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The Royal We

(Royal We #1)

Heather Cocks (Goodreads Author),

Jessica Morgan (Goodreads Author)

3.82 · Rating details · 51,417 ratings · 6,499 reviews

"I might be Cinderella today, but I dread who they'll think I am tomorrow. I guess it depends on what I do next."

American Rebecca Porter was never one for fairy tales. Her twin sister, Lacey, has always been the romantic who fantasized about glamour and royalty, fame and fortune. Yet it's Bex who seeks adventure at Oxford and finds herself living down the hall from Prince ...more

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Hardcover, 454 pages

Published April 7th 2015 by Grand Central Publishing

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Feb 11, 2015 Andrea rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-in-2015, galley, five-stars, review

This is 100 percent Kate Middleton fan fiction and I have absolutely no problem with that. The authors' blog is great; so is this. ...more

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Oct 29, 2015 Jessica ❁ ➳ Silverbow ➳ ❁ rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: chick-lit, palate-cleanser, new-adult, check-and-recheck, romance, riddikulus

2.5 generous stars

SO . . . THE ROYAL WE started amazingly well. One might even say it was like a modern day fairytale.

Bex Porter, in a bid to discover who she might be away from her stifling twin sister, enters a study exchange from her program at Cornell with Oxford's Penbroke school.

She arrives dirty and probably smelly, dragging her suitcases behind her--in the rain--and is forced to pound on the locked door of her housing accommodations.

No one answers.

She pounds some more. Finally, an En ...more

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Jan 23, 2016 Emily May rated it it was ok

Shelves: chick-lit, romance, 2016

You know, I pride myself on not being what some would call a "book snob". Sure, I like my classics and literary fiction as much as anyone else, but I also take a great deal of enjoyment from fast-paced, entertaining and light books. Sometimes I just want some YA fantasy or fluffy chick-lit; you know what I'm saying?

So I looked past this book's appearance (as an obvious William & Kate fanfic) to the positive reviews and all the good things this could possibly be - hilarious, silly, enjoyable, Bri You know, I pride myself on not being what some would call a "book snob". Sure, I like my classics and literary fiction as much as anyone else, but I also take a great deal of enjoyment from fast-paced, entertaining and light books. Sometimes I just want some YA fantasy or fluffy chick-lit; you know what I'm saying?

So I looked past this book's appearance (as an obvious William & Kate fanfic) to the positive reviews and all the good things this could possibly be - hilarious, silly, enjoyable, Bridget Jones/Lou Clark-style fun. I think I'd already shelved this under "guilty pleasure" when I picked it up and imagined the faux-embarrassed positive review I would write.

Well, I got it so wrong.

I'm not going to judge this book for basically being a retelling of the William/Kate romance with Rebecca instead being an American student at Oxford. Nor will I judge it for not being deep and offering new perspective - honestly, no one should be going into this book expecting that. And I'll totally ignore the rather comical British stereotyping.

But I can't ignore that this was just a boring, flat romance. Literally the only selling point this book as is that it offers lighthearted entertainment and cute romancing, but damn, these characters are so bland. The book isn't funny or even a "hide it under your pillow" kind of guilty pleasure. Here's a horrifying thought for you: Fifty Shades of Grey was more entertaining than this book.

Both Bex and Nick are one-dimensional and have no personality. At all. They're two beautiful, white people, who are so nice, polite and dull that I'm genuinely very surprised to see they have so many fans. The "angst" of their relationship is centred around the fact that Nick is heir to the throne, but the actual romantic tension and/or angst between them is non-existent.

Most surprisingly, the plot moves very slow. This is an almost 500-page novel and a lot of that features drunken college nights (pretty tame ones at the local pub, I might add) and platonic TV-watching in Bex or Nick's rooms.

I wanted to giggle and swoon. Instead, I was yawning and skimming towards the end. ...more

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Apr 09, 2015 Tiff at Mostly YA Lit rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: adult-fiction, arc-to-read, pub-hbg-canada, contemps, new-adult, romance, for-review

4.5 stars.

Review originally posted at Mostly YA Lit

Real talk: This book is basically thinly disguised Wills and Kate fanfiction - and I AM OKAY WITH THAT.

But seriously, though, The Royal We is written by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, better known as the "Fug Girls" of the celebrity fashion website Go Fug Yourself. If you've read their site at all, you know their penchant for snark, wit and hilarity, and they've infused their book and their protagonist, Rebecca "Bex" Porter with thos ...more

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Feb 20, 2020 Larry H rated it really liked it

The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan is full of soapy royal intrigue, as the heir to the throne sets his sights on a young American woman.

When Rebecca “Bex” Porter first meets Nicholas, Prince of Wales, he lets her in to their dorm at Oxford, where she’ll be studying for a year. He even helps carry her luggage. But she hasn’t the first clue who he is.

