I absolutely loved this book! Callum and Oliver were so cute and I adored every moment of seeing their love for each other, and their connection grow. It was such an easy read and I had trouble stepping away. Well written, the banter between the characters was everything I could ask for.
I truly cannot wait for the next book in the series.
Would absolutely recommend this book to anyone!!

This was such a sweet read- I loved getting to see how this little fairy tale played out. Oliver and Callum’s friendship and instant chemistry building into something more against the backdrop of a little political maneuvering and secret keeping was such a fun little adventure! I was so glad to see them get together and figure out how to make their relationship work by the end of the book. I also loved that both characters felt deep and unique and interesting!

3.5

Very, very cute.
"The Unlikely Heir" was a delightful read: it's definitely an OTT, pretty much unrealistic, pure fluff romp of a book, but I enjoyed quite a bit.

I admit, I skimmed a bit of the second half of the book (yes, I unfortunately suffer from a case of "I mostly care about the slow-burn, will-they-won't-they, slowly-simmering-sexual-tension, portion of a book" when it comes to contemporaries, especially of the light-hearted, fluffy variety), but I still enjoyed it and I desperately wanted to know how Callum and Oliver would pull of their HEA.
And omg, it's pulled off with a plot-twist I never saw coming and a fair dose of suspension of disbelief: yes, something like that could never happen, at least not in our century (or universe) but everything is so much better in fiction, yes?

I liked both leads: they're incredible sweethearts, and both of them deserve each other because of how damned well they treat each other.
Again, that's probably the reason I skimmed a few chapters: yes, I like gentle, kind sweethearts who spoil and protect each other at all costs, who bond over jokes and trivia, and are Very Good People™, but personally I love messy, complicated, chaotic, broken disasters just a smide more. And that's precisely why I CANNOT wait for book two. I'd seriously sell my soul for it because oh god, I'm already salivating over the thought of those two characters together *side eye* I can't wait to see THAT mess unfold.

Anyway, I liked Callum and Oliver; and Oliver was so sexy and sweet I was kinda jealous of Callum for a second or two, at least until I remembered how unlucky they both were for their respective positions. I liked the side characters quite a bit too, Toby especially!
The writing was lovely, and it flowed like a dream; I really must read more of Jax Calder's backlist.

I seriously can't wait for book two: I'm so hopeful I'll end up loving "The Unlikely Pair" much more, because the premise sounds amazing and bonkers. In the meantime, I'd wholly recommend this book to anybody who wants to imagine how a slightly better Britain, with a *much* better political landscape, would be: "The Unlikely Heir" is fluffy and romantic and sweet, lighthearted and cute, and it made me smile the whole way through.

I truly, honestly, wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did! That's not to say I went in expecting a terrible book, just that I'm riding high on the RWRB movie and reread, that any other queer English Prince romance was going to pale. This one, kind of didn't?!

Callum is the titled Unlikely Heir after his uncles and cousins are all basically thrown out of the royal family and now has to move from his home in California to Buckingham Palace. A lot of emphasis was placed on Callum being clumsy and the British press having a field day with this, but I found it charming that he was able to find connections with people, even as he was falling into a swan pond.

Oliver, the Prime Minister, is struggling keep the country together as it is and now has to deal with a new Prince of Wales who has no idea how to be a Prince. I truly loved how sparks flew immediately and the friendship was built up first. I liked that they didn't just rush headfirst into romance.

There are two points that didn't make sense/kind of dragged the plot down: the Big Reveal at the end and the Trope that followed. I feel like it was a little heavy handed, but I'll forgive Calder that since I loved the book as a whole.

4.5 stars!

10 stars out of 5. I LOVED THIS BOOK.
From the first page, I was hooked. Jax is an incredible storyteller. Her descriptions really allowed me to feel what the characters were feeling. The highs, the lows and everything in between.
The chemistry between Oliver and Callum was hot, palpable, and I just adored their relationship.
What a beautiful couple.
I really hope Jax continues with this style of writing.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy of The Unlikely Heir. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

The Unlikely Heir had such a sweet romance. The premise seemed a bit tropey, but the story was refreshing and unique. It was nice that some thought was put into Callum and Oliver's conflict, and I wasn't sure who would sacrifice for their relationship until it happened. Is this believable? Not really. But it was a lot of fun to read, and I would happily read it again when I need something sweet and fun. I rounded up to give this book 5/5 stars. It wasn't perfect, but the swoony feeling it gave me while reading gave it that extra oomph when I rated it.

