Rating: 4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book! Again, it was over-the-top just like book one in this series. I highly suggest reading book one first because you will want to read how Wren and Theo's love story starts. This was a really good ending though. It's three months after book one takes place, and we get all the fun "We are about to die" situations in it. I don't want to give too much away about the plot, so I will leave it at that. But I enjoyed the writing so much and can't wait to read more by this author! I do recommend this book/series if you are a fan of over-the-top situations that bring people together.

Heir, Apparently might just be one of my top 2024 reads. I absolutely LOVED it. As soon as I had read The Prince & the Apocalypse, I couldn't wait for the sequel. As soon as I saw it available to request on Netgalley, I requested the book and kept my fingers crossed that I'd be approved.

Kara McDowell does an incredible job with this romcom sequel, balancing humor of the lovey scenes with the tension of the action scenes. She truly made a cast of characters that readers care about and feel connected to. I found myself rooting for Wren and Theo throughout the ups and downs of the book.

As I said in my review of the previous book, this duology would make a wonderful movie. I would love to see Wren and Theo's love story translated to the screen.

Kara McDowell is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors -- one where I will immediately read anything she puts out. She does a fantastic job with world building and developing realistic, complex characters.

My only complaint about the book is that it finishes a duology, instead of setting up for a trilogy.

Ahhh! I loved this sequel. I didn't even realize that I wanted a sequel until I started reading Heir, Apparently.

Kara McDowell drops us right back into the story world with this one. It's the perfect conclusion to Wren and Theo's story (or is it?? are we going to get more???) Perfect blend of humor and drama and romance.

Bravo, Kara. Bravo.

Heir, apparently
Kara McDowell
Young adult, rom-com
July 9, 2024 release date
2024-29❤️❤️❤️❤️
📚📚📚 This is the second book in a series but the only one I read. Works as a standalone. What if you accidentally married the King of England? As background, during a chaotic catastrophic event of a comet about to destroy the world event, Wren finds herself far away from Chicago and in London. With the prince of England, Theo. Pretending to be non-royal. After following in love, and with some twists and turns, they are forced to get married. Once the world didn’t come to an end, Wren goes back to Chicago to start her freshman year in college. And Theo left to become King. Now months later, Theo is hours away in Canada and Wren decides to steal back her dog that he’s been keeping back. A stolen dog, a photograph, a marriage certificate later, Wren is on a plane to London with a paparazzi chasing. It will be a bit of a crash landing, and her and Theo will be forced to come to terms with being royal and in love. Will the throne be a prison or a home?
This was fun and adorable. A perfect young adult book. Great read for a teen but the 40-something me loved it. Quick, fun, sweet, and a lesson that being in love doesn’t require the woman to change who she is or give up her home. A great break from reality and a fun (and improbable) read.  @KaraJMcDowellBooks and @WednesdayBooks @stmartin
❤️❤️❤️JJ’s last words. Princess Diaries goes to college.
Disclaimer: St Martins publishing gave me access to this advanced readers copy on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Prince and the Apocalypse was one of my favorite book releases in 2023, and I am SO excited (and grateful!) that I got to read it's sequel, Heir Apparently, early as well. I had originally assumed that book one was going to be a standalone novel, but after that ending I was really excited for book two, and it didn't disappoint!

I wasn't sure how different things were going to be from the survival aspect of TPATA, but I have to say, McDowell did an excellent job delivering an action packed sequel that's just as dramatic, romantic and ridiculous as the first (and I mean this in the best way!). I loved the additions to the cast, getting to know Naomi and Brooke better was fun and Henry and Victoria were an absolute delight in this setting. Also, Wren's motives for going to Canada are exactly what mine would have been in this situation, Comet is the BEST boy and deserves nothing but love.

I did think that the ending felt a little off kilter from the rest of the book, but I understand that things needed to get wrapped up a little more nicely than they could've been on the island setting. Don't let this stop you from enjoying it though, it certainly wasn't enough of a deterrent to convince me to stop either - I stayed up until 5am to finish! All in all, Heir Apparently was an absolute delight of a read, and I can't wait to see what McDowell writes next. Because let's be honest, I would love to see Victoria get her own book.

I was really wanting a sequel to the first novel and am really happy with this one!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this review copy

4.5 ⭐️ - Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for the ARC copy... especially after book 1's cliffhanger!

Much like book 1, you have to continue to suspend your disbelief, but it's so much fun that I finished it in less than 24hrs! In Heir, Apparently we continue the story of Wren & Theo and their unbelievable adventures. McDowell draws you in with her fun characters and quick moving plot. In book 2 the main character Wren seemed a little lost and changed from who she was in book 1, but considering all she's been through it does make sense. The reader is introduced to new characters & we get to spend more time with some from book 1. All of the witty dialogue & action really helped move the story along.

