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Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
5.0

This one is definitely new adult (college age +) and not young adult (junior high / high school) in its target audience. The characters have all recently graduated college and the plot contains sexual material. Also, there are two dudes on the cover, so you can figure out what kind of material that is.

But oh my lanta, this book is ADORABLE.

It's meant to be a fun rom-com and it completely delivers.

Things I loved about this book:
1. There's a woman president!
2. The first family is a blended family and the relationship between the parents is still friendly. They co-parent well and the stepfather has his own role in the family that isn't "replacement dad figure".
3. The main character and his sister are biracial Mexican Americans. They speak some Spanish in the novel. Their identity is celebrated.
4. The main characters are bisexual and gay and neither is considered lesser for their sexualities. The bisexual main character is never considered to be confused or in some sort of a phase or as some sort of deviant who just wants everyone sexually. He's just who he is and it's beautiful.
5. Henry can WRITE and his emails are beautiful.
6. The presidential election is so full of hope and although it was written before the 2020 election, I got to relive the hope and hype of a Biden win through this book. I want this reality in this book of a Democratic female president. Maybe one day soon!
7. Alex makes lists for everything. THAT'S ME TOO!
8. The friendships are to die for in this book. Three cheers for supportive friends.
9. Discussions of class and privilege that aren't preachy.
10. That DIG at the real-world Edward's abdication of the throne. THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT.

This book isn't 100% realistic and that's okay, especially considering Prince Henry's life and interaction with the royal family. We've learned a lot from Harry and Meghan about what that entails. But it's fiction and this book is perfect as it is.