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A review by a_picara
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
I'm shocked this novel was so good. The premise is fun and perfectly fits into an escapist fantasy read. Alex & Henry are well balanced so that the relationship between them feels even (never feels like there is a power imbalance). The novel lured me in -- at first seeming like a romance book for white liberal millennial women -- but then delivered so much more.
The prose is solid, and the types of descriptions and metaphors used are tailored to the character being described / the perspective doing the narrating. The novel also makes use of various forms of narration-- typical close 3rd person dominates the text, but is complemented by embedded emails (which help indicat the passing of time and later become part of the plot) and other forms of media (which serve as external perspectives and emphasize the commodification of people).
Beyond the central love story, this novel also touches on current and historical issues in American and English politics and references historical queer romances. These both bring a depth to the story that helps ground what would otherwise be pure fantasy. Instead, the final story is a fantasy about how our world could be.
The prose is solid, and the types of descriptions and metaphors used are tailored to the character being described / the perspective doing the narrating. The novel also makes use of various forms of narration-- typical close 3rd person dominates the text, but is complemented by embedded emails (which help indicat the passing of time and later become part of the plot) and other forms of media (which serve as external perspectives and emphasize the commodification of people).
Beyond the central love story, this novel also touches on current and historical issues in American and English politics and references historical queer romances. These both bring a depth to the story that helps ground what would otherwise be pure fantasy. Instead, the final story is a fantasy about how our world could be.