Red, White & Royal Blue: All The Proof We Need That Love Is Love

Photo by Jessica Maynard

Photo Credit: Amazon Prime

You know a book is extraordinary when you struggle to write the review for fear of not doing the book justice. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston was a breath of fresh air, both during COVID quarantine and during my fiction draught. After you have read as many books as this bookworm you become bored with the same recycled fiction plots and frolic among other genres for a spell. Then, low and behold, a Facebook ad (yes, they can be good sometimes!) appears for this blessing of a book. Alex and Henry, the cutest political pair since Pete and Chasten, strolled into my mind and heart and there was no turning back.

Enemies turned lovers. It’s a tale as old as time. Or is it? You haven’t read a romantic comedy quite like this one. Mix together the President’s son, an election year, a secretly gay prince plus a smashed royal wedding cake and you get the most witty and sweet novel to come along in eons. After the smashed cake fiasco makes front page tabloid news, a plan is devised for damage control. Alex, the President’s son and Henry, the Prince of England are forced into pretending to like each other, until it isn’t pretending at all. 

After reading Red, White & Royal Blue, my mind flooded with ways to afford even a glimpse of the joy this book gave me, as a writer, a reader and as a human being. As a writer I thought, ‘Darn, why didn’t I think of that!’. This novel has impact and heart and I believe it has only begun to reach those searching for something real and new. It is certainly not the first gay romance to hit shelves but this one is different in the way it transcends above its niche readership to a broader audience with it’s authentic characters, lively dialogue and a version of prince charming we never knew we always wanted. It caused me to branch over into a genre I had not read before and I am thankful for this eye-opening reading experience. 

As a reader I knew early on in the novel it would be a story that would stay with me for a long time. Alex, Henry and friends have a special spot in my literary heart and I have a feeling I will be visiting them again from time to time. Which brought me to my next thought; will there be a sequel? Of course I scoured the internet for a glimmer of hope but, alas, Casey McQuiston's website says she is not working on a sequel at the moment. On a bright note, the book has been optioned for film by Amazon Studios. Fingers crossed! 

As a human being, I was thankful for the portrayal of the relationship between Alex and Henry. It shows that love is love, no matter who you love. Alex and Henry go through many of the typical ups and downs of first love, dating and long distance relationships and the additional obstacles they endure due to social status and sexual orientation only make the audience root for them more. Will the royal family and the world accept a gay prince? Will voters be deterred by a candidate’s son having a love affair with a foreign prince? Pick up or download Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuinton to find out!​


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Update 8/29/2023: Good news fellow readers! Red, White & Royal Blue is now a movie on Amazon Prime! I've already binged it twice and can't wait to devour it again. The chemistry between Alex and Henry made a sizzling transition from page to screen. They were able to bring many iconic scenes from the book to life and the casting is spot on. If you have not had the pleasure of falling in love with this beautiful story, I highly recommend the book and movie. You will not be disappointed!

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