4 🌟
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𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 :
•Accidentally Married
•Young Adult
•Rom-Com
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Heir, Apparently, is book two in the Prince & The Apocalypse series. What I like about this book is the fact that you don't have to necessarily read the first book to understand this book.
The pace of the book was a little slow for me. And the miscommunication wasn't for me, I just wanted MORE romance. But overall, it's a good read.
𝙽𝚘𝚠 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎!
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Thank you, Netgalley, and St. Martin Press for the eBook for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Prince & The APOCALYPSE was one of my favorite books of 2023. So there was no question that if Kara McDowell wrote a sequel, I was going to scream for my chance to read it. Luckily, I got my digital ARC.

It was delightful. It was satisfying. I still love Wren and the Prince's chemistry. I like that once again, the pair are thrown into an impossible situation. How much do I ADORE a plane crash and an uninhabited island?

On the other hand, I wanted more focus on just them and sometimes I gritted my teeth at the other four characters that kept butting into this great fictional romance. Yet I did love the Prince's two royal siblings and Wren's best friend and her sister tagging along for the adventure. They did add some great comic relief. This variety of feelings that run through my veins is why I am going to settle on a 4-star.

I know, I know. This is a YA and I am 42. Why am I letting two fictional characters run my life?

But I swear this duology is just as good as The Princess Diaries movies. ( Yes, I know that this comparison will fail to warm the hearts of those who didn't like the movies But I did and this is my review....so🙄😏).

I hope that one of those streaming services takes these two books and makes us an entertaining 2 season, 8 episode storyline.

P.S. The covers of these books are fantastic.


Publication Date 09/07/24
Goodreads Review 11/07/24

bark

The Prince & the Apocalypse was a rare five star read for me. Of course, I was ecstatic about the sequel. But I'm so confused after finished Heir, Apparently. It definitely wasn't the book I thought it was going to be. It's 85 percent a survival story and characters just *not* talking to each other about anything. I hate the miscommunication trope. Nothing anyone does in this book makes any kind of sense. Which, is the point, because I think this series is a fun escapism story. But disbelief can only be carried out for so long.

In Heir, Apparently we pick right back with the plot from the first book a few weeks later. Wren and Theo aren't speaking. Wren may or may not be married to him. Theo is about to be crowned King. And Wren just wants her dog back. Impulsively, she takes off to Canada while the Royal family is there to dognap Comet. She gets caught up with the Theo and his royal siblings instead because of course she does. They decide she has to go back home with them while they deal with Wren and Theo's 'marriage' getting leaked to the press. (Did we find out who did it? If so my brain skipped right over it.) Their plane crashes and then it's basically Lost with a volcano. Was there a volcano on Lost? I don't remember. Anyway, they eventually get rescued after everyone almost dies from different things. Wren and Theo have made zero growth in their relationship and still don't talk. I guess it's cool though cause they do admit they love each other. And I swear to every single deity in existence, the ending of this book could have been a choose-your-own-adventure ending. It literally gave me whiplash. We get one ending that's clear as day. Except it's not. Just for another ending to emerge. (This one I was on board with and kinda pissed we didn't get it. Yes it was the 'fairytale' ending.) And then, wait, let's do something else again *eyeroll*. But wait... there's even one more secret option. I was emotionally exhausted and almost didn't care how it ended anymore. I just wanted it to end. There is a nod to what happened to Princess Diana irl. You can't tell me it's not. I'm conflicted about it being used for the sake of drama. I do like that we can also see a resemblances of what happened with Harry and Meghan at times, too, though. Which you also can't convince me aren't there. Princess M fan to day I die. Fight me.

I know my ranting makes it seem like I disliked Heir, Apparently. That's not true. I love royal romance stories. And I absolutely inhaled the audiobook and listened to it every chance I had. It was entertaining and kept my interest. I just wasn't a fan of a lot (most) of the choices that were made. I'd still read a third book about all the idiot characters old and new. (Give me a Henry book please. I'll beg.)

***Thank you to RBmedia Recorded Books and Wednesday Books for providing me with a review copy.***

I'm sad I didn't love this as much as I loved the first. It was enjoyable and kept me reading, but I struggled at times with some of the plot being as extreme as it was. In all fairness nothing was going to be as good as book 1 was, but I wanted to love this one just a little more then I did. If you go in with expectations to just enjoy a fun book about royals and Americans, then you will be fine because that is what it was, a fun read.

I look forward to what else Kara has in store for us in the future.

Thank you so much to St Martin's Press for the eARC of this book!

