Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

 

Summary (from the publisher): First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz is the closest thing to a prince this side of the Atlantic. With his intrepid sister and the Veep’s genius granddaughter, they’re the White House Trio, a beautiful millennial marketing strategy for his mother, President Ellen Claremont. International socialite duties do have downsides—namely, when photos of a confrontation with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations. The plan for damage control: staging a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince.

As President Claremont kicks off her reelection bid, Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret relationship with Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations. What is worth the sacrifice? How do you do all the good you can do? And, most importantly, how will history remember you?

Review: Alex Claremont-Diaz is the son of the President of the United States and hopes to pursue a career in politics. As part of his duties as first son, he has to attend a royal wedding where he has to face Prince Henry of England, who he has long disliked. When they end up causing a scene that leaks to the tabloids, Alex is forced to do some damage control and stage a fake friendship with Prince Henry. But what he didn't expect was to find he actually enjoys spending time with Henry. As his mother kicks off her campaign for reelection, Alex finds himself drawn into a secret relationship with Henry that has gigantic consequences for both of their lives and their two countries. 

This was a cute romantic comedy that explores coming to terms with your true identity as well as the pressures and burdens of familial and societal pressures. Alex and Henry are cute together and I thought the author did a good job of portraying Henry as a stiff upper lip royal versus the very American Alex. I liked believing in the hope that these two people, despite their differences and obstacles, could end up together. 

 However, I didn't particularly care for the author's choice to have them speak in a very derogatory way towards each other. I know they meant it lovingly, but I didn't care for it. I also thought the international attention that would be paid to the prince of Wales and the son of the president were significantly downplayed. The two hop back and forth between the countries and just try to stay out of sight but attention at airports etc. would have happened and so many people (secret service etc.) would have had to have been in on the relationship that it would hardly have been a secret. 

Stars: 3