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nellesnightstand1's review
4.0
Ill be honest, I DNF'd the first book. I had an issue with the deception. I skippee the 2nd book and read Once Ghosted Twice shy with my bookclub.
But this one had me at the beginning, maybe it was the sad prince who felt too much and had to lock away his emotions, or maybe ir was the heroine who is the hero of hwr own story.
I enjoyed this book immensely. Alyssa Cole delves into some deep modern issues and treats them with respect.
Thank you for opening my eyes just a little more to gender neutrality.
But this one had me at the beginning, maybe it was the sad prince who felt too much and had to lock away his emotions, or maybe ir was the heroine who is the hero of hwr own story.
I enjoyed this book immensely. Alyssa Cole delves into some deep modern issues and treats them with respect.
Thank you for opening my eyes just a little more to gender neutrality.
lailybibliography's review against another edition
4.0
”He’d known how the fairy tales he’d memorized played out - there was unnecessary pain and suffering caused by the human need for love and shelter. And he’d known how they ended - with sadness and longing, and mothers dead and gone.”
A Prince on Paper was just as wonderful as I anticipated, and never before have I been more on board the Alyssa Cole train. This book had some exceptionally nuanced explorations of trauma from parental death, and parental abuse. Full trigger warnings for that. However, by far my favourite aspect of the novel was finally seeing a romance novel that did not present romantic love as some great cure for the trauma and abuse suffered by our leads. Far too often, such serious issues are portrayed simply as hurdles to be crossed by the main lovers, and not life-long repercussions for something truly horrifying. I was glad to see that how Nya and Johan’s problems weren’t magically fixed by their proximity to each other and eventually, shown to be slowly achieving healing with therapy. Even in the “happy ever after” epilogue section, it is mentioned that not everything is fine and it’s just so incredibly satisfying that the story doesn’t just fix their traumas for the sake of it.
The LGBTQIAP+ representation in this series continues to be incredible. The fact that Johan isn’t straight makes me happy beyond words. Queer royals in novels are always a soft spot for me for reasons I don’t know. And an actual non-binary royal, with an excellent exploration of their identity and how their strictly traditional environment affected their life. God, I just can’t even. I’d love a novel about Lukas and their university years in California. Pretty please, Alyssa Cole. Anything you write is an automatic read for me anyways, but, please.
”Though they both sometimes struggled not to fling their baggage at one another, most of their time was spent, well, happily ever after.”
blodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
I have no idea what it is this redheaded prince fascination, I mean Harry, come on, not handsome. But for you all who think so then this is a treat for you. A redheaded playboy prince who gets in trouble a lot and whose philanthropist mother is dead. And whose name is Johan.
Johan who has fancied Nya from afar. Sheltered Nya whose dad is a traitor and who told everyone that Nya is sickly and can not do anything. Yes her dad was a real piece of work.
Back to the start. Yes this is book 3 but it works perfectly as a stand alone. She attends her cousin's wedding and I guess that was book 1? And then she has this other friend there and that I do know is book 2 because I listened to a novella about that one. I do love a good stand alone.
I liked Johan because he did not want to be a playboy prince. He does it all to keep the attention on him and not his brother.
Nya kept playing this mobile game and as I am currently addicted to one, then hey I get that girl! I liked how she wanted to become something else, but at the same time, there was nothing wrong with being her and she had to learn that.
They meet, they flirt, there is family drama and they live happily ever after. I enjoyed it.
Narrator
I liked her Nya voice and Johan's accent, but the Scottish one, even if I did not hear a lot, it was pretty bad. She had nice distinctive voices and her voice was nice listening to.
Romance always rocks in audio
Johan who has fancied Nya from afar. Sheltered Nya whose dad is a traitor and who told everyone that Nya is sickly and can not do anything. Yes her dad was a real piece of work.
Back to the start. Yes this is book 3 but it works perfectly as a stand alone. She attends her cousin's wedding and I guess that was book 1? And then she has this other friend there and that I do know is book 2 because I listened to a novella about that one. I do love a good stand alone.