<b>✰4 stars✰</b>

This book surprised me in such a fun way. It reminded me of the way royalty fanfics are written almost and that is absolutely in no way a bad thing. Cutesy rom-coms that give that vibe are an absolute treat to read.
I was initially worried that this was going to feel like another story that’s already been done, but I was pleasantly surprised and it wasn’t. The only similarities I found were those that are just plain true facts about the monarchy that are unavoidable.

You’ll have to suspend your disbelief a lot for this novel, but it’s on you if you pick up a rom-com in this genre and think it’s going to be hyper-realistic. I personally love that it’s so far fetched, it’s what makes it fun.

My only reason for knocking a star off was some of the pacing felt rushed for the slow burn of the characters, but that’s personal preference and it really doesn’t take away from the story at all.

Callum is a California boy who is a long long way down the line of succession for the throne. He suddenly finds himself first in line and heir to the throne after his extended family have been removed from succession due to committing a crime. <b>He’s clumsy and American and the tabloids love to use him as a punchline from day one.</b>
I have a super sweet spot for Callum because he reminds me a lot of myself and my partner. I’m unsure if [author:Jax Calder|21667641]s intention was to code him to be possibly neurodivergent but he did have a lot of characteristics that indicated he could be. I’m on the spectrum and I certainly see similarities between myself and Callum. Regardless of if it was written to be that way or not, I loved the feeling of relating to a character and seeing them succeed.
Callum is trying his best but struggling to fit in and the Prime Minister (enter Oliver) takes pity on him and they exchange numbers so Callum can have someone to talk to who won’t run to the press and actually understands his situation. Oliver and Callum slowly begin to develop a friendship and open up to one another.

Oliver is the Prime Minister and his number one love is his job and his duty to his country. He’s fourteen years older than Callum but that doesn’t stop a sweet spot forming for him. Oliver is normally reserved and polite, not making any expression that could give away what he’s thinking, but with Callum his laughter and smiles come unbidden. He understands Callum in a way no one every has and they slowly, without realizing it’s happening, start to fall in love.

<b>Listen… it’s cheesy. But at the end of the day I am a rat and it’s what I want.</b>

The fantasy and quirkiness of it all just makes you feel good. We needed more rom-coms like that!

<blockquote><b>Just the two of us. When we go to bed together, it’s like we strip all our titles and positions, and we’re just Callum and Oliver. Two men who love each other. .</b></blockquote>

I highly recommend this is you’re looking for something quick, light-hearted, fluffy, and gory-good.

I really wanted to love this book. I was really interested in the premise but unfortunately I DNF’d this book at 30%. It didn’t really capture me it was like every other book about someone who all of a sudden becomes royalty. I did not care what was happening between Callum and Oliver I was so bored.

This was an absolutely amazing read. If you loved Red, White, and Royal Blue, then you will adore this. I loved the development of the characters, both separately and in their relationship. The plot twist was amazingly done, I did not see it coming at all. I can't wait for the next book. I think the author has become an automatic buy for me.

I loved this book, it's a wonderful romance story! Both Callum anf Oliver where such lovable character and their friendship and romance very believable. The writing style was fun, and the dual POV well written with the different voices of the two characters. Callum is a wonderful character, and I loved how he was interested in everything and happy to talk and learn about new topics. I have no idea how realistic this storyline is, but I found it well done with all the discussions about politics and royalty.

There was only one thing that bothered me, and that was how the plot twist in the end was handled. This is spoilery, so I'll not write it here but in my storygraph review with spoiler warnings.

But overall I really loved the story so if you like queer contemporary romances with a royal character, go read this book!

https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/aa2954d8-19ba-4819-a972-315abeb46ee9?redirect=true

When I first saw this book, I immediately was interested, envisioning Princess Diaries meets Red, White and Royal Blue. Coming off from the high of reading and watching (and rewatching) RW&RB, I was desparate for anything that might scratch the same itch.

THIS BOOK EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS. This was easily one of my top reads of the year. Callum’s awkwardness as he bumbles from average American to heir to the British throne forces you to fall in love with him. Oliver’s duty to his country fights with his desire to follow his heart, leading to several moments where I wasn’t able to tell what was going to happen.

It’s now 3 AM, but despite planning to go to bed about 10 “just one more chapter” ago’s, I wasn’t able to put this book down. Literally my only complaint is that i wish it was longer so I could have gotten more.

