I’m going to keep this book review to a mini as I’ll be frank: this book has made me realize romance is not my thing. And I’ll add to that by saying it is not the book, and obviously no hate to people who like this book, but I’ve tried too many romance now to keep trying.

Red, White & Royal Blue is about the dashing, part-hispanice (i.e. tall dark and handsome) first son of the United States who, in an enemies-to-lovers arc, falls in love with the blonde-haired, blue-eyed prince of England. It was super cute, and the dialogue was pretty good. I was listening to the audiobook and the voice actor did a great job of differentiating the characters. 

I think my favourite part in this book is something I realized partway through: young male joy. Its like, not something I can pick out of any other book I’ve read? It made me realize that all the 15-30 men I’ve read in books are all brooding, emotionless, serious guys, as if they aren’t allowed to be anything but dark and broody (which, thanks to toxic masculinity might be the truth, tbh). And that is fine, but I absolutely loved the representation of joy and love and playfulness between Alex and Henry. It made me so happy. 

Anyways, you don’t need me to tell you to read this book, as I think I might be the last person in Bookstagram to read it. But if it sounds up your alley, it probably is. It isn’t a universal Bookstagram darling for no reason.