I so wanted to love this, but this just wasn't my cup of tea. I didn't like the main characters, the dialogue seemed very stiff, and the ending was very rushed. This was just very boring, but had so much potential.

The author describes this book as a sapphic Anastasia retelling, plus I love the rest of this series and her Reluctant Royals series, so I was ready for this book the moment it was announced.

As always, Cole writes fun and unique characters that I love to root for. I also loved Kojak. And as always, Cole's writing immerses the reader into her world. The dialogue between Makeda and Bez was fun and I enjoyed reading.

As I said, I absolutely loved the premise of this book. However, it fell a little short for me. The emotional development between characters was a little lacking for me. It almost felt like they fell in love without actually forming an emotional connection. I liked the 'at sea' portion of the book, but I just felt like the beginning was a little long and the part of the book that was actually in Ibarania was so short I didn't even realize it was over until I saw 'Acknowledgements' on the next page. I liked the twist at the end of the princess search, I just wish we'd gotten more of it.

3.5/5

When I heard that this queer Anastasia retelling was available to request, I leapt at the chance to read an early copy. Alyssa Cole is back with her second installment in the Runaway Royals series. This time, a reluctant heir to a faraway monarchy becomes entangled in an intense vie for the throne after being discovered by a private investigator. As the two go head to head, they develop an intense connection that could possibly derail the whole investigation, but could also be the very thing that changes their lives forever.

Anastasia is one of my favorite stories, so to learn that this was not only a retelling, but that it was a queer retelling, was like being told that Christmas had come early. Having read a few of Alyssa Cole’s previous books, becoming reacquainted with her writing style was a familiar task. I was immediately drawn into the story through its incredible characterization and ability to make me feel for each of the leading ladies. This overall had such a quirky vibe to it that I just couldn't help but fall in love. There were certain aspects that could have been improved upon however. I felt that the romantic connection between the two main characters needed to be more thoroughly developed over the course of the novel. The emotional progression was really lacking in ways that impeded me caring any deeper for both characters. Unfortunate given how this centered specifically around the progression of a romantic relationship between the two leads. Both characters were strong and could stand on their own, being only let down in that respect. The portion of the book that centered around the ocean voyage was such a call back to the original animation, and one of my favorite parts of the story, but it felt out of balance with the other destinations. Particularly Ibarania, which had the least amount of time spent there, yet the most focus with regards to central conflict and plot. I would have really liked the storyline to continue there, especially after the rushed nature of the ending. Altogether a solid retelling with a few gaps, that upon recollection, seem to leave it dead set in the moderate category for me.

Trigger warnings: mentions of violence, mention of murder, mention of bullying, alcoholic parent, parental abandonment, PTSD

This romance novel was quite enjoyable. I didn't quite connect as much with these two characters as some of the the characters in Cole's other Reluctant Royals/Runaway Royals books, but it was still fun. I love a good retelling, and this was definitely a fun Anastasia retelling with a twist that I didn't see coming.

I really, really hope there's going to be a book about A.K., because now I want to read his story! I immediately went to her website on finishing this book and didn't see anything listed, but I'm hoping!

I also loved the little references to things or people from the other books, and I loved Grandmore! I would read an entire book about Grandmore.

If you enjoyed the other Reluctant Royals and/or Runaway Royals books, I think you'll like this one too.

A romantic story of royalty. I actually hadn’t read the previous books in this book series and it was completely fine still totally enjoyable.

Fast moving and wonderful! A take on the traditional "found prince" story that is queer in all the best ways.

Oh my god, this book brought me so much joy! Alyssa Cole once against has written an absolutely wonderful romance with characters who make me feel all the feelings.

Beznaria Chetchevaliere was first introduced in How to Catch a Queen as part of the World Federation of Monarchists (WFM) and also as par of Damsel in Distress Rescuer, and I almost immediately wanted her to get a girlfriend. Learning this book would be following her, and she would get the girl (this is a romance after all!) I was immediately grabby hands, and then the cover was revealed!

Makeda Hicks is used to fixing everything and taking care of people, especially as her mother has been obsessed with proving they’re descended from the lost queen of Ibarania and when she wasn’t believed she turned to alcohol and gambling, forcing Makeda to grow up faster to ensure things were taken care of. After losing her job and her girlfriend in the same day, Makeda decides its time to start being selfish and stop giving all her sweetness away. When Bez arrives at her grandmother’s B&B saying she believes she really is the lost princess, Makeda finally relents on going to Ibarania with every intention of proving she isn’t the princess so she can finally be free from the trauma that belief has brought her.

This book really brought me so much joy to read and I love Makeda and Bez so much. Especially Bez, with her brain fireflies and chaotic adherence to her personal code of honor. I loved the romance that develops between them, as well as the ways consent and communication are shown. This was so sweet on many levels, even as both Makeda and Beznaria have internal stress about how choices are playing out and what the future may hold for them.

This was an excellent modern day royals romance that I’m looking forward to rereading many times. It was funny and sweet, with hints of angst that just increased the intensity of the romance.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the Arc in exchange for an honest review

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-f/f Anastasia retelling
-close proximity
-fake dating
-only one bed
-slow burn


While I enjoyed both MCs individually, I'm not sure I felt their connection together. Despite the multiple tropes to have them in close proximity they spent a lot of the book apart and did not seem to truly connect. The twist at the end was fun, but after building up to go to Ibarania very little time was spent there and then the book abruptly ends leaving me with multiple questions.

I laughed multiple times throughout the book and enjoyed reading it, but wished there was more connection between the MCs, more emotional development. I found Makeda's traits as a giver relatable especially with her being the child of an alcoholic, but she never really delved into that with Bez. There was also a lot of deception that was glossed over.


Rating: 3.5/4
Steam: 3

CW: parental abandonment, parental alcoholism

3.5 stars for How to Find a Princess. We loved the premise for this one - a queer Anastasia retelling? Who would be a princess for a Mediterranean island nation whose monarchy is the result of a slave uprising? Yes, please! This book focuses on Beznaria Chetchevaliere who we met in How to Catch a Queen. She's been sent on what is intended to be a fruitless mission to find the heir to Ibarania, and she thinks she's found the princess in Makeda Hicks of Atlantic City, New Jersey.

So far, so good! What was harder for us was relating to either of the main characters. Makeda is a "giver," and she spends most of her time helping others - whether they want her help or not. After losing her job, her apartment, and her girlfriend, Makeda has moved back in with her grandmother and is working on enforcing her own personal boundaries. Unfortunately Bez seems to be an expert in breaking through other people's boundaries. She refuses to take no for an answer, whether that be from Makeda to her grandmother to her employer.

We enjoyed the book, but have preferred the other entries in Cole's royal romances.

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC copy of this book available to me.

Enjoyable, but...

If this had been the first book I"d read in Cole's recent royal romance series, I would have stopped before I had finished fifty pages. During the first quarter of the book I thoroughly disliked both of the main characters, as well as Makeda's grandmother. It wasn't until just before the sea voyage began that I could get to the point of actually sitting back and enjoying the characters and the writing. I also felt that the amount of time actually spent in Ibarania at the end of the book was much too short, and could have used more plot development. I did like the final twists in the princess hunt though. And hopefully the text will get another much needed pass through the editors before it gets published.