First thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book. The Rules of Royalty by Cale Dietrich interested me from the moment I read the title. It follows the romance between Erik and Jamie. One has grown up royal whereas the other has grown up an American with no knowledge that his father is the King of a European country. They meet, one tutors the other, and they fall in love. Only problem is that Erik faces the obstacle of his family needing to approve who he dates and Jamie doesn’t make the cut.

While the concept is interesting and I did enjoy the book, I still feel like I can only rate it 2.5/5 stars. The book goes back and forth with POV and yet neither character has a voice that can be distinguished from the other until names or details are mentioned that allow the reader to infer. Although Jamie does react to the secret of who his father is, he’s upset at his mom for a short period of time and we don’t fully see any anguish from it even at what it means to meet a parent for the first time at 17. Furthermore he jumps right into being a part of the royal family without much trouble. His father’s wife is accepting of him as is his half-brother. Conflict doesn’t exist and when it does it last a page or two and it’s not important.

Jamie fits in as a royal right off the back and Erik tutors him and makes him fit into the life without much trouble. It’s very unrealistic and I would have preferred to see him struggle more. Not to mention that the public accepts him easily and while the country is progressive the Prime Minister is not and yet we don’t explore any of that past a scene where he’s a bully to Jamie…but it doesn’t change or add anything to the story. I was half expecting the PM to be more involved in the secret of Jamie and Erik’s relationship being exposed but that was not the case.

Similarly the biggest obstacle to Jamie and Erik is Erik’s grandmother, the Queen. She doesn’t approve of Jamie and when Erik does finally tell her about them immediately falls into line and breaks up with Jamie. Her reasons are to do with the monarchy and how the public views things and it’s a great obstacle that really comes down to Erik needing to stand up for himself but while it hangs over them for most of the book, it is then resolved fairly quickly and Erik does not actually lose anything to gain Jamie. It just felt both rushed and too easy. That’s what the book as a whole feels like.

It’s a cute romance without much substance that requires a lot of letting go of logic. Compared to other books similar to this one, I just find it lacking. It isn’t quite what Meg Cabot did with The Princess Diaries and it misses what Casey McQuiston did with Red White and Royal Blue. So I suppose that it’s worth reading if you want a romance that is light with a happy ending and very little angst. 2.5/5 stars.

A fun LGBTQ and slightly more mature take on The Princess Diaries. Jamie Johnson gets the shock of his life on his 17th birthday when he finds out that his father is the king of a small country. He is introduced to Erik, a prince from another small country, to help him deal with royal life. Erik also happens to be gay (as is Jamie). As Jamie learns what it means to be a royal and how to deal with being in the public eye, there is inevitably a draw between the two spare princes. What helps this story stand out a bit is that Jamie isn't being given a superficial make-over, but he is using his popularity to promote causes that he believes in. Erik has also been specifically told not to have any romantic interactions with Jamie and is being set up with another prince by his grandmother, the Queen. There is additionally some drama with his best friend from back home, but all problems are sorted out by the end. I enjoyed this and it fills a need for light hearted LGBTQ love stories/fairy tales.

I enjoyed this light, fluffy LGBT spin on 'The Princess Diaries'. Author Cale Dietrich did a great job of letting readers into the minds of both narrating princes, and I felt fully immersed in their feelings and experiences. Highly recommended!

The Rules of Royalty has a cute premise, but after being stuck 3/4 of the way through for weeks, I have to admit to myself I'm not going to finish this book. It's not egregiously bad in any one aspect, moreso just predictable/boring with one dimensional characters I could never get invested in. I wanted to like this book, but it wasn't for me.

The Rules of Royalty is a dual POV romance following Jamie, a freshly 17-year-old American who learns he’s the secret prince of a Southern European country, and Erik, the prince of a Northern European nation who feels controlled by his royal position. When Erik agrees to ‘tutor’ Jamie in the titular rules of royalty, they help each other in more ways than they expected.

This novel was very sweet! I’ve read The Pledge by the same author, which is a teenage/college slasher, so I didn’t know what to expect with this one. Luckily for Jamie and Erik, there was a lack of murderers in this book! I’ve seen it described as a mlm Princess Diaries, and I think tonally that comparison works. It’s not a brain buster, but it’s cute if you want a palate cleanser or just a simple romcom.

It does have a light plot. It kind of felt like only Erik had any real stakes in the conflict. There was a moment mid-ish way through where I thought a new conflict specific to Jamie was being set up—and I was interested!—but it was resolved quite quickly and didn’t really have a lot of impact. His main issue was also easily resolved.

The two POVs are in first person, and Jamie and Erik have very similar voices so occasionally I had to remind myself which was which. It helped that their names look indicative of their home countries.

I really liked how the two fictional nations featured in the book were very progressive. None of the main conflict rested on homophobia or bigotry, and that was a big highlight for me. The main characters had mature, loving relationships with their families, even Erik and his grandmother.

