Rating: 4.5 stars

Synopsis: Beatrice is Queen and engaged to a man she truly loves. But it turns out that attempting to balance her relationship and duties is even more challenging than she imagined. Sam knows she is in love with Marshall, but his family's extreme disapproval and the nation's insistence at making them a symbol for race relations complicates things. Nina just wants to continue her college education because she's no longer interested in Jeff...right? And the persona that Daphne has been showing Jeff for all these years may finally be starting to slip a little. When he sees the true Daphne, will he still want to date her? All of these stories converge in the third installment of the American Royals series that keep you hooked!

Opinions: I was so excited for this book, and it didn't disappoint. Each storyline feels unique and organic enough to maintain your interest throughout the entire novel. Although she's gotten better for me, I still must not be a fan of the Sam character because those were the chapters that I cared about the least (which has been true for me throughout this series). I also found the resolution of Sam's storyline in this book to be quite predictable. I enjoyed McGee's tactics to bring Nina and Daphne together on the same team; what a great pairing! And that ending...oh man, what a trip! I am so excited for the fourth book to come out and can't wait to get my hands on it!

Thanks NetGalley and Random House for this ARC!

So good!! Loved the first and second and this one did not disappoint. Someone described the books like gossip girl but if they were royalty and that is so true! Recommend for sure!

loved continuing the story of the American Royals and all I have to say is…there better be a 4th book!

Just like the first two, Rivals draws you into the stories of the main characters. You feel their emotions and pain and joy.

This book is easy and quick to read, and an awesome choice if you need something intriguing and light hearted. But man, to not get any answers or conclusions at the end is killing me. I guess these thoughts are part of what makes a great book though.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I love these characters so much! Bea, Sam, Daphne and Nina are all dealing with a rival of their own in this third book in the series. I really enjoyed the evolution of the characters over the course of the book and could not put this book down. I really hope there is a fourth book after the shocking ending!!! Love this series!!!

I am torn on how to feel about this book! I will start out by saying I wish I would have reread number two (Majesty) right before to have the story more fresh in my mind. I think I would have enjoyed the beginning of this book more instead of trying to wrack my brain for what happened.

Rivals picks up with Beatrice navigating her first big event as queen - a conference for other monarchs from around the world. Nina and Daphne team up to take down a common enemy and Samantha explores her relationship with Marshall. Unfortunately I feel like this book can really be summed up in two sentences. That's not to say I didn't enjoy reading it just felt like it didn't give me quite enough action or time passing or that something special.

I've loved this series, I think it's such a cool premise and think that these stories would make an amazing TV series so can we make that happen?! Also the ending of this book what... ARE WE GOING TO GET MORE?! I need to know now!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

What if America had a royal family and was ruled by the descendants of George Washington? The Washington siblings are back, and things are as complicated as ever. Beatrice is coming into her own as queen, but is still facing challenges ruling the country and making friends. Samantha loves Marshall, but duty is getting in their way. Jefferson is back together with Daphne, and Nina is trying to get over her relationship with Jefferson and move on. Nina and Daphne find a common enemy in Lady Gabriella Madison, and they go from foes to allies to try and stop her. You will not want to miss this next installment in the American Royals series!

I was first interested in the American Royals series because of the historical implications of America having a monarchy and I liked how this book fleshed out the outside world as well. France and Russia still have monarchs! Hawaii still has a queen, China has an empress. The story though was less interesting to me. I felt like there were some loose ends to tie up from the second book, namely Beatrice fully stepping into her role as queen, the Nina-Daphne-Jefferson love triangle, and Sam and Marshall's new relationship. I was hoping this book would tie up the series but instead introduced a bunch of new characters, including a new mean girl and a bunch of random royals.

The Samantha and Marshall relationship was alright, a little boring and the ending resolution didn't feel super true to who they were as characters but whatever. I was more annoyed at Beatrice though. The first two books had been spent with her second-guessing herself and not feeling confident enough to fill her father's role and be America's first queen. The ending of the second book seemed to set it up nicely, with Beatrice forging her own way forward, not marrying and dismissing the people trying to hold her back. I was excited to see where she'd go in this second book but instead, she's mostly the same. She's scared of what everyone will think, namely the other royals she hesitantly befriends.

The best part of this book for me was the Nina-Daphne friendship and them trying to take down the new mean girl. Honestly, even when I hated Daphne I also kinda felt bad for her and it was clear she needed an actual friend she could be herself around. I also do not understand the attraction to Jefferson except that he's a prince. He's the least developed character and kinda boring. I get why he exists though.

The book ends on a cliffhanger and I will definitely read the next installment, for all my criticism the books are still soap-opera level drama (fake pregnancy and all) and very light and fun.

I was provided a free copy of this book through NetGalley

I had hoped for but didn't expect a third book in the series! This scratched an itch and left me hoping for a fourth installment. I started working at a smaller library six months ago and we do not have the first two books in this series otherwise I'd purchase it for our collection. I would have purchased this at my previous library which has the first two books already.

(4.5/5 stars)

The third, and somewhat unexpected installment of the American Royals series did not disappoint. In this book, our favorite young royals are back, still navigating duty, friendships, honor, love, and enemy schemes, while also tackling some important issues surrounding gender and race.
Queen Beatrice is learning how to juggle her political responsibilities while also protecting her newfound love for Teddy, despite having called off their wedding in the previous installment. Adding to her stress is the fact that this year it is America's turn to host the League of Kings, a gathering of almost all the worlds monarchs in order to network and work together politically, an event that happens only once every five years. Meanwhile, Samantha is grappling with her newfound romance with the Duke of Orange and what it means to be a princess in a bi-racial, highly visible relationship. Our favorite rivals, Daphne and Nina, are back as well, each harboring their own feelings for Jefferson, but they soon find they will have to put aside their differences in order to take down a more pressing common enemy.

There are so many things to love about this book and about the American Royals series in general. First, and most importantly, I appreciate McGee's willingness to use what may seem like frivolous topics on the surface, royalty and romance, in order to explore how identities such as race and gender affect us not only as individuals, but on a higher societal plane that seeps even into politics and celebrity. Beatrice, and other female royals, have to work harder than their male counterparts in order to be heard, to be taken seriously, and to be noticed and commented on for their ideas and actions, rather than their style choices. Similarly, McGee reminds us that race permeates everything about one's life, meaning more than even a high station. Marshall, Samantha's love interest, is often reminded that as a Duke-to-be in the public eye, he is often cast against his will as a spokesman and representative of his entire race. Both race and gender are shown o be powerful facets of identity that can supercede all other identity for an individual, even for, or maybe especially for those who are in positions of power and high visibility.

On a less serious note, my favorite things about the series, and the reason I can never get enough, is that I love falling into an alternate version of America. An America still familiar but so vastly different because it is ruled by a monarchy rather than a democracy. This book was especially fun because as readers we had the opportunity to dive deeper into this alternate reality and witness how monarchs from all over the world behave and relate to one another.

My only complaints with this book are the frustrations that arise from what I felt were unrealistic scenarios that were plopped in for the sake of the plot or a feel-good moment. I also don't love the authors continued trend of building entire relationships throughout a text only for it to become meaningless by the end.

Overall, I love this book and this series and I would recommend it to anyone from my Junior high students to my adult friends. Additionally, I think this would be a great text to utilize in the classroom in order to discuss types of governments, race, and gender biases.

A huge thank you Katharine Mcgee and Random House Books for this Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review!