I was really looking forward to How to Date a Prince; as someone who adores Red, White & Royal Blue, the initial vibes from Prince Auggie had me hooked due to how similar his character felt to Prince Henry’s. He’s a clever, funny, fashion-forward recluse, and the idea of him being forced by his father, the King, to join a reality competition called Renaissance Man felt fresh and intriguing. The setup promised both hijinks and heart, and the chemistry with Thomas, the talented and charming American hotel heir, started off with real potential.

Thomas was a dreamboat of a love interest: charismatic, warm, talented, and grounded. Their dynamic in the early parts of the competition was where the book shined. Unfortunately, they spent far too little time on the page together. The constant hot-and-cold dynamic, miscommunication, and avoidance made it difficult to believe in the strength of their connection. I was especially frustrated by how often one would walk away before the other could speak. It made their bond feel underdeveloped.

The anti-monarchy subplot felt unexplored and unclear, and the side characters (while fun) weren’t quite fleshed out enough to be impactful. A few moments were introduced with potential (like the second competition incident and the hint at gender non-conformity), but they fizzled out without resolution or meaningful development. I also wish there had been more visible emotional growth in both main characters; the angst and fear built up so much, only to lead to an anticlimactic resolution.

That said, there were still moments of charm and sweetness, and the core premise was a fun one. With a bit more character depth and narrative clarity, I think this could have been a standout. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What happens when a closeted gay prince starts to develop feelings for an anti-monarchy billionaire and while filming a reality TV show?

I will always pick up an MM royal romance. I will admit that this story did take a little bit longer to get into but once the setting in story and pacing picked up, it was a very fast read. It did feel like these characters could actually exist. I would be swooning one minute with their bonding and wanting to throw my Kindle the next. I think that it is always a positive aspect to a book if you can get the reader to verbally react to something. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Thank you to the author for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really wanted to love this book but there were a few elements that made that hard for me to do. I found a few typos and grammatical errors while reading. This made it difficult to comprehend and I kept having to reread sentences multiple times in order to understand. I also felt that the love between Thomas and Auggie was a little too rushed. I wish we could've seen their relationship progress slower. Additionally, I wish there could've been more about how Auggie coming out as gay had an impact on royal tradition and his role as future king. This would've been nice especially since it is heavily emphasized that tradition and being the future king was the reason he couldn't be with Thomas.

DNF at 52%.

Auggie is next in line for the throne and hates it. His dad signs him up for a reality show to raise his image where he battles against attractive American Thomas who he has previously butted heads with.

I really tried to persevere with this because the premise and vibe should be my thing, but unfortunately we’ve had one too many u-turns on Auggie and Thomas’ relationship for me to carry on. It is a total whiplash how many times these two like each other than break up. I’ve just read them have their first true sex scene and break up 10 seconds later and that’s where I draw the line. Going from enemies to lovers had no arc and came out of nowhere.

The writing is not for me and needed further editing / development in my opinion. It lacks emotional depth and I don’t find any of the characters likeable. Auggie’s treatment of Kate is particularly difficult. I’m also confused by some plot points. I believe Auggie is line for the British throne but I believe at one point the Danish throne is mentioned. I may have misunderstood but regardless it was confusing. I also don’t have any idea what the actual reality show is doing - it doesn’t appear to be a dating show, maybe more like bake off, but anyone I was confused.

I know what books I think would be considered similar to this (red white and royal blue & Alexis hall books) but as I loved those and didn’t love this it’s hard to say who I’d recommend this for. It’s a quick read though so if you’re less prone to a reading slump than me, like a bit more drama in your relationships and enjoy reality shows then I really hope this book will be for you and I’m sorry it wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Stop everything you're doing and pick up How to Date a Prince immediately! Hayden Stone has delivered an absolutely dazzling, utterly addictive, and heart-achingly romantic masterpiece that earns every single one of its five stars.

The premise alone is pure gold, a secretly gay British Crown Prince, forced onto a reality TV show to find a bride, finds himself falling head over heels for a charismatic American heir whose family wants to abolish the monarchy. Seriously, that's not just a plot, it's a gold mine of delicious tension and witty banter.

Prince Auggie is an absolute gem of a character. He's a private, daydreamer, and deeply sympathetic soul navigating the soul-crushing expectations of his royal duty while secretly yearning for a life true to himself. Watching him squirm and then slowly blossom under the glare of reality TV and the infuriating charm of Thomas Golden is a journey you won't forget.

And Thomas Golden? Oh, he's the perfect foil initially 'irritatingly gorgeous' and a walking, talking challenge to everything Auggie represents, especially with his family's anti-monarchy agenda. Their previous disastrous encounter and their initial 'hate at first sight' on the reality show crackles with an electric energy that quickly, and gloriously, ignites into an undeniable, secret romance. The 'searing heatwave' they create behind the scenes isn't just physical; it's emotional, raw, and utterly captivating.

The reality TV setting is genius, providing the perfect crucible for their forbidden love to simmer and then boil over. The stakes are incredibly high, as Auggie is forced to confront the impossible choice between his destiny as future king and the love that threatens to upend his entire world.

Hayden Stone masterfully blends laugh-out-loud moments with profound emotional depth, exploring themes of duty, identity, and the courage it takes to pursue true happiness. This isn't just a romance; it's a compelling story about breaking free from gilded cages and daring to choose love above all else.

If you love M/M romance, forbidden love stories, royal intrigue, and a healthy dose of reality TV drama, How to Date a Prince is your next obsession. I devoured every page and am already desperate for a reread. An absolute triumph!

If you're looking for a fun read, this is pretty great. A closeted prince being forced to go on a reality TV show, where he is attracted to the biggest competition? It is a really cute and easy read! Thank you to netgalley for the arc!

(I am DNFing at 51%) But I am giving this a book a 3 star to boost it a little. I was going to try and push through but I couldn't see this being more than a 3 for me and I didn't want to leave a bad review because I forced myself to finish a book I wasn't liking. I couldn't feel the chemistry between the two characters at all and I could tell this was going to be a back and forth of "we can't but let's do it anyway" then someone gets hurt... repeat. I also wasn't a big fan of the spice, it felt really rushed and awkward
l.. going straight from
first kiss to... YK, is not my style. I really wish I liked this more because I love a good royalty romance but it just wasn't hitting for me. Thank you again to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.

To write a book about and an English prince and an American in a post-Red White and Royal Blue world is a bold move.

To set that book in a context of a reality TV show takes is up another level.

I had read Hayden Stone’s previous 2 books, so I went in pretty confident that he would deliver. And I LOVED the cover. It met my expectations and delivered a story that I really enjoyed.

While similar story beats will naturally happen, I felt that I was reading a unique creation. When Prince Augustus’ mother dies, his father, the King, escapes into reality TV. This leads to the King signing Prince Auggie up for a reality TV show to help the monarchy appear more transparent and seem more relevant and modern. A deeply private Auggie runs into Thomas Golden, (who has a parent who is English, and one that is from the USA) who is from a family of very outspoken anti-monarchists. So in that setting, secret affections start to flourish as Thom and Auggie help each other with the show challenges.

When reading a book about a fictitious English monarchy, I feel a distinct difference between books written by someone who is familiar with, or under that monarchy, and someone who is viewing it from the outside (ie someone from the US). Hayden Stone’s version worked well for me, and presented a version of monarchy that was familiar to someone from a commonwealth background.
3 books read by Hayden Stone this year, and I will definitely be on the lookout for more!

Thanks Netgally for the ARC.

hilarious romcom with some interesting ideas. the baseline idea is definitely a bit classic but the overall twists are so cool. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

First of all I loved the setting with the reality TV show, that was so much fun as an idea!
But is it just me or was Auggie a bad best friend who kept way too many secrets and also where was the chemistry between him and Thom in the beginning and overall? Where was the yearning and being smitten and the temptation? Their affair felt a bit rushed and not like the big all consuming love that it would have needed in my opinion.
Also why did no one just sat down and had a proper conversation to solve all the shit?

Thank you Netgalley and Xpress Book Tours for the digital ARC

This was a good MM book to read. It was between prince Auggie and influencer Thomas. Prince Auggie got signed up for a TV show and Thomas was also a contestant. They met before going on the show and they were both attracted towards each other. However prince Auggie didn't want to come out about his sexuality as he's a prince and in his eyes can't come out as he needs to find a wife and get an heir. During the TV show they grow closer and find out if there is a future for them together.
I absolutely liked the story but the only downside for me was the amount of times they 'broke up' and always with the same reason. So that part started to annoy me. But overall I really enjoyed their romance.

Thanks to netgalley and publishers for this ARC. All opinions are my own and entirely honest.

I feel bad, because I really wanted to like this, but... I did not. I finished it (whereas I would normally DNF) because I kept hoping it would get better, but it didn't. The characters felt flat and one-faceted, and unfortunately the plot was not believable. One can only suspend their disbelief so far when it's based on real royalty - the author would've been better off making up fictional countries.

