A review by aingram
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-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? No

4.0

It's a very fun read, I wouldn't say I'm going to remember it for a long time or anything. It's not the kind of thing that "stays with you". But it's a fun queer book that includes discussion of homophobia in the world but ultimately the central characters are surrounded by good people. The "climax" events of the plot I didn't find overwhelming or unsurprising but there's a few things that might warrant a trigger warning.

Overall, it's a great fiction romance story surrounding queer characters.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Colonisation, Homophobia, Death of parent, and Sexual assault

Minor: Gaslighting, Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, and Racism

The trigger warnings are mostly minor, if labelled as moderate it's because they come up a number of times. But nothing is described in any great detail. Even homophobia which is the most like significant is only in a certain high level sense and direct to a main character from other characters that do have a mild redemption. Overall it's an ensemble of characters who deeply care and respect each other. Also given the position of the main characters (politically, which I believe is in the book blurb) the discussion of homophobia and some of the other factors makes a lot of sense. This isn't meant to be a fictional universe like Schitts Creek (TV show reference) where the world has no misogyny or homophobia. It's meant to be a universe that has those things but paints a picture of progress.