While their second meeting isn’t much more impressive (she’s in a towel, so perhaps it was for Nick, but she also drops her tampons ...more

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Apr 09, 2015 Kate rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 2015, contemporary, romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 2.5 stars. There were some genuinely great moments in this book. The scenes with just Bex and Nick interacting were funny and adorable and I was really into them. However...I know this book is supposed to be "inspired" by Prince William and Kate Middleton, but this is full stop RPF with a name change. The arc and trajectory of their relationship is virtually the same. It made a lot of this book seem plodding as we basically know what happens and why already. I'm a weirdo and own the William & Ka 2.5 stars. There were some genuinely great moments in this book. The scenes with just Bex and Nick interacting were funny and adorable and I was really into them. However...I know this book is supposed to be "inspired" by Prince William and Kate Middleton, but this is full stop RPF with a name change. The arc and trajectory of their relationship is virtually the same. It made a lot of this book seem plodding as we basically know what happens and why already. I'm a weirdo and own the William & Kate lifetime movie, and at times reading this felt EXACTLY like watching that movie.

This book could have been a shorter, tighter, better story without all the nonsense asides based on real royal scandals. Some of them just made me roll my eyes (ala "Prince Edwin" and his film company and generalized slapdickery), but some I found a smidge offensive: specifically, I hatedhatedhated the bodyguard potential father plot line. It was totally unnecessary to the story and it felt cheap and kind of gross. And it sucks. It really sucks because when the authors were just writing their characters everything was great. I was invested and having fun and thought it could be a great satire of how people see the Royals. It's when they went on the semi-biographical tangents that things went to shit, because it stops being satirical and starts being almost tabloidy.

And now, my real issue. (view spoiler)[We only really see the fun parts of Nick's relationship with Bex for about five or six chapters - the Oxford times. And, really, a good hunk of that is her settling in to England. These were the most engaging parts of the book. However, a month into their friendship, Bex is storming Windsor Castle to tell Nick she loves him and he is saying the same. And it was a romantic moment. But. Not once do we see her consider what that means. On the one hand, it's refreshing because she doesn't see him as this Public Figure but as a person. On the other, its pretty deeply dumb. I don't need her to sit down and evaluate with a list of pros and cons, but the difficulties of what a relationship like this might mean should flit across her mind at least once or twice in a meaningful way before taking this step.

We spend almost the rest of the book dealing with how dumb it was that she didn't consider these issues. Nick, almost immediately in part 2, starts to be a bit of an asshole. You feel bad for Bex because she's being so patient and understanding, but I was also annoyed with her because not once did she listen to the advice of ANYONE around her and say ANYTHING. And it made me not like Nick.

Honestly, I don't care that he had his reasons for how he reacted. I, personally, don't think those reasons were good enough. In real life, Princess Diana dies essentially at the hands of the paparazzi who hounded her for her whole life. And, because they didn't want to make this an EXACT copy (though it was in so many other respects), instead we have Nick's mom having a psychotic break with reality so that she's this shell and it just didn't work for me. The stakes didn't seem as high somehow. On the one hand, this is worse - to have someone you love right there but totally out of reach. And on the other, it made zero sense, was not explained in any way, and it felt like a cheat.

So, of course, when Bex's father dies (which is glossed over completely in favor of her reunion with Nick, which was really disappointing), Nick comes running back and Bex essentially just forgives him. I get it: death is a great unifier - it reminds us that we're alive but not forever. But. And this is a personal but. But. The fact that it was so easy for Nick to handle this issue and fix these problems all of a sudden makes it so much more frustrating that he treated Bex so badly before. And he did. (I almost never agreed with his criticisms of how she was acting and the things that he claimed looked so terrible. He was as dumb as Bex when it came to considering the long term and also more selfish in not thinking it through. Loving someone and being in a relationship means you're a team - you have to stop and think at least SOME about what your actions will mean to the other person.)

Not to mention that this too is a cheat. It's an easy plot-device to rely on to get them back together without having to see Nick OR Bex work for it. And, of course, once this happens Nick promptly abandons her again for over a year to plan a wedding totally alone and navigate the waters of his family TOTALLY ALONE so he can chase after HIS dream never mind the fact that he KNOWS this is going to be a difficult and uncomfortable process subjected to extreme scrutiny which is why he pushed her away in the first place! But, he also abandons her so we can have a semi-love triangle plot with Freddie.

Oh, Prince "Freddie." He was great. You could tell he was the most fun to write. However...a problematic thing with the way this book developed was that we spend a lot of the most emotionally wrenching scenes watching Freddie be there for Bex. Freddie is the one who shows up when she's sad. Freddie is the one who tries to get through to her. Freddie is the one who picks up her pieces and nudges her on her way again. Freddie is the one who SEES Bex and understands her. Freddie is the one who calls Nick out on his nonsense from the get go (You can FEEL his frustration with Nick in the scene at Bex's job and in the scenes after it). Freddie is the one to tell Bex she deserves better than how his brother is treating her. And, honestly, for a split second I really thought this book was NOT going to go the way the real story went. Freddie and Bex had loads more chemistry and more meaningful scenes together. I loved them together because they kind of brought out the best in the other without any expectations that they had to be or should be anyone other than who they were.

