I read this book without the benefit of reading The Royal We so initially I felt as though I needed to catch up. Although I did get the gist of the current story I would have benefitted from the background. I thoroughly enjoyed the monarchy storyline with characters described so similarly to those I recognize in the Royal Family I could put faces to the names easily. The sweeping historical perspective and commitment to the family were the standouts and very likable, flawed characters we easy to rout for in the end.

I really enjoyed The Royal We and was looking forward to The Heir Affair. Alas, it couldn't keep my interest. I wasn't super interested in the part that comes after the 'happily ever after' I suppose? The focus on the two brothers didn't appeal to me, and it seems like a totally different world with the royals these days with Meghan being part of the family. It just didn't seem like fun fanfic anymore...

I loved The Royal We when I read it (even if it did have a lot of similarities to some real life royals), and this book was the same. It was fun to read, felt like an indulgence, and was just a good book. I loved feeling like I had all the insider scoop on this fictional royal family. This book dealt with some heavier issues than the first book did, but I thought the authors did a good job dealing with it. There was so much family dynamics at play & weird relationships, but it was sweet seeing how things worked out amongst the characters. I really enjoyed the drama, as well as the humorous moments. These are both fun books, and the authors did a wonderful job continuing a good book with this follow up. They are pretty long books, so my only complaint is that I wish they were maybe a little bit shorter ... but they're still great!

Let’s be up front and say that I am kinda wishing I hadn’t read this book right after the first one. It’s long… just as long as the first. But I still enjoyed it as much if not more. There were quite a few parts that made me tear up a little. Following Bex and Nick as they were trying to figure out their marriage and their role in the royal family was both rewarding and unexpected. As much as I really wanted this book to be split up into 2, I did want to continue the adventures of these characters I had come to love (and one I need to just get his karmic dues, mmkay?).

Yes, there are a lot of characters in these books. But to me, there is a deeper understanding of them in this book than the first. They have become a family and that is the best part of this book.




You can see my video review here:
https://youtu.be/hZy5_2ouX3M

I definitely enjoyed this sequel, but perhaps not as much as "The Royal We". Still it is lovely to re-visit the characters and to watch as Bex and Nick continue to develop and grow as both individuals and as a couple.

My royal loving heart is complete ❤️ The Heir Affair was everything I dreamed of and more... I think I liked it even more than The Royal We!

The Heir Affair is the follow up to The Royal We (you gotta read it first) & it picks up right where the last book left off. So much happens in these books it’s like 3 books smashed into one but I can’t get enough and Nick, Bex, Freddie, and of course 👑 Eleanor. The banter is so good & there were great laugh out loud moments. I just loved it and can’t reccomend these books enough if you enjoy the royals, romance, and/or fun.

Now where do I sign the petition to get a book all about Freddie?!

I was a big fan of the Royal We so I was pretty excited to hear that there would be a sequel, especially with how the first book ended. This one picks up pretty soon after the end of the last one and we find ourselves with Nick and Bex, hiding from the public. The book is broken up into 4 parts and it actually spans over a few years.
I forgot how much I enjoyed Nick and Bex in general. It takes some time for the book to get going and if you haven't read the first one in a while, you may have forgotten certain characters and details. No worries. The plot will catch you up soon enough. Everybody is dealing with the consequences of the first book and figuring out how to move on from there. I loved the little intimate scenes we got with Nick and Bex and had me remembering all the cute goodness of the first one. In general, this book is full of family drama, angst, and a fair amount of humor. Not everything is fun and games with the newlyweds and they have to find ways to work it out. It's surprising where the book takes you but it's a lovely journey. They feel like a genuine married couple with real struggles. It's also refreshing to read about a character dealing with infertility issues instead of her automatically getting pregnant at the drop of a hat. The scandals and family drama in this book are <i>juicy</i> and reading them as they unfolded made me gasp. It's over 450 pages long so a ton was packed into this. The Queen is such a cold character so it was surprising to me that I actually started to enjoy her conversations with Bex, especially when it got to them talking about baseball. It almost feels like two books in one but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend it if you were a fan of the first.

The second installment of Royal We was enjoyable, albeit with some annoying storylines. I totally felt the love between Bex and Nick. Their dialogue depicts a couple who knows one another deeply and that is what makes their relationship so strong. While I understand that the Freddie plot couldn't just end with the first book, but it still played such a prominent role in this story that I was kind of over it. However, I did love Bex and Eleanors relationship growing (especially their Cubs obsession). I wasn't a fan of the unearthing of the family drama that mirrored the current situation...but still, it was a good read. 3.5 stars.

Okay, I feel like y’all already knew I was going to love this book — it was one of my most anticipated books of the summer, and I adore “The Royal We” — so this review may not be a surprise. Honestly, though, hasn’t 2020 had enough surprises? Let’s lean into the things we love, friends, and some of the things that I love include royalty, family drama, fancy clothes, England, and well-written sequels to old favorites.

