This books in the series ends on a cliffhanger and I can already feel the next book is going to be most important one. I felt all three books were literally just building up for the next one. This book seemed like character building and setting up the whole premise for the endgame.

I liked Beatrice coming to terms on what kind of queen she wants to be and how adorable Sam and Marshall's relationship was. I was a bit bored with Beatrice and her friendship which felt a bit unnecessary. The way Sam decides her future was great but I felt she could have waited a bit longer and been there to help her sister when she needed her the most. I hated the fact that Connor who pulled me into this series is completely out of picture especially as Teddy feels so lukewarm.

I hate Daphne and I just don't want her to be successful in pulling off her biggest scheme, Nina, the heroine I have been waiting for, finally decides she needs to understand Daphne is literally the best part of this book and I can't wait to see how she goes about that. And what is wrong with Jeff? Why is he such an idiot?

Simply put, just can't wait for the next instalment in the series!

Not

I was thrilled to see a third book pop up in the American Royals series. Like so many others, I felt a bit betrayed by the abrupt ending in the second book. And a great thing that comes with another book is more space to develop these characters that I was so desperate to continue to get to know.

I think that character development is an area where this book was really trying to put in the work, and that was obvious with so many of the characters as we continued to learn more about what drove their choices and sometimes awful actions (I’m looking at you Daphne). With such a large, rotating cast, however, not every character got the attention and depth that I feel the story was trying to convey. Some ended up backsliding or stagnant.

The concept of this book is very cool. We begin with new Queen Beatrice figuring out how to chart her own path as a monarch when she is still so young and obviously a fish out of water in this global communities of royals she is pushed into. And as Bea is learning who she is and how to stand up for herself and her country, everyone else is learning to navigate their personal problems from relationships to friendships, questions of race and gender and wealth, and the expectations of family when it comes to newfound adulthood.

While this book is still very much YA, I found it interesting to see how it is beginning to transition into the type of “leaving home” themes that are more apparent in New Adult. I’m excited to see how this series finishes out!

Thanks NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

WOW WOW WOW. Okay what a cliff hanger. I am fascinated by the ending. I really enjoyed the bulk of this book. Samantha and Marshall’s relationship doesn’t feel as genuine to me as I hoped but the journey in this book was fantastic. I am so excited for book 4!!!

This book was phenomenal. I loved it just as much as I loved the first two. I read 75% of the book in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. Be forewarned, the end is kind of a cliffhanger, so I really hope we get a book 4 SOON! Omg, I love this series so much. If you liked the first 2 you will love this one also! Easy 5 stars.

I adore this series. I loved that rivals became friends. I loved learning more about daph and nina . I loved sam and Beatrice too. I want the washington girls to succeed. I had a feeling that daph was going to play that way in the end. I loved that nina actually called jeff on his relationship of going back and forth. I liked the new villain of Gabrielle. I can't wait to read the next book the series and I really liked the friendship of nina & daphne.

Thank you to Random House for a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I've been fooled. I thought this was the last book of the series but nope ... another cliffhanger ending! Grrrrr!
We got introduced to some new characters, different government structures around the world, and discussed sexism and race in America. While it's fun to see the different perspectives and relationships develop, I definitely have my favorites (ahem Nina). I am looking forward to see how this will all play out!.

Just as expected, this book is wonderful. I reread the first two books before starting this one so I could refresh my memory on what had happened. This book seemed a bit slower than the first two, but then the last 25% was nonstop. I couldn't put it down. This book felt like it had a lot more character building than the other two did to me, but not necessarily in a bad way. I was still very much invested in the characters and their story, and loved seeing the growth from them all. I seriously can't wait for the next book to come out so that i can know what happens next with all of them!

I enjoyed this book. The plot was well paced and the characters were well developed. I would enjoy reading additional works by this author.

rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
romance: 💖
spiciness: 🌶

the Washington siblings return in the third installation of the AMERICAN ROYALS series, RIVALS, as Queen Beatrice finds her footing in her new role as head of state, Samantha faces a decision between love and duty, and Jefferson heads to college but remains a Hot Mess Express™️ in a seemingly never-ending love triangle (/square?).

I’m not quite sure what to make of this series! AMERICAN ROYALS was one of my favorite reads—I adored it and its overall concept. but books 2 and 3 just haven’t hit the mark for me. RIVALS felt especially messy, first because the world-building is all over the place. part of what set the first book apart was its intriguing spin on American history and its cascading effects for Western democracies and the world as we now know it. This isn’t to say that the concept has ever been very thoroughly explained in the series, but I thought the idea was creative and the drama kept it fun. it now feels like most of the actual development of this alternate reality has been discarded for some occasional country name-dropping, a renamed Paris Climate Accord, etc. I can’t say I’m here for this supremely YA rendition of geopoliticking. and, of course, the American *monarchy* is now socially progressive?

the most difficult element to deal with is that the romantic relationships in this series have all flip-flopped so many times that I don’t even know which ones to ship. 🤯 I didn’t find much of a spark in any relationships in this book, and I’m not entirely sure I care what happens with any of them at this point.

some small silver linings: Daphne’s development in this book was wild, and THAT CLIFFHANGER 🤭 somehow, these two things alone have convinced me to stick around for book 4 in the series.

thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for an ARC!

LOVED this third book in one of my favorite series. These books are so cute, so fun and have the best characters. The latest in the Series, American Royals III, is just as great as the first two. Highly recommend reading in order.

Thank you to net galley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

A great follow-up to the semi-closure of the second book, though we hope that the balance of who is featured in this will give more depth to some of the background characters for the fourth book if it is to be the finale - we've watched these characters grow, and need a satisfying ending with the leads they're eventually choosing in order to feel the closure. Well-painted scenery yet again, and great setups.

