I like that this is a duology that follows the same couple. We don't see that a lot in the contemporary romance world.

This is cute, and fun, and a lot of people will like it.

I like that Wren is a flawed character. She makes mistakes. She's naive and young. It's well written.

But the general plot of this is...eh. Mainly the ending and how they get there. There are a few thing that are wrapped up and make sense, but there are still a ton of issues that caused them to say "no" to things that do not get resolved or have solutions, so it's kind of weird that this ends in a "yes" without any real answers.

But it's a book with a ridiculous plot. It's not really supposed to be rooted down in reality so, all in all, fun. Enjoyable.

Have you ever been looking forward to a day at a theme park? And then you got there, and it took hours to park, the tram was out of order, security lines stretched to the horizon, all of the food was burned to charcoal, and the rides were all out of order?

You go through all the stages of grief: It's got to get better, right? How DARE they take my money and then do this? Maybe if I come back tomorrow it will be better. (sob) I wasted my vacation for this? Oh, well - I don't even care anymore.

If you've had that experience, then listening to The Prince & The Apocalypse and its sequel (it's really just a continuous story, so I'm not sure why you would be looking at this one without having read the first part) will bring back memories.

These books should be an amazing ride! The End of the World! Plane Crashes! Volcanoes! Insane Paparazzi! Reveals of Parentage! Except that the fun part never arrives. No matter how life-threatening, awe-inspiring, or just flat out bizarre the situation is, the author finds a way to ride the brakes in a way that makes what should be non-stop adventure feel like the longest slog of your life.

Every character must relearn the same lesson a dozen times. Conversations are repeated. and repeated. and repeated. Self-evident facts are "discovered" by people with no other purpose in the story. Characters previously presented as intelligent (or at least able to function at a basic human level) haven't noticed things that the residents of the Finding Nemo dentist's office fish tank would have picked up their first day. At no point do the two lead characters ever come across as a team working against their circumstances, and the many unnecessary side characters don't get enough definition to make up for it. The literal definition of All Filler No Thriller.

I've read plenty of books I haven't liked - not everything is to everyone's taste. But I have rarely been so angry that an author took what seemed to be a foolproof premise and bludgeoned it like a variably durable handcuff chain (one of the many lowlights) into something this painful.

Since movies can be remade umpteen times, I don't see why books can't get the same treatment. This is a premise begging for a remake by someone with a sense of humor, pacing...or just the ability to tell a good story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC - the homicide perpetrated on the concept is not your fault.

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. And thank you to @rbmedia for a free download of the audiobook.

A Royal Adventure

Heir, Apparently is a delightful sequel to The Prince & The Apocalypse, that continues the enchanting world-building and heartwarming romance established in the first book. Wren and the Prince are back, facing new challenges and deepening their connection.

The premise of a plane crash and an uninhabited island is a classic setup for adventure and romance. While the addition of supporting characters adds humor and camaraderie, it can sometimes distract from the central couple's storyline.

The author's writing style is engaging, and the chemistry between the main characters is palpable. The blend of humor, adventure, and romance creates a captivating reading experience.

The audiobook narration by Laura Knight Keating is exceptional. She skillfully brings the characters to life, capturing their unique voices and accents. Her performance enhances the listening experience, making it a truly immersive experience.

Overall, Heir, Apparently is a fun and entertaining read that will appeal to fans of young adult romance and fantasy.

4 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #stmartinspress #rbmedia #heirapparently #karamcdowell

Such a perfect follow up to one of my (surprisingly) favorite books, The Prince and the Apocalypse. I loved this duology so much, the second book being filled with as much wit, banter, and heart as the first book. And of course, the crazy shenanigans: a plane crash leaving them stranded on a tropical island. I really, really enjoyed the ending, too. I can't wait to read more by this author!

I enjoyed this story as an audiobook. This story is narrated by Laura Knight Keating. Even though she was a single narrator, she did a fantastic job of making each character have their voice and even got the accents nailed down for the royal family.

