Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
The special Collector’s Edition of Casey McQuiston’s beloved New York Times bestselling novel, featuring illustrated endpapers, an all new Henry-POV chapter, and more!
What happens when America’s First Son falls in love with the Prince of Wales?
When his mother became President, Alex Claremont-Diaz was promptly cast as the American equivalent of a young royal. Handsome, charismatic, genius—his image is pure millennial-marketing gold for the White House. There’s only one problem: Alex has a beef with the actual prince, Henry, across the pond. And when the tabloids get hold of a photo involving an Alex-Henry altercation, U.S./British relations take a turn for the worse.
Heads of family, state, and other handlers devise a plan for damage control: staging a truce between the two rivals. What at first begins as a fake, Instragramable friendship grows deeper, and more dangerous, than either Alex or Henry could have imagined. Soon Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret romance with a surprisingly unstuffy Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations.
Casey McQuiston’s Red, White & Royal Blue proves: true love isn’t always diplomatic.
Review:
I was super late to the party on this one. It’s been on my TBR for a very long time, and I decided that I needed to hurry up and read it before the movie premiered on Amazon, and I’m so happy I finally gave it a shot.
The novel focuses on the lives of Alex Claremont-Diaz, the charismatic and ambitious First Son of the United States, and Prince Henry, the reserved and dutiful heir to the British throne. The story begins with a cringe-worthy mishap at a royal wedding that propels Alex and Henry into a fake friendship to repair diplomatic relations between the two nations. Little do they know that this friendship will evolve into something much more profound.
The author weaves together a heartwarming and humorous tale of two seemingly opposite individuals who discover that love knows no boundaries. Through the lens of politics and monarchy, McQuiston introduces readers to a world filled with delightful characters, witty banter, and a surprisingly refreshing take on same-sex romance.
One of the most appealing aspects of McQuiston’s storytelling lies in their ability to create fully fleshed-out characters that readers can’t help but root for. I liked the character of Henry and really felt sorry for him – I knew the monarchy was rigid, but had never really given much thought to what it must be like for a gay prince. I felt for him. Alex was his polar opposite – happy golucky with quick wit and sharp tongue – his personality made him my favorite of the couple. Still, I think Zahra – the PR person in charge of cleaning up all of Alex’s messes won the favorite character contest hands down. She cracked me up!
Not surprisingly, politics plays a significant role in the story, serving as a backdrop for the blossoming romance between Alex and Henry. Who knew a relationship between two royal sons from different countries could be so complex? Through clever dialogue and well-researched political scenarios, McQuiston delves into the modern intricacies of international relations, campaign trails, and the pressures of being part of a political dynasty. While the book has a political element, it’s not overly dense. The author manages to balance it with light-hearted banter and moments of genuine connection between the characters, which keeps the story engaging and accessible.
At its core, “Red, White & Royal Blue” is a hopeful tale of growth, acceptance, and the power of love. It reminds readers that love knows no boundaries, whether political, societal, or personal.
McQuiston’s descriptive prose transports the reader to the glamorous halls of the White House, the enchanting gardens of Windsor Castle, and the bustling streets of London. The dialogue is witty, clever, and brimming with pop culture references. The author effortlessly interweaves humor and emotion, making you laugh out loud one moment and tear up the next.
I think my only complaint (and honestly, complaint is a strong word here) is that the chapters seemed really long. I only say that because I’m one of those weirdos who likes to keep their chapters below 30 pages. I don’t know why. I think with shorter chapters it’s easier for me to justify “one more chapter before bed” .
At the time I am writing this, the movie was just released on Amazon, and it’s really sweet. There are several differences between the book and the movie (for example Alex’s sister June isn’t in the movie, in the book it’s the Queen of England and in the movie it’s the King) but for the most part it’s a pretty faithful, though paired-down translation. If you’ve only seen the movie, but not read the book, then I highly recommend reading it. You’ll get a much deeper dive into Alex and Henry’s story.
Overall, I loved the book and would highly recommend it. The movie was super cute, too.
