napkins's review against another edition
4.0
It's always really refreshing in romance novels when the characters involved actually have discussions about their hesitations and issues, instead of just kind of sitting on them. It makes room for the rest of the tensions to actually have weight and I'm not sitting there going "Just talk to each other!"
The end felt a little abrupt, but overall, a really great royal/commoner romance.
The end felt a little abrupt, but overall, a really great royal/commoner romance.
amymarsdenauthor's review against another edition
5.0
This is the fourth royal romance I've ever read (the others being Her Royal Highness and Once Upon a Princess, both of which I liked and Red, White and Royal Blue, which I didn't) and it's become my favourite! Nell Stark is a fantastic writer, I'll definitely be checking out more of her work.
I liked both Sasha and Kerry, and I enjoyed the way their story unfolded. I really felt for Sasha during the speech at the museum! I also enjoy the ending, which is a bonus as some romances I've read have had quite weak finales.
I liked both Sasha and Kerry, and I enjoyed the way their story unfolded. I really felt for Sasha during the speech at the museum! I also enjoy the ending, which is a bonus as some romances I've read have had quite weak finales.
angieinbooks's review against another edition
4.0
The Princess Affair was such a wonderful surprise. This is the royal romance I had hoped to find in Red, White & Royal Blue but didn't, so I'm more than happy that I found this novel.
Okay, so any novel where a British royal is paired with a commoner or any American is going to require a lot of suspension of disbelief, and that's definitely required here and it's honestly not very natural for me to do, but a good writer will make it happen, and Nell Stark deserves kudos for managing to do just that. Because in this novel, we have Princess Alexandra, aka Sasha, who's second in line to the British throne and Kerry Donovan, an Irish-American Catholic lesbian and daughter of a roofer, paired here.
Sasha Carlisle, or "Sassy Sasha" as she's known to the media, a bit of a disappointment and a disaster. She's also a lesbian and very few people, including her father, know. And it hasn't quite been a problem for Sasha, a consummate party girl, as she's content with her no-strings sexual encounters. And when she first meets Kerry Donovan, that's exactly what she's after.
Kerry Donovan has just arrived in Oxford, where she'll be doing graduate work as a Rhode's Scholar. So she's brilliant and driven, but she's also a nobody from a blue collar town just outside of New York City. And when she finds herself the object of Sasha's attention, it's a lot to process, especially when Sasha takes her to a private room at the club to make out and then who knows what. Because even though their kiss is interrupted before it goes anywhere else, Kerry knows what Sasha wanted and knows she would have given it to her. Kerry's more than a little surprised at her behaviour and vows it's a one-off. She'll never see Sasha again, so whatever. It's just a small little blip in her life, but she's in Oxford to study and that's exactly what she plans to do. Sasha has different plans...
I really loved everything about this romance. Sasha and Kerry come from completely different worlds but they both hold on to fundamental insecurities that complement the other's strengths. So they're actually quite balanced and equal, despite the fact that Sasha the King of England's second-born child. And they communicate with each other while they try to navigate whatever their relationship is. Even when it gets angsty or either Kerry or Sasha gets insecure, they talk through those moments. And that counts for a lot with me.
I just really enjoyed this and will probably read it again. And maybe I'll bump this up to 5 stars. Who knows?
Okay, so any novel where a British royal is paired with a commoner or any American is going to require a lot of suspension of disbelief, and that's definitely required here and it's honestly not very natural for me to do, but a good writer will make it happen, and Nell Stark deserves kudos for managing to do just that. Because in this novel, we have Princess Alexandra, aka Sasha, who's second in line to the British throne and Kerry Donovan, an Irish-American Catholic lesbian and daughter of a roofer, paired here.
Sasha Carlisle, or "Sassy Sasha" as she's known to the media, a bit of a disappointment and a disaster. She's also a lesbian and very few people, including her father, know. And it hasn't quite been a problem for Sasha, a consummate party girl, as she's content with her no-strings sexual encounters. And when she first meets Kerry Donovan, that's exactly what she's after.
