The Rules of Royalty starts out with so much promise. The story idea is cute and fun - an American teenager finds out on his 17th birthday that he is is actually the long-lost Prince of Mitanor, a fictional European country. His biological father, the king, invites him to come stay at the palace and get to know his family and arranges for another prince to help him out with the adjustment. The whole thing feels very inspired by The Princess Diaries, but with a Red White and Royal Blue twist. The whole thing is fun escapist fiction that doesn't need to be taken too seriously to be enjoyable and I would have rated it much higher than the three (generous) stars I am giving it except the whole book just kind of fell flat for me.

To start with, the story is told from two viewpoints - Jamie, the new prince, and Erik, his tutor. Despite being from completely different backgrounds, with different educational experiences and speaking different first languages, the two guys have the exact same voice. Like, I had to repeatedly check the chapter headings to see whose viewpoint I was supposed to be reading because they were almost completely indistinguishable.

Next, the books tells a lot but it doesn't show a lot. There's an aside midway through the book where Erik mentions a joke his upright Queen grandmother told him. It's meant to show us that she can let loose at times. But we don't find out what the joke was. The whole book is like this. We are told about conversations, we don't experience them. It was like reading the boys' diary accounts of the plot and not actually going through the story with them.

Finally, there was no real conflict. Every issue that arises in the book - from Jamie's feeling of betrayal that his adoptive mother never told him who he really was, to his fight with is best friend Max back home, to the essential plot of the book which is whether or not Erik and Jamie can date each other - is wrapped up so easily, and so tidily, with so little mess and fuss that I was left feeling like there was no <i>there</i> there.

I hated only giving this book 3 stars, but, at the end of the day, it's the best I can do. It's such a great premise and had so much potential and promise but in the end... it just wasn't great.

This is such a cute book, some of the banter and overall relationship dynamics are cute. At times it does get a little predictable, but overall it is a solid read. The main characters have some sense of depth and you can tell there is more than meets the eye for them. I was entertained, the ending did seem a little bit rushed, but overall it is a solid read.

This was adorable! I got all the Princess Diaries vibes mixed with a bit of Red, White, and Royal Blue. The narration was great and felt appropriate for the storyline.

I thought the MC's were well developed, the romance was just the right amount and enjoyed the friendships too. I definitely recommend!

Love it! Love it love it love it love it!
As an hardcore The Princess Diaries’ fan I was expecting this book a little too much. I have to admit it, this is my first Cale Dietrich’s book but it will not be my last. I can’t wait to read all his books. I’m intrigued by his writing.
The story is pretty simple, but the intrigues and the drama hold me captivating. It’s an incredible turned pages.
And of course I love every character, especially Erik (but I love Jamie too). He’s my baby, I have to say it!
Really, this book Made me so happy!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin Press for the arc.

Prepare for the New Prince of Mitanor!

Cale Dietrich’s latest novel, The Rules of Royalty, is a coming-of-age story that feels timeless! Marketed as a Princess Diaries-inspired romance between two princes from neighboring countries, it lives up to every expectation of that pitch. Our protagonist, Jamie, receives the shock of his life when he learns of his true heritage. To help him navigate his newfound royal role, his father calls in a favor, bringing Erik—a neighboring royal and experienced prince—into Jamie’s life to teach him the ways of royalty. The two quickly bond, and it soon becomes clear that their connection might be more than friendship. From self-discovery to challenging political power and sparring with the reigning royals, this story delivers an intoxicating blend of drama, romance, and royal intrigue that kept me turning the pages.

The characters are a major highlight. Dietrich’s skill in creating complex, relatable characters shines through, making it easy to root for them as they grow and face personal challenges. Jamie and Erik feel real, and they linger long after the final page. The story also pays delightful homage to The Princess Diaries with moments that echo the classic, adding a fresh, queer twist that makes it even more special for fans who loved that story.

Long-time fans of Dietrich are bound to adore this book, and it’s sure to draw in new readers eager for more. Don’t miss out—The Rules of Royalty is one you won’t want to put down!

3.5 stars rounded up.

