This felt a bit too similar to Red, White and Royal Blue, especially with mentions of the Waterloo Vase and the exchange of sentimental items etc. It’s objectively well written but fell quite flat for me unfortunately. Thank you for the ARC opportunity!

This is just a Red, White & Royal Blue knockoff. It was bad. The plot was not original at all. I really hated this one.

3.5 stars rounded up. I loved a lot of things about this irresistibly cute book but it fell a little flat for me toward the end. This is the perfect antidote to those of us left bereft after we’ve devoured the book and the movie Red, White and Royal Blue one too many times, though. More queer forbidden love royal romances, please.

Once you suspend disbelief over the improbable premise - 10 British princes are charged in a mysterious criminal conspiracy, leaving an awkward American, Callum, next in line to become heir to the throne, the charms of the story grow on you. Hapless Prince Callum (I wasn’t crazy about the name choice, it was very American but saying Prince Callum was a little awkward) is thrust into the spotlight after a normal, boring life at an insurance call center.

He strikes up a secret friendship with the openly gay prime minister, who feels bad for the fish out of water prince and texts him encouragements. Finally, Callum’s found someone who appreciates his goofy sense of humor and random trivia. Friendship grows into a bi awakening.

I loved the contrast between brooding Oliver and cheerful Callum, with his torrent of random facts (despite often sounding like he was repeating Wikipedia) and his charming determination to see the magic in the mundane. They had incredible chemistry.

I felt Callum’s clumsiness was a bit overdone. You can show he’s clumsy and awkward without hitting us over the face with it. I liked his unintentional, headline-generating clownishness but he tripped over his feet so much it was a miracle he stayed upright.

The book fell flat for me around the 60-70% mark. I enjoyed them morally wrestling with the ethics of their positions, but the overall sappiness got so intense it gave me a toothache. Just too much for my tastes.

I did however appreciate the detail the author put into the color of royal and political lives throughout the book.

Overall, it’s a cute, charming romance that you definitely cannot take too seriously.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I did not finish this book, so bear that in mind. I read up until about page 200, which is a little over halfway through the book.

Jumping off the hype from Red, White & Royal Blue, I thought this book might have similar vibes. That is not the case. The pacing was really fast, [spoiler alert] with characters saying "I love you" after approximately four interactions. I didn't enjoy how little time was spent building up the characters and their relationship. I also feel like the use of two POVs was a bit lazy and used in lieu of actual dialogue and actions showing us how each character felt.

Tammy gives this book 4.5 Stars...

Callum is settled into his mundane life in California when an unexpected turn of events brings him to the UK to take his place as the Prince of Wales. Overwhelmed and underqualified, he turns to the Prime Minister, openly out and proud Oliver Hartwell. The two develop an unlikely friendship that slowly blossoms into something more.

Such a fun story, very reminiscent of Red, White and Royal Blue (in my opinion) with fantastically written characters. There is a bit of angst and predictability toward the end, but then an unexpected twist that made up for it. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend for any readers that love happily ever after, sort of hopeless romantic type of stories.

What a treat ! One of my best reads of 2023 so far.

Would you (pretty much a nobody living a quite life in California) ditch it all to become Prince of Wales ? Would you agree to have your life scrutinized, your every (frequently regrettable) word or deed dissected in the papers and on the internet ?

That's what Callum does, for the sake of his beloved grand-mother the Queen after the ten heirs fall in disgrace.

How do you make it when you're apparently no heir material and you have no one to trust with your doubts and questions ?

That's how Callum will create the strangest bond with Oliver, the dashing twelve years older than him Prime Minister.

Callum is clumsy, quirky and hilarious, Oliver is serious and so commited to his job. They match on eveything that matters in love but their positions make it impossible. Or is it really ?

It's a delicious slow burn, funny and unexpected. In writing classes, they say "when you don't know what to do, pick the worse that could happen to your character, and make it happen". I wasn't expecting the last climax.

I am not quite sure about Callum accepting so easily his sexuality though (he was never involved with a man before). It seemed too easy to me. And what happened with Scott ? He just vanished. I don't think there was any sign of him not being trustworthy. Did Callum just ghost him ?

Overall I loved, loved, this story. I wish it never ended.

Thank to Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange of a honest review.

"There's beauty and magic in lots of small things we overlook every day. You just need to watch out for it."

Oh my gosh was this exactly what I needed! Thank you NetGalley and Jax Calder for granting me access to a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved every second of my time with it. I've been in such a slump over Red White & Royal Blue that nothing has peaked my interest until I happened to run into this.

