***Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***

I don’t quite know how to express my feelings about The Rules of Royalty. I’m conflicted. The premise was great, and I loved how it mixed ideas from The Princess Diaries and Red, White & Royal Blue into something fun for a YA audience. The story just required such a suspension of disbelief, and I wasn’t able to get there. Most aspects of the story also lacked depth, and I often found myself wanting more from it.

My favorite thing about The Rules of Royalty was how it made me feel while reading it. There were a ton of adorable moments, and the story had an atmosphere of positivity that was infectious. I grinned so much while reading and loved getting to experience the royal life alongside Jamie. Additionally, every interaction between Jamie and Erik was just so heartwarming and wholesome. They really were couple goals even if things did move a bit quick.

Unfortunately, the character development in The Rules of Royalty felt a bit lopsided. Jamie was seemingly great at everything and took the giant upheaval to his life in stride. It made him seem really flat. A perfect person doesn’t really make for a riveting character. Erik on the other hand had a great arc with significant growth. He had to learn to stand up for himself and not let his family control his whole life. Hiding his true self from everyone, even oftentimes himself, took its toll, and I loved that Jamie helped to kickstart Erik’s journey to living more authentically. I just wish Jamie had a more satisfying arc of his own considering the difficult circumstances he faced in learning to be a prince.

As for the plot of The Rules of Royalty, there wasn’t that much to it. Once Jamie finds out that he is a prince, the story mostly focuses on his lessons of royal etiquette and his blossoming relationship with Erik. Everyone accepted Jamie very quickly. He faced almost no obstacles that he didn’t immediately overcome. I needed way more angst. lol. The end finally provided a little more drama, but I never doubted that things would work out.

If you are looking for something heartwarming that doesn’t take itself too seriously, you might love this book, especially if you’ve ever harbored fantasies about being a secret royal. I wanted more depth and angst from both the plot and most of the characters. However, I still enjoyed my time with The Rules of Royalty and found the lovable vibes endearing. Therefore, I rate the book 3 out of 5 stars.

Princess Diaries but queer! I had high hopes for this book, but it really did fall short for me. Maybe I just don’t mesh well with Cale Dietrich’s writing.

The relationship between the two leads seems to happen more through telling instead of showing, as does a lot of the plot. It’s not a writing style that I tend to like.

This was overall just okay. Kind of forgettable overall.

The Rules of Royalty was enjoyable, but ultimately forgettable. It had some great moments, but it didn’t stick with me long after I finished.

Imagine the Princess Diaries, but gay, with a few more edits and that's what you get here, and I loved it. I accepted this galley at some point last year and finally got around to it on vacation in March.*

Seriously, imagine on your 17th birthday your adoptive mother is like oh heyyyy remember how I've been open with you about your mom. Well your mom actually wanted me to keep all of this LIFE CHANGING INFORMATION FROM YOU. As if you weren't going through enough issues as a gay teen, throw in that you're apparently also a crown prince of a small European country, yeah oof.

That's pretty much how this book kicks off with Jamie being thrown for the biggest loop in his lifetime. And from there it just takes off super fast. Jamie's dad, the King, connects him with Erik, who just so happens to also be gay and a prince of another small country. He's got his own issues, his grandma (the current queen) is like you WILL start dating a nice young man that we approve of and that is the end of the discussion.

Well, suffice to say that fate had other ideas. Jamie attends prince tutoring with Erik and of course they start to fall for each other. From the adorably awkwardness that is Jamie trying to be prim and proper to Erik letting his guard down and showing his true self (which involved nerdy video games—swoon) they slowly fall for each other.

There is a pretty decent amount of angst, most of it self inflicted, but ranges from Jamie trying to promote his BFFs music without her approval to a friend-of-a-friend spilling that Jamie is royal when it was still underwraps to Erik learning that he HAS to stand up to his grandmother if he ever wants to find himself and be with Jamie. And OMG that series of scenes where Erik's older brother and soon to be sister-in-law give him their background and the pep talk he needs was PERFECTION. Legit teared up.

