Like many readers, I came into this expecting the next RWRB which is one of my all time favorites, and it’s probably my fault for having such high expectations. This one had some fun moments but I really couldn’t empathize with either of the MCs and so many of the scenes felt contrived. Maybe it’s for others but it definitely wasn’t for me.

Humorist, screenwriter and hilarious Twitter poster (@PaulRudnickNY) Paul Rudnick gives us the gay fairy tale we always secretly knew we needed but could never admit out loud. This isn't a kid's fairy tale. It's also not erotica. It's a sweet, funny, deliciously melodramatic story of a would-be king finding love with a smart, awkward American man. I dare you to get through to the end without shedding a tear. Perhaps this might have seemed too over the top even a year ago, but because of the Harry and Meghan real-life story, Playing the Palace now seems like the perfect description of the Monarchy moving through the 21st Century - finding true love and refocusing their energies on creating real good in the world. You'll fall in love with Price Edgar and Carter. You'll want Abby savagely in your corner. Sure it's absurd, but that's what life truly is. And why can't we finally, truly get our happy endings? All of us. Every last one of us. 4 out of 5.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

I DNF at 71%. I tried to keep pushing through mishap after mishap until I finally could no longer suspend my disbelief that these two would keep working to be together. I would try this author again, but this one wasn’t for me.

I have so many feelings about this about this book.

First of all, I loved the premise… and the story itself was really cute, in a Netflix rom-com kind of way. I am always a sucker for love stories where royalty and average joes fall in love and I am totally digging the LGBTQIA+ representation. Overall, I think this novel is a solid 3 to 3.5 star read.

I chose this rating because I really loved the premise and the characters. Carter and his friends are hilarious and his family is #goals. They love him fiercely and protect him no matter what, even when he messes up royally. Edgar also a lovely prince and I loved seeing his development as the story progressed. Plus his friendships with his bodyguards was heartwarming and I loved the witty exchanges with the Queen.

I failed to give this story more stars because I struggled a bit with the writing. The book felt less like a novel at times and more like a screenplay, which left me having to fill-in too many of the gaps. This was a little disheartening because it had all the right elements to be amazing, but lack some of the necessary nuances to make you truly relate with the characters. Despite this, I can totally see this becoming a super cute Netflix movie and I would totally binge watch a few times.

I really wanted to love this book, but sadly it just wasn't for me. What started as an over the top idea that I was willing to suspend disbelief for turned into an insufferable mess with very superficial characters and dialogue. As used to the "love at first sight" trope as I am at this point, the obsession and devotion they supposedly had for each other made no sense in the grand scheme of things. There was no reason for them to want to continue to try for a relationship after the first blunder (considering, you know, one of them is next in line for the throne...), and much less after the third, fourth OR fifth.

Overall, not my favorite read. It should stop being compared to Red, White and Royal Blue as the only thing both books have in common is they involve members of the Royal Family.

Playing the Palace was a delight, and I absolutely couldn’t put it down. Fans of Schitt’s Creek will especially revel in the snarky characters who love each other fiercely. Don’t miss this one.

“Please don’t make me try and understand Brexit. Because the closest I can get is if new jersey broke away from New York and floated out to sea while Connecticut laughed.” (I loved the Jersey referenced in this book! I used to work in Piscataway ❤️)

Carter has given up on finding love after he found out he was one of many his ex was sleeping with. While setting up for an event for Prince Edgar, the two meet and sparks are immediate. The Prince would never date some American commoner like him though. When Edgar makes his intentions clear, they give it a shot, but the people are not loving this Carter person.

I loved the humor in this book. It was so relatable to see someone trying to do everything right and make the English people love him, but unintentionally mess it up every step of the way. James was by far a favorite character. His whit and jokes were fabulous throughout the book! While I did feel like Carter and Edgar moved super fast, overall I loved their relationship and that while the royal aspect added to their issues, they both just wanted to find love and be happy. If you liked Red, White, and Royal Blue, you should definitely pick this one up. I have seen it compared to RW&RB a lot, but I have to say I much preferred this book, the humor added so much to the book!

his book is a delight. I tore through it in one day because I was so invested in finding out what happened. It tells the story of Carter Ogden, an event planner from New Jersey living in New York. While setting up for an event at the UN, Carter meets Prince Edgar, the heir to the throne in England. Prince Edgar is well known to Carter (and pretty much everyone in the world), not just because he is the crown prince but also because he's openly gay. Edgar asks Carter for help preparing for his speech and, in the few minutes they spend alone together, they hit it off.

Carter thinks it is a one time thing and that he'll never see Edgar again. But, not so soon, Edgar reaches out for a date and, from there, their relationship moves forward in fits and starts as they see if they can navigate their much different backgrounds, temperaments, and experiences on the way to something more.

I really enjoyed both the main characters. They easily could have fallen into caricature given the premise. But, in this author's hands, Carter and Edgar are fully formed and complex. The same goes for their families -- while Carter comes from a loving, loud Jewish family in New Jersey and Edgar from the formal, stiff upper lip family, neither is one dimensional. Whether it is Carter's sister, parents, or great aunt or Edgar's grandmother, the queen of England, the family members come across as multi-faceted and authentic. And funny -- the family members provided several laugh-out-loud moments throughout the book.

The book deftly takes all of the strong potential of the high concept premise and pairs it with creating a good old fashion queer romance that keeps the reader fully engaged in wanting to know what will happen to the main couple -- will they be able to overcome their past experiences, mutual tendency to self-sabotage, and the prying eyes of the public to build something real and lasting?

Very, very highly recommended. You will not regret picking this one up and spending time with Carter and Edgar!

I love M/M romance and this one was pretty good. The characters were sweet and engaging. It sort of wavered in the middle but it was enjoyable.

So funny to read this in the midst of all the Meghan Markle drama! Despite that, this is a truly lovely romantic imagining of a gay prince fairytale. Very different than Red, White and Blue, but in a good way! I loved Carter and Prince Edgar's meet-cute at the UN.

Lots of moments made me laugh out loud. The dialogue is natural and spot on. Just a joy of a read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley for the ARC.

The world definitely needs an own-voices tale of an ordinary New Yorker falling in love with a British prince! This book is a fun quick read that I can't wait to talk about with readers who loved THE ROYAL WE and RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE..

It starts off slow and kind of dense, but once the action begins, it's hard to resist the story as it drives forward. It reads as a true epic, one that makes you feel the world really has been reshaped as you read it. Would recommend.

Adorable. Completely and utterly adorable. Perfect for lovers of Red, White and Royal Blue and the Royal family in general.

The timing of this fun read couldn't be better for all of us who Royal Watch. Sharp, lively and filled with the glam of Windsoresque pageantry, this novel is a quick read that satisfies both the regular LGBTQ reader and those new to the genre. Snark, great clothes and the prospect for a happily ever after make this one a treat!

Everyone knows at least a little bit about those fun, jaunty rom-coms-- the ones where a modern-day royal meets a common citizen that steals their heart away. Well, Rudnick has gifted us with a much gayer version of this trope, and delightful is an understatement! After events planner Carter Ogden helps Prince Edgar of Wales prepare for a speech, the unlikely pair form an immediate spark, and just a few weeks later the Prince returns to America to sweep Carter away, unable to stop thinking about him. Playing the Palace is a wonderfully super-sweet contemporary getaway from the real world, something I know I desperately needed! Readers will certainly want this book in their vacation (or rather, staycation) stack.

I really wanted to love this book. It had two of my favorite things, event planning and royal princes. But there was just something that I couldn't get into. I liked the characters most of the time but some of the things said and done had me cringing. I think that this is something that others would really enjoy but sadly it was just not for me. Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Playing the Palace had a great premise and fun-to-read characters. It started off beautifully, with a meet-cute and plenty of well-placed pop culture references. As the book progressed, events and characters started to get silly and slapstick, to the point of annoyance.

