I absolutely adored this; a fantastic example of the New Adult genre we need to see more of! I gobbled it down in one day. It’s a super swoony trope-filled debut, absolute perfection!

I will be including this in illumicrate’s monthly newsletter for May

An amazing m/m romance involving royalty! In this current world of following Megan Markle's every move, this book will be sure to be a hit amongst the romance readers in my library.

I loved this book SO much. It was SO good, one of the BEST love stories I have ever read. The writing in this book is absolutely incredible on so many levels. The witty banter in person and by text between Alex and Henry is priceless and hilarious. The emails they exchange are so sweet and touching and full of insight and love. The quotes they include about love are just amazingly touching. The author obviously did so much research about the Royal family and the history of the royals as well as the history of love. The political climate in this book is one I WISH we had in the US right now instead of what we actually have!!! I can dream right??? I love the US created in this book, at least the politics of this fictional US at least. It is amazing!! On to the story: Alex is the son of the current first women president, and he is half Mexican. His dad is a senator from California (his parents are divorced). Henry is a prince of England, an heir to the throne. They have basically hated each other from the day they met when they were like 12. They have a brief conversation at Henry's brother's wedding which causes an incident and they have to make nice and pretend to be friends after to soothe things over. They become friends and eventually fall in love. They are so freaking sweet together it is adorable. I finished this book last night and have been thinking about it ever since. So many parts of this story are memorable for being so sweet, so we’ll-worded and so freaking hilarious, that I will always want to reread it. Poor Henry, trapped in the stiff stuck-up Royal crowd, expected to get married and produce heirs, is gay. Alex encourages him to think outside the box and hope for a different better life, the one he really wants. They are so so cute together. The other characters in the book add so much to the story as well, Alex's sister June and his best friend Nora are so fun and interesting and Henry's sister and brother and best friend Pez are hilarious as well. The White House staff are awesome so funny and spot on in their reactions to their charges, the security guards too. I love the politics in this book so much. The writing is amazing, smooth, thoughtful, flowing, funny and just the best. I love this book so much and I can not wait for another book from this author. She is obviously brilliant!!!! Thanks to NG for the ARC! This is a book I will read over and over again! LOVED IT! SO MUCH!!!!! The ending is absolutely breathtaking. Every word in this book is so perfectly chosen and just exquisite. Here is one of my very favorite parts that I have already read like 50 times, in three day:

“Jesus, could you stop being an obtuse fucking asshole for, like, twenty seconds?”
“So glad you flew here to insult me—”
“I fucking love you, okay?” Alex half yells, finally, irreversibly. Henry goes very still against the mantelpiece. Alex watches him swallow, watches the muscle that keeps twitching in his jaw, and feels like he might shake out of his skin. “Fuck, I swear. You don’t make it fucking easy. But I’m in love with you.”
A small click cuts the silence: Henry has taken his signet ring off and set it down on the mantel. He holds his naked hand to his chest, kneading the palm, the flickering light from the fire painting his face in dramatic shadows. “Do you have any idea what that means?”

I loved this! It's funny and clever and gives hope.
..............,..........................................................................................................

Once I started reading this fantastic novel, I couldn't stop. The plot is dynamic, diverse and desperately needed in a reality where escapism is as important and necessary as ever. The characters are so instantly lovable, you root for them immediately-- it feels like the enormity of what their relationship means for their political spheres is brought down to earth and made plausible. McQuiston's writing is engrossing and effortless in its subtlety; our characters and their world are fully developed and as an audience, we're emotionally invested. Her creativity in building this world-- not just the who and the what, but how she does it, the language she uses in describing people and places, sets her apart. I devoured this story and finished it wanting more, and so will anyone who picks it up. This is the queer novel we've been waiting for, and McQuiston delivers without a doub

Author Casey McQuiston did exactly what she hoped to do with Red, White & Royal Blue... she created a parallel universe in which readers can escape, heal election trauma, and exist, albeit briefly, in an alternate reality. She also managed to create loveable, complex and dynamic characters. This is my first true “I laughed, I cried” read of 2019. All the cliches used for the best works of fiction apply here. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks for the #ARC in exchange for an honest review St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley!

#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #LGBT #LGBTQ #Claremont2020 #HistoryHUH #AlexandHarry #FSOTUS #RealeasesJune2019

I loved the book. I loved how it was .like a soothing balm on reality and I adored the characters. Full review to come closer to release date but it’s super amazing.

HISTORY, HUH?

