Member Review

The tabloids have decided that Prince Jadon of Îles de la Rêverie is a problem child, a rebellious prince who gives a bad rep to his people. It's usually things that can be swept aside, but when he's caught on camera bad-mouthing the country's PM, he gets exiled to America. Attending an elite private school in LA, he'll have to work hard with his entourage to revitalize his public image and show his people (and parents) that the screw up they see in the tabloids isn't really him. Easy in theory, a little harder in practice, especially when a certain pink-haired classmate fills his every thought.

This is a nice twist on the 'naughty' princess is forced to experience a different life story, where the male heir gets the chance to be the mess while the older sister is the organized, capable one. Jadon feels like any teenager you'd encounter in any school, with the added pressures of always being in the limelight, whether he wants it or not. The private school clique of characters he meets start off feeling like the cliché, and it would have worked well staying that, but Winters takes the time to show that everyone has more than one side and reasons for being the way they are. It's sweet to see how everyone slowly opens up to each other and shares their feelings. It's a lovely example of empathy and communication at work that uplifts what is otherwise a slightly predictable plotline.

It's also a really sweet romance in which each character gets a chance to be themselves and that's what makes them perfect for each other. There's character growth from all sides, even when it's just something as small as a character owning up to who they are and being proud of it from beginning to end. The different personalities mesh well, helping highlight different ways one could approach an issue or interpret a problem.

I really enjoyed how Winters made it obvious that the people on the gossip rags and sites are real people who more than likely have nothing in common with the way they're portrayed, and that the gossip can have a very negative impact on them. There's also the way in which, almost as a throwaway, Winters also shows how much harsher the critique is of Jadon than it is of any of his fellow royals with lighter skin tones. Little details that contain a big message.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for the read!