After devouring the first two books in Katharine McGee's "American Royals," I was completely stoked to learn a third sequel was in the works. And let me tell you: It completely lives up the hype of the Washington sibling's regal world that I first fell in love with from the first books in the series. I am so grateful for this ARC, because, let's be honest, I just couldn't way another minute to find out what was next for Queen Beatrice, Princess Samantha, Daphne and Nina. While "Majesty" let me down slightly after watching my beloved Connor+Bea ship crash and burn after the first book, I am pleased to return that my fandom has returned in full force with this one.

Here, it's a meeting of the monarchs as Beatrice (fresh off her canceled nuptials to Teddy from the last book) is set to preside over the prestigious Legions of Kings meetings for global regents. There, she's representing America at the convention and desperately trying to get her first initiative past, all while balancing her fragile relationship with Teddy (whom she did postpone their wedding after all!) and meeting a glamorous international French princess who invites her into her elite inner circle. Meanwhile, Princess Samantha and beau Lord Marshall are still going strong (eeep, for me!) but navigate difficult future plans considering the title differences. Then, there's Daphne and Nina who are forced to (gasp!) team up to take down a new rival in town, equally vying for Prince Jefferson's affections.

True to McGee's style, this book brings her signature witty and engaging language that had me both yearning to find out what happened next but also wanting to savor every last morsel of text and storytelling. Told in 4 points of view, I'm quickly drawn into each leading lady's head and become so desperate to learn what would happen next. And seriously, I just didn't want this book to end!

It makes the perfect addition to the "American Royals" series, and selfishly, I hope it's not the end of this series because I have so many questions left after that ending. Basically, I just need more content, like, right now. Or I'll just re-read it, one, two or ten more times in the meantime.

A satisfying pick-me-up from a somewhat disappointing Majesty. Finally, some Daphne and Nina development. Reading the American Royals series always delivers exactly what I want… sweet, fun reading without too much stress involved!

Hands down this has to be one of the most fun and most original book series I’ve ever read! Also the book I most want to see turned into a television series or movie. A perfect continuation in the series, it follows our favorite royals + royal adjacent ladies: Beatrice, Samantha, Nina and Daphne as they adjust to a world with the first ruling queen of America. Filled with Katharine McGee’s trademark drama, intrigue, secrets, romance- it was impossible to put this one down. And that ending!! What a cliffhanger. I love the intricate relationships between characters and the exploration of what duty to country and family really mean.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. Since this is my third time with the Washington family I really feel like I know them. Beatrice and Samantha are still my favorite characters. It seemed in this book they were more sisters than ever before which was great. What wasn't so great was all the Daphne/Nina chapters - just too many for me.

Overall a decent third book and a great cliffhanger for a forth installment (which i'm sure will happen).

I was so excited to see the continuation of this series. I love the premise of American Royalty. This book felt like it did not focus on one particular couple, and I loved getting some of all of them, but felt like we didn’t get deep with any of them. Cannot wait for the next book. A wonderful series.

Thank you NetGalley for the early access to Rivals. I love this series so much, and Rivals met the hype of the first two. Love following all four leading ladies, seeing how they are growing into their own, how they manage their decisions and relationships, some you love, some you love to hate, but it's all so fun and creative. Loved the intro of other International Leaders and how they mixed in to the lives of our main group. Can't wait for book 4!!

Every book that Katharine McGee writes gets better and better! I finished this book only a few hours ago and I already want a 4th. Beatrice is representing America at the greatest convocation of kings and queens in the world. She's trying to find her place as Queen but begins to buck to the norms when she becomes friends with several younger monarchs from around the world. While Bea is tied up with the convention, Samantha is just returning from her world wind tour around the America and her relationship is continuing to heat up with Marshall but are they really on the same page? Daphne, Nina and Jefferson are all at St.Georges and Daphne and Nina are working to protect Jefferson and themselves from a newcomer on the scene.

I am literally counting down for the prequel and book number 4

We continue the trials and tribulations of the Washingtons, America’s royal family, in the third installment of the series. Beatrice, now queen and affianced to Teddy, hosts a “NATO” of sorts - except imagine high schoolers and Instagram influencers - and you will understand how these royals behave based on the authors description. That part was particularly eye-rolling, as though a 28 year old is playing fuck, marry, kill among heads of state. Then we have the ménage a trios of Jefferson, Daphne, and Nina - still a veritable throuple. Still no true conclusion to their throuple-dom. Sam’s story was the least annoying, mainly because she’s the only character who has shown real growth and actually acts like a semi-adult instead of a stereotype. I do believe I’ve outgrown this series and it’s probably time for me to move along.

Rivals: American Royals III - 4.5⭐️

Rivals: American Royals III jumps right back into the America we know & love from Katharine McGee. Beatrice is getting ready for the League of Kings conference, Sam + Marshall are enjoying their fake dating turned to real dating with a few road blocks & Daphne and Nina are realizing quickly they should work together against a common enemy.

This book had all the drama, twists and turns - it was everything I’d hoped it would be and crossing my fingers hardddddd for a book 4!

Read if you love:
-this series already: it felt like book 2 left things open & this one feels so satisfying to know how some of those stories continue
-multiple perspectives: one of the many things I love about Katharine McGee’s books are her chapters from seceral different characters perspectives - this one had a bit more overlap between two characters (iykyk) and I was here for itttttt
-Sam+Marshall - LOVEEEE THEMMMM - we get to hear more of their story
-surprisingly daphne turned a corner for me - she felt more human in this book & her layers were peeled back & I loved watching it unfold

Thank you to NetGalley, RandomHouse Childrens & Katharine McGee for this e-arc.