Thanks to Netgalley and Viking Books for Young Readers for this ARC in return for an honest review.

Prince of the Palisades, is the first book I’ve read by author, Julian Winters.

When I saw this book was recommended for fans of Young Royals and Red White and Royal Blue, I hit request so fast I think I cracked my screen.

This YA Queer Romcom was everything I wanted. Humor, fire, romance, and more. It’s not just a romance though, and explores deeper themes which need to be discussed.

I’m definitely adding Julian Winters to my auto-read list.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

Prince of the Palisades is a charming young adult coming of age romance book that delivers on what it promises the reader. Jadon really is a likable main character and I really liked watching him sort through his problems and figure out who he wants to be in the world. Reiss is a breath of fresh air and normalcy for Jadon and I thought he was written really well. Overall, I greatly enjoyed Prince of the Palisades and I'll definitely check out other books by Julian Winters.

Another fun, angsty read with a young royal learning who he is and what he wants in life.

At first, I didn’t like Jadon all that much. He carried a lot of anger and privilege and saw himself as a victim. He also saw the students around him as temporary. It wasn’t until he started opening up to his classmates a little, that his true self really came out. And all of the hurt from being betrayed by people who were supposed to care about him.

Reiss was pretty awesome. He doesn’t put up with Jadon’s nonsense, and share his life and friends with Jadon. They didn’t hit it off right away, but their relationship grew as they got to know each other better.

I loved that Jadon started creating real friendships and that he got involved with the theater department, especially after the betrayal he experienced at the beginning of the book. And his baking was awesome as well!

I wasn’t sure, at first, if everyone on his staff had his best interests at heart. There were some really questionable decisions for ways to improve Jadon’s image along the way. But I liked the way things turned out. And I was right about Annika’s bodyguard/security!

The ending was perfect.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC for review consideration through Net Galley on behalf of the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved how casually queer this book was. Like the main character had so many problems, but the fact that he was gay wasn't one of them. It was so refreshing. And I really did love the stories and characters, making it a solid 4.5 stars. This makes me want to read more books by this author!

Why Did I Listen To Price Of The Palisades by Julian Winters?
Prince Of The Palisades by Julian Winters appealed to me because I think it’s important for these stories to be told. Also, I am such a sucker for books about royals. Then we get to the whole rehabbing an image and well, yes, sign me up, this sounds fantastic! Of course, I went for audio because I have had such a tough time physically reading lately.

What’s The Story Here?
This book follows Prince Jadon of Îles de la Rêverie who ends up in America after he has a breakup that is very public and very viral. So, to clean up his image he goes to a school in America. While there he makes friends and finds a cause near and dear to his heart.Jadon has to turn things around so he’s posing with puppies and going to art galleries. He also ends up falling for a pink haired boy named Reiss who is really into films. Reiss is not at all wealthy like Prince Jadon, in fact, he is a scholarship student. Oh, and Jadon also gets involved with the theater. He starts really taking up the cause of trans rights, which I truly loved.

How Did I Like Prince Of The Palisades?
I enjoyed Prince Of The Palisades overall.I am glad to have read it. This is a book where the main character starts off quite shallow and truly grows throughout the story. You know we love character growth over here. I also would like a novella featuring Jadon’s sister, the heir to Îles de la Rêverie. Oh and the romance in the story is quite cute. I will probably not ever pick this book up again, but the time I spent with it was quite nice.

How’s The Narration?
The audiobook of Prince Of Palisades is narrated by Joshua David Scarlett. Honestly, this was a new narrator to me. I had no issues with the pacing or vocal stylings of the narrator. The narration flowed smoothy. It kept me engaged through the full 8 hours and 17 minutes. Overall, I think that is how I would recommend experiencing this book — via audio.

I truly enjoyed this novel, the characters and storyline. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it!

Prince of the Palisades by Julian Winters is a really fun take on the modern royal romance. What makes it stand out is that it centers a Black queer couple, which we don’t get nearly enough of in these kinds of stories. Gabriel and Simeon’s relationship feels natural—they’re awkward and sweet, but there’s also real tension as they deal with public scrutiny and their own personal struggles. What I liked most is that the book doesn’t turn their identities into a source of conflict. Instead, it just lets them exist in this big, romantic, kind of over-the-top world. It’s got all the fun of a royal love story but with characters who feel fresh and real. Definitely worth a read if you like feel-good romances with a little bit of drama.

