Fans of the Washington family and of their close friends will want to pick up this third book in Katharine McGee’s American Royals series. Be aware that, since there is a fourth book on the way, there are things left unresolved in this one. (*cough* THAT ENDING!!! *cough*)

This time around I felt more connected to the Nina-Daphne-Jefferson storyline than to the Samantha and Beatrice ones. It was heartening to see Daphne’s growth and to see her unlikely friendship with Nina blossom.

Likewise, it was nice to watch Beatrice develop some friendships of her own, but, as a romance reader, I wish we had seen more of Teddy in this one.

And it was heartbreaking to watch poor Samantha and Marshall yearn to forge their own paths while their duties continued to pull them in opposite directions and the country turned them into symbols.

The cliffhanger ending has me wishing that the release date on American Royals IV comes sooner, rather than later.

I am glad I read this one because I do enjoy the characters of this series and want to see where things go for them. However, I think perhaps I was looking for a bit more. That being said, I would read it again, especially as a lead-up to American Royals #4.

Thank you to Random House Children’s and NetGalley for an e-ARC. All opinions are my own.

I'm not going to give this a star rating since I technically DNF'd it. I absolutely TORE through the first two books in this series but perhaps due to my disillusionment with America at the moment, I just did not care about this story.

There is a strong "white savior" vibe to Sam in relation to her Black boyfriend. I didn't like how a white character, written by a white author, was explaining how "things are worse" for a Black man in America, even in an alternative history (and perhaps that it's an alt history makes it worse?). Going along this same line, there are way too many instances of characters of color explaining what it's like to be not-white to privileged white women. I know this is a book for young people and some of them are perhaps getting exposed to these ideas for the first time, but I think the execution fell a little flat and came across as overtly obvious and cringey. I hope these things get addressed in the end but it was just cringey enough for me to not care about a redemption arc.

I also thought the character development for the four main young women that occurred across the first two books was totally forgotten about in this installment. They felt petty and catty and not at all like I thought they should behave based on the other books.

I can’t get enough of this series and this was a great addition! I just love the world created so much and wow, did this end in cliffhanger! Is book four out yet?!
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Huge thank you to @randomhouse and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the previous ones.

The thing that made the others so entertaining for me was the angsty hot mess drama of all of the romances. This one had little to no focus on romance at all.

Instead it focused more on catty girl fights, ridiculous schemes and trusting the wrong people. The way these characters grew over the previous two books, it felt like they should be moving beyond that.

While it may have left me disappointed, it’s still an addictive series to read and I’ll definitely pick up the next book.

I love the American Royals series and this one did not disappoint! Thank you Katharine McGee for another amazing story that surprised me and made me fall in love with the characters all over again.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC!

Here’s the deal. I really enjoy this series. It helps me tap into my former teen girl. I would’ve absolutely devoured them as a youth. It’s truly such a fun concept. I’m glad we got a third, and I’m glad that there will be a fourth. However, this one wasn’t my favorite. It definitely took me a long time to finish. There was a lot packed into the end of the book, but it took its time getting there. The relationships in this series are so tumultuous, which makes sense for a YA series, but it also doesn’t entirely make sense since most of the characters are actually “new adults”. After all is said and done though, I think Katharine McGee is a talented author, and I will obviously keep reading these books whenever they come out.

Wow. Apparently I wasted my time preparing myself to finish the American Royals series, because that was not an ending. Am I mad about another cliffhanger though? No not really.

In the third installment, we leave off right where the second one ended but this time we have new friendships, new enemies, and new sides of people we’ve never seen before. The parties, the glitz, the glamor along with the scheming and deception. I love it all.

They may be royals but they’re still very relatable. What teen (or adult, honestly) can’t relate to want their parents’ approval, not living up to expectations, and grappling with doing with what’s expected of you.

If it wasn’t obvious, this book must be read from the beginning but you won’t regret sinking your time into this deliciously devious series.

I wasn't able to finish this book, unfortunately, and I don't think I'll. continue the rest of the series. I was ultimately just disappointed by the lack of character development and the direction of the plot.

Katharine McGee has done it again. I'm always hesitant about reading books in a series as they're released, because typically stories can't hold my attention over the span of several years. Not so with American Royals, my friends! Is it just me, or should the U.S. consider reinstating a monarchy? Give me allllllll the drama and intrigue that comes with a royal family ruling the States. Reading these books is like reading the Daily Mail from a first-person view, they're THAT tasty and full of drama. I loved diving back into Beatrice's world, and reading more of her story along with Daphne's and Nina's. Dare I say the best book in the series? Cannot wait to read what comes next.

I was so, so sad to think that this series ended with book two, and so I was elated when I saw that McGee was coming out with another book in the series!

I missed this alternate world that McGee dreamed up, and I was so happy to be back in it. I loved the new characters that were introduced in this series, the unexpected team of Nina and Daphne, and some of our favorite couples (Beddy? Tea?) continue to figure out what life looks like for them with Bea's new position. I need a serious reread of the whole series, but I definitely will be reading the final book of the series when it's published!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for sharing this book. All opinions are my own.

