I recently rediscovered how much I love listening to audiobooks. There is something so relaxing and comforting about laying in bed and enjoying an audiobook as I work on a crochet project or some other crafting endeavor. My most recent audiobook read was Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston and it is one of my favorite reads in 2023 so far!
If you have been anywhere in the book community over the past couple of years, whether on Booktube, Bookstagram, or Book Tok, you probably have heard of Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. It blew up on social media in the past couple of years. It feels like everyone and their best friend has read it.
Of course, I spent a year away, so I am only just getting to this book in the ripe year of 2023. But because of that, I have spent so long listening to all the positive reviews of this book and it quickly moved to the top of my TBR list. Despite not being a romance reader, I was rather excited about finding out why everyone was so in love with this book and these characters.
I thoroughly enjoyed Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. It was a heartwarming story of young love, with relatable characters and a fascinating plot line. I listened to this audiobook non-stop, I haven’t read a book this quickly in a long time.
I highly recommend Red, White and Royal Blue to any romance fan or anyone who just wants to escape into an adorable and endearing story for a couple of hours. Keep reading for my full review of the book, with everything I enjoyed about the story!
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Book Review of Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Title: Red, White & Royal Blue
Author: Casey McQuiston
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Publish Date: May 14, 2019
Genre: Romance
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Rating: 5/5 Stars
Red, White, and Royal Blue is a romance novel following Alex, the son of the first woman president of the United States, and Henry, a prince of England. When news sources start publishing that these two teens are actually rivals who hate each other, which they are, their PR teams concoct a plan. They are going to pretend to be best friends, complete with fake outings together and trips to each other’s homes.
However, as the two socialites spend more time together, they start to realize that the other might not be so bad. Over time, they developed a growing relationship that might just have an impact on both their families and their countries.
The main thing I enjoyed about this story was the characters. I am huge about strong characterization, I have a really hard time enjoying a book without it. So I was thrilled to start this book and immediately fall in love with all the characters. The two main characters, Alex and Henry, are relatable and fun, and it was such a pleasure reading as their relationship unfolded.
The side characters were also just as fleshed out and developed, which I really appreciated. Alex’s best friends, June and Nora, play such an important role in this story. They were loveable and unique in their own right. My favorite scenes consisted of the ones with Juna and Nora.
I also loved the plot and circumstances that these characters were put in. I have always been aware of PR relationships in Hollywood and the media. Pretty much everyone knows they exist. But seeing this inside point of view into a PR friendship was fascinating for me. Although I don’t know how accurate the portrayal actually was, I really enjoyed reading it. All the drama and secrets that came with this storyline kept me hooked until the very end. Reading this book made me feel dropped into the middle of a tornado, and I couldn’t put the book down until it had subsided.
Also, who doesn’t love a good enemies-to-lovers trope? I think this is one of the most popular tropes recently, and Red, White, and Royal Blue executed it perfectly. I was fully immersed in the rocky relationship between Alex and Henry, and watching it grow into something special as the book continued was incredibly entertaining.
Overall, this book was a pleasure to read. As a thriller/fantasy reader, I often set low expectations for romance novels. However, I was fully immersed in the story and the characters. I am absolutely looking forward to reading more from Casey McQuiston in the future.
TLDR: Quick List of why you Should Read Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
- Strong characterization with interesting and loveable characters
- An intriguing storyline of PR relationships that will keep you hooked until the very end
- A story that touches on important themes of friendship, family, and identity
- Enemies-to-lovers
- A simple, fun, and adorable read
For more on Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, check out this review on She Reads Romance Books. They give an expert review from a romance reader’s perspective!
For other books by Casey McQuiston, check out One Last Stop, which you can purchase on Amazon here, and I Kissed Shara Wheeler, which you can purchase on Amazon here! Both of these are already added to my TBR list, I can’t wait to read them!
I haven’t heard of this book before, but you have written a glowing review! I need to read what I have here before I buy more ha ha! Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Lauren – bournemouthgirl
I totally understand that! I have so many books that I already own that I need to read! Thank you for stopping by and checking out my book review!