I really didn’t have high expectations for The President’s Daughter, but it was such an entertaining read. I loved the concept that the president’s family might be secretly recruited by the secret service to assist with safety.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

When I first saw this book on NetGalley, I wasn't too sure what it would be like, but hoped it would be similar to Ally Carter's books, as I love them so much, and need so many other books like that. Being the daughter of the President, Alix's life has been quite sheltered, even more so when she is involved in a car accident that leaves her on crutches. Now, her father babies her, and won't let her even go to university, rather she is given a tutor for homeschooling. However, her tutor isn't just anyone, but rather a genius working with the Secret-Service, who is helping to recruit new agents, and thinks Alix would be the perfect recruit. With her intellect, and personal involvement and wish to protect the president, she is the perfect choice, though her father can never know, and neither can her crush and friend, Sam.

I really liked Alix. She was extremely clever, and had used her time after the accident to improve her intellect and try and prove to her dad she deserved to go to university. However, when he still won't let her go, she doesn't back down, and throws herself into her training under Ian. She seems to think her dad is embarrassed of her, and wants to do anything she can to prove she is 'worthy' of him, when the opportunity falls right into her lap. When her father is nearly killed in a series of attempts, Alix, rather than being worried/concern, throws herself into finding the culprit, and make sure the right person is caught. Ian was a fantastic character as well, all snarky and didn't let Alix use her privilege when she wasn't really trying. He and Alix connect as soon as they meet, and I loved how their relationship developed.

The plot was slightly predictable at times, but it was a really fast paced read, and I was definitely blown away by my previous expectations. I hadn't heard of the author until now, but I would be happy to read more of their work in the future.

This wasn’t as action packed or fast paced as I was expecting it to be. Also didn’t enjoy the characters much. Overall, a disappointing read.

I always like a good intrigue and suspense YA. The President's Daughter had some of the typical tropes and some new spins thrown in. I like Alix although I felt her voice was a little young. It will

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book which I received
through Netgalley. This was a great read!

This book was promising from the beginning. I went into thinking it would be this fast-paced book with romance and action.

Instead, I was left disappointed, scrambling to clutch onto anything about the book which I truly enjoyed and would motivate me to finish the book. This just turns out to not be my cup of tea.

The pace was too slow; this was the main reason I became bored with it I think. It was realistic, to a point – I've read other, similar books that hold the same kind of young-spy scenarios and maybe I just expected this to be as enjoyable?

I didn't like our MC, Alix. Gosh for a genius seventeen-year-old she was still juvenile? I understand she'd been in an accident, and I commended her when she finally stood up to her dad but argh she frustrated me more than anything.

Sam. Ugh just as juvenile, the woe-is-me kind of boy who I felt like was taking advantage of the situation his best friend was in? I feel he was there mooching off the success of his family friends and that just didn't sit well with me.

I liked Ian. He was nice. I don't think he deserves Alix. And I wanted to learn more about Dmitri too, but as I didn't finish this book, I don't actually know how it ends. Which is also why this review is super brief because it's based on all my thoughts about the characters and the story as I have read it.

Maybe one day I will come back to this and try again, but for now, this just didn't meet the expectations I had. If you enjoy slow-paced mystery romances, this one is for you though!

•

2/5

DNF at 65%

I loved The President's Daughter. The way you feel invested in the characters, and how real the action felt makes it really hard to wait for the next installment.

As the parent of a child with a disability, I did not like how the main character, Alix, viewed herself--as a loser and cripple. It seemed like she wanted to be healed or made whole again rather than be a successful person with a disability which IS possible. Also her communication with her dad was not the best either, considering he is the president and she is super smart, it seems like it should be better. Other than that I liked the story--it was fun, there was a lot of action and a little romance too!

Alix Forrester is the daughter of the new President of the United States. It has been a year since the auto accident when she injured her left leg to the point where she couldn't use it without crutches or a wheelchair. She becomes a member of a special branch of the Secret Service in order to find out who is attempting to assassinate her father. Her ultra intelligent teacher Ian helps her by providing an unparalleled education in science, the duties of the Secret Service, and rehabilitation of her leg. Together they try to find the perpetrator, but when Alix inadvertently hands Ian evidence implicating her friend Sam and his father, Alix goes rogue and attempts to clear them while trying to find the real criminal.
This book is the first in an exciting new series. I enjoyed this book so much that I literally can't wait to read the next installment. The characters are complex as well as the suspenseful situations that arise. The writing is so descriptive that I felt like I was experiencing the story firsthand. I thought the teenage angst was a little too much, but other than that and the profanity (f-bombs, etc.), I really liked the book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense and mysteries.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

So I definitely enjoyed this book. I enjoy first daughter/president books so I had to get my greedy hands on it. I rate this book a four.
So I’ve read plenty other president/first daughter books and this one was definitely not like the others. In the book you meet Alix, daughter of the president who has become disabled by an accident and feels like she’s being treated differently by her father. What does she do? She agrees to become part of a secret secret service alliance that is for the children of the president. There she meets Ian. I’m the book someone tries to murder her dad and her best friend Sam gets pinned for it and that’s where the story starts to be AMAZING. Definitely an easy fun read. I’m usually a lot about big romance book but this was just perfect for me who doesn’t read much like this. The author grabbed my attention and it was such a great story line. Definitely recommend. :)

This book was not what I was expecting. The usual president's daughter theme was still here but I liked this author's fresh take on it (the accident causing her injury). I did like the internal struggle between which boy would "win" out too. Overall a good read and I am very interested to see how the author continues this series. I would recommend this book.