What an adorable read! It's been a while since the last time I read a royal romance, and I forgot how much I like the drama and high stakes of it all. Adored the instant chemistry Jadon and Reiss had. Also, I lost track of how many characters in this book were named after other YA authors. (Seriously, there are so many. Teachers named Bayron, Garza Villa, and June. Students named Dustin, Becky, and Adam. I'm sure I missed a bunch of others. Is Reverie named after the Ryan La Sala book???) Need more queer POC romances immediately!

This book was too pretentious for me so I’m DNFing around 10%. I’m not invested in the characters and not interested in continuing.

I have really enjoyed Winters previous books and was excited to receive an e-arc of Prince of Palisades. I love a good royalty romance and was excited to dive in to this one as well!

I ended up really enjoying this story. I liked the characters and although they made mistakes, they always learned from them and tried to do better. Jadon is the party prince, banished to America to try and rehab his image. Sent to a prestigious, private academy in California; Jadon's goal is to lay low and do whatever it takes to get back home. He expected interviews, he expected paparazzi, he expected articles... what Jadon didn't expect was Reiss.

Always a joy to read and Winters book and I look forward to what he releases next!

Thank you, NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, & Julian Winters for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review
.
I have read and loved two of Julian’s books and this one is no different! I love the premise of an African prince being sent to attend school in California. Jadon was sent away to his mother’s hometown after being caught on video talking bad about the Prime Minister of Rêverie. Being the Prince of Rêverie definitely made this stunt reflect badly on the royal family. At first, Jadon hated being in America and hated that he was just sent away. He tried to keep things quiet (media-wise) and just get through school and show his parents he has become more responsible. Soon after his arrival Jadon is swooped into a friend group and ends up meeting the love interest, Reiss, who did I mention has pink hair?! I love it!! Forming a friendship with Reiss and eventually, a relationship helped Jadon work on finding out who he is away from Rêverie. Throughout the boo,k Jadon learns more about himself, develops a better relationship with his family, and learns to stand up for himself. I think this is such a sweet story!
.
A side character that really stuck with me is Jadon’s sister, the crown princess, Annika. She has such a colorful personality and reminded me a bit of June from Red. White, and Royal Blue. Both girl bosses! Julian has such a way of conveying teenagers so accurately and making me want to be friends with his characters. This has all the Young Royal vibes which I love because I love that show! What a wonderful read!

4.5 Stars

I know the story is loosely inspired by Julian’s love of the TV show “Young Royals,” but it kind of reminds me of a genderbent Princess Diaries AU. Like what if Mia—who was also born from a non-royal American mother and became heir to a fictional throne—always knew that she was a princess and lived in Genovia her entire life and never knew what it meant to be a normal teenager? This story is kind of like playing out that thought experiment, and showing Jadon being presented with this chance to just be a kid for the first time in his life, to stop detaching himself from the things and people that really matter, and to find out what it really means to lead as a prince.

I always say this, but there are authors who return to a familiar thematic through-line again and again and again, and Julian is one of those authors. And I think that’s a great thing, because all his stories, in their own unique way, ask this question of what it really means to become yourself when you still don’t know who you are and when you might not ever really know. I don’t think that’s a question that loses its importance or its relevance, no matter how many times we ask. And I appreciate that this story is coming back to that question once again, while also giving us an abundance of queer Black boy joy with a royal tilt that’s so much fun to read.

I’m always curious about what Julian Winters is going to deliver next. This is a captivating and richly detailed story that pulls you into a world of power, politics, and personal growth. The main character’s journey is both compelling and relatable, balancing moments of strength and vulnerability with skill. The writing is sharp and engaging, creating an immersive experience that kept me hooked from the beginning.

What really stands out is the way the book explores themes of loyalty, family, and ambition. The stakes feel high, and the emotional moments hit just the right notes, making it easy to get invested in the characters’ fates. The pacing is steady, allowing the tension to build as the story unfolds.