I had the privilege, nay honor, of reading an advance copy of this delightful book by Casey McQuiston, and I cannot wait to have the official copy sitting on my shelf on its publication day.

RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE is, at first, the LGBTQ+ romcom of your dreams. I could not put this down, mentally or physically. I went to sleep and dreamed of the world McQuiston created. I found myself smiling and blushing and happy crying and squeeing and getting goosebumps. Then this book turned into a much larger story—one of a world in which I found hope in a political landscape where optimism lifted me up. I cried again, not for lovey-dovey reasons, but for the reignited sense of self I’d lost during tumultuous political turmoil of 2016.

So, there you have it. Like McQuiston states in the Acknowledgements, she hopes to spark joy and hope the reader needs. And she has done just that. History, huh?

Hello? Yes, I love this with my whole being and soul.

Alex Claremont-Diaz is the First Son of the United States. His mother is finishing her first term as president and is gearing up for a bruising re-election fight, and his father is a congressman from California. Alex is quite a celebrity—he's good-looking, charming, politically savvy, and exceptionally smart, and along with his older sister and the genius granddaughter of the vice-president, comprise the so-called "White House Trio," a group of popular millennials constantly (and purposely) in the public eye.

Alex is happy to do whatever is expected of him to help his mother, unless that whatever includes playing nice with Prince Henry of Wales, an heir to the throne (the "spare," actually) and a constant thorn in Alex's side.

I knew the moment they ruined that $70,000 wedding cake that this was going to be THAT read for me. It was whimsical, humorous and romantic, there was political intrigue (even though my knowledge of the US presidential campaigns is very limited, I very much enjoyed reading about it).

Alex: I’m not gay
Henry: *exists*
Alex: okay so I may be gayer than originally planned.

I strongly relate to Henry because unless you hit me in the face with a brick that says “I’m in love with you,” I’m most likely just going to think you’re being nice.

I was also terrified for Henry - the author built up the story so well that when it lead up to the "outing" my heart was pounding. Henry, who is 100% comfortable in his gay skin, has sadly resigned himself to never being allowed to live his truth. He has always been told that he has a duty to the crown, despite being farther down in the line for the throne, and it's heartbreaking to see him feel so helpless at the mercy of his own family (his sister is kickass and an absolute gem, though). Philip is a prick by the way, I hate Richards with my whole being. Could I make him shit a brick I would.

Casey McQuiston made me fall in love with this book and these characters. Even the supporting characters have more to them than meets the eye, and it's what made this book so utterly special. Is it predictable? Sure. Does it matter? Hell, no. The emotions, the fears, the doubts, the what-ifs—none of it is melodramatic, it's just so damned lovely. The writing isn't too complicated and I flew through this book - it's so light-hearted and delightful and it made me smile so much that my mouth started hurting at the end.

This story had so many real moments, from the thought process Alex went through when he realized that he might not be as straight as he thought he was, to discussions about people of color in politics and the struggles that come with being openly part of the LGBTQ+ community and still pursuing a political career because you can't let straight white guys perpetuate the same ancient philosophies that exclude and ostracize marginalized groups all over the world. Even the coming out to his mother was so hopeful and I just loved this book a lot. Can you tell by now?

It was such a hopeful story of two boys falling in love despite politics and prejudices and fighting for a newer, better world.

I adored this book, it made me smile and laugh and even cry. This is definitely going to be on my year-end favorites list. I already have the book pre-ordered and I'm going to recommend it to everyone I know. Thank you for this amazing read.

The main characters were well developed, and were easy to relate to. I enjoyed the interspersing of historical letters that the main love interests added to their emails.
The book seemed well researched and made me laugh.

The only concern I had was a timeline issues, and I think it had to do with writing the election in the future...it was confusing. But, I am sure that will be edited.

Overall, a great book and I will be reading more from this author!

