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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Help, I’m in love. I mean, what a fucking book. I’m allowed to curse for this one, right?
So we have United Stated’s First Son and England’s actual Prince Charming, a match made in heaven... except they hate each other. And after a $75,000 dollars disaster they are forced to play nice with each other.
Only, maybe, hate is not what’s going on here. Maybe, without realizing it, they are everything the other never knew he needed. And so the emails, the texts, the banter, the sex, and the “babys” begin. And ever so slowly and in the most romantic, killing-me-slowly, take-my-breath-away way, they fall for each other, completely, beautifully, making my heart ache. The best way I can describe it is saying they come alive just by being close to each other, and it’s amazing how [a:Casey McQuiston|17949486|Casey McQuiston|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1568653196p2/17949486.jpg] could put that feeling into words. One of the best written books I’ve read in my life.
I liked how they dealt with everything together instead of freaking out and breaking up like fictional couples tend to do. I think that’s what really sets apart this book (and, of course, the incredible writing). Also, I fucking loved Nora. They way she laid down everything matter-of-factly made me laugh-cry more than once.
This book is just too much and nearly not enough. A true love story. Everything I aspire to have in a relationship. I’m in awe of how books can still affect me this much and make me feel this deeply. No words can explain how I feel right now, having read this and finding it so incredibly perfect. It is the ultimate perfect book with just the right amount of romance, comedy (died and came back laughing out load), drama and everything, truly everything, I hope a book would be. My heart is full. It is full because this book gave me just enough, of the relationship and the sassiness, to not be sad because it is over (even though I would like a second book) and that is very rare with me and books. I understand now, everyone telling me to read this book, and the hype (and god it is well deserved).
*swooning* *swooning so hard*
The only tiny little thing I had trouble with was the sex. This is advertised as new adult and the sex (or lack there of) was, at best, young adult. Yes, they have lots of sex but it really isn’t detailed. It is described beautifully, it truly is but it was lacking the step by step details of what was actually going on physically. I understand that the book is still new adult without the sex, but still I was a little disappointed in the area. Also, I gotta say that even though it is written in third-person, I didn’t mind that one bit. I felt just as close and just as drawn to the story as if it was written in first-person (and thank god it was a third-person limited point of view).
That said, I hope this one day happens in America and the world, really. A female president and an openly gay member of the royal family? Being accepted? Those are things we only dream about and I hope and pray one day they’ll become true.
I’ve been so incredibly lucky to have read so many amazing book this year (thanks to me friends here on goodreads) but I think this one takes the cake. Actually, I don’t think, I’m sure. I savored every single word of this wonderful masterpiece and I am very, very pleased with the pacing and how everything turned out. Much like they are to each other, they are everything I never knew I needed.
So, basically, what I’m trying to say as nicely as possible is: READ. THIS. BOOK right now.
He’s too perfect. Alex wants to poke it.
There’s a royal photographer right on the other side of the fence, so he smiles winningly and says through his teeth, “Let’s get it over with.” “I’d rather be waterboarded,” Henry says, smiling back. The camera snaps nearby. His eyes are big and soft and blue, and he desperately needs to be punched in one of them. “Your country could probably arrange that.”
So we have United Stated’s First Son and England’s actual Prince Charming, a match made in heaven... except they hate each other. And after a $75,000 dollars disaster they are forced to play nice with each other.
“...So, you can hate the heir to the throne all you want, write mean poems about him in your diary, but the minute you see a camera, you act like the sun shines out of his dick, and you make it convincing.”
Only, maybe, hate is not what’s going on here. Maybe, without realizing it, they are everything the other never knew he needed. And so the emails, the texts, the banter, the sex, and the “babys” begin. And ever so slowly and in the most romantic, killing-me-slowly, take-my-breath-away way, they fall for each other, completely, beautifully, making my heart ache. The best way I can describe it is saying they come alive just by being close to each other, and it’s amazing how [a:Casey McQuiston|17949486|Casey McQuiston|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1568653196p2/17949486.jpg] could put that feeling into words. One of the best written books I’ve read in my life.
And Alex’s heart doesn’t spread itself out in his chest, and he doesn’t have to grip the edge of the settee to steady himself. Because that’s what he would do if he were here in this palace to fall in love with Henry, and not just continuing this thing where they fly across the world to touch each other and don’t talk about it. That’s not why he’s here. It’s not.
He’s watching Henry’s face—he can’t imagine looking at anything other than Henry’s face right now—and his expression goes so soft and his mouth so happy and astonished that Alex’s voice speaks without his permission, a hoarse “baby”.
