Sweet and swoony but also apologetically black and queer which is the highest complement I can give it. I loved this story and Jadon's character arc especially as he discovers what he needs to be.

I swear 2024 has been the year of the YA book in my house because they just have been banger after absolute banger and this book is no exception.

Jadon is the 17 year old Prince of Îles de la Rêverie, when some… less than flattering remarks he made about his country’s prime minister went viral his father made the executive decision to ship him on over to the States where he’d go to school and hopefully stay out of trouble. This of course is easier said than done of course when you’re a teenager who just happens to be famous. Everything he does seems to be a headline, from meeting Reiss to a surprise visit from his ex. Even just a shopping trip with his older sister makes the tabloids. It’s definitely accurate and just wild.

This book is full of tender moments, drama, advocacy, and side characters that you start off really loving to hate but honestly they grow on you (looking at you Léon). There are also some top notch conversations about consent and relationship boundaries that felt natural. Absolutely adore.

Thank you to my friends at Penguin Teen and Julian Winters for the gifted copy of this beautiful book.

Prince o the palisades was a most anticpaited read of mine and it didn't dissapoionted me! I was nervous for this one cause this is my first read from Julian but it was a total hit and I think the reason why is cause I recently read a short story by him that made me love his detial in writing! I was very excited to have this early and then eve more excited to actually read this one before the release date?! What who am I??
This is a ya contempoary standalone novel that has a lot of LGBTQIA+ REP and I would say check trigger warrnings before reading this book because there is some points in the book where our main character prince Jadon got a lot of hate for being gay. Also there was a protest and police bruitality in here but I thought that secene was so badass and dealt with really well!
There was a character I ended up loving which is funny cause I thought I would hate him because he banished his son to america for a mistake he didn't make but then gets blame for him and now Jadon has to try and discover himself again! So this is a ya contempoary and that is coming of age and learning how to love and accept others! Hope u guys check Prince of the palaisedes out and thank u to Penguin Teen for sending me an e-arc and thank u to the author for sending me a physical arc too!(:

4 stars

Winters fans, especially those who are familiar enough with this author's YA contemporaries to latch onto an easter egg or two, will find a lot to like in this charming YA romance. While there are strong distinctions, the comparisons to McQuiston's _Red, White, and Royal Blue_ are apt, so readers drawn to this book for that purpose will likely be pleased with the queer royal romance element.

Prince Jadon comes from a fictional location but a well-trodden path: one of early and public relationship disaster. While most of us are fortunate enough to avoid tabloid coverage of these kinds of teen life challenges, Jadon's is so well observed that he leaves the country - with his sister and royal guards along for the ride - to heal his image and his heart. How does one best get over a breakup? As the saying goes, get out from under one and get on top of another.

While I wanted a bit more depth in the relationship between love interests, I enjoyed their connection overall. The standout wins here are the protagonist's personal identity development, the charming secondary characters, and the representation (queer - royal! - characters of color).

Prince Jadon is definitely living that 'jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash' life that Lorde let us know about, but Winters makes him incredibly relatable in all the ways that matter. This is a speedy, engaging YA romance that many different kinds of readers will enjoy for its characters and straightforward goals.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Prince of the Palisades is everything my Royal Romance-loving heart wanted. While the “world building” was a little spotty in places, I did like that Julian Winters chose to create his own fictional country for his main characters to hail from, even if, like many of the other recent Royal Romances, some of the drama appears to be inspired by the recent headlines related to racism and discord among the British Royal Family, and the impact of the tabloid press.
I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about Jadon, given he was a bit off-putting in his bad behavior and privilege at the beginning. But that is just a starting-point for him, and he grows through his experiences in the US, reckoning with all his raging emotions and vulnerability, and coming to recognize the power of speaking up in the face of injustice, especially as a person in his position.
While this is a single-POV book, Reiss nonetheless comes through as a fairly strong love interest who challenges Jadon in his beliefs and thought process. He’s not as fully realized as Jadon, but he’s definitely sympathetic, and I saw enough of him to root for him and Jadon to work out.
I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to readers looking for a lighthearted YA contemporary romance.