I'm really trying to come up with a coherent thought for this review but literally all I want to do is scrap my entire TBR shelf and just reread Red, White and Royal Blue for the rest of the year because yes, it is early to call this, but this just might be my favorite NA contemporary of the year.
While this book was marketed as YA, I'd strongly suggest that this is New Adult - the characters are all over twenty and there is definitely some explicit content which might not be suitable for younger readers.
But really, that's the only negative thing I can say about this entire book because my heart is still soaring. I went into this book not knowing anything about this story and left it with the biggest smile my face could muster.
Essentially, this story follows Alex, the First Son of the First Female President of the United States as he steadily falls in love with his sworn enemy, His Royal Highness Henry, Prince of England. Yes, this sounds like fanfiction I would make up in my head but I assure you, it's real. And it's adorable. Heartwarming. Heartbreaking. Also hilarious. And about another twenty adjectives that I can't think of right now because I am still busy squishing Alex's cheeks in my imagination.
This story had so many real moments, from the thought process Alex went through when he realized that he might not be as straight as he thought he was, to discussions about people of color in politics and the struggles that come with being openly part of the LGBTQ+ community and still pursuing a political career because you can't let straight white guys perpetuate the same ancient philosophies that exclude and ostracize marginalized groups all over the world.
It was such a hopeful story of two boys falling in love despite politics and prejudices and fighting for a newer, better world. Basically, gays are taking over the world and I am cheering them on, waving my pride flag high in the air.
Casey McQuinston delivers an outstanding debut filled with love, laughter and emotional depth that will burrow itself into your hearts. Look out for this one!

3.5 stars

(Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC of this via NetGalley!)

I really, really enjoyed this. I was in the mood for something quick and cute and Red, White & Royal Blue delivered exactly that. First and foremost, McQuiston's biggest strength here is her dialogue. Her characters' conversations are organic, genuine, and funny. I also appreciated the representation in this book. Alex is biracial—half-white, half-Mexican—and bisexual, Henry is gay, Nora is a lesbian, and there's also a lot of discussion of what it's like to be queer and/or a person of colour in politics. Oh and also, the romance was cute as hell. Thought I'd mention that since, yknow, this is a romance book, lol. ANYWAY, I really enjoyed this. It only gets 3.5 stars just because I found that the plot elements started to drag down the story bit, especially with all the stuff about the election.

This was such a teeth-rottingly sweet, gay royal romp of a book. A refreshing take on a story that has so often been used in straight romance, the enemies-to-lovers story of Henry and Alex will make you feel ALL THE THINGS.

Whilst a lot of the book focused on the sweetness and silliness of Henry and Alex's relationship, it wasn't afraid to shy away from the political implications of their clandestine meetings, or of the latent homophobia in many institutions and countries around the world. The way the royal family was portrayed is, I would imagine, a shockingly accurate reflection of their feelings surrounding homosexuality, and the political landscape of America commented on throughout feels all too pertinent in a time with Trump as president. The politics in the book didn't take away from the romance, or vice versa; in fact, they added to each other, giving the book a battleground within which to place itself in context. I was nervous for about 50% of the book waiting for the consequences of their affair to steamroller them!

This is definitely a book that will appeal to a YA loving-crowd, especially one who has carved out a place for themselves on social media sites like Twitter and Tumblr (the BTS references gave it away!) I'm not entirely sure all lovers of contemporary romance will enjoy this book - it is saccharine sweet with a lot of teenage references that will go over the average middle-aged readers' head - but that is to their detriment, for this book was funny and sexy in all the right ways, with a perfect balance of humor and soberness.

A fun, easy read and I look forward to reading more of Casey McQuiston's writing!

This. was. everything!!!! The voice is spectacular, the dialogue feel so real- it's crass and smart and hysterical and romantic. I love the way she writes!!! I was surprised at the amount of politics but I was also fascinated but it, it felt like a true look behind the curtain. I loved the random pop culture references and other bits that spoke to me- Star Wars, Hamilton, GBBO, Harry Potter, Cap bandaids, barbacoa Chipotle burritos, David the beagle!!! It's like this was written for me. It was also bittersweet reading about this amazing female president that won the 2016 election- I loved that the Claremont-Diaz family (and the royal family) was fictional but had these wonderful real life optimistic parallels. And you guys I HAVENT EVEN TALKED ABOUT ALEX AND HENRY YET. The meet cute disaster! The bickering! The roooooomance!!! Alex's bisexual awakening was written in this perfectly believable way that made me ache a little bit. And there was a lot more sexiness than I expected but I'm not complaining!! It was most gratifying seeing how they brought out the best in each other, and how they let in the people around them. I adored June, Nora, and Bea. I loved Alex's parents. I loved how extremely and truly diverse the entire cast was, in so many meaningful ways. And I loved that this felt like a movie I would gladly watch a million times, with all the best beats and tropes of a romantic comedy. Sooooo yeah, I loved this book. Just a little :)

An enemies-to-lovers take about the first son of the United States and prince of England, filled with lots of laughs, romance and self-discovery.

