First of all, thank you to Wednesday Books, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the ARC of "The Rules of Royalty!"

I have been a fan of Cale Dietrich after reading "The Love Interest" in 2018. Since then, I have read everything that he has put out and loved his writing. "The Rules of Royalty" is by far my favorite of his books. I would say anything with a Princess Diaries theme and I am all in, but this book was better than my expectations. While at moments seeming a bit forced and fast, the development of the characters and their stories was great. Definitely recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the early 2000's teen rom-com movies.

I purchased this book for the library, but it wasn't my favorite. I definitely think some teens will grab it off the shelf. However, I really didn't like at writing style and it just lacked depth to me.

I love royal romances and RWRB is one of my favorite books, so I had really high expectations for The Rules of Royalty and it did not disappoint! I absolutely loved Jamie and Erik's story and I was really rooting for them the whole time. Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the advanced copy!

Pitched as a gay Princess Diaries, I was incredibly excited for The Rules of Royalty. I only heard about it a few days before it was published, but I requested it immediately. Especially since the one other book by Cale Dietrich that I have read, If This Gets Out, I really enjoyed. Unfortunately, I found this one to be kind of bland.

On his seventeenth birthday, Jaime's adopted mom sits him down to tell him about his bio parents: his dad is actually a king of a small European country, Mitonar, and Jaime is a prince. Soon, Jaime is flying to Mitonar and meeting his bio father and the rest of his family. He is also introduced to Erik, the prince of Sunstad who is going to help Jaime learn the rules of princehood. And although Erik's grandmother, the queen, specifically told him to keep things platonic with Jaime, he is finding that increasingly difficult to do.

Although we get alternating POV chapters from Jaime and Erik, their voices were not distinct, and were easy to blur together. I just found that neither of them had very strong personalities, and there was no chemistry between the two of them. Not to mention the myriad of things that just screamed unrealistic. I would say that at best, this book is boring.

I enjoyed this book. It was a very light-hearted read with very little angst. I would say if you are looking for a book with more conflict and struggles, this one may not be for you. I enjoyed both of our main characters. The relationship between them was very slow, taking almost the whole novel. I don’t mind a slow-burn romance, but I know it is not everyone’s cup of tea.

The Rules of Royalty is a queer, royalty romance. Following 17 year old Jamie as he learns how to cope after discovering that he is a prince and Prince Erik, the spare prince of a European country. The two work together to prepare Jamie for royal life all the while Jamie teaches Erik a lesson on individuality and standing up for what really matters.

Sometimes, I just need a light, comforting read—something Hallmark-esque to escape into. *The Rules of Royalty* delivered on that: fluffy and fun, with lovable characters like Jamie and Erik (who’s a bit icy, but in a Northern Europe, *Young Royals* Wilhelm kind of way).

That said, the plot had its quirks. Erik’s royal family forcing him to date at 17? A bit much. The fake dating felt underdeveloped, and of course, the third-act breakup made an appearance (sigh). Still, the cozy vibes and possible nods to Dutch royalty—King Alexander and Princess Amalia—kept me engaged. A solid 3.5 stars, rounded up for the charm.

I am going to have to give up on this author - I always love the premises but somehow the characters are either boring or two-dimensional. This latest book was especially frustrating: ludicrous world building, a really tepid romance, and a very by-the-numbers plot.

Story: Jamie is an ordinary guy in the US living a good life. Erik is the son of the Queen, though only the spare. When Jamie discovers he is the illegitimate son of the King of Mitanor, he is flown to meet his father. Erik, meanwhile, is talked into giving help to the American as he navigates his new role of prince. As they begin to fall for each other, they find it may be difficult to express that relationship when Erik's mother wants him to find a 'sensible partner' - and that does not include Jamie.

Nothing much happens here. The worldbuilding is a joke - "Mitanor"?? I guess that Erik's country is supposed to be a Scandinavian type like Denmark while Jamie's is more of a Spanish/Iberian. But I didn't get a feel of culture from either. Even the kingdom names felt incredibly silly.