Last year a book friend kept raving about The Prince & The Apocalypse so I thought let's give it a try and I absolutely loved it! I am fairly certain I finished the audio in a day because I was so enthralled into the fun story. So when Kara announced that we were getting a sequel (which it made total sense with how it ended).

This book picks off just about right after the last book ended. And let me tell you, if you didn't already love Wren in the first book, this book would make you a fan of her! I absolutely loved Wren in this. Her personality comes off as the average girl next door who ironically went through a not so average event.

Honestly this book was just such a good time from start to finish. There was a lot happening but I did not care, it worked for the story! I love that we got to see Wren back home trying to have some sort of normal life while possibly being married to the newly dubbed King of England? The world was ending in 8 days and in that time was enough to have forge a connection with Prince Theo and make a lasting impression on her. In the words of Wren, "So this is how I die. Not from.a world-ending comet but from the excruciating anticipation of waiting to see a boy."

Somehow they are always cursed when they are with one another and instead of a comet, this time it was a plane crash. But this time they have a whole crew with them! Which honestly added to the fun of the book. Everyone had such different personalities and them all working together on how to survive this crash. Henry was a surprising favorite of mine by the end. Poor guy! He was that annoying younger brother but he provided some entertainment moments.

I was about to throw my kindle at the tension between Wren and Theo once they reconnected. It was becoming too much for me. There was a moment when Henry is being extra friendly with Wren and Wren asks Theo if it bothers him that his brother is flirting with him and he looks at her and says, "yes." THE GASP I GASPED. My heart was so happy for Wren in that moment because it was kind of confirmation that perhaps Theo did have something for her. I was so happy when they finally had a conversation and kissed! "I choose you anyway, every day, forever." SWOOOOON I wish we got more time with them together just them two but I understood why we didn't aka they were stranded on an island with real life problems.

I am sad to see this duology come to an end but I thought the ending was very satisfying and I only want the best for all the characters!
I can't wait to see what direction Kara goes to next with her next book

This is the sequel to The Prince and the Apocalypse, an end of the world YA romance that I devoured last summer. Spoiler alert: the world did not end, but we were left with a cliffhanger I was not expecting!

Heir, Apparently picks up just a few weeks later. Wren is starting college and trying to feel like a regular teenager, but memories of her roadtrip across Europe with Prince Theo are etched in her brain. Did she really fall in love with him, or was it just heightened emotions of thinking the world was ending? In order to figure this out and get her apocalypse dog back, Wren sets off on a roadtrip to Canada with her best friend and sister to catch the Royal family during their visit. Theo is now the king(!), so it might be tricky to get close enough to talk to him.

What happens next is one disaster after another! This group of teenagers, including the King, the heir, and the spare, all end up stranded on a tropical island.

This book is a YA romance, but it’s also an adventure story. It’s Wren and Theo’s second chance at love, and also another chance to decide what they really want their lives to look like. And they have to see if any of it is even possible.

I read this book in a day while I was sick in bed. I know both of them will be fun to revisit when I need a fast paced, high pressure, good chemistry, YA romance comfort read.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own.

I'll admit. I did not finish this novel, but not because of the content .I had no idea this was a sequel until page 66 It finally clicked to check Kara Mcdowells past books when I thought" man , she should have written the first book too". I’m not proud of how long it took. I'm stopping the book, so I can get the first one because it's magnifique and I want to have some surprises.

I read Heir, Apparently immediately after finishing the first book and I could not put that one down either! The story of Theo and Wren continued in this sequel and was filled with just as much action, adventure, twists, romance and laughter. I adore these characters so much.

Throughout all the fun and adventure, there also lies deeper emotions of finding your place in life and in the world, being true to yourself, the fear and longing for your family and friends and hope for the future. Kara McDowell is a fantastic author and these 2 books really captivated me. I am so grateful! Thank you @netgalley @wednesdaybooks and @karajmcdowellbooks for the ARC! I apologize for posting the review late - I actually did finish it on time but I swear today is July 9th..not the 10th already...

I absolutely loved the previous book to this sequel. The ending literally made me squeal! I am so happy that there was a sequel to Wren and Theo. This book was as over the top as the first one.

The book opens with Wren being back in the states and getting ready to start college when she hears that that King Theo was visiting Canada. Wren takes this opportunity to go to Canada to get her dog from Theo. Upon meeting Theo, Wren gets caught by the paps and have to go to London to figure out how to spin Wren and Theo’s relationship. It is during this time that their plane crashes with the whole royal family. The whole story gets crazier from there.

