The Rules of Royalty by Cale Dietrich
#mmromance
#yaromance

Fun book reminiscent of The Princess Diaries. But in this story Jamie, an American teen guy, finds out on his 17th birthday that he is a legitimate prince of some Hallmark-type pretend country in Europe. Then bc he needs to learn how to act like a prince, a fellow prince from another pretend country tutors him. And they slowly get attached.

I liked that the reader gets to hear both sides of their feelings in this dual POV book. Each of the young men questioned if what they were choosing to do was the right thing. I also loved that the Jaime pulled the Erik out of his too restricted, proper ways. And got him to question why those ways were necessary. I also appreciated that Erik had an older sibling who was crown prince. He was able to help guide his little brother as any average older sibling would do.

I took away a whole star bc I kept finding things happening that made me think that the author needed to do some more research. These things pulled me out of the story by me thinking, "huh, how could that be?" but overall, it was a decent little love story.

#netgalley #stmartinspress #wednesdaybooks
#therulesofroyalty #caledietrich

This everything that I thought it might be. I heard it was going to be like The Princess Diary and although I wasn’t sure this was going to be as good, it definitely was. It was basic, but also had some LGBTQ+ characters and royals, which of course I loved so much. Definitely made this a little more less basic lol

So the characters were one of the reasons I said this was basic. They didn’t exactly have anything that made them different than any other royal. The best part was Jaime finding out that he was a Royal. There wasn’t a lot of back story on them, so I just had to judge them on what they were finding out about each other in the book. I think it was ok since this was more like a new beginning, but I didn’t really FEEL anything for them. And then there was Erik who was just ok. I felt sad for him, but I was not happy with any of his family. They were terrible. Why is every adult in YA books such horrible people lol But they were too sneaky for me. But I didn’t feel any real empathy to them because we don’t really know much about why she was so extra.

The romance was cute. I like forbidden romance and even more so when it’s royals lol It was interesting trying to see how they were sneaking around and trying to find different ways to be by themselves. Their flirting?! Top tier! They didn’t exactly have “banter” but their flirting was very sweet. I wouldn’t call it elite, but…. Well you get the idea. I didn’t like that they brought someone else into this whole thing tho. Even if he did seem like he didn’t want to be there. I don’t think they should have kept that one person there. But here we are.

The writing style was the best part of this tho. I think if there was more like descriptors and some more in-depth information about the characters or something I would have given them 5 stars. But this was ok. I still love Dietrich and will read what they have. This was good, make sure you pick it up and let me know what you think!

The book gets off to a bumpy start, but the author hits their stride a few chapters in. At that point, the story becomes mesmerizing. In Erik and Jamie, we have two teens with their own issues as they traverse the royal life as young gay men. I commend the author for creating two distinct characters whose voices came through clearly.

The story flowed well once it got started, but the pacing suffered in a few areas where the author got bogged down in Erik’s bothersome issues with the queen. The author needs to trust the reader to remember the character’s angst and problems without repeating them in almost every chapter. This causes the reader to get bogged down in the murky middle, a condition that carries over to the last part of the book.

In the secondary characters, the author tries to build too many individual story lines, something that makes them seem two dimensional in a world where the main characters’ three dimensions overwhelm the pages.

As for Erik and Jamie, they are so likable you almost want to adopt them. The author does a brilliant job of keeping the story clean, although I have to admonish them for using the phrase “hooking up” when all they mean is kissing. That phrase means much more than that in reality, and it can confuse the target audience. “Hooking up” and “making out” are two extremes on the “did we or didn’t we have sex” meter. When you mean “making out” or “kissing,” then say that.

Overall, though, this book deserves a solid four stars. YA needs more same-sex romance stories, especially with young men, and this one does it very well.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Cale Dietrich and the publisher of the book for the eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

A male version of the "Princess Diaries"!

Jamie has never liked being at the center of attention. He prefers a quieter life with his mom. Soon though, his life is turned upside down when he learns he is the heir to the thrown of Mitanor. His father, the King, invites him to spend the summer and experience a world he has never known about.

Erik has always experienced the spotlight and royal life. As the "spare" to his throne, Erik is struggling with the upcoming marriage of his brother due to all the spotlight on his family.
Soon though, he is asked to show the new American Prince the ropes. Will their two worlds fit perfectly or be a royal mess?

A fun male version of Princess Diaries. I expected Erik to be snotty and a know-it-all, but he was not that way at all and was a perfect character! I will recommend this book to others!

Utterly delightful.

An American teenager, who was adopted by his birth mother's best friend after her passing, discovers that his birth father is actually the King of a small European country. He's a prince!