I don’t know why I initially assumed that this sequel would be more about Freddie (maybe I was just looking for some Harry-Meghan fanfic), but I am so glad that this one continued Bex’s story, primarily. She is such a charming narrator, totally flawed in her own way, and it is a testament to the Fug Girls’ skill that I kind of want to be Bex, warts and all.

In “The Heir Affair,” we are given an intimate look at the first few years of Bex and Nick’s marriage, from their self-imposed exile following the scandal of the century and their reintegration into their royal duties. Not only do they go through some of the normal growing pains when there’s a relationship shift and how to navigate it; it is coupled with public scrutiny and family drama. Plus, Bex’s main duty is providing an heir, and it isn’t easy for her — on top of everything else. Where I felt the first book was fun and frothy royal fanfic, this felt like a more grown up version of that book — while retaining the sense of fun.

As always, I would be remiss in not mentioning the side characters: Gaz and Freddie remain my favorites, but a sleeper here is how much I adored Queen Eleanor. She plays a much larger role in this story, and I can’t really get into it if I want to remain spoiler-free, but I really came to appreciate both her and the role that a Queen must play, especially in the modern era. Plus, who would have thought she would be a baseball fan?

There has been a lot in the news this year about Queen Elizabeth II, particularly following the Sussex split and the Sandringham summit (I won’t go into it here, but this is a good summary), which has made me think a lot about duty over family and how one prioritizes. I fully admit to being a QEII stan, and I was a British history major, so I do know a fair amount about this particular royal family — and so I do believe that she did what she had to do in order to preserve “The Firm” while still keeping her family as intact as possible. So, why am I talking about this here? One of the driving themes of this book is duty, and how in many instances, it is more important than personal desires or emotions. I feel like the authors accurately captured that reality, and it will make you reconsider wanting to be a princess when you grow up.

Fair warning: if you haven’t recently read “The Royal We,” you might find this a little jarring. It picks up almost immediately after Bex and Nick’s wedding, and you’re dropped back into that extremely emotional moment for the two of them. I had read their first adventure relatively recently, and I ended up going back and reading the last 3 chapters of “The Royal We” once I realized how “The Heir Affair” started. If you can, I would definitely recommend that tack, as it triggered why Bex and Nick had gone into exile and all that followed.

I loved The Royal We, so when I heard this one was coming out I couldn't wait. However, it missed the mark for me a bit. It was still enjoyable, but the pacing was off and I found myself bored at times, eager for the plot to move forward. It was nice to be back with the characters again, and to spend time in the royal setting, I just wish it had a little more momentum. I'd still recommend giving it a try, especially as a fun summer escape.

I am 100% team Heir Affair. WHAT amazing romance. I know that the UK would in general rather do away with the royals, but this series completely works for me as a vicarious political and romantic thrill.

Goodreads: Freddie. Deserves. Better.

In fact, I probably would’ve been okay with this whole book being from Freddie’s perspective. He deserves a real life Meghan Markle who helps him escape from all the pressures his life piled on him, not signing up for a whole lifetime of it! Ugh. Just thinking about poor, sweet, precious Freddie’s predicament makes my heart hurt.

I had been counting down the days for this book to get here. The Royal We is one of my favorite books ever, and it was a joy to get to revisit these characters that are practically old friends. But nothing can beat the magic of the first book.

Also, I needed some poetic justice for Clive.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an e-galley in exchange for my honest review.

Instagram: The sequel we’ve all been waiting for! The Royal We was one of my first quarantine reads, and I thanked my lucky stars that I ended up reading it so close to the sequel being released. It is one of my all-time favorites; I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where I so truly felt like the characters were my friends at the end.

The Heir Affair (romance/drama): ★★★★

This sequel didn’t quite match the magic of the first book, but I was so thankful to get to hear from these characters again. It’s a story of how to live with the aftermath of decisions made, newlywed life, and, of course, family drama.

Queen Eleanor and the Queen Mother are the real stars of the show in this book, and I quite enjoyed getting to know Eleanor better. Freddie struggles to find new love, and Bex and Nick are tasked with creating the next heir. But in the midst of it all, Bex uncovers a family secret that changes everything.

Side note: Personally, I want a whole book about Freddie. I think he deserves the world and I just want him to get everything he deserves. I will be the president of the Freddie fan club. He deserves his Meghan Markle, thank you,

Fantastic follow up to The Royal We. I loved how Bex and Nick’s circle shifted to include more storylines around the royal family. Now I’m hoping for a book three!

