Massive thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for gifting me with this ARC in exchange for my review!

Prince Material is a fluffy and sweet dual POV m/m queer romcom with a royal twist and the second in the Prince Pact series, though it works perfectly well as a standalone, which is how I read it.

Meet Floris: tall, blonde, handsome, charming and oh yeah, the nephew of the King of the Netherlands. While that all sounds dreamy, he's desperate for a bit of normalcy after getting caught up in a tabloid scandal not of his own fault. So the obvious solution is to ship off to the States for an "average American" college experience at a technical school in Massachusetts to work on his engineering degree and relax a bit. Enter Orson, Floris' foil - a nerdy and hardworking grad student with some trauma he channels into his school assignments.

Things I enjoyed about this book:
⭐️ Perfect for fall reading as it takes place during back to school season! A great book to cozy up with on the couch and a steaming beverage on the weekend.
⭐️ The spice is spicing and the banter is on target! If you like a lot of snark and sass in your main characters, Florin and Orson deliver on that front in spades. It's sometimes used to cover secrets and vulnerability, which is a downside, but it's cute.
⭐️ The friends/roommates to lovers trope works here and is believable.
⭐️ Queer love is celebrated and accepted - there's a delightful lack of homophobia from our main characters' friends and family. While homophobia is a fact of the world we live in, sometimes it's nice to live in a world where our main characters don't have to struggle for acceptance with people closest to them so they can focus on other character development. We see both of our main characters' friends and families be accepting of their sexuality and love off the bat.
⭐️ Some fun references and education on Dutch culture.

Elements that didn't quite work for me/places for improvement:
⭐️ While described for fans of Red, White & Royal Blue, this book didn't quite have the depth of Casey McQuiston's work, but it does certainly scratch that same itch!
⭐️ The conversations are a bit too familiar and intense off the bat - Floris talks to Orson like friends would speak to each other after a few years, not a few weeks.
⭐️ The book reads a bit insta-love and both of the characters have an instant comfort and attraction that I think isn't quite realistic. There was likely a development of friendship/relationship off page, but I think the book could have benefited from exploring more of that and giving both main characters time to build the tension.
⭐️ I liked the glimpses we got of New Orleans, but there were real opportunities to dive into some more of the culture and history, especially given the plethora of references to Hurricane Katrina. I would have liked if the author would have spent at least a little bit more time educating the reader about what happened with Katrina - it reads very "skimmed over" and it shouldn't be!
⭐️ There are some inconsistencies that need to be worked out, especially in the spicy scenes - I hope this was hammered out in editing! It was distracting to have to make some logical jumps about positioning or logistics.

I had fun with this lighthearted little romp but I prefer a bit more depth and sophistication in my romcoms. Ultimately I would recommend this to folks who are looking for a fluffy queer book with a royal element, especially if you're looking to escape and turn off your brain for a while!

TW: death of parent, grief, natural disaster/hurricane, a bit of homophobia (from outside sources), mentions of sexual harassment/assault (happens off page).

Opposites attack in this sweet cutesy read. It was a fun, quick and charming read which I got through at a lightning pace.

Orson and Floris have great chemistry right from the start. The friendship group of princes are a supportive network which it’s great to have in the book to bolster Floris in his desire to try to live a normal life and in his attempts to survive the press and the pressures of being royal. It was interesting reading about how Dutch water management works and it was clear the author must have done quite a lot of research to write about that so expertly, which was good as it gave Floris believability as a Dutch Civil Engineering Student. I particularly liked the injections of humour into the plot and often found myself chuckling at something Orson, Floris or one of the other princes had said. I loved how Floris and Orson communicated about their varying levels of experience and what they were comfortable doing together sexually for their first sexual experience together and that they had open honest communication about this from the start. Also more m/m romances nowadays seem to be mentioning PrEP and it’s good to see the publicity for PrEP in the fiction landscape. Overall this was an enjoyable, light read that reminded me of Casey McQuiston‘s Red, White and Royal Blue which is one of my favourite books or the movie the Prince and Me so it was a great choice of book for me and I was delighted to read this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review on Netgalley.

