Aug 2

Aug 2 Red, White & Royal Blue

Author: Casey McQuiston
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Goodreads | The StoryGraph

Click above to buy this book from my Bookshop.org shop, which supports independent bookstores (not Amazon). You can also find it via your favorite indie bookstore here.

Note: Content and trigger warnings are provided for those who need them at the bottom of this page. If you don’t need them and don’t want to risk spoilers, don’t scroll past the full review.

Cover Description

What happens when America's First Son falls in love with the Prince of Wales?

When his mother became President, Alex Claremont-Diaz was promptly cast as the American equivalent of a young royal. Handsome, charismatic, genius—his image is pure millennial-marketing gold for the White House. There's only one problem: Alex has a beef with the actual prince, Henry, across the pond. And when the tabloids get hold of a photo involving an Alex-Henry altercation, U.S./British relations take a turn for the worse.

Heads of family, state, and other handlers devise a plan for damage control: staging a truce between the two rivals. What at first begins as a fake, Instragramable friendship grows deeper, and more dangerous, than either Alex or Henry could have imagined. Soon Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret romance with a surprisingly unstuffy Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations and begs the question: Can love save the world after all? Where do we find the courage, and the power, to be the people we are meant to be? And how can we learn to let our true colors shine through? Casey McQuiston's Red, White & Royal Blue proves: true love isn't always diplomatic.

TL;DR Review

Red, White & Royal Blue is a feel-good story with left-wing political fanfiction, lots of spice, and a rare and deep emotional punch. I loved it.

For you if: You’re looking for a romance novel with something extra.

Full Review

“History, huh? Bet we could make some.”

I am a million years late to this book, but I have arrived, okay?? Happily!! And just in time for the movie (which — no spoilers but — was so fun and beautiful and it wasn’t perfect but I still loved it).

Alex is the son of the (woman) President of the United States (who won in 2016 and is rerunning in 2020). Henry is a Prince of England, closeted by the royal family. At first, they’re rivals. Then…they’re not. And then they’re REALLY not. 🥵 But what would happen if the world ever found out?

Look. Is this left-wing political fanfiction? Yes. Is it cheesy? A little, yes. Is it also cathartic? Absolutely. You have to know what you’re getting into: a romance novel, aka a feel-good story with a happily ever after. But this one also packs a rare and deep emotional punch. I loved Alex’s journey to his bisexual identity, especially. I loved the incredible cast of side characters. I also loved the sheer number of spicy scenes here, and their gorgeous emails (read: letters) back and forth.

Basically I just loved it!