What a fun read this was, from beginning to end! Rom-com shenanigans between a prince and an influencer meet reality TV in Hayden Stone's upcoming release "How to Date a Prince", which is the perfect beach or swimming pool read for this summer. When prince Auggie is signed up for a reality show where he'll have to compete against eight other men to claim the title of Renaissance Man, it sounds like a nightmare in the making. But behind the cameras might lie a chance for Auggie to find what he has never even dreamt of ever having, which is a chance at true happiness.

Something I really loved about "How to Date a Prince" was that it was a fun and light-hearted read. Although the novel deals with serious topics and features complicated conversations about grief, child neglect and identity crises, there was always a very sunshiney quality to it thanks to prince Auggie's clever and cheerful voice. His sharp tongue and terrible impulse control made my whole day every time he didn't rein them in, and to be honest, he was such a lovely main character! I would read about his shenanigans anytime. In fact, I wouldn't be too bothered by badgers as long as I had him beside me to keep me from losing my marbles.

Aside from being a great narrator, Auggie was really well done in that, since he's the heir to the throne, there were nuanced discussions of what "tradition" truly means for those born into it. While I am not English, I am from a country that also has a Royal Family, and I've always been intrigued by how life must be when you have never been allowed to not be in the public eye. In this sense, "How to Date a Prince" was quite humane and moving, and I found myself thinking about Auggie and feeling quite fond of him precisely because the novel excelled at showing us what the royal backstage might look like and the toll it often takes.

Just as charming and vulnerable, Thomas Golden was another highlight of the book for me. I was quite invested in him from the get-go, since he caught my attention from the moment he walked into the club, and as the book progressed I was really moved to watch him slowly open up and show his vulnerable side to Auggie. Child influencers, as well as people born with a silver spoon in their mouth, are just as fascinating as royal kids to me, and so I was really curious about Thomas and his backstory. It was beautiful to realise that he was just as scared and lost as Auggie, even if he seemed to have it all figured out, and I loved that he was allowed to be human and mess up just like Auggie.

Their relationship was charming, and I deeply enjoyed the build-up as they gravitated towards each other on and off-camera. I felt really warm inside as Auggie and Thomas both gave into the feelings for each other they could've suppressed, but chose not to! Everything about them was both really beautiful and messily human, which made them all the more endearing to me.

Despite the seemingly low stakes, the plot was engaging, and I found myself wanting to know what happened next so bad! Both during the reality show and afterwards, at that. There was an overarching plot regarding Auggie's life choices, as well as his struggle to choose between sticking to what's been laid out for him or pursuing his happiness - it brought everything together nicely, and I felt like I was reading a very lovely and intimate story about a caged bird learning to fly.

All in all this was deliciously fun, swoonworthy, and charming! I cannot wait to see where Hayden Stone goes next, to the point that I immediately pre-ordered this book's sequel and the standalone that Stone will be releasing in 2026 (thank God for the utter lack of object permanence, because otherwise the wait would destroy me). Don't miss out on this book!

This book is trying to do too much. It's an enemies-to-lovers thing with Prince Auggie and Thomas Golden. But the Prince is a closeted gay man who can't express himself because he's a Prince! But they're on a reality show! That the King signed Auggie up for! And Thomas is from an anti-monarchist family that's also half-American! And the Prince's mother is dead! And the Prince has a problem speaking in public (?) and making rash decisions (?). 

But mostly there's just a lot of telling instead of showing and the being the first-person POV, Prince Auggie tends to over explain himself in a way that's rather annoying. Case-in-point:
"Thomas fusses over me like an overly protective mother cat with an injured kitten. Except substitute prince for kitten in this scenario."

Like duh, my dear, you used a metaphor - I was aware of what you were going for there.

And that's before we get to all of the "I love you!" "We can't, it'll never work." "Okay, fine." "But I LOVE YOU!" back and forth throughout the whole thing. I'm not sure either of them knows "How to date a prince" actually, and that's with Prince Auggie having been one the whole time. (It's the modern day, and he went to both Eton and uni, and yet seems somehow befuddled by the concept of a selfie or social media - it's weird.)

Unfortunately, after so much push and pull for these two when the "final" grand gesture happens, I was left cold and wondering if it was really done. I think this was a fun concept, but the execution was lacking.

A lighthearted quick read.

How to Date a Prince, was a feel good and a welcome addition to the M/M royal romance genre. It follows a lot of familiar tropes, including enemies to lovers but with a fun new twist in the form of a reality TV show. The story is an easy one to sit back and enjoy watching unfold, quickly becoming a "just one more chapter" kind of book. It allows you to enjoy a queer love story in a seemingly kinder world, which is a much appreciated escape.

