Red, White, and Royal Blue meets reality dating! Such a cute and silly story of a prince fighting tradition to purse his secret love. Read this book if you like drama, contests, secret lovers, and more!

A MM royal rom-com with enemies to lovers tension, reality TV drama, and just enough scandal to keep you turning pages.

Auggie is the heir to the British throne—closeted, charming, and stuck in a royal system that forces him to hide who he is. Thomas? He’s the American-British heir to a hotel empire and the son of two anti-monarchist parents who are actively protesting the crown. Naturally, they end up cast together on a reality show where men compete to show the different characteristics of a modern man.

I really enjoyed the concept and the queer royal rom-com vibes—it’s an easy, lighthearted read that you can fly through in one sitting. The reality show angle added a fun and unique twist!

That said, I got a bit of emotional whiplash with some of the character decisions. There was quite a bit of back-and-forth in the romance, which worked early on but started to feel a little inconsistent toward the end.

Still, if you’re in the mood for something fast, flirty, and fun with a side of palace drama and slow-burn kisses in secret alcoves, this one’s worth a read!

📺 Tropes:
• Enemies to lovers
• MM romance
• Royal romance
• Reality show twist
• Forbidden love vibes

Thank you to Hayden Stone and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Prince Auggie is in the closet. He knows he has to live according to the rules, and being gay doesn’t work. Thomas is a half American, half British heir to a hotel fortune, and his father is very vocal about dismantling the monarchy. Auggie’s father has signed him up for a reality, competition show and that’s where he and Thomas meet and fall for each other.

The blurb about this book made it seem like Auggie and Thomas would be competing against each other on this reality show, and they’d fall in love along the way. That is not what happened. They originally meet at a nightclub, with Auggie in disguise (because, prince), and Auggie being extremely rude to Thomas. Then they repeat on the reality show, and Thomas remembers him from the nightclub, and they almost immediately begin a clandestine affair. But Auggie is too insecure since he will be king one day and all he and Thomas do after making out or sleeping together is fight. They fight so much it was to be expected eventually.

And then Auggie gets injured during one of the events and can’t finish the competition because he has broken bones and a concussion. And suddenly Auggie realizes what is really important in life and he realizes he’s in love with Thomas (despite them never having a real relationship), but he still can’t come out to his father or the world.

Too much fighting between our two lovers for my taste. And the fact that Auggie doesn’t even make through the reality show and then it’s another Auggie’s recovery for a lot of it just took me out of the romance.

Prince Augustus is the future king of England and is also hiding his true self. Not only is he gay but he's also questioning his gender identity. Of course he can't tell anyone these things. His father and reality TV addict, King James, signs Auggie up for a reality TV show to try and make Auggie seem more relatable. Here is where he meets the handsome and charming Thomas Golden, who has duel American and English citizenship.

Thomas and Auggie have a very rocky start but form a tentative friendship that leads to more Trying to not get caught on camera and play it up as enemies becomes more difficult as they become closer.

I could read a million gay prince finding love stories! I liked this story shook things up a bit with the reality TV story. I like that the story dealt both with depression and gender identity.

I do have to laugh a bit that Thomas is an abolitionist and comes down on the monarchy so hard when he's literally a nepo baby. I did find Thomas and Auggie's continuing to break up and get back together a bit annoying.

Overall I thought the story did a good job of balancing difficult topics with a love story. I flew through this book and I want to bundle Auggie up and protect him like the sweet little kitten he is. 3.5 rouned up to 4 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book definitely had its fun moments—it is a romcom, after all—and for the most part, it delivered on that promise. There were some genuinely entertaining scenes that made me smile. However, a few elements didn’t quite land for me.

Although the MMC is 25 and the story includes some steamy moments (not fully closed-door but occasionally fading to black), the tone felt more YA than adult. The setting gives off strong boarding school vibes, and Thomas, despite being half-American, reads very British in dialogue. If he was raised in the U.S., his phrasing tend to feel a bit off.

Character-wise, both Thomas and Auggie often felt more like teens than adults. Their hot-and-cold dynamic, frequent avoidance of mature conversations, and abrupt emotional shifts sometimes felt like they were driven more by plot needs than organic character development. Thomas calling out Auggie’s inconsistency was a bit ironic, given both shared that same push-pull behaviour.

The side characters also felt underdeveloped. While I understand that complex family dynamics can be messy, many of the supporting characters came across more like placeholders than fully realized people. I would’ve loved to see them fleshed out beyond surface traits.

This is my third read from Hayden, and while I truly appreciate the ARC and the author’s creativity, I’m starting to think their writing style might not be for me. I often find myself wanting more structure, more flow, and stronger build-ups to key moments. The stories have potential—I just wish the execution felt a little more cohesive.

This was a cute story between an apologetic prince and a hot and cold influencer. It was a nice story, and unfortunately, it didn't hold any surprises.

I thought that Auggie apologized for too much, including things that he didn't need to. Thomas seemed to want to pick a fight every time the two of them talked. This couple was so hot and cold I was getting whiplash; they'd go from kissing to sex to breakup in a few hours.

Beyond the stop and go relationship, I felt like the whole story lacked depth. I wish i could have seen a real fight between the two and the makeup after. I would have liked to see a real resolution to Wilson's actions and the pottery incident.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

How to Date a Prince is a fun, queer romcom with a great premise. A prince and an anti-monarchist hotel heir thrown together on a reality show. It’s got an enemies-to-lovers vibe, some cute banter, and a lighthearted tone that makes it an easy beach read.

Auggie and Thomas have solid chemistry, and Thomas is a total cinnamon roll. The setup really hooked me, and I breezed through most of it. But the execution didn’t quite live up to the concept. Some character choices felt super random, and the relationship was a bit too back-and-forth for my taste (break up, make up, repeat).

I also really wish we got more from Thomas’s point of view, and some of the side characters felt underdeveloped. The writing was a little rough in spots, with tense issues and a lot of telling instead of showing. The spicy scenes were kind of in-between. Not fully closed-door, but not super steamy either, which felt a little off.
Still, it was a super cute story with a unique setup, and I’d probably check out the next book in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hayden Stone for the ARC!

It's not a new concept, commoner with royalty, enemies to lovers, close proximity, very Montague vs. Capulet.

Prince Auggie, handsome, princely, and definitely not straight. But for the Crown, he knows the weigh of it is to carry on the bloodline, and that weight is getting heavier and heavier. Then you have Thomas Golden, out, born with silver spoon and family is totally against the monarchy. How can this be bad?

I feel like Auggie doesn't really care that Thom is against the monarch, but does feel like he's attacking Auggie's birthright, which is beyond his control. At every turn we see that Auggie has no choice, no say in his life; in the name of the Crown. Versus, Thom has every choice and freedom but can't get away from the handsome prince.

The whole accident and the recovery was so beautifully written that I forgave the author on Auggie's wishy-washiness. As much as I love Auggie and feel for him, for Pete's sake, make up your mind and don't be afraid of your own decision.

And bless Thom for living with conviction and his actions at every turn, only points back to Auggie. These two are adorable. Also kudos to Auggie's BFF, Katie; despite her feelings, she knows to prioritize their friendships. applause.

Thank you NetGalley & Xpresso Book Tours for the ARC

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an ARC!

How to Date a Prince is a cute and light-hearted rivals-to-lovers romance. Prince Auggie is reluctantly signed up for a reality TV dating show by his father, and among the contestants is Thomas Golden — an outspoken abolitionist of the monarchy and openly gay, living unapologetically as himself. Auggie, on the other hand, is closeted and bound by royal expectations, struggling to express who he truly is.

As the competition heats up, so does the chemistry between them, but not without complications. The premise had a lot of charm and potential, and I appreciated the modern twist on royal romance.

However, the execution left me a bit underwhelmed. Some emotional beats that were meant to be heartfelt or shocking fell flat due to the writing style. The story felt a bit wishy-washy and incomplete at times. Additionally, the romantic “spice” was minimal — we got a clear beginning and end, but the middle lacked depth and tension.

I still enjoyed the read overall, but I think it needed a bit more development to truly shine.

This book was very fun to read. I enjoyed the journey of the characters and the growth of the mc. Thanks for the ARC

HOW TO DATE A PRINCE by Hayden Stone

Out 7/15/25. Happy Pub day!

📱Prince Augustus has a problem - a Thomas Golden-sized problem. And no one can know about it because, as one recent movie character pointed out, “Princes can’t be gay.” Good news, folks: except for this plot point, HTDAP is nothing like those other gay prince books. I know people often worry about these kinds of things, but there’s no issue here.

🏇🏻This is actually a reality-show romance with only men as contestants, including a prince (secretly gay and possibly non-binary) and a gorgeous influencer/hotel mogul’s son. What could go wrong? Actually, it’s a good question, because for all his bluster and bravado, Auggie - and Thomas (both on the RENAISSANCE MAN reality show, because, of course) - is seriously injured on week three of the show and can’t come back. Thomas is less seriously injured (thanks to Auggie, as it turns out), but the mayhem has ensued and Auggie is off the show. But not before “things” happen between them and footage is secured, and, later, confessions are made on tape.

🍪 The two have an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers-to-friends-to-lovers trajectory, and it’s fun to watch. The episodes we see of RENAISSANCE MAN - including the one where Auggie can’t bake but Thomas can; the one where they are both decent artists, but Auggie’s gorgeous pottery is mysteriously destroyed; and the one where they’re both good athletes, but the steeplechase that leads Auggie to a very critical concussion and post-concussion syndrome that seemingly never goes away - are interesting and even hilarious (except for the accident ofc - that’s horrific). I’m not really a reality show person, but Hayden Stone does a nice job at capturing what I assume is the vibe on a British, male-type-people-only reality show about who’s the most renaissance of men. It’s actually quite funny!

🤔 After the accident, Auggie starts re-evaluating his life and realizes some things about who he is and what he wants. He has friends and relatives helping him out, and complicated relationships with them, but none more complicated than with his father, the king, who’s not a homophobe, but who does think grandchildren are important.

👑 HOW TO DATE A PRINCE is about self-advocacy, self-acceptance, apologies, forgiveness, love, and healing - literal and figurative. A most enjoyable and thought-provoking romp.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

I really really really wanted Red, White, & Royal Blue vibes, but I was left with no vibes. This is another "enemies" to lovers where there is no true reason for the enemies nor did they even act like they disliked each other at first at all. Non-prince boy doesn't like the Crown falls for Prince, don't see how they can be enemies unless the Crown murdered all of his family and he wants to seek revenge (which I would read ASAP! but not a romance, have them hunt each other down or something)

Speaking of non-prince boy hating the Crown, unless I missed it, that was never resolved or corrected or discussed once they got over a very tiny barely 3 sentences of an "argument" over it halfway through the book.

Has spice/smut, but it's not overly detailed and feels more like softcore/too afraid to write all the gritty details. Writing overall felt meh even outside the smut/spice scenes.

WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE TV SHOW?!

So right away from the blurb and the cover, and the title I was getting Red, White, and Royal Blue vibes but with a twist added on.

A light cozy feel, rivals to lovers read with two very similar but very different boys who should and do hate each other but clearly there are sparks there from day one. They're a mess though and make a mess of everything. But when you go into this type of book you're expecting that and it was cute.

It could have been fun to get a bit more of Thomas POV but overall the characters were fleshed out and the growth each saw, and the growth they saw together, was nice. Their relationships with their families I found were more realistic than you sometimes see especially with Auggie. The struggle with coming out to himself in a way that he accepted himself was rough at times but very real. The ending I really enjoyed with how not overly fairytale it was.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Charming!!
I loved Alfie from the jump! He was imperfect and lost. Enter Thomas. He’s gorgeous, rich, and brilliant. He also can’t stand Alfie, who was rude to him.
When Alfie finds himself in close proximity on a reality talent show, sparks fly!
Alfie’s story grows and develops and I loved him even more by the end of the book!!
I absolutely adored this book!!

What happens when you mix an anti-monarch American influencer, a closeted gay prince, and a reality TV show? A romcom that’s heartfelt, a bit chaotic, and a bit charming.

Auggie, a closeted crowned prince, is forced to compete on a reality TV show to introduce a modern monarchy—one that feels more relatable to the public—and ideally, find a future wife. Enter Thomas Golden, heir to a hotel empire and an American influencer with very anti-monarch views. Sparks flew fast, and it leaned more toward insta-love than enemies-to-lovers.

I really felt for Auggie at times. His sense of duty to the crown and the kingdom came through clearly. I was glad to see his personal growth and his journey toward making his own choices. That said, his constant emotional flip-flopping gave me whiplash. The way he treated his best friend was disappointing, and the resolution of that conflict (and most of them, honestly) felt rushed and unnatural.

Thomas felt more like a side character than a romantic lead. I wanted more development from him—he had the potential for a compelling arc, but it never really landed. His relationship with his father was mentioned, but rarely shown, and overall his backstory didn’t connect for me. I really wish we’d gotten his perspective at some point.

