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A review by thatotherjlo
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
This is a great choice for somebody who reads for escapism; it's an easy read, with a predictable plot, the stakes are crystal clear before you even start reading (Alex is the First Son of the United States, Henry is the British prince), and the conflict is resolved in the most unrealistic and positive way (their families accept them, their countries accept them, somehow there are no conflicts of interest as they all get to remain in their positions and pursue their goals) . There are some good elements (Alex's grudge against Henry in the first part was funny, and Alex had some good character development throughout), but overall I was underwhelmed.
I should probably start by saying that, as a hispanic woman, I was concerned from the outset about a white, Anglo author writing a Latino main character, and McQuiston's treatment of race was as cringey as I had worried it might be. Alex's being multiracial and his Mexican identity felt like plot devices rather than like parts of his identity -- sure, there were references to Mexican foods and traditions, and some characters spoke Spanish, but with some superficial changes to those things Alex could have just as well been Black, or Asian, or French Canadian. I was similarly disappointed with the complete lack of attention given to how Alex's race would have played into the British royals' response to the relationship.
The superficiality of McQuiston's treatment of Alex's identity seemed to me part of the escapism of the novel; McQuiston very clearly dreamt up a female president with Latino children for the sake of a dramatic alternative to the United States in the wake of Trump's election in 2018. The whole novel gives off big The West Wing vibes (which the author owns up to, with references from the very first chapter), which is kind of ironic (or perfectly fitting!), since the show was clearly escapism in the wake of George W. Bush's election in 1999. But for somebody who actively chose to write a novel about politics, McQuiston seems to have very little idea of how politics actually works and thus handles all political plots in the most unrealistic ways. I was especially frustrated with their treatment of Rafael Luna's character and political career, which was simply absurd.
Red, White, & Royal Blue is a quick, mindless read for when you need a pick-me-up (brain candy!), but will disappoint if you're in the mood for anything with depth.
I should probably start by saying that, as a hispanic woman, I was concerned from the outset about a white, Anglo author writing a Latino main character, and McQuiston's treatment of race was as cringey as I had worried it might be. Alex's being multiracial and his Mexican identity felt like plot devices rather than like parts of his identity -- sure, there were references to Mexican foods and traditions, and some characters spoke Spanish, but with some superficial changes to those things Alex could have just as well been Black, or Asian, or French Canadian. I was similarly disappointed with the complete lack of attention given to how Alex's race would have played into the British royals' response to the relationship.
The superficiality of McQuiston's treatment of Alex's identity seemed to me part of the escapism of the novel; McQuiston very clearly dreamt up a female president with Latino children for the sake of a dramatic alternative to the United States in the wake of Trump's election in 2018. The whole novel gives off big The West Wing vibes (which the author owns up to, with references from the very first chapter), which is kind of ironic (or perfectly fitting!), since the show was clearly escapism in the wake of George W. Bush's election in 1999. But for somebody who actively chose to write a novel about politics, McQuiston seems to have very little idea of how politics actually works and thus handles all political plots in the most unrealistic ways. I was especially frustrated with their treatment of Rafael Luna's character and political career, which was simply absurd.
Red, White, & Royal Blue is a quick, mindless read for when you need a pick-me-up (brain candy!), but will disappoint if you're in the mood for anything with depth.