I loved this!
So funny and adorable. A feel good romance that makes you laugh and smile. I would categorize this as The Princess Diaries for adults.
It has romance, fish out of water story, royalty, and humor. Not sure what more I could want.
I was a huge fan of the heroine. I really enjoyed her character. The hero is good too but the heroine definitely steals the show here.
The romance is enemies to lovers and it’s definitely that. The first meeting was gold and the development of the romance was perfect.
Kate O’Keefe definitely knew what she was doing with this book!

This book hooked me in from the first chapter. I loved the character development and how the story progressed.

This was a cute story about two people from very different walks of life meeting and having an instant dislike for each other. To make matters worse one of them gets punched. Who knew getting punched in the face would lead Alex to the best part of his life? This is similar to Princess Diaries and if you love that story you will devour this book in a day.

A nice romance but with some shortcomings. The characters don't have a lot of depth and don't evolve over the course of the story in my opinion.
The temporality seemed too fast to say that they are made for each other forever and that they should get married (even if it is only thinking so in their heads).
There were very good ideas for the secondary characters (especially Alex's siblings) but ultimately the author didn't do much with them.
I was positively surprised by the ending, I was expecting another arrangement, but this one is more "modern".
There will be other installments, other opportunities to present the kingdoms of Malveaux and Ledonia and their inhabitants in more detail.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wild Lime Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a cute and fun read that will delight royal fans. It felt very similar to The Princess Diaries. As someone who loves the sub-genre of romance that is for modern royal romances, I really enjoyed this one and liked that it didn’t feel just like every other book in this sub-genre. I did think things were rushed. The conflict and solution and epilogue all happen within the last 15% of the book, so it felt very jam packed. The character development of both characters also goes 0 to 100. However, I’d definitely recommend this book to a friend looking for a fun read.

Sweet, clean romance. The story reminded me of Princess Diaries but Madeline knew her mother was a princess but gave up that life for love. But when the monarchy needs an heir they turn to Madeline. Throughout her time deciding if she wants to be an heir to the throne Madeline becomes close to the party prince, Alex, of the neighboring country. Alex decides he’s ready to be serious and change his image and finds himself falling for Madeline, only problem is they’re both heirs to their respective monarchies so Madeline would be forced to give up her crown. Alex decides abdicating his throne is the better idea as he has siblings who can take his place.

I do wish the book went more into Alex’s relationship problems with his father as it was kept more surface level. But I am excited for the next book and to see who will take the throne, fingers crossed for Sofia!

✨ A R C B O O K R E V I E W ✨

The Back-Up Princess by Kate O’Keeffe

R A T I N G: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ahhhh this was such a cute read! It gave me all the vibes! So I’ll admit that this is not what I would normally go for in a book, but I loved it! If you were a fan of the Princess Diaries growing up, then this is the book for you! It’s very much like the Princess Diaries but older. I loved watching Maddie and Alex grown as characters with Maddie learning how to adapt to her new role and Alex trying to rectify his playboy reputation. These two go from insta hate to a swoon worthy love for the ages. This book had me laughing out loud, kicking my feet in the air and grinning like a mad woman! It’s a perfect, fun, clean read for the girlies who all wished they were Mia Thermopolis when they were little. Totes recommend!

The Cutest RomCom in book format, perfect for fans of the movie Princess Diaries and any hallmark movie.
I loved the dual POV, reading the story from both perspectives really helped get a feel for both the characters.
I'm very excited to see where the rest of this series goes, I will be following along.
Thank you NetGalley for the early reading copy.

I adored this sweet, royal romance. It had an enemies to lovers trope and a good dose of humor. I loved getting to know these characters deeply and their families. It was so cool balancing the born to be heir hero with our newfound princess heroine. It had some tinges of The Princess Diaries. It was a phenomenal start to a new series and I cannot wait for the next book! I loved the charities and politics aspects. Family and country expectations. Games and fowl and so much more. A lengthy and lovely tale.

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for allowing me the chance to read and review the book. I DNF it at 19 percent, it was too similar to The Princess Diaries. I loved plot idea was just hoping it wouldn't go that route.

I was excited to read a romance romcom, but instead got stilted speech patterns and one dimensional characters.

Editing note - he kicked off his shoes twice on page 32 …

Heavy on the The Princess Diaries similarities (it even calls them out directly in the book), this fluffy slow-burn (first kiss at 79%) no-spice love story of Royal enemies to lovers is an ongoing case of miscommunication, judging each other EXACTLY the same way they cry about being judged themselves, and a solid scaffolding of supporting characters to keep the story afloat.

Maddie is plucked from her life of no-direction to return to the birthplace of her long-deceased mother, now the proposed heir to the throne that her uncle is threatening to abdicated. Thankfully her grandparents are complete strangers, and her father is a sweetheart to the nth degree, however new royal life is a struggle for this self-deprecating American. Enter Price Alexander from a neighbouring country, who is sick of his well-earned but also not-so-much reputation of being a playboy, he’s a man who just wants to be seen for who he is and not what he has to offer *yawn*. The third act tensions is expected, but resolved quickly, This book is adorable and these two crazy kids in love are adorable.