This whole plot is brought to a head by the background "mystery" conflict. And, I'm going to say it, anyone who doesn't know all along that Clive and Joss are going to be betrayers of friendship is a dummy because it's ridiculously obvious in the same way it's obvious about Lacey. These were my three least favorite characters because there was no subtlety. Lacey in particular I found trying, especially in her "relationship" with Freddie. She felt desperate all the way through, and there was not a single scene on the page that made me think she actually cared for him as a person rather than a prince. It makes her tantrum after she comes upon Freddie and Bex (which also seemed totally random and hard to believe), extra petulant and more than a bit pathetic.

And, while I actually thought this was an interesting confrontation opportunity between Bex and Nick, because Bex was clearly and definitely in the wrong for making out with her fiancee's brother, it is also clear to me as a reader what drove her to the edge of the cliff she stumbled off. I liked a lot of the discussions they had, because they were discussions Bex should have been having with Nick from the get go. But (because everything I loved about this book seems to come with one) all this happens on the eve of their wedding - a HUGE fucking deal international EVENT wedding. There's no time to deal with the aftermath of the revelations. There's no time to work through it. There isn't a whole lot of choice left for Nick, who has spent this whole book putting duty ahead of almost everything. And then, boom, happy and somewhat improbably (though actually really romantic, issues aside) ending. (hide spoiler)]

There were moments in which I genuinely laughed out loud. There were moments I found really touching. And there were moments when I wanted to throttle the characters in a good way. Part of me thinks that I would have had zero of the above mentioned issues if this book had been told from Nick's perspective. His, I think, is the juicier POV and the least explored. There's a certain wish fulfillment aspect achieved by telling this story through Bex's side which sells books. Nick, though, is the more tormented. Nick has the inner demons. Nick has the most to gain and to lose through his relationship with Bex and the most struggle. HIS is the side of this story we almost never see and reading The Royal We made me realize how much I want it. And, for THIS story especially, how much I needed it because, as Bex tells this story, it's hard to see why she takes him back.

I think people who are not as weirdly obsessed with the history and gossip about the British monarchy as I am will enjoy this book a lot more than I did. But...I still enjoyed it a lot more than the fug girls' previous books and I'm interested in seeing what they write next. ...more

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Sep 11, 2015 Carmen rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Royalty Fans

Recommended to Carmen by: URR

Shelves: fiction, romance, traditionally-published, she-says, british-author, american-author, published2015

"My soul married yours that first night at Windsor, and while I'll be the king of this country someday, EVERY day I will be your servant."

Did I tell you I've been having dreams about whatever I've been reading? For instance, a few days ago I read Superman/Batman: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Special Edition #1 and then I had these dreams where Batman and Superman... *blush* Um... things happened... Kissing! *blush*

ANYWAY, while reading this book, I

...had dreams about marrying/snogging/shag ...more

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Jan 05, 2015 Emily rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya-fiction, arc, favorites-2015, brit-lit

Edit 10/19: GUYS CBS FILMS HAS OPTIONED THE BOOK!!! THR reports that it may star Mae Whitman of Arrested Development, which I'm pretty "meh" about (har de har), but I am willing to move past that because THIS COULD BE A MOVIE!!!!! AHHHH!!!!

--

THIS BOOK IS GREAT. The premise has been done many times: American girl goes abroad to Oxford, where she meets and falls in love with the heir to the British throne. But this book captures almost eight years of their relationship, and you really get to know Edit 10/19: GUYS CBS FILMS HAS OPTIONED THE BOOK!!! THR reports that it may star Mae Whitman of Arrested Development, which I'm pretty "meh" about (har de har), but I am willing to move past that because THIS COULD BE A MOVIE!!!!! AHHHH!!!!

--

THIS BOOK IS GREAT. The premise has been done many times: American girl goes abroad to Oxford, where she meets and falls in love with the heir to the British throne. But this book captures almost eight years of their relationship, and you really get to know Nick, Bex, and their funny, charming group of friends. It is a fantastic romance that you will not want to put down.

The real tension in this story isn't the will-they-won't-they, but will-they-can-they?, which is a change for the better. In fact, I was so invested in the relationship that at one point I did the unthinkable and skipped ahead to see what was going to happen next (IT'S ALL TOO STRESSFUL), which I never do. So, score one for you, Fug Girls.

The inside look at the royal life is one of the main attractions of the novel, and the Fug Girls have spent years researching this book in very serious ways, mostly by covering The Royal Ascot and other occasions where one would wear a fascinator. You'll also get some great settings, like Windsor and Buckingham Palace. And there are endless inside Fug Girl jokes (the names of Freddie’s revolving girlfriends made me do spit takes by the end of the book), as well as a TV series that I’m mad isn’t real (Devour forever!!).

