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jamiejanae_6's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Grief, and Outing
Minor: Addiction, Cancer, Bullying, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
captainoliimar's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Gun violence, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Grief, and Homophobia
Moderate: Medical trauma, Stalking, Racism, Misogyny, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Biphobia, Lesbophobia, Colonisation, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Classism, Cursing, Gaslighting, Racial slurs, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Infidelity, and Sexism
Minor: Genocide, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Deportation
im_just_vidu's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Naaaaaw. Why are you doing this to me? I want more. What happened next? What's about that Alex's memory lane thing they went and suddenly BOOP, The end. The hell is that? Tell me what happened there. Did they kiss and stared at night sky or something? Please tell me. At least tell me more about the progress about their relationship. I want a sequel. With all the details we missed on. It's been 3 years since this book published and there's no sequel with it. How? Just how? Am I the only one who's eager to know more? Yes, I very much like open endings and all. But I can't accept this. Not like this. I want to know more. I'm probably going to see them in my dreams.
Well, let's keep aside those bitter feelings for a moment. And just admire how great book this is. Actually, I didn't know a single detail about this book except it's about queer romance, more specifically about a gay story which two boys fall in love. I didn't even know that it's royal. Cute, isn't it? Well, I'm glad I didn't know because maybe it made me enjoy this more and more. I had mixed feelings about this because many people said many things about this. Some liked it so much while some hate it too. Some said it's overhyped and some said it's not THAT good. So, I wasn't sure that I might end up liking it. Because I normally don't like those popular books, most of the people fall in love with. Most of the time I end up with mixed feelings, because if it isn't that good, I end up worrying what did I actually missed that everyone enjoyed. Well, I'm glad that didn't happen to this. I very much am in love with this book. Last year I read "Boyfriend Material" and I don't remember another book that two guys fall in love so beautifully. Well, they do in here. And that's so romantic. I have a serious question for the author. Or maybe for the people who noticed the thing I missed. Where did you get the idea of the name for the book? Is it because both country flags have red and blue in it? Or that one little sentence Henry says about 'Royal Blue?' I would be very much glad to know about someones' idea on that.
Talking about the story, it's hands down BEAUTIFUL. I want someone in my life who would write poems and essays and love letters with so much love in them. Well, that's a huge goal to have, but anyhow you got my point. In my head I can't describe how perfect man Henry is. He's the goddamn definition of perfection. Well, that doesn't mean Alex isn't. The beautiful thing about Alex is he isn't perfect. It's beautiful how perfectly imperfect he is. And that's so lovely. It's so beautiful how they match for each other. It's like Henry is the most shining golden lock with only one key in the world, and Alex is that key. That key fit perfectly. That key which is the only thing that can open the lock for the heart of Henry. That one and only key which fits perfectly for that beautiful shining lock.
I should mention about Alex's support gang. It must be soo cool to have a sister like June. Who will always know what's going on your mind, and will always jump into any pit, for the sake of your brother. Well, I can't forget about Nora too. A human calculator friend you will meet only once in your lifetime. Who you can pretend like you're dating just to fool others and have a good laugh. And also, Alex's mom. I always see people lose their humanity with the titles and power they gain. But her, she's the best ever you can ask because before she's the president in the country, she's a mother. A mother who will always care about her children's feelings more than the outside world. A mother who will always care about her child's mental health than the news reports. A mother who will order pizza and have fun nights with her children even though they're grown people and also even when she has tons of work to do. Alex's father, who is so quick at seeing their child's inner thoughts, who is accepting them for who they are and spend more time with them even when they're a broken family in the inside. Well, Alex's stepfather should also have more credit for tolerating everything and being there with the president and not second guessing his decisions about letting himself to be part of a family where another man is also in. That is the most imperfect family yet so good at keeping the bond so strong.