I liked how they dealt with everything together instead of freaking out and breaking up like fictional couples tend to do. I think that’s what really sets apart this book (and, of course, the incredible writing). Also, I fucking loved Nora. They way she laid down everything matter-of-factly made me laugh-cry more than once.
“Numbers on me being into dudes?” That pulls Nora up short, before she cocks her head to the side and says, “Seventy-eight percent probability of latent bisexual tendencies. One hundred percent probability this is not a hypothetical question.”
This book is just too much and nearly not enough. A true love story. Everything I aspire to have in a relationship. I’m in awe of how books can still affect me this much and make me feel this deeply. No words can explain how I feel right now, having read this and finding it so incredibly perfect. It is the ultimate perfect book with just the right amount of romance, comedy (died and came back laughing out load), drama and everything, truly everything, I hope a book would be. My heart is full. It is full because this book gave me just enough, of the relationship and the sassiness, to not be sad because it is over (even though I would like a second book) and that is very rare with me and books. I understand now, everyone telling me to read this book, and the hype (and god it is well deserved).
Alex forgets, momentarily, about the pancakes and everything else, not because he wants to do absolutely filthy things to Henry—maybe even with the apron still on—but because he loves him, and isn’t that wild, to know that that’s what makes the filthy things so good.
“Seriously,” he says. Henry’s looking back at him, beautiful and vital and heartsick and still, always, the person Alex is willing to risk ruining his life for. “I hate this so much. I know. But we’re gonna do it together. And we’re gonna make it work. You and me and history, remember? We’re just gonna fucking fight. Because you’re it, okay? I’m never gonna love anybody in the world like I love you. So, I promise you, one day we’ll be able to just be, and fuck everyone else.”
*swooning* *swooning so hard*
The only tiny little thing I had trouble with was the sex. This is advertised as new adult and the sex (or lack there of) was, at best, young adult. Yes, they have lots of sex but it really isn’t detailed. It is described beautifully, it truly is but it was lacking the step by step details of what was actually going on physically. I understand that the book is still new adult without the sex, but still I was a little disappointed in the area. Also, I gotta say that even though it is written in third-person, I didn’t mind that one bit. I felt just as close and just as drawn to the story as if it was written in first-person (and thank god it was a third-person limited point of view).
That said, I hope this one day happens in America and the world, really. A female president and an openly gay member of the royal family? Being accepted? Those are things we only dream about and I hope and pray one day they’ll become true.
I’ve been so incredibly lucky to have read so many amazing book this year (thanks to me friends here on goodreads) but I think this one takes the cake. Actually, I don’t think, I’m sure. I savored every single word of this wonderful masterpiece and I am very, very pleased with the pacing and how everything turned out. Much like they are to each other, they are everything I never knew I needed.
So, basically, what I’m trying to say as nicely as possible is: READ. THIS. BOOK right now.
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. There were a lot of great stuff: I loved Henry and Alex, both in their own right and together. They make the best couple. Their respective friend and sibling pair were wonderful. Completely unrealistic dynamic, but I love all of it regardless.
I loved this view of America - a progressive, modern, fresh, forward-moving future with a female and POC president, who has surrounded herself with diverse people of all ages, races, sexual orientations, etc. It's the view many people had of America. Unfortunately, reality kept messing with my brain while reading this. It's all a bit too shiny, a bit too perfect. No America that exists right now would ever elect a female POC. Or an openly gay senator. Or process a running candidate for president for tampering with the election. And that really pushed me out of the narrative.
Especially since the first impression I had was 'oh nice, a very cool, progressive America that likes change for the better'. However that is only the world Alex lives in. You can tell all the misogyny, racism, bigotry, etc. all still exist under the veneer of privilege.
The last section of this book coincidentally takes places on Nov 3, 2020. I just so happened to read it on exactly that date, while the election results were coming in, in the USofA. It was a very strange phenomena - on the one side we have this fictional, spruced up world in which a female, Democratic, POC is running for reelection against a typical WASP, older, male, rich elite. On the other hand we have two old, male, rich WASPs - one completely insane and the other not far off with his crazy neoliberal lifestyle - and still it's a huge controversey.
I know I would have enjoyed this book more without the heavy political messages. Without so much heavy handed Americanness. I'm so tired of hearing about America and it's messed up politics all the time. The romance and characters were nice, but not enough to deal with that huge shadow hanging over this book.
