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themaritimereader14's review
3.0
Thank you to Edelweiss and Avon Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
I have adored the books in this trilogy and I am sad to see them come to an end - although I still have to read the novellas. They take place in such fun and interesting settings and the characters are so wonderful. This book was no exception and I really liked Nya as a person and her strength in facing some very difficult blows during the recent months leading up to the timeline in this book. I was disappointed that this book didn't include a bit more detail about but it didn't matter - it was still good. I always enjoy a good plotline and I really liked the added diversity aspect with Johan's brother and his road to discovering who he is.
Now I need to go and read all of Alyssa Cole's other books :)
I have adored the books in this trilogy and I am sad to see them come to an end - although I still have to read the novellas. They take place in such fun and interesting settings and the characters are so wonderful. This book was no exception and I really liked Nya as a person and her strength in facing some very difficult blows during the recent months leading up to the timeline in this book. I was disappointed that this book didn't include a bit more detail about
Spoiler
Ledi's weddingSpoiler
fake marriageNow I need to go and read all of Alyssa Cole's other books :)
mizpurplest's review
5.0
The title is terrible, but I love Nya and Johan, and I love their flaws and their honesty and their pet nicknames. I love that they care about taking care of the people they love, and I love watching them grow to love each other. They are sweet, playful, and open-minded and -hearted, and I want more of this story. My only complaint about this specific book is that if I were Nya, after the life I'd led so far, I would have wanted to keep my flexibility a little longer than she apparently chooses to, in the epilogue. But I can't say more without spoilers, so you'll just have to see for yourselves.
I really love every one of the books in this series. They are sexy, for sure, but more importantly they are so incredibly healthy - the characters are good people struggling with how to be kind and considerate and fix their mistakes, they truly care about each other, and they are exhibit A for how to have good, wholesome relationships. That may sound boring, but it's really not. It's such a breath of fresh air in a genre/era so overstuffed with suffocating romances and spineless/needy heroines. These books are very human, but they are the best of humanity, and they truly shine.
I really love every one of the books in this series. They are sexy, for sure, but more importantly they are so incredibly healthy - the characters are good people struggling with how to be kind and considerate and fix their mistakes, they truly care about each other, and they are exhibit A for how to have good, wholesome relationships. That may sound boring, but it's really not. It's such a breath of fresh air in a genre/era so overstuffed with suffocating romances and spineless/needy heroines. These books are very human, but they are the best of humanity, and they truly shine.
bookishneverland's review
4.0
Pretty good read. Nya and Johan might be my favorite couple of all of the books!
hairiel42's review
5.0
Absolutely incredible, I think this is my favorite of the series. I found both protagonists to be relatable, their chemistry was believable. I wished the book didn't end and I could spend more time with them!
labyrinth_witch's review
5.0
Another wonderful novel by Alyssa Cole, and this series is likely to rank in my top favorites of romance series.
This installment follows Nya in the wake of her father’s imprisonment and her growing friendship with Johan, the playboy prince.
I have to say, the number one thing I love about Alyssa Cole’s novels is that she doesn’t manufacture drama. Rather she leverages the natural drama people navigate on trying to be honest, authentic, and experience the full range of our emotions. So the drama in this novel is how Johan reconciles with his mother’s death and his subsequent fear of loving someone and losing them again. Nya’s drama is learning how to be brave, how to fight the negative voices in her head that her dad put there. These are dramas we can all relate to and so it resonates and pulls me through the book. Will Johan realize that that loss is inevitable but the sweetness of loving is invaluable? Will Nya make the brave choice every time? The drama isn’t one single climatic moment but an ongoing series of choices. Also what I love is that the characters are navigating these dramas individually within themselves and together. And so I felt like I was reading a real story set in a fairytale with incredibly poignant moments. It made me think about my own life.
Also, Nya hadn’t ever slept with anyone. But instead of the usual fixation on her virginity or Johan being exhilarated that no one had ever touched her before or Nya being scared and frightened of her own body (blah vomit) which one has come to expect, Alyssa Coles turns the narrative on its head. Instead she relies on tantric principles that don’t emphasize the need for penetration but focuses more on the breasts and going slow. Nya takes it at her own pace but she also knows what she wants and likes, having pleasured herself and is in tune with her own body. And her not having slept with anyone in no way makes her less of a strong, insightful, and competent character which was magnificent. The way it was done also made perfect sense for the storyline- if you were attracted to someone, the contours of the relationship being a little murky, and each character is working through fear of being with someone- you would take it slow and be more exploratory as you build trust and get to know one another. It all made sense, and I can’t say that’s always the case when the main female character hasn’t slept with another person before. Also, I love the twist in the male protagonist’s sexuality and that of how young brother. Not only was it arousing, but it was a great conversation on sexuality to be a part of!