There was no chemistry between the leads -something I am finding in all Dietrich's books. Here, we get two POVs which helps a bit but still both characters feel more like archetypes than people. Yes, you have the quirky female best friend, the overbearing royal relatives, the stuffy rules. But the only plot point is that Erik's mother has a specific person in mind for her son to be with in order to show royal stability (a la British politics). The chosen partner turns out to be a tool, of course.

In all, I couldn't even finish. It was so bland and felt like writing by the numbers. There was no charm, no humor, no spark, and definitely not much in the way of romance. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

This was a really good book. Definitely gave off "The Princess diaries" vibes. Jamie finds out his father is a king. Like in the princess diaries Jamie will have to be schooled in how to behave like a prince. Erik, from a neighboring kingdom is picked to train him. Both of them are gay, but Eriks grandmother, the queen of Sunstad, does not want Erik to get involved with Jamie.
I loved the interactions between Jamie and Erik. It was so well written and I didn't want to put the book down till I found out what happened.
Well worth a read!

The Rules of Royalty by Cale Dietrich
#mmromance
#yaromance

Fun book reminiscent of The Princess Diaries. But in this story Jamie, an American teen guy, finds out on his 17th birthday that he is a legitimate prince of some Hallmark-type pretend country in Europe. Then bc he needs to learn how to act like a prince, a fellow prince from another pretend country tutors him. And they slowly get attached.

I liked that the reader gets to hear both sides of their feelings in this dual POV book. Each of the young men questioned if what they were choosing to do was the right thing. I also loved that the Jaime pulled the Erik out of his too restricted, proper ways. And got him to question why those ways were necessary. I also appreciated that Erik had an older sibling who was crown prince. He was able to help guide his little brother as any average older sibling would do.

I took away a whole star bc I kept finding things happening that made me think that the author needed to do some more research. These things pulled me out of the story by me thinking, "huh, how could that be?" but overall, it was a decent little love story.

#netgalley #stmartinspress #wednesdaybooks
#therulesofroyalty #caledietrich

This everything that I thought it might be. I heard it was going to be like The Princess Diary and although I wasn’t sure this was going to be as good, it definitely was. It was basic, but also had some LGBTQ+ characters and royals, which of course I loved so much. Definitely made this a little more less basic lol

So the characters were one of the reasons I said this was basic. They didn’t exactly have anything that made them different than any other royal. The best part was Jaime finding out that he was a Royal. There wasn’t a lot of back story on them, so I just had to judge them on what they were finding out about each other in the book. I think it was ok since this was more like a new beginning, but I didn’t really FEEL anything for them. And then there was Erik who was just ok. I felt sad for him, but I was not happy with any of his family. They were terrible. Why is every adult in YA books such horrible people lol But they were too sneaky for me. But I didn’t feel any real empathy to them because we don’t really know much about why she was so extra.

The romance was cute. I like forbidden romance and even more so when it’s royals lol It was interesting trying to see how they were sneaking around and trying to find different ways to be by themselves. Their flirting?! Top tier! They didn’t exactly have “banter” but their flirting was very sweet. I wouldn’t call it elite, but…. Well you get the idea. I didn’t like that they brought someone else into this whole thing tho. Even if he did seem like he didn’t want to be there. I don’t think they should have kept that one person there. But here we are.

The writing style was the best part of this tho. I think if there was more like descriptors and some more in-depth information about the characters or something I would have given them 5 stars. But this was ok. I still love Dietrich and will read what they have. This was good, make sure you pick it up and let me know what you think!

The book gets off to a bumpy start, but the author hits their stride a few chapters in. At that point, the story becomes mesmerizing. In Erik and Jamie, we have two teens with their own issues as they traverse the royal life as young gay men. I commend the author for creating two distinct characters whose voices came through clearly.

The story flowed well once it got started, but the pacing suffered in a few areas where the author got bogged down in Erik’s bothersome issues with the queen. The author needs to trust the reader to remember the character’s angst and problems without repeating them in almost every chapter. This causes the reader to get bogged down in the murky middle, a condition that carries over to the last part of the book.

In the secondary characters, the author tries to build too many individual story lines, something that makes them seem two dimensional in a world where the main characters’ three dimensions overwhelm the pages.