I was so obsessed with this book while I was reading it - and so drawn into the story - that I thought for sure it would be 5 stars. Unfortunately, I thought the ending was uneven, which is why I've dropped it to 4. Spoilers abound ahead!

(view spoiler)

And my last complaint is that this is so obviously William and Harry that it's a little jarring. I love the heir and the spare - and I love a playboy prince - but the sandy-haired Nick and the ginger gigolo Freddie are a little too close to reality. I wonder how Kate feels about being turned into the American heir of the Coucherator empire?

Regardless, this book is so much fun - and so witty! - that you should go get it immediately. I am pressing it on all of my SF friends and will be checking in on them every 20 minutes via text until they finish.
...more

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Apr 08, 2015 Caitlin Hannah rated it it was amazing

Shelves: re-read, 2016-reading-challenge, favorites

EDITED March 2020: I think Goodreads lost my rating and messed up some of the comments when the listing was edited to become the first in a series. Anyway, this has always been five stars for me. My favorite book, and one I go to for comfort and to read at least once a year. Like putting on my favorite well-worn jeans and Breton striped top ;)
************************

Original review:
Someone's review said that this is Kate Middleton fan fiction, and that is spot on. If you're a royal lover like I EDITED March 2020: I think Goodreads lost my rating and messed up some of the comments when the listing was edited to become the first in a series. Anyway, this has always been five stars for me. My favorite book, and one I go to for comfort and to read at least once a year. Like putting on my favorite well-worn jeans and Breton striped top ;)
************************

Original review:
Someone's review said that this is Kate Middleton fan fiction, and that is spot on. If you're a royal lover like I am, you will Devour this (heh heh...that's a joke you'll get when you've read the book, PASS THE CRACKER JACK.) Seriously, you'll devour it. I read it in a little over 24 hours.

I am a big fan of the royals (particularly Kate), and I unabashedly watch and read pretty much anything about them that I can get my hands on- cheesy, somber, fact, fiction, probably-fiction, and otherwise. When the smart and funny authors (the ladies behind the Go Fug Yourself blog) offered the first 7 chapters of their new book for free on Amazon, I dove right in and was immediately hooked. It felt impossible to wait another month for it to come out. It's the perfect combination of fun story, actual facts about Will, Kate, and royal life (like the painting of Queen Victoria in the shower of the Royal Suite at The Goring Hotel), and total fantasy. I see where some people say the story slows down in the middle a bit, but the characters are so well done and the bits of royal life that are worked in are so irresistible it doesn't matter. This is the only book that I can recall has made me literally laugh and cry in equal measure (which was a lot).

I already know this is a book I'll re-read regularly; a true favorite.

Well done, Fug Girls. Well done.

Now when is the movie coming out?

(In the interest of full disclosure, I received a free copy of this book from the authors. I was so enthusiastic about the first seven free chapters, and engaged with them a bunch on Twitter. I entered a giveaway they had, and though I didn't win they graciously asked if they could send me a copy anyway. Opinions are my own, including the opinion that the Fug Girls are a damn delight.) ...more

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Mar 13, 2017 Chelsea (chelseadolling reads) rated it really liked it

Guysssssss this was really, REALLY cute. Like, so cute. I'm only docking a star bc it did feel a little longer than it needed to be, but it was still just so great. What a way to start my week! ...more

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May 28, 2020 Chelsey (a_novel_idea11) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The Royal We is a fun read following American Rebecca (Bex) Porter as she spends a year abroad at Oxford and meets Nick Lyons, the Prince of Wales. When she arrives at Oxford, Bex is your average American girl looking for a fun year in London. She's left behind her close family, including her twin sister, in Iowa, but quickly makes new friends in her intimate dorm. At first, her and Nick simply start a friendship over cheesy TV and a casual understanding of feeling a little on the "outside." The ...more

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May 02, 2015 Rachel (APCB Reviews) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2015-standout, exceeded-expectations, fast-read, most-obsessed-favorites, lol

Initial Thoughts: This book was epically amazing. I fell in love with this book and the characters instantly. The banter and the writing are both hilarious and heartfelt. The raw emotions and the themes and the setting are equally beguiling. I NEED you to read this book. It will make you (and me) so happy, and it's honestly so addictive. BEST cutesy romance novel I've read in a long time.

Read the full review @ A Perfection Called Books

There are few books that truly have the power to encompass my Initial Thoughts: This book was epically amazing. I fell in love with this book and the characters instantly. The banter and the writing are both hilarious and heartfelt. The raw emotions and the themes and the setting are equally beguiling. I NEED you to read this book. It will make you (and me) so happy, and it's honestly so addictive. BEST cutesy romance novel I've read in a long time.

Read the full review @ A Perfection Called Books

There are few books that truly have the power to encompass my every-waking thoughts. The Royal We left me in such a state of bliss and mind-reeling happiness that I couldn't come down from for awhile. This book has ruined me in the best possible way. The Royal We is the cutesy contemporary standard now, and I feel bad for my next read...

