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3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The book is for teens and it shows. There's barely any conflict, it's very cliché, the lack or research in some moments took me out of the story and some parts are in dire need of an edit, for some information is repeated and some not needed at all. I only finished it out of curiosity, as it is very cute, but the story is very forgettable.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really wanted to like this book, but it fell flat for me. The writing style was slightly off putting at times as it felt like Jamie’s POV kept breaking the fourth wall and was addressing the reader directly to explain things. For example, when explaining who his friends are there is a side bar thought about why a person calls another by their last name.
For many, many reasons this book required the reader to suspend a lot of disbelief. The top two being how easily a long, lost prince was accepted not only by his family, but by the public and why a royal family in the 21st century would be forcing a 17 year old to be in a long, term committed relationship.
Outside of all of the above, the hardest part for me to get past was how flat ALL of the secondary characters are. Every, single one of the characters outside of the 2 main were placeholders at best. They barely had personalities and didn’t impact the story at all. With all of the other characters being so flat, it really made it hard to like either main character. Jamie comes off as very, very naive and Erik is just there.
Overall, I wanted to enjoy this book and I was looking forward to it, but I just ended up disappointed.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
funny
lighthearted
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
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Really liked the main character, Jamie, a lot. He's very kind and sensible and I just loved that. Princess Diaries comparison doesn't hold up, though - not fleshed out enough, humorous enough, and there's only one mention of his cat.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book seemed to be the perfect formula of elements for a fun YA romance, so I was excited to pick it up. Unfortunately, around the one third mark, it became apparent that these elements weren't going to congeal into anything substantial. There are a thousand places for narrative conflict to pop up, but every time a potential plot point arises... it fizzles out. Everything is neatly resolved and everyone is so emotionally mature that there isn't really a story here. And I don't mean that the ending is wrapped up with a bow (though it is), but that any conflicts are resolved within the same CHAPTER. One of your friends accidentally leaks your royal status to the press? That's fine! He didn't mean to! You're kind of mad at your mom for keeping your dad's identity from you? That's also fine! She just wants what's best for you and as an emotionally mature and responsible young man, you understand that.
The one low-key tension through the background of the whole book is the main character's relationship with his best friend, Max. But we don't get enough of Max on the page to ever care about her, so it was hard for me to be invested. If the stakes of the actual plot are going to be so low, there really needs to be much more internal narrative and character depth to carry the book forward. Unfortunately, the reasons for the boys not to be together are contrived to the point of being silly.
Other important things happen off the page and get mentioned in passing, or aren't explored at all. I want more Tomas! What's it like finding out you have an older brother, and he's royalty? Is that intimidating? What about in the reverse? Did Tomas know he had a half brother this entire time? There's tension between the two countries, but what kind of tension? Military, trade stuff, something else?? Is Jamie's stepdad at ALL intimidated by this new father figure in his son's life? One who has infinite money, power, and privilege?? I DON'T CARE HOW CHILL YOU ARE, MIKE. THIS HAS TO AFFECT YOU SOMEHOW.
And finally, the crux of the issue is that our two main characters are just too two-dimensional. Their relationship is cute, but I simply did not care about it at all.
The one low-key tension through the background of the whole book is the main character's relationship with his best friend, Max. But we don't get enough of Max on the page to ever care about her, so it was hard for me to be invested. If the stakes of the actual plot are going to be so low, there really needs to be much more internal narrative and character depth to carry the book forward. Unfortunately, the reasons for the boys not to be together are contrived to the point of being silly.
Other important things happen off the page and get mentioned in passing, or aren't explored at all. I want more Tomas! What's it like finding out you have an older brother, and he's royalty? Is that intimidating? What about in the reverse? Did Tomas know he had a half brother this entire time? There's tension between the two countries, but what kind of tension? Military, trade stuff, something else?? Is Jamie's stepdad at ALL intimidated by this new father figure in his son's life? One who has infinite money, power, and privilege?? I DON'T CARE HOW CHILL YOU ARE, MIKE. THIS HAS TO AFFECT YOU SOMEHOW.
And finally, the crux of the issue is that our two main characters are just too two-dimensional. Their relationship is cute, but I simply did not care about it at all.
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes