So, I’m a bit disappointed because I only read the first book to prepare for this ARC — and I ended up liking the first one a lot more than this. Now, I did prefer certain aspects here. For example, Orson knows right from the beginning that Flo is a prince, and he handles it really well. Plus, the level of communication between them is great.

But… it also kind of made it boring. There wasn’t as much tension between the characters. In the first book, they were enemies — and that naturally creates way more tension. Here, it was more of a strangers-to-friends-to-lovers arc. And, listen, friends-to-lovers isn’t a bad trope, but when it’s strangers-to-friends-to-lovers, I just don’t enjoy it as much.

It’s different when the characters already have history together — that makes the friendship stage richer. But if it’s just “Oh, we just became friends and now we’re in love,” it starts to feel insta-lovey. And in this case… it kind of was.

That said, it was cute. Very cute, actually. I’ll give it that. But there just wasn’t much going on. Even the whole press subplot was pushed to the very end and didn’t really amount to much.

There was basically no conflict at all — and even though I’m usually not a fan of conflict, in this case, I think it was needed.

DNF at 30% unfortunately, as the characters felt unfleshed out and wooden, and very little ever seemed to happen. Much happened offscreen and weird time jumps happened every other chapter, and the whole book felt very disjointed and confused.

4/5⭐️

This is book two in Prince Pact series. This is a MM rom com that features two roommates, Floris the Dutch Prince, who’s charming, witty and outgoing and Orson the roommate who’s analytical, meticulous, and an engineering student.

This is my first book by Nora Phoenix and this definitely will not be the last. By the blurb I was super excited to read this, and I was not disappointed! And who doesn’t love a good roommates trope?!

I loved this story so much. I thought it was super cute, heartwarming, and fun. I thought the writing was easy to read and the pace was great so everything flowed well. I was entertained the entire time and I read this all in one sitting.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between both of the MCs. With both of them teaching and learning something from each other. Floris teaching Orson how to live, and Orson introducing him to a different way of living. I loved the fact that this book had no third act break up. They stayed with each other even when times got hard.

I can’t wait to read more from this series!

Thank you so much Boldwood Books, NetGalley, and Nora Phoenix, for sending me this arc for an honest review ❤️

Sweet, but with little relationship building, no stakes and then smut. 2.5/5

I'll start off by saying I read the first book in the series, The Prince and the Player and enjoyed it for the most part, so I was interested to continue the series with the one openly gay prince in the group.

The book starts out with Floris, an openly gay Dutch prince, discussing his plan to fulfill the "Prince Pact" he and his friends made in the first book to live life as ordinary college students in America where they will be less likely to be recognized. Early on in this second book, which focuses on Floris' story, it is eluded to that something fabricated happened while he was in London that made headlines that put him in a negative light. Without going into detail, this mysterious tabloid story is the closest thing the book has to a problem and its revealed towards the beginning of the book.

To keep my criticisms short, Floris needed more flushing out to be more than a well polished, quick witted, sometimes forgetful, type B Prince Charming. Orson was a little more flushed out than just a standard type A personality, who seemingly overcame is qualms fairly easily. Their relationship, and the book for the most part, takes place in their dorm room with a few other settings and with limited interactions. During the few occasions when they are not in their dorm ie a coffee shop or on a boat, they're discussing Floris being a prince in public, like no one could possibly overhear them which immediately took me out of the story.

Did I like the book? Yes, but I wish there was more depth to the characters and the building of their relationship. More than, "he's cute and it's becoming distracting and I can be myself around him," without ever building any sort of foundation.

So, if you're looking for an easily read with a gay prince, little to no stakes or stress on their relationship and lots of smut, you'll enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for a review.

This was the second book in the series. Though I would consider this a standalone. I was excited to get this book. I was looking forward to reading Floris' book. He was a Dutch prince who wanted to escape his loyal duties for the year. He decided on an American college in Massachusetts.  His roommate, Orson, was a cute graduate student informed of Floris' identity. The friendship between them was refreshing and sweet. Their love story was cute. I liked that there was no third-act breakup or drama. Overall,  it was a sweet love story.  I'm looking forward to the next book! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

I absolutely love this series, and these 2 are by far my favourites so far.

Flores, the Prince of Netherlands just wants to go to America and be a normal college kid, blend in and have people not look at him. And then he is roomed with Orson, a straight a student who thinks that he has something to prove.

What follows is an unexpected love story in the most unlikely of places, where they both end up saving each other.

