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3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
"The Rules of Royalty" was a super cute story. It felt like a fun new story with a mix of fun from The Princess Diaries (book) and Young Royals (TV). It was a refreshing, engaging, and charming YA romance novel.
We meet Jamie as he is being told Mia Thermopolis style that instead of just being an average 17 year old he thinks he is, he's actually a prince. His biological dad, the King, figures this will be a lot for Jamie to adjust to and enlists help from Prince Erik, a spare heir from a neighboring country to help train Jamie on all things Royalty.
I loved watching these characters open up to each other, and also in that process learn about themselves. The story captures how hard it can be to grow up and push against expectations families have for us. I particularly loved the way Jamie's family comes together to support him. It showed a diverse family coming together to support one another in a way that I thought was super sweet. I also loved how much Erik's brother supported him and cheered him on.
I recommend you pick up this book if you love a fun royalty romance story! Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was just the syrupy sweet fluffy read that I needed. It really is the right combination of The Princess Diaries, The Unlikely Heir, and Red, White and Royal Blue. It truly is the embodiment of a fairy tale - The Brothers Grimm without the violence.
Jamie is such a golden retriever character. His ability to just role with the punches when he finds out the truth is enviable. After taking some time to process his new role, he jumps in feet first with no hesitation. He learns, and he grows, and he's not afraid to ask for help. The fact that the royal family is so welcoming to him, rather than resorting to the cliche of the jealous stepmom or half brother, is a breath of fresh air.
Erik is the character living in a cage. There are certain aspects of his life where he has more freedom than is typical of books like this. He's out, he's proud, and he's a role model for the people of his country in that respect. It's heartwarming to see just how much he learns from Jamie about what his role could be, and who he could be, despite him being the one who is supposed to be teaching.
It was also refreshing to see a story that wasn't "We have to be a secret because we're in the closet." for once. It did move a little bit slowly for my taste at times, but overall this was a wonderful, warm fuzzy kind of read. Exactly the kind of book one needs to escape into from time to time.
I received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Jamie is such a golden retriever character. His ability to just role with the punches when he finds out the truth is enviable. After taking some time to process his new role, he jumps in feet first with no hesitation. He learns, and he grows, and he's not afraid to ask for help. The fact that the royal family is so welcoming to him, rather than resorting to the cliche of the jealous stepmom or half brother, is a breath of fresh air.
Erik is the character living in a cage. There are certain aspects of his life where he has more freedom than is typical of books like this. He's out, he's proud, and he's a role model for the people of his country in that respect. It's heartwarming to see just how much he learns from Jamie about what his role could be, and who he could be, despite him being the one who is supposed to be teaching.
It was also refreshing to see a story that wasn't "We have to be a secret because we're in the closet." for once. It did move a little bit slowly for my taste at times, but overall this was a wonderful, warm fuzzy kind of read. Exactly the kind of book one needs to escape into from time to time.
I received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Gen Z's dream come true! Everyone shares their feelings openly, and families are super wholesome. Realistic? Maybe not. Adorable? Absolutely!
And even though it’s a romance novel, it’s perfectly PG-13.
Thanks to Wednesday Books for an advance reader copy of this book.
Thanks to Wednesday Books for an advance reader copy of this book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia, Death of parent, Outing
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was so so excited to pick up this book! As a fan of Young Royals, these seemed like such a perfect book "version" of the show.
Unfortunately, I rated the book fairly low, and knew from the first chapter that the writing style was not for me. I powered through and completed the book mainly because it was an easy breezy book to just pick up when ever I had a free moment. I do not think that this book is objectively bad, but I rate books quite subjectively, and this book simply was not my type of favorite read.
Although the characters are 17/18 years old, this book is more suited to a much younger audience. The writing is a little cringey to me and it is more tell than show, the conflicts that arise in the book are easily and quickly dealt with (even the third act conflict was very quickly resolved), and the characters (especially Jaime) just read much much younger than 17/18. I would guess that a younger teen would probably really love this book, especially because so many important topics are discussed within the text and the story is very easy to follow.
I just wanted something that read more older YA/adult, dealt with more complex themes that were not easily resolved, and most of all, I prefer books that are written in a more complex manner.
Thanks to Wednesday Books at St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!
Unfortunately, I rated the book fairly low, and knew from the first chapter that the writing style was not for me. I powered through and completed the book mainly because it was an easy breezy book to just pick up when ever I had a free moment. I do not think that this book is objectively bad, but I rate books quite subjectively, and this book simply was not my type of favorite read.
Although the characters are 17/18 years old, this book is more suited to a much younger audience. The writing is a little cringey to me and it is more tell than show, the conflicts that arise in the book are easily and quickly dealt with (even the third act conflict was very quickly resolved), and the characters (especially Jaime) just read much much younger than 17/18. I would guess that a younger teen would probably really love this book, especially because so many important topics are discussed within the text and the story is very easy to follow.
I just wanted something that read more older YA/adult, dealt with more complex themes that were not easily resolved, and most of all, I prefer books that are written in a more complex manner.
Thanks to Wednesday Books at St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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:
Yes
The Rules of Royalty was such a fun surprise for me. Cale Dietrich writes a really good story and ties it all together so neatly at the end. You’ll want to check this one out!~
Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press|Wednesday books for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
The Rules of Royalty is The Princess Diaries meets Young Royals with a sprinkling of Red White & Royal Blue, and I am here for it!
Jamie, a normal American teenager, finds out his biological father is a king. When he goes overseas to meet him, his father asks teenage prince, Erik, to tutor Jamie on all things royalty. Of course their relationship does not stay teacher and student and Erik’s grandmother, the Queen, does not approve, leading to a smidge of teenage angst and a lot of cute moments.
This is a lighthearted easy read that got me out of a reading slump and made me happy.
Thank you to Cale Dietrich, NetGalley and Wednesday Books at St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
Jamie, a normal American teenager, finds out his biological father is a king. When he goes overseas to meet him, his father asks teenage prince, Erik, to tutor Jamie on all things royalty. Of course their relationship does not stay teacher and student and Erik’s grandmother, the Queen, does not approve, leading to a smidge of teenage angst and a lot of cute moments.
This is a lighthearted easy read that got me out of a reading slump and made me happy.
Thank you to Cale Dietrich, NetGalley and Wednesday Books at St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Contemporary Romance + Young Adult + LGBTQ
This is a queer young adult romance. The plot revolves around two princes from different countries who are neighbors. It was inspired by "The Princess Diaries." One of them is Jamie Johnson, who, up until the time he turned seventeen, was completely unaware that he was supposed to be a prince. The second one is Erik Von Rosenborg, the prince of a European Kingdom.
Erik is asked to tutor Jamie on everything about being a prince. How to speak, how to conduct oneself, and all of the associated royal etiquette. During the course of all of that, the two young princes develop feelings for one another, which ultimately leads to the beginning of a romantic relationship between them.
The narrative is told in the first person, but it is told from the points of view of the two main characters. Even though the story is endearing and the book itself is adorable, it lacks any kind of depth. This is the kind of story that is ideal for going through when you are looking for something simple to read that does not contain a lot of tension. You are going to have a good time with it, but I do not think you will remember it for a very long time.
My primary criticism of the writing in this piece is directed toward the voices of the two main characters. They are very similar, and it is hard to distinguish them from each other. Even though the events of the story allow you to differentiate between the two voices, the point I am trying to make is that both voices share the same characteristics. I feel these primary characters needed to be more unique.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book.
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes