I loved this book. LOVED. I loved the snark and quirky main (and secondary) characters and the enemies to lovers and the heartfelt emails sent back and forth with their beautiful historical quotes and the sex in well known settings. I loved how the author managed to make this couple’s relationship and the worldbuilding feel fresh and new even though the backdrop of politics and the royal family are so familiar to readers.
I freaking loved that this book is set somewhat in the future (the presidential campaign in 2020), but we have woman president and our real life current president isn’t anywhere on the political landscape. In fact this might have been one of my favorite things.
Red, White, & Royal Blue made me laugh, and get a little angry, but ultimately sigh in happiness. Alex and Henry are lovely and their relationship was such a wonderful slow burn romance that I was tempted to read ahead at times because I couldn’t wait to see how it all played out. I might have also had a little bit of anxiety about how Henry’s family would react to his coming out.
Even though we only get Alex’s POV, this just as much Henry’s story and his journey to accepting his sexual identity and fighting for his right to be his authentic self within the royal family and in this public life. There is also some honest, frank discussion about bisexuality and Alex realizing that he has always had interest in women and men. Thankfully they both had amazing support systems.
Just as a quick FYI, I would be super interested in reading a Nora/June/Pez poly romance. Like SUPER, DUPER interested.
This was such a fantastic, romantic read. I can’t recommend it enough. Go buy this book, you won’t regret it.
Final Grade- A
Favorite Quote:
Alex takes a breath. There’s this way Henry has of listening to the erratic stream of consciousness that pours out of Alex’s mouth and answering with the clearest, crystallized truth that Alex has been trying to arrive at all along. If Alex’s head is a storm, Henry is the place lightning hits ground. He wants it to be true.
Bridal Boot Camp is the prequel to Meg Cabot’s new series, Little Bridge Island. This was a super quick read, mainly because of it’s novella sized page count. I think it did an okay job of introducing the world, I’m guessing it will follow different town residents in every new installment.
The heroine of book one is a yoga instructor who meets the hero when he crashes her bridal boot camp yoga class. Their relationship progresses rapidly, but there was a nice intimate scene and the ending is decidedly HFN. I’m hoping we will see more of this couple in the next book in the series.
Final Grade- C+
Red, White & Royal Blue sounds like a book I’d enjoy. Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm, Angela!
Yes, you’d love it, Kareni! One of my favourites for 2019 for sure.
Yes! It’s soooo good.