Audiobook Review: Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Author: Casey McQuiston

Narrator: Ramon de Ocampo

Title: Red, White & Royal Blue

Genre: LGBT, Contemporary Romance, YA, New Adult

Format: Audiobook

Published: May 14th 2019

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz is the closest thing to a prince this side of the Atlantic. With his intrepid sister and the Veep’s genius granddaughter, they’re the White House Trio, a beautiful millennial marketing strategy for his mother, President Ellen Claremont. International socialite duties do have downsides—namely, when photos of a confrontation with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations. The plan for damage control: staging a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince.

As President Claremont kicks off her reelection bid, Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret relationship with Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations. What is worth the sacrifice? How do you do all the good you can do? And, most importantly, how will history remember you?

Review:

Been wanting to read this for a bit and then I saw that they announced this was becoming a movie so I knew I had to finally buckle down and read this. I found this at my library as an audio...so yayy!

Here we follow Alex and Henry. Alex is the son of the first US woman president. Henry is the grandson of the Queen of England. The two have been enemies since they were kids but it was never in the press. Until photos of a confrontation are leaked to the tabloids. Damage control is needed especially since the President is up for re-election and the throne has had some issues themselves. What can fix this? Oh, a fake friendship! As things go on, they realize they might actually have a lot in common. Friendship blooms and then something more. 

This took me forever to finish. I found myself going a day or two without listening. The beginning was a rough start for me and I even had a moment of wanting to DNF. However, after a certain scene, I was interested again. 

I adored Henry and Alex and you could instantly see the attraction even though they couldn't see it. I was def rooting for them! I think friendship was needed and this was a slow burn that was perfect for these two.

The ending needed more. The re-election seemed to take over the narrative and take away from the romance aspect. I wanted more Henry and Alex time! Maybe an epilogue would've helped out. I felt disappointed when the book ended. Is there going to be a book 2? I felt like the two have a lot more story to tell. I want to see their HEA! 

The narrator was okay overall, but I didn't think his voice fit completely. Maybe a duo narrator would've been the way to go? IDK, but, for me, he didn't fit Alex. Loved him for Henry though!

In the end, this was just okay for me. I wanted more of these two in the end! I felt like the re-election for Alex's mom took over a bit near the end there. I hope there is a book 2 because I feel like there is a lot for these two to deal with and dig through while they weed their way through a very public relationship. So yes. I WANT MORE! Maybe the movie will give them a better ending? We shall see. Now rating? Mmmm, I'll give it a 3. It would be a 2 but I adore Alex and Henry too much. They were so fun to watch go from enemies...to friends...to lovers. They are adorable and worth the other meh stuff.  

Challenge(s):
- #28 for Audiobook challenge