Henry's family on the other hand is a perfect disaster. Maybe that's what happens when you inherit the royalty. Him losing his dad might be the worst thing happened to him, because who is better than a dad that a boy can share his feelings with. His brother? Hell NO. I was so frustrated at Philip for most of the book because WHO THE HELL he is he think he is? Who the hell he is to tell someone to ignore their feelings, ignore their sexuality and ignore everything about themselves for the sake of ROYALTY? For the sake of portraying a WELL BUILD beautiful royal family. The fuck he thinks he is to make someone regret for being the way they are. Oh, I don't like him at all. Him and his mf attitude. Bea on the other hand is the sweet cutie pie in Henry's life just like June in Alex's life. I like how she tries to make sense to everyone else that "just because you don't see it , doesn't mean it's not there". Same goes with Henry's mom, the royal mom who is still thinks that her adult son is the clumsiest one. Well, he isn't, but you get the point. I like something somewhere in the book how Alex sees her. Henry's bravery, "I always thought he got it from it his father. But looking at her going against the queen and against the whole world, I can see from where he got it". Isn't that beautiful? I like that sentence so so much. She is claiming, "even though I'm not the queen, I'm a mom who's in her sixties who knows what to do and when to do the right thing". I love her for that.
You know what I love more? The love letters. Well, they are not exactly letters, obviously because they're emails but how lovely is that. Quoting someone who said something centuries ago because that feels perfectly fit to the moment. And they were not like " Hi, how are you? I'm fine, thank you" kind of bullshit. They were pure ART. Art that you can see someone learns for the literature after few decades. They were that much beautiful. Thinking that you really don't have a chance with each other to, 'Let's change the history' type of art. They were that beautiful. I like how it's not "I miss you & I love you" type of love letters. Well yes, they miss and love each other as anyone does but the way they do is art. You can't tell me otherwise. Who the hell would study history and literature and find the perfect quotes to send to your loving one and tell them about all the different leaders who were exactly like them? No one. Only these two can do it so perfectly. So, I'm in love with their beautiful love letters. I mean who is willing to have a long-distance relationship and write letters like Alex and Henry when they have thousands and thousands of miles between them. This is why most of the readers are single. Who wants a relationship if it's not like the prince charming does? Why would you settle for anything lower than someone who's willing to throw their royalty and crown away?
And lastly, I love them. Them who would participate for international charity events just to steal a glance of the other one. Them who will fly hours and hours and stand in front of the royal gate in the rain, just to say sorry. Them who will give up on sleep because time zone differences don't work well. Them who would come to the other side of the world because you got to know about a news that might makes the other sad and upset. Them who would willing to give up on everything for the other one. Them who hated each other so much without knowing it was love. Them who hated each other because they loved them more than everything. Them, who said 'yes' when their mother asks, "you sure about this thousand percent?". Them who's scared to death yet take the challenge for the other one. Them, who were not ashamed to be themselves, not even for a millisecond. Them, who choose the other one until the very end. And them, who made the history without hesitation. So, with every single second I love them to the core. Because at the end of the day, it was always, "History huh?"
Talking about the story, it's hands down BEAUTIFUL. I want someone in my life who would write poems and essays and love letters with so much love in them. Well, that's a huge goal to have, but anyhow you got my point. In my head I can't describe how perfect man Henry is. He's the goddamn definition of perfection. Well, that doesn't mean Alex isn't. The beautiful thing about Alex is he isn't perfect. It's beautiful how perfectly imperfect he is. And that's so lovely. It's so beautiful how they match for each other. It's like Henry is the most shining golden lock with only one key in the world, and Alex is that key. That key fit perfectly. That key which is the only thing that can open the lock for the heart of Henry. That one and only key which fits perfectly for that beautiful shining lock.
I should mention about Alex's support gang. It must be soo cool to have a sister like June. Who will always know what's going on your mind, and will always jump into any pit, for the sake of your brother. Well, I can't forget about Nora too. A human calculator friend you will meet only once in your lifetime. Who you can pretend like you're dating just to fool others and have a good laugh. And also, Alex's mom. I always see people lose their humanity with the titles and power they gain. But her, she's the best ever you can ask because before she's the president in the country, she's a mother. A mother who will always care about her children's feelings more than the outside world. A mother who will always care about her child's mental health than the news reports. A mother who will order pizza and have fun nights with her children even though they're grown people and also even when she has tons of work to do. Alex's father, who is so quick at seeing their child's inner thoughts, who is accepting them for who they are and spend more time with them even when they're a broken family in the inside. Well, Alex's stepfather should also have more credit for tolerating everything and being there with the president and not second guessing his decisions about letting himself to be part of a family where another man is also in. That is the most imperfect family yet so good at keeping the bond so strong.
