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3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
This book was very cute but ultimately not super memorable. Erik and Jamie are very similar protagonists, to the point that sometimes it was difficult to differentiate which chapter was from which of their points of view. The lack of any sort of adjustment period for Jamie was also a tad too unbelievable for me, even for a new take on the Princess Diaries. Jamie was a very eager protagonist and very cute, but there were also moments that bordered on cringe — particularly when it came to his use of social media post-prince-reveal.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks, Macmillan Audio, for the arc!
THE RULES OF ROYALTY by Cale Dietrich is a perfect storyline for me. It's pretty much a queer PRINCESS DIAIRIES, and I adore it! What I do not adore is this audiobook. Ohmigoodness, it does not make you sound British, royal, and rich if you talk slow, take long pauses, and literally sound like you are speaking with your nose in the air. I wanted to throw my phone every time Prince Erik Lindstrom spoke. I made it 15% before DNFing it because I couldn't handle it, especially not with how excellent the new Prince Jamie Johnson's narration was. This isn't a story I'm giving up on. I'm too intrigued and enjoying it too much just to fully DNF. I will read it because I need to know what happens and I was almost at the meet-cute!
Storyline so far: 5 stars
Royal cuteness: 4 stars (I think this will rise when I read it)
Audiobook: 2 stars (so much lost potential)
Current rating: 3 stars
THE RULES OF ROYALTY by Cale Dietrich is a perfect storyline for me. It's pretty much a queer PRINCESS DIAIRIES, and I adore it! What I do not adore is this audiobook. Ohmigoodness, it does not make you sound British, royal, and rich if you talk slow, take long pauses, and literally sound like you are speaking with your nose in the air. I wanted to throw my phone every time Prince Erik Lindstrom spoke. I made it 15% before DNFing it because I couldn't handle it, especially not with how excellent the new Prince Jamie Johnson's narration was. This isn't a story I'm giving up on. I'm too intrigued and enjoying it too much just to fully DNF. I will read it because I need to know what happens and I was almost at the meet-cute!
Storyline so far: 5 stars
Royal cuteness: 4 stars (I think this will rise when I read it)
Audiobook: 2 stars (so much lost potential)
Current rating: 3 stars
First thing’s first: thank you Netgalley for the ALC of this book!
I enjoyed this book! I thought it was sweet and cute and hopeful. This was Red, White, & Royal Blue meets The Princess Diaries and I ate it up! It really captured all the first love insecurity and excitement and I was kicking my feet. I loved the royals aspect of this!
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
i received an e-ARC and so am giving my honest review!
i LOVED this. with everything happening in the world right now, a fluffy mlm romance was exactly what i needed. i saw a lot of reviews complain about the lack of stakes or characters being 2-dimension and i have to disagree in that the lack of super high stakes made this more enjoyable for me. it let me relax and truly just enjoy the story and the romance. and id definitely disagree about 2-D characters. this was a book where i could clearly tell whose chapter i was reading based off their inner monologue/voice extremely easily. this was really enjoyable and i was really engaged and entertained the entire time reading. i felt as if the world building was done well in that it wasn’t overwhelming. i like books that don’t make you memorize tons and tons of words and cities etc. this was genuinely such a lighthearted and soft read and exactly what i needed at a time like this
i LOVED this. with everything happening in the world right now, a fluffy mlm romance was exactly what i needed. i saw a lot of reviews complain about the lack of stakes or characters being 2-dimension and i have to disagree in that the lack of super high stakes made this more enjoyable for me. it let me relax and truly just enjoy the story and the romance. and id definitely disagree about 2-D characters. this was a book where i could clearly tell whose chapter i was reading based off their inner monologue/voice extremely easily. this was really enjoyable and i was really engaged and entertained the entire time reading. i felt as if the world building was done well in that it wasn’t overwhelming. i like books that don’t make you memorize tons and tons of words and cities etc. this was genuinely such a lighthearted and soft read and exactly what i needed at a time like this
lighthearted
medium-paced
Such a cute story! Jamie and Erik are very likable but I the story took place in a matter of a few weeks, there isn't much room for character development or even to see their relationship grow. It's an easy read with a HEA.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
This book is cute, exactly what it says on the tin. But to enjoy it you have to suspend your disbelief beyond human comprehension.
