American Royals III: Rivals returns to the convoluted lives of America’s royal family. While Beatrice is trying to make her late father’s policy dreams come true, Sam and Jeff are holding down the throne in the States. Sam is forced to consider whether she can move forward with her beau Marshall, when they may have no long term future. Jeff continues to be oblivious to Daphne’s schemes, while Nina finds herself unexpectedly threatened by a conniving social climber.

The American Royals series is like eating a sugary cupcake. It’s fun, sweet, and always leaves you wanting more. This last point is both a strength and weakness- while always leaving us on the edge, it can feel like no storyline is truly concluded in a meaningful way. Like a cupcake, the series is also not particularly deep or filling. Still, it’s a lot of fun! I enjoyed the inclusion of the Princess of France! I would’ve loved it if she and Beatrice suddenly took things in a sapphic and unexpected direction, but that seems like wishful thinking.

I struggled with the Jeff and Daphne storyline. Jeff feels very simplistic to me and it’s hard to feel any type of way about him. I loved Nina and for the first time began to understand some of why Daphne is the way she is. Seeing Daphne and Nina begrudgingly team up was a huge highlight! However, a staple of this series is miscommunication-one of my least favorite tropes. I’m excited to see where Sam and Marshall decide to take their relationship. After that ending, I will definitely be reading the next book to see how the series wraps up. I’m hoping that in the fourth and final book, many plot lines are satisfyingly concluded at last.

Thank you to Katharine McGee, Random House Children’s, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.