Since this book was compared to both Red, White & Royal Blue and Young Royals, it was an immediate yes when I was offered an e-arc of Prince of the Palisades. And while I did see the comparison (I mean, it’s hard not to with the whole royalty bit), this book lacked the depth and the emotion of the other two. I never felt connected to any of the characters, especially the side ones, since none of them seemed to really have any substance. Plus, I was kind of disappointed that Jadon didn’t talk more about his home country of Reverie; I would’ve loved to learn more about this made-up place since, to me, it just read like a knock-off version of France. Things definitely picked up speed toward the end, but this one left me a bit disappointed.

Thank you to Viking Books and NetGalley for the free e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

Prince Jadon’s coming of age story is fantastic. Set post-coming out to his family, this story is about learning to love yourself and be yourself regardless of the pressures around you—and under intense social media scrutiny. He makes a charming connection with Reiss, who becomes his boyfriend as they learn to support each other. Fighting through high school politics and an ex that keeps popping up like a bad rash, Jadon gets to experience a more normal life with Reiss and that’s adorable.

My poor Jadon having the weight of the world on his shoulders, so alone, so lonely, all the adults in his life frustrated me to no end, everyone wanting him to be perfect, to be an adult when he was still a child. His parents specially made me crazy!!
Jadon and Reiss were so cute together though, loved the banter between the two of them!

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for this advanced copy. You can pick up Prince of the Palisades on August 20, 2024.

This was an absolutely delightful queer YA romance! I loved the development Jadon went through and how his relationships blossomed with old and new friends and loved ones. He and Reiss were absolutely ADORABLE together, with an incredible dynamic that showed why they worked so well together. This book was not afraid to explore important issues related to race, social justice, LGBTQIA+ rights, and more. It just felt like a wonderfully modern twist on a classic 2000s movie ala Princess Diaries or The Prince and Me. 10/10 recommend!

This romance story was so sweet. I love that the Prince the whole time is really just trying to find himself especially under the medias eye and his whole country watching and judging his every move. His relationship with Reiss is the sweetest and not without drama but I love that he tries to protect him as best as he can from the media.

This book was adorable and so glad I got a chance to preread this title. I love Young Royals and Red, White, and Royal Blue, so I was so excited to get my hands on this title. I don't think it lived up to my expectations, but I still had a really good time reading it.

Julian Winters once again proved why he is one of my favorite authors. I could not stop smiling and laughing throughout the book. It was such a fun read, and I fell in love with all the characters. Each character had so much life and personality to them, so there were no dry characters. All the banter and character growth throughout the story were very well done.I love the development of Prince Jadon's journey and discovering himself. Julian Winters kept the journey messy throughout the novel, so instead of Jadon learning how to be perfect, it was him learning how to be himself with mistakes and all. Overall, this book is an amazing fast-paced read that I didn't want to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of this book to review.

As the novel opens, we find Prince Jadon of the fictional Îles de la Rêverie in trouble: he was caught on tape saying some awful things about the prime minister of his country to the person he thought was his best friend. With a recently broken heart, the loss of his parents' trust, and a suitcase of designer clothes and shoes, he flees to California to hide out for awhile with his sister, Princess Annika.

Enrolled in school, he's thrown in with the elite, like the daughter of a political figure ... but his eye keeps falling on Reiss, a scholarship kid with pink hair and a film obsession.

This coming-of-age story is sweet and fun, all the things a YA romance should be. There are Easter eggs about other royal novels, especially in a Twitter thread I found super adorable. (I don't know that I've read enough to find them all, but I enjoyed the RWRB one!)

While the romantic conflict is short-lived, Jadon's main conflict is with his parents and how they view him, and I think that will be relatable for many teens.

If your bingo card needs a spot for "black, queer, royals YA novel," Julian Winters has your number!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. The story is quite enjoyable, funny to read even though a bit predictable. A perfect summer read

Once again, Julian Winters proves he’s a master at crafting lofty, exquisite settings. His prose is a sensory wonderland, and now having visited Santa Monica, I can assure you his descriptions are more than apt.

Prince of Palisades is a wonderful coming of age novel with notes of some of your faves like RWRB, but this story is all its own. Jadon and Reiss are cinematic and lovable from the very beginning.

The best part? All the lovely Easter eggs riddled throughout the novel that pay quiet omage to those near and dear to Winters. From Lío Min, to Becky Albertalli, to Adam Silvera, to Ryan La Sala, if you keep a keen eye, you’ll spot them all.

3.5*

Prince Jadon is exiled to the United States after finding himself in the middle of a scandal and losing the approval of his people. There, he attends school in LA and soon finds himself head over heels for a gorgeous pink haired film student named Reiss.

I loved the premise of this book and it was definitely a very sweet, enjoyable read!! LOVED that both of the leads were black, queer, and powerful. Super great representation all throughout this book. I really appreciated that Jadon’s main conflict throughout the book wasn’t to do with homophobia and coming out (although these issues are still touched on!!).

Obviously these are large and important themes in every young queer persons life, but queer people also deserve narratives and stories where they’re accepted and loved, and are exploring other facets of their life, and this book delivered.

I would have loved to have seen a bit more of a discussion on the different social classes of Jadon and Reiss, and some more development of Jadon’s friends and sister- they all seemed like such great characters I just wanted more of them!!

