Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this story.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

This was a really sweet story! Jadon and Reiss were really great characters, even if the story felt a little fast. I think the final version of this novel is a lot longer but what I read was only about 240 pages long so it really felt like the characters were speed running with their relationships/arcs. Overall though I throughly enjoyed it! The dialogue was great and a lot of the characters, even the ones people might consider "the bad guys", all had redeeming qualities. Grace and Leon in particular had fairly good arcs for side characters as you learn how they're also trying not to buckle under the same pressure that Jadon is facing and because of his (Jadon's) strength in the story, it allowed them to stand up as well. (Though I think Leon does a better job than Grace in this aspect). One of my favorite characters was Karan but you don't get to see him much in the story overall. I thought he was hilarious though and reminded me of myself in high school. I also loved how Jadon joined the theatre guild! Overall a very adorable book!

PRINCE OF THE PALISADES is a queer YA romance about jadon, prince of îles de la rêverie, who finds himself exiled to the united states after a video of him talking about his nation's prime minister goes viral. his parents, king simon and queen ava, send him to california with the instructions not to return home until he manages to clean up his image and earn the respect of the citizens of rêverie. but his time in exile makes him question who he is and who he wants to be, and when he finds himself falling for reiss hayes, a pink-haired classmate from his private school, jadon wonders whether being himself is simply enough.

i love julian winters's writing and this book was no exception. the story was engaging and exciting, and following jadon as he comes to terms with what he wants and what's important to him was captivating. the romance between jadon and reiss was so sweet and i loved how things played out for them at the end. and throughout it all, the message about taking a stand and speaking up for what you believe in was so important and so necessary.

read if you like:
- royalty romances
- queer friend groups
- coming-of-age stories

thanks to netgalley and penguin teen for the advanced copy! PRINCE OF THE PALISADES comes out august 20.

Thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for the arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this one! It was a lot of fun and such a nice break from the fantasy I'd been reading. I love a story you can get lost in and this is exactly what this did!

Thank you for the opportunity to review - I really liked this read. The movement was great and the scenic descriptions kept me wanting more. I'm curious if other characters will be followed and made into a series?

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers for the e-arc!
I am so excited for this book as I really loved Jillian Winters' other books! This book was no exception; in this book, we follow a prince who recently left for America after a really bad public breakup goes viral. Prince Jadon needs to revamp his image so he starts on a bunch of scheduled appearances and photo ops. In comes Reiss a hottie with pink hair to throw Jadon's whole schedule away!
This book gives exactly what I wanted! It is fun, fresh, and sincere, with an absolutely amazing cast of characters. Jadon is amazing as he deals with the pressure of living in the spotlight for such a long time. Watching him and Reiss fall in love and start to understand each other better is so amazing. They are just so good together, and I was rooting for them the whole time.

Prince of Palisades by Julian Winters is a captivating and heartwarming story that blends romance and personal growth with deft storytelling. Winters’ vibrant characters and engaging plot create a compelling narrative that is both entertaining and emotionally resonant. The novel’s exploration of identity and relationships adds depth and authenticity, making it a standout read. Overall, it’s a beautifully written and uplifting book that will leave readers eagerly turning the pages.

I thought this was really sweet. I enjoyed the story line and all the focus on important issues that people face daily, and the message behind standing up for what you believe in.

I especially loved the “side characters” Annika and Luc…I want, NO NEED, more of their story. Anaji was another standout character for me.

I am only giving this 3 stars because while I enjoyed the story, i felt the writing was very “young”.. which to be fair, this IS a YA novel. As a 31 year old, all the lingo and dialogue felt off to me. I think this would be a *wonderful* read for those of middle and Highschool ages.

This book was everything I had hoped for in more. It was so cute! I immediately fell in love with the characters and I felt their connection. It was so good and so freaking cute. I loved the flirting that was happening between them and how Reiss would get all shocked that he flirted like he didn't mean to. I also really liked that no one cared that Reiss was a scholarship kid dating a prince. They didn't attack him for being a gold digger. The only reason it was frowned upon was because he was not from Reverie. I also like that the story was not only about the romance but about Jadon finding himself and standing up for himself and others. Overall another fantastic book by Julian Winters. I would love to see this be adapted! If you love young royals and red white & royal blue then you will love this one!

Content warning: racism, homophobia

I am a sucker for the Royal/Commoner trope and an even bigger sucker when it is gay.

I LOVED The Prince and the Palisades. On the surface it’s a cute love story. But at its heart it’s about finding your place in the world and how that is so much harder when you’re marginalized. It’s about living up to your parents’ expectations, but also confronting them when those standards are unrealistic.

