This is a good book, for what it is. However, not much of it is really unique and mindfuckingly excellent. In fact, Casey McQuiston's other books, specifically One Last Stop and I Kissed Shara Wheeler, are full of such amazing ideas and moments, that Red, White & Royal Blue just cannot keep up. They've set the bar too high.
Then again, AFAIK, Red, White & Royal Blue is McQuiston's first book, so one could see this as evidence that they only get better and better.
Review of 'Red, White & Royal Blue' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
This book's lineage is, at a guess, Hamilton/The West Wing/That brief liberal mania after the election of Obama. It is very much a fantasy of a different political system, one not captured by big money, where politicians may be ruthless or use means you don't approve of, but are serving in politics because of something they believe in. It is a fantasy of an America that could elect a divorced woman president.
On the other hand, if you can't have fantasies in your romance novels, where can you?
I didn't check this out for a long time because I find celebrities, politicians, and royalty, all vaguely squicky, and this book is written on the assumption that all of these are something you are at least a little into. However, the book doesn't rely on your kink for the aforementioned; it has a lot going for it. The book has a …
This book's lineage is, at a guess, Hamilton/The West Wing/That brief liberal mania after the election of Obama. It is very much a fantasy of a different political system, one not captured by big money, where politicians may be ruthless or use means you don't approve of, but are serving in politics because of something they believe in. It is a fantasy of an America that could elect a divorced woman president.
On the other hand, if you can't have fantasies in your romance novels, where can you?
I didn't check this out for a long time because I find celebrities, politicians, and royalty, all vaguely squicky, and this book is written on the assumption that all of these are something you are at least a little into. However, the book doesn't rely on your kink for the aforementioned; it has a lot going for it. The book has a full cast of characters who are delightful, the banter is non-stop, and if you like your books to playfully reference real events, you will be rewarded.
The main couple are also constantly comparing themselves to other literary and historical couples, so if you enjoy that sort of thing, it is the sort of thing you will like.
A lot of this book was not the sort of thing I like, but honestly, it's so well written! Do you like writing?
You may not know this about me, but one of my favorite activities is to look on Ao3 for cursed fanfiction to show people. I often go to RPF, not because I have anything against it, but because real people already inspire revulsion, so if I can find, say erotic Ben Shapiro fic, I've hit "gold" so to speak.
I've read some Political Real Person Fic (usually the ones starring Margaret Thatcher, because as a USian, that inspires less revulsion than looking at a Reagan fanfic) and sometimes just prompts to see what people like writing about.
I would be VERY surprised if Casey McQuiston has not written Political-RPF, because this very much reads like a Politics RPF with fictional characters (OCs if you will).
It hits all the right notes, it's heartwarming, but, unlike what you may expect about a Royal Romance, it is very honest about how fucked …
You may not know this about me, but one of my favorite activities is to look on Ao3 for cursed fanfiction to show people. I often go to RPF, not because I have anything against it, but because real people already inspire revulsion, so if I can find, say erotic Ben Shapiro fic, I've hit "gold" so to speak.
I've read some Political Real Person Fic (usually the ones starring Margaret Thatcher, because as a USian, that inspires less revulsion than looking at a Reagan fanfic) and sometimes just prompts to see what people like writing about.
I would be VERY surprised if Casey McQuiston has not written Political-RPF, because this very much reads like a Politics RPF with fictional characters (OCs if you will).
It hits all the right notes, it's heartwarming, but, unlike what you may expect about a Royal Romance, it is very honest about how fucked up the Royal Family is (as is the US).
I was told not to read this until 45 was out of office (because I became aware of it around the darkest times of his presidency, and I was worried it would piss me off like other contemporaries that mentioned Trump like it was no big deal everyone will be fine). I'm not saying things are ideal now, but slightly less painful, and now's as good as any time to read it (because unless you wait a bajillion years, I doubt things will ever be ideal)
Give it a chance, I feel it did most everything right.
