Rating
Synopsis
First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz is the closest thing the USA has to a prince. With his intrepid sister and the Vice-President’s genius granddaughter, they’re the White House Trio. International socialite duties do have downsides—especially when photos of a confrontation with his longtime nemesis, British Prince Henry, at a royal wedding are leaked to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations. The plan for damage control: staging a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince.
As President Claremont, Alex’s mother, kicks off her reelection bid, Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret relationship with Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations. What is worth the sacrifice? How do you do all the good you can do? And, most importantly, how will history remember you?
Review
If you can’t tell by the five-star rating, I loved Red, White and Royal Blue (RW&RB) by Casey McQuiston. I have read it twice and enjoyed it so much both times.
RW&RB is told from Alex’s point of view. So we see his journey of discovery and often realise his feelings before he does.
It’s a fairytale mixed in reality. With millennial voices, which are incredibly relatable. There were things the characters would say and do, which my friends and I say and do, too. It’s funny. I consistently laughed over the one-liners and streams of consciousness.
As someone from New Zealand, I can’t lie, the political things, more often than not, don’t make sense to me (let’s be frank, politics don’t make sense to me no matter where in the world I am).
You can’t help but cheer on Alex and Henry as they fall for each other and wish for them to keep fighting when things get complicated. While you spend a lot of your time laughing, there are a few tears in there, too.
It is a little bit ‘spicy’ in a few moments if you aren’t into that kind of thing. But there is still character development during those moments, too.
As with most romances, you will predict what will happen. It does follow that classic romance structure, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t going to be moments that do catch up unawares.
It’s a great book that looks at the reality of the world in the 21st century, even if it is a little bit fantastical.
I highly recommend giving RW&RB a go. I’m sure it will give you as many warm fuzzies as it gave me.
