3.5 Stars, Rounded

Makeda has had a bad day, or series of them. Job gone, girlfriend gone, and nothing seems to be right – now there’s a private investigator wanting to hear (again, for the millionth time) the story her grandmother told her and that enchanted her mother. A summer fling with a prince was the tale, from a tiny country called Ibarania, and this investigator: Beznaria has tracked her down to hear it, yet again. Makeda isn’t interested, no matter how intriguing Bez is, or whatever the ‘bonus’ is at the end of the possible rainbow.

Starting out with great promise here – there's an instant spark between Makeda and Bez, and there is a bit of insistence from Bez that has Makeda rather confused and perhaps even a bit hopeful. But the way things have gone, and with Bez being the complete opposite to Makeda’s rather buttoned-down and organized self, she’s not sure if that’s a path she wants to try and follow. There’s a spark, sure – but......

Now I wanted to love this story as I have many of Cole’s stories. But something was seriously off with the pacing here, and the characters spent more time in back and forth and stubborn if not wholly ridiculous stand-offs over the smallest things that it was wearing. Then we had a tipping point that threatened all Makeda wanted for her grandmother, and she agrees to go to Ibarania and they are soon on a transatlantic ocean liner for what will become a long-drawn out and rather static journey to her destiny.

It’s not that the story didn’t have clever moments, or that the characters were flat – they were not, even if both didn’t grow quite as much as I would have hoped for. But the pacing was uneven, and the ruch to the end (when it came) was most certainly rushed, with a fake wedding, the realization that they can’t lose one another and a new way of “being” that allowed for them both to find happiness. It wasn’t a full-on miss for me, but not as well paced or as intriguing as I wanted, and certainly missing a bit of the sparkle and humor that I’m used to from Cole’s books. I still think there’s a story worth the telling here, if you don’t mind skimming pages where little happens, it just didn’t fire for me on all cylinders.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aYH /” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Cole is a new to me author. When I saw the cover I got excited because there just isn't enough F/F content out there.

However, it was slow going to get through the story. The flow of the writing seemed a little stiff and for a while I didn't real feel any chemistry between Beznaria and Makeda. And the heat level of the story was really low due to a really slow burn storyline. And the ending left me wondering if there would be a second book.

I did like the characters, individually, and I really liked Cole's metaphor for the watering can and Makeda. Giving of yourself so much to others that you have nothing left.

Overall, the story was decent. I might check out more by the author. I haven't decided yet.

I think I had too many expectations for an Anastasia style story. It was just fine, nothing great and also nothing terrible, but kind of follows my experience with Alyssa Cole books.

I had such high hopes for this book after loving “How To Catch A Queen” and sadly this book just didn’t work out in my favor. I had a hard time connecting to the story as it went on and felt like it was just dragging and dragging. I would have also liked to see how the couple adapted to royal life as well. It felt like as soon as the story picked up and started to get interesting it was over. 😩😩

A same-sex princess story that I just didn't want to end. It was everything. Alyssa Cole is masterful in every genre, but her reinvention of the fairy tale convention is everything to me.

How to Find a Princess is a playful retelling of Anastasia with a lovable cast of characters that made me smile. It pairs a reliable pragmatist with her catnip, a chaotic adventurer. If you found the first novel in the Reluctant Royals series a bit stressful, rejoice! The sequel has less angst, but it also has an abrupt ending.

Bez was impossible for me to keep from falling in love with. Her ancestors were tasked with preventing the Ibaranian queen from disappearing, and Bez takes that legacy seriously. When her incompetent boss is hired to find the Ibaranian heirs, Bez ignores his orders and decides to investigate herself, eventually making her way to Makeda’s family. This is only the first of many times that Bez disregards inconvenient suggestions. I appreciated that Bez solves problems her own way. It meant the storyline progressed in directions I didn’t always anticipate. She’s hyper-focused on her goals, but good at listening to others for interpersonal clues that she may have missed while distracted. The book felt like it was celebrating neurodiversity, without explicitly diagnosing Bez.

How to Find a Princess has a playful, wry tone that gently pokes fun of royalty tropes. Bez’s scene with her monarchy-obsessed boss, Lord Higginshoggins, Algernon Shropsbottomshireburrough, pronounced Smith, is comic gold. Ibarania’s search for an heir is an unapologetic tourism campaign for the island. The newly minted royal role is mostly ceremonial, so readers looking for political intrigue will be disappointed. For Bez, it’s a chance to clear her family’s honor.