Spoiler: I've already bought a paperback copy and cannot wait to get it this week and transfer all my favorite highlights from my kindle. It was just so much fun.

I've always loved friends to lovers so much more than any other trope. Add on forbidden romance, discovery of self, great communication, and a story book setting and I'm set for... well, ever. Is this extremely fictional? Absolutely, but that's the best part of reading books sometimes. Imaginary lives that could never be real, but feel that way for a short period of time.

Callum is misunderstood and kind beyond imagining. Life has never really treated him all that fairly, and because of the chaos his brain tends to create for him, no one has ever really taken the time to get to know the real him. He lost all those that loved him without question too quickly to have a home base, and life never really pointed him towards the right one. That is until he's interrupted one day and told that he's no longer eleventh in line to the throne, but the new Prince of Wales.

He goes on a journey of figuring out a new path, responsibility, and truly sticking to something for the first time in his life. Not because he was unreliable before, but because he had never been given true permission to be himself. Enter Oliver, the Prime Minister, and the man Callum has always looked up to for his strength of character and power in an unforgiving world.

I'm so glad I stumbled upon this, and I hope you'll go find a copy as well. Especially if, like me, you're still unable to focus on anything other than the Prince being in love with someone he "shouldn't" be. This was the perfect bandaid.

The Unlikely Heir

Princess Diaries 2 meets RWRB in this dad-joke filled MM romance about the UK’s Prime Minister and the new heir to the British throne.

Tropes: Age Gap (14 years), Workplace Romance, Slow(ish) Burn, Forbidden Romance, a little grumpy/lots of sunshine, Bi/Pan Awakening

Will you have to suspend your disbelief? Sure, but you’d likely have to do that for any of these political romance books that deal with hidden/forbidden romance.

Callum is a neurodivergent-coded, info-dumping adorable klutz who is thrown into a situation he never expected. While in the middle of a disastrous date, he gets news that turns his whole world as he knows it upside-down and is whisked off to deal with a family emergency. It just so happens that his family is the British Royal Family.

Oliver may be the UK’s first openly-gay Prime Minister, but that doesn’t mean he rests on that accolade. Impassioned by his council-estate upbringing and his love for his grandparents whose love and care guide his morals, Oliver is determined to see the nation through a time of crisis and upheaval.

Sparks begin to emerge upon their first meeting, but they really take flight after Callum holds his own against one of Oliver’s political rivals at a state dinner. In a moment of questionable protocol, Oliver gives Callum his private phone number under the guise of helping him navigate his new role as heir to the monarchy.

While advice is given, bad dad-jokes are exchanged regularly and when the two meet up after a month of correspondence, the attraction is magnetic. As they continue to build rapport, the moves they make get riskier and riskier, and their attraction grows deeper and deeper.

This book had me on a rollercoaster of wondering just what stupid decision Callum and Oliver would make that was going to get them found out because, whew, there were some close calls. The twist at the end was not how I expected it was going to play out, but honestly it elevated the rest of the story.

Overall I give this book 4 stars.
Spice Level: 2.5
Fluff Level: 3

Let me preface this by saying: this is not RWRB, nor is it trying to be. Don't think that. It's so very different. It's so very wonderful.

When Callum Prescott, the awkward, pun-loving insurance worker from California gets the news, he's just as shocked as anyone: an unprecedented scandal has left him as the heir to the British throne. Dragged across the pond and dropped into Buckingham Palace, the American prince is having a hard time. That is, until he befriends the charming Prime Minister, Oliver Hartwell. Their late-night text chains and inside jokes make Callum's integration a little easier, but what happens when things become… more?

Let me tell you that I finished this book in less than 48 hours. Callum is such a delightful goofball, dorky for sure, but also clever and smart. Oliver's wit and charm are matchless, and watching them fall in love, while also trying to stay loyal to their county, is beautiful. I loved that I literally didn't know how the two would end up until the last chapter, and an end-of-book twist had me literally gasping aloud.

Highly recommend for anyone who loves MM romance, British hotties, random facts, or just wants some good old ADHD representation. God bless the prince of Wales.

Honestly, to me, this was like a knockoff of Red, White, and Royal Blue. It just felt way too similar to me

Thank you NetGalley for the review copy!

I really enjoyed this unlikely couple and all their ups and downs. If you enjoy RWRB-like rom-coms, humor and can ignore that it is pretty much unrealistic this book is for you. I had a great time!

I really enjoyed this book it was nice 😊 I would highly recommend it. It was cute and a quick read
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Unlikely Heir. As someone who recently read another book by the author, and, like everyone else, has returned to their RWRB of session, I was so excited to read this book. And I have to say it exceeded my expectations.