Some of the tropes you might expect in this story are:
-Royal romance
-Forced proximity
-Second chance romance
-Different worlds
-Emotional scars

This book is definitely a page turner and totally action packed; I really enjoyed it, but I also would have liked to have more romance between Theo and Wren. I felt that their story could have stood to be a little more normal post “Apocalypse”. Either way this book was a great companion to the first book which was one of my favorite books last year.

I want to thank #Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing my with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This story was so out there I couldn’t help but keep reading. It was fast paced and fun but of course very ridiculous. Usually, I enjoy more grounded books but I liked rushing around with this group of characters. If you want to read a book with an exciting ride and a cute romance definitely check this book out. It had more action than anyone can imagine but it still managed to make me care about the characters and how the story would turn out. A cute but outlandish summer read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

Another fun adventure with Wren and Theo (and Comet), although I wish they had been the central focus of the book as in the first one. They get a second chance at being together but with their bad luck (a comet, a plane crash, a volcano), this may not be the best idea. Still, this was a fun story with plenty of twists and turns to get to their happy ever after. I’m hoping we get a peek into Victoria’s story next.

Heir, Apparently by Kara McDowell is the perfect teen rom com with a suitable number of hijinks and a heartwarming ending. The Prince and the Apocalypse really left a reader hanging on a cliff, and McDowell picks the story right up where she left off. Wren and Theo haven't seen each other and Wren is struggling with making decisions for her future while she wonders if she's actually the Queen Consort of England. The crazy antics start immediately when Wren along with her sister and best friend road trip to Canada to get her rescue dog back from the royals. Theo and Wren meet, paparazzi go crazy, and the next thing we know, Wren, the royals, and her sister and best friend have crash landed on a deserted island.

Heir, Apparently is a fast-paced adventure/romance in the same vein as the old 80s movies (think Romancing the Stone) and I enjoyed every minute. Some parts were groan worthy (teenagers make the worst decisions sometimes), but this is a book written for teens and I think the characterization, the plot, and the ending were perfect. I'm not the target audience and I enjoyed every minute of reading this book. The moments between Theo and Wren and how they navigated their feelings, their responsibilities, and Theo's past were woven throughout the zany antics and the book had the perfect breathable moments so the pacing never felt off. It's a quick read and I finished it in a few hours and while I doubt there is a third book on the horizon, I wouldn't mind revisiting these characters again.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the arc for review purposes.

This book starts three months after the first story “The Prince and the Apocalypse” ends. Theo, heir to the throne of England, and Wren, an American college student have just gone through a harrowing ordeal by surviving an almost apocalypse (where they secretly were forced to marry). Fast forward to this book and they are back to living separate lives, Wren is in Chicago getting ready to start another year of college, and Theo is getting ready to be crowned king. What is a simple plan to see her dog Comet and her love Theo again quickly becomes an adventure Wren wasn’t prepared for. An adventure that includes a high speed chase, a plane crash, and a coronation. Will Theo and Wrens love survive?

This was a fast paced story and if you love all things royal, this is for you. It’s the sweet continuation of Wren and Theo’s journey that started in book one. Can be read as a stand-alone, but I recommend reading the first book to get the full scope of where book two starts.

I enjoyed reading Heir, Apparently by Kara McDowell. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

Heir, Apparently (The Prince & The Apocalypse Book #2)

By Kara McDowell-new to me author

Publication 7/9/24, Read 7/9/24

Genre: YA, Rom-Com

Tropes: royal/celebrity romance, family drama, forced proximity, hidden truths, journey with companions, stranded on a desert island, 2nd chance romance

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press|Wednesday Books, and RB Media for this ARC and ALC🩷 ! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are mine alone.

Audiobook Run Time: 10:16, E-book 320 pgs.

Rating: 4/5 👑👑👑👑

The narrator Laura Knight Keating does all the characters. The voice fits the characters with standouts from Wren, Victoria, and Theo. I loved their British accents and Theo's dry sarcasm. Their voices were the most distinct, but I could easily tell the difference between all characters. The reading style brought the story to life and the pacing flowed easily with the story. The narrator paused and announced every time a new chapter started. The book had a table of contents which helped me follow along with the e-book and audio.

