This was a cute read. Some parts were slightly heavy.
Some cute liners. Really important messages throughout. I did call the ending but I enjoyed getting there.

Some parts carried on a little longer than necessary.

I was cheering for Pax the whole time. I loved them. I was kinda more interested with the supporting characters than the main characters.

LGTBQ+ representation- gay/ non-binary

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Special thanks to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for this digital ARC.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Eric Geron, and the publisher of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Edward, the Crowned Prince of Canada, loves getting the royal treatment and being the center of attention. Despite living his best life, Edward still hasn't told his parents that he is gay.

Billy lives in Montana with his mom and sister and will one day take over his family's ranch. It is important now more than ever that Billy take over since his father passed away. Unlike Edward, Billy is out and proud and has the full support of his best friend and family.

Soon Billy's trip to NY turns into a meeting with his long-lost twin, Prince Edward. Their lives are forever changed. Will the "twinces" be able to finish the stresses of high school and learn to get along? Or will it be a royal disaster?

This was an adorable read and I am so thankful I requested it on NetGalley! Prince Edward was very frustrating and obnoxious at times, but he grew on me and throughout the story. I loved Billy's character and how he stayed authentic throughout the whole story. I will recommend this book to others!

It’s a shame that a book that humanizes and stars queer characters is such a rare feat. But that makes Two Princes all the better. And while both Billy & Edward had unlikable moments, it was nice to see the villain be homophobia - and that villain be vanquished. The world where we can (consistently) have out and proud world leaders is one I want to be in.

Thank you to Netgalley and HC for granting me access to this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review of this book when the Harper Collins Union strike is over because their needs were met.

3.5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect going into A Tale of Two Princes, although it sounded a bit like “Parent Trap meets Princess Diaries, with aspects of Prince and the Pauper,” and that it was cashing in on the trend of royal romcoms that have picked up steam in recent years…although I soon realized this one wasn’t really a romance. And once I got a full sense of what it was trying to do…I liked it, with caveats.

It’s been interesting seeing the trend of contemporary royal fiction transition from the more idealistic (Hallmark films and the like, RWRB) to ones that are more conscious of the pressures the Royals are under, both by the institutions themselves and the press, especially in terms of how these institutions hold back real social progress. This one is thematically the latter, including some mentions of the difficulties the present Canadian King and Queen faced prior to taking on their present positions, with emphasis placed on the Queen’s origins as a commoner. While I had issues with how this and some of the more relevant present plot points concerning Billy and Edward alluded to recent British Royal family issues without taking into account additional nuances in the real cases (ie the racism Meghan, and her children by extension, were subjected to), I can understand if this issue was outside Eric Geron’s sphere of experience. And even if his approach to the Royals and their acceptance of their queer members feels unlikely, it does at least feel somewhat more grounded in some basis of reality, as one of the late Queen’s cousins (albeit rather distantly) made headlines a few years back for marrying same-sex partner, and the current claimant to both the monarchy of Bavaria and the Jacobite succession is also in a civil partnership with a man.

That said, I did sometimes wonder why the book made the choice to have the Canadian monarchy be so recent, especially as there is a theory that has gained at least some traction in history circles of the hypothetical line of succession, had the throne gone through the line of one of the younger sons of Queen Victoria, similarly to his younger sons of Kings of Denmark were chosen for the thrones of Greece and Norway. There’s still a way to establish the same themes, and given how dated and awkward some aspects of the genealogy already feel (Queen Eliza is clearly a stand-in for the late Elizabeth II, and the extended family also has fictional members with the Dukedoms of Cambridge and Sussex, the titles given to William and Harry, respectively), that may have been a better choice, especially to give the book more concrete world building to stand on.

Once I got going, I did like it, despite my issues. The two main characters, Billy and Edward, are both interesting, and grow over the course of the book. I really felt bad for Billy, especially when I realized how much people, especially the mom who raised him, kept from him, and he didn’t know who he could trust. And the addition of the public scrutiny of his every move didn’t help either. However, he persevered, in spite of initially uncertainties, and I like the new perspective he seems to bring to the family and the public.