If you were worried about the sequel falling flat compared to The Royal We, please don't be! I loved jumping back into the world of Nick, Bex, and Freddie all over again (and became surprisingly obsessed with Eleanor's character). There are a lot of emotional gut punches in this one but fun and light moments, too. A perfect summer read for any royal fan.

Review of The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
.
Nick, Bex, Freddie and the gang are back, and with more juicy scandals than ever before! This is the long awaited and much anticipated second installment in the Royal We series, inspired by the real-life William and Kate.
 
Bex and Nick’s life as newlyweds starts out with a bang. A scandalous news article involving the royal brothers and Bex that goes viral during their very public royal wedding. And published by none other than their longtime friend, Clive. After being sold out, Nick and Bex escape the public eye and live in disguise as Steve and Margot until they are called back to the Queen’s side. The health of the Queen, the succession of the throne, and the personal lives of the royal family are put out on display for all to see. All while past scandals are discovered and repeated.
 
The closest I have ever come to royalty was being voted homecoming queen in high school. The Heir Affair gave me another glimpse of royal life and I loved every bit of it. Secrets, scandals and juicy gossip. I couldn’t stop turning the pages. I felt like I was watching a royal soap opera unfold. I fell right into their world. It felt so real. The characters were so well developed from both books that I felt like I was watching them grow up before my very eyes. And the ending. Ahhh the ending! Do yourself a favor and immerse yourself into the life of the British Lyon’s royal family. You won’t regret it! This can certainly be read as a standalone but you’d be missing out on life before the royal wedding; when an American commoner meets British royalty.
 
Thank you @GrandCentralPub and @Netgalley {#partner} for gifting me with both an e-copy and finished print copy in exchange for an independent and honest review. This book is available now so go grab yourself a copy!

Five stars for a fade to black romance is kind of unheard of from me but I just loved this one so much—even more than The Royal We. It was so refreshing yet juicy to see Nick & Bex navigate their newly married life out and in the spotlight. Their challenges were both unheard of and common; their love tried and tested over things I could never understand, yet felt so much in my soul as a mother and wife. There was something about this one that just stood out more than the original. Perhaps it was that we got to see not only Nick & Bex, but the entire royal family and their friends grow up and into their positions. I also really loved the surprising but lovely relationship that developed between Queen Eleanor & Bex. I can’t recommend this one enough. Thank you so much for the early reader copy! This will surely be one of my top reads of the year!

It's been a while since I've read The Royal We, but The Heir Affair definitely seems like it doubles down on the scandal, the angst and the drama from the first book — and all of it really packs an emotional punch. Bex and Nick are reeling from the scandal that erupted (during their wedding, of all times) and retreat as far away from the public eye as they can, only to get pulled right back in at the news of illness in the family. There are a lot of believable struggles, and a lot of external conflict involving invasive paparazzi as well as internal conflict within the royal family in terms of unpacking the complicated dynamic between Bex, Nick, and Freddie with all of its resentment and unaddressed feelings. I probably would have benefitted from going back and rereading the first book, but I didn't have much trouble immersing myself in the world of these characters again after a while and I was engrossed enough that I didn't want to stop reading. Fingers crossed for a third installment!

cw: fertility issues are a big plot point in this book; miscarriage

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It's been over five years since I read Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan's novel The Royal We. I've read hundreds of books since so it's no surprise that I had forgotten many of the plot points from the first book. I did, however, remember absolutely adoring it and know it was one of my favourite books from 2015. The Heir Affair is the long-awaited sequel and one of my most anticipated reads of 2020. I'm not sure it lived up to the hype I had given it but I still really enjoyed the time I spent reading it.

Here's the synopsis:
Making it up the aisle was the easy part: After marrying the heir to the throne, Rebecca “Bex” Porter must survive her own scandals as she adjusts to life in the glamorous British royal family, in this “highly anticipated” follow-up to The Royal We, the “fun and dishy” bestseller and NYT Summer Reading List pick inspired by Will and Kate’s romance (People).
After a scandalous secret turns their fairy-tale wedding into a nightmare, Rebecca “Bex” Porter and her husband Prince Nicholas are in self-imposed exile. The public is angry. The Queen is even angrier. And the press is salivating. Cutting themselves off from friends and family, and escaping the world’s judgmental eyes, feels like the best way to protect their fragile, all-consuming romance.
But when a crisis forces the new Duke and Duchess back to London, the Band-Aid they’d placed over their problems starts to peel at the edges. Now, as old family secrets and new ones threaten to derail her new royal life, Bex has to face the emotional wreckage she and Nick left behind: with the Queen, with the world, and with Nick’s brother Freddie, whose sins may not be so easily forgotten — nor forgiven.
I admit I was under the impression that this novel was Freddie's story. He's the "spare" (the Harry in the authors' royal family) and played a large role in Nick and Bex's lives in the first book. However. The sequel is not told from Freddie's point of view. We're still firmly in the life of Nick and Bex and she tells the story to the reader in first person POV. This wasn't a problem, of course, I like Bex. I just had to quickly adjust my thinking of how this novel was going to go.

