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jon_thereader's review against another edition
4.0
I do think listening to this book helped me to enjoy it more. The narrator absolutely killed all the different voices and accents. Also, I really think me and Casey McQuiston would be friends in real life. Her humor and her ideals that I could see in this book are pretty aligned to mine. This book (and now movie) follows Alex - the first son of the US - as he stumbles into love with Henry - a prince of England. Alex’s mom is the president and Henry’s grandmother is queen. Near the beginning of the book Alex is coming to terms with the fact that he is bisexual while Henry always knew he was gay, but both deal with the added pressure that their status implies.
I think that this book uses their positions (that most people will never find themselves in) to highlight just how monumental it can feel to try to live your life as fully you. We aren’t all the prince of England, but sometimes it really does feel like ages of history, legacy, and tradition is telling you to deny who you are to uphold some outdated ideal. The book does this in a fun, witty, and fresh way that I enjoyed.
I think that this book uses their positions (that most people will never find themselves in) to highlight just how monumental it can feel to try to live your life as fully you. We aren’t all the prince of England, but sometimes it really does feel like ages of history, legacy, and tradition is telling you to deny who you are to uphold some outdated ideal. The book does this in a fun, witty, and fresh way that I enjoyed.
gsupnet's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
835mphelps's review against another edition
5.0
This was one of those books that everyone seemed to have read but me...Not sure why it took me so long. I loved this book, definitely a 5 star for me.
I felt all the emotions of this book and was rooting for Henry & Alex from the start. I really enjoyed the conversations, witty banter and emails between them.
Looking forward to reading more from this author.
I felt all the emotions of this book and was rooting for Henry & Alex from the start. I really enjoyed the conversations, witty banter and emails between them.
Looking forward to reading more from this author.
ktangelo's review against another edition
5.0
Definitely one of my favorites. I've been looking for more alternative gay romance books as I've kind of gotten tired of many of the "meet cute" high school romances that dominate this genre (don't get me wrong they are good reads for the most part just get old quickly) and this book was exactly what I was looking for. The characters are amazing and relatable and multidimensional. I am gay and (partially) closeted and this book told me to just fuck it and be who I am unapologetically. I'm not going to spoil anything but the relationship between Alex and Henry is realistic yet still touching and lovely in my opinion. I've went to nearly all of my friends and been like YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW.
winemakerssister's review against another edition
5.0
First of all, I want to warn you not to read (or listen to) the last 20% of the book in public. Unless you're not bothered by others seeing you happy-cry.
Red, White & Royal Blue is a love song to politics, and equal love, and the world as we wish it would be. It's very much a 21st century version of The American President, complete with its own version of President Shepherd's 'I've loved two women' speech. Only this time it's delivered by Alex Claremont-Diaz, First Son.
The love story between Alex and Prince Henry is sweet, funny, and smart. I know I'll be listening to it again in the future.
A few notes:
1. The narration by Ramon de Ocampo is spot-on
2. The novel is written in 3rd person/present continuous tense. It was jarring in the beginning, but my ears finally got sort of used to it.
Themes: American president, First Son, prince of England, m/m love, high visibility relationship, politics, friends
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August 2023 - rereading it because the movie comes out this Friday!
Red, White & Royal Blue is a love song to politics, and equal love, and the world as we wish it would be. It's very much a 21st century version of The American President, complete with its own version of President Shepherd's 'I've loved two women' speech. Only this time it's delivered by Alex Claremont-Diaz, First Son.
The love story between Alex and Prince Henry is sweet, funny, and smart. I know I'll be listening to it again in the future.
A few notes:
1. The narration by Ramon de Ocampo is spot-on
2. The novel is written in 3rd person/present continuous tense. It was jarring in the beginning, but my ears finally got sort of used to it.
Themes: American president, First Son, prince of England, m/m love, high visibility relationship, politics, friends
‐---------------------
August 2023 - rereading it because the movie comes out this Friday!
alexandre_sp's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
heba_hisham's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this book. It was good and funny
which would be perfect for getting me out of a reading slump
which would be perfect for getting me out of a reading slump
mfinch76's review against another edition
4.0
A fun distraction from current events. I laughed out loud on my walk along the river (for social distancing) and teared up a couple of times, too.
The description of how it feels to lose a parent was so breathtakingly familiar to me. I'd like to hug prince dickhead poop emoji.
The description of how it feels to lose a parent was so breathtakingly familiar to me. I'd like to hug prince dickhead poop emoji.
booksrlush_'s review against another edition
5.0
Were do I start?
I loved this book I finally get what all the hype is about. First off I listened to the audiobook and the narrator just perfected the voices of all the characters. The sarcasm and witty humour had me literally laughing out loud while I was waiting for my bus home from work. (glad no one was around)
Alex and Henry are ‘enemies’, or so they think. One being the presidents son and one being a prince they have a lot on their plate so them being slated in the tabloids is not a good look for anyone of the families. Can I just say that this didn’t feel like a hate to love romance it definitely felt more like a denial to love romance and I was here for it all the way through.
All the characters dialogue just flowed seamlessly weather Alex was speaking to Henry, Nora or June. They all just had a vibe that made you believe people would say what they are saying although I do think in reality we’d all need more time to think about witty remarks especially so many time in a conversation. The character were very fleshed out and made you love them. Alex and Henry are different but they want for the same future.
The story of how they got together makes me feel like I’ve just read a book of their whole like I can’t believe at the start of this book they were only messing around and now, now they are love. All the sneaking about, believing it was only physical, getting the families to understand and let their truth be heard was all worth it in the end for them to finally end up together.
So safe to say I loved this book and it’s one of my favourite romances of the year!
I loved this book I finally get what all the hype is about. First off I listened to the audiobook and the narrator just perfected the voices of all the characters. The sarcasm and witty humour had me literally laughing out loud while I was waiting for my bus home from work. (glad no one was around)
Alex and Henry are ‘enemies’, or so they think. One being the presidents son and one being a prince they have a lot on their plate so them being slated in the tabloids is not a good look for anyone of the families. Can I just say that this didn’t feel like a hate to love romance it definitely felt more like a denial to love romance and I was here for it all the way through.
All the characters dialogue just flowed seamlessly weather Alex was speaking to Henry, Nora or June. They all just had a vibe that made you believe people would say what they are saying although I do think in reality we’d all need more time to think about witty remarks especially so many time in a conversation. The character were very fleshed out and made you love them. Alex and Henry are different but they want for the same future.
The story of how they got together makes me feel like I’ve just read a book of their whole like I can’t believe at the start of this book they were only messing around and now, now they are love. All the sneaking about, believing it was only physical, getting the families to understand and let their truth be heard was all worth it in the end for them to finally end up together.
So safe to say I loved this book and it’s one of my favourite romances of the year!
haileybee22's review against another edition
4.0
Honestly a great book, an enemies to lovers romance and it’s entangled in the politics world.