American and eleventh in line to the throne, Callum becomes heir after a bribery scandal rocks the British monarchy. He’s unprepared and out of his depth but quickly finds support in the older, very attractive Prime Minister. Expected plot ensues.

Some favorite elements:
-Something about every time they greeted each other with “Prime Minister” “Your Royal Highness” scratched a delightful part of my brain and
-There is something extremely inviting about the writing, it was engaging and made it easy to get lost in the story.
-I loved Oliver so much! He’s pragmatic and logical while being passionate and determined and I adored his POV
-Actually I just loved the interactions between Callum and Oliver so much, especially as they started to get to know each other / the night in the diner. See below for my nitpick, but sometimes Callum on his own didn’t quite work for me, but the way the author wrote him alongside Oliver was really lovely.
-The epilogue. It made me smile, it was the exact type of epilogue I want in a romance

Cons:
I am notoriously nit-picky so I will say one thing got on my nerves. The start of the book kicked off with a lot of information about how Callum struggled with dating because his movie star looks did not match with his “weird” personality, which I loved as a concept! Until the author kept using doing the smallest nods to him being weird like “knows a few titanic facts”. I feel like it was to keep him from becoming so weird the readers couldn’t invest in him as a lead, but I wanted the author to go far deeper into his weird or spend less time on it because honestly, it was rather unbelievable that he was actually such an off-putting weirdo based on the examples given. Throughout the author tried to balance his characterization as “inept weirdo yet overly knowledgeable” that never felt quite correct. Also, Callum seems to think that Henry Ford invented the automobile which made me laugh since his whole schtick was that he knows all these random facts and was wrong on this one, I wonder if any others were wrong.

Long story short : I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for their next read, but especially those who are in that same RWRB hangover, though this definitely stands on its own merits. Bumped down a star because some of the comedy elements aren’t to my taste. 4/5.

‘“There’s only one problem.” “What’s that?” “She’s not the person I want.” There’s longing in his gaze, so much longing. And hope. It’s the hope that defeats me. It lassos my heart out of my chest.’

Wow, wow, wow! I officially have prime minister-induced vertigo and I am not mad.

Sweet, accident-prone Callum lives a decent life in sunny California. He has good friends and enjoys making people’s days a bit brighter at his job working for an insurance call center. He may have not discovered his purpose yet, but he is determined to find beautiful moments in everyday life. And while his grandmother may be the Queen of England, American-raised Callum has never craved the royal life. The royal life will never choose him anyway. He is eleventh in the line of succession so what are the chances he will ever inherit the throne?…

Well, when his relatives are removed from their duties as royals, Callum finds himself on a plane to England to claim his new title as Prince of Wales and future king of England. Callum expects his life to be upended, but what he doesn’t expect is the very handsome Prime Minister Oliver Hartwell or what he feels when he shakes his hand for the first time. As Callum and Oliver spend more time getting to know each other, neither can deny their growing feelings, yet can the Prime Minister and the Crowned Prince find their happily ever after or are they just another passing headline for the tabloids?

This forbidden, age-gap romance was PERFECTION! The natural progression of Callum and Oliver’s relationship from friends to lovers provided the perfect amount of angst and pining. The Unlikely Heir had the perfect ending and left me hoping we get to see a little more of them in The Unlikely Pair.

*Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours and Netgalley for providing this eARC in exchange for my honest review.


(Amazon review is pending approval, but I have included the link to my reviews for when it is cleared.)

3.5 stars! This book was such a fun read, I was looking for something to fill the Red, White and Royal Blue hole in my heart and this definitely did the trick.

A romantic comedy about the UK Prime Minister falling in love with the newly appointed fish out of water Prince of Wales who is 15 years his Jr was bound to have some drama. I loved the voice of both of these characters as we swap back and forth between Callum and Oliver throughout the book. Their love story was sweet and you could really feel the connection between them.

I enjoyed reading about them struggling between what they are supposed to do based on their duty to their country and the love they feel for each other.

I really wasn’t expecting the plot twist at the end!

Thanks to NetGalley and the author Jax Calder for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Rate: 4.25 stars

The Unlikely Heir follows the story of Prince Callum and Prime Minister Oliver Hartwell. After several members of the royal family renounce their titles due to questionable actions, the amiable Prince Callum, originally from the United States, unexpectedly becomes the heir to the British throne. Callum's transition from his previous role as an insurance claims operator in California to the Prince of Wales is swift as he rushes to be at his grandmother's (the Queen) side. He steps into his birthright amidst global criticism and a nation that is rapidly losing faith in its monarchy. Amidst these challenges, Callum's encounter with the openly gay Prime Minister, Oliver Hartwell, becomes another significant turning point in his life. Their initial interactions at various royal engagements evolve into a supportive friendship, providing both men with a much-needed anchor in their lives filled with responsibilities and constant media scrutiny.