4.5 stars.

Paul Rudnick's upcoming rom-com, Playing the Palace, is a funny, sweet look at what happens when you fall in love with the future king of England.

Carter Ogden has been wallowing a bit since he broke up with his cheating ex. It’s getting to the point where he almost doesn’t believe true love exists, even though he prays to his patron saint, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, that his prince may come along someday.

And then he does, in the form of Prince Edgar, the openly gay Prince of Wales, next in line to the throne. Edgar and Carter meet at the UN, when Carter’s company is arranging an event that Edgar is speaking at. The chemistry between them is intense, but he’s royalty—isn’t he this polite with everyone?

It’s not long before Edgar makes his interest in Carter clear. But for self-doubting, self-deprecating Carter, trying to have a relationship with the future king is more challenging than he could ever imagine. Not only is Carter and his every action under intense scrutiny by the Palace and the world (and Carter is prone to colossal missteps), but both he and Edgar have their guards up to protect themselves from getting hurt, which keeps them from expressing their true feelings and their fears.

Playing the Palace is romantic, sometimes funny in an almost slapsticky way, and it’s a beautiful story that shows everyone deserves their fairytale romance. Paul Rudnick is a comedy genius, and some of his characters made me laugh—and reminded me of some relatives!

Don’t go in expecting Red White & Royal Blue (which was my favorite book of 2019): this is a very different story and it doesn’t want to be that one. Enjoy the rocky ride with Edgar and Carter (and you may never want to eat trifle again)!

NetGalley and Berkley provided me with a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!

Playing the Palace publishes 5/25!!

Okay. There is something to be said for books that just let you escape for a little while. We need that, even if it’s with something frivolous and absurd.

While this book is ridiculous in a way that will leave you shaking your head and nearly cringing, it’s hilarious and for a little while, it let me just escape into a (literally) unbelievable love story. I didn’t hate it.

Let yourself enjoy this book without judgment. You can still find merit in books that aren’t five-starred or making bestseller lists — even if it’s just for over-the-top entertainment value and something to make you smile.

(And just don’t even do the comparison to you-know-which book. Just enjoy.)

A big thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Books for providing me with an advance e-copy of the book.

Synopsis: When a lonely American event planner, Carter, starts dating the gay Prince of Wales, Edgar, a royal uproar ensues: is it true love or the ultimate meme? Find out in this hilarious romantic comedy.

Review: Before reading this book, Phil & I talked at length about something that is important for anyone wanting to read this one...which you should! This is NOT Red, White & Royal Blue. While the storylines are very similar - an American falls in love with a Prince, Playing the Palace established its own voice & take on this trope & I’d LOVE to see less reviews that only compare it to RWRB!

What I loved: “Playing the Palace” was everything it was supposed to be....cute, campy & more modern representation of MM romances. I adored the supporting cast, the snarky banter & the fast-paced, whirlwind romance that anyone with a heart could get swept up in! While this was a more lighthearted & somewhat rushed story, there were some very touching & honest moments that made this novel incredibly endearing & one that I loved reading. By the end, my face genuinely hurt from smiling SO hard!

What I wanted more of: My biggest pet peeve about this book was that I couldn’t visualize Carter & Edgar. Beyond a few descriptors...a dazzling smile, a nice tricep...there wasn’t much to go off of or swoon over.

Also, & this may just be my own personal preference, but if you’re going to talk about all the wild sex you’re having...I wanna read about all the wild sex you’re having. Gimme at least a LITTLE steam! Please! The whole sleeping-with-a-Royal storyline is SOOO hot! Don’t just tease me with it & then not give ANY details whatsoever.

All in all, “Playing the Palace” was just the adorable & cute story I needed...it has my Royal Obsessed seal of approval & I hope y’all check it out on May 25, 2021 when it becomes available.