When socially awkward Alix becomes daughter to the President of the United States, she is recruited into the Special Forces and is to receive her own training. The only catch: she is confined to crutches from an accident several years ago. I thought it was great that Alix was a champ about things and never gave up, rather than being a mopey victim about her situation. She has her struggles and has lost a lot, but she stays on top of things rather than letting them bring her down.

So then, of course, there is the love triangle. I, personally, like a good love triangle. We have the guy Alix has known and crushed on forever, and then the new intern with the hot looks. Sprinkled throughout the book is just the right amount of flirting, family drama, and action. Overall I thought this book was a great balance of all the elements and I would highly recommend it!

A fun read and just the genre I was looking for. The book has a nice love triangle balanced with action. Definitely recommend.

I generally loved this story. Alix isn't your typical President's Daughter. Reeling from a car accident that almost killed her and broke her spine she feels like a failure. When her father gets elected she learns about PRICS, a secret section of the secret service that employs the children of the president to help protect the office. Alix knows she can't be of any use, but when she is offered a experimental medical treatment to help her walk again and a chance to use her 160 IQ to protect her family she (metaphorically) jumps at the chance. I loved the intrigue of this story coupled with the budding romance and watching Alix realize she is more than her crutches. This is a fantastic mix of spy thriller, romance, and family drama.

Alix has had so much taken from her. Her body is not the same. Her relationships with others' are not the same. Her feelings about herself and what she can accomplish are not the same. But all of this is about to change.

Sam and Ian are men in her life that help her in some way. Whether it be emotional, physical, or mental - they both serve a purpose. She cares about both of them deeply. The question now remains, who can help her move on to her future?

This book was fast paced and exciting! I loved every page and devoured it like candy. I think the characters themselves are deep and rich. I love the setting, it gives the writer a lot to enrich the story for the reader. The book overall was one of the best I have ever read. I am so excited for the next installment to this new heart thumping series.


***This early copy was given in exchange for an honest review, by Netgalley and its publishers.

Contains spoilers.

Alix, the president’s daughter is still recovering from a freak car accident where her spine was severed, leaving her relying on crutches and a wheelchair. She’s inducted into a branch of the secret service centering around the president’s kids old enough to be trained to spy/ protect their father from the inside. Since Alix is such a genius, she gets a lot more training than the average kid and gets to put it to use.

My fave character is Ian by a landslide. I love his quirky personality and how caring he is, and how he interacts with Alix and is a rock of support for her. I would’ve loved to see some chapters from his point of view. I hope to see more of him in future books.

What I didn’t like: I would’ve enjoyed this book a lot more if it wasn’t for the constant mental self-thrashing Alix would give herself, from being a “cripple” to a loser, her believing her dad thinks she’s nothing, a failure, etc. It was a constant downer. I totally get it that going through an accident and not being able to walk without help is an awful experience to go through- I myself couldn’t walk for 3 months due to a medical condition, so I can relate- but the nonstop negative mental chatter was too much. She’s supposed to be this uber smart genius and can’t figure out how to communicate with her dad enough to see that he’s blaming himself for her accident. Also, he’s the charismatic president and can’t communicate with his daughter? Hard to believe.

I really, really liked this book; the characters were well-built, after the first few 'weird' pages everything felt as if it could happen for real, the relationships between the main character and the characters around her were on point.. And then the love triangle! I'm looking forward to reading more about Alix.

The President's Daughter #1 by Mickey O'Brady was an enjoyable read that kept my interest from beginning to end. I thought the author did a wonderful job maintaining suspense, building tension between Ian and Alix, and infusing the story with plenty of teenage angst and hormones.

I did like Alix, as I thought she was a realistic and strong character, but I did find her constant need to mention her condition a tad annoying. I swear she mentions being "a cripple" at least 10 times within the first third of the book. Because of this, I did question whether I should continue reading since I can only take so much "woe is me" whining. She also goes on and on about her dad's behavior toward her, which, I get it, it's important to the storyline, but it gets repetitive pretty quickly.

The story does improve as the pages climb, with Alix becoming a much stronger character in both body and mind. I liked the behind-the-scenes setting, with much talk about secret lairs and super advanced technology. However, the real shining star of the book was Alix's relationship with Ian. The author built up the tension between the two quite well and I can't wait to see how their relationship evolves in the next book of the series (fingers crossed that Alix will be 18 by then!).