I can tell instantly by reading a synopsis when I've found a Rachel book. This isn't merely a Rachel book, this is THE Rachel book. Complex and lively characters? YES. Beautiful and flawed romance? *swoons & sighs* Humor? *laughs out loud* Royalty? *curtsies* Emotional writing? *sniffles* Addictive plot? *eyes stay glued to the pages*

The writing is brilliantly done. It's written as the protagonist looks back on the events that lead her to where she is now. I love the ominous hints that the protagonist leaves, it keeps us thinking and wondering and anxious to continue reading. How could things ever go wrong for this seemingly fairytale-like story?! This book really packs a punch. The Royal We brings a wide scope of emotions to the table. My anxiety levels were through the roof, I cried, I laughed, I grinned.

The characters in this book are absolutely charming and endearing. There are many characters in this book, and I love how each character brings something unique and important to the story. A sparkling cast with lots of fun and genuine moments, you can't help but love them all. Our power couple is simply stunning; you can't help but root for them throughout all the problems thrown in their way. The swoony Nick is -well- swoony. He's confidant and compassionate, yet he has a gentle and vulnerable side. Rebecca, informally known as Bex, is loads of fun and a great protagonist to follow the story through.

I've always loved stories about royalty, and this book provides a hilarious account of someone on the Inside sharing the trade secrets. This book has pop culture references and is stamped all over with fun moments, sad moments, and just stories of life. We see all of these characters grow from the youthful and light-hearted college students to the sophisticated members of society throughout the years. This isn't just a story about love, it's a story about life and friendship.

The romance in this book is the flawed perfection that I hope to find in life. I love the inside jokes, the small things, the sweet moments, the difficult times. I love how this couple alters and changes throughout their lives. This story takes place over a long period of time, and it's fascinating to see how their relationship changed and evolved throughout. The sweet and sincere romance drove the plot to new heights. It was so realistic and amazing. Bex and Nick are definitely a top couple for me!

If you're in the mood for a cute and romantic novel that will steal away your heart and entire day, this is the book for you! ...more

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Apr 06, 2015 Stephanie rated it liked it

Shelves: 2015-april, contemporary

The Royal We might not be the Prince William/Kate Middleton fan fiction we wanted, but it’s the Prince William/Kate Middleton fan fiction we got. Let’s be honest. William and Kate aren’t the most exciting couple in the world. They’re very attractive, they’re very well-mannered and composed, they’re probably wonderful parents, and while that’s great for real life, it doesn’t make for a juicy novel. This lack of juiciness is especially surprising since this book was written by the bloggers from Go The Royal We might not be the Prince William/Kate Middleton fan fiction we wanted, but it’s the Prince William/Kate Middleton fan fiction we got. Let’s be honest. William and Kate aren’t the most exciting couple in the world. They’re very attractive, they’re very well-mannered and composed, they’re probably wonderful parents, and while that’s great for real life, it doesn’t make for a juicy novel. This lack of juiciness is especially surprising since this book was written by the bloggers from Go Fug Yourself.

William and Kate are played here by Nick and Bex. Instead of being an upper-middle class British girl, Bex is an upper-middle class American girl. Oh, the horror! Bex goes to Oxford as an exchange student, and Prince Nicholas is the first fellow student she meets. He greets her, he shows her around, and get this – Bex HAS NO IDEA WHO HE IS. Now, come on. Is there any American college girl, even one who only has a passing knowledge of the British monarchy, who would take the time to investigate the Oxford student exchange program, move to England, but then have no clue that the heir to the throne was one of her classmates?

Let’s get back to Kate Middleton for a minute. One of the things the gossip-loving, Daily Mail-reading part of me loves is that she and her grasping family supposedly worked their asses off for years to get her claws into William and to raise their own social status by association. Who cares if it’s true or not, because it would make for a delicious novel. But none of this royal stuff even phases Bex, and this makes her attraction for Nick baffling, because his main characteristic is his constant moping. He complains about his duties and responsibilities and his family. He doesn’t trust anyone. He can’t have fun, because it might get into the tabloids. So, since we are constantly told that Bex has no interest in Nick’s royal status, why does she want to have anything to do with this buzzkill of a guy? Later on, when someone points out that Bex could become queen, Bex is shocked. Shocked, I say! She’d never even thought of that!

Since it became clear early on that Bex was going to be an angelic character with the purest of intentions, all that was left was to enjoy a purely fictional look into the inner workings of the monarchy and how they must attempt to groom this American girl to be a princess. New clothes! Hair extensions! And keep that Pippa-ish sister of yours in line. Bex’s sister, by the way, is awful, and she seemed designed to take on all of the negative qualities that have been ascribed to Kate and her family. Also awful? Nick’s father, who seems to hate both of his sons. For you Harry fans (and you can count me as one), he is here in all his glory as Freddy. The queen is a heavy and somewhat frightening presence throughout the story, but she’s rarely seen or heard by Bex, which seems right. She’s got better things to do than to socialize with her grandson’s American girlfriend.