Overall it’s a lighthearted, quick read that I think a lot of readers will find charming!

This was a light-hearted, fluffy YA book. An LGBTQ+ version of Princess Diaries, with obvious differences. I enjoyed it greatly for being exactly what it was: relatively simple and sweet. I’m not a fan of third act breakups, but it also made sense in the context of Erik needing to grow a backbone and stand up to his grandma (the queen).

While I liked this story well enough, it wasn't on quite the same level as "Red, White & Royal Blue", as I'd hoped it might be.

Jamie was just a regular American teen who happened to find out that he was actually foreign royalty.

And Eric was the spare prince whose family controlled nearly every aspect of his day-to-day life, yanking the leash every time that he did anything of which his Queen grandmother didn't approve.

I did enjoy experiencing how the two met, became closer, then fell for one another; however, it seemed as though *nothing* major actually happened in the conflict department, aside from one instance of Eric needing to actually stand up to his grandmother.

There was some melodrama between Jamie and his BFF, Max, but it honestly felt pretty manufactured and didn't add anything to the story for me. For them to supposedly have been extremely close, I wasn't sold on their *best* friend status at all. They rarely spoke, and when they did, they constantly walked on egg shells.

And when The Big Confrontation with the Queen finally arrived, it ended up being a complete non-event in the end.

I did like how the story ended, once Jamie had graduated high school in the US, which left an opening for a potential second book. Maybe?

But overall, I wasn't completely blown away by the story, as it left me feeling blah, when looking back on the story as a whole.

I'd rate the book at around 3 stars and consider it more of an opening act than a main event.

Thank you NetGalley & St Martins Press for the opportunity to read this book early!

When I read the blurb for this one I put my request in quickly… anything that even remotely relates to Princess Diaries is a “yes” for me! But unfortunately, this book wasn’t my cup of tea.

I do think this might gear younger than I initially thought, and being in my 30’s it just sometimes felt like a book that was written just slightly above middle-grade. I feel that might be harsh, but it did feel quite immature at times (mostly in dialogue or thought processes).

Additionally, the characters unfortunately felt very one-dimensional to me, which was a bummer. As I was looking forward to a young queer romance that Had characters young queer teens could relate to. But it felt as though the only relatable point was their queerness.

I do think this book could be great for anyone looking for just fluff, not a lot of substance. The conflicts resolve quickly, the young love is certainly sweet, and the overall plot is fun! But if a reader is looking for depth in young queer characters, unfortunately I would have to say this is lacking.

I was so so excited to pick up this book! As a fan of Young Royals, these seemed like such a perfect book "version" of the show.

Unfortunately, I rated the book fairly low, and knew from the first chapter that the writing style was not for me. I powered through and completed the book mainly because it was an easy breezy book to just pick up when ever I had a free moment. I do not think that this book is objectively bad, but I rate books quite subjectively, and this book simply was not my type of favorite read.

Although the characters are 17/18 years old, this book is more suited to a much younger audience. The writing is a little cringey to me and it is more tell than show, the conflicts that arise in the book are easily and quickly dealt with (even the third act conflict was very quickly resolved), and the characters (especially Jaime) just read much much younger than 17/18. I would guess that a younger teen would probably really love this book, especially because so many important topics are discussed within the text and the story is very easy to follow.

I just wanted something that read more older YA/adult, dealt with more complex themes that were not easily resolved, and most of all, I prefer books that are written in a more complex manner.

Thanks to Wednesday Books at St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

I’m the kind of person that can read the same trope a million times. I’ll read the same couples, the same circumstances, over and over again. But The Rules of Royalty felt…cheap and far too easy. The plot was flimsy and the characters were superficial and unlikable. I can see what books the author takes inspiration from, and the nods to various tropes. But the characters just weren’t able to hold these tropes. I was bored and had a hard time getting through what was a relatively light hearted and what should have been an easy, cozy read.

I can perhaps see a young teen, probably 14 or 15, enjoying this book as their first foray into queer royal romance. It is an easy read in many respects, and perhaps I hoped for too much, given the comparisons to the Princess Diaries.

I think this is such a great young adult read! It was such a sweet, meet cute kind of read that I really enjoyed. I do think had I read this when I was in my teenage years or late high school I would have liked it a bit more but it was still such a cute book!

I will start by saying that I think this should be marketed as a teen book, as it reads very young. The characters, Jamie and Erik are both 17 and still in high school, and their narrative very much sounds like speaking to a 17 year old. So I feel it is too young to be categorized as YA and if it was properly marketed I would not have requested an arc for it. The story itself, American suddenly becoming a Prince in a foreign country (that conveniently speaks English even though it sounds like a Spanish country) and falling for his similar aged Tutor, a Prince from another kingdom, was cute and slightly reminiscent of The Princess Diaries. I just found that the book lacked substance overall. Every obstacle and conflict was very quickly and easily resolved (other than the main one which was repeated over and over again but then finally overcome in a matter of a few lines of dialogue), and none of the characters has very much depth to them. I will rate it a 3 as I think teenagers may like this book, but I wouldn't recommend for an audience over 22 years old and that might even be a stretch.

