Red, White & Royal Blue: A Novel Paperback – May 14, 2019

I need a lifetime supply of Kleenex and a trophy that says Best Book of 2019 to give to Casey McQuiston. My heart now has a space carved out that belongs to Alex Claremont-Diaz and Prince Henry Windsor, to Red, White & Royal Blue, to all of us readers left in a puddle of tears caused by this beautiful, poignant story. Not only is this book an incredible LGBTQ+ enemies to lovers romance, it's also the book you didn't even know you needed in our present political climate. I didn't even know I needed it and now I can't shut up about it. I said it in one of my Instagram stories, I wish I had this book in my hands when I was 18 and preparing to vote for the very first time. I wish I had all the thoughts I have now in my head, but at least I've got them now, and hey a Presidential election is on the horizon."History, huh?"Cute, funny, and full of heart, Red, White & Royal Blue follows Alex Claremont-Diaz, son to the President of the United States, as he is forced to befriend Prince Henry Windsor, Prince of England to be exact, at least for the media. Alex is the Mexican-American first son to the democratic FEMALE President and he has high hopes of joining the political world alongside his mother. He sees the title President in his future, but that won't happen as long as he is considered the enemy of the Prince of England, which he really is. Prince Henry Windsor, who we shall now just call Henry, is the quiet, arrogant, well-dressed grandson of the Queen. He is charity events, forced smiles, and a media golden child, at least to Alex. When they're forced to hang out in order to put the media storm to rest they discover that they have quite a bit in common and soon their alliance forms into a friendship. Their friendship leads to some startling discoveries for Alex, like he's bisexual, and some timid sharing from Henry, a closeted gay thanks to familial and societal expectations. What started as a laugh-out-loud story of forced friendship soon became a story of heartbreak, hope, and humanity as Alex and Henry explore their blossoming desires for one another. Their romance is told through in person-interactions, texts, phone calls, and the best emails I have ever read. It's an authentic story about two young men discovering their identities and figuring out the shape and direction of their futures, all with an ocean and several titles between them."Whatever, fine. Henry is annoyingly attractive. That's always been a thing, objectively. It's fine."Casey McQuiston created an entirely new world in Red, White & Royal Blue. Sure, it's America and England, but it's a world with diverse leaders who desire to make positive changes, who truly fight for the people. Alex and Henry know their position and their families' position in the public will make their relationship, their identities, more difficult to embrace, and yet Casey creates for them a world in which they recognize there is strength and power in owning it. Their friends and families, and employees, come from diverse backgrounds, have various heritages, and love freely. Many are out and proud, many wear that culture proudly, Alex and Henry have just not yet found their footing among them. I loved the secondary characters in this novel just as much as I loved our two main heroes. Speaking of secondary characters and world building, I am obsessed with the character interactions in this book. The relationships felt fluid and natural, there is no stilted dialogue. The characters speak and think like their age, their humor is spot on, and the romance is fresh and new feeling. The language, the prose, all of it just made this book that much better for me. I could live in these pages and I mean that quite sincerely, snotty sobbing and all, this book holds a story I want to live and I'm thankful Casey McQuiston gave me the opportunity to do so with her words."Straight people, he thinks, probably don't spend this much time convincing themselves the're straight."Royal romance, politics, and everyone writing about their heart and their tears? Not normally my cuppa tea. I saw the reviews for this though, they were darn good, and one of my closets friends said it was a must-read for my June Pride reading challenge, she also included it was her favorite for the year, so I picked it up and now I do not want to put it down. For the six hours I read this book I sincerely believed every single character was a real person in my life. I was either crying, making heart eyes, or preparing to go fight alongside them. Red, White & Royal Blue took me on the cutest adventure ever and my emotions were not prepared for all the adorable, painful, and realistic moments in is pages. Not only do I wholeheartedly recommend this novel, I also think it should be a must read. It's important, while also being the feel-good story we need.

Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston an overall rating of 4.5/5. It was a really cute queer narrative. You’ll be led to believe it’s an enemies to fake friends to lovers but the reality is so much better cause we’re reminded yet again that men are dumb and communication is truly key b/c turns out that Alex and Henry are down bad for each since the beginning. The Prince of England and The First Son of The Untied states enter a secret love affair after they’re forced to pretend to be friends as a result of an altercation and need to show the world that they in fact don’t hate each other. Through their time together Alex comes to the conclusion that Henry is not that bad and is quite layered and although he still thinks he’s perfect there’s more to him than the image he’s built and so romance ensues. The book offers political commentary, Queer character diversity, conversations on race power dynamics, political controversies, abuse of power, political drama, and contemporary references. It reads like a fanfic and i don’t think that’s a bad thing but also y’all need to remember it’s fiction b/c the characters can be eccentric and chaotic at times and I think some of those aspects make them love able but unrealistic. The writing style makes it and easy read keeping the reader entertained and makes you want to keep reading. The romance aspect of it was so cute, grossly from flying to London to confess your love to incognito meet ups or the use of romantic letters and e-mails that really should not be had on a government server, to scenes of intamacy. The spicy scenes I think were tame but also I think a person perception of Queer sex might make that debatable. I honestly found myself laughing and giggling at times and full disclosure thinking awww that’s so cute I hate loveI do have criticism but not in a cancel the author way. The political commentary at times was cringe b/c valid commentary but it seemed out of place, awkward, and very your preaching to the choir. The politics aspect of it was iffy in general. Alex talks about nepotism but then dude walks into any senators office and is an analyst for his moms campaign like can’t criticize the system and then benefit from it. I liked that McQuiston had diverse characters however it seemed like we were reminded at awkward times that Alex was Mexican or mixed race and some narrative were promoted that could be harmful well they are . POC people trying to take over government like yes it’s true but keep it down low they’ll figure it out Jk. But that’s an actual conservative narrative and it helps promote gerrymandering. Also the awkward use of Spanish at awkward times like it didn’t fit the setting or context. This isn’t a criticism of was Alex Latin enough it’s more of like if you’re gonna do it at least have someone take a glance maybe more than one. Also intersectionality is a thing so consider that. But overall I really did love it and it was cute.