This book was a struggle for me. I wanted to like it. I really did. I was so excited about it when I read the description, but it felt so flat to me. Everything was surface level and felt so superficial. The 4 POVs didn't work for me and there was just something missing from the characters. I do see the commercial appeal for a lot of readers, I was sadly just not one of them. I will say I did enjoy Nina's voice the most out of 4 POVs. She was the only one that I looked forward to reading for the most part.

YA readers will find this story fun and intriguing. A modern take on a historical romance with a what would happen if America was a monarchy twist. The ending leaves room for a sequel with the same characters and their life struggles.

American Royals was one of my most anticipated fall reads, and it did not disappoint! I freaking loved all of the drama and how addicting the different storylines were! Tons of my favorite tropes are utilized (like falling for you best friend’s brother!!) and I absolutely loved it all! I need the sequel ASAP!

Side Note:
Before I get into my review of American Royals, I wanted to make a side note. This book is fiction. It is a re-imagining of what the world could have been if we didn’t elect Washington as president. This author does not deserve the negative press she was been getting for writing a book of fiction. It is quite appalling that this book community can’t separate works of fiction from facts. It is okay to re-imagine a world a different way without you complaining about something be colonized and stolen from native people. This is a work of fiction. Honestly readers need to get over themselves and stop shaming readers and authors. It is okay for people to have imaginations and to write books about the ways the re-imagine something. Maybe people should actually read a book before you start calling something racist. There wasn’t any racism in this book. In all honesty, it is about a royal family more than America itself. This book community needs to stop sitting on its high horse and judging books they have never read. It is becoming a disgusting and toxic habit.

Review:


American Royals by Katharine McGee kind of makes you wish that America had a royal family. You see how much Britain enjoys their royal family. Even American’s get invested in it. Most kids wanted to be royalty when they were little until reality set up. What if you were born royal and you wanted to be anything but. I think we always want something that we can’t have. This book is about possibilities and what America would look like today if George Washington had accepted the offer to become the first American King instead of creating the presidency we have today.

American Royals follows the lives of the Washington’s. This is the American royal family. I really enjoyed this fun re-imagining. We have this family that is always in the spotlight. Some like being royal and others do not. It seems that everyone is in love with someone they shouldn’t. When you are a royal, everything you do is observed. Beatrice Washington is the first born daughter. Thank you to her grandfather, she will be the first woman to take the throne instead of it falling to the first born male heir. The one thing she can’t escape is her parents would like her to marry and still have a king consort to rule by her side. All Beatrice really dreams about is to be free and make her own choices. She wants to be able to choose who she marries.

Next you have Samantha Washington. She is the oldest in a set of twins. Sam likes to refer to herself as being the spare. She doesn’t think that she can have a mark on history because no one really cares. Sam’s version of dealing with this is to try to be the worst princesses she can be because at least people would remember that right? Sam doesn’t realize is she really could make an impact if she tried. She desires to be loved and cherished instead of being used for her status.

Then we have Jefferson Washington. He would have been the heir to the throne if his grandfather hadn’t changed the law. Jefferson is America’s heartthrob. Every girl wants to date him. All he wants is to be with the girl he loves. Even if it isn’t approved. There is so much pressure when every girl wants to date you. One of Jefferson’s biggest issues in life is he trusts the wrong people.

We all know that there is always a best friend in the story. Nina Gonzalez is Sam’s best friend. She has grown up in the palace her whole life due to her mother working for the king. Nina has a secret. She is in love with Jefferson. She didn’t mean to be. The last thing she wants to do is ruin her friendship with Sam. What happens if this secret gets out? Is Nina going to survive her private world no longer being private?

Every good royal family needs a villain to go up against. In American Royals, that is Daphne Deighton. She believes that she was born to be a princess. She has created a persona to be the perfect wife for Jefferson. When she and Jeff broke up she decided that she was going to fight her way back to his side. Even if that meant taking others down with her. The one thing she has going for her is Jefferson thinks she can do no wrong. Maybe she can use this to her advantage.

American Royals is told in four point of views. We have Beatrice, Samantha, Nina, and Daphne. With these points of views, we really get to know each of these woman. We find out where they are coming rom and why they make the decisions that they do. This book is filled with so much drama. I really enjoyed the world building. Each woman is trying to create her own path in this world even if it is against what everyone else thinks they should do. I thought McGee did a great job with this book. She kept me hooked from the very beginning. I read the whole book in a single day because I was that hooked. You should definitely check it out and I can’t wait for book two.

I wanted to love this one, I'm not going to lie. Because I love those what-if novels. However, American Royals was not one of those for me. As someone who enjoyed early American history including the American Revolution and as well as George Washington becoming President because of he basically refused to be a king, because after all didn't we fight to get read of a monarchy. So it's hard to picture a world where George Washington become king and passed the crown down when he himself didn't have any children.

Not to mention that the fact that other than the monarchy in the book the rest of the US history didn't really change which means during the Civil War the house of Washington literally would have been divided. So to me American Royals was two hard to believe.

**For more reviews visit me at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/

If you are a fan of the author's Thousandth Floor series then rest assured that you will most likely enjoy American Royals. I on the other hand was not a big fan of her previous books but I was interested in the premise enough to go ahead and pick this book up. I can easily say that I really enjoyed American Royals. It was an alternate world, yet with real and relatable emotions. Keep in mind there there was not a whole lot of plot/action, this is more a character driven story where the drama and interpersonal relationships make the book. I did notice that there were a LOT of the same personality types and relationship dramas as seen in The Thousandth Floor series, but the characters here (minus Daphne, she just might be the devil) were likable and at heart good people in tough situations.

If you like ensemble casts, then this is the book for you because it was narrated by four very different girls who each play a role in the drama that unfolds on the pages.
Beatrice is the first princess, in line for the throne as the oldest child, which will make her the first Queen in American history. Beatrice has never been allowed to make a mistake or have a dissenting opinion, instead she was basically the royal family and America's puppet- that is, until a certain guard came into the picture and showed her what being seen really feels like. I feel a little like she was one note and bland, a little too perfect and not a real person so she was harder for me to connect to. Sam, the "extra" princess has spent her whole life acting out to get some smidgen of attention from her parents aka the royal family. She and her sister have noting in common, until they do, in the form of Teddy. Side note, I loved Sam so so much! She was my favorite character and had such character growth in this book, I rooted for her even when nothing seemed to go right. Nina is Sam's best friend, a commoner who has not told her new friends she knows Sam so she can have a chance to have a normal college experience- but is love worth fighting for? Nina was the nice down to earth point of view, the sweet girl who was sucked into a world she could never be prepared for even when she grew up on the fringe. And that brings me to Daphne, the devil, or rather the ex-girlfriend to the prince (Sam's twin) who will do ANYTHING to make sure she gets a ring on her finger by Jeff. I hated her so much and her evilness never seemed to stop! I really hope she gets what is coming to her in the next book.

I feel like I went through the emotional ringer with this book, every time it seemed like things were going to work out, utter chaos and destruction would follow.
Heads up for those who thought this was a standalone (me, I thought this was a standalone!) the ending is a HUGE terrible cliffhanger and I have no idea how anything will resolve in the next book. This is the perfect read for those who love all things royalty and drama, and count me in to pick up the next book whenever it is available because I need to know how this train-wreck will end.

Beatrice Georgina Fredericka Louise of the House of Washington, Princess Royal of America is to be the first reigning Queen of the United Colonies of America. Quite naturally she is under unrelenting scrutiny, of a kind never witnessed in the two hundred fifty years of the monarchy. Thus far, she has been equal to the task, her intelligence, training, and sense of duty make her an icon in the eyes of her family and countrymen. But now, something has changed, her parents are forcing her to "interview" possible husbands at the Queen's Ball tomorrow night!

"American Royals" is an excellent YA romance filled with the pomp and circumstance of a ruling monarchy intermingled with the trials and tribulations of young men and women in the searing spotlight of public attention. The twins, Samantha, and Jeff, Beatrice's immature and wilder siblings play the wildcards, adding complications and contrast to the story. While a good girl commoner, Nina Gonzalez, Samantha's best friend, is juxtaposed against her royal friends' excesses. A social-climbing harpy, Daphne by name, circles through the lives of Nina, Sam, and Jeff, adding a frisson of danger. Her sole aim is to marry into House Washington; she will stop at nothing to achieve it.

