I really enjoyed this book!
Did we *need* another gay prince romance? Probably not. Did we *deserve* another? Hell yeah we did.
Prince Material was a fun, lighthearted romance. I don't think it was peak literature or groundbreaking in any way, but we deserve more trashy gay romances! This completely fitted the bill. The characters are loveable, with enough depth that I could still connect to them. The plot is the romance, so there isn't much going on outside of that, but that's okay!
I think this book is closer to a 3 star in terms of quality for me, but I've bumped it up to a 4 star because I think telling queer stories is important, and not just perfect ones!

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the DRC.

Overall, this was a cute, lighthearted romcom. If you like your romance books with very little conflict and angst, this is a fine way to pass an afternoon. The writing for the most part was trim and the low action plot moved along speedily. I will say my one gripe about this book is that about half of the dialogue between characters felt like it was written by ChatGPT. It was a little jarring as the internal thoughts of the characters was very much not like this and yet the conversations were weirdly awkward (in an unintentional way).

This was a very cute romcom overall. I somehow missed the mention that it would be "spicy," however, so there were some sections I ended up skipping over. But I loved the rest of the story, and I think readers who enjoy a good dose of spice will also love it!

This was such a cute read

Our story follows Prince Floris, who moves to small town massachusetts to live a "normal" life after a scandal. He meets his roommate Orson who is the exact opposite of him: serious and studious.

But they become friends, then transition to lovers and i loved it.


I appreciated the pacing of the book because I felt like it matched the characters and their journey. I personally loved when the setting moved to New Orleans and talked about Katrina and how Orson deals with the aftermath of the trauma .

thank you to netgalley for the arc, all opinions are my own.

👑✨ PRINCE MATERIAL ✨👑
by Nora Phoenix
📖 Pub Date: 9/12/25 | Boldwood Books

What happens when you stick a charming Dutch prince and a bookish engineering student in the same dorm room? 🏰📚 Apparently, magic. ✨

This laugh-out-loud MM rom-com is everything I wanted:
💙 royal romance meets roommates-to-lovers
💙 awkward cultural differences (in the cutest ways)
💙 soft, sweet intimacy with just enough spice 🌶️
💙 found family vibes + supportive parents (!!)
💙 NO third act breakup (I screamed in relief 🙌)

Floris is running from scandal and trying to live a “normal” life in America. Orson is laser-focused on school and not about to be distracted until Floris breaks through his walls in the most adorkable way. Cue chemistry, banter, and chef’s kiss emotional tension.

Think Red, White & Royal Blue, but quieter, cozier, and full of New Orleans food, architecture, and heart. 🌇🍤

This is a fast, feel-good read that made me smile the entire time. If you’re craving:
🌈 MM romance
🏠 forced proximity + college vibes
👑 royalty with no angsty family drama
🥹 a wholesome dynamic that still brings the heat…
You’re going to want to grab this one.

💭 QOTD: Would YOU date royalty if you had the chance? Or would all the rules and scrutiny make it a no-go?

#PrinceMaterial #NoraPhoenix #RomComReads #MMRomance #LGBTQRomance #RoommatesToLovers #RoyalRomance #Bookstagram #RomanticComedy #ForcedProximity #SpicyRomance #BoldwoodBooks #FeelGoodReads

<b>Cool, calm, confident, caring Prince x anxious, neurotic mess of a nerd with the biggest heart? Yes please. </b>

This was such a <i>lovely</i> read. 

I really enjoyed the more unique choice of main characters here. Their backgrounds, their interests felt fresh and thoughtfully done. I also loved that this wasn’t one of those predictable secret identity stories where you can see the third act breakup coming from page one. Quite the opposite: Floris was completely upfront with Orson about who he was from the very start, and I really appreciated that honesty. It made their connection feel a lot more solid and mature.

Both of them really grew on me. Orson is a little stiff at first, very focused on his studies, but as we get to know him better, it all makes so much sense. And Floris was the absolute perfect match for him with his sunshine attitude, his endless patience, and his earnest affection. They made such a strong, steady couple with so much gentle, open, honest communication about their feelings and expectations and boundaries and I just… ugh, <i>swoon.</i>

Also, I felt Floris in my soul with how he wanted to kiss Orson whenever he got nerdy about stuff that mattered to him. Same, Floris. Same. There’s just nothing more attractive and beautiful than someone lighting up while talking about their passions. 

One of the things I enjoyed most (besides the romance) was how much I unexpectedly learned along the way. Water management, flood prevention, and civil engineering? Not even remotely on my radar, but this book made it seem so fascinating! The Dutch Delta Works? Absolutely mind-blowing! I’m now armed with quite a few <i>‘Did you know…?!’</i> facts, ready to annoy everyone around me. I’m sorry in advance.

On top of that, I loved all the food talk and the exploration of cultural differences throughout the book. And the chunk of the story set in New Orleans was an absolute highlight for me.

The beginning was a bit slow, but honestly, it suited these characters well. This story was all about the tentative steps of friendship first - gentle, careful, believable - and I loved the slow progression into something more. That said, I did feel like the story could have benefitted from slightly higher emotional stakes in the second half, just to give us a bit more to root for. As it was, things fizzled out a little towards the end, while the wrap-up in the epilogue felt oddly rushed.  

Still, this was such a sweet, heartwarming addition to the series - <b>which I enjoyed much more than book one</b> - and I’m honestly so curious to see where the next book will take us!


<i>Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the chance to read this ARC. This is my honest opinion.</i>

'Prince Material' is an easy, low-angst read following two unlikely roommates who each bring their own emotional baggage to the story.

