Overall this was a super cute romance about finding true love regardless of who you are. This book felt like a Hallmark Movie sometimes with a prince in disguise trying to see what living a normal life would be like and also falling in love with an average person.

I loved the relationship between Michel and Emma. The meet cute in the coffee shop was swoon worthy and the way that Emma wanted to show Michel the "normal" world that he did not know being a prince was so fun. It was also very interesting to read all the descriptions of Korean cuisine that Emma was making.

While the story was cute it was also extremely long and it kind of dragged in the middle. The spice was pretty good but also brief and not too descriptive.

I listened to the audiobook and I did not enjoy the performance by Olivia Song. I felt like the narrator made Emma seem much younger than she was supposed to be and her male voices were awkward. Since this book was basically written with dual POVs it would have been nice to have two narrators.

If you like romcom TV movies, this may be a good fit for you. It felt like the holiday movies I like to watch on Netflix and Hallmark.

Although I love a good cheesy romcom and I am passionate about multicultural lit, this was a DNF at 15% for me. The story had the feel of a 90s multicultural lit, with the main character feeling primarily frustrated with her native culture. She has a love of Korean food and a love of family, but she seems to have a negative take on Korean community, men, and societal expectations. I feel like I've already seen this type of story before, the one where the Western love interest comes to the rescue of the girl who's facing a loveless arranged marriage. I've been swayed by the tendency of today's YA romcoms to have a bit more cultural appreciation and complexity. I was hoping to get some nuance, even with a cheesy romcom, but with a 12 hour listen, it seemed like too long of a wait to get there.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review!

That Prince is Mine is a cute romance that incorporates the ideas of following future stability or following your heart. The cover and description caught my attention right away, and I was captivated by the situations the characters were in. I did enjoy the author’s writing style, but there were times that the dialogue felt prescriptive and even stilted. Perhaps I got this impression from the portrayal of the characters and their seemingly unnecessary small talk or maybe it was the audiobook’s narrator. Either way, it occasionally became distracting.

Beyond the writing itself, the book as a whole mimics common romance tropes. This is absolutely fine if you have very specific romance tropes that you wish to see in a book, but that also means that the storyline itself can be stereotypical. For example, the tropes included make it clear that this book is written by a woman, for women, even though half of the book is technically written in a man’s perspective.

I initially liked Emma’s character and motivations. She was reasonable and practical, yet realistic in desiring her own long-term happiness. The date where she pretends to blow her nose into a table cloth is ironically what made me begin to appreciate her. Although I knew she would fall head over heels because of the nature of this book, she somehow changed so drastically that she felt out of character, yet was still static in her development. Her actions and willingness to embrace lust became such a strong part of her personality that there is a disconnect from who she initially was. Of course, there was repetitive internal dialogue that conveyed the exact thoughts she had at the beginning of the book:
“They had nothing in common! She’d find her “perfect on paper” man after Michel leaves. She needed to preserve Auntie Sue’s reputation!”
Cognitive dissonance is quite real, but it becomes annoying if that dissonance feels like a side effect of poor character development, rather than the author’s purposeful choice. Emma’s character did come around at the end of the book, and although some people might not have liked how drawn out and dramatic the ending was, I appreciated that Emma’s personality came full circle and we were reminded why we care about her as a character.


Chapter eight (marked on Netgalley as chapter nine) and chapter nine (marked as chapter ten) both cut off before the end of the chapter. For example, chapter nine is only two minutes long and cuts off mid-sentence. I won’t lie, I was a little shocked and disappointed because that included an encounter that I was eager to witness, but I was able to understand enough to keep reading.

Korean culinary instructor Emma reluctantly agrees to a series of dates arranged by her matchmaker godmother. After a string of disastrous encounters, she meets Michel, a charming professor, who challenges her views on love. She doesn’t know he’s the crown prince of a small European country. Though bound by duty, Michel is looking for a wife he can love and trust. Will his fling with Emma turn into something real?

This is a funny, emotional read with a well-paced plot and lovable characters. Emma is guarded with her heart, and Michel with his secrets, but eventually they learn to trust each other. I enjoyed the audiobook narration.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Thank you Jayci Lee & Netgalley for the ALC. All reviews are my own.

I honestly think the only reason why I finished this book was because I was listening to it. The storyline got to be too long, and moved too slow for my taste.

Narrator was great, however!

