Just One of the Royals by Leah and Kate Rooper is the second book in The Chicago Falcons and centers around Daniel Sacachelli, the bad boy of the team, and his crush Madison Myong, the team’s trainer and his best friend. If you enjoy best friend tropes with a little royalty thrown in, you are in for a treat.

The book opens with Daniel taking Madison home after a day at the movies. As friends, this is a normal thing for them. However Daniel is ready to confess his feelings for her. He wants more than a friendship, he wants to confess that he’s in love with her. But he doesn’t. Daniel thinks he isn’t good enough for the booksmart, rich Madison. But if he could only read her mind….Madison has a big crush on Daniel. She knows she shouldn’t. He is a player in every sense of the word. Her parents wouldn’t approve, but she doesn’t care. Daniel is her best friend, and he wouldn’t hurt her…would he?

When Daniel’s little sister shows up out of the blue and announces to all his friends that Daniel is not-only a prince but also in line for the throne, Daniel’s world is thrown off-balance. Everything he thought he knew isn’t true anymore, and now he has to leave hockey and Madison behind and take a crown he never wanted. The only thing that makes it better is Madison’s suggestion they pretend to be a couple and help him change his bad boy image to one the kingdom will accept.

Y’all I love this one! I love Daniel and Madison. Daniel is the reluctant prince who just wants to go back to his simple life in Chicago with his single mom, hockey, and his unattainable best friend. Madison is Daniel’s cheerleader, believing in him when he doesn’t believe in himself. She pushes him to be his best. However when the pretending starts to feel real, both Daniel and Madison don’t know how to protect their hearts or come clean about their true feelings. The tension between them is evident on the pages, and my heart ached for them as they danced around one another without ever acknowledging those feelings.

Overall I really enjoyed Just One of the Royals. I love Daniel and Madison. I love the hockey, and I love the royal element. If you enjoy sweet, YA romance, I highly recommend it.

This review first appeared on Mom with a Reading Problem. To see it and other reviews, follow the link.