Best of September

Here are the best of the bests for September!!!! 

Best Book of the Month:

Blodeuedd - Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix

"This was the best book this month."

Carole -  No Good Dragon Goes Unpunished by Rachel Aaron

"No 5 stars for September. But I've been re-reading this series! Loved this one."

Best Movie of the Month:

Carole -  Red, White, & Royal Blue (2023)

"Such a fun movie. I feel like they did a great job being true to the book. Loved it."

Blodeuedd - The Wrong Paris (2025)

"I watched The wrong Paris...I mean srsly, people TALK to each other. But it was fun."

Best TV show of the Month:

Blodeuedd - My Life with the Walter Boys (s2)

"I watched s2 of My life with the Walter boys, and it was the exact same script as s1?"

Carole - Bob's Burgers (s15)

"S15!!! Finally got a chance to watch all of it. So funny and heartwarming. I loved the very last episode so much."

Best Cover of the Month:

C's pick: Def the best for Sept!

B's pick: Best cover, and you have to look closely!

Movie Review: Red, White, & Royal Blue (2023)

Title: Red, White, & Royal Blue

Length: 1h 58m

Released: 2023

Genre: Romantic Comedy, What If
Rating: R
Where I Got It: Amazon Prime

SUMMARY:

When the feud between the son of the American President and Britain's prince threatens to drive a wedge in U.S./British relations, the two are forced into a staged truce that sparks something deeper.

Trailer

REVIEW:

Been meaning to watch this since it was first announced! I adored the book and this cast looks so good. Finally got myself to sit down and watch it. 

There is a feud between the sons of the President of the US and Britain's prince. This feud hits an all-time high at a wedding and now it is a worry that this feud could drive a wedge in UK/US relations. PR steps in and decides that they need to become besties. However, this forced proximity sparks something deeper and much more controvesal. 

This was so much fun. It made me feel nostalgic for the book!! I may have to re-read it ;) 

Amazing cast. They were great. Can Umma be the next president? I loved her in this role. 

Such a fun story! I loved seeing these two go from enemies to lovers.Adoooorabllleeee!!!!

Yes, there is comedy, but there are some serious tones that I felt like they did a good job going over...especially for our prince. His grandfather, the King, knows his secret but in order to protect him and the Crown...he has made Henry keep it a deep, DEEP secret. I just want to squeeze Henry!! I get where the King is coming from though. This is unprecedent and he's scared. He doesn't think the British people will accept Henry if he were to come out as gay. If this was real life....I can see the fear. 

It's been a while since I read the book, but I felt like this movie did a good job respresenting it. I'll have to re-read it and see I guess....for research ;)

But yesssssssss I loved this movie. I can see myself watching it again when I need background noise. 

5 stars from me. 

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

B's Monday Review: Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Paperback, 421 pages

Published May 14th 2019 by St. Martin's Griffin

Library

Romance NA?

I had heard such good things, but frankly I was so bored!

Alex is the son of the first female president of the US. He is obsessed with politics and visits senators to get his mum re-elected *falls asleep* Oh yes the politics was so boring. I like a cool mum, but she just felt too cool. Too idolized. She should have been a bit more busy. Both her kids are in their 20s and live at the white house. They are all given jobs with her new campaign, and the the vp's kid. There I felt a bit, just don't. I get Trump kids flashbacks.

Alex has a beef with a British prince cos he was on the cover of some magazine or whatever. I never really got it. They destroy the crown prince's wedding and have to pretend to be friends. Yes, let's just fly everyone back and forth and try to pretend to be friends.

The royalty thing is again very idolized and she didn't to any research. Henry is referred to the Prince of Wales, as a foreign head of state, heir to the throne and spoiler [when they do come out as a couple they have a photo shoot that is like an engagement photo op, they are just dating! His face will not be on plates and soaps. You are just dating.! (spoiler)] He is just a prince, he has two older siblings. Btw his dad was a Bond actor and made movies all his life. Ha, like if.

They manage to keep their love affair secrets for months. And then everyone lives happily ever after and the US is so progressive and happy! I wish, I wish.

Ok, so I was talking a lot about flaws. But the premise was wonderful, I mean come on, First Son meets British prince! Hearts! But the politics dragged it down, I wanted more romance, I only got that through letters. All in all, I was bored

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?