And now, the authors were faced with a dilemma. Bex is so wonderful and so purely and innocently in love with Nick, but every good story needs a scandal. The one they chose passed way over the line and into gross territory. It was like they wanted to pick a scandal so outlandish that no one could possibly think that it could be inspired by something that Kate herself did. But it wasn’t just gross – it was also resolved in a completely unbelievable fashion.

If you have no interest in the British monarchy, I wouldn’t recommend this, because you will likely be bored by Bex and Nick. But for the rest of us, there are some fun side characters and some delightfully blue-blooded snobbery to keep things interesting. ...more

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Apr 26, 2015 Giselle rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2015, borrowed, ebook, 4-star, genre-contemporary, genre-chick-lit, genre-romance, age-adult, from-overdrive-3m

If there's anything I'm not interested in, it would be being royal. I believe that a country still being ruled in monarchy is archaic, and this book showed the reasons why. Yes, you have your prince and the love of your life, but you're giving up your entire identity, your nationality just for a title. You don't get to make decisions about anything and everything must be approved to what you wear, to what you eat and to what music you listen to. You might as well be a trained monkey... So sad :( ...more

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Jun 24, 2018 Vanessa rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, adult-fiction

I love the (British) Royal Family. I've always been quite passionate about it, so you can understand my excitement when I ran into this book, inspired by the relationship between Kate and William (even if, after the recent events, this could also be a Meghan/Harry fit book, being the main character American - but without anything positive that Megan has and is).

Not only I found this novel dull because of the silly writing style (two people were needed to write it??) but in any sense possible. I ...more

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Nov 25, 2019 Corina rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook

With 454 pages, or almost 18 hours narration this book was LONG!!!!

There were some things I really enjoyed about this book.

The relationship between Bex, Nick and Freddy - was very much as I imagined the friendship between Kate, William and Harry in RL must have been. The banter, the chemistry, and honest enjoyment to be in each other’s company reminded me of what I’ve seen and read about the RL royals.

I enjoyed the way the plot was written, with anecdotes from the future, so it was obvious how t ...more

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Feb 02, 2016 Lindsey Lynn (thepagemistress) rated it it was ok

2/5 Stars!

Received this from a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway!

Summary:
Bex moves to England to pursue her artist career. This is the first time she's been away from her twin sister Lacey. It's hard but shes found a great group of friends. One of which, is the a Prince of Wales. But can everyone remain friends when royalty is so demanding? What if it leads to more?

Dislikes:
This book was overly wordy at some points. It made it seem like a chore to get thru some parts of the book. Then some of the p ...more

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Jan 12, 2015 Ashley - Book Labyrinth rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary-romance, adult, from-publisher, for-review, netgalley, romance-recs, my-books

First thoughts, written January 2015:

OH. MY. GOSH.

I had high expectations for this book (it just sounded epic), but it surpassed all of them. This is a longgg read, but my attention never waned. In fact, I stayed up past 4 am (!) crying my eyes out over it -- and this is not a usual occurrence. (Reading late, yes. Actually crying over a book? No.)

Much love for Nick/Bex, so can I be one of the first to claim Freddie?? <3

Full review to come, but needless to say I LOVED THIS BOOK (!!!).

Full review, ...more

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Nov 03, 2015 laurel [the suspected bibliophile] rated it really liked it

Shelves: genfic, contemporary, chicklit, new-adult, romance, 2020-read, 2016-read

Bex never wanted to marry the prince, but here she is—on her wedding day. To the future king of England. How'd she get here? And who is blackmailing her?

I first read this in 2016, and I loved it.

But I also remembered very little of what happened, beyond Bex being depressed and getting princess-lessons and not much else, and so when I was approved for the ARC of The Heir Affair, I knew that I'd have to reread this.

And I still loved it, although not to five-stars. It's a solid four star read—enjoy ...more

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Oct 11, 2015 Mellie Antoinette rated it liked it

"To be a king and where a crown is a thing more glorious to them that see it, than it is pleasant to them that bear it." HRH Queen Elizabeth I (1601)

Yeah, this book is not that serious! It doesn't aspire to anything higher than a fun, fictionalized ideal of what it must be like to date royalty. Hence, the great quote I couldn't resist!

Story wise, The Royal We is by far the most transparent, cheesy adventure unfolding on the page in the most expected of terms. Even the names are dripping with roy ...more

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Mar 13, 2015 Cheryl rated it it was ok

I am not familiar with these two authors or their blog www.gofugyourself.com yet I did check out their blog. It is a good blog. The reason I did is because I was expecting two authors who write this blog and title it the way they did to have more witty charm infused into this book. I started reading it in between television commercials. Which I was hoping that this book would be so funny that I would lose focus on the show I was watching and read just this book. This did not happen. Why you ask? ...more

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Sep 07, 2015 Aimee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

I rarely read while I'm drafting or editing, but I loved this book too much to put down. It's very much a fictionalized version of the Kate Middleton and Prince William romance (complete with a playboy ginger brother), though the main character, Bex (one of my favorite names!), is American.