With his family, he travels to his dad's country, where the prince of a neighboring country teaches him how to be royal. Erik, that prince, is one of the few royals who have ever come out as gay in public. Jamie, the American prince, is smitten with Erik. Except, Erik's already got an arranged boyfriend.

Erik's grandmother, the Queen, is exceptionally traditional. She is perfectly fine with LGBT folks, but insists that all royal partners be arranged for strategic purposes. She has found a suitable boyfriend, the son of a mayor.

Will Jamie and Erik get together? You'll have to read to find out.

Low-stakes, mostly drama-free, this was a delightful, fun romp, and I would love to see more with these characters, whether that's in a sequel, or as cameos in another adventure.

The best way to describe this book is a queer take on The Princess Diaries. Jamie just turned 17yrs old and his whole life thought he was just a normal teenager with a wonderful adopted mom and a great stepdad. He then finds out that he's actually the son of the king of Mitanor and his birth mother's dying wish was to keep this a secret until he turned 17yrs old.

He's wisked away with his parents to Mitanor to meet his biological farther and the rest of his mom's side of the family. Here he meets prince Erik, who agrees to help him learn the ropes of being a royal. Erik has dealt with a controlling family his whole life, he cannot even date without permission and is forbidden from having more than a friendship with Jamie, so of course as they grow closer the sparks begin to fly.

This was an overall low stakes books and a fast read. It was a lot of fun and I adore both Jamie and Erik. It was fun reading Jamie coming into his own and learning where he belongs and what he can achieve and watching Erik finally stand up for himself and go for what he wants.

I read this book so fast, it was sweet and romantic. Anyone who loves a royalty romance will enjoy this book.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cale Dietrich delivers a sweet and charming royal romance in The Rules of Royalty, with a premise that feels straight out of a modern-day fairytale. Jamie, a newly discovered heir to a European throne, and Erik, the reserved prince tasked with teaching him royal decorum, find themselves caught between duty and desire. While the story shines in moments, it ultimately falls short of its full potential.

What Worked:

The dynamic between Jamie and Erik was heartwarming. Their chemistry built steadily, and their tentative connection felt genuine.
The lavish descriptions of palaces, royal events, and etiquette were captivating and added an aspirational flair to the story.
The exploration of identity—whether it’s Jamie grappling with his newfound royal status or Erik struggling to step out of his brother’s shadow—was relatable and engaging.
What Could Have Been Better:

The pacing was uneven. The middle section dragged with excessive focus on Jamie’s lessons, while the romance felt rushed in the latter half.
The conflict lacked depth. The stakes—both personal and political—were introduced but not fully explored, leaving the resolution feeling predictable and a bit underwhelming.
Side characters, such as Erik’s family and Jamie’s father, felt like missed opportunities. Their motivations and relationships with the protagonists could have been developed further.
Final Thoughts:
The Rules of Royalty is an enjoyable, escapist read with a cozy fairytale vibe and a lovely queer romance at its heart. While it doesn’t dive as deeply into its themes or conflicts as it could, it’s still a light, entertaining pick for fans of royalty tropes and sweet love stories.

I have some gripes about this book, but one of the big ones is that the writing wasn't great. This was my first Cale Dietrich book to read (even though I own a few), and I was shocked at how poor the writing was.

Another thing I really didn't love was how nice everyone was. Jamie's newfound dad/the kind was nice, his stepmom was nice, his half brother was nice, the grandparents, etc. They were all just nice and bland people. No one acted a little standoff-ish or uncomfortable, which I would have expected from this whole situation. You're gaining a new family member whom you've never met and you're just cool about it? Very weird.

I was also not loving the overall feeling of Jamie's royal family. They didn't act very distinguished. Not that they were acting wholely common, but there was something very casual about them that didn't feel right.

Jamie and Erik had a decent relationship, but again, they were no sparks or crazy tension between them. It was all just chill and *nice.* I wanted to feel their longing and attraction for each other but it was too casual. I couldn't find the passion.

Overall, I had high hopes for this Princess Diaries but gay book, and they didn't pan out.

Like any good early 2000s kid, I spent plenty of time sat in front of the TV watching The Princess Diaries and swooning over Chris Pine in The Princess Diaries 2. This not only scratches that nostalgic itch, but it's queer, so of course it's a million times better.

Jamie is an endearing main character through this whirlwind of a journey and the dual POVs actually worked really well in highlighting the two sides of young royal life, having been raised in it and having been thrust into it. Towards the second half, a lot of the usual royal protocol and tropes kind of faded away and felt more like just generic wealth and fame. Maybe it's nitpicking, but c'mon, isn't playing around with formal titles half the fun of this genre?

Still, this was a fun and fluffy romance that fans of royalty tropes will enjoy!

The Rules of Royalty is a Princess Diaries meets Young Royals come to life.