I liked Johan because he did not want to be a playboy prince. He does it all to keep the attention on him and not his brother.
Nya kept playing this mobile game and as I am currently addicted to one, then hey I get that girl! I liked how she wanted to become something else, but at the same time, there was nothing wrong with being her and she had to learn that.
They meet, they flirt, there is family drama and they live happily ever after. I enjoyed it.
Narrator
I liked her Nya voice and Johan's accent, but the Scottish one, even if I did not hear a lot, it was pretty bad. She had nice distinctive voices and her voice was nice listening to.
Romance always rocks in audio
clpaige's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.75
balletbookworm's review
4.0
Nya and Johan provided us (via Alyssa’s brain) with a lovely ending to the Reluctant Royals Trilogy. I very much liked that the “villain” of the book wasn’t someone out to do physical harm, etc but instead our own human fears and prejudices - of having our softer bits exposed for others to see and perhaps ridicule. Could have done without the ongoing subplot of Nya’s dating game (it got weird after a while) but A+ plot with Johan’s brother and step-dad. Alyssa has also used her books in this series to hit back hard at racism, classism, ableism, and post-colonialism. So well-done.
For anyone wondering, yes, we get to see Portia+Tav and Likotski+Fab but no, not nearly enough ;) (but unfortunately, no Reggie+Gus on the page)
For anyone wondering, yes, we get to see Portia+Tav and Likotski+Fab but no, not nearly enough ;) (but unfortunately, no Reggie+Gus on the page)
winterreader40's review against another edition
4.0
The hero sleeps with a grumpy teddy bear!!!
I didn't love the first book in this series, but Nya was the only character from it that I really enjoyed so I am super glad I gave this one a shot.
Nya is a woman trying to find her way in life after years of abuse at the hands of her father, Johan is the playboy prince who is secretly a good person(with a teddy bear, I can't get past how much I adored this fact), I loved Nya and Johan and how honest they were with each other.
I don't think I'll read anything else from this author as I don't love the writing style, but this was good fun in spite of that, which is really hard to pull off.
I didn't love the first book in this series, but Nya was the only character from it that I really enjoyed so I am super glad I gave this one a shot.
Nya is a woman trying to find her way in life after years of abuse at the hands of her father, Johan is the playboy prince who is secretly a good person(with a teddy bear, I can't get past how much I adored this fact), I loved Nya and Johan and how honest they were with each other.
I don't think I'll read anything else from this author as I don't love the writing style, but this was good fun in spite of that, which is really hard to pull off.
chanteld's review
3.0
Maybe 2.5 I didn't like this story as much as the others in the series. It was too silly, the relationship a bit forced, Johan was an entertaining side character in book two but he doesn't quite shine as a lead.
I listened to the audiobook (as I did with all the others except Once Ghosted Twice Shy) and the accents were too much this time around.
I listened to the audiobook (as I did with all the others except Once Ghosted Twice Shy) and the accents were too much this time around.
rdyourbookcase's review
3.0
Well!
A Prince on Paper was far steamier than A Princess in Theory.
I still enjoyed it, even though I knew exactly how it would end. A bonus was that it was LGBTQIA+ friendly and open to therapy. I'll definitely keep reading the Reluctant Royals series! It's great for adults who read The Princess Diaries as teenagers. In fact, I picked up the first book in the series because Meg Cabot blurbed it.
A Prince on Paper was far steamier than A Princess in Theory.
I still enjoyed it, even though I knew exactly how it would end. A bonus was that it was LGBTQIA+ friendly and open to therapy. I'll definitely keep reading the Reluctant Royals series! It's great for adults who read The Princess Diaries as teenagers. In fact, I picked up the first book in the series because Meg Cabot blurbed it.
alessandralee's review
4.0
I'd been anticipating this book since I finished reading the previous title in the series, and it certainly lived up to expectations. Like the rest of the series, the characters were excellent and I felt very invested in their journeys. I particularly felt the settings stood out throughout the book and really grounded the story.