Casey McQuiston’s much-anticipated debut romance between the First Son of the USA and a British prince is everything early reviews promised. Alex Claremont-Diaz is the half-Mexican son of the divorced first female President…and the fantasy doesn’t stop there! When an embarrassing and scandalous incident between Alex and his nemesis Prince Henry occurs at a wedding and a video is leaked, they must pretend to be best buds to keep the President’s re-election campaign from derailing and to avoid a royal scandal. As they spend more time together, they both realize that past misunderstandings have kept them from getting to know each other’s true personalities and motivations. When Henry kisses Alex, it causes him to question his own sexuality (he’s bi and Henry is “very, very gay”). As their relationship heats up through secretive, worldwide liaisons and poetic, candid and heart-warming texts full of witty and sexy banter, feelings intensify and decisions need to be made about how and if they can take their romance public. Will Alex and Henry risk their careers and their families’ reputations to have their happily-ever-after or will British tradition and homophobia destroy their relationship?
A great cast of secondary characters helps smooth the path for the couple, including Alex’s loving family, several queer friends he can go to for advice, White House and palace security and staff who keep their secrets, and even politicians (with the exception of the villainous rival Presidential candidate). Although it drags a bit at the end with the focus on the Presidential election, it barely detracts from the story. At its heart, this book is a funny, sexy, heart-warming romance that highlights many of the same challenges most queer teens and young adults face in real life. Ultimately, the question is whether they’re willing to risk all to have the full, loving, and open relationship they deserve. It’s just unfortunate that the question even needs to be asked.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from St. Martin’s Griffin through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
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