Truly wonderful. Hands down the best romance series I’ve ever read.
This installment follows Nya in the wake of her father’s imprisonment and her growing friendship with Johan, the playboy prince.
I have to say, the number one thing I love about Alyssa Cole’s novels is that she doesn’t manufacture drama. Rather she leverages the natural drama people navigate on trying to be honest, authentic, and experience the full range of our emotions. So the drama in this novel is how Johan reconciles with his mother’s death and his subsequent fear of loving someone and losing them again. Nya’s drama is learning how to be brave, how to fight the negative voices in her head that her dad put there. These are dramas we can all relate to and so it resonates and pulls me through the book. Will Johan realize that that loss is inevitable but the sweetness of loving is invaluable? Will Nya make the brave choice every time? The drama isn’t one single climatic moment but an ongoing series of choices. Also what I love is that the characters are navigating these dramas individually within themselves and together. And so I felt like I was reading a real story set in a fairytale with incredibly poignant moments. It made me think about my own life.
Also, Nya hadn’t ever slept with anyone. But instead of the usual fixation on her virginity or Johan being exhilarated that no one had ever touched her before or Nya being scared and frightened of her own body (blah vomit) which one has come to expect, Alyssa Coles turns the narrative on its head. Instead she relies on tantric principles that don’t emphasize the need for penetration but focuses more on the breasts and going slow. Nya takes it at her own pace but she also knows what she wants and likes, having pleasured herself and is in tune with her own body. And her not having slept with anyone in no way makes her less of a strong, insightful, and competent character which was magnificent. The way it was done also made perfect sense for the storyline- if you were attracted to someone, the contours of the relationship being a little murky, and each character is working through fear of being with someone- you would take it slow and be more exploratory as you build trust and get to know one another. It all made sense, and I can’t say that’s always the case when the main female character hasn’t slept with another person before. Also, I love the twist in the male protagonist’s sexuality and that of how young brother. Not only was it arousing, but it was a great conversation on sexuality to be a part of!
Truly wonderful. Hands down the best romance series I’ve ever read.
magicalrocketships's review against another edition
5.0
Loved everything about this, and would have stayed up all night to finish it if I could. As it was, I allowed myself a reading break for sleep, then finished it in the morning.
amandaexe's review
2.0
Well, this was a massive disappointment. There were things in this I liked, but in the end I had so many issues with it I can hardly believe this was written by the same author, let alone that it was part of the same series as A Princess in Theory and A Duke by Default.
The three stars are only for the second half of the book, because honestly the first part barely counted. What's written in the synopsis of the book only starts happening at around the 40% mark, which to be honest is an insane amount of time spent on... nothing, basically. Most of that first 40% was just catching up with the characters from the other books (which got so annoying after a while, I don't need to know what they're doing in every single scene. This isn't their book anymore, why can't I get Nya and Johan's story right off the bat?), and trying to establish Nya and Johan as main characters. But of course, they got lost in the midst of everything else that was going on. To be fair, I did enjoy Johan's character, I thought he was pretty solid throughout the book, and I feel like his relationship with his family basically carried this whole story.
Nya, on the other hand, was really inconsistent. It's said the whole time that she's naive, and meek, and immature, and while there were some things that she did that made sense with that description, there wasn't a single scene she was confronted where she didn't stand up for herself. On the first goddamned chapter she was already speaking her mind and taking up space. What kind of meek character is this? If she was actually like that, she would be quiet, complacent, always scared to speak up (which would be consistent with the fact her father had abused and guilt tripped her for years). I would have preferred if she had actually learned this lesson throughout the book, but it seems like after Naledi and Portia the author was incapable of writing a female character who wasn't a badass. This is a problem when you establish that Nya is not like that.
The romance was okay, I guess. I didn't think they fit as well together as the book wanted me to believe. It seemed pretty convenient at times, and oh my fucking god was the "dirty" talk a cringefest, but the ending was cute. I still got out of it feeling like Johan was waaaay out of Nya's league, but whatever works, I guess.
The referendum plotline was kinda unnecessary? It was the driving force behind the fake dating thing, but in the end I couldn't help but feel like
The dating game was something else that was so nonsensical to me. Why would this woman, who has lived her whole life in such close proximity with royalty, not find it boring (and creepy) to play a dating sim where she can date a bunch of princes based on real life princes, some of them who she knows personally?? Why was this such a big source of conflict?? What kind of game forces you to set alarms to not miss the next piece of dialogue (it could even be in the middle of the night???), and what kind of adult has the fucking time to actually do this??? Why was the game version of Johan trying to abolish the monarchy anyway???