Okay... I'm definitely in my forbidden royal romance era, and honestly, I'm neither surprised nor upset about it! It's currently my happy place, I could live here for days.

This was my first Jax's book and I truly enjoyed her writing style. The struggles both characters go through are so relatable, especially Callum's. I really appreciated how despite some heavier topics the story's tune was kept light and fresh. All the texts and late calls were incredibly sweet (in this aspect the book is very similar to RWRB, but the plot is completely different). I absolutely loved all the bad puns!!! They were so bad that became good and I couldn't stop laughing out loud too many times (which might lead to my family thinking I'm completely nuts, but oh well). I fell in love with both characters in such a beautiful and deeper way. They are both wonderful by themself and definitely absolutely adorable as a couple!
I felt so so seen by Callum's unstoppable blabbering and his random obsessions and clumsiness!!! I could totally see myself in most of Callum's disastrous public appearances for the same reasons, and that's one of the reasons I think Callum needs to be protected at all costs. I loved how Oliver is such a grump and all serious except for Callum. Callum completely and utterly destroyed Oliver's defenses and it was phenomenal. Also, their maturity and communication were really something else.
The plot at the end was a complete surprise and I was so astonished that I still don't know if I'm mad at Amelia... She does have a point when talking about Women's rights though!

I utterly adored Callum's and Oliver's story! Amidst all the heartaches and high drama, what truly shines is the authentic affection and adoration these characters share. I'm eagerly anticipating the next book of the series, and can't wait to keep living in this enchanting universe! 📚💖


Okay, one last thing... Here is one of my fav dialogues between Callum and Oliver:
"I actually fell in love, Mother, which is not quite the same thing," Oliver says as he switches the clip off.
"You don't think falling in love with me is falling on your feet?" I ask.
Oliver's dark eyes find mine. "It's more like being swept off my feet."
"Because I'm like the tide, salty and unpredictable?"
"Because you are like a force of nature, unspeakably beautiful and impossible to resist."
I roll my eyes. "This is what I get for falling in love with a politician - smooth sound bites."

4.5
An American born prince of Wales and the UK prime minister. Tell me more.
This forbidden romance was so fun and had so many good characters. There was political intrigue, dynamic characters, and a surprising twist at the end.
Callum was living his boring normal life when all of a sudden he finds himself the next heir to the British thrown. Thrown into a life he has no idea to live, life changes drastically and Oliver, the Prime Minister, becomes a sense of normalcy in the chaos of royal duties and traditions he has to learn.
This book was so fun and I love the chemistry between the characters. I highly recommend this if you need a royal love story in your life.
Tropes: age gap, opposites attract, and forbidden romance

*Thank you netgalley and Jax Calder for a copy of this in advance in exchange for an honest review.

It's fun, cute and also informative. I ended up learning a bunch of stuff, even some bad jokes!!

The MC's clumsiness is compensated with those random trivia facts he shares all the time.


Enjoyers of bad jokes, random trivia facts, princes × prime ministers, slow burn romance... This was written for you.

[my summary]
A guy who used to be the eleventh in the order of succession suddenly becomes the first and has to leave his regular live behind to save his grandma's legacy. But the United Kingdom isn't that eager to give away the crown to some twenty-five-year-old boy they have never heard of. Let alone if said boy is American. Thankfully, the Prime Minister seems to like him... in many ways.

This book is a quick and easy read. It’s fun like a Hallmark Christmas movie. But also like a Hallmark Christmas movie, it isn’t very well written.

Many words and phrases are over used (“bloody hell” was used four times in one chapter….no British person I’ve ever met actually says it that much if ever) or repeated constantly. Some plot points are unbelievable, and not fun enough to make up for it (the Prime Minister and the heir to the British throne showing up at some random persons house because they said something mean on the internet, in hopes it would intimidate him into shutting up??). And the romance wasn’t quite believable enough to me…I didn’t really believe that they were as in love as they kept insisting they were. But all of this is, of course, personal taste and others may not agree.

But the book was still fun. Very much in the vein of “The Princess Diaries”. Recommend for a light and easy read.

Such an amazing and fun book. I first thought it would be like a rip-off of RWRB but it really isn't. The characthers are so much fun and I really loved them. The plot was well thought out and I loved the ending!