I went back and forth on Edward. I could understand how he’d feel, being raised to expect to be King one day, and due to the discovery of his long-lost twin and the revelation that his twin is in fact the older of the two, now Edward is being displaced. He was a bit pettier about it than I’d have liked, though. And I had weird feelings about his continued resentment of Billy after Billy’s coming out. Their parents accept him, even if the public reception is mixed, so I’m not sure why Edward acted so oddly about that, even if he did have issues with Billy for other reasons. However, I can also understand that there’s an extra layer of nuance with Edward continuing to figure himself and his sexuality out, especially after falling for Pax, Billy’s non-binary best friend.

While the approach this book takes may be a bit controversial, due to its flimsy world building or its attempt to appropriate recent events for a Royal queer coming-out story, I don’t mind it for what it is. It’s charming and generally harmless fun, and makes a great read for anyone who likes the fantasy and broad concept of royalty, while chafing at the issues that exist within their real-life counterparts.

This was mostly fun, campy, and silly and if you're willing to suspend your disbelief (both about the existence of Canadian royalty and about the actions of said royals) it can be a very lighthearted, enjoyable read. However, there are several uncomfortable parts that mirror real life royals like Meghan (except, y'know, white) or mention antimonarchy beliefs in very judgmental, critical ways to boost the MCs. There's always a level of suspending disbelief and putting aside real royalty in enjoying fictional royals like this, but it was often hard to do with this one, not just because of the extremes, but also because it seemed to want to constantly remind me about real life royals, with all their ugly truths.

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

Well, this was a bit of a mess. First off, Canada has a monarchy but it is badly explained and makes zero sense. The characters are over the top and annoying. Did not feel the chemistry here at all. Then it felt like the side character best friend, who was black and non-binary, was a caricature of the gay best friend. Yikes. I had to DNF this at about 30% because I just couldn't deal. It had a lot of potential but ended up feeling like a worse version of Red, White, and Royal Blue. Maybe it got better, but I'm not sure since I couldn't stick it out.

Awwww! This gave me all the feels! What a splendid way to start the new year!

How amazing would it be to find out you are a long lost twin and Prince? It’s giving Tangled vibes! I am so incredibly excited for everyone to read this one when it finally releases next week!!!!

It really puts so much in perspective about how the world views and viewed LGBTQIA+ people on a global celebrity and political scale. We must keep fighting for our rights to exist and love even if it means tearing down Royal norms. God Save the Queers!

Thank you Inkyard Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this eARC for an honest review!

A Tale of Two Princes by Eric Geron releases on January 10, 2023!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

I just. I just really couldn't. I'm okay with the camp and the Canadian monarchy hand-waiving, but I don't think I ever want to eat a maple cookie again in my life. This is not a book that speaks to me as a reader and I typically LOVE this trope.

One of the reasons I was interested in A Tale of Two Princes was because we desperately need more representation in our library, however, I admit I quickly got lost on some of the acronyms like "Finsta". I can see this being popular fun read with our young adults at the library, though. I think Geron has a message here and I hope it reaches who needs to hear it.

I really enjoyed this book more than I thought I would! Got just a little confused with all the characters and had to go back and read some again. I would definitely recommend this book.

This was a cute story about twin boys one who was switched at birth with another child who died. One was raised as the prince he was meant to be the other was raised as a rancher.

When I put my bias of the royalty aside (we know how they treated Megan for being bi-racial so being gay would be a whole no no no I'm sure) this was a cute tale of one who has what he thought he wanted snatched away and other who finds purpose in his new found role.

Both Princes are gay, one in the closet the other out and proud with a best friend who is non-binary and destined to become a fashion icon.

When Prince Billy is discovered since he is the oldest twin he usurps the throne from his brother who has been groomed for this for years. They didn't do a very good job of handling the casting aside of Edward for Billy but I guess that was for the drama that ensues surrounding Edward trying to win his title back through sabotage.

This is definitely written for a younger YA audience it was a bit too juvenile for me but it was still a good read and I loved the representation in it and how they showed the struggle to come out. Even Billy who is out and proud in his small Montana town has a best friend who is non-binary and was disowned by family and is often bullied.

While this will be banned in Florida schools and by so many other schools across the USA, I think this is a good fun diverse book for a middle school age bracket. Representation is important.

Like the campy Canadian cousin of 'Red, White, and Royal Blue', 'A Tale of Two Princes' is here to posit a Queer monarchy romance, only with less charm or panache.

The plot is, from the get go, a bit more of a leap than other more successful Queer royal books. This one involves wholesale changing the political systems of at least two major countries and twins mysteriously separated at birth all alongside the usual genre hijinks. On its own this isn't a major issue as it can be very fun to get wrapped up in a silly take on genre conventions if the rest of the book has the right supports.