Everything about this book was just perfect.

NORA PHOENIX – PRINCE MATERIAL ***
Although I enjoyed this story, it seemed very derivative. I’ve read very similar stories before. The main characters, a Dutch prince and an American boy roommate he meets at university are likeable, but nothing really happens. Perhaps I am bored with this scenario now, having read so many variations on the theme.
There’s nothing wrong with the writing. I have read and enjoyed her books before.
With a story so slight - the only tension comes from the paparazzi, and will their union get revealed before they are ready – it is padded out with a couple of long, blow by blow, sex scenes, which stop the story dead when it needs to be carried along.
I’m sorry I didn’t enjoy it more. Next time perhaps.

A very sweet MM romance. who doesn't love a royal romance story. The relationship and characters are very sweet. This is a smutty book, so not ya. I really loved the story this book told.

I was pleasantly surprised by how cosy and low-drama this read was. Prince Floris next kept his identity a secret from his roommate and blossoming love interest, Orson which meant there was no need for a big, dramatic reveal of a hidden identity. Floris is also openly gay so this book is free from characters being outed (there is a very minor scene of a peripheral character coming-out towards the end of the book but that is completely on their own terms).

I felt as though the romance was a little slow initially and would have appreciated slightly more yearning but overall Phoenix did a good job of establishing a mutual attraction between the characters and it felt organic when their friendship developed into more. I am a big fan of romances where characters are able to come into their own and achieve their goals through the support of their partner which we saw happening for Orson.

Overall a sweet and enjoyable read and I look forward to reading the rest of the Prince Pact series.

This was an adorable sequel that improved on my (few) issues with the first book! My main issue with the first book was that in a certain part of it, the characters acted in ways that no human being ever has in history -- it was still a four star read, but that did knock it down. This book, however, keeps the characters feeling very real and grounded throughout, with all the conflict and resolution feeling very reasonable for characters with their backgrounds and personalities.

This was so fun and lighthearted, and I liked all the little details that were included to make the characters feel realistic and unique. The details about Orson's family life especially made him feel like a living, breathing person that I wanted to know more about.

The only thing that felt a bit off was the references to the events of the first book (which are happening simultaneously to this one), when I don't remember there being references to this plot while reading the first book. It made them feel a little disconnected. I could be misremembering, however, and it didn't detract from my reading experience.

I can't wait for the rest of this series!

2.5 stars rounded up

As a European student studying in an American University, I liked Floris from page one, international students need to support each other lol. They even mentioned a university I'm considering for my master's 🤯. That's where the similarities end, my psychology courses are nothing like whatever the main characters were studying and talking about in this book, that's for sure. If you had asked me before reading whether I’d be interested in water management, I would have said, absolutely not. Now, after hearing them talk about civil engineering and the importance of the math behind the work with such passion, I'm about 5% more interested in it, which, I assure you, is an accomplishment. My ignorance also means that I've no idea how accurate any of what they said was, and same goes for all the Dutch cultural references. It all sounded reasonable to me, so I was happy with that.

I will say though, the book and the characters might have benefited from a few more chapters at the beginning to set the story, perhaps showing more little, casual interactions between Floris and Orson, while Floris explored university life and met the friends that were briefly mentioned but never really developed as friendships. That would have made the characters feel more real and made it more plausible when they started opening up to each other about their lives. The shift from roommates to friends to lovers felt rushed and not earned, I guess. Theoretically, they spent many months just being friends, but we were there for too little of it for the shift to have the proper impact.

While I appreciated how healthy, open, and genuine their relationship was, I wish we could have seen more of them as people. They had backstories, but they still didn't feel like well flashed-out people who could exist outside of the moments we spent with them, if it makes sense. Also, by the end I noticed I didn't care about their relationship as much as I would have liked. It had potential but it needed more.

This was cute and cozy. It gave me Red, White, and Royal Blue vibes but make it Dutch! Prince Floris of the Netherlands escapes tabloid drama by spending a year at an American college, where he meets Orson, a serious engineering student from New Orleans.

There were a few things I liked and a few things I didn't like. I liked that they communicated like adults. Their relationship also builds slowly. The side characters had distinct personalities and added to the story. I love the glimpses into Dutch culture.

There were times that it felt a little boring. It's low-stakes so it will appeal to a certain audience. There's a lot of info dumping and telling, not showing. Some things cringed me out but some were actually funny.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a cute and quick read! I love how the characters communicated so well. The setting was great, making me want to escape to New England. I love how Floris helped Orson expand his horizon. I'm excited to continue this series!

