Thank you to Random House BFYR and Netgalley for sharing a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Two princesses vying for the ultimate crown. Two girls vying for the prince's heart. This is the story of the American royals. When America won the Revolutionary War, its people offered General George Washington a crown. Two and a half centuries later, the House of Washington still sits on the throne. Like most royal families, the Washingtons have an heir and a spare. A future monarch and a backup battery. Each child knows exactly what is expected of them. But these aren't just any royals. They're American. And their country was born of rebellion. As Princess Beatrice gets closer to becoming America's first queen regnant, the duty she has embraced her entire life suddenly feels stifling. Nobody cares about the spare except when she's breaking the rules, so Princess Samantha doesn't care much about anything, either . . . except the one boy who is distinctly off-limits to her. And then there's Samantha's twin, Prince Jefferson. If he'd been born a generation earlier, he would have stood first in line for the throne, but the new laws of succession make him third. Most of America adores their devastatingly handsome prince . . . but two very different girls are vying to capture his heart. Like The Thousandth Floor, McGee’s first series, American Royals thrives on a character-driven plot, with lots of gossip and drama that has the reader choosing sides immediately. I knew who I would be rooting for from the very first chapter, but as the perspectives deepened I found myself sympathizing with all of the characters. This is a fantastic historical re-imagining that takes readers on a whirlwind journey through the minds (and hearts) of the fictitious American royal family. I love Beatrice. McGee did an excellent job portraying the struggles of growing up with a crown in her future, and how Beatrice both loved and felt trapped by her job. Obviously there are no American princesses in the present day, but I could easily imagine how celebrities might feel the same way as Beatrice did—she was controlled by her image, which is hard for a young person, who of course has their own interests and must balance that with a duty to their fanbase or, in Beatrice’s case, her citizens. If you’ve ever wondered how movie stars really feel, I think American Royals gets a lot of it right. Of course, I’m not famous in any way, shape, or form, so take my advice with a grain of salt and read this book for fun anyways! Beatrice’s romantic storyline also hooked me. I don’t want to spoil anything here, but I will note that there is a love triangle of sorts and that I love the internal tension that caused. It’s a lot easier for me to read than drama of the gossip and blackmail sort, so I was very invested in the outcome of Beatrice’s love life. I also enjoyed reading about Beatrice’s relationship with her younger twins. Beatrice is the heir, and Samantha and Jeff won’t rule in all likelihood, so of course there were some interesting emotions there, especially between the sisters. American Royals had a fair few moments of sibling rivalry, but there were also some sweet moments that I loved. Nina, Samantha’s best friend, was such a sweetheart, and I loved reading about both her friendship with Samantha and her relationship with Jeff. I’m always a sucker for friendships that get a lot of page time, as well as friends-to-lovers romance storylines, and I liked Nina’s perspective throughout the novel because I got a fresh dose of both! Nina herself is amazing, and I’m very happy with the choices she made throughout the novel. She isn’t royalty, so it was interesting to see a “commoner’s” perspective on the madness of the royal lives. Lastly, that ending? I just CAN'T. I'm so glad American Royals is the start of a series, because I need to know more. That being said, I expected there to be more resolution at the end of the book. I felt like the story would continue for another fifty pages or so, because new questions were still being introduced when the plot should have been wrapped up. The novel now becomes reliant on its sequel for the full context of the story. Overall, I’m giving American Royals 4/5 stars for a neat concept and sympathetic-yet-scheming characters! Pick it up!
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The BaronessHey, I'm Shreya! I love to read, write, travel, and drink tea. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of bookshop.org and I will earn a small commission if you click the above link and make a purchase.
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