There really is nothing to hate about this book, it can be very enjoyable but it was not much for me. I found the characters boring, and the extremely low stakes of the book made it so I couldn't feel that their character arcs were meaningful enough to feel something for them.
(It was also overwhelmingly plain in the approach to culture, which is something that as much as I tried, couldn't get past when this fictional's country language seems to be Spanish, my native language)
To me, many could enjoy this and love this, knowing this is exactly what it says on the tin, a sort of Princess Diaries meets Red, White and Royal Blue in a world where the stakes are as low as they can get.
There really is nothing to hate about this book, it can be very enjoyable but it was not much for me. I found the characters boring, and the extremely low stakes of the book made it so I couldn't feel that their character arcs were meaningful enough to feel something for them.
(It was also overwhelmingly plain in the approach to culture, which is something that as much as I tried, couldn't get past when this fictional's country language seems to be Spanish, my native language)
To me, many could enjoy this and love this, knowing this is exactly what it says on the tin, a sort of Princess Diaries meets Red, White and Royal Blue in a world where the stakes are as low as they can get.
Inspired by The Princess Diaries, this book follows Jamie as he learns on his seventeenth birthday that he is actually the prince of Mitonar. In order to help Jamie learn the ways of being a royal prince, Jamie’s father enlists the help of Erik, another prince. Jamie finds his life has changed so quickly, juggling newfound royal status, friendships, and expectations. Erik struggles with family expectations to date a politically strategic suitor. What ensues is an adorable slower burn romance. Read if you like Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, The Princess Diaries, royalty, male-male romance.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I enjoyed the plot, liked the book's premise, and didn't mind the swapped perspectives because it was done well. I was excited about the YA romance inspired by The Princess Diaries and read the book with my teenage godson. I loved that Jamie and Erik's family and friends were supportive of them especially as they're hitting adulthood. I would have liked a tad more from King Alexander & Queen Maria because Jamie's birth story along with his bio-mom deserved to be told a bit more, no doubt it would have had a tremendous impact on Jamie. Jamie's friends also could have been included a bit more because they seem fascinated, especially Max!
It would have been a 4 star read but the last chapter and epilogue felt flat and rushed for me. ARC was provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It would have been a 4 star read but the last chapter and epilogue felt flat and rushed for me. ARC was provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The telling instead of showing made it difficult to read, along with the two perspectives sounding identical to each other.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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 Princess Diaries meets the YA version of Red, White and Royal Blue. 🩷
Thank you to St Martin's Press / Wednesday Books and Netgalley for my ARC it was a delightful sweet story for those who loved The Princess Diaries and Red White and Royal Blue.
Where it was a sweet fizzy love story that would pair well with a Halmark Movie marathon , I still needed a little more depth of characters.
What you get:
🤴Two Princes
🤴tutoring royal etiquette
🤴video games and making out ; (So High School)
🤴Royal gardens and royal balls
🤴Summer that changes everything
This reads much like a Disney movie; all conflict is minimal. Both Jamie and Erik read like the same character so even though one just found out he was a Royal ; Erik is feeling similar difficulties navigating as his family keeps him on a short leash. I like that Jamie in his short time there was trying to make a philanthropic difference and LGTBQ is not treated as "different" in this country.
For those needing a quick sweet read I would recommend!
Thank you to St Martin's Press / Wednesday Books and Netgalley for my ARC it was a delightful sweet story for those who loved The Princess Diaries and Red White and Royal Blue.
Where it was a sweet fizzy love story that would pair well with a Halmark Movie marathon , I still needed a little more depth of characters.
What you get:
🤴Two Princes
🤴tutoring royal etiquette
🤴video games and making out ; (So High School)
🤴Royal gardens and royal balls
🤴Summer that changes everything
This reads much like a Disney movie; all conflict is minimal. Both Jamie and Erik read like the same character so even though one just found out he was a Royal ; Erik is feeling similar difficulties navigating as his family keeps him on a short leash. I like that Jamie in his short time there was trying to make a philanthropic difference and LGTBQ is not treated as "different" in this country.
For those needing a quick sweet read I would recommend!