Overall, Prince of the Palisades is a solid, well-crafted story with strong character development and a plot that holds your attention. If you’re into tales of personal ambition and political intrigue, this one is definitely worth picking up. 4/5 stars.

Sweet YA, Black,queer romance that was done very well. The representations felt genuine and I really like how the prince grew and felt good being himself.

Every time I read a Julian Winters book, I just know I'm going to have fun. This one is no exception!

Prince of the Palisades was one of my most anticipated last year! (of course, I didn't have time to read it, as usual), but I finally did, yes!

This was good. It was light, fun, entertaining. It was also messy. Partly because it's royal drama lol, and partly because of the usual YA romcom antics lol. I enjoyed the messy parts though, don't get me wrong!

The romance is cute. I do feel like it needed more? Like yes, they were good together, but I wanted more of the romance and the pining and the falling in love. (or maybe I just like angst too much and I read too many slow burn fanfics lol not really the book's fault).

I also feel like the plot could have been more compelling? Like I know this is romcom and we're not gonna have a high-stakes-end-of-the-world plot, of course. But Jadon's journey seemed a bit lacking for me? I don't know, but I guess I expected him to experience various significant obstacles and learning curves before fully developing as a person (and as a character). And I needed more of that.

I do appreciate that the story touched on a few topics like racism, the challenges of being queer and being Black, being silent vs. speaking up for others, the stark difference between media and reality, and more.

(((OH and if I did tear up at one point in the story, it would be when Jadon finally talked to his father.)))

Overall, I have to say, while this isn't my favorite from Julian Winters, I still enjoyed reading it. Also, my favorite character would have to be Mrs. Hayes lol. 3.5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really liked this cute, fun, and easy read. As someone who loves Red, White, and Royal Blue and enjoyed Young Royals when I was, well, younger, I'm always excited about any queer love story that involves royalty, and this one definitely delivered! I am definitely a bit older than the target audience, but this story was unique, tackled sensitive and relevant topics well, and didn't introduce unnecessary conflicts to the development of the main relationship. All in all a good time, and I'd highly recommend!

This book is IMPORTANT. Please read it. Also, all the easter egss in this one? It felt like a Marvel movie with tons of cameos! *insert Leonardo DiCaprio's pointing finger meme here*

I love a YA book with a central theme that's a queer royal romance (see Red, White, and Royal Blue). Prince of Palisades by Julian Winters brings the love story while also exploring important contemporary topics like consent and identity.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

Rainbow Rating
Representation: 9
Atmosphere: 8
Intrigue: 8
Narrative: 8.5
Build-up: 7
Originality: 7
Wow Factor: 8

Prince of the Palisades is a fun YA romance that follows Jadon, the second-born prince of Îles de la Rêverie. After a series of events tarnish his reputation, Jadon is banished to the States to rehabilitate his image. What he discovers, however, is that fixing his public persona is more challenging than expected. Along the way, he begins to question if being universally loved and respected is truly what he desires—or if his heart belongs to someone special, like Reiss, the pink-haired beau who steals the show.

This story felt fresh and vibrant. I loved seeing Jadon come into his own, navigating the challenges of identity, love, and self-discovery. The book beautifully captures that journey of personal growth. The romance was fun and sweet, the representation felt genuine, and the ending left me entirely satisfied.

Prince of the Palisades is a delightful read that I’d happily recommend to anyone looking for a thoughtful yet lighthearted royal romance. 🌈

Prince of the Palisades is an appealing YA romance standalone by Julian Winters. Released 20th Aug 2024 by Penguin Random House on their Young Readers imprint, it's 352 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a modern royalty romantic comedy(ish) story which is queer (m/m) friendly and young. There's good representation here (young, gay, ethnically and culturally diverse) and fans of Red, White & Royal Blue will likely be in raptures. There are some good and important discussions about consent, identity, and being true to oneself. There is also a lot of high-school drama and unnecessary conflict; but it's a YA rom-com, so, fair play.

Some of the characterizations are cartoonish; the antagonists are over-the-top two dimensional. The redemption arc is sweet and not *too* saccharine, especially for the genre. There is no inappropriate graphic sex descriptions, those scenes are fade-to-black.

Four stars. Sweet, full of high school drama, but mostly for YA romance fans.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.