I struggled to get into this book because of the plot holes and writing. I will still recommend to others looking for a light, royal romance.

I just loved this so much - this was a light, easy breezy, insta-love story that felt like a crossover between an early 2000's romcom & a Disney movie, but more adult & gay.

First things first - this isn't RWRB & it's not trying to be. Yes, there's an American falling in love with a gay Prince, but that's about it. I really think this book stands on its own, there can be more than one gay royal romance out there in the world.

Having said that, "Playing the Palace" hit all the marks for me in terms of what I'm looking for in a romance. This was campy, hilarious, full of memorable characters & swoon-worthy moments, & had me teary eyed more than once (James' video had me grabbing my tissue box, lol). I related so much to Carter - listen, I'm approaching 30 as well & don't have my life anywhere near as together as I'd like it to be, so his issues really hit home (& also, LOVED his obsession w/ RBG). I loved all of the shenanigans he & Prince Edgar went through & found myself really rooting for them.

I thoroughly enjoy reading romcoms & have to say this - representation matters & I love seeing the influx of queer romances that are out there now. If you're in the mood for an easy, quick, fun read, I'd definitely check this out! I can't wait to grab a finished copy, thank you so much to Paul Rudnick, NetGalley, & Berkley Books for providing ARC in exchange for an honest review! (4.5 Stars)

This was such a fun and romantic read! I find sometimes that adult romances can lack the heart in favor of a more sexual focused story. This book had so much heart. It was funny and romantic and sexy!

There is so much fun to be had in Playing the Palace by Paul Rudnick.

I know I know. Everyone is thinking this like <em>Red, White and Royal Blue </em>and it's just... not. Not in a bad way, but let's stop comparisions because it is it's own book. Now don't get me wrong, I loved RWRB. But this is a wholly different book so can we please just enjoy it for it's own charm?

Where to begin!?

I love Carter, who is his own worst enemy. This character's vulnerabilities seemed very real as he second guesses himself and suffers from anxiety. What a guy to be suddenly dating the Prince of Wales! Carter's narration is hilarious, clever and witty. There were some real LOL moments. Seeing the world through Carter's eyes isn't a bad thing and is often times hysterical. That added to his charm and also put a very private spotlight on his insecurities. Prince Edgar has his faults too, but what I really liked about this couple was how strong they were together. Sure there was trouble and misunderstandings and def. a certain younger brother and his wife who seemed to be vying for the crown... but I like how two imperfect characters can come together and just make sense. This is Carter and Edgar.

All of the supporting characters are fantastic but my heart has a special place for Carter's sister Abby. She is strong and fearless and really boosts him up when he needs it. Everyone needs someone like this in their life. Also Queen Catherine is so extra. She stole all the scenes she was in and I would happily read a book just about her and her sass.

>Also, IHOP. I wanted IHOP the entire time I read this book. So thanks a lot Paul Rudnick.

<em>Playing the Palace</em> is fun and romantic and all the perfect things to read during a pandemic.

I feel like I need to defend Playing the Palace. I've read so many speculations that it is a "rip off" of Red, White and Royal Blue, but having read both I can declare is is most assuredly NOT. Yes, both have a gay male prince of England, but where they differ, and what Playing the Palace does wonderfully, is that the prince is out and proud. in this story we get to see "how heavy the head that wears the crown" is as he has to not only find his way through being a gay man and finding love BUT he must do so while being a good and fair representative not only for the Commonwealth but the LGBTQ+ community. Yes, giant run-on sentence there, but Prince Edgar really has to keep up appearance for a lot more people and groups of people than one would assume. I enjoyed this book and the romance between Edgar and Carter. I also enjoyed Carter's silly Sophie Kinsella leading character-type antics.

The thing is, Red, White & Royal Blue is genuinely funny. Boyfriend Material has me crying laughing. This book wants to be like that so badly that it's painful. It was so unfunny that it was painful.

The main issue is, though, that it relies COMPLETELY on the jokes. There's no fleshed out story or characterization, nothing else to really redeem it if this is not your kind of humour.

I sincerely meant to finish this book though, but what really tripped me up was the amount of fatphobia. I got halfway through and had to read fatphobic comments on every other page and I just couldn't put myself through it.