This fantasy will interest those who enjoy reading about the British Royal Family and all their activities. The writing will not disappoint. The characters are well developed and conflicted, while the twisty plot moves at a rapid pace. Left out are the harsher realities of American history like slavery and the civil war, but it is a fantasy after all.

At this point I am wondering if there will be a sequel, there certainly is room for a series of them. I recommend "American Royals" for those looking for something unusual.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

I was so excited about this book when I first found out about it. I just feel like this had such potential and really didn't live up to any of it. I was expecting a salacious, scandalous, juicy story but it fell flat. Not a single character was well-rounded or felt fully fleshed out, and I never understood why they did the things they did. I can sacrifice characters having literally any personality if they're doing messed up things or at the very least are remotely interesting. Unfortunately, I didn't get that either. I will say the second half of the book was a minor improvement on the first, but I wanted to DNF about halfway through. I'm definitely disappointed, as I had high hopes and was sure I was going to love this.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the eARC. This review will be posted on Goodreads and to Amazon's and Barnes & Noble's websites.

A fun read, that would have been better if not so slow paced, but overall good read. Loved all the different points of view, which I felt gave me a better picture of the story, since narrators can be so unreliable at least in my normal genre. A nice break from thrillers. Think those who love the celebrity, royal family themes will enjoy this book.
Will be telling those who love a light hearted, fun read to grab a copy!

Really enjoyed this book a lot. The pacing is slower, but I really enjoyed how real it was. I didn't feel like our characters problems were overly dramatic. The topic of having a monarchy in America was very interesting and I enjoyed the plot that it creates with our characters. I also really loved the importance that it put on having a relationship with your sister and that family comes first. The ending was insane and I cannot wait to read the next one.

I received a copy of this book for an honest review. What if George Washington became king instead of president? This book gives us a peek at what modern America might look like if that were the case. This book is not a genre I usually read so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I LOVED it. It was funny and quirky. The characters were relatable and likable. The end was left with room for a sequel, which I would read in a heartbeat.

I really loved this book. I've been recommending it to friend like crazy. My only real issue with the story was the lack of representation. There were only tokens for people of color and queer people. DC is being presented as though it is much like the real world's version, yet everyone is exceedingly white and straight. I am able to suspend my belief that Washington would go against his beliefs to take the crown enough to enjoy the story. It is un and dramatic and I love that there is a YA novel with college-age characters.

The changing POV was so numerous it was a bit hard to follow. The fact that it was a different alternate history plotline from what I've read before was enjoyable. Sadly, the romance didnt follow suit and was the same as most other romances. Leaving it very predictable.

America is a monarchy, years of kings reigning since George Washington himself. Now, Beatrice will be the first reigning queen and she must find a husband to rule beside her. Samantha is tired of watching her older sister become someone important, while she is left in the shadows. If it weren't for her spontaneous, disapproved behavior and her twin brother, Jefferson, would people even know Sam exists? Nina has loved Jefferson her entire friendship with Sam, but will Jeff be able to see beyond her commoner status with his ex looming nearby? Daphne will do whatever it takes to get the crown. Jefferson will love her and she will become part of the Royal family. No matter what it will cost, she must become queen.

Told in alternating points of view, American Royals is a fresh, exciting new take on an alternative history. Each character is developed in a relatable way, even Daphne who is essentially a villain. The plot was fast paced and the historical context placement throughout the story was extremely helpful. There was never a "here's how we got here" chapter because this information was perfectly sprinkled throughout the whole plot. My only complaint is that it's the first in a series and I didn't know this until I finished reading it. This means I have to complete the dreaded task of waiting for the next book before I can continue this series. Fun, exciting, and just a really cool concept, American Royals is a great read for middle schoolers and beyond.

3.5 stars. The premise of this was interesting - monarchy instead of democracy in contemporary America. I did not make the connections other readers have who took issue with this alternate history considering America's past regarding indigenous peoples and slavery - If you are curious about that, check out some of the negative reviews on Goodreads for a better discussion of that.

My rating and review are based solely on the book and characters. The only strong feelings I could drum up about the central 7-9 characters (depending on how you define "central") is hatred for the villain. But the rest of the characters didn't inspire a lot of feeling.