'You have to fight,' she says. 'This world is filled with people who will tell you what they think you should do. But I've seen what happens when you simply do what everyone wants you to, and trust me, it is a recipe for misery. If you have something you care about, then you need to fight for it with everything you have. You can't give in. You simply can't. (Ch. 42)

There were so many other minor characters that were well written and added depth to the novel and you really wanted to know their stories too. I loved Jamie's parents, both adoptive and royal and his friends added color to his life. I wish we got a little more of Erik, but I think that was on purpose to show his isolation and we got to see him grow into his own within his family.

The split narrative worked really well for me, and usually does. Having two distinct voices and being able to see what's happening before and during the story is so important to really round out both characters. You see WHY Erik was as reticent to buck the norms, you see WHY Jamie couldn't let the homeless shelter fail. It just worked.

If there's one critique of the novel, honestly, it was Jamie's kingdom name, Mitonar. For some reason I just COULD NOT say it. I ultimately just called it Minotaur. And that is so minor. It was just annoying AF for me, mostly because it was already so close to minotaur that it's all I could see.

And to close it out, loved the shout out to bloggers and readers in the acknowledgments/afterward. I always read them and get a little thrill when authors acknowledge the whole wide world that supports them:

To all the bloggers and people who have ever supported me: thank you!! I truly appreciate whenever you take time out of your day to make something related to my writing, whether it be an Instagram post or a review or a piece of art. Your support means I get to keep doing this, and I'm so grateful. (Acknowledgements)

Recommendation: Definitely a read from me. It's cute and Erik and Jamie were adorable and perfect together. I loved that they were different enough but both grew into their own in the story without having to lose themselves in their families or their royal identities. There were so many minor characters that I loved and wanted to know more about, but Dietrich left us wanting just enough. Dietrich has also evolved as an author, this one has a bit more finesse and polish than his last solo novel I read, The Friend Scheme.

*I received a copy of The Rules of Royalty via NetGalley in return for my honest opinion. No goods or money were exchanged.

this was amazing !!!!!!! it took a while to get through the first pages but after that it was in one seating

This was a great romance read, lighter on the spice but I loved it anyways because the characterization was so good

This was my very first book by Cale and I will be following their writing journey. This book made me laugh and smile and put me in a really great mood.

This was a cute young adult story with a fun plot that put a twist on a great story. I loved getting to see the characters growth throughout the novel such a wonderful story.

The Rules of Royalty was the cutest queer royalty romcom! Think The Princess Diaries meets Red, White, and Royal Blue! An American teen, Jamie, discovers he is actually a European prince and is paired with a prince from another country, Erik, to show him the ropes of royal etiquette.

Jamie and Erik hit it off as fast friends. Initially, Jamie is given Erik’s number because Jamie’s king father thinks another openly gay prince would be a good friend to Jamie, who has been “out” for a while. Erik has a moment with his grandmother, the Queen of his northern European country, when he says that two gay guys can be just friends, but he doesn’t realize just how wrong he is about to be.

Erik and Jamie hit it off so well, that soon sparks are flying and the dual POV pining is perfection. The following angst that Erik feels due to his commitment to his family vs. his commitment to himself, as well as Jamie, is just the right amount of teen drama. Jamie is the sweetest new prince with his own complications arising from his overnight celebrity and watching him work through his new platform and adjust his new life to his pre-existing one was so lovely.

In the end, I gave this book four stars!

It's giving Princess Diaries for those of us who never got to see ourselves in the royal love stories. Jamie learns that he is actually the son of a king on his 17th birthday. When he goes to meet his father, he's assigned a tutor for all things prince, Erik. Erik has been raised as a prince, and he is more than capable of teaching Jamie how to be a prince. But of course, as they grow closer, they may become more than tutor and student.

This book is heartwarming and delightful. It's an easy read that flows beautifully and will be a delight to any reader who has ever wanted to see a queer kid getting their happy ever after with the handsome prince.

This is just an adorable YA romance and it's exactly what I hoped for! Nothing bad to say about it, but not a 5 star read for me! Still such an adorable romance.

Waiting on Prime to make this a movie. a charming, modern royal romance that cleverly combines the regal world of The Princess Diaries with a captivating love story. Jamie Johnson, an ordinary guy who discovers he's heir to the throne of Mitanor, is thrown into a whirlwind of royal expectations and public scrutiny. The twist? He's not the only prince struggling with his royal duties. Erik Lindstrom, the spare prince of a northern European kingdom, is tasked with mentoring Jamie, leading to a slow-burn romance that feels as royal as it is relatable.

