Red, White & Royal Blue
My rating
4 / 5
Self-Purchased copy
Author
Casey McQuiston
Publisher
St. Martin's Griffin
Genre
Romance (LGBT)
Number of Pages
421
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Summary
Red, White & Royal Blue is an LGBT love story published in 2019 by Casey McQuiston. It has 15 chapters, and the novel centers on Alex Clairmont-Diaz, the First Son of the United States, and Prince Henry, a British Prince of Wales. The story begins with an introduction to Alex’s family. His mother, Ellen Clairmont, is the President of the United States of America and has divorced his father, Oscar Diaz. June, his sister, and Nora, the Vice President’s grand-daughter and energetic and ambitious Alex, make the White House Trio. A catastrophic blunder at the Royal Wedding in England brings rivals Alex and Henry together to present a façade to the public that they are the best friends. They don’t realize that while faking this friendship, they will discover each other better and become much more than friends for each other.
But the journey of love is never a smooth ride. Although Alex’s family welcomes his sexuality with open arms, Henry’s staunch Royal family is not supportive. The next President of the US's election is just around the corner, and Alex’s secret relationship might just cost his mother the Presidency.
My Review
This is the author’s first book, and I’m so glad I read it. I very much loved the whole enemies-to-lovers queer plot. The dialogue between the lovers was fun, and I had a happy feeling about it. But it was outright hilarious at times, and I ended up laughing out loud. My favorite part was the secret email communication between Alex and Henry. It was funny too, but candid and realistic and heart-melting at the same time. Also, the references to excerpts from famous literature in the emails were so apt and brilliantly used. Reading those emails, there was never a doubt in my mind that Alex and Henry were truly and deeply smitten by each other.
I loved all the female characters in the story. Starting from Ellen, June, Nora, Bea to Zarah. They were such no-nonsense, innovative, resourceful, intelligent, and loving characters, and that I instantly adored every one of them. The plot, although based around politics, was a straightforward, light, and yet endearing read. I give all credit to the fascinating characters created by the author.
The concluding chapters about the election and Texas becoming blue for Ellen, a lady President and the villainous angle about Richards, the other Presidential candidate going for Alex’s bisexuality to ruin the First Family, added an exciting mix to the whole plot. All I can say is the author has done her research well. Research about the White House's inner workings, The British Royals and the intricacies involved in a gay relationship. Later on, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that this was McQuiston’s first novel.
Final Verdict
There were some very sexy and steamy clothes-ripping, gay scenes between the central characters. It wasn’t like they were unnecessary or too much. They were needed and were perfect for keeping the story real. The love story between the celebrities’ kids comes with its struggles and ups and downs but has a happy ending. Overall it’s a sweet story. Perfect for my valentine’s week read. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.
Who Should Read This
This novel was my first LGBT romance read, and I recommend it to other readers looking to start reading this niche romance genre. Readers looking for happily ever after endings and political romances should give this one a try. I hope to read many more such stories.
Happy Reading!
Top 10 quotes from Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey Mcquiston
"Thinking about history makes me wonder how I’ll fit into it one day, I guess. And you too. I kinda wish people still wrote like that. History, huh? Bet we could make some."
"That's the choice. I love him, with all that, because of all that. On purpose. I love him on purpose."
"Sometimes you just jump and hope it's not a cliff."
"Someone else’s choice doesn’t change who you are."
"Straight people, he thinks, probably don't spend this much time convincing themselves that they're straight."
"You see, for me, memories are difficult. Very often, they hurt. A curious thing about grief is the way it takes your entire life, all those foundational years that made you who you are, and makes them so painful to look back upon because of the absence there, that suddenly they’re inaccessible. You must invent an entirely new system."
"Every person who bears a legacy makes the choice of a partner with whom they will share it with, whom the American people will hold beside them in hearts and memories and history books. America: He is my choice."
"To every person in search of somewhere to belong who happened to pick up this book, I hope you found a place in here, even if just for a few pages. You are loved. I wrote this for you. Keep fighting, keep making history, keep looking after one another."
"I thought, this is the most incredible thing I have ever seen, and I had better keep it a safe distance away from me. I thought, if someone like that ever loved me, it would set me on fire.
And then I was a careless fool, and I fell in love with you anyway. When you rang me at truly shocking hours of the night, I loved you. When you kissed me in disgusting public toilets and pouted in hotel bars and made me happy in ways in which it had never even occurred to me that a mangled-up, locked-up person like me could be happy, I loved you.
And then, inexplicably, you had the absolute audacity to love me back. Can you believe it?
Sometimes, even now, I still can't."
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Casey McQuiston
Casey McQuiston is a New York Times bestselling author of romantic comedies and a pie entusiast. She writes stories about smart people with bad manners falling in love. Born and raised in southern Louisiana, she now lives in New York City with her poodle mix/personal assistant, Pepper.
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