That Prince is Mine turned out to be a delightful surprise that I loved listening to. Going into this audiobook completely blind and with little connection to its Korean background, I was initially hesitant. However, Emma Yoon’s story quickly swept me up in a charming tale filled with romance, humor, and unexpected depth.

Emma Yoon, a Korean royal court cuisine instructor in Los Angeles, is determined to achieve her dreams of opening a culinary school. Her encounters with disastrous arranged dates, orchestrated by her God Mother who is a matchmaker, add humor and tension to her journey. Despite her love-averse nature, her eventual meeting with Michel Aubert, a professor and prince in disguise, sets the stage for a heartwarming exploration of love and duty.

The characters in That Prince is Mine are wonderfully fleshed out, each with their own motivations and quirks. Emma’s reluctance towards love and Michel’s struggle with duty versus personal happiness are portrayed with authenticity and empathy. Their chemistry is palpable, making their journey towards understanding and acceptance a joy to follow.

Lee's writing style is engaging and laced with cultural nuances that add depth to the narrative, which I absolutely loved. The audiobook’s narration is excellent, capturing the nuances of the characters’ emotions and enhancing the overall experience.

While initially unsure about the cultural backdrop, I found myself thoroughly enjoying how it enriched the story’s tapestry. The blend of romance and cultural exploration was seamless, offering insights into Korean traditions and values while never overshadowing the universal themes of love and personal growth.

Overall, That Prince is Mine is a captivating audiobook that blends romance and cultural exploration with finesse. Jayci Lee has crafted a tale that is both heartwarming and entertaining, perfect for anyone looking to get lost in a modern fairy tale with a delightful twist. I highly recommend it, especially if you’re in the mood for a charming escape into the world of love, duty, and happily ever afters.

That Prince is Mine tells the story of a Korean culinary instructor, Emma, and Michel, a real-life prince (it's a secret) and professor at USC who quickly fall in love. A bit too quick in my opinion to be believable. That Prince is Mine was a fine, lighthearted romance, but not very noteworthy for me. I do think many people will enjoy it. I have nothing substantial to knock.

The narrator did a good job of narrating both characters. Open-door romance scenes should be listened with headphones when around small children. Take it from me. Lol

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Jayci Lee for this audioARC in exchange for my honest review. That Prince is Mine hits shelves on July 30, 2024.

As of today, many Korean-inspired novels in a contemporary setting revolve around k-pop, so in that regard, That Prince Is Mine is a divergent breath of fresh air. Despite the following critique, I hope publishers will take note that more books of this representation are needed.

Because I received this ARC as an audiobook, the narrator is factored into this review. A NOTE TO THE AUDIOBOOK PUBLISHER MACMILLAN AUDIO: If you have a book centered around Korean themes, please be mindful of casting a narrator who can pronounce Korean words accurately. To a listener who is familiar with native Korean speaking, it is very clear that the narrator speaks Korean words with a significant non-native accent. It is not everyday you have a novel incorporating Korean culture into a book, so there is no room to have the words pronounced inaccurately to a wide audience of listeners. Moreover — as other reviewers have pointed out — the narrator did not pronounce the main male protagonist’s name, Michel, completely accurately either.

The writing itself has an interesting premise but could go further with gradual, more convincing buildups of emotions. As early as the main characters’ first encounter in the cafe, the lines describing their sensual tension come off sudden and random, rather than gradual and natural. Most disappointingly, in the end (no spoilers), the female main character’s choice for her dreams can be described as shallow if not further explored.

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Thank you to Macmillan Audio who provided this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’m still up in the air on how much I liked this book. While I liked the characters and the premise of the book, it kind of fell short. It seemed like it just went on and on with nothing really happening.
If it wasn’t an advance copy I’m not sure I would of finished it. Just seemed like such a long book for nothing going on.

A sweet royal romance with yummy food! Unfortunately this audiobook was way too long. I feel like romcoms should never be more than 10 hours. This book would have been better if it was shorter. I loved the plot and the characters but I found myself rushing through multiple spots because I was bored. I was set the hive this 3 stars but the ending was just so sweet and I really loved it so it bumped it to a 4.

Although I liked the narrator overall, I struggle with books that have dual POV but only one narrator so the story didn’t come to life as vividly as I would have liked.

I’ll still recommend this to anyone looking for a fun romance!

This was adorable. I have loved Jayci Lee's romances ever since discovering them a couple of years ago. This one was a bit spicier which I totally loved. I'm so glad I had the chance to listen to this one thanks to Macmillen Audio.

The narration was well done although the female narration felt a bit younger than the character is and the accent for the male mc was a bit rough for me. Overall, I still enjoyed it.

I am a sucker for a romance between a royal and a non-royal and this one was mix race which added an interesting element. Emma is a culinary instructor that socializes in Korean royal cuisine and her aunt is matchmaker who wants to match her up become she becomes too old. She meets Michel at a coffee shop after one of her matches and they have an instant attraction. I love that Michel falls first and they were really cute together. They were total opposites in their view of love and that added a good element to the story. For me, I wanted more from Michel, his love felt way too insta for me. I wasn't a big fan of the ending despite it being a HEA. I felt Emma gave up a lot of her dreams to be with Michel.

Olivia Song did a wonderful job with the narration with both a Korean pronunciation with all the foods and Michel and Gabriel's accent.

Thank you @macmillab.audio @netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

This is a fun, entertaining read. Michel and Emma are interesting, relatable complex, intriguing, strong, wounded, romantic, entertaining characters. I enjoyed their romance and the path it took to get to their HEA. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment. The story is easy to read and get into.

I enjoyed the audio version of this book and the narrator.

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

Super cute and funny and sweet and steamy book, all in one. Emma’s a culinary instructor with a matchmaking godmother who needs an assist on her work reputation, so she sets Emma up on a series of dates with men who are perfect-on-paper. Except they’re all slightly awful and she ends up hitting it off with a handsome stranger at a cafe instead. Emma’s got a bunch of hang-ups about love due to her parents’ divorce, so she’s looking for compatibility rather than sparks. On the other hand, Michel, a secret prince, is looking for love so he can get out of a longstanding childhood betrothal to a friend he doesn’t want to marry. These two awkwardly flirt and Michel is charmingly a dunce at dating, and Emma is totally resistant, especially since Michel is planning to leave in a few short months. We get a very fun cast of supporting characters, especially Michel’s cousin and his bodyguard (who may actually have an awkward history with each other). I had a great time reading this book and found myself laughing and smiling through a lot of it.

Thank you to MacMillian audio for the ALC. I had a lot of fun with this one and Olivia Song did a lovely job narrating.

At this point in my reading history I should let this cute cartoon cover surprise me but here I was surprised by spice. Please note: I’m not complaining. This was kind of like a hallmark movie but throw in a few jalapeños for spice.

Emma wants to start a culinary school in LA and she would also like to get married but only to a man who is good on paper, none of that love stuff for her.

Michel is a Prince and has come to LA to be a visiting professor and hopefully find a bride so he doesn’t have to go through with his arranged marriage. When he sees Emma it feels like love at first sight, well for him. She needs a little more convincing.

This was a sweet romance book with an interesting look into Korean American culture. The FMC is a culinary instructor so food is very prevalent throughout the story. Fair warning, you’ll want snacks handy because this book will make you hungry. Overall, the story felt very reminiscent of the movie the Prince & Me with the undercover prince and regular woman fumbling through hidden secrets and miscommunications. Of course, though, love trumps all in the end once you realize it’s worth fighting for. I did enjoy the story, but it wasn’t overly memorable. I think my problem was that it got a bit too bogged down/repetitive with trying new things to the point it didn’t feel like it was moving the story along. I loved the side characters, though, and was fully invested in their will they/won’t they relationship. To be honest, I would love a book about them. I read this via audiobook and felt that the narrator, Olivia Song, did well. She was able to keep my interest. If the synopsis sounds like something you would be interested in, I would recommend giving this a chance.

Overall rating 3.5⭐️

I had a hard time getting into the “love “ story. The characters had no chemistry, and at one point Emma thinks they’re not compatible because he’s never tried Peruvian food. That’s so weird.

I’ve previously not enjoyed this author and this will be my last try.

Emma was everything I love about a romance lead! The first half of the book was so great, but the last half did fall out of my interest a bit. This mainly resulted from the multiple times Michel was going to share something with Emma and it got put off for whatever reason. I'll definitely be recommending this title!

What an adorable book! With lots of yummy Korean food and precious pining, this “prince in disguise” story is wonderful. It’s lighthearted and filled with stolen kisses, sneaky flirting, and trying to pretend they’re not *actually* in love.

Very good on audio and an excellent summer read!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this audio.

I really enjoyed this book. I wasn’t sure in the beginning if I would like it but I did. Such a cute love story. The narrators did great!! Just the right amount of humor romance and spice!