Cover Image: Red, White & Royal Blue

Red, White & Royal Blue

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I, like many others, adored this book. I thought it was sweet and sassy, and had some great character dymamics. I felt like the characters were realistic and kept you engaged. The romance was adorable, sweet and contained what felt like a realistic build up and realistic reactions to problems they faced. They aren't perfect, but they eventually work through things.

My only real complaint is Alex and his highschool friend's story line. I don't think it was well developed at all, and actually took away from the genuine feeling of the overall story arc. It was just kinda thrown in here and there randomly and felt more problematic and fake than adding more backstory to our main characters life. I think it could have been handled much better, as the situation can be a real scenario people face. But the way it was thrown in the story it kinda just felt like the author was trying to tick off a box to fill out a "well rounded" cast of characters. I think it would have benefited the story had it been properly plotted out beforehand if that makes sense? I do seem to be alone in this feeling, but thought it worth noting that it rubbed me the wrong way how it was just tossed in as a plot device in the beginning, then magically given a happily ever after at the very end.

Overall despite the one gripe I had, I found it to be a wonderful book and am excited to see more LGBTQ+ stories in trade pub limelight. I hope stories like this become more normalized ❤️ I highly recommend this book overall!

Was this review helpful?

I think this book would have been a lot better if there was a better balance between the romance and politics. I thought the book was good when it was Alex and Henry together and it's nice to read a mainstream M/M romance.

Was this review helpful?

This was such a cute book! I loved the relationship between Alex and Henry. The side characters were also very fleshed out and fun. I definitely laughed out loud during this book and swooned at parts.

Was this review helpful?

While it took me some time to get to this, it was a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience. The romance was charming with a great deal of chemistry between the leads. I also appreciated the political setting both in the UK and the US. It represented a political environment that now seems almost quaint. This is a novel that I would read again.

Was this review helpful?

I had never read a male/male romance before, but this was a perfect place to start! The main characters felt so real, and it was definitely bittersweet reading a story about a woman winning a presidential election. I cannot wait for McQuiston's next novel.

Was this review helpful?

This book was a joy to read. I loved seeing multiple characters learn about themselves and reflect on their lives and that each character helped one another to become their true selves.

Was this review helpful?

A new favorite! I love that this has an alternate future without a Trump presidency. It's such a great book to dive into as a means of escapism. I loved their relationship and banter between them. The ending was perfect. I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next. They're definitely one to watch.

Was this review helpful?

I recieved an ARC of this novel from netgalley in exchange for an honest (and belated) review.

Red, White, and Royal Blue is
a modern and vital portrayal of two young men navigating sexual stereotyping and awakening. While a butterfly-inducing enemies-to-(fake)friends-to-lovers romance, the story and beautiful writing evolve into a moving manifesto about the inherent right of a human to love whomever their heart chooses. It's so close and intimate, you almost feel as if you are intruding on all of the main characters most private moments. Like both Henry's and Alex's dark and neurotic moods, respectively. But it's about so much more, like politically charged parent-child relations--

"Knowing your parent as the person who raised you isn’t the same as being able to guess their moves as a world leader."

--and the grief of loss--

"The way Henry talks about him is a physical feat, drifting up in the corners with fondness but sagging in the middle under the weight."

It is a much heavier book than one might go into it expecting. It's not just another royal romance or fraught enemies to lovers trope. It reaches beyond its genre and tropes and tells a story that feels real and leaves an actual weight with you.

" 'I’m as much a person and a part of this family as you. I deserve to be happy as much as any of you do. And I don’t think I ever will be if I have to spend my whole life pretending.' "

If your heart doesn't break and soar in equal measure, then I dare say you aren't human, and there is nothing to be done for it.

Was this review helpful?

SUCH a fun book! Loved the "what if?"-ness of the plot and laughed my way through this refreshingly charming read.

Was this review helpful?

I gave this book a four out five stars. I really like the story, the two main characters and their relationship. I loved the dynamic of the friend group as well. I want to see more of from these characters of after these events took place.

Was this review helpful?

I really wasn't a fan of this novel, despite it having a royal backbone. I'm really surprised, as many others loved it and spent last year (2019) raving about it.