This story was a fun adventure. Nothing in this story is what I expected, I felt like there was so many twists and turns but you couldn’t stop reading because you had to see what happened next. This story is the second in the series but it’s the only one I have read. I didn’t feel lost even though I hadn’t read the first so it’s safe to say it can be read as a stand alone without being confused.

I really enjoyed this conclusion to the duology. It had a lot of the same "oh no impending doom" that I liked from the first while keeping it fresh with new characters and relationships. I mostly listened to the audiobook and the narrator was excellent.

This was a cute and quick listen. I actually didn't realize this was a sequel, so quickly listened to the first right before starting this one.

I think this was a great wrap up to Theo & Wren's love story, even if it wasn't the most believable storyline.

Laura Knight Keating was a wonderful narrator, and I blew through both books in just a few days. Overall, a fun story, even if there's no way some of these scenarios could happen.

3.5/5 stars.

Thank you to the author, Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced listening copy!

This was so fucking adorable. What a unique, fun little ride this duology took me on. From an apocalypse catalyzing a romance between a British prince and a regular American girl to a plane crash stranding them on a deserted island, this high-stakes romcom set in an alternate IRL universe was so fresh and outrageously fun, I didn't want to put it down.

McDowell's writing is easy to consume, but struggled in some sections with rapid emotionality. I also feel that the ending was a bit drawn out. The main characters oscillated between commitment and uncertainty too many times and it was a bit exhausting to read their minds changing over and over again. There was room for trimming at the conclusion of this novel, for sure, but I massively geeked out over the cute, imperfect grand romantic gesture in the very last chapter.

Despite my critiques, this was still a 4.5 for me because I’m a slut for this series.

A great conclusion to Wren and Theo's love story. These star crossed lovers were separated in Greece at the end of The Prince and the Apocalypse. After an overnight road trip to Toronto to retrieve her dog, Wren gets thrown into the royal family's machinations. On the flight to England unexpected storms cause the plane to crash stranding half the royal family, their bodyguards, Wren, her sister and best friend on a Portuguese island. Truths come out and injuries occur as the group tries to get off the island. Wren and Theo have to reconcile their differences and fight for the love that came so easily before. Will the royal family survive it?

Thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy of the audiobook.

This book I freaking loved. i loved it from the word go. It was cute. it was light. it was funny. I was so into this book. It wasn't anything life changing. but it was something you can sink into.

The sequel and conclusion to The Prince and The Apocalypse duology.

Did the story and things that happened in this book make sense? No. Was it totally unbelievable and kind of dumb? Yes. Was it extremely entertaining anyways? YES. These books are so over the top ridiculous, you can't help but love them. The cast of characters are so loveable, you have to root for them. Wren and Theo are such cuties, and I loved seeing them together again. Wren and Theo have so much chemistry, I wanted to shake them and yell that they needed to figure out how to make it work with one another because they are so dang cute together. I loved the spoiled royalty trapped on an island plot line. I loved the dynamics of this group, and watching them learn to trust one another. It was fun seeing Theo's family open up to Wren more, which allowed us to see their true personalities and why they are so guarded. We also get a lot more of Comet the dog, who is THE GOODEST BOY.

I highly recommend this duology if you're looking for something quick, quirky and extremely entertaining.

I’m not going to give a synopsis here, but know this book picks up right where the Prince and the Apocalypse ended with a wild cliff hanger. And know this is an even more wild adventure that involves multiple people stuck on a desert island.
Without giving too much away, this book is just as chaotic and adventure-filled as book one. It makes for a quick and very engaging read. What makes this book even more special than book 1 is that we get to know even more characters. This is a fun YA series that both teenagers and adults can enjoy.
I loved the audiobook narrated by Laura Knight Keating. It was a fun and entertaining listen!
Thank you to Wednesday Books, RBMedia, and NetGalley for the advance copy.