Henry's family on the other hand is a perfect disaster. Maybe that's what happens when you inherit the royalty. Him losing his dad might be the worst thing happened to him, because who is better than a dad that a boy can share his feelings with. His brother? Hell NO. I was so frustrated at Philip for most of the book because WHO THE HELL he is he think he is? Who the hell he is to tell someone to ignore their feelings, ignore their sexuality and ignore everything about themselves for the sake of ROYALTY? For the sake of portraying a WELL BUILD beautiful royal family. The fuck he thinks he is to make someone regret for being the way they are. Oh, I don't like him at all. Him and his mf attitude. Bea on the other hand is the sweet cutie pie in Henry's life just like June in Alex's life. I like how she tries to make sense to everyone else that "just because you don't see it , doesn't mean it's not there". Same goes with Henry's mom, the royal mom who is still thinks that her adult son is the clumsiest one. Well, he isn't, but you get the point. I like something somewhere in the book how Alex sees her. Henry's bravery, "I always thought he got it from it his father. But looking at her going against the queen and against the whole world, I can see from where he got it". Isn't that beautiful? I like that sentence so so much. She is claiming, "even though I'm not the queen, I'm a mom who's in her sixties who knows what to do and when to do the right thing". I love her for that.
You know what I love more? The love letters. Well, they are not exactly letters, obviously because they're emails but how lovely is that. Quoting someone who said something centuries ago because that feels perfectly fit to the moment. And they were not like " Hi, how are you? I'm fine, thank you" kind of bullshit. They were pure ART. Art that you can see someone learns for the literature after few decades. They were that much beautiful. Thinking that you really don't have a chance with each other to, 'Let's change the history' type of art. They were that beautiful. I like how it's not "I miss you & I love you" type of love letters. Well yes, they miss and love each other as anyone does but the way they do is art. You can't tell me otherwise. Who the hell would study history and literature and find the perfect quotes to send to your loving one and tell them about all the different leaders who were exactly like them? No one. Only these two can do it so perfectly. So, I'm in love with their beautiful love letters. I mean who is willing to have a long-distance relationship and write letters like Alex and Henry when they have thousands and thousands of miles between them. This is why most of the readers are single. Who wants a relationship if it's not like the prince charming does? Why would you settle for anything lower than someone who's willing to throw their royalty and crown away?
And lastly, I love them. Them who would participate for international charity events just to steal a glance of the other one. Them who will fly hours and hours and stand in front of the royal gate in the rain, just to say sorry. Them who will give up on sleep because time zone differences don't work well. Them who would come to the other side of the world because you got to know about a news that might makes the other sad and upset. Them who would willing to give up on everything for the other one. Them who hated each other so much without knowing it was love. Them who hated each other because they loved them more than everything. Them, who said 'yes' when their mother asks, "you sure about this thousand percent?". Them who's scared to death yet take the challenge for the other one. Them, who were not ashamed to be themselves, not even for a millisecond. Them, who choose the other one until the very end. And them, who made the history without hesitation. So, with every single second I love them to the core. Because at the end of the day, it was always, "History huh?"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Cursing, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent
addyisnothere's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Biphobia, Homophobia, Sexual content, Outing, and Mental illness
Moderate: Medical content, Drug abuse, Racism, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Drug use, Grief, and Gaslighting
Minor: Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Cancer
saurahsaurus's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Outing, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Biphobia, and Classism
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Drug use, Addiction, Grief, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Sexual content
Minor: Genocide, Slavery, Terminal illness, and Abandonment
ruthiedr89's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Addiction, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Drug use
hayleythegoose's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, and Outing
Moderate: Addiction, Racism, Sexual content, Homophobia, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Rape, Abandonment, Biphobia, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, and Stalking
neni's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
This was quite cute. The characters were lovable and not super shallow and tropey, but the premise was sufficiently tropey and self-aware in a satisfying way. The extensive discussion of White House inner functionings and American politics was mostly interesting and entertaining but there were a few points where I started to get bored of it. Mostly, I think, because I'm not very familiar with how it all works and not particularly interested in finding out, so some of the jargon and the drama went over my head.