So this was very obviously written as a Red, White and Royal Blue readalike, which is fine. But it lacks the charm and, frankly, the character and relationship development to really pull you in. Spending a little more time at the start of the book making the reader care about the characters was an investment that would have paid off. I wonder if perhaps this would work better as a screenplay for a movie, which the author also writes.

This was a fluffy but far fetched romance. I liked the representation and affirmative characters/ support networks, but the narrative felt overdone with a lot of plot holes.

You have to completely suspend reality to read this book. It was WAY too fast paced! The thing I love about reading romance is watching the people fall in love. There was none of that. 3 dates and he's in Buckingham Palace. What?! The book is funny sometimes. The characters are ALL over the top. Carter's embarrassing situations were more painful than funny. I made it halfway and then skimmed the rest.

I loved every ridiculous, laugh out loud moment of this book! It’s not just another version of Red White and Royal Blue, it’s so much more. This would make the best movie!
I just reviewed Playing the Palace by Paul Rudnick. #PlayingthePalace #NetGalley

Unfortunately I was not able to get into this book, I tried multiple times and it just was not for me, Definitely will still recommend to others.

Whenever I read, (or view), anything by Paul Rudnick I realize I absolutely wish I was a gay man and could be his very best friend in the whole world. I'm realistic enough to know I'm too old to be of interest to him romantically but would so be happy just to hang out with him, eating chocolate of course, and awaiting his next bon mot. I fell in love with him in the early 90s and have been loyal ever since. It was with great excitement and anticipation that I picked up Playing the Palace. Mr. Rudnick did not disappoint me. Event Planner, well, assistant, Carter Ogden meets a prince and anything else I could tell you wouldn't be necessary. Just know there were moments when I actually heard myself snort out loud - how often does that happen reading a book I ask you? I genuinely tried to share why I thought a line so funny with my husband but it just didn't work. It made me wonder do I need to reassess my whole life - should I have taken another path, should I have not taken the vaccine? But then, like Carter, my new hero, I hear the voice of RBG advise me, "stop being you and just be yourself!" Paul Rudnick you are genius and I love you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This unfortunately is a DNF for me at 42%.

I truly hope this book has some changes made before publishing because it is a fun premise. It, unfortunately, starts in the wrong place, almost info-dumping about the MCs ex without bringing the reader in. This is a theme throughout the book. Despite being broken up with his ex for a while the MC is constantly thinking about him, comparing Edgar to him.

While I was excited to read a royal romance, this reads as if written by someone who's not familiar with the royals at all. Edgar is stiff, too stiff, and his dialogue was difficult to read. That they went out for dates instead of staying in didn't make sense. Then they jumped into a relationship, after barely spending any time together. This book is closed-door but has a brief chapter explaining that the sex is amazing without showing it or building up any sexual tension.

A lot of telling rather than showing, I couldn't push through. I didn't feel the connection with the characters at all. The MC didn't see Edgar as a person, rather as a prince and was a bit rude to him.

Rating: 1 (the MC was too mean and this didn't fit with the trope at all)
Steam: 1

This isn't RW&RB and it shouldn't be, that'd be weird. That said, I think it works quite well as a read alike and I thought it was pretty fun.

It’s like Schitt’s Creek meets the Royal Family. Charming, heartwarming, and hilarious (and for those of you wondering, distinctly different than Red, White, and Royal Blue). A true rom-com. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy.

I've got to be honest. I couldn't finish this book.

I really tried. I finished 30% and felt I had read enough to give it a chance before throwing in the towel. There's too many books out there and too little time to waste time on books that aren't enjoyable.

I was really REALLY excited for this book. I mean--a royal romance? A GAY royal romance? A gay royal romance between the crown prince and an American? What's not to love. As a HUGE fan of Red, White, and & Royal Blue, I was, of course, pumped for this one, and so excited when Berkley provided me with a copy for review. But... it didn't live up to expectations. To be completely blunt, it reads like fanfiction. Kind of mediocre fanfiction. The first 20 pages have nothing interesting going on (I think ten of them are the Jewish MC praying in a church?) and then BAM we have the world's most contrived meet-cute and the MC and the prince are almost kissing within five seconds and the prince takes things public two dates later. Just the pacing, and one-sidedness, and overall vibes of this book were not keeping me invested. Maybe I had too high an expectations. But I can't say I recommend it, as I had to DNF.