This was such a good story! Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Books for Young Readers for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Sweet and swoony but also apologetically black and queer which is the highest complement I can give it. I loved this story and Jadon's character arc especially as he discovers what he needs to be.

I swear 2024 has been the year of the YA book in my house because they just have been banger after absolute banger and this book is no exception.

Jadon is the 17 year old Prince of Îles de la Rêverie, when some… less than flattering remarks he made about his country’s prime minister went viral his father made the executive decision to ship him on over to the States where he’d go to school and hopefully stay out of trouble. This of course is easier said than done of course when you’re a teenager who just happens to be famous. Everything he does seems to be a headline, from meeting Reiss to a surprise visit from his ex. Even just a shopping trip with his older sister makes the tabloids. It’s definitely accurate and just wild.

This book is full of tender moments, drama, advocacy, and side characters that you start off really loving to hate but honestly they grow on you (looking at you Léon). There are also some top notch conversations about consent and relationship boundaries that felt natural. Absolutely adore.

Thank you to my friends at Penguin Teen and Julian Winters for the gifted copy of this beautiful book.

Prince o the palisades was a most anticpaited read of mine and it didn't dissapoionted me! I was nervous for this one cause this is my first read from Julian but it was a total hit and I think the reason why is cause I recently read a short story by him that made me love his detial in writing! I was very excited to have this early and then eve more excited to actually read this one before the release date?! What who am I??
This is a ya contempoary standalone novel that has a lot of LGBTQIA+ REP and I would say check trigger warrnings before reading this book because there is some points in the book where our main character prince Jadon got a lot of hate for being gay. Also there was a protest and police bruitality in here but I thought that secene was so badass and dealt with really well!
There was a character I ended up loving which is funny cause I thought I would hate him because he banished his son to america for a mistake he didn't make but then gets blame for him and now Jadon has to try and discover himself again! So this is a ya contempoary and that is coming of age and learning how to love and accept others! Hope u guys check Prince of the palaisedes out and thank u to Penguin Teen for sending me an e-arc and thank u to the author for sending me a physical arc too!(:

4 stars

Winters fans, especially those who are familiar enough with this author's YA contemporaries to latch onto an easter egg or two, will find a lot to like in this charming YA romance. While there are strong distinctions, the comparisons to McQuiston's _Red, White, and Royal Blue_ are apt, so readers drawn to this book for that purpose will likely be pleased with the queer royal romance element.

Prince Jadon comes from a fictional location but a well-trodden path: one of early and public relationship disaster. While most of us are fortunate enough to avoid tabloid coverage of these kinds of teen life challenges, Jadon's is so well observed that he leaves the country - with his sister and royal guards along for the ride - to heal his image and his heart. How does one best get over a breakup? As the saying goes, get out from under one and get on top of another.

While I wanted a bit more depth in the relationship between love interests, I enjoyed their connection overall. The standout wins here are the protagonist's personal identity development, the charming secondary characters, and the representation (queer - royal! - characters of color).

Prince Jadon is definitely living that 'jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash' life that Lorde let us know about, but Winters makes him incredibly relatable in all the ways that matter. This is a speedy, engaging YA romance that many different kinds of readers will enjoy for its characters and straightforward goals.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Prince of the Palisades is everything my Royal Romance-loving heart wanted. While the “world building” was a little spotty in places, I did like that Julian Winters chose to create his own fictional country for his main characters to hail from, even if, like many of the other recent Royal Romances, some of the drama appears to be inspired by the recent headlines related to racism and discord among the British Royal Family, and the impact of the tabloid press.
I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about Jadon, given he was a bit off-putting in his bad behavior and privilege at the beginning. But that is just a starting-point for him, and he grows through his experiences in the US, reckoning with all his raging emotions and vulnerability, and coming to recognize the power of speaking up in the face of injustice, especially as a person in his position.
While this is a single-POV book, Reiss nonetheless comes through as a fairly strong love interest who challenges Jadon in his beliefs and thought process. He’s not as fully realized as Jadon, but he’s definitely sympathetic, and I saw enough of him to root for him and Jadon to work out.
I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to readers looking for a lighthearted YA contemporary romance.

Lush drama with a Spoiled prince and sweet romance that builds. Winters transports the reader and brings the characters to vivid life.