With all the ups & downs and twists & turns I was worried that I was going to be left with another cliffhanger or unsatisfied ending. But, luckily, that was not the case... I could see some more spin-offs from other royals coming? (Which I would totally read.) Or maybe a book-to-screen version that I wouldn't hesitate to watch. 😀

Wednesday Books eARC
This was such a fun duology. I am going to start with how I love how authors are starting to write these; it let's me spend more time with fun characters without being beholden to an entire series. These books do require the suspension of disbelief, but I loved the glimpse into the British royal family through the teenage heirs, especially from Wren's POV. This book took off right away from where the first one ended and what a book it is. It was fast paced, terrifying, and showed that love can happen at any age. The cast of characters were easy to keep straight. The plot kept me engaged. And it was just a lot of fun to read. I can't wait to see what this author does in the future.

A sweet love story about two star-crossed teens who fight fate and the British media to see if they can find a way to be together.

In the sequel to The Prince and the Apocalypse, Wren can't quite let go of everything that happened during Comet Week, where she and Crown Prince Theo trekked across Europe together as the world almost ended. In between daydreaming about their wedding on a Greek beach - was she legally married to a future king? - and nightmares about his security dragging him away, Wren struggles to feel like a normal college student. When she sees that Theo will be on the same continent as her for the first time since that week, she hatches an incredible plan: a road trip to Canada to steal back the dog she and Theo rescued together. But when the media finds out about Wren and Theo, her life becomes crazier than she ever dreamed.

Theo is such a sweetheart, forgiving Wren everything, even some pretty disastrous teenage petty mistakes. We get more delightful banter and to see how well their relationship works when they can find a bubble away from everything else. As a Royal Family fan, this book also did a great job portraying the pressures the Royals face, not only from the media but from their own staff.

As Wren aptly puts it, after a courtier says he's always in service of the Crown: "I'm reminded that the Crown and the monarch aren't necessarily the same thing."

The book also had some deliciously gossipy twists, leading to an ending that may not be what's entirely expected. A masterfully crafted regal delight perfect for fans of Tokyo Ever After and The Princess Diaries.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the author and netgalley for this e-arc!

So I didn't know it was a sequel when I read it, so now a lot of my thoughts make more sense. I thought it went from 0-100% real quick and there wasn't a lot explained on the "world ending comet" or "greece" side of things, but now that I know there was a whole first book (oopsies) I understand haha. I loved the dynamic between Theo and Wren, it was very first love and complicated. I liked seeing the inner turmoil between Theo and his duty versus what he wants. Very interesting book!

I read this book giggling and kicking my feet in happiness. I've been dying to read this book since I read The Prince and the Apocalypse. I needed to know what happened to Wren and Theo! And boy, this did not disappoint.

Heir, Apparently picks up just a few weeks after The Prince and the Apocalypse. Wren is about to start her freshman year of college, but she can't forget about the events of the almost-apocalypse and the prince she accidentally married. But are they married? Whatever, she isn't thinking about him, she just wants her dog back. So when Wren and Theo's paths cross on a dog-napping attempt gone wrong, things to awry pretty quickly. Our favorite couple ends up stranded on an island with their siblings and friends, and, oh, the island is actually a volcano that is about to erupt. It wouldn't be a reunion without life and death stakes, right?

Once again, I loved this book. It was fun, even with the whole facing certain death. I loved Wren and Theo being awkward about their situationship, and enjoyed getting to spend time with characters that didn't get much, or any, screentime in the first book.

Highly recommend this duology, and I really, really, hope we get more about some of the other characters. Theo's sister seems like a great choice for her own book...

A crazy ride of a five-star read. This is the second story in the Price and the Apocalypse series, I have read the first, and even I was a little lost at times, but overall, I loved the story. It was madness, but so much fun. There is so much going on at certain parts of this story, you get hooked into it and then just swept into the crazy plot twists, some parts will have you so hoked the world will stop moving around you. Then you have Wren and Theo and they chemistry, but there are parts of their story that make it difficult. There are so many parts of this story, and you will not be able to stop reading.

Just as delightfully absurd as book one! I was so excited to see that The Prince & the Apocalypse was getting a sequel, the story demanded a next chapter to tell Wren and Theo's story. The stakes didn't feel as high in this book, although McDowell did a good job of adding to the tension with a different kind of ticking clock on the island. I loved the continuation from the first book of everything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Putting these characters in the most extreme of situations and circumstances does a lot to erase the problems I usually have with the instalove trope.

It was also wonderful to experience an expanded cast of characters this time around. The royal siblings all came off as strong and unique individuals (although I would have loved to see a bit more of Henry outside of just his rivalry with Theo); this was lost a bit on Wren's side when I found myself constantly mixing up Brooke and Naomi. I do wish we had gotten to spend a bit more time on the island, the rescue felt a bit rushed and anticlimactic after all of the drama and chaos that had ensued. And then likewise the coronation sequence felt a bit rushed as well. So the pacing of this book felt a little bit weaker than in book one, but overall it was a very fun read with an entertaining group of characters in delightfully outlandish circumstances. Give me more apocalypse and/or desert island romance please!! Can't wait to see what McDowell releases next.