Our main character Jamie finds out on his 17th birthday that he’s a Prince of the country Mitanor. He’s invited to spend the summer in the country getting to know his family and learning how to be a prince. However, he starts developing feelings for his mentor/tutor, a prince from a neighboring country called Erik.

I really enjoyed the story and getting to see what Mitanor and its culture was like. Jamie handles the changes life throws his way very well and so do the rest of the characters. I especially liked King Alexander; he was respectful and understanding with Jamie when needed. It was also nice to see Erik and his brother Stefan have a good and supportive relationship.

I do wish we had gotten to know Jamie and Erik more and why they liked each other. They were a bit too similar at times and I’d have to go back and double check whose chapter I was in. The book also was also telling us rather than showing us some things, and I wish we had gotten more descriptions in general.

Overall, in my opinion, The Rules of Royalty is more suited to the younger/middle YA audience, and is something I would have enjoyed more if I had read it a few years ago.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a sweet fish-out-of-water story about two princes: one whos always been a prince, and one who just found out he's one.

After Jamie finds out on his 17th birthday that his mysterious unknown father is, in fact, a king, he is not sure what to do with that news. But he is excited to travel to spend some time with the father he's never known in a country he's never seen. Erik, the prince of a nearby country, is recruited by the king to help Jamie learn how to be a prince.

I thought this was fun, though you don't want to think about the intricacies too hard. Like, would the royal family really pressure a 17/18 year old to hurry up and establish a relationship with the aim of getting married? Regardless, it's an entertaining read, and Jamie and Erik were cute together.

This was a sweet coming of age story in the most extreme of situations. I like the comparison to Princess Diaries though he went to his home country to learn about his previously unknown royal position. The neighboring country's prince was asked to help him with the ropes. It was interesting seeing how someone born to the position feels a certain way about questioning authority and what he can do. Whereas, the American born prince just goes out and does things to help his community.
The romance between the two was slow and sweet, the longer they spent together. There were obstacles in their way but they were brave enough to cross them.

Oh my goodness. As soon as I heard this was a Princess Diaries inspired queer romance, I knew two things. One I had to read it. Two I was going to love it. Whether or not I loved everything was the ultimate question. And honestly? I think I did. It was easy to read, absorbing, really sweet, and best of all? Low drama. Which I did not expect. And I love that this released only a couple months (? Has it really been that long already?) since the Princess Diaries 3 movie was announced. I can't wait to promote this book as that movie draws near.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Netgalley and Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review.

What a sweet and lighthearted queer romance, with a royal twist! There's forbidden love set within a beautiful European setting that made me want to jump on a plane! Overall, I found the direct writing style left little room for reader engagement.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

ty to netgalley and the publisher ✨

3⭐

the rules of royalty was a highly anticipated read of mine, and when i got approved for the arc on NG i was super excited. it unfortunately fell a bit flat for me :( the book revolves around jamie, a 16yo gay american boy who finally gets told the truth about his bio parents. the most alarming fact being that he is actually mitanorian royalty. he meets erik, the "spare" prince from the country of sunstad. erik (who is also conveniently gay 👀), is asked to tutor jamie in his newly found princely duties. they obviously fall in love, and deal with some obstacles that get in the way (namely: erik's family)

i think the plot and characters were super promising and had a lot of potential to be built into a great story. however, the writing fell flat for me on almost all fronts. the story was told from dual first-person POV, and i had a really hard time distinguishing the characters apart. the writing also lacked depth for me, personally, and i found that the characters' thoughts often didn't contain contractions (ie. they would think in sentences like "i am feeling xx emotion" instead of "i'm feeling xx"), which i found kinda made the characters not feel *real* to me if that makes sense?

i'm also kinda over the whole thing where MC has some life-changing event happen and then starts treating their friends like shit a little bit? i get he's a kid, but i feel like irl (esp with queer people) that doesn't really happen. i want to see more MCs leaning on their friends as they traverse a difficult time in their lives. that's the shit we need

i really wanted to love this story T_T

I thoroughly enjoyed this! Jamie and Erik are charming characters, and their bond is adorable. I love that the book didn't take itself too seriously, allowing it to be silly and humorous. Dietrich explores fame, family, friends, and discusses mental health issues tenderly.

We follow Jamie, who on his seventeenth birthday, learns that he is the son of a European king, making him a prince. Spare prince of a neighboring country, Erik, becomes his guide to royalty, tutoring him in etiquette and history. The two boys develop a sweet friendship, and feelings begin to develop for one another through their time spent together.

This is perfect for lovers of The Princess Diaries, and of course, Red, White, & Royal Blue! A quick and easy read, a feel-good story, and a whirlwind romance!