The side characters didn’t feel fleshed out either. The other show contestants were barely mentioned, but what little we got made me wish for more. The show itself had such a fun concept, but the execution was underwhelming. The competitions felt like an afterthought rather than a real part of the story.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. If you’re into secret relationships, royal drama, and reality TV chaos, this may be the book for you.

Thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I am such a sucker for stuff like this. Foreign dignitary, forbidden romance, set in London? Count me IN. The pacing was a but quick and the main character was a little stuck in his head at times, but it worked for me over all.

The title... the cover... the Blurb... giving RWRB & Boyfriend Material. So, I obviously thought it was gonna be perfect for me. I was wrong.
I can't even write a full review, seeing as I couldn't even get past the 8% mark.
I felt so heartbroken. The writing was throwing me off from the VERY START, but I tried to push forward. I really thought it would improve. But it just wasn't for me. I couldn't even like the main character.

I'm truly devastated this book didn't work for me. Thank you so much to the author and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

ARC Review

I’m not even going to lie, I requested this ARC purely because of the cover. It gave Red, White & Royal Blue vibes, and I was like, yes, let’s see what’s going on here.
And honestly? I had fun. The book was funny, sweet, and gave me plenty of secondhand butterflies. I loved the banter between the two main characters. And the clothing descriptions of Auggie had me grinning. The man knows how to dress.
Now, on the flip side, there were moments the characters felt a bit... surface-level? Like they were going through the motions without fully pulling me into their emotional world. Some things between them felt too easily forgiven without enough depth. Also, I would’ve loved more insight into Thomas's POV he felt a bit like a side character in his own story.

Still, I enjoyed the ride and I think romance lovers will too

Rating: 3.5/5
Thanks to Netgalley for granting my request to read this ARC

How To Date A Prince is an MM romance following Price Auggie who is next in line to be king. Auggie is gay and on an night out, meets Thomas and he is a mess and the night turns into even more of a trainwreck after the way he acted and then the press turning up. His father sends him to go participate in a reality tv show, which Thomas is also participating on. When they reunite at the show, things are naturally tense and Thomas does not like Auggie for the way he acted before and he is a prince and Thomas is an abolitionist. The more time on the show together and the hijinks, which reaches boiling point when Auggies gets hurt saving Thomas, they develop a relationship. Naturally drama gets in the way as well as Auggie being a prince and not allowed to be gay or do what he wants and be happy, but everything ends up happily ever after.

I enjoyed this book, almost flashes of Red, White and Royal Blue.

I don't generally give reviews regarding a book before I finish it, but this one compelled me to do so. The book is so far well written, but somehow, the book is lost in itself.

Some aspects of the book, no matter how many times you read it, don't make sense. Without giving spoilers, if I have to say it, it would be that some scenes start with great potential; however, the conclusion of that scene doesn't pay off. Why, you might ask. It is because the turns that take you to that conclusion don't make sense.

One second, the characters are doing something, and the next second, something else is happening, and it is completely out of context. Some characters' existence is there not because they are needed, it is because they are needed to move the plot forward, and on top of that, some characters don't even need to exist.

There is so much more to say, but till I finish the book, I will keep those opinions to myself.

*Update after finishing the book*

Okay, so I have finished the book, and before I begin, I want to thank Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC because of them I had a chance to read this book before its release.
Now, let's get into the review. As previously stated in my review, the book is very well written and the words roll off the page without any hitch, however, the biggest problem with the book was I was on a journey with our characters, but nothing was happening, I felt like we are stuck at one junction and nothing is happening.

Auggie's coming out to the world felt forced and not at all consensual; it felt more like if he didn't come out, he would have no chance with Thomas, he was not willing to fight for love, but the idea of something, and that is literally what has paid off. The story was running at the speed of 420Km/min, and in the blink of an eye, you would lose track of the story.

The start of the book was great, I was hooked, looking forward to what will happen next, but the romance between our protagonist felt forced and felt like it was happening for the sake of it, some characters that were important were more like background characters just to fill the page (like Auggie's sister, sorry I forgot her name, she was there just for the sake of it). While other characters were just there to move the plot forward but the funny thing is that the plot would have gone without them being there.

For me, the book is a one-time easy breezy read. I would suggest this if you needed to read a quick romance without any consequences or repercussions.

But keeping my review aside, Hayden Stone has made an honest try to bring a beautiful love story, and he has brought it to the pages with beautiful words and love. I am looking forward to seeing Hayden grow and bring more books that resonate with my soul and other readers too.