As for Erik and Jamie, they are so likable you almost want to adopt them. The author does a brilliant job of keeping the story clean, although I have to admonish them for using the phrase “hooking up” when all they mean is kissing. That phrase means much more than that in reality, and it can confuse the target audience. “Hooking up” and “making out” are two extremes on the “did we or didn’t we have sex” meter. When you mean “making out” or “kissing,” then say that.

Overall, though, this book deserves a solid four stars. YA needs more same-sex romance stories, especially with young men, and this one does it very well.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Cale Dietrich and the publisher of the book for the eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

A male version of the "Princess Diaries"!

Jamie has never liked being at the center of attention. He prefers a quieter life with his mom. Soon though, his life is turned upside down when he learns he is the heir to the thrown of Mitanor. His father, the King, invites him to spend the summer and experience a world he has never known about.

Erik has always experienced the spotlight and royal life. As the "spare" to his throne, Erik is struggling with the upcoming marriage of his brother due to all the spotlight on his family.
Soon though, he is asked to show the new American Prince the ropes. Will their two worlds fit perfectly or be a royal mess?

A fun male version of Princess Diaries. I expected Erik to be snotty and a know-it-all, but he was not that way at all and was a perfect character! I will recommend this book to others!

Utterly delightful.

An American teenager, who was adopted by his birth mother's best friend after her passing, discovers that his birth father is actually the King of a small European country. He's a prince!

With his family, he travels to his dad's country, where the prince of a neighboring country teaches him how to be royal. Erik, that prince, is one of the few royals who have ever come out as gay in public. Jamie, the American prince, is smitten with Erik. Except, Erik's already got an arranged boyfriend.

Erik's grandmother, the Queen, is exceptionally traditional. She is perfectly fine with LGBT folks, but insists that all royal partners be arranged for strategic purposes. She has found a suitable boyfriend, the son of a mayor.

Will Jamie and Erik get together? You'll have to read to find out.

Low-stakes, mostly drama-free, this was a delightful, fun romp, and I would love to see more with these characters, whether that's in a sequel, or as cameos in another adventure.

The best way to describe this book is a queer take on The Princess Diaries. Jamie just turned 17yrs old and his whole life thought he was just a normal teenager with a wonderful adopted mom and a great stepdad. He then finds out that he's actually the son of the king of Mitanor and his birth mother's dying wish was to keep this a secret until he turned 17yrs old.

He's wisked away with his parents to Mitanor to meet his biological farther and the rest of his mom's side of the family. Here he meets prince Erik, who agrees to help him learn the ropes of being a royal. Erik has dealt with a controlling family his whole life, he cannot even date without permission and is forbidden from having more than a friendship with Jamie, so of course as they grow closer the sparks begin to fly.

This was an overall low stakes books and a fast read. It was a lot of fun and I adore both Jamie and Erik. It was fun reading Jamie coming into his own and learning where he belongs and what he can achieve and watching Erik finally stand up for himself and go for what he wants.

I read this book so fast, it was sweet and romantic. Anyone who loves a royalty romance will enjoy this book.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cale Dietrich delivers a sweet and charming royal romance in The Rules of Royalty, with a premise that feels straight out of a modern-day fairytale. Jamie, a newly discovered heir to a European throne, and Erik, the reserved prince tasked with teaching him royal decorum, find themselves caught between duty and desire. While the story shines in moments, it ultimately falls short of its full potential.

What Worked:

The dynamic between Jamie and Erik was heartwarming. Their chemistry built steadily, and their tentative connection felt genuine.
The lavish descriptions of palaces, royal events, and etiquette were captivating and added an aspirational flair to the story.
The exploration of identity—whether it’s Jamie grappling with his newfound royal status or Erik struggling to step out of his brother’s shadow—was relatable and engaging.
What Could Have Been Better:

The pacing was uneven. The middle section dragged with excessive focus on Jamie’s lessons, while the romance felt rushed in the latter half.
The conflict lacked depth. The stakes—both personal and political—were introduced but not fully explored, leaving the resolution feeling predictable and a bit underwhelming.
Side characters, such as Erik’s family and Jamie’s father, felt like missed opportunities. Their motivations and relationships with the protagonists could have been developed further.
Final Thoughts:
The Rules of Royalty is an enjoyable, escapist read with a cozy fairytale vibe and a lovely queer romance at its heart. While it doesn’t dive as deeply into its themes or conflicts as it could, it’s still a light, entertaining pick for fans of royalty tropes and sweet love stories.

