Great first introduction to this author! Can't wait to pick up more of their work. It's been ages since i read in this genre but it was lovely and funny and romantic without being too cheesy which often puts me off! Great read

Thank you to the publisher for the e-ARC (a couple years late).

I actually forgot that I read this arc, and actually reread this book last year out of my own! Fine, there’s a lot of stretching of reality to make this even somewhat believable - but I had a good time suspending reality just for the romance.
As an avowed enemy of kings, queens, princes and princesses, and all politicians, nothing about this should have worked for me, but it offered a good out of the dreadful reality we currently live in, and just for that I rate it favourably.

Criticism wise, there isn’t anything new about the plot, it really doesn’t make sense, and I think the main ship is illegal, but it is what it is. I didn’t even mind the American exceptionalism to think that an American could be the heir to the British throne without suffering some unfortunate end.

2.5 stars rounded down
I try not to involve politics in my reading choices, but it was extremely hard to overlook it this time. The extremely pro-monarchy perspective was hard for me to read. As someone whose country and family has been irrevocably and negatively impacted by colonialism, I couldn't really deactivate the part of my brain that kept pointing it out. The author did actually discuss some of this in the book, but I found it more performative than anything else. The positive aspect of the monarchy that kept coming up was the various engagements, charity appearances, and talking to the people, which, to my eyes, seemed no different than any other celebrity except the monarchy carried with it a legacy of centuries of oppression and violence. To me, despite some minimal acknowledgement, the way this was handled seemed a bit tone-deaf and lacking nuance, though I can understand Callum's loyalty to his grandmother.

Other than the politics, which may not strike others the same way it did me, I found that the age gap between the two characters was less than ideal for me. 14 years is a huge amount of time in my opinion, especially when one is only just figuring out their place in life. I also found the side-characters to be a little flat. Each side character could be described with one to two adjectives that made up the totality of their character or role. I would have preferred knowing fewer people but with a little bit more depth to them.

There were things that I enjoyed about the book though. I absolutely loved Callum's curiosity and his lack of artifice. I found it super entertaining to read and I was learning along with him. I loved the idea of finding small moments of beauty in one's day and the general idea of taking time to smell the roses. It's often something I forget to do and it was a really nice reminder for my own life. I also liked the way Oliver and Callum's relationship developed over time and through friendship.

Overall, it was a decent read with some parts I didn't enjoy but the politics really took me out of the story so I may not have really given it a fair shot.

I had the absolute best time reading this book and devoured it within a single day. It was fun, heartfelt and kept me interested all through the story. The characters were loveable and didn't feel like paint-by-numbers to me.

Perfect for fans of Love Actually and Red, White and Royal Blue.

This had me captivated from the start! I couldn't put it down at all. Jax Calder has a great writing style that had me so interested in these characters and their stories. I can't wait to read whatever this author does next

The banter between the two was amazing though the story in and of itself was kind of absurd? The premise seemed to have promise the the execution fell flat for me

First of all, thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC of this book. Unfortunately, due to some unforeseen circumstances I was unable to download and review this book on time. That said, I have since purchased this book and have read it, there fore would still love to complete this review.

As soon as I saw this book and read the description, I was instantly hooked.

With some Red, White and Royal Blue feels (one of my favourite books to date!) I was so happy to find something to fill the void that RWRB left within me. There is nothing I enjoy more that a well written M?M romance, that has a good story line and isn't just pure smut.

As soon as I finished reading, I instantly recommended it to my daughter, whose fave book and movie is also RWRB and she loved it as much as I did!

Have definitely recommended it to friends who also enjoy this genre

An enjoyable M/M romcom in the style of Red, White and Royal Blue. The author was new to me and I enjoyed the light-hearted style and the characters. I'll look out for more of their books.

The Unlikely Heir is a fun and sweet romance that is perfect for any fans of royal romances - and who doesn't love that! Amazing characters, lots of heart but also lots of laughs and some heavier moments make for an epic read! I can't wait to read more by Calder!

This is the first book I have read by Jax Calder. The Unlikely Heir is a fun story of a the Prince of Wales falling in-love with the UK Prime Minister. Prince Callum and PM Oliver have such a nice relationship and I found myself cheering for them the entire book.

I had such a fun time reading The Unlikely Heir! This book is about Oliver, the prime minister of England, and Callum, a half-British, half-American minor royal who is suddenly thrust into the full royal life when he becomes heir to the British throne after a scandal removes most of his relatives from the line of succession. The two of them end up in each other’s orbit and their relationship quickly moves from professional into a friendship before turning into a romance. However, the prime minister and the heir to the throne can not possibly be together so the two of them must decide what’s more important: their respective positions or their love.

I really enjoyed both main characters! They were both fleshed out well in my opinion and I felt like I understood their motivations, interests, and personalities. Callum was so sunshiney, sweet, and awkward and I loved his optimism and constant ability to find lightness in even his darkest moments. Every time someone wronged him or mistreated him I was infuriated on his behalf. Oliver was far more stoic and serious but he was also protective and snarky and I loved watching his sillier side come out throughout the book.