Cute romance between a Danish prince, who has come to the US for a year of college (& to get away from the reporters back home) and an engineering student from New Orleans.

It's an easy and enjoyable read, although there's nothing here you haven't read before. The main characters were interesting and fit together nicely. The side characters (parents, siblings) were all unique and fun as well.

Arc received by NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a fair review

5 stars

Yes this book gave me the exact same vibes as Red, White & Royal Blue but make it Dutch. I loved Floris and Orson's relationship and connection and how they were emotionally mature. I also cried religiously at any emotion and sweet moments so Nora Phoenix, this 3rd book better ruin my world like this one

This is a very sweet, low angst, low stakes, Royal/college romance. While I did appreciate the great communication and no drama between the couple- it felt almost too easy?

It’s a fine line to represent healthy realistic relationships and still be entertained in a book and unfortunately I was just a bit bored. The press finding out about them is a threat but is handled swiftly and without fanfare once the couple is discovered. There is also a lot of telling and not as much showing as I would have liked, especially when they are developing their relationship.

Also, there is a lot, and I mean a lot of water management and historic building restoration talk in this book- if you find that remotely interesting you will be pleased!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⋆˚࿔ 4.25 stars⋆˚࿔

“You’re more like one those historic buildings. Complex layers under a carefully maintained facade”

I think there is a special place in my bookish heart for any types of royal romance, that usually have some European prince and then the other guy is more American.

*cough, cough*
Red, White & Royal Blue
*cough, cough*

This book is very very very very cute. I loved the characters in a lot. We are put into a college setting, where our Dutch prince Floris wants to starting living a “normal life” and wants to get away from the drama and negative publicity that is going on in his home country. Orson is his new roommate, who is very devoted to his studies in engineering. When I say devoted, man is devoted. He does this for a good reason and wants to make his family proud after a sad loss.

I really liked this book, the writing style was simple and easy to read, but in an away that it kept me in and kept me engaging. There relationship even before confessing feelings was so wholesome and so cute. They kept everything very casual, even though Floris is royalty. They acted very normal with each other, which worked greatly for the book.

At times there were these dry and lowkey cringe jokes and humor, but it was perfect for this book, due to how it was set up. Now, my favorite part of this book is the communication, I loved it, literally right after something big for their relationship happened and there was concerned bought up, they discussed it and were very understanding, no running around stuff. I also really liked how there was discuss with pressure and guilt from family on Orson side.

One thing I would say is that it is a shorter book, which did lead to their actually romance and them falling in love seeming to happen a bit quickly. This did feel a bit off, but at the same time it wasn’t that noticeable.

⋆˚࿔ Thank you to NetGalley, Nora Phoenix and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. ⋆˚࿔

I need to start off by saying that Nora Phoenix is always a must read author of mine! I simply love all her books and this one did not disappoint.

This is the second book in what looks like a four book series. I love the premise of European princes wanting to experience a little bit of a normal life in America where people are less likely to recognize them. I especially love learning little bits of culture from each country the prince comes from within each book.

Overall, this was a sweet, low angst, story. A quick read for me. Very enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Nora Phoenix for the advanced copy. I am voluntarily leaving this review.

This is the second book in this series of college-prince romances. Prince Floris of the Netherlands decides to spend part of his undergraduate degree in America, seeking some much-needed anonymity after a tabloid-fueled media disaster. He meets Orson, a studious and very serious roommate, and sparks fly.

The plot of this book is straightforward - the two boys work through their differences, fight their demons, and decide that life together brings the happiness they’ve always wanted. There is some conflict, but rarely between the boys and more through their specific circumstances and life histories. The stakes never truly feel very high - this is more of a cosy read.

Floris and Orson are decently drawn characters: not particularly complex, but lived-in enough to make you care for them and their relationship. There is some spice in this, which is tastefully done.

If you are looking for an easy-going and sweet MM romance, you can’t go wrong with this book. There is a lovely Christmas scene, making it perfect for a winter-season read. I look forward to reading the next book in this series, which will feature yet another prince and his HEA. Thanks to the publisher and the author for providing this ARC.

Honestly, I must say I loved this book. It was so addicting that I read it in one day. I loved Floris and Orson both as individual characters and as a couple. An added plus was there was no third act break up. I can’t wait to read more books by this author.