The Rules of Royalty was such a fun surprise for me. Cale Dietrich writes a really good story and ties it all together so neatly at the end. You’ll want to check this one out!~


Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press|Wednesday books for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Pleasant read and romance story. Read as a teen book, which is likely that target audience. That made the reading seem a bit sophomoric. It could also use some editing to remove some things that I cannot figure out if they were less than the best writing or not thought through. The story line seemed a bit simplistic and fully clear from the very beginning. I knew how it would flow and end without the need to read the story, I would have liked a bit more depth, but maybe I am expecting too much, I did enjoy it as a "beach read".
A couple of things that cause me to think - "what? that does not make sense":
- Why would one need or use a card key like a hotel in the private residence part of the place to enter a bedroom or suite?
- Why would someone not use proper honorifics (HRH, Majesty, etc.) when referring to royalty? I can understand it when in private, intimate setting between members of the family.

Feels like a princess diaries meet cute with the sweetness and fish out of water royalty vibes we love about hallmark stories but with two sweet princes.

What a cute take on a queer royals in love tale. Definite gem of a YA romance that's a great read for that young queer romance reader in your life.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“The Rules of Royalty” by Cale Dietrich is a charming queer young adult romance centered around two princes from neighboring countries. Jamie Johnson, who discovers on his seventeenth birthday that he is actually the prince of Mitanor, a picturesque European kingdom, is suddenly thrust into a royal life he knows nothing about. Erik Von Rosenborg, a prince from a nearby kingdom, is tasked with tutoring Jamie in the intricacies of royal etiquette. As Jamie navigates his new identity, he and Erik develop a heartwarming romantic relationship. This is a book I highly recommend for anyone looking for a feel-good read. It’s very similar to a Hallmark movie where it leaves you feeling warm inside after you’ve finished reading. While the story itself is pretty light and doesn’t have much depth to it, it’s a quick read and extremely enjoyable, especially if you are a fan of “The Princess Diaries.”

The story offers a delightful escape into a world of young love and royal charm. The story provides a light and happy narrative that is perfect for readers seeking a comforting and uncomplicated story. Jamie and Erik are endearing characters, and their blossoming romance is sweet and sincere. The plot, while enjoyable, does venture into the realm of the unrealistic, especially with the trope of fake dating and the obligatory third-act breakup. I’m not very into the fake dating troupe, though I do appreciate how there was often open communication between the characters. While these elements were predictable at times, they do not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the story.

The positive and supportive relationships among the characters add a layer of warmth to the book. The family and friends of both princes are portrayed as understanding and loving, which contributes to the feel-good atmosphere of the novel. I loved the family/friends aspect of the book as everyone is just so welcoming. This atmosphere made me love this story and all the characters involved. The setting of the story adds to its appeal, with the European backdrop offering a mix of natural beauty and regal allure. Think of the Northern Lights, serene lakes, and majestic mountains, which perfectly complement the royal theme.

Overall, “The Rules of Royalty” is an adorable, light-hearted read that is perfect for fans of YA romance and royal tales. The book serves as a wonderful escape from the real world.

The Rules of Royalty is The Princess Diaries meets Young Royals with a sprinkling of Red White & Royal Blue, and I am here for it!

Jamie, a normal American teenager, finds out his biological father is a king. When he goes overseas to meet him, his father asks teenage prince, Erik, to tutor Jamie on all things royalty. Of course their relationship does not stay teacher and student and Erik’s grandmother, the Queen, does not approve, leading to a smidge of teenage angst and a lot of cute moments.

This is a lighthearted easy read that got me out of a reading slump and made me happy.


Thank you to Cale Dietrich, NetGalley and Wednesday Books at St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

If you were ever obsessed with the Princess Diaries as a kid (or still are), but wanted it to be a little…or a lot gayer, you should read this book. It’s a light and happy read, and while it is easy to tell that it was based on the Princess Diaries, the author did a nice job of building it into its own story as well. I thought that the story was well written and had lots of substance besides just a story about a prince suddenly being told he’s a prince.

The characters in this book were great overall, and the side characters were especially well developed. Jamie and Erik were great main characters, and I was definitely picturing Erik as Wilhelm from Young Royals the entire time, although I did not realize that until the end (whoops). I felt that Jamie and Erik’s relationship was a good one—it felt like a natural next step in their friendship, instead of being rushed, and also felt realistic, despite them both being royalty.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books at St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

P.S. (minor spoilers) I am always absolutely ecstatic whenever the Killers are mentioned in a book. Did that one mention bump my rating up? Possibly, but it’s well warranted, especially because it was a small rant about Battle Born.

This was so wholesome and cute. I loved both the main characters and felt that the conflict was justified. This was the perfect comfort read.