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3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
*Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Young Listeners for the ELC. All opinions are my own.*
I was really excited about the premise of this book. The cover was sweet and the plot sounded like a fun time, but unfortunately it fell really flat for me. I found the characters to be a bit one-dimensional throughout most of their interactions and it was very hard for me to buy into the storyline, even over 3/4 of the way through. The pacing felt clunky at times and the plot felt too one-note. In a post-Red White & Royal Blue world, a book like this has to deliver more than it did, there has to be more chemistry there. And I just didn’t get much from it at all. I found I had to force myself to listen at times.
I was really excited about the premise of this book. The cover was sweet and the plot sounded like a fun time, but unfortunately it fell really flat for me. I found the characters to be a bit one-dimensional throughout most of their interactions and it was very hard for me to buy into the storyline, even over 3/4 of the way through. The pacing felt clunky at times and the plot felt too one-note. In a post-Red White & Royal Blue world, a book like this has to deliver more than it did, there has to be more chemistry there. And I just didn’t get much from it at all. I found I had to force myself to listen at times.
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:
No
*thank you netgalley and publishers for this digital ARC*
i was really excited about this book based off of the description because i love the princess diaries! the idea of a queer gender-bent princess diaries esq story was like something i wished for in a dream, but the reality was not quite what i was hoping for. the story itself is very straightforward and the characters are very likable, my main issue is the writing. this truly felt like it was written by a 17 year old boy. which kind of makes sense given the age of the main characters, but the writing just felt so flat the whole time. i think part of that was the lack of conflict. it felt like the story had no depth at all. whenever there was a glimmer of conflict, it was resolved in the next page or even by the end of the paragraph. even the main idea that jamie johnson, a normal american boy, finds out that he is a prince, is met with a smile and very little conflict. no real internal or external struggle with the new culture, people, or family he is now part of.
the main "conflict" of the story is a fight between jamie and his best friend max, but it is never very serious because the fight is basically them ignoring each others texts and not speaking, which is not a very interesting conflict. the second biggest conflict is that erik and jamie can't be together because erik's grandma doesn't approve, but that gets solved within a chapter! i just felt like the lack of conflict made the characters very shallow and would have liked some more exploration into their inner psyche.
other than that, it's a cute, lighthearted read and it's great for fans of the princess diaries or queer romance lovers!
i was really excited about this book based off of the description because i love the princess diaries! the idea of a queer gender-bent princess diaries esq story was like something i wished for in a dream, but the reality was not quite what i was hoping for. the story itself is very straightforward and the characters are very likable, my main issue is the writing. this truly felt like it was written by a 17 year old boy. which kind of makes sense given the age of the main characters, but the writing just felt so flat the whole time. i think part of that was the lack of conflict. it felt like the story had no depth at all. whenever there was a glimmer of conflict, it was resolved in the next page or even by the end of the paragraph. even the main idea that jamie johnson, a normal american boy, finds out that he is a prince, is met with a smile and very little conflict. no real internal or external struggle with the new culture, people, or family he is now part of.
the main "conflict" of the story is a fight between jamie and his best friend max, but it is never very serious because the fight is basically them ignoring each others texts and not speaking, which is not a very interesting conflict. the second biggest conflict is that erik and jamie can't be together because erik's grandma doesn't approve, but that gets solved within a chapter! i just felt like the lack of conflict made the characters very shallow and would have liked some more exploration into their inner psyche.
other than that, it's a cute, lighthearted read and it's great for fans of the princess diaries or queer romance lovers!
emotional
The Rules of Royalty by Cale Dietrich is a contemporary royal romance with all the charm, intrigue, and conflict you'd expect from a story about love colliding with duty. With a mix of heartwarming moments, intense dilemmas, and plenty of royal drama, it’s a story that will resonate with fans of royal courtships and self-discovery.
Dietrich has a knack for creating engaging characters who are easy to root for. Jamie, with his reluctance to embrace his royal destiny, is relatable and empathetic. Erik, in contrast, is more reserved and bound by duty, but his gradual opening up to Jamie is both tender and believable. Their developing relationship is sweet and grounded in their shared experiences of navigating a life dictated by others, making it easy to invest in their journey.
The setting is lavish, with the descriptions of the palaces, the royal duties, and the dramatic political landscape drawing readers into a world of opulence and tension. Dietrich balances the glamour of royal life with the internal struggles of both princes, capturing the weight of tradition and the personal cost of following a royal path.
Strengths:
- Well-developed, relatable characters with emotional depth.
- An engaging romance that feels authentic and develops organically.
- An interesting exploration of duty versus personal desire, set against the backdrop of royal life.
Challenges:
- Some readers may find the pacing a bit slow at times, particularly in the build-up to the romance.
- The conflict, while meaningful, feels somewhat predictable in parts.