Lush drama with a Spoiled prince and sweet romance that builds. Winters transports the reader and brings the characters to vivid life.

Thank you to Netgalley and Viking Books for the ARC of this book.
Prince of the Palisades follows Prince Jadon of Îles de la Rêverie who is exiled to America after a video goes viral of him criticizing their prime minister. He finds himself in the Palisades and stgarting a new school with creative students. He finds himself drawn to one particular student, Reiss, and starting to consider who he has presented to the world.
I thought this was a pretty good book to read. I really liked the fact that this book was focused on Jadon as a character and his growth into the person who he wanted to be. I really loved that this book was about a diverse group of people who were exceeding and thriving. I loved the way this story is going to mean so much to those who read it and get to see themselves represented. I thought Jadon and his sister's relationship was so nice to see as well. They really grew together and to appreciate each other so much. I loved seeing how they inspired each other and really cared for each other.
I do wish the love story between Jadon and Reiss was a little more developed. I didn't feel that they really knew each other a lot that we saw on page but that's my personal opinion. I do think they were a cute couple and i really liked seeing their relationship grow.
I definitely think this is a book worth picking up and it was such a great read! I loved when I was able to sit down and read it, I was able to fly through it.

she was cute! i found this to be a quick, easy, and fun read that i flew through in almost one sitting. the writing and storyline were solid, and although it read like a couple things i’ve picked up before i still thoroughly enjoyed it!

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers, Netgalley, and Julian Winters for the chance to read and review this book, all opinions are my own.

Julian Winters writes such fun and engaging YA books, I always have a good time reading his books and Prince of the Palisades is no exception!

Secret royalty or royalty forced to slum it with the common people is always a fun trope and I loved the author's twist on this for this book. Prince Jadon has been behaving badly (or so the tabloids think) and he is forced out of his home (made up) country to go live in his mother's home of LA in order to rehabilitate his image. Royal hijinks ensue! This book was fun and fast paced and I appreciated the perspective of a POC royal instead of the typical royal whose white privilege and problems aren't very interesting. I liked that Jadon could recognize his privilege but also wanted to use his voice for good instead of just turning away. I liked all of the side characters and Jadon's relationship with his sister.

I did want a bit more from the plot and also a bit more character depth. This book was surprisingly short and I felt like the last quarter of the book moved so quickly and things got wrapped easily. I just wanted more from Prince Jadon and all of the other characters. They felt a little one-dimensional at times, which is not what I expect from a Julian Winters book.

I think if you want a fun, fast paced runaway royal story, you will enjoy this one.

4.25 stars

Jadon is a Sad Prince because, although he is incredibly wealthy and pampered, he has to honor the royal traditions of Reverie, his French-African island nation. That includes not speaking his mind every time he is angry about some perceived injustice. After dressing down the country's Prime Minister (and letting it be recorded), he is banished to a hovel...er, actually a mansion in Santa Monica, California. His older sister Annika, the heir to the throne, accompanies him to assist in the rehabilitation of Jadon's image.

At his new high school, a cute boy with pink hair catches Jadon's eye, but Reiss Hayes is not impressed by "His Royal Arrogance." Jadon's haughtiness is a cover for loneliness and insecurity, and once he drops the attitude, he and Reiss start making heart eyes at each other. But the new couple have to keep their relationship a secret, and Jadon's ex-boyfriend has just appeared in Santa Monica, allegedly to help Jadon. Although Jadon is really into Reiss, his ultimate goal is to return to Reverie. Can their relationship survive conniving exes and potential long distance? Can Prince Jadon find a way to be suitably royal without sacrificing himself?