I give the book a solid 4/5, with detractions for redundancy and over-the-top "poor me/pitiful" attitude/behavior. It fits nicely within the YA genre and would be a worthwhile read for anyone looking to start a new series with well-developed characters and an interesting storyline.

*I was provided with an ARC by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Despite my best efforts to separate my personal feelings, I couldn't help but feel hurt and a bit offended by the way the author had to "heal" Alix. A fall, five years ago caused me to be permanently disabled. I struggled with feelings of inadequacy and accepting limitations has not been easy. I fear some, especially in younger audiences, may "read" into this - is it simply the stroke of an author's fictional pen or a deeper, very ugly message. Insinuating, no matter how slightly, that success cannot be attained by those with a disability is probably Not what the author intended. (At least I hope not.) But I feel certain I am not the only person that will feel the "slight sting."

That one issue aside, I did like the book. The characters are three dimensional, well drawn and easily relatable. The book has teen crushes, hints of romance, parental issues, and plenty of action. There's more than enough going on to keep you turning pages. Yeah, readers will have to suspend reality here and there. But, this is fiction. . .entertaining fiction!

Alix has been crazy for Sam . . .well, as far as she's concerned, forever. Now he's working as her father's assistant. By the way, Daddy is the President of The United States. Sam is right there in the White House every single day. Too bad since the car accident that cost his brilliant daughter a degree from Harvard, her father acts like he wishes she was anywhere but there. Going so far as to embarrass and humiliate her in front of everyone, when he actually threw her out of the Oval Office.

When The Secret Service recruits the 17-year-old as their "eyes and ears" close to President, Alix hopes to make her father proud again. Ian, the 21-year-old agent assigned to train her is not what I expected. Like Alix, Ian has a genius level IQ and is a science geek. Their connection is instant and all-consuming for Alix. She finds herself in between two awesome guys. That is until her first covert assignment.

After several assassination attempts Alix is in the middle of the investigation to identify who is trying to kill her father. Quickly, a little too quickly evidence Se, far from incontrovertible, points to Alix's long-time love, Sam. Ian is convinced Sam is guilty, has him arrested, and orders Alix to cease and desist. Of course, she's not going to do any such thing. Whether it's her personal feelings for Sam clouding her genius brain or Sam has been wrongfully arrested plays out as Alix goes on a solo-mission. She is determined to prove the true identity of the would-be assassin.

What teen can't relate to having a long time crush? Then meeting the older, worldlier, hot other guy. The heart is torn. And father/daughter issues exist even at 1600 Pensylvania Avenue. (Who knew, right?) This is a very promising new series. I am anxious to follow Alix out into the "real world." The story could go in a million different directions. What lies ahead for the President's Daughter could be anything author Micky O'Brady imagines. I imagine many readers will be ready for book two as soon as they close the cover of book one. I certainly am!

Happy Reading,

RJ

2.5/5

I went into “The President’s Daughter” expecting that it would be somewhat similar to one of Ally Carter’s books like “Not If I Save You First” or maybe “The Gallagher Girls” series, however that wasn’t the case. “The President’s Daughter” was different and it seems to be more like a generic YA novel. My definition of generic YA is when a YA novel contains tropes often found in MANY YA novels. I’m not saying this is a bad thing but the tropes presented in the novel weren’t exactly my favorites. Actually I dislike some of these tropes. Examples were:
1. Girl on girl hate: This is spoilery so I'm not going to talk about this but Alix has competition.
2. Ridiculous love triangle: Alix likes Sam but she thinks Sam likes Gianna. Then Alix likes Sam but she has conflicting feelings for Ian (her instructor) who also happens to be an adult. Sigh.

Additionally, there was so much drama in this book. The protagonist tends to create the drama since were reading the story from the perspective of a teenager. However, I just wasn’t expecting a girl with an IQ of 160 to make sweeping accusations as long as it’s not about her childhood crush, Sam. I expected her to be different because she was smart (according to her IQ score). Unfortunately, she was just like any other teenager I usually read about in YA novels. For instance, she doesn’t seem to be making rational decisions and she acts before thinking or assessing a situation. While she knows how to code and was knowledgeable in other areas like science and math, she had poor decision making skills.

I also dislike the idea of ‘fixing’ the main character. I know there are some people out there who can relate to Alix regarding this issue. In real life there is no such thing that could magically help someone walk this fast. I know this is just fiction but it would’ve been nice to read about a disabled main character that could still succeed even if she was on crutches.

What I liked in the novel was the development of Alix's relationship with her father and the novel's interesting premise.

Overall, I neither like nor dislike this book. I was completely engrossed in the story but there was a moment when I wanted to quit reading. Sometimes I just couldn’t stand Alix’s POV and instead I decided to skim it. It was frustrating but at the same time, I couldn’t put the book down.



*Huge thanks to the publisher for approving my request to read this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own!