A super cute new book from one of the authors of If This Gets Out (a personal favorite of mine in recent years), crossing The Princess Diaries and Red White & Royal Blue.

Introverted high schooler Jamie Johnson has been trying to make the most of his last summer before graduation, hanging with his friends, working part-time at the local Cinnabon, and absolutely NOT talking to the hot guys he sees out and about. But then, on his birthday, his adoptive mother drops a bomb on him: he's the son of the king of Mitanor, a beautiful sunny country in the south of Europe, and the king wants him to visit and discover his place. In order to prepare him for his new role, the king hires the second son from the cold northern country of Sunstad, Erik Lindstrom. With the upcoming marriage of his older brother (and the heir to the Sunstad throne), this is Erik's chance to get out from under his grandmother's controlling thumb for a summer as he teaches Jamie how to be a royal.

This was adorable. I wouldn't say it was anything remarkable or unpredictable, but it was a lot of fun and I can see my students devouring it. Jamie is precious and naive and it's so much fun watching him develop into a proper royal throughout the course of the story. But Erik just had my heart from the get-go as the tightly-wound young man just trying to find some freedom in the face of his overly-controlling family. While their relationship felt a little insta-love-y, it was still fun to watch develop over the course of the story as both boys grew into their own.

I received this book for free from netgalley for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity.

A wonderful queer romance with a lot of Royal and Drake that kept you on your toes but not too much angst to lose the romantic side of the story.

i received an e-ARC and so am giving my honest review!

i LOVED this. with everything happening in the world right now, a fluffy mlm romance was exactly what i needed. i saw a lot of reviews complain about the lack of stakes or characters being 2-dimension and i have to disagree in that the lack of super high stakes made this more enjoyable for me. it let me relax and truly just enjoy the story and the romance. and id definitely disagree about 2-D characters. this was a book where i could clearly tell whose chapter i was reading based off their inner monologue/voice extremely easily. this was really enjoyable and i was really engaged and entertained the entire time reading. i felt as if the world building was done well in that it wasn’t overwhelming. i like books that don’t make you memorize tons and tons of words and cities etc. this was genuinely such a lighthearted and soft read and exactly what i needed at a time like this

This YA romance felt a lot like a queer version of Meg Cabot's The Princess Diaries, but told from dual points of view, without the distinctive voice, humor, and empathy. James wakes up one morning and his adopted mother informs him he is the son of his majesty, King Alexander of Mitanor. THis has been a protected secret due to his late mother's desire for Jamie have as normal a childhood as possible. His dad suggests Jamie reach out to his peer, Prince Erik of Sunstad, for support with coming to terms with his newfound lineage, and to get up to speed with royal protocols. Meanwhile, Erik, who is grateful to be able to be out and queer as a member of the royal family, is not thrilled when his grandmother informs him she's going to be playing matchmaker to ensure he's dating suitable companions. I'm predicting that Jamie and Erik get paired--or fall for one another and someone objects because he's American, but I don't know; I gave this up around 15% through, because of the wooden writing, undistinguishable voices, large cast of characters, and low stakes.

I received a free advance reader's review copy of #TheRulesOfRoyalty via #NetGalley courtesy of #StMartinsPress

Eric and Jamie are so adorable! I loved their story. Two “spare” princes, royal tutor and an American who just found out he is prince. The Princess Diaries but make it queer. A super cute YA book.

The YA version of Princess Diaries, the pacing of The Rules of Royalty was fantastic! My only wish was that Jamie and Erik were more differentiated as characters -- their narratives blended together in such a way that it was sometimes hard to tell their experiences apart. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

The Rules of Royalty gave me gay Princess Diary vibes, and I was absolutely here for it. This was just so lighthearted and fun, and both Jamie and Erik were adorable.

This was such a fun rom com! Kind of in conversation with The Princess Diane's but with a queer twist. The romance is well fabricated and the characters jump off the page.

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of the Rules of Royalty in exchange for an honest review!