I loved this view of America - a progressive, modern, fresh, forward-moving future with a female and POC president, who has surrounded herself with diverse people of all ages, races, sexual orientations, etc. It's the view many people had of America. Unfortunately, reality kept messing with my brain while reading this. It's all a bit too shiny, a bit too perfect. No America that exists right now would ever elect a female POC. Or an openly gay senator. Or process a running candidate for president for tampering with the election. And that really pushed me out of the narrative.
Especially since the first impression I had was 'oh nice, a very cool, progressive America that likes change for the better'. However that is only the world Alex lives in. You can tell all the misogyny, racism, bigotry, etc. all still exist under the veneer of privilege.
The last section of this book coincidentally takes places on Nov 3, 2020. I just so happened to read it on exactly that date, while the election results were coming in, in the USofA. It was a very strange phenomena - on the one side we have this fictional, spruced up world in which a female, Democratic, POC is running for reelection against a typical WASP, older, male, rich elite. On the other hand we have two old, male, rich WASPs - one completely insane and the other not far off with his crazy neoliberal lifestyle - and still it's a huge controversey.
I know I would have enjoyed this book more without the heavy political messages. Without so much heavy handed Americanness. I'm so tired of hearing about America and it's messed up politics all the time. The romance and characters were nice, but not enough to deal with that huge shadow hanging over this book.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated
EL MEJOR FUCKING LIBRO DE LA HISTORIA!!!
Alex te amo y adoro pero Henry… veeeeerga, simplemente el es todo y lo amo.
Son la pareja que el mundo necesita y me encantan
2-Ago-21: Leerlo una segunda vez claramente me hizo apreciarlo mucho más, tantas escenas que en la primera lectura no aprecié, me sirvió para confirmar que es el mejor libro que he leído <3
Alex te amo y adoro pero Henry… veeeeerga, simplemente el es todo y lo amo.
Son la pareja que el mundo necesita y me encantan
2-Ago-21: Leerlo una segunda vez claramente me hizo apreciarlo mucho más, tantas escenas que en la primera lectura no aprecié, me sirvió para confirmar que es el mejor libro que he leído <3
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
El libro nos lleva a un mundo paralelo donde en EE.UU gobierna una mujer (casada con un hombre hispano -ojalá esto ocurriera más pronto que tarde tbh-.) Y en la casa real británica no está la reina Elizabeth II, si no una reina de características similares llamada Mary.
La trama se centra en el príncipe Henry y en el hijo de la primera presidenta, Alex. Su relación nunca ha sido algo que brillara por el saber estar y lo bien que congeniaban, no. Alex siempre le ha tenido tirria a Henry por ser un bien queda y tener una personalidad altiva. Sin embargo, en la boda real de Philip, el hermano mayor de Henry, ambos tienen un encontronazo del que se hace eco la prensa sensacionalista de todo el mundo.
Para poder salir de tal meollo, los gabinetes de relaciones internacionales deciden redactar un contrato por el que ambos tienen que dejarse ver en publico varias veces. Al principio esto no les hace gracia a ninguno de los dos, pero poco a poco van viendo que no son tan distintos como parecía en un principio. Alex comprueba que Henry lleva todo por dentro; a pesar de ser muy correcto todo lo que le reconcome se lo guarda para sí mismo.
Su relación se va estrechando poco a poco, primero con mensajes de texto y luego con llamadas en momentos desesperados en los que alguno de los dos necesita desahogarse (reelecciones/una vida falsa). Sin embargo, la fiesta de fin de año hace que todo cambie entre ellos. Henry en un momento de enajenación besa a Alex quien pese a quedarse en un primer momento en shock le devuelve el beso.
Como os podréis imaginar a partir de este momento ambos personajes se enfrenten a un gran caos.
Me encanta esta versión alternativa de lo que serían las relaciones entre USA y UK. En cuanto al libro me ha sorprendido la verosimilitud de los hechos sobre la reelección electoral y todo lo que implica el mundo de la política.
Es un libro romántico LGTB+ por lo que es un gran SÍ.
La trama se centra en el príncipe Henry y en el hijo de la primera presidenta, Alex. Su relación nunca ha sido algo que brillara por el saber estar y lo bien que congeniaban, no. Alex siempre le ha tenido tirria a Henry por ser un bien queda y tener una personalidad altiva. Sin embargo, en la boda real de Philip, el hermano mayor de Henry, ambos tienen un encontronazo del que se hace eco la prensa sensacionalista de todo el mundo.
