Red, White & Royal Blue: A Novel

I can't remember the last time I read a book that was this much FUN - from the very first page. Please don't be put off by a plot you might find implausible. Instead, do yourself a favor. Pick up this novel, suspend your disbelief, and enjoy a message of hope in our world of relentlessly bleak news cycles. Ellen Claremont, the first woman to occupy the United States Presidency, is facing reelection. Her son, Alex Claremont-Diaz is a handsome, intelligent, charismatic millennial who puts all his considerable skills to work on behalf of his mother, while also imagining his own vibrant political future. That is until he comes face to face with his long-time nemesis and media rival -- Prince Henry, the grandson of the Queen of England. That's when Alex's expertly crafted plans begins to disintegrate. Because, despite efforts by handlers from two countries, determined to avoid an international incident by convincing the media that there is NO rivalry, Alex and Henry's "fake" bromance begins to take an unplanned turn. Suddenly there are personal identity questions to explore, secrets to keep from closest family members, and very real fears about discovery. How might the re-election campaign be impacted? What about all those traditional courtiers at Buckingham Palace? What will the Queen do? Is there any way this situation can possibly end well? You'll meet some wonderful characters. Alex's sister June, another intellectual powerhouse. Their longtime friend Nora, an IT whiz who happens to also be the granddaughter of the Vice-President. There's June and Alex's Dad, a LatinX U.S. Senator divorced from Ellen. And the ever-supportive Lou, Ellen's current husband. And I couldn't forget Henry's very stuffy older brother. Plus, a group of staffers from both sides of the pond you will love. The dialog is witty, the characters smart, the text messages a hoot! I encourage you to enter this alternative universe, where everything is possible and the pages whip by at blinding speed. Casey McQuiston has created something VERY special!

As love stories go, this book would be a solid 5 stars due to its originality, character development, and ability to really pull you in. So, why not give it full marks? Unfortunately, Casey McQuiston was unable to get over cheap, polarizing personal politics and it ruined the experience when it was completely unnecessary. In fact, it completely went against the incredible characters that were created which was truly saddening. It was disruptive enough that I would have given the story 3* so I allowed it to balance at 4*. Honestly, I may be a little harsh because if the instances of personal Party b.s. hadn’t been thrown in (or had been edited out) this would have been a truly incredible story that transcended race and American party lines to tell a uniquely inspiring story that touched on many issues that I believe people from a multitude of walks of lives could have identified with and had truly enlightening and deep discussions about. Thank you to NetGalley, Casey McQuiston, and St. Martin’s Griffin for allowing me this opportunity to read and share my honest thoughts and opinions regarding this book.

I was really excited for this after reading the reviews but I found the first half boring. It really dragged on and I was checking all the time how may pages I had left. However the second half of the book was much better. Started getting more interesting but the reviews definitely didn't reflect the book I read. The story was a cute idea though.