While part of its charm is it's lightheartedness for me it was also one of its drawbacks. The stakes never seemed high or impactful. One example without trying to give much away is Thomas, the love interest who is anti-monarchy, never seems to really struggle with his biases. He considers them, but not in any significant way that would suggest his upbringing and actively part of anti-monarchy campaigns. It's very love/lust at first sight and then almost a love conquers all mentality.

Overall I really did enjoy the story and can honestly say I am looking forward to the second book in the Being Royal series, How to Love a Prince. So if you're looking for a cute read in the same vein as Red, White and Royal Blue I'd say you've found the right book.

Also a large thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for a review.

This book was absolutely EVERYTHING that I was hoping for out of it! I loved both Auggie and Thomas! And am super excited to read the next book in the series when it comes out!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.

Reading this was a quick and fun time. If you just want a very easy, readable, entertaining book, this one's perfect for that. The story is very straight forward and the characters aren't too deep. This is the type of book you can read whilst "turning your head off."

However, this book doesn't really stand on its own. It's blatantly obvious that this is a rip-off of Red, White & Royal Blue. You can't even call this inspired anymore. This reads like a fanfic for Casey Mcquistons' book. I've read fanfics that were more different from the original than this.

Additionally, I don't think the romance was particularly well done. The first kiss happened out of no where and there's no reason these two are in love with each other. This is the definition of insta love, purely based on lust. If that's your thing and you just want a silly little insta love no Brainer romcom, this one's for you.

The characters are very weak and incoherent. My biggest issue is the fact that Thomas is aledgedly a huge protester against the crown and yet we never saw that and he had no issue with fucking a prince.

What I did enjoy was the banter. The book is hilarious, I gotta give that to the book.
For my personal taste it's a little over the top and causes the reader to be unable to take anythign seriously.

If you loved Red, White & Royal Blue and want a book that feels like a silly fanfiction of it, go for it. If you're searching for an actual good romance with character depth and development, skip this one.

Picture this: one day you’re peacefully living your royal life: quiet, dignified, and most importantly, private, where the highlight of your day is daydreaming about the perfect man you’ll never actually get to meet. The next, your reality TV-obsessed father (also known as the King of England) signs you up for a monarchy-themed dating show to help you find a bride. The twist? Prince Auggie’s co-star is the ridiculously hot, half-American hotel heir Thomas Golden, who just happens to have a deep-seated hatred of the royal family.

Also, they may have already met once in a London nightclub. It did *not* go well!

Cue a summer of forced proximity, glittering drama, secret makeouts behind hedges, and a rapidly unraveling plan to keep things ✨platonic✨. As feelings get real, so get Auggie’s thoughts. Can he follow his heart, ditch the crown, and rewrite his own story or is love just not in his royal script?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Enemies to lovers? Check. Grumpy meets sunshine? Double check. Scandal, (royal) sass and falling hard for the man who ‘was not to be the one’? Absolutely. Expect good old slow-burn swoons and above all, an amazing feel-good romcom! Happy pride!

Thanks to Hayden Stone (@haydenstoneauthor), Xpresso Book Tours, and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read and review ‘How to Date a Prince’ before its official publication on July 15

Firstly: GORGEOUS cover!!!

How to Date a Prince is a romcom about a British prince and an American-British influencer. After their first akward encounter at a party, the king signs his son up for a reality TV show — something that doesn't sound like something Harry would actually do, LOL.

Everything is told from the prince's point of view, which might not have been the wisest choice because he is an annoying twat. (just waited for my chance to say that) I had hoped that he would become less idiotic as the novel progressed, but I found myself becoming increasingly annoyed.

The novel was ok but not overly great. I wished we had a dual POV.

If RWRB and The Charm Offensive had a trashy baby then this is the result. While not perfect, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down. I binge-read this just like a reality TV show, so addictive.

I am an absolute sucker for imperfect characters and this book delivered. Auggie is stubborn and frustrating at the best of times, but particularly for the reader. His fear and insecurities were not magically fixed for the sake of the plot and it genuinely felt like a real-world interaction of a deeply closeted queer person.

3.5 ⭐️
- Crown Prince/American Celebrity
- Forbidden Romance
- Closeted MMC
- Forced Proximity
- Reality TV Show Setting
- Miscommunication
- Hurt/Comfort

A book that was slightly too long and could have been edited down a bit further. I had some issues with overuse of contractures and some plot inconsistencies, particularly with the British Monarchy, but was able to easily overlook them and enjoy the overall story.

Thank-you to NetGalley for providing an ARC to review. This is my honest opinion.