This was a predictable but enjoyable YA novel that distinguishes itself by having a Black, queer royal as the MC and taking place in an environment where neither of those things are a big deal. There are a lot of secondary characters, notably Jadon's new friends who are only mildly impressed by his title, and at times I lost track of who was who. I wish Winters had gone for quality over quantity; Annika alone deserves her own book, as does Jadon's Poor Little Rich Girl friend, Grace.

The story's narration is first person from Jadon's POV, so we only see Reiss through his eyes. The pink-haired boy with no tolerance for bullshit is an aspiring filmmaker and sneakerhead who is inexperienced sexually and part of a warm, loving family. He needed a little more depth to come fully alive, but he wasn't one-dimensional. Winters nicely sidesteps a potential Big Misunderstanding between the boys when Jadon's ex shows up, although being honest with Reiss doesn't solve all of their problems.

I caught several Easter Eggs (view spoiler), and I'm sure I missed many others. Honestly, I need to read fewer YA novels and more adult fare, but it's hard to stay away from stories like this one that are so optimistic about life's possibilities.

ARC received from publisher and Net Galley in exchange for objective review.

Loved this young adult story. It’s refreshing and lots and lots of culture. I felt the story close to me and and I couldn’t put the book down once I started reading.

I went into it thinking this was a romance. While Jadon and Reiss’s love story is a major part of the story, it’s a really a coming of age story following Jason’s struggle to find his own identity. Overall, I enjoyed the story and our main characters and side characters. I wish that the inciting incident that gets Jadon exiled was more interesting.

I’ve been a bit burnt out on reading romances so it might’ve not been the best time to pick this one up. I was looking forward to this because of the Red White & Royal Blue comp, but like some other reviewers. I didn’t see much of a connection outside of the royalty aspect. A lot of the narration felt repetitive and I could never really get invested in either Jadon as a protagonist or the secondary characters.

4.5 stars

After a video of a messy break up goes viral, Prince Jadon of Îles de la Rêverie is forced to stay in America until he cleans up his act. So, he's enrolled in a private school in Santa Monica, with carefully scheduled appearances to get his image back. What he doesn't expect is to fall for a local boy at his school that might just throw a wrench into all his plans.

As Jadon tries to juggle his new image with his growing feelings, he has to decide what his future looks like. And if he wants to fit into the image Rêverie wants him to have after all.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for an advanced copy of Prince of the Palisades by Julian Winters to review! If you are a fan of Young Royals, you'll definitely love Winters' latest romance. It hits all the right boxes, with a swoonworthy romance you'll absolutely love.

This also might be the rare queer YA that actually feels like Red, White, & Royal Blue to me as well. Not quite the enemies to lovers romance, but you get similar vibes from the royalty and the romance. Winters always excels at writing characters you will fall in love with from the beginning, and this book is no exception. At the beginning, Jadon is closed off. Being a prince for him means that getting close to people is a liability. His emotional journey from beginning to end is so well done. Especially as he learns to open up.

In addition to being a romance, this book is also about finding your voice and standing up for what you believe in. Through his new friends in the US, Jadon learns to use his privilege as a prince to stand up for others, especially queer teens. It works so well for the emotional journey he's on throughout the book.

All in all, if you're looking for a queer, royalty romance, definitely pick this one up in August!

When Prince Jaden, the spare to the heir of the Island of Reverie, is caught on camera seemingly drunk and mouthing off about his country's Prime Minister, his parents send him away to California to cool down and become someone his country can be proud of. Jaden finds it difficult to make friends--difficult to trust anyone, after what happened--but catches the eye of sweet, pink-haired, filmmaking fellow classmate Reiss. He learns that sometimes trouble is worth it.

