Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
NA Contemporary Romance
St. Martin’s Griffin | May 14, 2019
About the Book:
A big-hearted romantic comedy in which First Son Alex falls in love with Prince Henry of Wales after an incident of international proportions forces them to pretend to be best friends…
First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz is the closest thing to a prince this side of the Atlantic. With his intrepid sister and the Veep’s genius granddaughter, they’re the White House Trio, a beautiful millennial marketing strategy for his mother, President Ellen Claremont. International socialite duties do have downsides—namely, when photos of a confrontation with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations.
The plan for damage control: staging a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince. Alex is busy enough handling his mother’s bloodthirsty opponents and his own political ambitions without an uptight royal slowing him down. But beneath Henry’s Prince Charming veneer, there’s a soft-hearted eccentric with a dry sense of humor and more than one ghost haunting him.
As President Claremont kicks off her reelection bid, Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret relationship with Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations. And Henry throws everything into question for Alex, an impulsive, charming guy who thought he knew everything: What is worth the sacrifice? How do you do all the good you can do? And, most importantly, how will history remember you?
Alright, so where do I even start. I’ve literally just put the book down, but I feel like if I don’t write my thoughts down now, I’ll forget all these feelings I have running through me.
Red, White & Royal Blue has been on my radar since before it’s publication. I tried for an ARC, but was declined. Obviously I was disappointed, but not so much anymore. I’m thrilled I was forced to buy this book in print.
I’ve read better romance novels for sure, still, Red, White & Royal Blue offered me more than just a romance. Casey McQuiston gave me an alternate reality, with the 2016 election resulting in a progressive woman president, and not sticking us with Trump. It didn’t even hit me until the end that this story technically started at the 2016 elections, but once it did I was enamored. I want that family in control of our country!
I would have been behind Alex and his family 110%!
President Ellen Claremont was a strong president, who was also a good mother and wife. She was Feminist with a capitol F. I adored her so much. I’m just a reader, and she made me feel strong and powerful.
She wasn’t the only female character worth admiring. Casey McQuston wrote a M/M romance novel full of strong women. I don’t know if it’s because of our own political climate, but I was invested in this fictional election term.
I also loved the closeness of the main core group of characters. Alex, June and Nora had a close bond that I envied, and it was only made better when Henry, Bea and Pez joined them. (I also secretly hope we get more from Pez.)
AND, maybe Alex and Henry weren’t my favorite romance, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t good. Red, White & Royal Blue provided me exactly what I like in my romance. There were two people who fell in love organically, without too much drama (even when there should have been). It was about two guys who slowly fell in love, and then held onto each other no matter how hard it got.
It was a story about love, but it was also a story about family. It was about obligation vs happiness. It took me weeks to read, not because I was bored…
but because I didn’t want it to end.
Birdie Bookworm 
Uhhhh I’ve seen this book around so much it’s insane!!! Nice review (Y)
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It was really good, and it was definitely a popular ARC out there. I haven’t looked this time, so I’m not sure what others are saying. 🙂
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Great review! I’ve seen this book everywhere!
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Thank you! It was a lot of fun to read!
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