I haven't read the first book in this duology but now I definitely have to. I loved this book so much and tried explaining the plot to my mom, only to realise that it's so hard to describe!

So that made me understand that the plotline isn't the prime highlight of this novel, but the characters and writing. McDowell does such a good job of showing the conflict of emotions and past hurt on the sides of both MCs so that the reader feels them. I loved seeing them thrown into random situations that are pretty bad, but they tackle them in their own unique ways, displaying their personalities.

I think the side characters played a HUGE part in the novel, especially Henry and Victoria with their angst and views. I'm not a close follower of the royal family and the way they function, so this gave great insights although I'm not sure how true they are.

I must say that this combo is a hard one to come by. I'm literally addicted to them and I haven't found a YA, forbidden love, action packed, close proximity, royal family novel, which alsi happend to be part of a duology.

Of course, no book is perfect and here Is say the last 5o-100 pages which had a very different vibe and pacing compared to the rest of the story. I'm not sure I've made peace with the ending, but maybe reading the first book is the closure I need.

I enjoyed this book so much, and I mean every second of it, so reading reviews of the duology (many readers claim the first book was better than the sequel) make me very hopeful about reading more by this supremely talented author. 100% recommend.

This sequel to The Prince & the Apocalypse is even crazier than the first book, and it was so so good! If you were like me and screamed at the ending of the first book, you will love this one! Wren and Theo are reunited, and disaster strikes again as they are marooned on a volcanic island along with two of Theo's siblings, Wren's sister, and Wren's best friend. I'm astounded how much plot McDowell was able to cram into this book. I laughed, I swooned, and teared up. And I cheered as Wren and Theo made their own happily ever after for themselves, on their own terms.

Unfortunately this sequel didn’t give me the same happiness as the first book. I think it would’ve been better to just fully end the first book with closure, rather than separate it into the two books. I would still definitely recommend reading the first, but when it comes to the second, you can give it a pass.

Crashing a plane onto a deserted island seems like a great time, right? Sun, sand, and relaxing waves? But when the plane crashes with Great Britain's Prince in tow - the world scrambles to get him back. Prince Theo, though? He has a mission of his own. Half a conversation with his erstwhile wife and figure out how to keep him and his friends safe on that island.

Heir Apparently, is the second book in The Prince & The Apocolypse series, but I don't feel like I missed out on too much to enjoy the first book. As an actual young adult series with closed-door romantic elements, it's ridiculous in the most adorably half-hazard way!

Even though I haven't read the first book, I would definitely still read the third book in the series.

**Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

4.4 rounded down to 4/5.

"Heir, Apparently" by Kara McDowell is a captivating and entertaining sequel that continues the whirlwind romance and adventure of its predecessor, picking up right where the first book left off. Filled with action, comedy, and plenty of heart, this novel takes readers on a journey that is both thrilling and emotionally satisfying.

From the outset, the story grabs readers' attention with its fast-paced narrative and engaging characters. The chemistry between Wren and Theo is palpable, and their banter adds a delightful sense of humor to the story. McDowell does a fantastic job of building tension and keeping readers on the edge of their seats as the plot unfolds.

However, while the first two-thirds of the book maintain a strong pace and tone, the final third feels somewhat rushed and lacking in depth. The comedic elements that were prevalent earlier in the story seem to fade away, and the ending, while satisfying, feels somewhat flat compared to the rest of the book.

Despite this, "Heir, Apparently" offers a thought-provoking exploration of themes such as the morality of monarchy and the complexities of relationships. The introduction of the side cast adds depth and dimension to the story, and the inclusion of mental health representation is commendable, although it could have been explored more thoroughly when compared to the first book.

Overall, "Heir, Apparently" is a fun and enjoyable read that will appeal to fans of romance and adventure. While it may not reach the same heights as its predecessor, it still delivers an entertaining and satisfying conclusion to Wren and Theo's story. McDowell's witty writing style and engaging characters make this a book worth picking up for anyone looking for a light-hearted escape.

I didn't enjoy this one as much as I anticipated. I ended up forgetting a lot about the first book so by the time I got to this one it wasn't fresh in my memory anymore which might have been part of the problem.

This novel reminded me of the adventurous spirit found in Jumanji. The plot is utterly fantastical, which, surprisingly, was its most enjoyable aspect. I devoured it in a single day, drawn in by its fast-paced narrative, witty dialogue, and endearing Labrador companion.

This book may not offer profound depth, but it certainly provides an escape and a good time. Sometimes, a slightly unhinged read is exactly what one craves. Initially unaware that this was a sequel, I later went back and read the first installment, and I'm grateful for the decision. Experiencing both books consecutively was a fortunate stroke of luck, especially considering the significant cliffhanger in the first book. I highly recommend reading them in order for the full experience.

I extend my gratitude to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Kara McDowell for providing me with the ARC of this delightful novel.