The book balances the glitz and glamour of royalty with the very human desires for love and freedom. Jamie's journey to understand his new identity and Erik's inner conflict about his place in the royal family are compelling. The chemistry between the two leads is electric, and their growing feelings for each other form the heart of the story.

Dietrich’s writing is witty and engaging, making the book an easy and enjoyable read. While it doesn’t shy away from the pressures of being royal, it also emphasizes themes of self-discovery, personal sacrifice, and the power of love. a delightful, heartwarming read perfect for fans of royal romance and LGBTQ+ stories.

Cute premise for a royal romance. I was quite intrigued by the summary but ended up DNF at 20% as I wasn't really getting into the story and the characters feel bland and some plot elements felt odd.

It's cute. Fluffy. Doesn't require much thinking. Jamie and Erik are cute but somewhat bland main characters, and their relationship feels very Hallmark Movie. It's not bad but it doesn't really break any barriers and feels very tropey at times.

The whole third act breakup and Erik’s family forcing him to date another boy because handwavy nonsense about a stable relationship for the public. Like??? He's like 17? It's very much a contrived tropey plot device to fit in this weird third act breakup. It just feels unrealistic and kind of like a Kdrama plot at times. It's not bad, but it's just kind of Hallmark or K-drama coded at times with weird plot choices.

3.5 stars

A cute royalty romance, featuring an American who suddenly finds out he's royalty, a la Princess Diaries, and a second born prince who feels like he's living his life for his family and not himself.

This was a super easy read, quick paced and with plenty of sweet moments. I did feel like it could have been a bit deeper, as most things were kept light and surface level.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy.

2.5 Stars rounded up

I really wanted to like this book, but it fell flat for me. The writing style was slightly off putting at times as it felt like Jamie’s POV kept breaking the fourth wall and was addressing the reader directly to explain things. For example, when explaining who his friends are there is a side bar thought about why a person calls another by their last name.

For many, many reasons this book required the reader to suspend a lot of disbelief. The top two being how easily a long, lost prince was accepted not only by his family, but by the public and why a royal family in the 21st century would be forcing a 17 year old to be in a long, term committed relationship.

Outside of all of the above, the hardest part for me to get past was how flat ALL of the secondary characters are. Every, single one of the characters outside of the 2 main were placeholders at best. They barely had personalities and didn’t impact the story at all. With all of the other characters being so flat, it really made it hard to like either main character. Jamie comes off as very, very naive and Erik is just there.

Overall, I wanted to enjoy this book and I was looking forward to it, but I just ended up disappointed.

Cale Deitrich's "The Rules of Royalty" is a charming and heartwarming tale that blends royalty, self-discovery, and romance into a delightful package. At the heart of the story is Jamie, an ordinary high schooler whose world is turned upside down when he learns he’s the heir to the throne of Mitanor. Through Jamie’s journey, readers are treated to a cast of endearing characters, including the dashing Prince Erik, who becomes both Jamie’s royal tutor and his slow-burn love interest. The chemistry between the two is electrifying yet tender, creating a romance that feels both genuine and deeply satisfying.

The novel’s humor and light-hearted tone shine throughout, offering plenty of moments to make readers smile while still tackling themes of identity, family, and belonging. Jamie’s interactions with his adoptive, biological, and stepfamilies are layered with affection and authenticity, providing a strong emotional core to the narrative. Similarly, Erik’s complex relationship with his royal relatives adds depth to his character, making him a perfect foil to Jamie’s more spontaneous personality. Their alternating first-person chapters keep the story engaging, though their narrative voices occasionally blur together.

What truly sets "The Rules of Royalty" apart is its balance of romance, humor, and heart. The slow-burn relationship between Jamie and Erik is complemented by laugh-out-loud moments and a sense of genuine warmth that permeates the book. While some readers might wish for a bit more distinction in the characters’ voices, the novel’s cozy, fairy-tale-like charm makes it a thoroughly enjoyable read. Deitrich delivers a story full of love, laughter, and royal intrigue—perfect for fans of contemporary romance with a touch of regal magic.