A MUST READ for anyone who loves light romances, a British setting, royalty tropes, or an adorable MMC who can’t stop spelling random facts.

I’ll absolutely be reading the next book in the series, and I cannot wait!

Thank you NetGalley and Jax Calder for this ARC!

"The Unlikely Heir" is a witty LGBTQ+ romcom about the love entanglement between the Prince of Wales and the British Prime Minister. Callum is the new unexpected heir to the British throne, a job he is not prepared for. Oliver is the first openly gay Prime Minister. When both meet, there is an undeniable spark. Can they overcome all the obstacles against them to be together?

I LOVED this book! It was a great entertaining read that takes you on a journey of self-discovery and love. I truly enjoyed the character development, particularly Callum's. I also loved Callum's quirky personality and fun fact knowledge. Even though the ending was expected, there were some surprises along the way that were not.

I cannot wait for the next book in the series (with different main characters) to come out!

I was coming off a high from another book I thought might be similar but I was 100% wrong. This book is wonderful, I love so much that Callum is just a normal man and then suddenly, he’s not. I know basically nothing about British politics, but this was written in such a way that it explained everything that was going on so well.
I love the dual POVs, I love how everyone was written. I don’t want to go too spoilery, but the ending was completely satisfying and I really wasn’t expecting there to be a twist like that!
I am totally planning to purchase this book for myself, it’s such a wonderful romance, while also a bit mystery and drama.
Anything Jax writes, I will read.
How many times can I talk about how much I loved this book? Many thanks to NetGallery for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of The Unlikely Heir.

This book was absolutely adorable! I was in a reading slump before picking up this book, and it’s safe to say, The Unlikely Heir was exactly what I needed. This book had me giggling and smiling at almost every page. The main character, Callum, was an absolute ray of sunshine that I want to be friends with. Additionally, his character was extremely relatable as someone who also has a wealth of knowledge on random things.

In therms of the structure of the book, I really like the dual POV in alternating chapters and how it was written in a first-person point of view. In this case, the first-person POV added to the relatability of Callum and Oliver. Having access to their inner thoughts from both perspectives really adds to the story and character growth.

Overall, I found this book to be one of the most charming and cute stories that I’ve read in a while. I’ll be recommending this book to everyone that will listen!

The Unlikely Heir follows Callum, originally 11th in line for succession to the British crown, and Oliver, the Prime Minister of the UK. After a political scandal rocks the royal family, Callum is bumped up the line and must move to England to be the Prince of Wales. While there, he befriends Oliver and they start a friendship.

Overall this book was sweet, but the "instant love" trope felt really rushed. Callum and Oliver go from being best friends to "I'm in love with you!" and it doesn't really earn that. We see the friendship develop, but all of a sudden they're declaring their undying love and it feels a little juvenile. The characters were well fleshed-out, but I wish we'd seen more interactions with the side characters. A lot of stuff seemed to happen off-page.

I think any romance novel with a fictional member of the royal family will invite comparisons to Red, White, and Royal Blue. This felt tonally different, and I didn't see many similarities.

Before we start I want to thank Netgalley and BookSirens for giving me an ARC of this book.

Listen. LISTEN. I asked for this book because 1) the cover, 2) the title, and 3) it made me think of Red, White, and Royal Blue, which is one of my favourite books ever. And while The Unlikely Heir doesn't surpass RWRB, it comes CLOSE.

This book has no right to be this good? I read it in two sittings (I, unfortunately, had to go to sleep), I was enthralled by the story and the characters. I can't explain to you what makes this book so good, because it's an addition of several things. So, let's start, shall we?

First, the characters: the story is centered around Callum, who finds out he's been promoted in life and is now the heir to the British throne because his family fucked up real bad, and Oliver, the Prime Minister of England, and their love story. I think Callum is one of the most endearing main characters I have ever read. His social awkwardness and habit of telling random, fun facts when he's stressed (because he's been obsessed by maaaany subjects in his life and just. feels the need to know more about them) is absolutely adorable and I recognized myself in him. I, too, spurt random facts out of nowhere. But Callum is also very insecure because of these very same traits, and he thinks he doesn't deserve to be loved OR to be the prince. And then, we have Oliver, who's hiding behind a wall, whose husband left for another man, who's very much into his job and wants to do more. Then, Callum and Oliver meet, and Callum learns he doesn't have to change, and Olliver lets his walls crumble bit by bit.

