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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
A Royal Mile , the second novel in the Return to Dublin Street series, introduces us to Lily and Sebastian.
I always love the idea of second generation novels and, knowing Samantha Young's work well, I knew that I'd be swept up in a story of the present whilst still paying proper homage to what has gone before.
Fear not though, this book much like the first in the series can be read and thoroughly enjoyed as standalone novels BUT, in my opinion, you'll want to follow this series and may even go back to the ODS series.
The story of Lily and Sebastian takes 'slow burn' to a whole new level as these friends fight their attraction to each for such a long time before breaking.
The development of the romantic relationship that follows is well worth the wait, and you'll be swept up in the way Sebastian worships Lily and the ground she walks upon.
I really liked the supporting cast in this novel, too, and I hope I see more of them, even if it's not part of this latest series.
I don't know what's next for Samantha Young, but regardless, I can't wait!
I always love the idea of second generation novels and, knowing Samantha Young's work well, I knew that I'd be swept up in a story of the present whilst still paying proper homage to what has gone before.
Fear not though, this book much like the first in the series can be read and thoroughly enjoyed as standalone novels BUT, in my opinion, you'll want to follow this series and may even go back to the ODS series.
The story of Lily and Sebastian takes 'slow burn' to a whole new level as these friends fight their attraction to each for such a long time before breaking.
The development of the romantic relationship that follows is well worth the wait, and you'll be swept up in the way Sebastian worships Lily and the ground she walks upon.
I really liked the supporting cast in this novel, too, and I hope I see more of them, even if it's not part of this latest series.
I don't know what's next for Samantha Young, but regardless, I can't wait!
I absolutely loved this book! First…I 100% recommend everyone to listen to the audio! Man oh man!!! The narrators were so good!!! They brought these characters to life!!! Not gonna lie I just laid down and shut my eyes and let the movie in my mind begin! I was hooked immediately!! It was a one sit listen for me!! This is definitely one of those reads that when it ends you are going to start whining that it ended! This book could have kept going on for so much longer! I loved Lilly and Sebastian so much!! If you are a fan of enemies to friends, friends to lovers, college, slow burn romances make sure to read this one!!
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Samantha Young is an author I will always pick up, knowing that she will provide be with a swoon worthy romance that will fill my heart with the hope and joy! A Royal Mile is the second installment in Young’s On Dublin Street spin off series, giving the reader a charming new adult couple to root for. Young’s writing is clear and engaging, her characters are fresh and genuine, and seeing the children of beloved characters getting their HEAs is a true delight!
This is Sebastian and Lily’s romance that weaves together a bit of enemies to friends to friends with benefits to lovers in a seamless way that feels authentic and true to who these characters are and where they are in their lives. Young beautiful progresses their relationship in a natural way that the gravity of their relationship feels real and deep. These two are true soul mate who orbit each other, support each other and care for each other on this deep level that sometimes causes them pain. I really enjoyed watching them navigate their feelings for each other, and learning how to stand up for themselves when push comes to shove. Their romance is endearing, sweet and sensual all wrapped up in this sizzling package! I found that the development and growth of their relationship was perfectly paced in order to really build a foundation of trust for each of them to push the other out of their comfort zone and grow in themselves and together.
If you love a friends to lovers, this novel is a true treat, with a grad school, Scotland setting with the British royalty vibes. Samantha Young never disappoints me and this is a solid addition to her universe!
Thank you so much to Valentine PR for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is Sebastian and Lily’s romance that weaves together a bit of enemies to friends to friends with benefits to lovers in a seamless way that feels authentic and true to who these characters are and where they are in their lives. Young beautiful progresses their relationship in a natural way that the gravity of their relationship feels real and deep. These two are true soul mate who orbit each other, support each other and care for each other on this deep level that sometimes causes them pain. I really enjoyed watching them navigate their feelings for each other, and learning how to stand up for themselves when push comes to shove. Their romance is endearing, sweet and sensual all wrapped up in this sizzling package! I found that the development and growth of their relationship was perfectly paced in order to really build a foundation of trust for each of them to push the other out of their comfort zone and grow in themselves and together.
If you love a friends to lovers, this novel is a true treat, with a grad school, Scotland setting with the British royalty vibes. Samantha Young never disappoints me and this is a solid addition to her universe!
Thank you so much to Valentine PR for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was a rollercoaster of a slow burn romance that bridged the social divide as it swung from friends to enemies and then back to friends before taking the ultimate step to lovers for local girl Lily Sawyer, a student and podcaster about to start her fourth year of her psychology degree at Edinburgh university and Sebastian Thorne, an engineering student and a bonafide member of the aristocracy complete with a place in the line for the throne. He’d had nefarious reasons for originally seeking out Lily which exploded in his face, leaving him realising how much he’d come to rely on having her in his life, not just because she had liked him for himself, but he genuinely enjoyed her company and became determined to win back her friendship.