Each of the 3 royal kids is part of a love triangle. In general, I hate love triangles. These were intricate enough to capture my interest and pull me through the chapters to see what would happen. But through it all I couldn't drum up a lot of interest in seeing what happened to any of the main characters. I just never liked them. I'm not sure if I will read the sequel when it comes out to see how the relationships play out in the end. (Sex, drinking)

Katharine McGee brought us The Thousandth Floor trilogy that I still have on my tbr. I dunno when I will get to that but for now I ventured into her next trilogy by reading the first book, American Royals which came out earlier this month.

American Royals explores the notion of America being a monarchy. We mainly follow the lives of the royal siblings and their friends. Multiple POVs keep us company and provide a glimpse into the inner workings of all the truths, lies and manipulations and just plain survival.

Circumstance and perspective rule this book along with the usual politics and agendas and dreams that royalty and/or associations entail.

The last scene was quite sad and I loved how it was written. And it made me all the more curious and interested in the sequel.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the Publishers for this review copy

Why to recommend it:
-It has something for everyone! It has a little romance, a little family drama, a little faux history lesson, and even some laughs. This entire book is non-stop entertaining and it will hook contemporary readers from the first chapter.

-It has a unique hook. This book relies on an alternate history of America that will keep readers interested. The rewritten history makes this an easy recommendation or booktalk because it sets up a world that teens can easily imagine. This book would also pair nicely with a book about real American history and a discussion about why America chose to avoid a monarchy.

-This book features a character a little older than the average YA protagonist and it’s a great read for teens who are looking for a book with an older feel. Princess Beatrice is college-aged and dealing with her eventual takeover of the monarchy, family drama, and finding a suitable spouse. She’s still a relatable and interesting character for teens but also fills a gap for “new adult” aged characters.

-This is a perfect read for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider. CeCe voluntarily goes to the Christian summer camp but that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t feel like a total alien at a camp where everyone else shares their testimony and spouts Bible verses. Hartl perfectly captures what it’s like to be on the outside looking in.

Who to recommend it to:

-Teen readers who love books with gossip, glamour, and drama! This book is pure fun and full of secrets, high fashion, and peeks into the world of the ultra exclusive world of royals.

-Book clubs! The alternate history of this book can spark an interesting discussion between book club members.

-Romance fans! This book delivers three different romance storylines that will make a romance reader happy. This is a great recommendation for teen romance fans who aren’t ready for adult reads yet. It has fade-to-black sex scenes and lots of swoony moments.

-This drama filled book is perfect for adult fans of Red, White, and Royal Blue, Gossip Girl, & The Royal We

I loved this one! The concept of America being monarchy instead of a democracy was quite interesting to explore.
The royal children have larger-than-life personalities and even larger problems.



Thank you thank you thank you to RHCB for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review! I’ll be posting and in depth review on curlybookowl.com on 9-10, be sure to check it out!

Princess Beatrice is poised to take over the throne as the first queen regnant. Princess Samantha and her twin Prince Jefferson are the rebellious second and third in line for the throne. Nina is best friend to Princess Samantha and about to become even more embroiled in the royal family. Daphne is the ruthless ex-girlfriend of the prince. Together they are the American royals. In this alternate-history take on America, George Washington became the first king instead of president. This is definitely a high drama story for fans of GOSSIP GIRL with a royal twist.

I received an e-ARC of this book for free from Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.

People have always had a fascination with royal families. What if America had a royal family instead of a President? This book had all the glitz and glam I was hoping for! It was part Gossip Girl, part Crazy Rich Asians and I loved every second of it!

I was immediately intrigued by Daphne’s character and the crazy ambitious nature of her personality. She has no concerns for anyone or anything, but her own social status. This girl is cray-cray!

I also really enjoyed all the blossoming and crumbling romances. There were so many feelings being thrown around and the bombshell that is dropped on us midway through the story was the icing on the cake. I admit getting a bit teary eyed at the end there.

I really can’t wait to read the next book and see how these socially elite characters take on the new challenges that they are facing. Also, I really want to see what happens with the romances I’m rooting for! I am so here for all the royal mischief and can’t wait to be immersed in this alternate history again!