Was this review helpful?

It’s been a while since I truly could not put a book down. As in, when I blearily finished the last page of this delight of a story and glanced at my phone, it was way, way later than I ever stay up. I have no regrets, though! Alex and Henry have a permanent place in my heart.

I think I was hesitant to read this book for many reasons. It’s a royal romance, and I have found very few royal romances work for me. Politics. Blech. I read enough politics in the news; I am cautious about what I let into my romance novels. It was also SO hyped.

Luckily, I decided to dive in and was immediately hooked by the banter, the chemistry between Alex and Henry, and the many epistolary elements that made this 400+ page book fly by. The whole book felt young and fresh in a way many books strive for, and few succeed with. The pop-culture references, the razor-sharp wit, and showing young people as motivated and smart all combined to create an enjoyable book with a message that didn’t hit you over the head.

After reading the acknowledgments, I realized Casey McQuiston did exactly what she set out to do. She created a type of alternate reality that was fun and deftly walked the line between over the top fluff and gritty/emotional/heavy topics. At the end of the day, I just loved the romance between the main characters and relationships with the secondary characters.

I did think the tense was a weird choice and I was sometimes a little confused about who the narrator was. I also wanted a little more oomf in the sex scenes. They were an odd mix of fade to black and open door. Often they ended rather abruptly.

Overall, I adored this book. ADORED. It sucked me in and didn’t let go. I can’t wait to reread to feel all the warm and fuzzies again.

**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**

Was this review helpful?

This is such a fun book. I really enjoyed the royal/political dynamic. I was surprised by the adult content because I assumed based on the cover that this was more for teens. In fact, I think this story may have better suited a teen audience.

Was this review helpful?

Although I really really loved that commentary between Alex and Harry, as well as with the side characters, the whole political part of the story was extremely boring and found myself zoning out or quickly reading through those parts. The relations between Alex, his family and friends was amazing and so supportive. The other part that really bothered me was how ridiculously long the chapters were. There really needed to be a break in them, to helpfully appreciate the important parts of the story.

Was this review helpful?

Hilarious, heartfelt, and just a wonderful free good book. I loved the political elements and the plot. Everything about this book is just amazing!!

Was this review helpful?

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston is such a delightful queer romance. It was the perfect escape I needed to read.

Was this review helpful?

Really enjoyed this one. Though it was a mildly slow start. Overall I really enjoyed the story and I absolutely shopped Alex with Henry. They were too freaking cute! But, Alex did tend to annoy me in the beginning. I also felt the pacing was off and quite a lot of stuff could have been edited out (just my opinion) but I did appreciate the whole political Behind the Scenes we got from this book. I loved Henry immensely and his sister. I loved seeing both Alex and Henry triumph in the end and coming to terms with who they are and who they want to be. The end had me smiling like a fool and I felt for the Claremont-Diaz family.

Was this review helpful?

Well, this was certainly a book that made me happy. Loved the premise, especially loved the two main characters, loved the diversity and how visible diverse characters are in this book. The acceptance! The celebration! This book is the embodiment of pure joy and happiness. My only criticism is that the author made some mistakes or errors in her depiction of the UK and the Royal Family but it wasn't enough of a problem to hamper my enjoyment of the story itself.

Was this review helpful?

I thoroughly enjoyed this! It completely manages to be light, comedic, and romantic while standing for something extremely important. The characters were complex and like able, the dialogue was natural and quirky, and the writing was fun and addicting!
My only negative feelings are that it is somewhat naive to represent Democrats v. Republicans as a sort of “good v. evil” trope, but I can understand where the author is coming from.
All in all, I HIGHLY recommend.

Was this review helpful?

Romantic, funny, refreshing--this book had everything I needed. I was lucky enough to read it just before it published, and my reaction was so strong and so positive that I managed to get a substantial number of friends to get and read the book soon after so that I would have people with which to gush. The dialogue is natural and often witty, and the characters lovingly depicted. Red, White & Royal Blue put a smile on my face the entire time I was reading it, and I honestly cannot wait for McQuiston's next work.

Was this review helpful?