It's three months after the apocalypse that wasn't, and Wren Wheeler is back in Chicago a freshman at Northwestern when she's drawn back into Prince Theo's orbit. He has her dog Comet "The Apocalypse Dog," and she wants him back. Wren, Naomi-her BFF, and her younger sister Brooke travel to Canada to get him back. When the paparazzi become too invasive Theo, Henry-his brother, Victoria-his sister, Wren, Naomi, and Brooke fly back to London to regroup. Unfortunately their plane goes down over the Atlantic, and they get stranded on a deserted island. Several of them are injured but they work together to survive the elements. After their rescue, Prince Theo plans to ascend the throne as King of England, and Wren must decide what's in her future.

Full disclosure I didn't read Book #1 The Prince & The Apocalypse, and I felt that I was missing something. I didn't know about their meet-cute, traveling, and falling in love. I highly suggest you read book one. Heir, Apparently was the quintessential clean YA rom-com with hidden secrets, a journey with companions, and plenty of angst.

My recommendation is to read the audiobook because you can adjust the speed, skip parts easily (if desired), and picture the characters more vividly.

I received a copy from Netgalley for review.

I ate this up. Everything that could have went wrong on the continuation of Wren and Theo's story did. From a plane crash, to venomous animals, injuries that bite them in the ass, and a car crash no one saw coming, Wren and Theo really go through it in this book. It picks up 3ish months post Comet Week from the first book and with Wren, Naomi, and Brooke (her know it all sister and goofy best friend) taking a trip to Canada to steal back Comet (Wren's dog). Along the way we get a plane crash and our group of royals and siblings stuck on an abandoned island waiting to be rescued.

I think overall, it's a pretty decent read. It surely didn't take me long to finish. I wish the author had developed the side characters of Brooke, Naomi, and Henry a little more. They felt like they could have been compelling but fell a little flat. Loved the ending though.

I'm really not sure these kids should be getting married at 18 but royals are truly Built Different, no? Without the comet (celestial body) in this sequel, the stakes are much lower and as a consequence the book feels a lot sillier. There's a lot of manufactured peril and some even less interesting paint-by-numbers twists, along with a general lack of commitment to characterization writ large, let along character evolution. I'm happy for Brooke, though.

This is the sequel to The Prince & The Apocalypse. The book started off with a bang with lots of comedy and action. A lot happened very quickly and continued to happen through the book, and it was kind of crazy but super fun to read. I loved getting more Theo and Wren and also getting to know some of the side characters a little bit more, however, I did miss the focus being solely on Theo and Wren. The ending was very sweet, but I did feel that it was a bit rushed. Overall, much like the first book, this was a fun and quick read!

At the end of The Prince & The Apocalypse, I think every reader wants to know, “But what happens next???” I know I sure did when I read it.

Heir, Apparently picks up—spoiler alert for book one—a bit after the apocalypse is averted. (Sorry, y’all. I figure if you know there’s a book two, you probably also know that the world doesn’t end in the first one.) Wren is about to start college at Northwestern with her best friend, Naomi, at her side. Theo is about to be coronated as the King of England.

They haven’t talked to each other since Comet Week.

And he has her dog.

When Theo and a couple of his siblings bring Comet along with them for a royal tour in Canada, Wren sees it as her chance to see Comet (Theo) again, but things don’t exactly go as planned.

It seems like disaster seems to follow Theo and Wren everywhere.

As with The Prince & The Apocalypse, plan to suspend your disbelief for this one, and strap in for a fun ride. I didn’t enjoy Heir, Apparently quite as much as the first book, but I liked the additional characters on the journey this time around, especially Henry, who loves to push Theo’s buttons, the chemistry and romantic pull between Theo and Wren, and the added tension of whether or not a relationship between the two is possible as he prepares for his coronation.

I received an advance copy of the ebook from Wednesday Books and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

Heir, Apparently offers us a brilliant sequel that holds no punches. Wren is trying to move on after the almost-end-of-the-world summer that forever changed her life. There's just two problems: first, she can't move on, and second, The new King of England has her dog (and maybe her heart). A last-minute plan to get Comet the dog back leads to a paparrazi nightmare, and soon, Wren, along with her sister, best friend, and Theo and his own siblings find themselves on a plane headed back to England until everything is figured out. Disaster after disaster follow Wren and Theo as they grapple with the future and their undeniable feelings for each other. McDowell gives us a sequel that stands toe-to-toe with the first installment (which is not an easy feat when the first book centered around the end of the world). With heartache and longing battling with fear of imminent death, our protagonists' feelings and actions are very human, very real, and very relatable. The wait for this sequel was well worth it. McDowell did not disappoint. If you're looking for an adrenaline-filled, edge-of-your-seat, will-they won't-they romance, this is it.

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review!