This is what would happen if Red White and Royal Blue had a baby with the Princess Diaries.

Average American teenage gay boy, Jamie, finds out that he is actually not just a regular kid, but a prince instead. His father the king invites him to spend the summer at the palace in Mitanor (an imaginary European country). To make things easier for this huge transition, the King gives Jamie the contact information for Erik, the only other out gay prince. They get in touch and Erik agrees to tutor him in royal life. Despite some pretty big hurdles they catch feelings and fall for one another. But Erik has been told by the Queen, his grandmother, that Jamie is off limits. Can their love survive?

The story is adorable and sweet as pie. I would recommend it to any young teen readers. For me it didn't quite satisfy, it didn't have any of the nuance of RWRB. The obstacles in the way were far too easily dealt in a way that felt a bit too deux ex machina for me. The king is ridiculously accepting and loving of this kid he's never met, and he didn't feel like a real character. Just a positive king cardboard cut out.

While the stakes were high for Erik, all he had to do was say no, once, and it was all okay, which made things seem less serious. I feel like the story could have used a round more of edits to strengthen the tensions.

4 stars

This is such a cute read! A YA m/m romance set within the royal palaces of Europe, it’s a sweet and heartfelt love story, and I loved this one.

Jamie is a well-adjusted 17 year old living a happy life in the USA when he learns that he is actually the son of European royalty. His biological father is the King of Mitanor, in southern Europe, and he and his adoptive parents have been invited to visit to get to know his newly-discovered family. Erik is the Prince of Sunstad, in the north of Europe, also 17 years old, and he has been asked to help Jamie adjust to royal life – show him the ropes, help him with the customs and etiquette, and be somebody for him to lean on. It helps that Erik is openly gay, as is Jamie, so they can also talk about the unique challenges that brings to life in the public eye.

Jamie and Erik initially chat over text, but it’s when they meet up in Mitanor that their friendship truly blossoms. They find that despite their different backgrounds, they have a lot in common, and as Erik helps Jamie find his way, the two boys grow close and attraction blossoms. But their situation is complicated – Jamie’s whole world has just been turned upside down and he has no idea what he’s doing or what his future looks like, and Erik’s family is a lot more stoic and ‘proper’ than Jamie’s. While they accept his sexuality, the still want to hand pick a partner for him, and outright refuse to allow him and Jamie to get involved. Their attraction soon becomes impossible to resist though, so we get the most beautifully sweet and innocent forbidden romance that absolutely warmed my heart, and that means so much to both of these boys.

"So much about my life has always felt like work: carefully analyzing every interaction, making sure I’m presenting an appropriate version of myself, one that represents myself, my country, and the crown, with the appropriate amount of reverence.
With Jamie, I don’t feel that way. My walls are down in a way they’ve never been before, and spending time with him is simply easy. It just works, in a way that feels special."

I loved these characters! Jamie is a sweetheart who embraces all of the changes in his life with maturity, intelligence and an open heart. And Erik’s story is so gorgeous as he comes to realise how stifled and controlled he has been in his life as “the spare heir”. Both of them get the opportunity to branch out and experience life like they have never experienced, and they embrace it with all of the wide-eyed enthusiasm of teenagers, and it was gorgeous to see.

There is a great bunch of side characters – family and friends – who support and guide the boys through their journey, and they’re really enjoyable. Perhaps a little bit too unrealistically perfect at times, but I enjoyed the different relationships. And though I did think that the reason behind the secret of Jamie’s birthright was a bit weak (I can’t believe any devoted father choosing to be out of his son’s life for so long), it paved the way for such a delightful read that I just forgot about that and happily lost myself in the story.

These boys have a gorgeous romance, and they work through their issues honestly and openly, and I loved seeing them get their happy ending.

This was a gorgeous read, appropriate for young readers and old, and I really enjoyed this book.

4 stars.

The Rules of Royalty by Cale Dietrich left me with the biggest smile on my face and the happiest heart!
A wonderful, fun, modern story on royal romance. It’s a cute and wonderful read that has a lot of humor and heart.
The connection between Jamie and Erik was simply amazing, with their fun-loving banter.
I enjoyed every word about this amazing couple’s poignant, unique, memorable love story!!!

👑ARC Review👑

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

What a cute read!! It’s a gender swapped Princess Siaries meets Red, White and Royal Blue and has all the heart and fun of both of those!

Finding out you are royalty at 17 is one thing (Mia Thermopolis anyone?) but then falling for another prince along the way? Scandalous. This has everything I loved about the nostalgia of a princess diaries situation with the forbidden romance of a red, white and royal blue type story.

A fun read all the way through!

The Rules for Rotalty by Cale Dietrich releases Tuesday, December 10th, 2024.