Thank you to Berkley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review!

2 stars - 3/10

Let's get this out of the way right off the bat: no, 'Playing the Palace' isn't a 'Red White and Royal Blue' ripoff. The only thing the two really have in common is their American guy/British prince pairing (and the blush pink of the cover). Instead, 'Playing the Palace' is a witty and sometimes laugh-out-loud rom-com that's like a Hallmark movie but much better and much truer to what real millennials sound like and act like.

The plot itself is pretty basic romance stuff: party planner Carter is a Certified Mess fresh off a breakup with a cheating but charming ex. When he coincidentally crosses paths with Edgar, the openly gay Prince of Wales, they immediately have a spark and quickly fall for each other. The spotlight isn't kind to Carter, though, and despite the love and support of his delightful friends and Edgar's quippy staff, Carter keeps making one public misstep after another.

Author Rudnick is a screenwriter and playwright, and it really, really shows - and I mean that in the best possible way! The dialogue is the star of the show here, packed with delicious quips, memorably ridiculous lines that capture the particular, fast-paced, referential cadence of overachieving, self-aware twentysomethings. Supporting characters (particularly the brisk, deliciously bitchy, and occasionally shockingly decent Queen Catherine) fill out the world of the story, but the focus never strays from Carter and Edgar. It's a warm and funny rom-com that hits all the right points on its way to a modern happily ever after.

Review Posted on GoodReads (February 25, 2021)
Review linked.

3/5 stars!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sending me an E-ARC for an honest review.

This book was so cute. I always love a good "Royals" trope romance and this book was so much fun to read. I really liked all of the characters and I loved seeing more Royals Romances with LGBTQ+ characters and romances. My only issue with this book was the writing. I didn't connect as much as I wanted to with the writing.

Overall, I thought that this was a cute story. It wasn't amazing, but was still such a fun read.

Thanks for reading!
Caden

Thanks to Netgalley.com for giving me this Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I got through this book relatively quickly. I was excited because I have read Paul Rudnick's work before and I was excited to see how he'd create this world. Overall it was a solid book. The protagonist was likeable and I could even understand his inherent urge to self sabotage to a point. But then I look at his loud rambunctious Jewish family and I'm like...seriously how can you not believe that you deserve happiness? At first I was all for Prince Edgar and again the author did a decent job with explaining his childhood trauma and why he's a bit gun shy in relationship, again to a point, and then he keeps popping up saying I've changed my mind let's do this! I think it would have conveyed better if we got his POV instead of it focusing on Carter. The Queen was hilarious, but I did not understand why she didn't have people to do the cock-blocking for her instead of standing out in the hallway for most of the night. The event that took place (you know the one that results in the main couple breaking up for some time before they finally have a conversation and everything is fixed) was completely out of left field to the point that I thought I missed a chapter or three! The author then did a flashback in the middle of the drama completely taking me out of what was actually happening presently! And that part about them having a conversation and figuring it out...yeah didn't really happen. We got a Queen saying the prince is sad, fix it. And a valet giving his sad background story via a video message to the both of them saying fix it and we then get a press conference by Edgar asking Carter to marry him...after months of radio silence since a very public blow up on live TV! Not to mention the fact that we have on record that they spent about a month in total together before that blowup! SMH

Like I said I was excited about this book. I figured it would be a nice commoner meets royalty and they hit it off over a period of time (read years) they of course have a few trials and tribulations and then they overcome it and get married. (Kind of like the LGBTQ+ version of The Royal We, only in their late 20s when their frontal cortex is developed) in the end it reminded me of a lifetime movie, one of the bad ones that you love to hate.

Disclaimer: I got this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Playing the Palace is perfect for fans of Red, White, and Royal Blue!! It's the story of The Crown Prince and that guy from New York! The only thing I didn't like about this book was the constant time jumps. Other than that, Prince Edgar and Carter's romance is a very heartwarming story. If you're a fan of Alex & Henry, I highly recommend picking this one up!