Thank you to Netgalley and Viking Books for the ARC of this book.
Prince of the Palisades follows Prince Jadon of Îles de la Rêverie who is exiled to America after a video goes viral of him criticizing their prime minister. He finds himself in the Palisades and stgarting a new school with creative students. He finds himself drawn to one particular student, Reiss, and starting to consider who he has presented to the world.
I thought this was a pretty good book to read. I really liked the fact that this book was focused on Jadon as a character and his growth into the person who he wanted to be. I really loved that this book was about a diverse group of people who were exceeding and thriving. I loved the way this story is going to mean so much to those who read it and get to see themselves represented. I thought Jadon and his sister's relationship was so nice to see as well. They really grew together and to appreciate each other so much. I loved seeing how they inspired each other and really cared for each other.
I do wish the love story between Jadon and Reiss was a little more developed. I didn't feel that they really knew each other a lot that we saw on page but that's my personal opinion. I do think they were a cute couple and i really liked seeing their relationship grow.
I definitely think this is a book worth picking up and it was such a great read! I loved when I was able to sit down and read it, I was able to fly through it.

she was cute! i found this to be a quick, easy, and fun read that i flew through in almost one sitting. the writing and storyline were solid, and although it read like a couple things i’ve picked up before i still thoroughly enjoyed it!

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers, Netgalley, and Julian Winters for the chance to read and review this book, all opinions are my own.

Julian Winters writes such fun and engaging YA books, I always have a good time reading his books and Prince of the Palisades is no exception!

Secret royalty or royalty forced to slum it with the common people is always a fun trope and I loved the author's twist on this for this book. Prince Jadon has been behaving badly (or so the tabloids think) and he is forced out of his home (made up) country to go live in his mother's home of LA in order to rehabilitate his image. Royal hijinks ensue! This book was fun and fast paced and I appreciated the perspective of a POC royal instead of the typical royal whose white privilege and problems aren't very interesting. I liked that Jadon could recognize his privilege but also wanted to use his voice for good instead of just turning away. I liked all of the side characters and Jadon's relationship with his sister.

I did want a bit more from the plot and also a bit more character depth. This book was surprisingly short and I felt like the last quarter of the book moved so quickly and things got wrapped easily. I just wanted more from Prince Jadon and all of the other characters. They felt a little one-dimensional at times, which is not what I expect from a Julian Winters book.

I think if you want a fun, fast paced runaway royal story, you will enjoy this one.

4.25 stars

Jadon is a Sad Prince because, although he is incredibly wealthy and pampered, he has to honor the royal traditions of Reverie, his French-African island nation. That includes not speaking his mind every time he is angry about some perceived injustice. After dressing down the country's Prime Minister (and letting it be recorded), he is banished to a hovel...er, actually a mansion in Santa Monica, California. His older sister Annika, the heir to the throne, accompanies him to assist in the rehabilitation of Jadon's image.

At his new high school, a cute boy with pink hair catches Jadon's eye, but Reiss Hayes is not impressed by "His Royal Arrogance." Jadon's haughtiness is a cover for loneliness and insecurity, and once he drops the attitude, he and Reiss start making heart eyes at each other. But the new couple have to keep their relationship a secret, and Jadon's ex-boyfriend has just appeared in Santa Monica, allegedly to help Jadon. Although Jadon is really into Reiss, his ultimate goal is to return to Reverie. Can their relationship survive conniving exes and potential long distance? Can Prince Jadon find a way to be suitably royal without sacrificing himself?

This was a predictable but enjoyable YA novel that distinguishes itself by having a Black, queer royal as the MC and taking place in an environment where neither of those things are a big deal. There are a lot of secondary characters, notably Jadon's new friends who are only mildly impressed by his title, and at times I lost track of who was who. I wish Winters had gone for quality over quantity; Annika alone deserves her own book, as does Jadon's Poor Little Rich Girl friend, Grace.

The story's narration is first person from Jadon's POV, so we only see Reiss through his eyes. The pink-haired boy with no tolerance for bullshit is an aspiring filmmaker and sneakerhead who is inexperienced sexually and part of a warm, loving family. He needed a little more depth to come fully alive, but he wasn't one-dimensional. Winters nicely sidesteps a potential Big Misunderstanding between the boys when Jadon's ex shows up, although being honest with Reiss doesn't solve all of their problems.

I caught several Easter Eggs (view spoiler), and I'm sure I missed many others. Honestly, I need to read fewer YA novels and more adult fare, but it's hard to stay away from stories like this one that are so optimistic about life's possibilities.

ARC received from publisher and Net Galley in exchange for objective review.

Loved this young adult story. It’s refreshing and lots and lots of culture. I felt the story close to me and and I couldn’t put the book down once I started reading.