Jamie Johnson has never been the centre of attention, and he’s perfectly okay with that. His entire world unravels as a hidden truth emerges: he's the heir to the throne of Mitanor, a sun-drenched southern European country, and the press is ready to expose this secret to the world. An invitation to spend the summer in his father's palace arrives, giving Jamie a chance to get to know the man he never thought he’d meet.
Meanwhile, in a northern European kingdom known for its cold climate and stoic royals, Erik Lindstrom, the spare prince, grapples with the upcoming marriage of his golden-boy elder brother. With the country’s spotlight trained on his family more than ever, Erik feels sidelined and tightly controlled. So when he receives an offer to tutor the newly found American prince in the ways of royalty, he accepts without hesitation.
At a magnificent summer palace, Erik guides Jamie through the intricacies of royal etiquette, politics, and history. What neither prince anticipates is the connection that sparks between them—one that challenges both of their futures. Now each must make a choice: follow their hearts, or the time-honored royal path where crown and country reigns supreme, no matter the personal cost. (Pub Date: Dec 10, 2024)
This was the first solo book I read by Cale Dietrich and even if I loved the one he co-authored with Sophie Gonzales, I didn't know exactly what to expect.
3+
And I wasn't disappointed! You might think we've already got enough stories about common guys discovering they are princes. Nowadays, there might be even more than girls turning out to be princesses despite the clear influence from The Princess Diaries. And yes, this really made me think of Cabot's series, but in a way that in a nostalgic way, that this could be what that book would have been if written in the present day. And for a queer public. And with a male main character. And with a prince being the main romantic interest. And... Okay, there are so many differences, and yet I kept thinking of the sensation I had back then.
Despite being very enjoyable, a recommendable read, it's still not a superb book. I liked the couple, I liked the characters, but I guess I needed more to make it more unique. In a good way, as in if I wanted more of The Princess Diaries, it felt like reading fan fiction. I do like it, but it lacked that special point that made it The One. I also thought the resolution, as realistic as it felt considering we're not even talking about royal families of existing countries, was a little too simple after all the anguishing. A lot of teenager problems are just like that, too many hormones driving us crazy, making the world seem to be over for us, I do understand that. It still felt like they could have done more work to get their happy ending. Or just done that sooner.
This is great for you who want some YA romance involving princes so you can forget about the world for a second—it is a quick read, after all, that will entertain you so much you won't feel time pass.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
Rating: 3 out of 5.
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