If you suffer from contact anxiety, beware this book! Rejoining with Queen Beatrice, her consort-to-be Teddy, Sam and Marshall, and Jeff and his unknown love triangle of Daphne and Nina, the story line never rests in a comfortable place where everyone and everything is FINE. Bea is stepping into her new role, but finding the line blurred between friend and peer as America hosts all the world's regents and heirs. Her earnest personality can conflict with her titled role, and decisions have complicated aftershocks. Nina and Daphne strike a tenuous accord, feeling like they have a common goal and shared antagonist. Sam and Marshall have big decisions to make about their joint future together. Each character has moments of victory and defeat, and the ending was a cliffhanger that will hopefully lead us into a book 4! I've really enjoyed the escapism of this alternate universe, and my favorite detail of this installment was that Hawaii maintained it's own sovereignty and didn't recognize the diplomatic status of other royals.

I loved being back in this world that McGee created! This series has been such an escape over the last few years. In this installation, we meet new international monarchs, we see Bea and Teddy's struggles as she continues to adjust to her new role, and Teddy adjusts to his lack of role. We also see Daphne and Nina become friendly. I enjoyed all of the perspectives this time around and overall really liked this one better than the second. I cannot wait for the fourth and final book to publish!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I am sad to say I was disappointed by Rivals. The first two books in this series were very good and I loved this concept with all of the different cast of characters but this third book just didn't do it for me. At first I was happy to be back in this world with these characters but about half way through, I just got bored. The book, in my opinion, was a bit too long. I will still read the next book when it comes out because I want to know what happens to these characters. I just hope its a little more fast paced than Rivals.

When I thought this series was going to end with book 2, I was devastated. I love the freshness of this third book in the American Royals series, the world expands with introductions to a slew of new international monarchs, we get to see Teddy and Bee struggle with his lack of role in the monarchy, and we get a very unlikely team up between Nina and Daphne! And the ending!!!! The author went full soap opera, and let me tell you….. I did not mind. I'm already so excited for the fourth and final installment of this series.

Having read the other 2 in the series, I was excited to get this new book. Unfortunately, this one didn't work for me. I enjoyed parts of it but felt like it moved too slow and there was a lot of unnecessary drama that didn't add to the characters or story line. I ended up finishing it and of course it ended in another cliffhanger. I'll likely read the next one but the other 2 were bigger hits for me.

Yay! I was so happy to be back in the Washington Family drama! I’m always drawn back into their world and their stories. I love that there’s more than one story line going on. I feel like each chapter is a tv episode! I finished this within 48 hours of starting. These books always end with a good twist! So excited for the next one!!!

This was fun and quick to read, but it lacked of something. It also felt very long. It was a lot of drama for almost nothing and I feel like the author could have resumed this story to a fewer story lines because it sometimes felt messy.

(4.5⭐️) Full of drama and scheming with an heaping dose of fun! I completely devoured this book and am already on the hunt for the next installment.

Book 2, Majesty, left me with so many complex emotions... I was completely besotted with the dishy storyline and sensational characters. But I hated that it was an ending (to the at-the-time 2 book series). I wanted more. I needed more. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one because, like a ray of sun shining through the grumpiest of storm clouds, Rivals appeared on the scene. And let me tell you… it did not disappoint!

This book has everything I’ve loved in the other books. But with the majority of the book taking place at the worldwide League of Kings summit, the stage is broadened, and we are introduced to a slew of other monarchs, which richened the plot. The Princess of France, Princess Louise, plays a particularly large role, and I enjoyed seeing how she impacted Bea.

While there are many rivalries in this book, the standout pairing is with previous arch enemies, Daphne and Nina! Their plotting and conniving led to an unlikely friendship <gasp> that I couldn’t get enough of.

While keeping the storyline fully entertaining and fun, McGee also touches on some important themes with finesse. Themes of friendship, racism, gender roles, and power & privilege are all interwoven with subtlety and skill.

That ending!!! MAN oh MAN. McGee really did that to us. And I’m conflicted as to whether I am mad about it or I love it.

Ultimately, I think I really love that it ensures another book. So now I must begin my “persistent nudging” of both her and the publisher to get my hands on book 4!!! In the famous words of The Temptations, “ain’t too proud to beg!”

This series is best read in order. Each book picks up right where the previous left off. But you’ll find it a worthy investment.

Considering how heavy the political landscape has been lately, escaping to McGee’s alternate reality was a very welcome reprieve from real life.

The audiobook narration by Brittany Pressley was superb. It was easy and seamless to go from the voice in my head, as I read the physical copy, to the voice on the audio.

Many thanks to @getunderlined @prhaudio for the #gifted copies.

I love the American Royals series by Katharine McGee, and Rivals did not disappoint! I enjoyed seeing how the characters were forced to mature throughout this novel. I did not like how this book ended on a cliffhanger, and now I need another book to continue the story ASAP! I cannot wait!

From the first paragraph, I knew this book would be a good one. I immersed myself into the book from the first chapter and I cannot say enough good things about this book! Honestly amazing! The writing is incredible and the plot is just one to die for. I am absolutely obsessed with this book. My favorite part would have to be the character development throughout the book. Character development is something I look forward to and this book did not disappoint.