Eric is a boob and I’m glad he’s been out in his place, manipulative little fuckboi.
Loved the Prince William cameo, that made me chuckle.
Loved even more that she decked him in the closet cuz, girl, Same.

Beautiful story! It reminded me of an adult Princess Diaries and I absolutely loved it. The side characters of the grandparents, Chloe, Vlad, and Maddie’s dad were fantastic and fun. Alex and Maddie had the best relationship starting with vague hostility and blossoming into pure love. They also had the cutest text chains.

A fantastic, slowburn romcom as all American Texas gal Madeline finds herself whisked away to the picturesque European kingdom of Malveaux when she discovers she’s next in line for the throne. With vibes of the Princess Diaries, Maddie is a fish out of water as she undergoes ‘Princess’ training and gets to know her royal grandparents with some amusing instances when they struggle to understand her Texan idioms. Throw in a hilarious meet cute with the Lord of Lusciousness aka Prince McHottie aka Prince Swoonalot, Alexander, heir apparent to the neighbouring Ledonian throne – Alex to his friends. She definitely made a lasting impression on him - and I fell hook, line and sinker for The Back Up Princess. Despite their less than auspicious introduction, and Alex’s initial suspicions over Maddie’s intentions, the more time they spend together, the more they begin to fall for each other. I loved how supportive Alex was of Maddie. With a storyline full of quirkiness such as the games between their two respective countries where the sports include wife racing and cheese rolling, this was a fabulous introduction to Kate O’Keeffe’s writing, and I can’t wait to read more from these characters.

"The Backup Princess" by Kate O'Keeffe is a charming contemporary romance novel that explores themes of identity, self-discovery, and love. Set in a picturesque European backdrop, the story follows the journey of Maddie who is having to learn about to be a princess after learning that the heir to the throne is possibly abdicating.

One of the most commendable aspects of the book is its engaging storyline. O'Keeffe crafts a plot filled with romance and self-discovery, keeping readers intrigued from start to finish. The concept of a commoner stepping into the shoes of royalty is a familiar trope in romance fiction, but O'Keeffe injects freshness into the narrative with her lively writing style.

Overall, I liked the cast of the book, but feel like we could have learned more about their backgrounds. The characters are likable, but I feel like there wasn't any growth during our time with them.

However, while "The Backup Princess" offers an entertaining read, it falls short in certain areas. The pacing of the novel can feel uneven at times, with certain plot points rushed while others linger unnecessarily. Additionally, some of the conflicts and resolutions feel predictable, robbing the story of potential tension and suspense.

Furthermore, the romance between Maddie and the Alex, while sweet, lacks the depth and complexity that could elevate it beyond the confines of a traditional fairy tale romance. Their relationship feels somewhat formulaic, missing the opportunity for more profound emotional exploration.

Overall, I liked the cast of the book, but feel like we could have learned more about their backgrounds. The characters are likable, but I feel like there wasn't any growth during our time with them.

In conclusion, "The Backup Princess" is a light-hearted romantic escapade that delivers moments of humor, warmth, and charm. While it may not break new ground in the genre, it offers a pleasant diversion for readers seeking an entertaining love story. With its engaging plot and likable characters, it's sure to appeal to fans of contemporary romance, albeit with some reservations. Overall, I rate it three stars.

what a royally great book.
i haven't read a royalty romance in a while and i'm so glad i did.
especially with all these wonderful characters. i fell in love with every aspect of it.

if you like:
- royal romance
- texan language
- closed door
- peacocks
- swoon worthy princes
then you'll love this book

again, i'm so glad i had the opportunity to read this book. and i'm excited to read the rest of the series to come.

*thank you Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours for allowing me to read and review this book. thoughts and opinions are honestly my own.

I absolutely loved this cosy rom-com with major Princess Diaries and Pride and Prejudice vibes. I'll certainly be checking out Kate O'Keefe's other books, starting with Dating Mr. Darcy (I just can't resist a P&P retelling). Please put this book on your spring/summer reading lists!

I would like to thank netgalley and Wild Lime Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Just meh.

This is a cutesy royal romance. If that’s your thing you’ll like this book.

That said the pacing was off and it almost made me want to DNF it but I had hopes that it would work itself out. I would have loved to have had a more in depth look at how they made their decisions.
The stereotyping of Americans in this book also was a bit much, but as an American living in Europe I can see it being closer to the truths of how someone may think.

The Backup Princess is a cosy, sweet royal rom com with heart. Upon the abdication of her uncle, Maddie is a fish out of water as she moves from Texas to Europe to take on the responsibilities a princess. There she meets Alex, a reformed playboy-prince, and eligible bachelor.

This was a cute, quick and fun read. Royal romances are a great escape, and this one packed a punch in terms of delightful meet cutes, unfortunate encounters with peacocks, and completely quaint made-up European countries. The characters were fun, and the side characters were well developed, setting up the series well with for Princess Sofia's book next.

It was low stakes, and very cheesy and predictable in parts, but in a cosy, heartwarming Hallmark movie kind of way. Recommended for anyone who enjoyed The Princess Diaries as a child, looking for a fairytale for grownups.

Thank you Wild Lime Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.