The Royal We gives the reader the impression of an insider's perspective on the good, the bad, and the ugly of the royal lifestyle, and I found that just as intriguing as the plot itself - which, while it foll ...more

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May 07, 2015 Margaret H. Willison rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary-romance, feminist-romance, frivolous-fun-books

I gulped this one down in about a week after it received rapturous reviews all across my Twitter feed. I've been a long-time fan of Heather and Jessica's work on their hilarious website, Go Fug Yourself, so I was certainly EAGER to enjoy this book, but I don't know that I expected to be serenading with with "Just What I Needed" by The Cars at barely four pages in. AND YET.

I, along with a huge number of my smart female friends, have an insatiable appetite for books like this one: Funny love stori I gulped this one down in about a week after it received rapturous reviews all across my Twitter feed. I've been a long-time fan of Heather and Jessica's work on their hilarious website, Go Fug Yourself, so I was certainly EAGER to enjoy this book, but I don't know that I expected to be serenading with with "Just What I Needed" by The Cars at barely four pages in. AND YET.

I, along with a huge number of my smart female friends, have an insatiable appetite for books like this one: Funny love stories with distinct, well-rounded characters, a little wish fulfillment with the atmosphere, but emotional journeys that we recognize and feel real. And they are DISTRESSINGLY hard to come by, you nearly always have to compromise about one feature or the other-- the writer thinks "polished atmosphere" can be communicated best with CONSTANT BRAND NAME DROPPING. The characters, while endearing, feel like ones you've met a million times before. The love story's turns rely on impossible to credit happenstance, or characters you're supposed to respect acting like big dumdums. Etc, etc-- every smart reader knows this. Every smart reader has overlooked some such flaw to keep turning the pages while lying on a beach.

THIS BOOK DEMANDS NO COMPROMISES. It's extremely funny. The wish-fulfillment atmosphere never takes the form of name-dropping and is *sensibly* handled with the complexity that being a princess would genuinely entail. The book never veers into the territory of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, which existed because people wanted to read about Anna Wintour but clearly despised anyone who'd want to read about Anna Wintour-- Heather and Jessica seem fascinated and appalled by the royals in just the same way their imagined readers would be. The love story's impediments are genuine and feel like ones even smart, emotionally stable characters could easily make in such a nightmare situation. Both the primary characters and (almost *more* important to me) the secondary characters are all extremely lovable. I was 15 minutes late to meet my friends because I decided to stand OUTSIDE the bar where I was meeting them and finish the book. Knowing what happened to Bex and Nick was just too important to wait.

If you think you would enjoy this book, you are right, you will, and you should buy it immediately. ...more

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Apr 09, 2020 Tucker (TuckerTheReader) added it

Shelves: finished-copies-physical, arc-physical, romance, contemporary, humor

[IMAGE TK]
Many thanks to Tiffany and Estelle at Grand Central Publishing for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

DNF at 14%. I don't care about the story or any of the characters and I am so, so bored. Sorry, but I probably won't be picking this one up again. Better luck next time

-----------

i am late. so late. but better late than never

| Goodreads | Blog | Pinterest | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram ...more

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Jul 09, 2019 Madeline rated it liked it

Shelves: no-judgements

While I definitely wouldn’t say that I’m one of those Americans who is weirdly obsessed with the British royal family, I will admit that my college roommates and I got up at 4am to watch the live broadcast of the William/Kate wedding. I baked scones for the occasion. So actually yeah, I probably AM one of those Americans who’s weirdly obsessed with the British royal family.

That being said, I almost definitely read this book much too late. The Royal We was released in 2015, when everyone (or at l ...more

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May 25, 2017 Leslie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romantic

3.5 rounded up to 4

Lets get this out of the way - I am an anglophile. I stayed up all night to watch Princess Di's funeral and got up at 3 a.m. (EDT) to watch Kate & Will's wedding. Thus a book that is a very fictionalized account of Will & Kate's romance seemed like a great idea.

You will definitely recognize the Royals in this fictional story. But where we depart from reality is that instead of a mere commoner our Heir instead falls for an American, Rebecca Porter, Bex. The book explains how th ...more

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Aug 02, 2020 Nursebookie rated it it was amazing

This is a modern royal tale of a friendship that spans over 8 years between a young American, Rebecca ‘Bex’ Porter, and Nick, the future King of England. The story begins present day, the day prior to their wedding, and in the midst of being blackmailed. The story is told in five timeframes from 2007 to the present starting from the time Bex arrives to Oxford from America. She tells their story, their relationship with the media and paparazzis, the heartaches, and most especially their love stor ...more

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Mar 07, 2017 Jaime Arkin rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2015, on-my-real-shelves, contemporary, read-in-2017, romance, swoony-boys

I don’t normally go crazy for the Royal family… in fact I always wonder what the fascination is for people who do. That said, I’ve been on a royal reading kick lately and I’ve had The Royal We on that list for a while. After a few prods from friends on Instagram I thought I better get reading, and once I started, I couldn’t stop.