I have some gripes about this book, but one of the big ones is that the writing wasn't great. This was my first Cale Dietrich book to read (even though I own a few), and I was shocked at how poor the writing was.

Another thing I really didn't love was how nice everyone was. Jamie's newfound dad/the kind was nice, his stepmom was nice, his half brother was nice, the grandparents, etc. They were all just nice and bland people. No one acted a little standoff-ish or uncomfortable, which I would have expected from this whole situation. You're gaining a new family member whom you've never met and you're just cool about it? Very weird.

I was also not loving the overall feeling of Jamie's royal family. They didn't act very distinguished. Not that they were acting wholely common, but there was something very casual about them that didn't feel right.

Jamie and Erik had a decent relationship, but again, they were no sparks or crazy tension between them. It was all just chill and *nice.* I wanted to feel their longing and attraction for each other but it was too casual. I couldn't find the passion.

Overall, I had high hopes for this Princess Diaries but gay book, and they didn't pan out.

Like any good early 2000s kid, I spent plenty of time sat in front of the TV watching The Princess Diaries and swooning over Chris Pine in The Princess Diaries 2. This not only scratches that nostalgic itch, but it's queer, so of course it's a million times better.

Jamie is an endearing main character through this whirlwind of a journey and the dual POVs actually worked really well in highlighting the two sides of young royal life, having been raised in it and having been thrust into it. Towards the second half, a lot of the usual royal protocol and tropes kind of faded away and felt more like just generic wealth and fame. Maybe it's nitpicking, but c'mon, isn't playing around with formal titles half the fun of this genre?

Still, this was a fun and fluffy romance that fans of royalty tropes will enjoy!

The Rules of Royalty is a Princess Diaries meets Young Royals come to life.

Our main character Jamie finds out on his 17th birthday that he’s a Prince of the country Mitanor. He’s invited to spend the summer in the country getting to know his family and learning how to be a prince. However, he starts developing feelings for his mentor/tutor, a prince from a neighboring country called Erik.

I really enjoyed the story and getting to see what Mitanor and its culture was like. Jamie handles the changes life throws his way very well and so do the rest of the characters. I especially liked King Alexander; he was respectful and understanding with Jamie when needed. It was also nice to see Erik and his brother Stefan have a good and supportive relationship.

I do wish we had gotten to know Jamie and Erik more and why they liked each other. They were a bit too similar at times and I’d have to go back and double check whose chapter I was in. The book also was also telling us rather than showing us some things, and I wish we had gotten more descriptions in general.

Overall, in my opinion, The Rules of Royalty is more suited to the younger/middle YA audience, and is something I would have enjoyed more if I had read it a few years ago.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a sweet fish-out-of-water story about two princes: one whos always been a prince, and one who just found out he's one.

After Jamie finds out on his 17th birthday that his mysterious unknown father is, in fact, a king, he is not sure what to do with that news. But he is excited to travel to spend some time with the father he's never known in a country he's never seen. Erik, the prince of a nearby country, is recruited by the king to help Jamie learn how to be a prince.

I thought this was fun, though you don't want to think about the intricacies too hard. Like, would the royal family really pressure a 17/18 year old to hurry up and establish a relationship with the aim of getting married? Regardless, it's an entertaining read, and Jamie and Erik were cute together.

This was a sweet coming of age story in the most extreme of situations. I like the comparison to Princess Diaries though he went to his home country to learn about his previously unknown royal position. The neighboring country's prince was asked to help him with the ropes. It was interesting seeing how someone born to the position feels a certain way about questioning authority and what he can do. Whereas, the American born prince just goes out and does things to help his community.
The romance between the two was slow and sweet, the longer they spent together. There were obstacles in their way but they were brave enough to cross them.