One of these key supports, the world building, is probably what breaks my enjoyment of the sillier aspects of the plot. I think the plot could have been really fun to get swept up in if it didn't constantly seem like the world was collapsing under the weight of its own silliness and contrivances. Things like "The Daily Maple" read like a low effort go at spoofing The Daily Mail (and is even less grounded when it only seems to have one active writer); and characters such as Eliza II and Liam aka the Duke of Cambridge seem to be no name (or maybe near name is more accurate) stand-ins for real people rather than being independent characters. To me, it really felt like the ridiculousness of the plot would have benefited from a more grounded world in which to let it live.

My other issue was the very weird and sometimes illogical relationship to Queerness and the Queer experience that only increased as the book went on. Let's be upfront, this is a book about gay men and it seems unconcerned with any other letter of the Queer alphabet. Yes, there is a single non-binary character who isn't unimportant to the plot, but it largely felt like their experience as a non-binary person wasn't actually all that relevant to their character. This only serves to make the book's focus on the Queer characters feel particularly disingenuous, especially during the final chapter when "...the rainbow carriage we stand in glides past Stonewall Inn. The crowds cheer, and cops on motorcycles with pride flags flowing off the back drive in front of us." If this world was supposed to be this Queer friendly, then where are the lesbian cousins, the trans friends, the bisexual roommate? One of the hallmarks of the Queer experience is the vibrance and variety of the Queer families we are able to make for ourselves. This could have been excused by the plot for Edward, but then you get to Billy's story and the absence is noticeable.

Overall, the whole book just failed to capture any real sense of fun or magic for me. It constantly felt like it was fighting an uphill battle to make itself work, when I think it could have found a smoother and more enjoyable path with a few slight adjustments to its foundation.

Red, White, and Royal Blue meets Young Royals meets The Parent Trap. I completely forgot to reread the synopsis before finally picking up A Tale of Two Princes. I inhale royalty and M/M romance more than anything else. RWRB is one of my all-time favorite books. Young Royals is one of my favorite shows. So I was super invested in seeing where this story went. But, after catching the suspicious signs and finding out the twist, THAT'S LITERALLY IN THE SYNOPSIS THAT I'VE READ MUTLIPLE TIMES, I was absolutely SHOCKED to find out this wasn't a romance between the two MCs. I don't know whether to be embarrassed or to laugh. Anyways, this story eventually starts to descend into the circus territory with how they handle *gestures vaguely* everything. There's so much back and forth that I might have gotten a little whiplash. And if I hear the word 'maple' one more time... I think I would have enjoyed A Tale of Two Princes so much more if it had been marketed as a parody.

This description sounded like a blend of Red, White, and Royal Blue (a pure delight) and The Parent Trap. Royal twins separated at birth? A Canadian monarchy? I was intrigued.

Raised since birth to become King of Canada, Edward lives a life of luxury, attends private school, and is accustomed to the royal treatment. Billy enjoys a more rugged lifestyle. He lives and works on a ranch in rural Montana, has been out-and-proud for years, and plans to stay on the ranch after high school graduation. When the two of them accidentally meet in NYC, worlds collide and lives are forever changed. As the older twin by one minute, Billy is the rightful crown prince. He’s pulled in different directions and struggles to meet the expectations placed on him. Edward is bitter about losing the crown and schemes with friends to undermine Billy so the crown will once again be his. Honestly, Edward was hard to like for a large part of the book, but he was all but pushed to the sidelines by his parents.

If you can suspend your disbelief over the situation and not ask detailed questions about how Canada came to have a monarchy, this is a fun and occasionally touching read. Billy is truly a fish out of water in Canada, and the news reports about his unfortunate antics with related headlines at the end between chapters are pretty amusing. Pax is loyal, over the top, and completely fabulous as a supporting character, and Billy’s little sister Mack is a joy.

With themes of strong friendships, supportive families, and being your true self, this is a novel I’d recommend for the younger end of the YA spectrum.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a highly entertaining story about two people from very different backgrounds who discover they were switched at birth, with life changing consequences for both. Edward is the Crown Prince of Canada and is a few months away from his Investiture Ceremony, where he will officially be named the heir to the throne. While excited to take this next step, Edward has some reservations about what it will mean -- especially because he has not told his parents that he is gay. Billy lives in a small town in the U.S., loves his boyfriend, and plans to settle down with him and run his family's ranch. But sometimes he feels like maybe he wants something more.