Book Recommendation:
The Rules of Royalty is perfect for fans of books like Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston or The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan. It combines the best elements of royal intrigue and heartwarming romance, with a refreshing take on what it means to be true to yourself amidst the pressure of duty and expectation.
The Rules of Royalty is perfect for fans of books like Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston or The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan. It combines the best elements of royal intrigue and heartwarming romance, with a refreshing take on what it means to be true to yourself amidst the pressure of duty and expectation.
TV Recommendation:
For a TV series that mirrors the dynamics of The Rules of Royalty, I’d recommend The Royals. This show delves into the lives of a modern-day British royal family, where the younger generation is constantly under pressure to live up to their royal duties. With themes of rebellion, romance, and navigating the complexities of public life, it’s a great match for this story about two princes struggling to balance their hearts with the weight of their crowns.
For a TV series that mirrors the dynamics of The Rules of Royalty, I’d recommend The Royals. This show delves into the lives of a modern-day British royal family, where the younger generation is constantly under pressure to live up to their royal duties. With themes of rebellion, romance, and navigating the complexities of public life, it’s a great match for this story about two princes struggling to balance their hearts with the weight of their crowns.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Cute romance novel better suited for the younger YA demographic.
I appreciated how much queerness this book included. However, the writing style was very simplistic and it was hard to distinguish the two POVs. Everything felt super matter-of-fact easy and taken in stride without much of a rollercoaster of emotions.
ARC provided by Netgalley.
I appreciated how much queerness this book included. However, the writing style was very simplistic and it was hard to distinguish the two POVs. Everything felt super matter-of-fact easy and taken in stride without much of a rollercoaster of emotions.
ARC provided by Netgalley.
There was literally no conflict.
This was a sweet fish-out-of-water story about two princes: one whos always been a prince, and one who just found out he's one.
After Jamie finds out on his 17th birthday that his mysterious unknown father is, in fact, a king, he is not sure what to do with that news. But he is excited to travel to spend some time with the father he's never known in a country he's never seen. Erik, the prince of a nearby country, is recruited by the king to help Jamie learn how to be a prince.
I thought this was fun, though you don't want to think about the intricacies too hard. Like, would the royal family really pressure a 17/18 year old to hurry up and establish a relationship with the aim of getting married? Regardless, it's an entertaining read, and Jamie and Erik were cute together.
After Jamie finds out on his 17th birthday that his mysterious unknown father is, in fact, a king, he is not sure what to do with that news. But he is excited to travel to spend some time with the father he's never known in a country he's never seen. Erik, the prince of a nearby country, is recruited by the king to help Jamie learn how to be a prince.
I thought this was fun, though you don't want to think about the intricacies too hard. Like, would the royal family really pressure a 17/18 year old to hurry up and establish a relationship with the aim of getting married? Regardless, it's an entertaining read, and Jamie and Erik were cute together.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I enjoyed the last Cale Dietrich book I read, so I was optimistic that I might like the next book in the same vein. But sadly, I was really let down by The Rules of Royalty. It comes down to a number of factors, from life just being chaotic right now (personal stuff kept me from really engrossing in the book), picking this up after another bad read I fortunately DNFed, and the fact that this book skews toward younger YA.
The leads have reasonably interesting character arcs, but that’s let down by them having virtually identical narrative voices, so it’s easy to forget whose head you’re in. And that resulted in me not really caring when things happened, either on a personal level for either lead, or about their romance, since neither was really fleshed out or given their own voice.
I did like the strides made to make the monarchies a bit more progressive by acknowledging children born out of wedlock and them being queer not being a massive deal, but the result was the book lacked a lot of the royal intrigue and stakes to keep the story interesting.
But given I didn’t like the Red, White & Royal Blue to begin with, a “tamer” version that does more or less the same thing for a younger audience falls flat for me.
While I really wasn’t a fan of this book, I think it’s great that readers who may not be ready for/interested in the more explicit content of RWRB have this as an alternative. On the off chance queer royal romance is your thing, and you don’t mind that it skews a little younger in terms of its target audience, I recommend giving it a chance.
emotional
funny
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:
N/A
As a millennial who grew up loving The Princess Diaries (and who are we kidding, I still love it) and who is queer, The Rules Of Royalty is exactly my thing. This story is fun and real despite the outlandishness of the premise. The characters drive the story, and their growth and development as queer teens is very relatable, with a side of craziness with their royal identities. Ultimately, this story is about self-acceptance and standing up for yourself. It's sweet, genuine, and just so much fun. I listened to this on audio, and that was a super fun experience. The narrators (Major Curda and Max Meyers) did a wonderful job of embodying the characters of Erik and Jamie. This story is simple and easy to enjoy. If you're queer and love The Princess Diaries, then this is definitely worth checking out.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Cute, but seemed a little wordy at times. I kept envisioning a combination of the Tangled kingdom and Julie Andrews as the Queen of Genovia.
ARC graciously provided by NetGalley.
ARC graciously provided by NetGalley.