I enjoyed this sequel to The Prince and the Apocalypse. This one picks up a few months after that one left off, and reunites Wren & Theo. They get chased by the paparazzi again, someone leaks their marriage certificate, and life endangering mayhem ensues, this time in the form of a plane crash on a deserted island. It was a fun read, but had me rolling my eyes at many turns. There was one crazy disaster after another, but it never felt perilous. It did have a satisfying ending though, wrapping up the storyline well.

This was a strong followup to The Prince & The Apocalypse. I wasn't quite sure how the author was going to pull this storyline together but I really like how she did it - - especially her use of the dog as their major link - - very clever in my opinion.

This book has many of the same components as the first one - - scheming, politics, royals, drama and intrigue. It also has the two of them stranded together in a dangerous place with only their wits to save them. Of course they aren't alone this time but they still function. together as a unit in trying to find a way off the island. The storyline does have its frustrating moments when you weren't sure that Wren and Theo would find the way to truly make it all work out. Theo wants better for Wren and she just wants to be with Theo. They never seem to be on the same page.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The audiobook was well done and the narration was enjoyable and kept me listening. I thought it fit the style of the book quite well and lent to its draw. 4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this YA romance sequel and it's predecessor. There was closure at the end, but I wouldn't mind seeing a follow up. There's definitely room for one! Really liked the main and supporting characters and am invested in their stories. Solid audio narration!

I had such high hopes for *Heir, Apparently* by Kara McDowell because the description promised so much potential. Unfortunately, I had to stop at 30%. The constant miscommunication even that far into the story was beyond frustrating. Instead of feeling like a young adult novel, it was giving off strong teen vibes. Wren, the main character, was the worst part for me—being in her head was downright annoying. Her random thoughts were so scattered that I found myself thinking she needed professional help. The premise was intriguing, but the execution fell flat, and I just couldn’t continue.

Heir, Apparently by Kara McDowell is the sequel to The Prince and the Apocalypse.
We catch up with Wren back in Chicago broken-hearted trying to start college and move on with her life. One problem, she might be married to the King of England. Full of impulses and excuses she gets her sister and her best friend to take a road trip when she learns that King Theo is in Canada along with her dog Comet. While the government tries to figure out what to do with Wren and Theo's marriage certificate their plane crashes on a deserted island.
Theo and Wren are pretty cute together but have a bad habit of not communicating well. It seemed that every time they started to make progress some new disaster would interrupt them. The other characters were all pretty annoying for the majority of the story. I wanted to strangle Victorian and Henry most of the time but maybe that was the point. I did enjoy Wren's sarcasm and sense of humor as it lightened the tone of the rest of the book.
I enjoyed the Narrator in the audio version I felt like she brought the angst of all teenagers to life
This series is appropriate for a YA audience.
Thank you to Netgalley and RBmedia for this audiobook. All views and opinions are my own.

I was surprised at how much I loved the first book in this world, and I wasn't sure how the author would continue on the story. I was pleasantly surprised with where the story went in this one, and even though I didn't love it as much as the first I had a lot of fun reading it. I am definitely happy with how this one ended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

This was a really fun and romantic novel. Royal romances seem to be hit or miss for me personally, but I thought this one was fun and humorous. This is a good book to read if you are looking for an escape from daily stressors. I loved the romance, and the heart to this audiobook. I also liked the narrator. of this audiobook, and I would look for more books narrated by her.

Overall a fun and cozy read!
—


Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

********


If you are interested in seeing more of my reviews and other content feel free to connect with me here <3:

https://linktr.ee/bookreviewsbyjules (links to my Instagram, Goodreads, TikTok, Storygraph, My blog and Substack newsletter, etc)

If you are a publisher or author who has questions about my reviews (as well as questions about my stats, reach or engagement), please free to email me. I am also open to requests for book reviews from authors or publishers. Thank you again for taking time to read my review, and I hope you have a wonderful day!

Ohne Band1 gehört zu haben bin ich in Band 2 gelandet und habe mich dennoch recht gut zurechtgefunden.

Die Geschichte wird humorvoll und kurzweilig erzählt sodass ich gut abgeholt wurde und eine nette Zeit hatte.

Schönes Sommerbuch für zwischendurch!