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3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
I received this both as an eARC from Netgalley and a Goodreads Giveaway, so this 2-star review will be for both.
As a Young Adult Librarian, I try to keep up with the latest Young Adult books coming out so I know what to recommend and select for the library's collection. Sometimes, I read something amazing that starts me on a journey to something new and exciting. Other times, like with this book, I keep allowing myself to be let down time and time again by the same author in the hopes that it'll reignite the love I felt for the first one I read by him.
Cale Dietrich wrote The Rules of Royalty. He wrote funny characters who sometimes made mistakes, but meant well. He also wrote 17 (almost 18 year olds) as if they were immature middle schoolers in their first relationship.
The Rules of Royalty has a very basic premise: an American boy is a secret prince of a European Nation and when he's told this, he visits said European Nation and is instantly beloved and perfect at being a prince/brother/son/etc. He meets Another Prince from Another European Nation and instant sparks and insta-love ensues.
I think what I struggled with is that Dietrich wrote this with alternating POVs between Jamie and Erik, but neither of them had a distinct voice. The only way to tell who was narrating what chapter was to see if the "I" pronoun was saying "Jamie" or "Erik" at any given time. I never really got a sense for what the characters looked like, what they liked about each other, or if they truly like each other or do they just have proximity heart eyes.
And the bit with Erik's grandmother. Like. I get it, you want to create conflict and tension. But you expect me to believe that someone who is almost a whole adult can't even fight for someone they think they love? They just roll over with barely a whimper? Where's the fight in Erik. Where is the drive to be something other than his grandmother's grandson?
Anyway. I really liked The Love Interest and I keep trying with this author, but I don't think I'll keep trying after this.
As a Young Adult Librarian, I try to keep up with the latest Young Adult books coming out so I know what to recommend and select for the library's collection. Sometimes, I read something amazing that starts me on a journey to something new and exciting. Other times, like with this book, I keep allowing myself to be let down time and time again by the same author in the hopes that it'll reignite the love I felt for the first one I read by him.
Cale Dietrich wrote The Rules of Royalty. He wrote funny characters who sometimes made mistakes, but meant well. He also wrote 17 (almost 18 year olds) as if they were immature middle schoolers in their first relationship.
The Rules of Royalty has a very basic premise: an American boy is a secret prince of a European Nation and when he's told this, he visits said European Nation and is instantly beloved and perfect at being a prince/brother/son/etc. He meets Another Prince from Another European Nation and instant sparks and insta-love ensues.
I think what I struggled with is that Dietrich wrote this with alternating POVs between Jamie and Erik, but neither of them had a distinct voice. The only way to tell who was narrating what chapter was to see if the "I" pronoun was saying "Jamie" or "Erik" at any given time. I never really got a sense for what the characters looked like, what they liked about each other, or if they truly like each other or do they just have proximity heart eyes.
And the bit with Erik's grandmother. Like. I get it, you want to create conflict and tension. But you expect me to believe that someone who is almost a whole adult can't even fight for someone they think they love? They just roll over with barely a whimper? Where's the fight in Erik. Where is the drive to be something other than his grandmother's grandson?
Anyway. I really liked The Love Interest and I keep trying with this author, but I don't think I'll keep trying after this.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This is a DNF for me.
I requested the ARC based on its comps, not realizing it was YA, with 17-year-old main characters. I gave the book a try anyway, and unfortunately, it doesn't work. If I were younger or still read YA romances, this would be right up my alley with a hidden prince situation.
I requested the ARC based on its comps, not realizing it was YA, with 17-year-old main characters. I gave the book a try anyway, and unfortunately, it doesn't work. If I were younger or still read YA romances, this would be right up my alley with a hidden prince situation.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
not bad at all just not as much substance as i had hoped for and the ending was super abrupt. felt like i never could connect with any characters
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
This was a fun YA read about Jamie Johnson, gay American high schooler, finding out he is the Prince of a small European country! He goes for the summer and the Prince of a neighbouring country is asked to give him ‘prince lessons’… although turns out Prince Erik is gay too, and he and Jamie really hit it off!
Unfortunately, Erik’s grandmother, the Queen, is not at all pleased that Erik wants a relationship with Jamie, and forbids him from dating Jamie, telling him he has to date the man she has chosen for him instead, Sebastian. But Sebastian doesn’t want to be in a relationship and definitely doesn’t care about Erik.
But the boys have grown close and Erik isn’t sure he wants to abide by his family’s rules any more…
I did like this - the premise of it being the Princess Diaries but gay was pretty accurate, but there were some glaring issues for me. Firstly, Erik’s grandmother is fine that he’s gay, but not fine with him dating a boy he chooses for himself… who is a literal prince? It seems like such a power trip and didn’t sit right with me. There is also a section where Jamie has a press conference after the press find out about him, and Erik agrees to help him prepare for it… by teaching him which forks to use at dinner and how to ride a horse? Huh? I also found the writing style a bit jerky - some unnecessary repetitiveness and unbelievable speech.
So overall a solid read but not one I’d read again I think. Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this book!
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When Jamie is told the truth about his birth mother it’s a shock. His father is the King of Mitanor, making him the heir to the throne.
We follow Jamie as he visits Mitanor to spend some time with his father. Helping him come to terms with his new status is Erik, the second son and spare of another royal family. Erik is tasked with educating Jamie in manners of etiquette…but neither of them are prepared for the developing feelings they have for each other.
The likelihood of such a scenario is low. The chance of everyone involved being as well-adjusted as they all are is slim. However, it’s hard not to find Jamie’s story entertaining.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this.
We follow Jamie as he visits Mitanor to spend some time with his father. Helping him come to terms with his new status is Erik, the second son and spare of another royal family. Erik is tasked with educating Jamie in manners of etiquette…but neither of them are prepared for the developing feelings they have for each other.
The likelihood of such a scenario is low. The chance of everyone involved being as well-adjusted as they all are is slim. However, it’s hard not to find Jamie’s story entertaining.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this.
This is really sweet but totally inconsistent with real life. The troubles they go through are silly and both princes are just... not fully fleshed out characters. There were moments when I genuinely thought they would be accused of being robots - especially during the press conference. I wanted to LOVE this but I did like it overall. I might not want to re-read this story often but I like Cale Dietrich's overall concept here and would like to read 'If This Gets Out' for sure
I got this book as an arc from the publisher and Netgalley for my honest review.
While I did end up enjoying this one, I would say that I'm probably not the target audience. I'm finding myself leaning more and more away from young adult books and I know that's 100% a me thing. I know there were a lot of things that happened in this book that were just too easy for me and I was expecting things to take a turn that it never really did.
But all that said, I would say that if you're looking for a book that really doesn't have high stakes, is just a nice pleasant read about two princes falling in love, I would definitely recommend this one. I feel like I read it at just the right time because I've been struggling a bit with reading lately, so reading such a fun little romance really was what I needed.
While I did end up enjoying this one, I would say that I'm probably not the target audience. I'm finding myself leaning more and more away from young adult books and I know that's 100% a me thing. I know there were a lot of things that happened in this book that were just too easy for me and I was expecting things to take a turn that it never really did.
But all that said, I would say that if you're looking for a book that really doesn't have high stakes, is just a nice pleasant read about two princes falling in love, I would definitely recommend this one. I feel like I read it at just the right time because I've been struggling a bit with reading lately, so reading such a fun little romance really was what I needed.