Jamie Johnson, local wallflower and introvert, is overwhelmed to find out his mother has been keeping a big, royal secret from him: he’s actually heir to the throne of (fictional) Mitanor, a vague European country that might as well be Genovia. His overly (almost suspiciously) kind father invites him to spend the summer in Mitanor, and inducts a neighboring prince to come and show poor Jamie the ropes. Erik, the second son of his own prospective fictional country, is more than happy to spend some time away from home and tutor Jamie. There are plenty of rules for royalty, but falling in love usually isn’t one of them.

The particulars come second here to the romance: an easily built, charming, and syrupy love story, with two delightful leads who might as well sign their hearts away in the first third of the book. There’s minimal conflict or angst to speak of, beyond the relatable experience of growing up confused about your identity. The royalty lessons are a movie we’ve seen before, but it’s pleasant to be on the page with Jamie and Erik, and despite the influx of LGBTQIA+ books pouring out these days, I never take for granted the experience of reading one.

Sometimes you just want a dumb smile on your face and a book that reads like a cozy blanket, so pick up this comfort food and have your happily ever after.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: December 10, 2024

Adorable, dual-POV, queer royals YA romcom. Lighthearted with lots of sunshine, this dialogue-heavy, teenage angsty, strangers to crushes read is a fun escape!

This book really captures the devastation of being seventeen and in love and feeling like your current feelings will be your only feelings EVER, and not knowing what to do with them when things go awry.

The only difference is....they're having to go through all this on a royal stage.

I liked this one. It's very YA, as they're 17, and their fears and choices reflect that. Don't expect adult angst but what's available is very realistic when you factor in their age.

If you liked 'If This Gets Out', you'll probably like this one too.

8 year old me who was obsessed with The Princess Diaries is a very happy bunny right now.

This was cute and reminded me of the Princess Diaries, but the writing was incredibly bland and stilted and didn't have any depth. It all felt very surface level. Also the two leads were written so similarly that it was hard to remember whose POV I was reading and I had to keep going back to check who it was supposed to be. They also felt very young - far too young to be having hookups. Neither of them drew my interest at all. I had a hard time caring about any of it since I didn't care about the leads and ultimately gave up around 20%.

I'm actually a little confused because I've enjoyed Cale Dietrich's books before. This one was just a miss for me.

*Thanks to Wednesday Books for providing an early copy for review.

I ended up DNF-ing this book. While the premise was promising, I found the characters' voices too similar to engage with either one and the author's habit of telling rather than showing to read too middle grade for me.
That said, I am always happy to see queer stories told by queer authors! Based on other reviews, this is a heartwarming love story that I may give a second chance in the future.

This was the first solo book I read by Cale Dietrich and even if I loved the one he co-authored with Sophie Gonzales, I didn't know exactly what to expect.

3+

And I wasn't disappointed! You might think we've already got enough stories about common guys discovering they are princes. Nowadays, there might be even more than girls turning out to be princesses despite the clear influence from The Princess Diaries. And yes, this really made me think of Cabot's series, but in a way that in a nostalgic way, that this could be what that book would have been if written in the present day. And for a queer public. And with a male main character. And with a prince being the main romantic interest. And... Okay, there are so many differences, and yet I kept thinking of the sensation I had back then.

Despite being very enjoyable, a recommendable read, it's still not a superb book. I liked the couple, I liked the characters, but I guess I needed more to make it more unique. In a good way, as in if I wanted more of The Princess Diaries, it felt like reading fan fiction. I do like it, but it lacked that special point that made it The One. I also thought the resolution, as realistic as it felt considering we're not even talking about royal families of existing countries, was a little too simple after all the anguishing. A lot of teenager problems are just like that, too many hormones driving us crazy, making the world seem to be over for us, I do understand that. It still felt like they could have done more work to get their happy ending. Or just done that sooner.

This is great for you who want some YA romance involving princes so you can forget about the world for a second—it is a quick read, after all, that will entertain you so much you won't feel time pass.


Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

Such a cute story! Jamie and Erik are very likable but I the story took place in a matter of a few weeks, there isn't much room for character development or even to see their relationship grow. It's an easy read with a HEA.