This book was fun and frothy, and showcases the struggles of being both a POC and member of the LGBTQ community in the spotlight. I think the comparisons to RW&RB are inapt and do this book a disservice, though. This book reads much younger, for one--the characters are seventeen, rather than in their early twenties, and just the level of the jokes and every feel more high school. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but that garners a different audience. It would probably be more appropriate to compare it to something like Tokyo Ever After, not that it needs a comp. I also think Jaden's personality had a 180 about two-thirds of the way through the book, and while the change needed to happen and was central to the plot, it could have been more gradual. I think this book will appeal to high school students, royal aficionados, and those looking for queer and POC representation.

Thanks to Viking Books for Young Readers / Penguin Teen for my ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 stars - 7/10

4.75 stars

Engaging, fun, and a wonderful personal growth arc, this book is an adorable royal romance.

Prince Jadon is sent to America to repair his image after a viral video of him smack talking his country's prime minister. In Califronia, he meets Reiss, and Jadon is faced with the challenge of learning who he wants to be.

I love that every chapter has an article excerpt at the beginning. I adore Jadon's journey as a young queer, Black teenager who is allowed to be angry and cry and be strong. Jadon and Reiss are adorable together. I wish there was a little more depth in some of the side characters but that's because I'd love to know more about them. Jadon is flawed but trying, and I love him.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review!

Book:
PRINCE OF THE PALISADES by Julian Winters
Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Teen for the Arc (Aug 20)

Review:
4⭐
PRINCE OF THE PALISADES was such, cutesy-entertaining read. It follows Jadon, Prince of Palisades, as he is banished to America after a stunt goes wrong---ranting to the wrong people and ending up in tabloids. He must do what it takes to get back on top: to be the person who is fit to be prince. Jadon goes through obstacle after obstacle, trying to fit in, trying to be the right fit in the tabloids eyes.
PRINCE OF THE PALISADES is different from what I normally read. I's full of drama, lies, bickering royals, blooming romance between a prince and an everyday person. I really like how it didn't feel like I was reading---it was to the point where I binged this book. I couldn't get enough of Jadon learning to fit in, or lack thereof in way. I couldn't get enough of the royals spats, the drama galore.

4.5 Royal Stars!

Really enjoyed this coming-of-age story narrated by Prince Jadon as he tries to balance adjusting to a new high school in a new country with showing only the 'perfect prince' that his parents want him to be. It's hard to let his guard down and make new friends, nonetheless have a mutual crush, when you're the Prince of a foreign country and the international media is always hungry for a scoop; always trying to photograph and document less-than-ideal moments. Jadon gets by, with the help of his witty and sarcastic sister and bodyguard, and he even joins the school play!

Highly recommended YA reading, love the LGBTQIAP+ cast!

I've read several Julian Winters book and have always enjoyed how he approaches a "coming of age" story. This one is a bit different from his previous works, dealing with a slightly less relatable approach of a prince figuring out who he is. I found Jadon to be a likeable, but flawed, character and thought his self-discovery journey was well written. I did find most of the background characters to be a bit flat. They had unique personalities, but they felt a bit one-note at times. For a few characters that felt like part of the story; Jadon noticing how people are what is expected of them. However, some of the time it just felt like there wasn't enough character development for anyone but our main protagonist.

When I first heard from Penguin Teen that Prince of the Palisades was perfect for fans of Young Royals and Red, White, and Royal Blue, I was hesitant at first. I love both of those stories so much, and I was worried this book was using a big name tv show and book to promote this story, and I can confidently say I had nothing to worry about.

Prince Jadon is sent away from Rêverie after a public scandal and enrolls at a private school in America, except things don't go as planned when he meets a pink-haired boy and completely falls in love. While working on his image, Jadon works on finding himself and what it truly means to be the leader he wants to be.

It's safe to say, I LOVED this book. I love the subtle references to YR, RWRB, and Princess Dairies I caught while reading the book. I enjoyed the relationships between Jadon and everyone in his live. And I thought the prince's character growth was very well done.

Thank you so much Penguin Teen for giving me the opportunity to review this book. It's definitely in my top five reads of 2024.