I want to start this review by saying I understand some people’s reviews regarding frustration with the politics in this book but to be completely fair I don’t mind reading an idealized version of politics that is better than the shit show we actually live in, it was refreshing. American and British politics obviously aren’t this way in real life, but it is a book so maybe chill? Also people claiming “l historically red states wouldn’t turn blue” should maybe look up actual history and see that shifts like that really aren’t all that insane. The author’s point that Texas could be a swing state if more time and investment was put into people who have been disenfranchised is not wrong… so yeah. 

Okay now to the actual crux of this book, the romance. I thought this was an extremely well done finding yourself story. Alex doesn’t just fall in love, he also realizes it’s okay to change your ideas for the future as you gain perspective and get older. I think that’s what made this book so real to me.

The families in this book were the best part honestly, while it is unlikely in real life that a president or the royal family would ever be as supportive as these characters were I enjoyed the moments of “not as the president but as your mom” and “as a princess I’ll use my leverage to fight for you.” They brought some levity and love into this story and it was great. Not to mention the Dad and sister’s willingness to accept Alex at every turn and defend him in whatever ways they could, same with Henry’s sister Bea (and eventually his mother). Those were the moments I think really made this book special. 

I wish I could say I liked this but the romance part of this story felt so unnecessary to the major plot of Grace becoming okay with who she is. It just didn’t serve the story well and was honestly very frustrating? 

This wasn’t bad but it wasn’t good either? I think using real people to tell a fake story can be done okay but this one used a real person to assault Eliza which never actually happened and I have problems villainizing humans that weren’t bad. 

I liked this and thought it had so much potential, the racial and gender politics in the south were super interesting but there wasn’t enough tension, everything just resolved too easily. 

I think this book is super appealing to someone who has recently gone through a breakup, otherwise it just comes off kinda crazy 

Everyone is so awful in this is so disturbing 

David Grann is so good at writing historical non fiction 

If I ever read one of the books in this series and don’t immediately have to Google an explanation someone give me an award for being a genius 

I wanted to like this but everyone is either annoying or evil so it just wasn’t a hit. 

Imagine going through went thru went thru and being willing to get back on a boat… no thanks.