This book was a wonderful blend of genuine heart and emotion as in part it delicately tackled the challenging issues of guilt and anxiety over body shape for Sebastian and Lily and the effects they had on their lives. Past boyfriends had left Lily had self conscious and lacking in confidence about her curvy shape but the real angst came from Sebastian and his guilt over something in his past and his penance was he wouldn’t allow himself to be completely happy whether it was doing something he loved or allowing himself to fall in love. Balancing out the angst was the pure fun and joy in all the friendships. From Sebastian and Lily to the ones with their flat mates who eventually all came together in a large, blended group. And the humour that ran through the book especially from anything involving January, Lily’s sister who was surely put on this earth to drive her sister and her mum insane and had me chuckling stealing every scene she appeared in. If you love enemies to lovers’ romances with all the feels, you won’t want to miss A Royal Mile. Loaded with all the ‘Hs’ - heat, humour, heart, and a happily ever after that will leave you breathless with the ultimate grand gesture from Sebastian as he proved his love publicly. Sebastian and Lily’s relationship had so many ups and downs and they they deserved their HEA.
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Every time I read a book by the author, there's this connection you make with the characters who draws you into the story with all of the emotions. It was a somewhat slow beginning but as you'd got the connection with Lily & Sebastian, the story picked up and I felt very invested into the relationship but there were also moments that I could definitely relate with Lily which always leaves an impression when you can feel close throughout the story. Another great read!
Lily is going through a lot and has a podcast with her friends but the one person she started to trust blindsided her and she wants to stay as far as possible. But when an experiment leads them back together, Sebastian definitely tries to make her that everything just was a misunderstanding. As she's willing to give him another chance, they both agree to be friends. As they are getting to know each other, Sebastian still has a lot of scars of his own that he needs to deal with as he still tends to push people away but there's something about Lily that feels differently. Will they find their way in the end?...
Lily is going through a lot and has a podcast with her friends but the one person she started to trust blindsided her and she wants to stay as far as possible. But when an experiment leads them back together, Sebastian definitely tries to make her that everything just was a misunderstanding. As she's willing to give him another chance, they both agree to be friends. As they are getting to know each other, Sebastian still has a lot of scars of his own that he needs to deal with as he still tends to push people away but there's something about Lily that feels differently. Will they find their way in the end?...
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Cursing, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Shy Lily Sawyer’s personality attracts playboy Sebastian Thorne’s attention and he finds himself scheming to get into her beautiful world in A Royal Mile by Samantha Young!
I was shocked the book started the way it did. Lily’s known to be understanding and sweet however I was turning pages to find out how Sebastian ruined their relationship. This was a well-paced story with flashbacks so there were times of much needed speed reading.
Sebastian was a very swoon worthy surprise! He was more than a playboy with a killjoy internal conflict, he was a cinnamon roll when it came to his family and of course Lily. I loved his amazing and very public declaration of love, and the hilarity during the scene. There was definitely groveling and grand gestures in this book! Plus, there was a declaration of forever!!!
Lily’s a lovely character! She was everything Sebastian needed as a friend and more. I loved that her personality through her podcast attracted him before he found out how gorgeous she was in all ways. I loved her strength to set boundaries when the time came. She deserved the best!
One of the themes in Young’s Return to Dublin Street series and its predecessor On Dublin Street series is amazing family and friends. Although there was treachery in this story, there was an abundant amount of good intentions, high vibes, and good natured teasing in the family circles and in the friends circle.
If you enjoy individuals creating a great foundation of friendship and love encompassed their world, then you’ll adore this book! If you enjoy rivals to friends to lovers, one bed, reformed playboys, yearning, and a slow burn to name a few, then I highly recommend this book!
Thank you @authorsamanthayoung for my advanced review copy which I received in exchange for an honest review.
𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁:
This was my first book by Samantha and wow I’m impressed, her characters are written with so much heart and depth. I love college age romance as there is so much growth and discovery. Be warned this book has a lot of angst and all the will they won’t they vibes but it’s so worth it for the end. The narrators did a fabulous jobs and I loved the accents I feel like I was transported to Scotland!
𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:
Lily is in her senior year and her course load is a lot. She hosts a podcast and shares relatable relationship advice. She has some skeletons in her closets when it comes to her previous relationship and she hopes she can prevent others experiencing the same thing. She is passionate and it means a lot to her. It’s one of the reasons she is studying Psychology. So when a rival podcast tries to undermine her work she doesn’t take it well, and she finds out one of the guys involved is Sebastian.
Sebastian is 30th online to the British throne but he doesn’t like to share that detail, he is studying civil engineering student but his true passion is art. He has a reputation as a player as he has some past trauma that prevents him from letting anyone get too close. But he’s drawn to Lilly. The only problem is she doesn’t want anything to do with him.
So Sebastian has to level up his game and show her he cares so he volunteers for a psych experiment just to talk. Lily decides to give him a chance and let him in, there is definitely chemistry between them. But Sebastian makes it very clear he is only looking for friendship but hoping Lily can be a big part of his life. Friendship is not always easy when there is attraction and with time lines blur and that trust that is built bleeds into more, but can they handle more?
𝙁𝙖𝙫 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚:
"It's better to get hurt trying than to ache with regret because you didn't."
𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅:
- Enemies-to-Friends-to-Lovers
- FMC Studying Psychology
- MMC Studying Civil Engineering & is Secret Artist
- He’s Member of Royal Family- 30th Inline
- He Put Her in “Friend Zone”
- Rival Podcasts Drama
- Slow Burn w/ Angst
- Edinburgh University, Scotland
- Dual POV
🏴🎙️🎓💛🏴🎙️🎓💛🏴🎙️🎓💛🏴
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