The final book in the American Royals series picks up right where the third book left off with Beatrice in a coma. As Jefferson steps in as temporary ruler, it becomes clear that some people in the country would prefer he remain on the throne even after Bea wakes up. Daphne meanwhile has tricked Jeff into proposing and is preparing for a royal wedding. While Sam had gone to Hawaii to be with Marshall, she returns when she hears about Bea's accident only to find out she's been stripped of her title and she has to figure out her place in the family while also learning what it's like to not be royal. Lastly, Nina is getting used to her first year of college and meets someone who might just help her finally stop thinking about Jeff. Overall, a satisfying conclusion to the series filled with schemes and political agendas as the characters all decide what is best for their future, even if it means changing paths completely.

Reign by Katharine McGee is the conclusion to the American Royals series. What a ride this series has been over three years. I love that we get resolution to Beatrice, Nina, Daphne and Samantha's stories. As the book opens FYI SPOILERS RIGHT HERE Beatrice is in a coma. Samantha has run away to the kingdom of Haw'aii with Marshall. Nina is living her life in college. Daphne has claimed to Jefferson that she's pregnant. Yes, lots of drama from the jump. Let me tell you, that kept me engaged and interested. All the stories play out and resolve though and get neatly wrapped up.

I love a good series closer. Reign does an excellent job ending the series -- it is dramatic and juicy. I liked that my conceptions about different characters changed. I found myself surprised and shocked and unable to predict one twist in this book. Also, this book does take on things like patriarchy -- particularly with Beatrice and Samantha's stories. Daphne also really has a lot of growth and felt so morally grey to me eventually -- I appreciated the depth. Finally, Brittany Pressley narrated the audiobook of American Royals: Reign and truly does it to perfection. She is PERFECT for this series and I am so glad I listened to all these books because what an experience. The audiobook is 12 hours and 49 minutes but the time just absolutely flies while you listen.

This was a truly satisfying conclusion to this addictive and melodramatically fun series.

If you’re looking for an angst filled series, I can’t recommend this enough. McGee’s fantastic descriptions felt so completely visual that it almost felt like I was watching it instead of reading.

This was a cute and fun series and I’m sorry to see it come to an end, though I think the material has run it’s course.

This last was probably my least favorite of the series, but I think it provided a mostly satisfying ending, and placed each of the characters where they needed to be even if it didn’t mean a fairy tale ending for several of them.

I continued to struggle with the shift to a sympathetic POV for Daphne as I have in previous books. It’s a bit of the old Blair Waldorf problem, but what can I say, I just don’t like bullies.

In the end I mostly just wanted things to work out for Beatrice and Sam, and I think McGee gave us what we needed there.

Overall, a clever concept for a series that held up well through all four books. I’ll happily read whatever McGee gives us next.

The Book American Royals IV: Reign finishes up the American Royals series in a satisfying way. As Bea, Sam, Nina, and Daphne face different challenges, they ultimately become more confident in themselves and in their roles in the countries. The romance is well-written in a way that does not take away from the agency of the female characters. Ultimately, I would recommend this as a fun book that also imagines and considers different alternate realities of US politics.

Katharine McGee wraps up the American Royals series with her latest book, Reign. I am so glad she chose to continue the story and give the readers closure for these fascinating characters. I couldn't wait to jump end to see what would happen woth Beatrice, Samantha, Jefferson, Nina, and Daphne. If you have already started the series, which I hope you have, it is well worth your time. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced preview.

I have been a huge fan of the American Royals series since the first chapter. I love that Katharine McGee shares the various perspectives of the female leads throughout the series. I was beyond excited to get my hands on the final book in the series, Reign, and could not wait to start reading.

While I wanted to love this book as much as the other ones in the series, I found myself having a hard time staying interested in the story. Whereas I devoured the other books in 2-3 days, this one took me about 2 weeks to finish., Overall, I still really enjoyed the book and I was glad to finish the series to see how the life of the Washingtons unfolded.

The way I’m obsessed with this series. I just…these girls. All going through so much—even Daphne though I still can’t stand her lol. This was the perfect finale to this series, with all the drama, secrets and lies, love and loss. It was utter perfection.

I can’t believe that this series is finally over, and that despite the rough and rocky time we’ve had that it honestly all ended up in what I think is about the best possible way. I’ve often likened this book series to Degrassi if it were about American Royalty, and this book was that in just about the best iteration yet. The drama is maximum but I felt that this book was able to have a lot more character depth (in most cases). There were some elements that were still a little bit repetitive, but all of our main characters managed to be so distinctly different from the people that we met when this series first began. This is definitely one of the best books in the series and was a great callback to so many people and elements introduced all across the series!

As I’ve said, I think that one of the best elements of this book is how satisfying the ending was. When looking at all the major players from this series, I can honestly say that I think I’m happy with where everyone ended up both as an individual person and with most of the relationships. It was a sometimes frustrating journey to get there, but the end goal was more worth it than I imagined. I have especially loved getting to see Beatrice’s growth throughout the series, even as sometimes arguably the most “boring” character, she manages to shine both in the plot and in the way she’s written!

If you’ve been a fan of this series, or you’re looking for a guilty pleasure series with a fun concept and the drama of a 2010s teen show, this is definitely worth checking out!

A stunning addition to this series. Fiercely funny and politically aggressive, with a healthy scoop of drama and romance.

This was the perfect ending to a series I have loved since it started. I loved every chapter and how it all tied up in the end. I would love to have more stories like this one. If you are a fan of this series or thinking about picking it. Don't worry it ends well and happy~

Now, I can’t be held responsible for remembering everything from the three books I’ve read over the past few years, but they are so good! Katharine McGee even wrote a novella prequel that you need to read too!

I can tell ya that the last book — REIGN, out Aug. 29 — is a brilliant conclusion that gives you the best out of all your favorite characters, plus the drama you’ll know and love from the first three books.

I'm a huge fan of this alternative twist if America had a monarchy series. Think American royalty meets Gossip Girls. Totally addictive series.

In this final novel, a lot of loose ends are tied up. Beatrice has woken from a coma with no recollection of the previous year. Sam and Marshal have fled America to Hawaii. Nina is still numb after the obvious betrayal of Prince Jeff who is now engaged to her arch nemesis Daphne. Ethan is still in the picture as well. Secrets, lies, and courtly intrigue. What isn't to love?

What I really loved about this series is how well-developed all the characters are. Daphne is the 'mean' girl of the royal court with a humble beginning, but her vulnerabilities are shown so she's not just a one-dimensional person. Her dream of becoming a crowned Princess is finally within her reach, but she finds that her heart really isn't with it. Plus, she can't deny who she really feels strongly for.

Nina's character is fleshed out more too. A new guy shows up that she's attracted to and when she finds out Jaime is in fact another prince--this time a Canadian prince-- she's caught off-guard and is leery of his true intentions.

Sam's impulsiveness and thinking outside of the box end up having her lose the title of HRH. She finds this hard at first, but a friendship with a former helper at the palace helps her with learning to be independent on her own. The scene in the local Costco where a young girl named after her is cute and shows how much Sam wants to see life outside of the confirms of the palace.

The one character I wanted more of had to be Prince Jeff. We see him mostly through other character's eyes. His relationship with Daphne is complex and built on a lie. I can see why Nina has a hard time accepting him rushing off to Daphne and not really being honest and upfront with the 'whys'.

Satisfying conclusion to the American Royals series. Royalty meets Gossip Girls with all the intrigue, drama, and romance. I'm sad to see these characters go!

A fun conclusion to the American Royals series! I was anxious to see how the author would wrap up the many lose ends that Rivals has created, but I am quite satisfied.

We're here. Finally. The LAST book in the American Royals series. If you've read any of my other reviews, I typically start with a brief synopsis, but let's be real, if you're a fan of the series you should know by now that (1) I'd just be repeating where we left off int he last book, or (2) spoiling the entire thing for you. It's extremely challenging to write this review without spoilers, in part, because the book has such a telenovela feel--car crashes, comas, amnesia, blackmail, royalty, affairs, and more. There's so much drama packed in that every little tidbit is a spoiler. I'll say this: I am glad to see that McGee gave us an ending. I had been one of the loudest lamenters that pretty much every other book in the series ended on a cliffhanger, which imo, ruins an otherwise fabulous book. But here, we finally see a conclusion, including a 6 months later, "where are they now" style epilogue. I also wish there had been more Bea, which I think I've said after every book. But Bea is my favorite character of the bunch, and just because she's less dramatic it doesn't mean I want less of her! Her and Teddy are total #endgame for me, so I would have loved to have seen more of them on page. But overall, I enjoyed the book, devouring it in one sitting. I'm generally happy with how things turned out, plot-wise, minus one thing I can't say without spoiling. But DM me if you want to chat about it--ha!