I've been writing this review for a while and you know what? It doesn't deserve three stars after all. The only thing that was good in this was Johan, on his own, trying to deal with his own grief, controlling his image, figuring out why Lukas was acting out and hating him so much. Like I said, Johan carried this fucking story, and if you take him out there's nothing interesting left. I'm really upset that this book was so damn weak, when the others had their faults, but were ultimately at least consistent.
The three stars are only for the second half of the book, because honestly the first part barely counted. What's written in the synopsis of the book only starts happening at around the 40% mark, which to be honest is an insane amount of time spent on... nothing, basically. Most of that first 40% was just catching up with the characters from the other books (which got so annoying after a while, I don't need to know what they're doing in every single scene. This isn't their book anymore, why can't I get Nya and Johan's story right off the bat?), and trying to establish Nya and Johan as main characters. But of course, they got lost in the midst of everything else that was going on. To be fair, I did enjoy Johan's character, I thought he was pretty solid throughout the book, and I feel like his relationship with his family basically carried this whole story.
Nya, on the other hand, was really inconsistent. It's said the whole time that she's naive, and meek, and immature, and while there were some things that she did that made sense with that description, there wasn't a single scene she was confronted where she didn't stand up for herself. On the first goddamned chapter she was already speaking her mind and taking up space. What kind of meek character is this? If she was actually like that, she would be quiet, complacent, always scared to speak up (which would be consistent with the fact her father had abused and guilt tripped her for years). I would have preferred if she had actually learned this lesson throughout the book, but it seems like after Naledi and Portia the author was incapable of writing a female character who wasn't a badass. This is a problem when you establish that Nya is not like that.
The romance was okay, I guess. I didn't think they fit as well together as the book wanted me to believe. It seemed pretty convenient at times, and oh my fucking god was the "dirty" talk a cringefest, but the ending was cute. I still got out of it feeling like Johan was waaaay out of Nya's league, but whatever works, I guess.
The referendum plotline was kinda unnecessary? It was the driving force behind the fake dating thing, but in the end I couldn't help but feel like
Spoiler
Lukas got off way too easy for the severity of what they were doing; and that the story was setting up the ending for the monarchy to be abolished. When it didn't, I was like....??? That wasn't consistent with the hints the story was giving me?? Also, wouldn't it just have been better for Lukas if the monarchy just..... ended? Their problem wasn't only with the fact they didn't want to be a prince, they clearly said they didn't like the fact that their whole life was set out for them, that they wanted to find their own path and like?? In the end they're suddenly okay because now the journalists will use the right pronouns??? What???? It felt like a cheap plot device, and none of it felt resolved.The dating game was something else that was so nonsensical to me. Why would this woman, who has lived her whole life in such close proximity with royalty, not find it boring (and creepy) to play a dating sim where she can date a bunch of princes based on real life princes, some of them who she knows personally?? Why was this such a big source of conflict?? What kind of game forces you to set alarms to not miss the next piece of dialogue (it could even be in the middle of the night???), and what kind of adult has the fucking time to actually do this??? Why was the game version of Johan trying to abolish the monarchy anyway???
Spoiler
Btw, was it established that Lukas made the game, or did I fill that information in myself because I thought it made sense?I've been writing this review for a while and you know what? It doesn't deserve three stars after all. The only thing that was good in this was Johan, on his own, trying to deal with his own grief, controlling his image, figuring out why Lukas was acting out and hating him so much. Like I said, Johan carried this fucking story, and if you take him out there's nothing interesting left. I'm really upset that this book was so damn weak, when the others had their faults, but were ultimately at least consistent.
lanidacey's review
5.0
Feb. 2, 2020, review: Reread for The Lusty Intellectuals podcast and because why not? Water is wet. I still love Nya and Johan.
July 4, 2019, review: (I didn't realize this had been marked read already. THANKS, KINDLE!)
Still love this book and this whole series. I keep finding new stuff to love about it with each reread. This go-around got me especially hyped for Shanti and Sanyu's story. We know something wonky is going on between them and I. Want. Details.
May 1, 2019, review: Of course I was going to reread this once it was released. I love, love, love this book. Nya's character development and growth after dealing with a lifetime of her father's mental abuse nearly had me crying. Johan's protectiveness of the things he loves had me melting. I love both these characters so much and they must be protected. <3
I did the audiobook this time around and ... two stars. I don't know if I just really love this story and have sky-high expectations for its performance or if she's just a lackluster narrator. Whatever it is, we don't click.