American Rebecca “Bex” Porter has finally jumped out of the shadow of her twin sister Lacey by heading overseas to pursue her degree at Oxford where she finds herself l I don’t normally go crazy for the Royal family… in fact I always wonder what the fascination is for people who do. That said, I’ve been on a royal reading kick lately and I’ve had The Royal We on that list for a while. After a few prods from friends on Instagram I thought I better get reading, and once I started, I couldn’t stop.

American Rebecca “Bex” Porter has finally jumped out of the shadow of her twin sister Lacey by heading overseas to pursue her degree at Oxford where she finds herself living down the hall from Great Britain’s future king. When they find themselves bonding over a horrible tv show and even worse snacks from the states, there’s no denying the connection between the two, but Nicholas’s life isn’t for everyone. With the weight of a kingdom on his shoulders, Nick can’t even go out for a beer without considering the consequences and the added stress from his father’s disappointment, shouldering the effects of his mother’s health issues, and the irresponsibility of his brother Eddie bringing the media in on his relationship isn’t something he can deal with now.

As Bex and Nick traverse the ups and downs of relationships at a level normal people couldn’t even imagine you’re taken on a rollercoaster of a ride. Cocks & Morgan and written a book that is addictive in its story-telling and filled with drama and scandal and while there were things that kind of irked me (i.e. the middle part of Bex & Nick’s story) overall I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I don’t think that I’m alone in saying that while reading it’s hard not to imagine the real British royal family.

I kind of love the characters in this story… Bex’s parents were absolutely wonderful and I loved the relationship she had with her father. It was absolutely refreshing to read. On the other hand, Lacey totally stressed me out … probably as much as she did Nick & Bex and I really found myself NOT sympathizing with her about a single thing and kind of wanted her to stop with the “woe is me” attitude and go back to the US.

I have to mention Eddie though because he was my favorite… while I like Nick and he swooned the crap out of me, Eddie is totally my kind of guy, and I wish we could find out more about his future (cough book 2 please cough). I completely understood his struggle in the grand scheme of his life and sympathized with him on a level that I don’t know that I did with Nick.

This book was filled with drama yes, but there are sweet and swoony moments as well, and I completely love the banter and relationship development between Bex & Nick. If you’re looking for something fun and yes, slightly drama filled, I highly recommend this. Even if the real-life royals aren’t your thing, I think you’ll find this one intriguing and hard to put down once you start reading!
...more

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Jan 06, 2015 Sophie rated it liked it

Shelves: 2015

I love British history, but have no interest in the modern British royal family. So a part of me was very surprised that I decided to pick up what is basically a William and Kate fanfiction (except with Kate being an American!). It was entertaining to read all of the similarities between Bex/Nick and William/Kate, and I was able to pick up on it despite only knowing a little about their relationship.

I was also expecting it to be pretty lighthearted, but was very surprised to see that the book w ...more

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Feb 19, 2016 Grace rated it really liked it

Going in to this book I had NO idea how much I was going to enjoy it. To start off: if you hate the cliche romance novels, you'll hate this. It's not some classic piece of literature, but it's fun and I am totally okay with reading things purely for enjoyment. This would be THE perfect summer vacation read. It's quick, it's cute, and I loved it. The characters, the plot line, and the novel itself were so good I read this book in about a day! I would highly recommend it! ...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
YA Buddy Readers'...: The Royal We (Royal We #1) by Heather Cocks, and Jessica Morgan - Starting June 4th 2019	9	13	Jun 05, 2019 11:49AM
Play Book Tag: The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan -2.5/3 Stars	1	18	Oct 03, 2018 12:40PM
Madison Mega-Mara...: #62 The Royal We by Heather Cocks	1	2	Apr 28, 2017 01:38PM
Unapologetic Roma...: Cocks, Heather // The Royal We	64	82	May 31, 2016 11:14AM
Girls of GB: The Royal We	1	9	Mar 18, 2016 11:18PM

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About Heather Cocks

Heather Cocks

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Heather Cocks is a die-hard sports fan, a Leo, an ex-reporter, a Notre Dame grad, a dual citizen of the U.S. and U.K., a sandwich enthusiast, and a former producer for America's Next Top Model.

Together, Heather and Jessica Morgan skewer celebrity fashion crimes on their popular blog, Go Fug Yourself, which draws millions of monthly readers and made Entertainment Weekly's Must List. They have cover ...more

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Quotes from The Royal We

“My dad and I once had a fight because I refused to put ketchup on my hot dogs," I said.
"That's possibly the most American sentence I've ever heard.” — 33 likes

“A wave of intense happiness washed over me, and I told myself to carry this moment as a talisman of a time in my life when I was both truly content and lucky enough to realize it.” — 27 likes

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