Para poder salir de tal meollo, los gabinetes de relaciones internacionales deciden redactar un contrato por el que ambos tienen que dejarse ver en publico varias veces. Al principio esto no les hace gracia a ninguno de los dos, pero poco a poco van viendo que no son tan distintos como parecía en un principio. Alex comprueba que Henry lleva todo por dentro; a pesar de ser muy correcto todo lo que le reconcome se lo guarda para sí mismo.
Su relación se va estrechando poco a poco, primero con mensajes de texto y luego con llamadas en momentos desesperados en los que alguno de los dos necesita desahogarse (reelecciones/una vida falsa). Sin embargo, la fiesta de fin de año hace que todo cambie entre ellos. Henry en un momento de enajenación besa a Alex quien pese a quedarse en un primer momento en shock le devuelve el beso.
Como os podréis imaginar a partir de este momento ambos personajes se enfrenten a un gran caos.
Me encanta esta versión alternativa de lo que serían las relaciones entre USA y UK. En cuanto al libro me ha sorprendido la verosimilitud de los hechos sobre la reelección electoral y todo lo que implica el mundo de la política.
Es un libro romántico LGTB+ por lo que es un gran SÍ.
Ahora mismo están a punto de estrenar la adaptación en Prime y tenía muchas ganas de releer el libro para prepararme para la peli.
Este libro lo leí en 2020, o sea que había muchos detalles de los que no me acordaba y que he disfrutado mucho redescubriendo. En su momento me pareció una maravilla que la autora planteara una relación entre el Primer Hijo y un príncipe heredero de la monarquía Británica, simplemente *cheff kisses*. Pero que además, planteara que EE.UU. pudiera ser gobernado por una mujer, es que adoramos.
Es un libro que se me he leído en a penas dos días, estaba super dentro de la historia de Álex y Henry. He puesto más de 30 postits en todo el libro y es que es una historia super cute y dulce.
Este libro lo leí en 2020, o sea que había muchos detalles de los que no me acordaba y que he disfrutado mucho redescubriendo. En su momento me pareció una maravilla que la autora planteara una relación entre el Primer Hijo y un príncipe heredero de la monarquía Británica, simplemente *cheff kisses*. Pero que además, planteara que EE.UU. pudiera ser gobernado por una mujer, es que adoramos.
Es un libro que se me he leído en a penas dos días, estaba super dentro de la historia de Álex y Henry. He puesto más de 30 postits en todo el libro y es que es una historia super cute y dulce.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
hopeful
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:
No
Witty, honest and unserious, this book is everything a romcom should be. The language may not be the most ornate, but the story is beautifully written and well paced. The characters are all so adorable, with Alex and Henry taking the cake. I also have to highlight how empowring their story is for all those that see themselves in these brave and brilliant men. If you're looking for an insanely cute couple in an idyllic and escapist story with an incredible message, this is the book for you.
Ofc the story is mainly told in tongue-in-cheek humour, but Casey McQuiston's talent really shines in her more serious moments. All of Henry and Alex's romantic emails and Bea's dissection of grief were such heartstring tuggers. I did actually cry multiple times towards the end of the book; when Texas flashed blue on the screen, I was overcome with pride and I'm not even American.
This book is really good, but I must admit I am probably not the right person to read it. This was written in a very different time of American politics and I am far too cynical to forget what I know now to fully enjoy this book.
And as a victim of British colonisation, I could not fully like Henry. I know it's not his fault he is who he is, but I could not help but resent him at so many points in the book. When he vowed to use the crown's money for charity work, as if it was his money to give away. When he and his friends danced around in silk kimonos, a blatant show of money and a whisper of appropriated culture (old habits die hard). When he spoke so sweetly of the stolen art in a museum built by the leader of the pillagers, I was angry. Even with all that respect, all it is is just altars built for kidnapped deities. His reverance is not atonement. By the end of the book, I still did not believe he was sorry enough. None of them were. So even though I was rooting for him, I could not fully respect him.
I am fully aware this book is self-indulgent wish fulfillment. So I am not condemning this book at all, it's just not for me.What I am sad about is we never got more about one Rafael Luna. Easily the most interesting character in this book. When we find out his backstory towards the end of the book, I was gobsmacked. What I would have given for a novella about him, written all gritty and poetically tragic a la TSOA.
This book is really good, but I must admit I am probably not the right person to read it. This was written in a very different time of American politics and I am far too cynical to forget what I know now to fully enjoy this book.
I am fully aware this book is self-indulgent wish fulfillment. So I am not condemning this book at all, it's just not for me.