How to Find a Princess is an imaginative twist on a modern lost royal trope, and a character-driven story that made me fall in love with everyone I met, even if they occasionally frustrated me. Makeda and Bez are the cutest slow burn, and their flaws perfectly fit together like puzzle pieces. I adored the book right up until its somewhat unsatisfying ending to the romance. I’m happy to have read it, but it left me wanting more.

The reason I picked this up is because I wanted a cute fluffy sapphic romance. Unfortunately, I didn’t care about either character enough to root for their romance. The audience is being constantly told that Makeda Hicks is too kind, giving everything of herself to others, but rarely through Makeda’s characterization. The author is constantly reminding the audience rather than letting the audience figure it out through context clues. It felt that the author didn’t trust her audience to come to that conclusion herself. Despite the audience being constantly reminded that Makeda is “too nice” she was incredibly rude to Beznaria. The author wanted us to believe one thing but her characterization showed something completely different.

The characterization for all the other characters felt one dimensional and flat. I had trouble rooting for anyone because I found it difficult to care about any of them including Beznaria. As a neurodivergent person, I was excited to see representation. I don’t experience symptoms in the same way Bez does, but I feel more nuance and depth could’ve been added to her character. Because I didn’t feel any attachment for the two main characters, it was difficult for me to care about their romance.

So, I didn't really care for this book. It's sad, but the characters didn't really draw me in, I didn't care much for the plot, and I just felt super underwhelmed. It was also really predictable. I didn't find any of the characters really likable or memorable at all. I didn't care for Makeda that interesting. I could really see why her girlfriend at first got annoyed with her. I mean her wanting to help with everything is sweet to a point, but yeah with what was revealed about Makeda and how far she took helping out, I could see why her girlfriend maybe didn't like it or appreciate it. I think my main issue with this was that it was a super slow-burn romance. Nothing romance wise really happened till like the end, besides a few kisses but still...I wanted more from them. I think this book just dragged on, and it felt like nothing was happening. I liked the moments in the boat, but again that felt like such filler for the book. And then the ending moments were just rushed. The boat section felt like it was dragged out and there wasn't time enough to really get into the meaty moments at the end. They arrived at port, and then everything happened and then the book ended. I don't know, it just really bothered me. The beginning was a perfect pace, and then everything just went downhill. That doesn't mean I won't read anymore of her, I for sure will! This just wasn't for me!

Long lost royal? Bodyguard romance? Sticking it to a rich English fop? Count me in for all of the above in this book. Another installment of the Royals series' by Alyssa Cole, this time around we get to see behind the scenes of the World Federation of Monarchies as Bez attempts to find the missing heir to Ibarania. Hilarious hijinks ensue as Makeda attempts to thwart Bez, and Bez takes the "road less traveled" to get her potential royal to Ibarania in time for the coronation. Sweet and funny, this book is a great summer read.

This book is an adult sapphic romance; an Anastasia retelling where Makeda, a long-lost princess, falls in love with Beznaria, an investigator tasked with finding her and bringing her to Ibarania. Makeda lost her job and her girlfriend and the last thing she needs is to deal with the fact that she might have a royal heritage. And when Beznaria marches into her life, she is annoyed and intrigued by her at once. The two of them end up going on a journey to Ibarania together and there’s a LOT that happens along the way (including a fake marriage and the only one bed trope – yes, you read that right).

I loved Makeda and Bez – both them as characters individually and them together. They had really great character development, amazing chemistry, and a strong emotional connection. I rooted for them so much and could not wait to see them get closer. It’s definitely veryyyy slow burn, so be prepared for that.

I do think the pacing was a bit slow, I would have liked it better if the book was a little shorter. It’s also quite heavy on the plot outside the romance, which isn’t my favorite, but if you like a lot of plot, you’re going to love that!

Overall, I enjoyed it a lot, and highly recommend it if you’re looking for a great sapphic romance that’s fun, adventurous, and a little steamy.

I enjoyed How to Find a Princess so much!! Makeda has been having a rough time - she lost her job and got home to find her girlfriend was leaving her and moving out. Makeda ends up going to work at her grandmother’s b&b while she figures out her next move. She has no patience for her grandmother and mother believing they are actually related to royalty in Ibarania. So when an investigator named Beznaria shows up to take her to Ibarania to determine if she is their list Princess - Makeda wants nothing to do with it.

This is a story with banter and a fake relationship and a “just one bed” moment and all the great swoon worthy moments I expect from Alyssa Cole. Highly recommend. Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

My first book by Alyssa Cole and I really enjoyed it. A cool, laid back summer read that makes the shade a little more spicy. I haven't read a lot of sapphic romance so I can't compare it currently to others. Interested to see what others thought and felt about it.

This book was even more stunning than I had expected. I loved everything about it, including that extremely surprising ending!

And speaking of monarchies, both Alyssa Cole’s original Reluctant Royals series and its spinoff, Runaway Royals, explore hereditary rule and social responsibility: We see kings and queens of Black African kingdoms with unique religious and political traditions, as well as British dukes and European princes. Throughout the books, we catch glimpses of a shadowy organization called the World Federation of Monarchists — and in the latest installment, the institution’s junior investigator, Beznaria Chetchevalier, takes center stage as she hunts for a lost heir to the matrilineal Mediterranean island kingdom of Ibarania.

Only problem is, the heir in question — Makeda Hicks — would prefer to stay lost.

The other Royals books have actual rulers (and spouses of rulers) coping with problems of power — but in HOW TO FIND A PRINCESS (Avon, 388 pp., paper, $7.99), there is no power for our princess to claim. The whole heir search is a publicity stunt to boost tourism to Ibarania’s flagging economy; any acknowledged heir will have ceremonial duties but no ability to shape policy. Which makes sense, since this book is an Anastasia retelling, and the Romanov throne has been an empty one since the dawn of the last century.

The book is a bitingly funny, scathing rebuke to the emptiness of royal pageantry, and Cole makes virtuoso use of the familiar rhythms of a romance arc. When Makeda decides she’ll make the trip to Ibarania hoping to prove she’s not actually their princess, I began watching for clues as to how she was going to change her mind about her destiny. Romance novels delight in thwarting their lead characters’ most determined plans: People swear they’ll never fall in love, that they’ll only have one memorable night’s fling, that they’ll never trust anyone ever again. But that means anyone can be transformed before a reader’s eyes. Darcy is an ass at the start of the book, but he doesn’t stay that way.

And here, a princess who dreads being recognized as a princess has something else happen instead. I won’t spoil the reveal, but it’s shocking and joyful and absolutely perfect.

In this queer Anastasia retelling, a descendant of the Ibaranian Royal guard makes it her life mission to track down the missing heir and clear her family’s name. Makeda Hicks has been told her whole life that she is a princess after her grandmothers affair with a runaway prince, but being a princess hasn’t been working out for her. Now, she loses her job and her girlfriend in one day, and the last thing she wants is a reminder of the infamous tale that has ultimately ruined her life. Beznaria Chetchevaliere, who works the World Federation of Monarchies, is assigned the task of tracking down the missing heir. When Bez, breaks into Makeda’s life (literally), a deal is struck for her Makeda to return to Ibarania to claim her spot, involving a sketchy plan, a fake marriage, and lots of tension.

I’ll be honest, I didn’t love this as much as I was expecting. I have adored Cole’s previous books but something about this one fell flat to me. I really enjoyed the main characters and their chemistry, but the overall plot felt a little all over the place and... boring— only to pack the resolution into a rushed finish that did really surprise me! But overall wasn’t exactly what I wanted. I just didn’t connect with the story like I usually do with a romance and at some points I found myself wanting to skip ahead. I think the slow burn aspect was a little too slow for my liking and the conflict between them felt somewhat repetitive. I was hoping to learn more about Ibarania too. Overall, it just isn’t a stand out story for me personally. I loved the representation, especially how normalized the queer rep was, and there was some funny banter and good steamy scenes. I’ll still be reading more of this authors work for sure!

Rating: 3/5 Stars

*thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

Alyssa Cole is the best!!! I love all her books and this was no exception. A F/F romance, with two strong woman leading. I loved the background story as well as all the characters.