I’m really liking the Prince Pact series by Nora Phoenix! Prince Material is book 2 in the interconnected series and follows Floris, the Prince of the Netherlands as he ventures to the United States to get away from the press. He ends up roommates with Orson, who’s extremely dedicated to his studies and making his father’s sacrifice worth it. Together they build each other up as they slowly get to know each other. This is a sweet slowburn romance and I loved every minute of it!

This book was like catnip for me! I couldn’t put it down. Floris and Orson are just so fun and so sweet! You are rooting for them from page 1!

Nora Phoenix is a great storyteller. I’ve read several of her books, and will continue to read more.

They’re a slow burn, friends to lovers, story. It’s fun to watch Floris breakdown Orson’s rigidity and walls.

This is a fun series and I look forward to continuing it.

Well, aren't these Princes just wonderful.

This one gave me a bit of a The Prince And Me vibe (with a little bit of "Mork calling Orson, come in Orson call to my soul)

It took a bit for me to warm up to both our lovelies, but in the end, that was how our guys were.

I also learned a lot more about water management than I expected hahaha

Their friendship is a slow burn, as everything really is with them. But again it is perfect for them. I loved how their families became entwined through their friendship. And Floris' family was not what I was expecting of a royal family, which was lovely.

It was cute and adorable. Now I need to see who we get next.

I was so happy when book 2 in this series was announced I was lucky to arc read prince and the player and absolutely fell in love, so happy I got the privilege to read book 2 it was amazing loved everything about it, orsons story was just so heartbreaking but still continuing to push through it all and try and make a future out of helping make things better was great, Tia was one of my favorite characters she was just so precious her and Orson and Diana’s relationship was so beautiful to see a glimpse in it, meeting Floris again was so amazing it never felt like it was randomly thrown together timeline wise book 1 and 2 felt very fleshed out and together the relationship and connection between floris and orson was just so cute, floris taking the time with orson while letting him breathe and get used to the attraction of something he was not used to was so great to see it was such a pleasure to read this and see the continuing development of the series can’t wait for book 3🥰

*Prince Material* is a cozy, charming MM romance about a prince seeking a fresh start in college and the roommate he never expected to fall for. The story balances humor, heart, and gentle spice, with Floris and Orson’s slow-burn friendship evolving naturally into romance, making it a sweet, feel-good read perfect for fans of lighthearted, contemporary queer rom-coms.

3.5/5

Personally loved the first book in this series more because I am an absolute sucker to the rivals to lovers/grumpy x sunshine tropes, and not into insta-love. However, this was still very cute. The main characters got on so great together, flowing chemistry. Always love Nora's writing, descriptive yet easy to follow and great dialogue. A nice, sweet, enjoyable romance. I look forward to book three!

Floris and Orson are such a beautifully sweet pair. The first book in the prince series was fun this one was cute and very romantic.

The way they handle the differences and similarities of these characters was great. Showing how people can have very different life experiences but connect in the shared experience of struggles and restrictions.

I really enjoyed how important both of the characters studies were described and how the passion they both had for their personal interests wasn't shoved aside.

They slow build of feelings and emotions was sweet, they just felt into a relationship and I enjoyed it all. Looking forward to the next installment.

This was a cute little romance and I really enjoyed it. Floris and Orson make such a cute couple and their banter is really adorable.

I will say that their romance did develop quite quickly and there was basically no conflict, but who doesn’t love an insta-love whirlwind romance?

If you’re looking for a cute, low stakes romance to add to your collection, this is definitely one to grab!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this ARC!

This was such a warm hug of a book with easy approachable writing and characters I think at this instance the prince and the civilian meet and fall in love trope is cute and surprisingly sustains the momentum throughout the book - however the tone can be saccharine sweet at times and everything working out which i mean a HEA in a rom com is hardly a surprise but i think that might be its downfall too. There is a fair bit of repetitiveness to the romance and the central conflict is not big enough for me to care that much. The book does trip and takes the characters a bit out of themselves but brings it back seamlessly. I think because we are inundated with many royal-civilian love stories, this one mind you was nice and easy and cozy to read and pick up but not make much of an impact. However the spice be spicing in this one and more relaxed and real anxieties around sex are addressed and does manage to impart some interesting life lessons amidst of its plot. 3.5

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing an eARC and this is my honest review.