Original review: Look, y'all, I have been thirsting for this book since last July, when Johan made his splashy appearance in [b:A Duke by Default|35564582|A Duke by Default (Reluctant Royals, #2)|Alyssa Cole|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1516640638l/35564582._SY75_.jpg|56993493] as Tav's royalty mentor. Portia called him a "fuckboy with a heart of gold" and I fell in love.
The teaser alone checked all my boxes: A sharp-witted rake who plays dumber and flightier than he really is falling for a shy wallflower who's decided she's done fading into the background? Opposites attracting opposites while carrying on a fake relationship? A ROYAL WEDDING? Sign.
July 4, 2019, review: (I didn't realize this had been marked read already. THANKS, KINDLE!)
Still love this book and this whole series. I keep finding new stuff to love about it with each reread. This go-around got me especially hyped for Shanti and Sanyu's story. We know something wonky is going on between them and I. Want. Details.
May 1, 2019, review: Of course I was going to reread this once it was released. I love, love, love this book. Nya's character development and growth after dealing with a lifetime of her father's mental abuse nearly had me crying. Johan's protectiveness of the things he loves had me melting. I love both these characters so much and they must be protected. <3
I did the audiobook this time around and ... two stars. I don't know if I just really love this story and have sky-high expectations for its performance or if she's just a lackluster narrator. Whatever it is, we don't click.
Original review: Look, y'all, I have been thirsting for this book since last July, when Johan made his splashy appearance in [b:A Duke by Default|35564582|A Duke by Default (Reluctant Royals, #2)|Alyssa Cole|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1516640638l/35564582._SY75_.jpg|56993493] as Tav's royalty mentor. Portia called him a "fuckboy with a heart of gold" and I fell in love.
The teaser alone checked all my boxes: A sharp-witted rake who plays dumber and flightier than he really is falling for a shy wallflower who's decided she's done fading into the background? Opposites attracting opposites while carrying on a fake relationship? A ROYAL WEDDING? Sign.
virgo_reader's review
4.0
Alyssa Cole is another new author for me, and one whose writing style I really enjoy. She’s got a great way of bringing characters to life and giving them plenty of depth. I listened to the first half of this book on audio and then switched to ebook to finish it, and the story and characters flew off the page in both.
I related a lot to Nya, especially her big dreams and desires for “life to begin” only to feel like she’s on the outside a lot of the time. She is returning to her home country of Thesolo from her time living in New York, where she expected her life to be glamorous and filled with friends but was actually filled with loneliness. She feels like she’s constantly waiting for her life to begin.
I thought everything about Johan aka Prince Jojo was so well done. The emotional depth he has that’s hidden from everyone, even the younger half-brother he loves so much, because he wants to protect himself from being hurt by someone who he cares too much for. It was brilliant.
I wish I would have started with book 1 in the series because I think both characters are featured in previous books, but I was able to get to know them and their friends and enjoy this as a standalone.
Also, her calling a penis an "eggplant emoji" made me LOL multiple times
I related a lot to Nya, especially her big dreams and desires for “life to begin” only to feel like she’s on the outside a lot of the time. She is returning to her home country of Thesolo from her time living in New York, where she expected her life to be glamorous and filled with friends but was actually filled with loneliness. She feels like she’s constantly waiting for her life to begin.
I thought everything about Johan aka Prince Jojo was so well done. The emotional depth he has that’s hidden from everyone, even the younger half-brother he loves so much, because he wants to protect himself from being hurt by someone who he cares too much for. It was brilliant.
I wish I would have started with book 1 in the series because I think both characters are featured in previous books, but I was able to get to know them and their friends and enjoy this as a standalone.
Also, her calling a penis an "eggplant emoji" made me LOL multiple times
orangejasmine's review
3.0
This was fine. The background plot (referendum and Nya's dad) was a huge step up from the background plots in the last two books. The Phokojoe fairy tale was lovely and I honestly would read a whole book of fairy tales by Alyssa Cole. The Lukas plot line was good.
The "oh la la"s that happened in this book were weird. The Liechtenbourgish language was a very weird hybrid of French and German and that brought me out of the story a bit. Ultimately, the story just didn't quite hit the mark for me.
The "oh la la"s that happened in this book were weird. The Liechtenbourgish language was a very weird hybrid of French and German and that brought me out of the story a bit. Ultimately, the story just didn't quite hit the mark for me.