And go it does. It clocks in at over 460 pages, just about 10 pages longer than the first book, which I recall being ginormous. It meant I spent a good chunk of a summer Friday afternoon reading the book and still wasn't close to being finished (it's a good time when you get sprung from work early, especially right now). Normally I'm all for a book being long because it means I have more time to spend with the story and the characters. But...I would like it if there weren't tangents that took away from the main story or if the extra pages had been spent tying up some loose ends I think should have been tied. (There's a potential for a third book but given the second one took five years to get to us, I don't know if we'll get a third any time soon.) While I like the large cast of supporting characters and quite enjoyed the spoof on the Great British Bake Off (or Great British Baking Show as it's known to those in North America), I kind of think that whole part of the book took away from the rest of the story. I think it was to give a fan favourite secondary character their own time to shine but it didn't fully work for me.

The other thing that didn't quite work for me was the big revelation at the end of the novel. Obviously I am not going to tell you what that is because spoilers but it felt extremely far-fetched. Granted, it played with the idea that we really don't know what goes on in the private lives of the British Royal Family. Things are hushed up and we, the peasants general public, will never, ever hear about them. But the way the story line unfolded? I was just kind of like...wtf is even happening and how can they be agreeing to this and be ok with that? If you've read it, you know what I've talking about and I am here for a deep dive conversation if anyone else needs/wants to talk it out.

Other than those things I wasn't super fussy about, the rest of the book was as entertaining, dramatic (in both the best and most bonkers ways - the latter being a positive because I enjoy bonkers when it's done well), heart-wrenching, funny, and clever.

There were times I was (literally) laughing out loud and times I felt as tied up in knots and anxious as the characters felt. Cocks and Morgan know how to write to get the emotions their characters are feeling off the page and directly into the readers' hearts.

I absolutely loved that Bex turns Queen Eleanor into a Cubs fan the year they won the World Series. First, it's a hilarious coincidence, and one they reference, that of course the team breaks the curse the year a monarch decides to cheer for them. Second, I just love when baseball is featured in novels especially when it's a female character who's the fan. Third, it's just a whole lovely and hilarious section of the plot that works to elevate and strengthen a few relationships and I adored it.

I also have to point out how amusing it was to have Bex and Nick visit Canada as well as having Eleanor reading a copy of The Globe and Mail, one of our national newspapers. Oh, and the reference to our Prime Minister's hair. It's especially full of life right now given the pandemic! We don't often get to have Canada in such mainstream books so it's always nice to see a slice of my country in my reading material.

If you want a book with all of the feelings in a giant package, The Heir Affair is for you. Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan give readers a new royal story that has every emotion imaginable and a cast of characters who are full of flaws but have, for the most part, good hearts. I'm glad the authors were finally able to give us this sequel and I hope we get another novel sooner rather than later.

*An egalley was provided by the Canadian distributor, Hachette Canada, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

review // Okay, but when do I get a sequel to the sequel? I was way late to #TheRoyalWe game, but once I finished that, I was thankful for a free eARC from @netgalley for #TheHeirAffair! 👑⁣
⁣
Things I Loved: Joining Bex and Nick as newlyweds, but also when they make the decision to grow their family. More of Eleanor’s personality and backstory (#theQueen). Secret passages and family secrets.⁣
⁣
This was such a cute sequel and a great lighter read, as I’m also reading two antiracist books at the same time. I usually picked this one up before bed and it was the perfect way to end my day. I love returning to characters and worlds that I’m already invested in and learning more about their growth and stories. The Heir Affair did not disappoint; I wish we had gotten a bit more of the secondary characters that we have grown to love in the first book, but I was still satisfied to be in the Bex/Nick bubble! {5/5 stars}⁣
⁣
CW: infertility and miscarriages; health issues; adultery

Getting a sequel to The Royal We is one of the two best things that have happened this year (and since the other one is Hamilton on Disney+, it's all really just happened this week), and I really loved this very much. The Heir Affair treats us to a view of Bex and Nick adapting to married life as royals, which is both very public and has very private struggles (infertility is a big topic in this one, so warning if that's a tough one for you). It's so interesting to see the parallels between real life royal drama and the fictional problems, but there is plenty in this book that is pure storytelling. There is some gasp worthy moments in this one, and plenty of family drama- what the public doesn't know is far more scandalous than anything the gossip mags have dragged up. As much as this book gives Nick and Bex a solid ending, I would still love more of their story (and Freddie's! I would be down with a perspective change to read about where his life goes after the events in this book). I'll be rereading this for sure.