I also would have loved for more on the history of the country and how that has shaped and changed perspective of outsiders like Jadon’s mum.

Overall really good read! Would recommend to any YA fans, queer romance fans, and anyone looking for more diverse reads.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for the ARC!

This was lovely and witty and complicated and inspiring. The characters were all so specifically individually fleshed out and interesting

At first glance, Jadon has everything he could ever want—he's second in line to the throne of Îles de la Rêverie, he's out and proud, and he wasn't so much born with a silver spoon in his mouth as born with a platinum spoon in his mouth. At second glance, he's stagnating: sent away to live in LA for a year, feeling misunderstood by his family and perhaps and isolated as a Black boy in the US. He doesn't want to make connections in the US; he wants to go home. But there's a pink-haired boy who intrigues him...

I'm a sucker for royalty fiction—something about the wish fulfillment, I think. It's still rare to find that sort of princess-fantasy* book with characters who are not all white and American, or white and British, or white and Generic European, so I was fecking delighted to see that this one features a prince who is Black and from a (fictional) African country. (This literally doubles the number of Fictional African Royalty books I have on my shelves, which—given the sprawl of my shelves—is appalling.) It's also delightful to see a fictional royal who is out and proud without issue; probably helps that Jadon is the spare rather than the heir, but (as important as coming-out books can be) I am well and truly over books where all the conflict boils down to homophobia.

Jadon's a tough nut to crack, though. At one point he describes himself thusly: "'I'm kind. I'm angry. I stand up for what I believe. For the people I love. I'm not perfect, but I'm trying.'" (loc. 3761**) It's a nice moment, and a nice thing to aspire to—but I don't think it's accurate. I think at this point in the book, Jadon has stood up for what he believes once, or one and a half times (the incident with Barnard half counts, because although Jadon refuses to back down, he didn't know he would be on the record when he ranted in the first place). He's figured out some of what he wants to stand for, but it's deep, *deep* into the book before he even starts to understand that he has not, historically, been a very good friend. And as sweet as Reiss is (he's a great love interest), part of me thinks that if Jadon doesn't know what it is to have a solid two-way friendship, he's probably not in a place to have a solid two-way romantic relationship, either. He's beginning to grow by the end of the book, but this feels very much like the beginning of his journey.

On the off chance that there is a follow-up book with Jadon's sister Annika, I'd love to see it take place in Îles de la Rêverie—would mean the chance for a lot more world-building, hopefully distinct from the rough (say it with me) princess-fantasy worldbuilding of so many fictional European countries.

*This is a gay YA romance, and while there is a princess in the book and I would very happily read a book from her perspective...this isn't actually a princess-fantasy book. But that's my alternative name for my Goodreads "kings and queens" shelf, so...let's go with it.

**Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

This book was an absolutely wonderful read. Winters has a way of creating amazing characters that are complex and endearing, and this book was no exception. I was immediately pulled in by Prince Jadon and felt fully invested in the outcome of his American adventure. Even the side characters won me over quickly. The plot was simple and straightforward and borderline predictable, but not in a bad way at all. It was comfortable and cozy and fun. The story flowed well and the pacing was spot-on. I never got bored or distracted and thoroughly enjoyed every moment. Reiss and Jadon were adorable together and it was easy to root for them. I also loved the various sibling dynamics throughout the book. Honestly, this book was a total win for me.

I always think I have a firm stance against friends to lover but Julian Winters proves me wrong every time. This book is really fun and fast paced once you get into it and I had a really good time with this book and the characters. You can see how much everyone grows and learns throughout the course of the story. There was a fun cast of characters and I really loved our main crew.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the arc!!

This book is DELIGHTFUL. Fans of royal romances need to pick this up and squeal over all the delightful drama and romance in this book. Julian Winters always aces these very fun, yet very heartfelt young adult romances and I am so glad to read them. Highly recommend.

This book was an adorable adventure in the world of a Rebel Royal. Jadon and Reiss were the characters we needed and I loved their romance! It also made me really happy to read about a mostly minority group. It made my heart so full to read about Black queer people living life and being true to themselves. It was a very sweet story and I loved it!

After Prince Jadon has the worst night of his life, with tabloids all over the place, his father sends him to America to help him change for the better. There he finds real friends, and learns what being a Prince should be compared to what his parents want him to be.
If you liked Red White and Royal Blue as well as the Princess Diaries, I think you would enjoy this book. It was the perfect blend of royalty and politics and drama, and such a fun time. I feel like there aren’t that many books like this, especially not with main characters of color, so I’m especially happy to know that this book is coming to shelves soon and going to influence so many young people and make them feel seen.
Thank you to Viking Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this book!

Absolutely loved this one! Perfect for fans of Red, White and Royal Blue. A Black Prince is thrust into LA teenager life as a way to learn how to better represent his country after a social media fallout at home. Along the way, he discovers who he truly is and what he stands for as well as falling in love with a boy from Santa Monica. Fun, thought-provoking, engaging and a funny - a perfect summer read! LGBTQ+ themes and characters.

Wow, just wow. This was a really cute story about finding yourself in high school. I don't really see the connection to Red, White, and Royal Blue like the description says. The only similarity (in my opinion) is an LBGTQ+ prince. And even then, Prince Jaden is already out and had a previous boyfriend.

This is truly a finding yourself story when Prince Jaden is sent to America to improve his image. There are ups and downs.