My feelings about it are mixed: while I appreciate books that skip the unnecessary third-act breakup drama, and I'm glad to see healthy communication throughout (which there's plenty of), I found myself wanting more dynamic development in their relationship. There's still a bit of a cliche here that I wish the book had subverted or at least gone against the grain: the playboy prince - more or less indiscreet with his numerous hookups - and the studious college student who is working out some family trauma. They both meet and pretty much fall into instant love after a short bit of denial and hiding.

Yet both Orson and Floris talk things through well (and they do remain quite steadfastly together throughout), but their romantic progression did feel predictable and could have used more compelling twists or maybe gone with higher emotional stakes to keep things a little more...moistly exciting.

*ARC by the publisher via Netgalley

Thank you Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. This was super cute! This story follows Prince Floris, one of four European princes, who hi are friends, that made a pact to live life like “commoners” for a year. Since they are further down the line of succession they aren’t as well known outside of Europe so they plan to take these normal life years in America. Floris is at a small college in Massachusetts. He meets is roommate Orson who is very studious as has no time for friends or fun. Though he does know who Floris is and doesn’t seem to care too much. Orson’s family went through a tragedy, Hurricane Katrina, that was bough devastating for his home town New Orleans and for his family itself. Now Orson is trying to be worthy of the sacrifice that was made for him. He can only do this but studying hard and becoming a Civil Engineer, though that’s not where his heart is. As the two spend time together their feelings grow and when an emergency happens those feelings become physical. But will Orson stay once he realizes what the press is like? Will Orson be good enough for Floris world? Floris is trying to prove he’s not who the press makes him out to be. Orson’s stuck between who he wants to be with the Prince who makes him happy and who he is supposed to be, who the sacrifice needs him to be. Nora Phoenix’s latest is cute, charming, funny, sexy, spicy, and incredibly sweet! I loved both Orson and Floris and their families! A wonderful second book in the Prince Pact series and I can’t wait to see what’s next!

Floris is the first openly gay prince in Europe and he falls for Orson when in college in America....

Lots of chemistry between the leads. Love both characters. It's great how supportive all the family members and friends are. We need more hopeful books like these during such dark times. The academic setting is wonderfully portrayed. Love the educational stuff in the book too. Terrific romance.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

I am struggling to articulate just how brilliant this is. It isn't just a story; it's an education disguised as a page-turner, seamlessly weaving in complex concepts of engineering, architecture, international relations, and cultural intrigue. However, what truly sets it apart is its unflinching portrayal of relationships. Forget the sugar-coated fluff; this dives deep into the messy, complicated reality of modern dating, filled with authentic conversations and a maturity rarely seen in contemporary fiction. Honestly, it was a challenge to review because it's unlike anything I've ever encountered, and I'm still processing the depth and impact it had on me. Definitely a must-read for those seeking substance and a fresh perspective.

A very sweet romantic MM romance. Both MMC’s are likeable and the book follows how their relationship develops with moderate and relevant spice. There are no surprises and no twists and turns, but it is a very cosy romantic read. 3.5⭐️

⋆˙⟡♡This was deliciously charming!

It was weirdly so relatable, especially because i have a civil engineering degree - so it was so fun reading about their college experience and what they were learning. Be warned: there’s a lot of talk about engineering. I personally found it interesting, so I didn’t mind, but it did play a huge part in the story.𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡

Floris and Orson were both delightful characters to read! They had a sort of dry cheesy humor that would usually make me cringe, but with the setting and tone of the book, it worked? There were so many minute aspects of the story that i appreciated - No secrets between them, they helped each other in their own ways , like Floris nudging Orson from his shell or Orson with his silent protective nature for Floris. There were also many conversations about consent, boundaries, and just clear communication (so refreshing).

It had a Prince Charming vibe, reminiscent of Disney movies, with very supportive families and cute moments of traveling and sightseeing! ⋆⁺₊❅。 but i did feel like the love part came too fast. they had an adorable transition from friends to lovers but it didn’t feel strong enough for them to be in-love you know? it’s probably just me. But it was still a cute read, easy to get into, with the perfect amount of spice🪽°<3.𖥔 ݁ ˖🤍

Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and author Nora Phoenix for providing me with the eARC of “Prince Material”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: September 12th, 2025
Reviewed on Goodreads: July 18th, 2025

5 stars! This was such a fun and easy read for me!

Perfect if you love:
- MM romance
- Royal romance
- College romance

Floris is a Dutch prince, who has recently started attending a college in the United States. He is on a journey to discover what it is like to live a “normal life”, while also seeking refuge from the negative publicity he has been receiving following an incident back home.
Orson is his new roommate. A devoted engineering student from New Orleans, determined to make his family proud after a devastating loss.
Orson doesn’t have time for distractions, and the last thing Floris wants is to be involved in another scandal, but the two just can’t seem to stay away from each other.

How CUTE!
This reminded me quite a lot of “Red, White & Royal Blue”. So if you liked that, I think you would like this as well!
Floris and Orson? Great together.
The way they support each other, the way they share culture, the sweetness. Everything.
I am also very happy to report that there is no third act breakup.

I really loved how casual things were, despite Floris being a prince.
They got on quite normally, and I think it worked really well with the story.

I also loved the support they both got from their families!
I am usually prepared for royal romances to have some major family complications involved- but this was very relaxed and all-around wholesome.

The New Orleans vibes are great, as I am a sucker for a good setting.
Although the entire story didn’t take place there- it discusses things like food, architecture, and culture which I thought was so fun.

Really great overall. It is quite short and fast-paced, perfect for a quick read. I would totally recommend it.