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reading_meg's review against another edition
4.0
- I had already read Once Ghosted, Twice Shy, and this one was so good it had me wanting to reread the rest of the series!!
- I loved the way this balanced being very playful and very serious! There were some very serious conversations/topics, but they were offset by how Cole can weave humor throughout a plot.
- The twist was pretty easy to see coming, but I still enjoyed watching the plot play out!
- The growth that Thabiso went through was so important, as well as seeing how genuinely kind he was to Naledi. I loved watching them grow together.
- So many romances were one character is lying/hiding their identity wrap up the betrayal after the reveal too quickly, but this book does not fall into that trap. I loved how thorough Cole was in having her characters examine what that meant for themselves and their relationship!
- I loved the way this balanced being very playful and very serious! There were some very serious conversations/topics, but they were offset by how Cole can weave humor throughout a plot.
- The twist was pretty easy to see coming, but I still enjoyed watching the plot play out!
- The growth that Thabiso went through was so important, as well as seeing how genuinely kind he was to Naledi. I loved watching them grow together.
- So many romances were one character is lying/hiding their identity wrap up the betrayal after the reveal too quickly, but this book does not fall into that trap. I loved how thorough Cole was in having her characters examine what that meant for themselves and their relationship!
annkniggendorf's review against another edition
5.0
When I picked up this book I expected an adult fairy tale, instead I got treated with a funny heroine with a brain working in a believable STEM setting actually furthering the plot. So much better. :-)
corvingreene's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I liked this more than I expected to! The premise just didn't sound like something I would like (a woman finds out she is supposedly the betrothed of a prince from a fictional African country), but there was so much more to the story than the jacket copy suggested. I loved Naledi, an orphaned epidemiology PhD student, and that she didn't just immediately melt when she met her prince charming, but made him prove himself to her.
I also really loved the audio book narrator, Karen Chillton, who was fantastic.
I also really loved the audio book narrator, Karen Chillton, who was fantastic.
akoala's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
captwinghead's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
3.5 stars
I'm quite fond of the "long lost royal" plot. I think it's even more special when it happens to Black characters. That on its own was a great concept, but the execution of the romance aspect of this novel was a bit lacking for me personally.
First of all, the set up makes Thabiso look awful.He quickly finds out that Ledi has no clue who he is and he still pursues and sleeps with her anyway. Not only is that incredibly gross (and Olivia Benson would certainly have something to say about it), but he lies to her knowing she's an orphan. He finds out her grandparents are dying of an illness and still doesn't tell her. He used her past experience with emotional trauma regarding her childhood as an out to continue lying to her. Made worse by Likotsi being the only one with some sense and continously telling him he's being an ass.
The sex scenes weren't my favorite. Some of the language used was just incredibly unsexy to me personally.They had sex in such steamy locations such as an elderly neighbor's plastic covered couch and a cave on a mountain near a donkey. That didn't work for me personally.
Also, they knew each other for like a week? I'm glad they don't officially start dropping the l word until they'd (presumably) spent more time together in Thesolo, but they were more attached than I entirely understood near the end of Thabiso's time in New York. Oddly enough, the romance was the weakest part of the book for me?
I enjoyed the political plot. I'd read A Duke by Default and A Prince on Paper before this, so I knew the outcome of the disease plot. It was interesting seeing Ledi get to know her cousin and see her homeland. I wish we got a bit more on her parents, but I appreciated what we got of Ledi in Thesolo.
Having loved A Duke by Default, I was bummed by how unlikable I found Portia in this book. She's selfish, self-centered, and seemed to hurt Ledi more than she helped her.Aside from helping connect her with a scientist for her grad assignment, she was more of a nuisance. I remember A Duke by Default starting with Portia trying to turn over a new leaf, but I was still surprised by how possessive and mean she was to Ledi. And to not tell her about Thabiso's secret when she knew how Ledi had severe trust issues? I'm actually surprised they remained friends.
Anyway, I enjoyed the political story and Ledi reconnecting with her homeland. I wasn't that into Ledi and Thabiso's romance, though.
I'm quite fond of the "long lost royal" plot. I think it's even more special when it happens to Black characters. That on its own was a great concept, but the execution of the romance aspect of this novel was a bit lacking for me personally.
First of all, the set up makes Thabiso look awful.
The sex scenes weren't my favorite. Some of the language used was just incredibly unsexy to me personally.
Also, they knew each other for like a week? I'm glad they don't officially start dropping the l word until they'd (presumably) spent more time together in Thesolo, but they were more attached than I entirely understood near the end of Thabiso's time in New York.
I enjoyed the political plot. I'd read A Duke by Default and A Prince on Paper before this, so I knew the outcome of the disease plot. It was interesting seeing Ledi get to know her cousin and see her homeland. I wish we got a bit more on her parents, but I appreciated what we got of Ledi in Thesolo.
Having loved A Duke by Default, I was bummed by how unlikable I found Portia in this book. She's selfish, self-centered, and seemed to hurt Ledi more than she helped her.
Anyway, I enjoyed the political story and Ledi reconnecting with her homeland. I wasn't that into Ledi and Thabiso's romance, though.
rosered879's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
danarossa's review against another edition
Нудятіна.
Ніякої хімії.
Ніякого tension.
Нічого.
Читала по діагоналі. І після того, як вона дізналася, що він принц - взагалі кинула.
Вона коштувала 2 доллара.
За ці гроші можна купити 2 half a soul
Ніякої хімії.
Ніякого tension.
Нічого.
Читала по діагоналі. І після того, як вона дізналася, що він принц - взагалі кинула.
Вона коштувала 2 доллара.
За ці гроші можна купити 2 half a soul
swagner718's review against another edition
4.5
<B>✨The Princess Diaries
✨Coming to America
✨The Prince & Me</b>
Now imagine if you will, that these three <i>excellent</i> movies somehow had a sexy love child.
That would be this book.
I desperately wanted to be <i>Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo</i> when I was a child, so this book was right up my alley. I'm still holding out hope that I'm a long lost royal heir to a throne somewhere.🤞🏻
melonpaper's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0