I adored the emails they exchanged and the respective range of the subjects and emotions: from cute and hilarious to the most romantic sappy shit I've ever seen (reciting quotes from famous author's and american personalities love letters to each other - UGH YES PLEASE). I WAS TOTALLY INTO IT.
Lowkey kinda disappointed the smut scenes were very much not explicit, mostly vague imagery over in 3 lines. I'm not sure if this book is considered young adult or not, but they're both adults and I would have liked the steaminess to have been turned up a notch, especially considering other romance books I read. The fact this was a queer romance story shouldn't mean the sex needs to be censured or less explicit, but an argument can also be made that, unlike other romance novels, this one had a lot going on plot-wise that didn't revolve around the main character's relationship drama - namely the election - so maybe it made sense there was more attention put into plot and character development, than the sex scenes. As much as I'm a ho for good smut, I can respect that decision.
The last few chapters were really wholesome in vibe, I found myself being swept up in the election excitement and actually got a little emotional at the ending results, even though I never thought I'd get that into politics lol.
It's interesting to see how the author didn't go for the usual romance novel route of having half the book being just about them "will they won't they". 20% in and they already had a thing going, the rest was just them navigating their relationship (in significantly complicated circumstances) and quite a bit of plot was dedicated to the election efforts, which I found refreshing.
Overall, I really liked this. It was a perfect escapist read, especially considering the topic (politics) and the optimist "faith in humanity" vibes, which normally don't really come hand in hand. In this current mess of a world, it was quite soothing to read an "alternate universe" where people in power can do good things and be good humans, even though it made the whole thing less "realistic". No one reads romance for the realism though, so I have nothing bad to say on that front.
The romance was quite cute, had some hilarious bits of banter in it, and the characters were lovable and not super shallow. Great read!
I adored the emails they exchanged and the respective range of the subjects and emotions: from cute and hilarious to the most romantic sappy shit I've ever seen (reciting quotes from famous author's and american personalities love letters to each other - UGH YES PLEASE). I WAS TOTALLY INTO IT.
Lowkey kinda disappointed the smut scenes were very much not explicit, mostly vague imagery over in 3 lines. I'm not sure if this book is considered young adult or not, but they're both adults and I would have liked the steaminess to have been turned up a notch, especially considering other romance books I read. The fact this was a queer romance story shouldn't mean the sex needs to be censured or less explicit, but an argument can also be made that, unlike other romance novels, this one had a lot going on plot-wise that didn't revolve around the main character's relationship drama - namely the election - so maybe it made sense there was more attention put into plot and character development, than the sex scenes. As much as I'm a ho for good smut, I can respect that decision.
The last few chapters were really wholesome in vibe, I found myself being swept up in the election excitement and actually got a little emotional at the ending results, even though I never thought I'd get that into politics lol.
It's interesting to see how the author didn't go for the usual romance novel route of having half the book being just about them "will they won't they". 20% in and they already had a thing going, the rest was just them navigating their relationship (in significantly complicated circumstances) and quite a bit of plot was dedicated to the election efforts, which I found refreshing.
Overall, I really liked this. It was a perfect escapist read, especially considering the topic (politics) and the optimist "faith in humanity" vibes, which normally don't really come hand in hand. In this current mess of a world, it was quite soothing to read an "alternate universe" where people in power can do good things and be good humans, even though it made the whole thing less "realistic". No one reads romance for the realism though, so I have nothing bad to say on that front.
The romance was quite cute, had some hilarious bits of banter in it, and the characters were lovable and not super shallow. Great read!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault, Racism, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, and Drug use
kyrstin_p1989's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
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
4.0
Another really well done lovers-to-enemies. I honestly thought I wouldn’t like this book but it is incredibly sweet and satisfying. It’s LGBTQ+ and incorporates politics into a story about an America that could be. I wish this was a historical fiction about what actually happened after Obama left office instead of what actually transpired. The story is fun and sexy even if it’s completely impossible to imagine actually happening.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Confinement, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Outing, Sexual content, Biphobia, Car accident, Classism, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
fandomslash's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Outing
Minor: Homophobia, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, and Addiction