When his mother became President, Alex Claremont-Diaz was promptly cast as the American equivalent of a young royal. There's only one problem: Alex has a beef with the actual prince, Henry, across the pond. What happens when America's First Son falls in love with the Prince of Wales?
... a lighthearted, delectable combination of two of America's favorite pastimes: the British royals and politics, with just the right amount of scandal ... Their flirty relationship is fueled by snappy banter that makes even historical research sound alluring, and their chemistry sparkles even at a distance, transcending politics and tradition ... McQuiston writes with optimism ... Effervescent and empowering on all levels, Red, White & Royal Blue is both a well-written love story and a celebration of identity. McQuiston may not be royal herself, but her novel reigns as must read rom-com.
This modern fairy tale unfolds in a gossipy, insider tone until emotion takes over and McQuiston gives us an aching glimpse of what it is to want someone you believe you cannot have. Yes, Red, White & Royal Blue is funny and fun, and the family and political dynamics feel spot-on, but it’s the frank and unforgettable romance between these two young men that will compel readers to start it all over again when faced with the last page. It’s that hard to say goodbye to this couple.
... a kind of queer bodice-ripper for the Trump era, a novel whose political fantasies feature as prominently as its romantic escapades ... In situating Alex and Henry’s coming-out on a global stage, McQuiston has performed a cunning bit of literary activism. The political trappings of the story both heighten and deflate the stakes of being gay or bisexual ... According to her vision, coming out is hard, but it’s also kind of a blast—just one dramatic escapade in a book full of them. Not that a casual reader would get any of this from the novel; Red, White & Royal Blue has no ambition to be a work of serious fiction. The writing, though mostly unobtrusive, can be blunt and overly emphatic ...
And although the sex is fun, it also falls into cliché ... Indeed, part of the book’s pleasure is in its unabashed willingness to be conventional—all while taking the decidedly unconventional tack of casting two men as the central romantic leads ... It welcomes queer people into the charming clichés of romantic comedy.