Admittedly, this was a lot more than what I was expecting when I first heard about the book. This is not a simple light & fluffy read. The author doesn’t back away from being critical of America’s (and to an extent England as well) past and present. Some of the subjects explored are homophobia, racism and sexual assault. Still, this story will fill you with precious moments of deep love though it will also make your heart ache for Alex and Henry’s journey. It was also pretty cool that the story was set in an AU where Trump hadn’t become president—instead it was Alex’s mom and she was the first woman to become president. In addition, I appreciated the subtle inclusion characters of various backgrounds to surround Alex, allowing them to exist and making room for commentary on various forms of bigotry.

I came to love Alex’s voice and his story, especially what he represented as a half-Mexican and bisexual FSOTUS. The writing style reminded me a lot of Meg Cabot, particularly The Princess Diaries (All-American Girl may seem the most relevant but Alex’s voice is very similar to Mia’s). So, read this book for a romance between two men figuring out their place as the most politically powerful sons in the Western world, the hilarious shenanigans that are ensued, and the sweet endearing moments of support that show the many ways people can triumph with love in their hearts.

Very good book. Interesting characters, interesting storyline. And it had it’s funny parts which made me really laugh. I was very satisfied by the ending and I look forward to Casey’s next book

You know how the suddenly discovering you’re a princess/ marrying a prince/ being captivated by the commoner girl is a well worn, well loved trope in fiction? (And has been since the original version of Cinderella was written down – and possibly before!) Casey McQuiston gives that trope a good twist and spin in this super cute, funny and poignant rom-com, that sees first son Alex Claremont (mother is president of the United States) and Prince Henry of Wales (the Spare – sidebar but Wales would be enraged by this as the Welsh still think of their royal line as being of a completely different descent but whatever) falling for each other. This was believable and humorous, and a lot of fun.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Four stars. I really enjoyed this book. The start was a little slow for me, though...for Alex to realize that this "feud" he has with Prince Henry is actually more than that.

Alex Claremont-Diaz is the First Son of the President of the United States--the first female President. He has a one-sided rivalry with Prince Henry of Wales, turned forced friendship due to an altercation at a royal wedding, turned romance. Prince Henry is a closeted gay, which Alex is clueless about. Henry is adorable and sweet. I loved everything about him. Alex is a little more full of himself, but still likable. The supporting characters were all wonderful, too: Alex's older sister, June, and Nora, granddaughter of the Vice President especially.

I loved the First family dynamics that were portrayed. Above all else, the President is a mother. When Alex reveals his relationship with Henry to his mother, I love her reaction and that she says she loves him and supports him and to make sure what he feels is forever.

Make sure to read this one on release day!





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This romcom has the most adorable romance that balances perfectly with the humor and politics. First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz is in his last semester of university and has an antagonistic relationship with Prince Henry of Wales. But friendship and then love blossoms when they are forced to pretend to be buddies after an embarrassing altercation. How do the first son and a prince keep their relationship a secret when the world is constantly watching them? A book that had me grinning the whole time I was reading it.

I loved this book so much that I read the whole thing in less than 24 hours, and when I wasn't reading it, I could not stop thinking about picking it back up again. It is the perfect concoction of all things that I love to read -- star-crossed love, secret relationship, snarky and hilarious queers, a beautifully developed cast of characters, enemies-to-friends-to-lovers -- but it was somehow put together 110% better than I could have ever imagined, in ways that surprised and delighted the hell out of me.

Alex Claremont-Diaz is the biracial First Son of the United States, son of Ellen Claremont, the first female president. His secret nemesis is the pompous and aloof His Royal Highness, Henry, Prince of England. When they have an altercation at a public event and the tabloids go bananas, they're forced to stage a fake friendship in order to save American/British relations and the president's reelection campaign. That fake friendship becomes real, and then it becomes something more (they LOVE EACH OTHER, y'all). But the stakes are high, and they have more to think about than just themselves, since their relationship could upend two nations.

This is straight-up one of the most romantic books I've ever read. It's entirely from Alex's point of view, and you can practically feel the tenderness in the narration coming off the page. There are excerpts of emails (of course there are emails) and text messages, and these are some of my favorite bits, since they show the all-consuming transatlantic longing that anyone who's ever been in a long-distance relationship can relate to.

What surprised me about this book is how therapeutic it was for me to read. Reading books with queer characters (and queer romance especially) is always a little therapeutic to me to begin with, since good books with LGBTQ characters are so scarce. But in the world of this book, the 2016 election never happened. Trump is never even mentioned in this book. Instead what we get is an escapist-alternate-reality, almost, of a world so much like our own, but better, and in which bad people face consequences for their actions. I didn't know I needed this narrative, but I did.

I laughed, I cried, and I enjoyed every word of this book. A history-maker for sure.