From the Bookshelf of The Introvert Readers…

Red, White & Royal Blue

Casey McQuiston

Start date: April 30, 2021

Finish date: May 31, 2021

Discussion: BOTM

Discussion leader: Maple

Why we're reading this: It won the May BOTM Poll
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last updated Aug 30, 2021 08:32PM

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What Members Thought

May 07, 2021 toointofiction rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, lgbtqia, book-to-screen-adaptation, standalones, reviewed-books, smut, adult, fiction, casey-mcquiston

"History, huh?
I bet we could make some."

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Spice Meter: 🌶️

❗This review is spoiler-free❗

This might actually be the best contemporary romance I've read so far. Only Casey McQuiston can write something so romantic, witty, wholesome, and with a good amount of tasteful smut. Everything from the plot to the character arc is spectacular, especially that glorious, emotional ending that had me weeping on the floor. I'm not even into the whole political trope that took up most of the ...more

120 likes · Like · see review

Nov 13, 2020 Lorelei rated it really liked it

Shelves: owned, 2021-books, favorites, buddy-reads

~~~4 Stars~~~

I thought I had written a newer review for this...

Apparently not. Well, this review isn't going to be that long anyway.

The Characters
Alex:
I actually didn't like Alex as much on this reread. I still love him, but he kind of got on my nerves. His character is wonderful and I love the frog-marching, but there was something missing.

Henry:
YAYYYY MY FAVORITE CHARACTER IN THIS BOOK. Henry is everything you want in a character and I love him with all my heart. I wish there was ...more

12 likes · Like · see review

Jul 08, 2020 Lorena rated it liked it

3.5 ☆

9 likes · Like · see review

Jan 17, 2021 akacya ❦ rated it really liked it

Shelves: genre-romance, audience-adult, format-ebook, popsugar-2021

i honestly don’t know why i read this…i don’t like history or politics. i guess because it was so hyped up? (also—if you’ve gotten about 30% into the book and still don’t like it, that’s around when things start heating up, so maybe try sticking around for a bit longer to see if you really want to DNF it. i was super close to not finishing it at that point, but it got better right after.)

overall, this was a good book, just really overrated in my opinion.

completed for 2021 popsugar reading challe ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Jul 10, 2019 Sylvs (NOVELty Reads) rated it really liked it

I must admit I thought this was YA when I first saw the book. When I read the blurb I was so excited I instantly bought it online and eagerly waited impatiently for delivery updates. The whole premise: a prince falling in love with the First Son of the United States in total enemies-to-lovers fashion? Is that a question! YES!!! I was expecting a whole Simon vs the Homosapiens Agenda rom-com filled with all this cute fluffy romance (and oreos) and this and that to make my heart absolutely swoon. I must admit I thought this was YA when I first saw the book. When I read the blurb I was so excited I instantly bought it online and eagerly waited impatiently for delivery updates. The whole premise: a prince falling in love with the First Son of the United States in total enemies-to-lovers fashion? Is that a question! YES!!! I was expecting a whole Simon vs the Homosapiens Agenda rom-com filled with all this cute fluffy romance (and oreos) and this and that to make my heart absolutely swoon.

And yes it was fluffy and I LOVED the whole story. But then there came the graphic sex scenes which made up a good 200 pages. And look I don't mind sex scenes only if it doesn't take over 200 pages. And with Red, White & Royal Blue There were so many sex scenes and it did take over over 200 pages. I got so tired of reading about oral sex I just wanted something to happen relating to plot line. Finally something did happen but it occurred at around 300 pages but for the many pages before that I had to endure all this sex. This was more New Adult than Young Adult and it had many sex scenes and drinking references which were more for adult audiences (18-25) than young adult.

I have to say the dynamics of Alex and Henry's relationship and the development of their relationship from enemies to lovers was done spot on I just wished it was more drawn out and the discovery that in fact Alex was bisexual more built up with more of a questioning of sexuality but I guess that all comes down to his characterisation. Alex was a wild and extroverted character that talked before he thought things through in his head. He was a heavy drinker and had many intimate relationships with girls and boys without having any regard for the consequences. Henry on the other hand was quiet and reserved thinking constantly about the fact that if he told the world he's gay it would have serious repercussions from not just the public but his family too.

The book really highlights the idea of being gay in extremely high political positions and I found it drew similarities to the 2016 presidential election and the Hilary Clinton email scandal. It also made me hate journalism entirely and tabloid news. I really felt for the Claremonts and the Windsors and I loved the White House Trio/Super Six so much I wanted to be a member of the political gang!!

Also side note: ELLEN CLAREMONT IS AMAZING I LOVE HER SO MUCH I WISH I HAD A MUM LIKE HER!!! SHE ROCKED THE WHOLE BOOK!!!!

Anyways, despite all this sexual content and the more adult-y content I did enjoy this book and would like to read more (hopefully) from this series and author. I loved the characterisation of every single character and the fact that we got to feel closer towards every side character too. I realised that the sex scenes were in fact necessary to the plot and what happened to both characters. I just wished that we got to also see Henry's perspective and not just Alex's.

ACTUAL RATING: 4.5 STARS ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Jun 14, 2021 Sarah rated it really liked it

I had exams so I cannot give you guys a proper review because with all the hectic revision and worry all I can say is that I did not focus on anything whilst reading and my mind was elsewhere. If I did not have exams and actually had time to focus and read the book properly then I would say that I enjoyed it properly. Overall the writing was amazing, and so was the romance, plot, and It gives you a proper political sense. I think I will re-read this once more in the future so then I can actually ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Jan 13, 2022 layla rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favourites

this book was a DELIGHT !!! i’ve laughed out loud so many times and it was my FIRST gay romance <3 i’m so happy i picked this book as my first of 2022 !!! the characters were so endearing and the story was just chief’s kiss, so much love but at the same time a little bit of steaminess.. oh, damn, can’t wait to read One Last Stop :)

2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 29, 2021 delaney rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, lgbtq-rep, enemies-to-lovers-ooh, contemporary-is-superior, romancee

i love this book so much. the characters are complex and interesting and deserve the world. this book reminded me of an experience i had with an online friend from england. except, you know, he wasn't a prince. and i'm not the first daughter. whatever, it made me sentimental. anyways, it's amazing and you need to read it right now