So I usually LOVE Alyssa Cole, like 4 and 5 stars always and forever, but I just couldn't get into this book. It's a slower burn than her usual books, but I think I really just didn't connect with these two main characters. I am all about a F/F romance, but both Bez and Makeda just approach life so differently than I do that I couldn't really find a way into the narrative. I was also a little disappointed that it wrapped up soooooo quickly. I wanted to find out more about how Makeda's grandmother came in possession of the Ibaranian royal ring, etc. I still liked the writing, Alyssa Cole really is one of the best contemporary writers out there, in my opinion, and I'll read anything she puts out, but this just wasn't a fave.

3.5 Stars

“How to Find a Princess” is a pretty sweet slow-burn romance. I had never read anything by Cole before and I feel like this was a nice introduction. This is also the second in her Runaway Royals series, however, I didn’t read the first but I never felt I was missing anything here.

Makeda Hicks is a people pleaser who has just been let go of her job and dumped by her girlfriend all on the same day. On top of that, her grandmother is wanting her to claim her lost princess status from a small country where she is rumored to be the missing heir. Makeda has no interest in being a princess. Her mother made a big deal of it when she was younger which caused her a lot of embarrassment and pain and their relationship is strained because of it.

Beznaria Chetchevaliere is an investigator with the World Federation of Monarchies and she’s on the hunt for the lost heir. The runaway heir happened on her grandmother’s watch and has been cause of the family shame for years. When she sees that Makeda could actually be the princess she’ll do whatever she can to restore her family’s honor and return the princess, whether Makeda wants it or not.

Makeda and Bez are complete opposites. Makeda has been a people pleaser all her life but she’s finally done with that. Pleasing everyone but herself is finally drained all her care and she’s ready to put her foot down. Bez, on the other hand, has never worried about anyone but herself. She’s quite happy doing and saying what she wants and doesn’t really concern herself with the fallout. I really liked them together and how their personalities played against each other. It was entertaining when they were sniping at each other and finally, when they were flirting with each other.

I liked this overall but there were a few issues for me that tempered my enjoyment a bit. In the beginning I really felt like Bez and Makeda’s grandmother were lying and manipulating Makeda to get her to do what they wanted. She stated several times that she wanted nothing to do with the being a princess and they refused to accept that. Bez also lies by omission quite a lot, almost right up until the end when she starts feeling guilty, and the lies could’ve really made things tough on Makeda in the future. While she did decide on her own to go, their attitudes about it kind of rubbed me the wrong way. The ending also seemed really rushed to me. I really didn’t feel like we were coming to the conclusion when all of a sudden, I was at the end. I still had questions about certain things that were never explained and that took away some of my joy.

Aside from that, I still enjoyed this. I don’t want to say this is campy, but it is kind of over the top and light-hearted in that way. It’s angst-lite and fun and sweet and would be a good, entertaining beach read. There are a few tropes here too: fauxmance, forced proximity, only one bed.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Avon in exchange for an honest review.

How to Find a Princess is the black sapphic modern romance that gives readers exactly what they want. With romance nvoels, we generally know what we want - two compelling characters, some tropes, and a happy ending. Cole manages to delivers all the tropes we desire without seeming like they're shoe-horned in. There was only one bed, long-lost royals, fake marriage! Cole also manages to write queer characters that actually seem queer. So many books that features LGBTQ people are almost like "het" romances, but with people who identify as the same gender. That's not the case at all for How to Find a Princess, and it was a major relief.

The way that Cole includes Bez's neurodivergence and Makeda's anxiety also feels incredibly natural and relatable. You can tell she's done her research. Speaking of research, no one could ever doubt Cole does her due diligence. I was particularly fond of the part that takes place on a ship, and while Cole never loses sight of the progressing relationship and characters, we still feel like we're transported into this setting. An extremely enjoyable book that delivers what we want. Its a fun, sexy, quick read that's sure to brighten your mood!

I absolutely love Alyssa Cole’s writing her books are always a joy to read! I try and always listen to them on audio because the audio books are amazing and I love the narrator and this was no exception. The only reason I didn’t love this book like I do all the others is because of the miscommunication, normally in her books it’s not too much of a problem the characters distract me from all of that, but in this one I just couldn’t get over it and it brought the book down for me some.