Kerry Donovan has just arrived in Oxford, where she'll be doing graduate work as a Rhode's Scholar. So she's brilliant and driven, but she's also a nobody from a blue collar town just outside of New York City. And when she finds herself the object of Sasha's attention, it's a lot to process, especially when Sasha takes her to a private room at the club to make out and then who knows what. Because even though their kiss is interrupted before it goes anywhere else, Kerry knows what Sasha wanted and knows she would have given it to her. Kerry's more than a little surprised at her behaviour and vows it's a one-off. She'll never see Sasha again, so whatever. It's just a small little blip in her life, but she's in Oxford to study and that's exactly what she plans to do. Sasha has different plans...
I really loved everything about this romance. Sasha and Kerry come from completely different worlds but they both hold on to fundamental insecurities that complement the other's strengths. So they're actually quite balanced and equal, despite the fact that Sasha the King of England's second-born child. And they communicate with each other while they try to navigate whatever their relationship is. Even when it gets angsty or either Kerry or Sasha gets insecure, they talk through those moments. And that counts for a lot with me.
I just really enjoyed this and will probably read it again. And maybe I'll bump this up to 5 stars. Who knows?
hartd's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. I enjoyed the first part of this book a great deal. It was ridiculously romantic and seemed like exactly what I needed to read right now. There were a lot of wonderful romantic moments described in loving detail, such as the trip to Ireland. I was really wrapped up in the story of how Sasha and Kerry fell in love.
However, although it was a well-crafted plot and nothing seemed out of the blue, at a certain point, I felt the author had heaped too much suffering on Sasha's shoulders. I understand it was all done to make the happy ending feel earned for our heroines (and it certainly did), but I would've preferred slightly fewer bad things happening to Sasha.
Great narration on the Audible version - some reviewers objected to the voice actress' American accent, but I thought it was very good.
However, although it was a well-crafted plot and nothing seemed out of the blue, at a certain point, I felt the author had heaped too much suffering on Sasha's shoulders. I understand it was all done to make the happy ending feel earned for our heroines (and it certainly did), but I would've preferred slightly fewer bad things happening to Sasha.
Great narration on the Audible version - some reviewers objected to the voice actress' American accent, but I thought it was very good.
plumeriade's review against another edition
4.0
i never read pure romance, so i don't know what they're normally rated by? but i am giving this a four because it was a DELIGHTFUL (and hot. um, i didn't realize until too late maybe not to read it on the bus) read. can i get this as a movie now?
midnightslover's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
josb's review against another edition
3.0
This was a decent book if you enjoy rom-com like plots. The MCs were near perfect in an almost disappointing way. There was no learning curve between the love interests to make it feel grounded in reality, after they continue to see each other they become perfect partners with the superhuman ability to sense exactly what the other needs without ever speaking about it. It seemed like the only thing keeping the characters from immediately committing to one another were external factors.
That being said, the author did introduce some interesting personal qualities to the characters including one of the MCs being neurodivergent with dyslexia. I just wish these qualities were expanded on more.
While there was less cringe in this 2013 book than I have experienced in newer releases, there certainly was some cringe. Descriptions for some things were dated. The power imbalance was not addressed well (because perfect partners!) so at times it did feel like power was being leveraged by way of compliance from the commoner character.
The MCs had decent emotional chemistry so I was surprised to see their physical chemistry as strong as it was. Even the just kissing scenes were steamy.
Overall this was still what I would consider a better rom-com and given the age it held up pretty well compared to others I have read this year. If you are looking for a light sapphic read involving a royalty/commoner pairing I would recommend.
That being said, the author did introduce some interesting personal qualities to the characters including one of the MCs being neurodivergent with dyslexia. I just wish these qualities were expanded on more.
While there was less cringe in this 2013 book than I have experienced in newer releases, there certainly was some cringe. Descriptions for some things were dated. The power imbalance was not addressed well (because perfect partners!) so at times it did feel like power was being leveraged by way of compliance from the commoner character.
The MCs had decent emotional chemistry so I was surprised to see their physical chemistry as strong as it was. Even the just kissing scenes were steamy.
Overall this was still what I would consider a better rom-com and given the age it held up pretty well compared to others I have read this year. If you are looking for a light sapphic read involving a royalty/commoner pairing I would recommend.
spelingexpirt13's review against another edition
4.0
So obviously written by an American but ultimately a really cute and charming tale that makes me want to read more by the author.