Second, the plot: the plot centers a lot around Oliver and Callum's love story; it's woven into every aspect of their lives. As the Prince of Wales and the Prime Minister, Oliver and Callum know they can't be together, so they start by fighting against their respective feelings, forming a deep friendship throughout which Callum grows in confidence and accepts his role as the heir and Oliver opens himself up. But then, the inevitable happens: they can't hold it in anymore, and they kiss, which is the very well thing that could ruin everything, since they cannot, under any circumstances, be together. But they try, and it's hard, and life happens, and duty happens, and they're stuck. What do you do, when the very person who makes you the happiest you've ever been is the one person you can't have? We see Callum and Oliver go through life suffering because of their feelings and their need to be together; we see them give up. We see them fight. The Unlikely Heir is a HEA, but for one second, I doubted they would make it. I was on page 290 of 319 of my e-ARC, and they were still giving up, and I thought, that's it, they won't end up together. That's when the *thing* happened-the thing I should have seen coming, because I'm usually good at guessing plot twists before they happen, but I didn't. The thing that changed everything. And from a reader's POV, it was a fucking good idea from the author.

Third, and lastly, the other characters: we don't see much of them, as many of the scenes consist of Oliver and Callum, and everyone else is more of a background than anything. HOWEVER, I really loved Queen Katharine. She was faced with a very difficult situation and did the best she could do. She's supportive of Callum while also, you know, being the queen and being straight with him. Nicholas and Amelia were relegated to the background too, but their character arcs were very interesting to read.

I don't have much more to say except I hope this book does well, because it deserves it. I know the author has planned a sequel with Toby (Oliver's BFF) and Harry (a MP from a conservative party?) and while the premise of the book itself doesn't necessarily intrigue me, I LIVE for enemies to lovers, and I'm sure these two can give us something absolutely hilarious to read. I can't wait to read it!

Callum's ordinary call center job is disrupted when he's catapulted from obscurity to royal heir. Arriving in England, he finds the populace disenchanted, the paparazzi relentless, and the trolls malicious. He discovers a kindred spirit in Oliver, the enigmatic prime minister, who has his own rags to riches story. Callum loses his heart to the older man—which is a problem, since the royal family are expected to remain politically neutral. Can Callum honor his duties toward the monarchy while following his heart?

The comparisons to "Red, White, and Royal Blue" are inevitable, so fortunately, this book is very good. It's got all the feels. Callum is adorable, and Oliver is wonderfully kind and protective. They're a natural fit, and the banter between them is delicious.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This book was so undeniably wonderful. I had just finished reading RWRB and was looking for similar books and stumbled upon this one! The author does such a wonderful job of perfectly pacing a loving, well balanced relationship between Callum and Oliver. Callum is socially awkward American, who just so happens to be the heir to the British throne, and Oliver is the headstrong, confident British Prime Minister. After confiding in each other over their struggles in their roles, they develop a friendship that eventually becomes more. Somehow, they just compliment each other and work so well.

I will say, it took me a little bit to get used to the writing style of this book, but I really think it was because I haven’t read YA in a while! Before I was even half way through, I was so enraptured by the story line that I was glued. The relationship between Callum and Oliver was so naturally built up and so genuine. I was smiling during so many scenes. This was definitely a page turner.

I LOVED the plot twist at the end as well. Very unexpected and really hit home by the time you got to know the characters.

*I received a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!*

Callum, the eleventh in line in the British Succession, is on a bad date when he finds out he's suddenly second in line after a family quarrel. He's forced to immediately fly out to England to talk to the Queen and other officials. He meets the Prime Minister, Oliver, and they start hanging out, but what happens when he realizes he's fallen in love with the Prime Minister? In a dual pov we get to see this enticing forbidden romance play out.

This book had multiple appeals, but the thing is thats stood out to me most now that I'm done reading it is the combination of fast pace and slow burn- it is the spiciest mix. With the romance being open-door, and also the perfect mix of angst and pining- you cannot ask for more.

Callums puns kept me chuckling even if they were all dry. The banter between Callum and Oliver alongside their conversations was everything and more. Also the texts between them, I was gushing with adoration for them.

I really enjoyed the plot development and the authors writing style, it was very easy to get through. I do wish we got to see more romance instead of it being mostly hidden in this book, but hopefully we see more of them in the next part of the series.

If you're in the mood for a forbidden romance this is precisely the book for you. Thank you to NetGalley and Jax Calder for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: 24 August 2023

A cute story that I would read again! While the plot is a bit similar to other books it is still a fun read and I would recommend it to my friends