When Edward and Billy accidentally meet in New York City, they eventually discover the two are long lost twins ... and Billy is really a prince. While they and their families navigate this development, Billy and Edward must face not just unexpected futures but what type of relationship they want with each other.

This was a creative, funny, and often moving book. It combines a family story, palace intrigue, and a coming-of-age tale in a highly-engaging novel.

Highly recommended!

A Tale of Two Princes is about twins that were separated at birth. They are accidentally thrown together and their lives changed forever. Edward is the Crown Prince of Canada (you just have to ignore what you know about real life to enjoy this) and he's a total royal brat. He doesn't have many redeeming qualities and even try to sabotage his brother. Bille is a small town boy from Montana. He lives a simple life with his family and his boyfriend. Everything changes for him when he finds out he's the heir to a throne. This could have been a really great story but Edward is hard to like and it's honestly kind of a messy royal drama. Overall I liked it but I never fell in love with it.

A romantic, LGBTQ+ mystery of two teens; one a Crown Prince of Canada and the other a small-town Montana rancher. Both gay, but one wrestling with coming out, while the other is "out-and-proud". The boys have to overcome many obstacles to be their true selves, especially their passions, with what is expected of them.

I found myself rooting for Billy with his selfless heart.

Deals with lost and found family.

Was this a fun book with great representation that I would still recommend lots of people give a try? ABSOLUTELY! But was it my new favorite thing? Not really.

A Tale of Two Princes is a very queer book (heck yes!) about two boys: Billy and Edward. Edward is the prince of the new and slightly unstable Canadian monarchy and Billy is a ranch boy from Montana. Both are gay AND both have alarmingly similar faces. Because, as it turns out after quite a long while of exposition, Billy and Edward are actually twins that have been accidentally separated at birth. I LOVE a twin story, don't get me wrong. But for some reason, I went into this with the wrong expectations. At first, I was like "this is a YA gay love story". Then, as we learned that Billy and Edward look alike, I was like "is this actually a gay Prince and the Pauper story?" So to finally land on long-lost siblings did throw me there for a little while. It was as if I had a handful of possible setups happen before we really got along with the story.

I didn't connect with the characters as much as I would have liked to, but I had a really fun time overall and loved the backdrop of fake Canadian royalty (as a half-Canadian person myself).

So, all in all, I was pleased to have a book with two queer main characters and several other queer secondary characters that was about a whole lot more than romantic love. Family, friendship, following your passions, and the pressures of being in the public eye. There was a lot going on in this and I'm glad I got the chance to read it!.

A Tale of Two Princes was a creative spin on long-lost twins with seemingly different lives, but find more similarities they let on. If you get past the idea of Canada having a separate, yet not so-detached, monarchy from England, I think you’ll find that the overall story & character development with the “Twinces” enjoyable to read. You’ll need to brush up on your French, or use the translate feature on your ereader like I did, because what would a Canadian prince be if he didn’t speak French?!
There is a great deal of inclusivity & representation of the LGBTQIA+ throughout the book that’ll warm your heart.
However, I feel that the brotherly & twin bond between Edward & Billy was severely lacking. You’d think after finding out you have a long lost brother there would be a lot to catch up on & bond as a family unit. But when Edward finds out he is no longer the heir apparent to the throne, it’s like his parents (the king and queen mind you) threw him to the side & made way to Billy just because he was the older twinces.
Overall, I found the book to be an enjoyable & a nice escape from other YA/LGBTQIA+ stories. Thank you NetGalley, Eric Geron, & Inkyard Press for the eARC!

Have you ever wanted to suspend disbelief and read Parent Trap in the form of gay twin brothers separated at birth? What about the Royal Family of Canada? Maybe a remake of The Prince and the Pauper but set in New York and full of Canadian puns? If so, this is the book for you.

Edward is the Crown Prince of Canada who is scared to come out because of scandal. Billy is out and proud and works on his family ranch, but longing to attend Juilliard. When the two meet, they discover they are identical twins, separated at birth. I was excited about this book at first, but as I read it I found myself not connecting to either of the characters. I had high hopes for it, but it ended up being just ok. It is an okay read, but not overly memorable.