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tamaramarie's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
3.5
thebookberrie's review
Well this was a book! I'm so upset because a couple of my friends have liked this book so I was hoping I would too but no... I don't.
A Princess in Theory is about a woman named Naledi who has been getting spam emails about how she's betrothed to a prince. Only the emails aren't spam. Prince Thabiso is the only heir to Thesolo and has decided to track down his missing betrothed.
I liked the beginning part and I did like Naledi's character but this book quickly fell in territory that did not work for me. Thabiso just shows up in Naledi's life and literally stalks her. Literally. He shows up at her job pretending to be a new hire and then he bribe's Naledi's elderly neighbor to take a vacation so he can live next to Naledi. They soon begin a sexual relationship, all while he lies about his name and who he is. It was absolutely disgusting and of course she forgives him but I don't. I just can't get behind that kind of thing and it was all shady as hell.
A romance novel and I hate the romance? Yeah this wasn't going well. To make matters worse, Thabiso is so ridiculously clueless about human life he doesn't even seem like a prince from another country. No, he feels like an alien sent beamed down from space to try to pretend to be human but is spectacularly bad at it.
The plot was not believable. None of this ended up being believable and as the book went on, it just kept getting worse. Maybe if this had taken place in a fantasy world or another reality where any of this made sense I would have believed it. The bad guy and big deal at the end just had me dead because it was just so badly done. It was all so unnecessary and extra too?? This is a romance novel, who cares about any of that?? Everything was solved SO EASILY too, even the romance.
Unfortunately not the book for me and I'm bummed.
A Princess in Theory is about a woman named Naledi who has been getting spam emails about how she's betrothed to a prince. Only the emails aren't spam. Prince Thabiso is the only heir to Thesolo and has decided to track down his missing betrothed.
I liked the beginning part and I did like Naledi's character but this book quickly fell in territory that did not work for me. Thabiso just shows up in Naledi's life and literally stalks her. Literally. He shows up at her job pretending to be a new hire and then he bribe's Naledi's elderly neighbor to take a vacation so he can live next to Naledi. They soon begin a sexual relationship, all while he lies about his name and who he is. It was absolutely disgusting and of course she forgives him but I don't. I just can't get behind that kind of thing and it was all shady as hell.
A romance novel and I hate the romance? Yeah this wasn't going well. To make matters worse, Thabiso is so ridiculously clueless about human life he doesn't even seem like a prince from another country. No, he feels like an alien sent beamed down from space to try to pretend to be human but is spectacularly bad at it.
The plot was not believable. None of this ended up being believable and as the book went on, it just kept getting worse. Maybe if this had taken place in a fantasy world or another reality where any of this made sense I would have believed it. The bad guy and big deal at the end just had me dead because it was just so badly done. It was all so unnecessary and extra too?? This is a romance novel, who cares about any of that?? Everything was solved SO EASILY too, even the romance.
Unfortunately not the book for me and I'm bummed.
lacyparrish's review
3.5
Solid reimagining of Cinderella-meets-generic fairy tale. I wish each character had been a bit better drawn, as there was so much potential with the history between the families to use. The reveals happen thick and fast at the end and the resolution seems a bit simplistic.
Full Rating (out of 10 possible): 6.857 (based on a modified CAWPILE system)
Romance level (out of 5 possible): 3 (for on-page, intimacy scenes with some details)
Full Rating (out of 10 possible): 6.857 (based on a modified CAWPILE system)
Romance level (out of 5 possible): 3 (for on-page, intimacy scenes with some details)
bookishrealm's review
5.0
I loved it. I loved it. That is all. And this is coming from someone who doesn’t read a lot of contemporary or romance. I loved their dynamic with each other and the real ness of their relationship. The steamy scenes were perfect!! I will be doing a full review of this book so stay tuned!
peytonm's review
5.0
Ledi, a STEM grad school student, is dealing with misogyny in her lab, a problematic best friend, and spam emails claiming she is an African prince's betrothed. Please, she doesn't have time... except it's true and the prince comes to find her. Thabiso goes along with a case of mistaken identity ("Jamal") in order to get to know his betrothed and find out why her family betrayed his. There's even some fake relationship tossed in there. It's great! I inhaled it! Can't wait to read more from Alyssa Cole.
julie2525's review against another edition
3.0
Themes: False Identity, Fated Mates, Royalty, Women at Work, Man more romantic that woman, light mystery, Series
Ledi grew up an orphan in the States, jostled between foster parents, having no memory of her youngest days. Now she's now a graduate student in Epidemiology, works 2 jobs, and avoids attachments with other people. Thabiso knew Ledi from childhood. They were betrothed as babies, and when her parents fled to NYC, he missed her and dreamed of seeing her again. The story begins with him coming to the states to find her. She mistakes him for a new hire, and he rolls with it. The spark and the false identify are real. So are the revelation and reaction. At this point you might be thinking that all the Epidemiology and Biostats references are a bit much. 1) They are a bit much 2) We actually do talk and think like that 3) It's important for Part II of the book. Part II takes place in Thesolo. A mysterious outbreak is occurring Ledi's birth town. Ledi figures it out.
I kept being distracted while reading this book. This might be bc this takes place in current time, and even though it's about a fake country, I tend to not like modern love stories. My biggest issue is that the mystery at the climax of the story is not particularly advanced for someone who actually studied epidemiology and reads a lot of mysteries. I mean, I liked the book. It was fine. I wanted to love it.
Ledi grew up an orphan in the States, jostled between foster parents, having no memory of her youngest days. Now she's now a graduate student in Epidemiology, works 2 jobs, and avoids attachments with other people. Thabiso knew Ledi from childhood. They were betrothed as babies, and when her parents fled to NYC, he missed her and dreamed of seeing her again. The story begins with him coming to the states to find her. She mistakes him for a new hire, and he rolls with it. The spark and the false identify are real. So are the revelation and reaction. At this point you might be thinking that all the Epidemiology and Biostats references are a bit much. 1) They are a bit much 2) We actually do talk and think like that 3) It's important for Part II of the book. Part II takes place in Thesolo. A mysterious outbreak is occurring Ledi's birth town. Ledi figures it out.
I kept being distracted while reading this book. This might be bc this takes place in current time, and even though it's about a fake country, I tend to not like modern love stories. My biggest issue is that the mystery at the climax of the story is not particularly advanced for someone who actually studied epidemiology and reads a lot of mysteries. I mean, I liked the book. It was fine. I wanted to love it.