I absolutely loved the storyline! I’ve always adored the “prince meets normal civilian” trope (that counts as a trope, right?), and this book delivered it so well. The fact that Christmas played such a big role in the story made it even more magical. I can definitely see myself rereading it every holiday season.

The ending was so sweet, and I really appreciated how many characters found peace and closure in both love and life. Overall, it’s a charming, heartwarming romance that makes a perfect addition to my Christmas reads collection.

It was wonderful! To be honest I haven’t read the first book, but it was still understandable! I loved the dynamic between the main characters so much!!
Thank you NetGalley!

I loved Prince Material from the moment I picked it up! What a great ride. Thank you for this great addition to the series and I can't wait for more.

Prince Material by Nora Phoenix is the 2nd book in her Prince Pact series. Even though this is the 2nd book, I do think it can work well as a stand-alone. We get tiny snippets related to the 1st book, but I did not think they shared too much.

Prince Material introduces us to Floris and Orson. Floris is trying to get away from a scandal (that really wasn't a scandal) and Orson is doing everything in his power to succeed in his degree. Floris becomes Orson's roommate in the dorms and they build a really strong foundation in their shared interests of engineering and architecture.

Orson and Floris allow themselves to relax around each other and they share their deepest parts with each other. The friendship slowly evolves into a really strong love. It seemed so seamless, in how their relationship developed.

In addition, because Flores and Orson are opposites in a lot of ways they bring out hidden parts of each other.

I really enjoyed this warm hug of a book and I am definitely looking forward to the 3rd book.

Spice: 3/5
Fun: 4.5/5
Overall: 4/5

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing an eARC and this is my honest review.

I just finished the second book in the Prince Pact series, and I can't wait to read the next ones! This book was a cozy and heartwarming read that made me smile the whole time.

The story is a great MM romance with the classic close proximity and friends-to-lovers tropes. It centers on two opposite characters who find a perfect balance together.

First, there's Prince Farron of the Netherlands. He's a really lovable character who knows how to have fun and enjoy life, but he’s still focused on his schoolwork. After a past filled with drama, he just wants a year of freedom from his royal life.

Then there’s Orson, who is basically Farron’s complete opposite. Orson is incredibly focused on his studies and is a total neat freak. His dedication comes from a serious childhood accident that made him feel like he had to live a certain way to honor his father. The fact that he's from New Orleans gave me a little feeling of home, which I loved.

I enjoyed that the author made these two characters roommates. It was so sweet to read about them learning to live together and becoming friends first. They each bring out something in the other that they really need. Farron helps Orson see that life isn't just about studying, and Orson helps Farron with school while treating him like a normal person, not just a prince.

I really liked both of the main characters and their families. This was a fun, feel-good read that just made me happy.

Thank you Boldwood Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own

i found both main characters adorable. i do like how short the book is, but i feel like the pacing was a bit off, missing key time in the story to bulk the relationship. other than that, this was such a cute, low angst read that i really enjoyed! i actually have not read the first book, but now i will definitely go back and read that one too!

What a sweet story about young love!

Set in an American college, this follows Floris, whose uncle just happens to be the king of the Netherlands, and Orson, a studious American from New Orleans. They’re roommates who quickly fall for each other. No secret identities here, Orson already knows Floris’s “prince status”, though the lurking British tabloids (because of course it’s always them 😂) add some drama.

I didn’t read the first book in the series, but this worked perfectly well as a standalone. I really enjoyed the writing style and the lack of a third-act breakup. Floris and Orson were endlessly sweet with each other, and yes, there’s steam too.

It was a bit too slow-paced for me at times, but that might not bother other readers.

Overall, a cute MM love story with some Dutch culture flavour.

3.75/5 ⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my review.

This was a cute read. A worldly, confident, but not arrogant Dutch prince and a nerdy, somewhat insecure middle class American guy fall in love. Their romance built slowly but adorably. As an Englishman living in the US, I also identified with many of the prince’s observations about American culture. This was my first time reading a work by this author; I will try some of her other books also.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.