The two of them were so cute together! I love that they found each other attractive from the start but they also had such a solid foundation of friendship before things turned romantic. They also made so much sense together! Oliver lifted Callum up, listened to him, took him seriously and encouraged him in a way no one else ever had before and Callum brought out a sense of joy and brightness in Oliver that he hadn’t even known existed. They had good banter and chemistry and a strong emotional connection and they just genuinely loved being in each other’s company. Their cuteness made me giddy throughout the whole story and I adored following them as they fell in love.

The conflict between them also played out in a really satisfying way. They fought but it was for a legitimate reason that made a lot of sense rather than just having a random overblown miscommunication. Additionally, even when they were mad at each other they treated/thought about each other with respect and care. There was no pettiness involved either. Then, the resolution was extremely sweet and while it wasn’t realistic in a real-world sense, it worked given the characters and the context of their story.

The royalty plotline was so much fun as well! Royalty storylines are extremely hit or miss for me but this one worked and I think that’s largely because it didn’t take itself too seriously. There was a lot of suspension of disbelief involved in the story for many reasons. Obviously, it’s extremely unlikely that a half-American who was raised in California would suddenly become heir to the throne, that almost a dozen royal heirs would be disinherited at the same time, or that the British prince and prime minister would get together. Also, the fact that Callum and Oliver were both men didn’t really factor into the conflict at all. Instead, the conflict was almost entirely focussed on the fact that royals aren’t allowed to express any political opinions and prime ministers can’t be biased towards the monarchy. It was nice not to have to deal with any homophobia in the story but in real life that would definitely have been a much bigger issue. However, I wasn’t bothered by the lack of realism in the slightest for a couple of reasons. First, the romance, like I said, felt well-developed and realistic which kept the story grounded. And second, the whole tone was just super lighthearted and fun. It wasn’t meant to be a legitimate critique or analysis of the British monarchy or a realistic tale of what it’s like to be a royal; it was meant to be a cute royal romance and I absolutely think it delivered. I will add that I know next to nothing about the British government or monarchy so I have no idea whether those elements in and of themselves were portrayed accurately, but whether they are or not, I don’t think it makes a difference. If you’re looking for an informational book about those subjects, this isn’t the one for you.

The whole book was fast-paced, but especially the ending. There was a twist that gave the last few chapters a more intense vibe and took me very much by surprise.It wasn’t the most shocking or well-planned twist in the world but I still mostly enjoyed the way it played out even though it also hurt me.

Overall, I had a great time reading this! If you prefer a realistic story with a serious tone, this may not be the one for you but if you want a royal romance that’s silly and fun with lovable characters and a super cute relationship at its heart, I’d highly recommend The Unlikely Heir!

The author is one of my favorite go to for sweet m/m love stories. Yet. I was still pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. Ordinary Callum was suddenly thrown as the next in line to the throne of England after many members of the royal family were charged with serious illegal crimes. Callum's grandmother, the Queen of England, asked for his help to lead the country and to be crowned the prince of wales. How can anyone refuse their grandmothers request? In the beginning,  Callum realized how many true friends he really had. Too many of his friends,  former classmates,  and former teachers raced to sell out stories of him that bordered on cruelty. Luckily the prime minister , Oliver was kind enough to guide him with the tough transition of living a royal life amid the trashy tabloids. The lovely bits of the book was Callum. Callum was a gentle and sweet soul that lost both of his parents and adored his grandmother. His grandmother wasn’t exactly a warm and friendly person though. So, his only friend turned out to be Oliver. The forbidden romance between them was slow and sweet. They were perfect together. Characters I didn’t like were probably Callum’s so called friends, and his family members. Overall, this was a sweet, humorous, emotional, and lovely romance between the future king of England and the prime minister. Simply adorable! I was lucky to receive an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley for my review.

I was so excited to read The Unlikely Heir. I am a huge fan of royalty romance books and have consumed pretty much all of them. When I started the book I thought it was going to be one I would really enjoy. However, I really struggled to connect with the characters and fell into a reading slump around 30%. I took a break from the book and then tried to start it again but really couldn't get into the story. I unfortunately decided to DNF.

This was a really cute book. The relationship was really well done and I loved the characters. The pacing was a little off for me but other than that the book wqs great

I was really craving something after I finished watching RW&RB and this book came up on my fyp. I’m so happy it did because this was delightful and exactly what I needed!

Another gay prince book? Sign me up. If you’re a fan of Red White and Royal Blue you’ll like this. It’s fun, funny and has just the right touch of politics to romance.

Cute novel with a lot of promise. While I really liked it, it felt like a lot of the things that stood out as great, were familiar, while the more unique parts didn't shine as bright.

This book tells an unusual but convincing romantic tale of two individuals. The story not only showcases their strong chemistry but also emphasizes the virtues of empathy, benevolence, and discovery before falling in love. In my opinion, these narratives often make the best love stories. The fact that both men were willing to give up either the crown or the elected position was heartwarming. Callum's knowledge of so many different areas of study was fun and gave him a cute quirk that made me smile cause it showed humanity in his character. Oliver has his insecurities and a past that makes him a hard worker, but he cares for his nation and its people. Sometimes, difficult decisions must be made, such as stopping a murder plot, going through a referendum, and discovering that love doesn't require sacrificing one's identity.

I found the first chapter boring so I did not continue. I do however feel that it has potential and all the tropes that I would loved.

A great, light-hearted romance with a good royal family indulgence. While this book took me a bit to get into, i Evergreen got hooked and devoured the last half. Will definitely be tuning in for the sequel.