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A review by rosesandproses
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
I read this book after watching the movie on Amazon, and it is a much different experience than the movie. If you watched the movie, you will enjoy the book, but they have some very key differences. I mean all this in the most neutral way: I enjoyed both in different ways.
Alex is the POV I kind of love to hate because he is a little shithead, although I imagine if this were told from Henry's POV or switched between them, the pacing would be much slower. I love the pace of this book, and it makes me more confident in my own preferred writing style that leans on vinettes and not always a perfect flow from event to event.
I mean, I saw the movie first, so I knew generally how the story would go and end, but I enjoyed watching the events unfold with the nuance and extra detail of the book that just doesn't fit so well in a two hour movie.
And yeah this is largely a romance novel, and a damn fine one at that, but as someone who was closer to the characters' ages at the time of the 2016 and 2020 elections when the novel takes place, I really appreciated the role of politics in the book. I laughed at the jokes, screaming "too soon!" to myself sometimes remembering how the reality of those situations went down.
The use of articles in this book is also excellent. The role of the media, newspapers, magazines, tabloids, social media, etc is so central to the story and McQuiston uses them brilliantly. None of these pieces felt out of place. Even the format of including text and email conversations is just *chef's kiss* and blends well into the storytelling.
Love the representation in this book as well. It's just sort of there. There's callouts to different aspects of characters where it's important (especially because politics), but characters exist as whole people and not token minorities.
Love this book. Borrowed a copy from a friend but will probably be buying my own to reread. I feel like this really changed how I look back on those particular elections in the real world and gives them a bit of a silver lining instead of the dread I usually saw them in, which is definitely not what I was expecting from a romance novel.
Alex is the POV I kind of love to hate because he is a little shithead, although I imagine if this were told from Henry's POV or switched between them, the pacing would be much slower. I love the pace of this book, and it makes me more confident in my own preferred writing style that leans on vinettes and not always a perfect flow from event to event.
I mean, I saw the movie first, so I knew generally how the story would go and end, but I enjoyed watching the events unfold with the nuance and extra detail of the book that just doesn't fit so well in a two hour movie.
And yeah this is largely a romance novel, and a damn fine one at that, but as someone who was closer to the characters' ages at the time of the 2016 and 2020 elections when the novel takes place, I really appreciated the role of politics in the book. I laughed at the jokes, screaming "too soon!" to myself sometimes remembering how the reality of those situations went down.
The use of articles in this book is also excellent. The role of the media, newspapers, magazines, tabloids, social media, etc is so central to the story and McQuiston uses them brilliantly. None of these pieces felt out of place. Even the format of including text and email conversations is just *chef's kiss* and blends well into the storytelling.
Love the representation in this book as well. It's just sort of there. There's callouts to different aspects of characters where it's important (especially because politics), but characters exist as whole people and not token minorities.
Love this book. Borrowed a copy from a friend but will probably be buying my own to reread. I feel like this really changed how I look back on those particular elections in the real world and gives them a bit of a silver lining instead of the dread I usually saw them in, which is definitely not what I was expecting from a romance novel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault and Drug abuse
Mention of sexual assault but no explicit description, Bea is a recovered addict and her struggle with addiction and recovery is mentioned