Reviews

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

mindlessmerfolk's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

indiekay's review against another edition

5.0

Second read: I did the audiobook for the second go-around. I had heard someone else say they didn't like the narrator, so I was a little nervous, but I loved the voices he did for all the characters. I also had a lot of fun annotating my physical copy while listening to it. Loved it just as much on the second read as I did the first time around.

First read: I read this book around the time of the US elections in 2020. When I say this book made me ugly cry, I mean it. I was just SO fed up with living in this current time line - the elections were stressing me out and I don't even live in the US; the global pandemic was just really getting to me and making me feel completely lost and hopeless - and then I read this book. This beautiful, charming book, about two star-crossed famous boys in some alternative universe somewhere falling in love with each other, in a universe where the US had a female president instead of who they had in the White House between 2016 and 2020? I sobbed. Reading this book was cathartic, there's no other way I can explain it.

Red, White & Royal Blue holds a very special place in my heart. Hopefully soon I can revisit it again by listening to the audiobook.

zachwaddington123's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

anastasia_reids's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

anniecakestoo's review against another edition

4.0

This was such a delight! I even surprised myself by crying and several parts

kmkasiner's review against another edition

5.0

This is the future millenials want, and I'm here for it. In her acknowledgments Casey McQuiston says that she felt like the book had to be an "escapist, trauma-soothing, alternate-but-realistic reality." And she accomplished exactly that. This book just made me happy, watered my crops, cleared my skin, etc. I laughed, I cried, but I mostly laughed, because this book is so uplifting. Major West Wing vibes and found family tropes and an absolutely swoon-worthy, believable romance. Both Alex and Henry are so beautifully drawn, it's like they're real people--flawed but loveable. I love everyone in this book (except for the conservative opponent lol). McQuistion really has a gift for characterization. Also the representation was so thorough, but not pandering, it was amazing. Including the bisexual representation.
Oh, and did I mention the history references and the Catholic jokes?

I really wish that Ellen Claremont was our President and that we had an awesome White House Six to inspire us. For now I'll have to settle for fantasy, but this book makes you hope that maybe love really can conquer all.

anna_2603's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Not bad, but not good. I understand why it’s popular on TikTok, but I haven’t cringed this hard while reading since like middle school, but I feel like if I read this in middle school I would’ve liked it better than I do now. This is the first time in my life where I prefer the movie over the book.

ajobyanyothername's review against another edition

2.0

Bad books can turn into camp movies. This is a bad book.
Alex is one of the most singularly unlikeable main characters I’ve read in a romcom. His issues with Henry all stem from his insecurity and lack of intelligence, and half of his internal monologue seems to be complaining and name calling people for *checks notes* reading classic literature and enjoying it.
The number of times I had to take my glasses off and stare into the middle distance was astounding. Like making physical, audible noises of disgust.
Don’t even get me started on the shoehorned diversity, the clunky addition of Spanish and ~Mexican~ heritage, or the chip that every member of the Claremont-Diaz family carried on their shoulders. Seriously, I’ve never read about a more insecure, identity obsessed family, and this book was half about the royals.
In summary, bizarre choices, bad writing, and somehow a plot that translates to the best worst movie I’ve ever seen. But hey, at least it’s entertaining.

aserrich's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

hazycozmicjive's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0