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Red, White & Royal Blue

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In an alternative version of 2020, 'Red, White & Royal Blue' by Casey McQuiston follows the romantic journey between Alex, the son of the first female president of the United States, and Henry, a prince of England. The book presents a witty, fun, and heartwarming narrative that explores the complex relationship between the two characters as they navigate their love amidst political tensions and personal discoveries. The writing style of the book is engaging, offering a mix of romance, humor, and political drama that creates a compelling and optimistic storyline.

Characters:

The characters are well-rounded, relatable, and provide diverse representation, with Alex and Henry showcasing growth through their romantic journey.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is characterized by witty banter, heartfelt exchanges, and a contemporary, relatable tone that resonates with younger audiences.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot follows a romance between two young men from prominent families, starting from rivalry to developing a secret love, navigating the challenges posed by their public personas.

Setting:

The story is set in an alternate reality where political norms are gently satirized, and the dynamics of a modern royal family and the presidency are explored.

Pacing:

The pacing is generally fast, though it can drag at times, particularly in the second half as emotional themes deepen.
On the White House roof, tucked into a corner of the Promenade, there’s a bit of loose paneling right on the edge of the Solarium. If you tap it just right, you can peel it back enough to find a messa...

Notes:

The book is a contemporary romance featuring a gay love story between the son of the first female U.S. president and the Prince of England.
It alternates between humor and serious topics, such as politics, identity, and love.
The protagonist, Alex Claremont Diaz, navigates his bisexuality while dealing with the pressures of being in the public eye.
There are themes of friendship, support, and family, highlighting the importance of acceptance.
The story features a cast of diverse characters and tackles issues about sexuality, privilege, and societal expectations.
The narrative is told in third person, primarily from Alex's perspective, which is somewhat unusual in romance novels.
The book includes a variety of communication formats, such as text messages and emails, which add to the modern feel of the romance.
The author, Casey McQuiston, has received acclaim for intertwining humor with heartfelt moments throughout the narrative.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of public outing, political scandals, anxiety, and potential mental health challenges.

Has Romance?

The romance is a central aspect of the book, driving the plot and character development throughout.

From The Publisher:

* Instant NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestseller *

* GOODREADS CHOICE AWARD WINNER for BEST DEBUT and BEST ROMANCE of 2019 *

* BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR* for VOGUE, NPR, VANITY FAIR, 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 and begs the question: Can love save the world after all? Where do we find the courage, and the power, to be the people we are meant to be? And how can we learn to let our true colors shine through? Casey McQuiston's Red, White & Royal Blue proves: true love isn't always diplomatic.

"I took this with me wherever I went and stole every second I had to read! Absorbing, hilarious, tender, sexy-this book had everything I crave. I'm jealous of all the readers out there who still get to experience Red, White & Royal Blue for the first time!" - Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners

"Red, White & Royal Blue is outrageously fun. It is romantic, sexy, witty, and thrilling. I loved every second." - Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones & The Six

Ratings (399)

Incredible (78)
Loved It (165)
Liked It (87)
It Was OK (42)
Did Not Like (17)
Hated It (10)

Reader Stats (739):

Read It (408)
Currently Reading (7)
Want To Read (155)
Did Not Finish (12)
Not Interested (157)

12 comment(s)

Incredible
17 hours

Lovable characters, perfect pace, laugh out loud moments, steamy scenes. Absolutely A+ read

 
It Was OK
1 week

When I read it about a year ago I gave it 3 stars and remember being pretty bumbed by it thinking it was rather over hyped. However I've been thinking about it from time to time. I decided to give it another go and hoped to enjoy it more. While I love the concept, it still wasn't a loveble read for me. Not terrible but not that great either

 
Incredible
4 weeks

I absolutely adored this book. I so badly want it to be real life or at the very least, a movie. I didn't want it to end.

 
Incredible
1 month

This has a lot of the same manic energy and humor as Crazy Rich Asians. What if the son of the US president and a an heir to the throne of Great Britain fell in love? A roaring good time, that's what. Lovely escapism from the current moment.

 
Hated It
3 months

This book reads like a poorly written wattpad fanfiction in the way that it romanticizes certain political views without actually knowing how things actually work. Being in the political world and understanding the nuances and the ins and out of policies and procedures and how the political world works, this book is very poorly written. The author tries to shove their views down your throat, I expected some politics in the book but what is there is just too much. The dialogue is unrealistic. The author also tends to look at the British monarchy as if it is the only monarchy in the world that still exists (it’s not) and gives their views of a monarchy through a prince who holds disdain for the institution. The monarchy side is also very poorly researched as well. Henry would not be prince Henry of wales if his mother is the blood royal as the “Wales” title only goes to the male heir who is next in line to the throne. If the book focused more on the relationship between Henry and Alex rather than trying to write a “woke” campaign platform it would be so much better. The book also tends to drag on and on. There is so much useless crap that doesn’t add anything to the characters or the plot. There is absolutely no reason for the book to be over 400 pages and for some of the chapters to be ~50 pages without the plot being better drawn out with stuff that actually develops the characters and drives the plot.

 
Incredible
3 months

I cried at least three times while reading this book, an incredible amazing read! I also just found out they made a movie about the book?!!!

 
Incredible
5 months

It’s witty, it’s full of cheesy banter, it’s sexy it’s got everything I could’ve asked for in a gay MM romance. Cannot recommend this enough.

 
Loved It
5 months

The characters and banter. Not a lot of angst and what was there was predictable. Nice read. In away it's sort of a comfort read now, something to read when I have a lull reading.

 
Loved It
6 months

Cute cheesy gay love story

 
Incredible
7 months

I can read or listen to this book over and over! I love these characters so much! I've enjoyed the movie as well but the book will always be special! Book Alex reminds me somewhat of myself with certain discoveries. I love Alex and Henry's banter! These boys fill me with joy! A favorite!

 
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About the Author:

CASEY MCQUISTON is the New York Times bestselling author of One Last Stop and Red, White & Royal Blue, as well as a pie enthusiast. Born and raised in southern Louisiana, Casey now lives in New York City with Pepper, a poodle mix and semi-pro personal assistant.

 
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