Reviews with content warning for Sexism - Red, White & Royal Blue

This is truly a masterpiece of a book. It was simultaneously hilarious, heartbreaking, and vividly wonderful in every sense of the word. I am utterly enamored.

Content Warnings

quasinaut's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

It took me a bit to get into this book -- some of that was the book being written in the present tense and some of it was not liking the characters at first. I found Alex especially to be frustratingly self-centered while also glaringly lacking in self awareness. But I appreciated how this was called out as the story progressed!

The concept was too unrealistic for me (and also just the vast amounts of travel makes me cringe at the environmental impact), but on the whole it was a fun, escapist read.

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sandybree7's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

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republicofben's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Red, White, and Royal Blue is one of the best books I've read recently. It was joyful and funny while also managing to be emotional and tense. I would recommend this book to anyone I know, though a word of warning: this is not a young adult book, so be prepared for some not young adult scenes. I loved them, but the cover and story might not convey that if you don't do your research. As the author states in the acknowledgements, this book is meant to be an escape to another world that could have been to give you hope for what could be one day for the real world too. I wholeheartedly felt that, and I hope you enjoy the story just as much as I did.

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ceciliafurzi's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-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

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g_c_geeks's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I love this book so so much. It’s home to me. It makes me cry; with empathy, with sadness and with joy.
Perhaps it’s not the most realistic world but it should be, and that’s kind of the point. There should be no reason why a BIPOC, product of divorce family can’t be the first family. There should be no doubt that a woman can be elected as the President, or that queer people can be out and proud in public spaces and still be loved for it.
For me, this book is a love letter to what our world could, and should, be. And Henry and Alex, and everyone else in the book is so strong and brave and wonderful, all because they’re existing as themselves. They all have their flaws but that doesn’t negate the lives that they deserve.
Anyway highly recommend this book, I love it sm. On purpose ;)

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miladimelow's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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

My second reread of RWRB <3
Ok so at the beginning of this book I was absolutely loving it, especially the parts around their friendship prior their romantic relationship were so fun to read. The entire romance and side characters and everything was so fun and exciting and I was honestly loving every second of it. But then you got around 2/3s through and it felt like Mcquinston’s sort of just gave up, got tired of creating interesting plot and wrote the same thing over and over again.

The very end especially felt like they had a word count they wanted to get to so we’re trying to extend the story for as long as possible. It just didn’t quite make sense to me why the book continued for an extra 100 pages

after they reveal the fact that they are dating.

It just felt unnecessarily long and quite tedious

Ok but never the less this book is still so fun, and was the perfect thing to get me out of my reading slump! I think something that makes this book so special is the incredible side characters that Mcquinston creates. I wish they went into more depth about their stories and experiences, especially June’s as it wasn’t quite understandable what happened with her and why she had stayed at the white house. BUT (and yes I know I’m kinda contradicting the entire last thing I wrote) the second time round reading this I absolutely fell in love with Henry.

At the beginning you meet this incredibly bland guy, and there doesn’t seem to be much depth to him. But as the story continues and grows you see him grow with it and it just makes the whole reading experience so much more enjoyable. He is such a fun character, and he has so much good in him, forever trying to be the best guy for Alwx <3 BUT, again, near the end it felt like Mcquinston was just trying to create more plot but it was just the same tedious thing over and over again of something happening or being found out, Henry getting shy and rushing off, he ghosts Alwx for a while before they make up. I’m sorry when J tell you this happened at least 5 times I’m not kidding. It felt incredibly unnecessary especially when a shorter book would’ve made this experience so much more enjoyable.

Either way, the romance and writing was so cute in this so as usual here are some quotes:

“Thinking about history makes me wonder how I’ll fit into it one day, I guess. And you too…
History, huh? Bet we could make some.” - p241

“I gathered he was not suprised to discover I am not the heterosexual heir I’m supposed to be, but rather surprised that I do not intend to keep pretending to be the heterosexual heir I’m supposed to be.” - p298

“Alex has never met a challenge he didn’t love and he-well, Henry is a challenge, head to toe, beginning to end.” - p198

And one of my favourite text messages in a book:

Henry: You are the thistle in the tender and sensitive arse crack of my life.

Alex: thanks!

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kristenlynn94's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

5.0

I really enjoyed Red, White, and Royal Blue! Reading this was a great way to start off the new year! I think Casey McQuiston did a great job with pacing the novel - both with the plot itself and the relationship between the main characters, Alex and Henry. It's a very cute, heartwarming novel. For instance, I love Alex and Henry's emails to each other! So cute! Yes, it's true that Red, White, and Royal Blue did feel sort of like a rom-com. But, the political plot line added a lot of depth to the story (Alex's mother and her campaign to become reelected as the FLOTUS - though, I loved how she was always a mom first). I will say, the "stalking reveal" was a big plot twist for me
. And, of course, I loved seeing diversity represented throughout the novel. It was very hopeful and uplifting, especially towards the end of the novel. I loved how McQuiston portrayed the public supporting Alex and Henry's relationship because it reflects the progression within everyday society. And, the scene in which Henry looks out the window to see the crowd of supporters just touched my heart! Though, (and I hate to say this! Ugh!), I thought Henry's mom threatening the Queen and "winning that battle" was kind of unrealistic in my opinion
.

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