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bookchainedsoul 's review for:
Red, White & Royal Blue
by Casey McQuiston
I was so torn over how to rate this book. I’ve put it in the middle but I actually have two ratings:
As a work of FICTION that is not in any way realistic, but a cute romance 5/5.
But as what was supposed to be a realistic parallel universe (according to the acknowledgements) and a political/social commentary 2/5 at best.
So first, the positives:
1) I thought the romance was cute. It wasn’t as deep or developed as I wanted it to be but I liked the general premise of the relationship, and different parts made me smile and laugh, etc.
2) I liked the characters individually, for the most part. Henry was sweet, Alex was kind of annoying but mostly endearingly, Bea and Nora and June were just fucking cool.
3) It’s really fun to read. I read it while I was on holiday so I didn’t have loads of time to read and I still devoured it quickly and absolutely loved it, I only realised all the flaws after finishing it. It’s a great read, and really immersive book.
4) The Waterloo Letters are so fucking cute. I love all the quotes and historical references (even if some aren’t entirely accurate).
Here are the issues, that once I took a step back and thought about really bothered me:
1) I’m British, and a history buff, so it was abundantly clear to me that the author didn’t do nearly enough research about the royal family for one of her main characters to be in the royal family. First of all, Henry would not be Prince of Wales, his mum, who is first in line for the throne, or his other brother Philip if his mum had abdicated (it wasn’t really made clear) would have that title as it is the traditional title of the heir. Henry would be the Duke of somewhere. Secondly, there were a lot of references to Henry being ‘the spare’ and him feeling the pressures of that. Our law changed a while ago, the next in line after his brother would be his older sister, she’s the ‘spare’ not him. The royal family isn’t that legislatively sexist anymore. He’s so far down the line of succession, especially once his siblings had kids, it really wouldn’t matter if he didn’t have any. Also Queen ‘Mary’ wasn’t very subtle in being hinting at Liz and she was a homophobic bitch and I think it’s incredibly unlikely that Queen Liz is anything like that so that just pissed me off, to be honest.
2) The American politics were so dramatised! It was made very Good vs Evil when realistically politics are way more complicated than that. It sort of felt like the author was idealising the Democrats and pushing that political opinion, when frankly, it wasn’t a very realistic portrayal of the party. I have no issue with authors expressing or promoting their political views, but they should do it with an honest representation if they are going to do it rather than a fantasy, especially when they have younger readers.
3) I liked Henry and Alex’s relationship for the most part but it felt like a chunk was missing. They went from fuck buddies to madly in love very quickly, and it was a bit insta-love. I don’t want that. I want angst, especially in a enemies(sort of)-to-lovers romance. There needed to be like two or three more chapters showing that development and those conversations rather than that instant jump.
Overall, I actually loved the book and definitely recommend, I just think readers should be very aware of the fact that this is in no way a realistic portrayal of politics in any way. Enjoy it for what it is, a cute, slightly steamy, romance, but please don’t take it as fact or a realistic situation because it’s not.
As a work of FICTION that is not in any way realistic, but a cute romance 5/5.
But as what was supposed to be a realistic parallel universe (according to the acknowledgements) and a political/social commentary 2/5 at best.
So first, the positives:
1) I thought the romance was cute. It wasn’t as deep or developed as I wanted it to be but I liked the general premise of the relationship, and different parts made me smile and laugh, etc.
2) I liked the characters individually, for the most part. Henry was sweet, Alex was kind of annoying but mostly endearingly, Bea and Nora and June were just fucking cool.
3) It’s really fun to read. I read it while I was on holiday so I didn’t have loads of time to read and I still devoured it quickly and absolutely loved it, I only realised all the flaws after finishing it. It’s a great read, and really immersive book.
4) The Waterloo Letters are so fucking cute. I love all the quotes and historical references (even if some aren’t entirely accurate).
Here are the issues, that once I took a step back and thought about really bothered me:
1) I’m British, and a history buff, so it was abundantly clear to me that the author didn’t do nearly enough research about the royal family for one of her main characters to be in the royal family. First of all, Henry would not be Prince of Wales, his mum, who is first in line for the throne, or his other brother Philip if his mum had abdicated (it wasn’t really made clear) would have that title as it is the traditional title of the heir. Henry would be the Duke of somewhere. Secondly, there were a lot of references to Henry being ‘the spare’ and him feeling the pressures of that. Our law changed a while ago, the next in line after his brother would be his older sister, she’s the ‘spare’ not him. The royal family isn’t that legislatively sexist anymore. He’s so far down the line of succession, especially once his siblings had kids, it really wouldn’t matter if he didn’t have any. Also Queen ‘Mary’ wasn’t very subtle in being hinting at Liz and she was a homophobic bitch and I think it’s incredibly unlikely that Queen Liz is anything like that so that just pissed me off, to be honest.
2) The American politics were so dramatised! It was made very Good vs Evil when realistically politics are way more complicated than that. It sort of felt like the author was idealising the Democrats and pushing that political opinion, when frankly, it wasn’t a very realistic portrayal of the party. I have no issue with authors expressing or promoting their political views, but they should do it with an honest representation if they are going to do it rather than a fantasy, especially when they have younger readers.
3) I liked Henry and Alex’s relationship for the most part but it felt like a chunk was missing. They went from fuck buddies to madly in love very quickly, and it was a bit insta-love. I don’t want that. I want angst, especially in a enemies(sort of)-to-lovers romance. There needed to be like two or three more chapters showing that development and those conversations rather than that instant jump.
Overall, I actually loved the book and definitely recommend, I just think readers should be very aware of the fact that this is in no way a realistic portrayal of politics in any way. Enjoy it for what it is, a cute, slightly steamy, romance, but please don’t take it as fact or a realistic situation because it’s not.