Thanks to Random House Children's for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

The most perfect ending to such a fun/drama-filled series! I almost didn’t read this because the previous book went in a direction I didn’t love, but Reign totally made up for it. I loved how each main character had their own satisfying ending (even Daphne who I never liked), and I admire all the character growth from start to finish. I listened to the audiobook and found it impossible to put down. Brittany Presley narrated it solo and did an amazing job depicting each POV, so the characters were distinct.

these books have been pure escapism for me, and I have enjoyed the fact that they center on the women of the group- as a fun commentary about our current society, and as a historian for the commentary about how history has usually been written. Overall, a well-done conclusion to a YA series and something I highly recommend you pick up if you enjoy frothy drama.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Content Warning: This book includes: on-page alcohol consumption, mentioned drug use, sexual content: (fade to black scenes, several make-out sessions), cheating in a relationship, toxic relationships, blackmail, discussions of miscarriage (not detailed simply stated, did not happen), car crash, & memory loss.

Well, we have crossed the finish line. I’m laughing, crying, screaming and throwing up because it’s DONE! To say I have grown with these characters over the course of the past few years is an understatement. I am a major history buff (And a reality TV junkie) so when my friend suggested I read this series. I was totally down. I mean…. who wouldn’t want to read a book about what America would be like if we’d resorted to a monarchy instead of a democracy? It’s such a intriguing concept and Katherine McGee did a phenomenal job handling it.

As it is part of a series, you do have to read the first three books in order to truly grasp and enjoy this book to it’s fullest. This particular book had me on the edge of my seat and I pretty much finished it in one sitting. There is a small time jump from the end of the last book to this one, but we don’t really feel as if time has passed at all, so don’t worry you won't miss any of the drama.

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t living for the dumpster fire that is the Washintons’ lives. It’s just too good! Every time you think the water’s finally settled for them a tsunami comes hurdling the Washingtons’ way. Would we love it as much if they were on a peaceful boat ride down the river. Yes… But the drama tsunami is definitely far more entertaining to behold.

There were a few things that I felt could have been tied up a little sooner (i.e. this whole Daphne/Nina/Jefferson/Ethan thing) but that is just my personal preference and I did enjoy how it was handled in the end. I think the politics of the situation really just sold the ending for me, because it felt like something that could definitely happen in the world today. I just love the believability that it gave to the story.

Were the characters perfect? No. Did they always make the best choices? No. But, that is why this series can resonate with many young adults today. This series covers various topics and themes that many young people can relate to. McGee handled all of those confusing and scary topics and themes in a very entertaining and relatable way. This series is definitely a must have in any library collection.

Overall, this series has been such a blast. I would recommend The American Royals series to anyone who loves history, reality television and Movies/TV shows like: Bridgerton, Downton Abbey, The Crown, and Princess Diaries. Recommended reading would be McGee’s other series The Thousandth Floor, Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean, and pretty much any of Kiera Cass’s books, specifically, The Selection series.

This is exactly what I was hoping for in the conclusion to this series. American Royals is such a fun series and this book did not disappoint. There’s so much drama and while I didn’t love all the relationships and hookups that were going on, overall I really enjoyed the plot! This book has such a perfect ending and I loved how all the characters got their own satisfying (because I wouldn’t necessary say happy) ending.

This series.

I loved book 1. I was upset with this series at the end of book 2. I thought it was the end.

Then we got a 3, 4, and a novella!

I was hopeful during book 3.

And then book 4! I was nervous thinking it’s either going to cause me to love or hate this series. The first half of this book had me leaning towards a strong not loving of the series. I ended up loving the ending of book 4 though and almost where all the characters ended up. There are 1 or 2 I would’ve swapped where they ended up but overall I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars.

I'm like...lowkey sad that this series is over. I've loved each and every book and the drama and the characters and just...it's so good? This wraps up the series nicely, but it did kind of feel like the whole Beatrice plot was basically a "oh no what else can we have happen in this world" but I like how it brought all the different stories together. I'm glad Nina got her ending that she deserved, Jeff learned more about himself, Daphne figured out her life, and Sam had SO much growth. TBH it probably isn't a 4 star read just because the plot was there but it wasn't like...really there and solid...BUT I do think it was well done and it truly did wrap up the series well....to where I still want more books about each of the characters.