I was super nervous going into this because The Rules of Royalty has been talked about as The Princess Diaries x Red, White, and Royal Blue, and those two pieces of media make my all time top 10 lists of favourite books and movies. Turns out, I had nothing to worry about! This was a blast!

The Rules of Royalty is about Jamie Johnson, a completely average American teenager, wakes up on his 17th birthday and finds out that his biological dad is actually a king (!) of a faraway place called Mitanor. Because Jamie has no understanding of the rules of royalty, Jamie's dad assigns him a tutor. That tutor? Prince Erik of Sunstad, the princeliest prince of them all. The two boys start spending a lot of time together, and well..you can guess what happens next.

This was cute and heartwarming and so much fun to read. I did have to suspend my belief at times but that's par for the course in a royal romance. We're just here for the vibes! and that's okay! I really appreciated how the main characters communicated openly about their feelings, which was a refreshing change from the typical miscommunication tropes that often drag on the plot of romance books. It made Jamie and Erik's relationship feel healthier and more genuine, with none of the typical unnecessary drama created by characters hiding their emotions that makes me want to throw my book at the wall. However, the book focuses almost entirely on the romance, and I felt it missed an opportunity to explore Jamie's relationships with the other important characters. His bond with his grandparents, for example, is barely touched on, even though it had potential to really shape his character arc. Honestly, there were a lot of moments that could've developed the story, the characters, and the relationships (esp between Jamie and Erik) happened off-page, which left me a little confused, wanting a lot more. Still, I had a great time.

The only other bit of Cale Dietrich's work that I know is If This Gets Out, his boyband romance collaboration with Sophie Gonzales, and I was happily surprised to see that The Rules of Royalty had a similar tone and writing style. I love that queer authors and queer readers are finally getting their hands on queer versions of the classic tropes, and I'm ecstatic that they're being handled with so much care. Thank you, Cale!

This was a fun, cute read and I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the romance between Jamie and Erik.

I had a hard time truly believing Jamie’s situation, partly because it was too easy. Yes, there were some issues with his friends, and he was initially upset with his mom when he learned the truth, but he just slotted into his new role so easily. I felt there would have been a lot more angst about his identity and his future, more drama from people who questioned his appearance, even resentment from his half-brother.

But I did like Jamie, he was super sweet and really cared about people. He understood everyone’s motivations, so that tells me he is also really mature.

Erik’s story, on the other hand, I more readily believe. It also had the angst I was missing from Jamie. I ached for Erik and how he felt so distant from his family, how he felt he had to do what his grandmother and parents said, sacrificing his happiness to duty. I loved that Jamie’s entire family welcomed him and treated him so well, but my heart hurt for him throughout the story. And I was pleased that he had at least one family member on his side.

The ending filled my heart with joy and I wouldn’t mind seeing more of Jamie and Erik down the road.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC for review consideration through Net Galley on behalf of the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞."

Cale Dietrich creates a fun mix of The Princess Diaries meets Red, White & Royal Blue with The Rules of Royalty!

Jamie discovers that he is a prince on his 17th birthday in the land of Mitanor, while Prince Erik of a connecting kingdom gets assigned to help teach Jamie the ways of royalty. I liked that Dietrich had Jamie and Erik connect immediately, even though it was just through a phone call which showed their connection early on. Jamie and Erik develop a trust in one another that comes naturally and easily, especially as they open up through their time spent together. Dietrich balances the mostly open communication with the fact that Jamie and Erik are teenagers, as teens are often scared to share how they feel. I liked a lot of the supporting characters, especially Erik’s brother Stefan. I thought it was a missed opportunity to not have Jamie’s new half brother Tomas be a part of the action, like a new best friend character, since Jamie’s American best friend wasn’t around. The pacing is choppy in places, mostly where a potential problem gets brought up but then is solved a few paragraphs later, which took away from the sense of urgency and conflict. I could’ve used a little more drama and character development for the side characters in particular, but there is lots of world building that feels like it could be expanded upon with growth for a sequel.

The Rules of Royalty is a sweet YA comfort read that would make a really fun movie. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the ARC!