Tag Archives: new adult

Review: Red, White & Royal Blue

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Red, White & Royal Blue
by Casey McQuiston
5 stars

Alex and Henry have a tense and antagonistic relationship.  Which causes trouble because Alex is the First Son of the US and Henry is the Prince of England.  When their issues come to a head at a royal wedding (including the destruction of a $17,000 wedding cake), the 2 must paste on diplomatic smiles and fake a friendship for the sake of American/British international relations.  The fake friendship gradually becomes real as they open up to each other about the pressures of living in the public eye and that friendship turns into something more.

This book was originally marked as Young Adult, but it definitely falls into the Adult/New Adult categories (the characters are 20 and 22 when the book begins).  This is probably my favorite book of the year (yes, I know it’s early).  It had me bouncing between giggles and swoons, and sometimes both at once.  It was smart, diverse, and inclusive in all the best ways.  And there were multiple references to Alexander Hamilton, Harry Potter, and others!

 

Read-alikes

The Royal We by Heather Cox

Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal

Royals by Rachel Hawkins

 

Review: Starlight Nights

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Starlight Nights
by Stacey Kade
4 stars

I highly recommend Starlight Nights, Stacey Kade’s second “new adult” novel, to anyone who enjoys conflicted characters and captivating romance. Calista Beckett is a child star all grown up and trying to right her life on a small college campus far from the lights of Hollywood. Eric Stone co-starred with Calista on a popular TV show a few years ago before the show and their lives imploded. Now Eric’s trying to make a name for himself outside the overbearing shadow of his producer father, and he needs Calista’s help. Calista doesn’t want to be drawn back to her old life and bad habits, but her mother’s gone through all the Hollywood money and needs Calista to work to support the family. Calista accepts knowing her crush on Eric from years ago partially led to the collapse of the show and her life. Eric doesn’t expect Calista to not only star in his new show, but to forgive him for past harms and team up with him to take on their controlling families. The scenes with both characters struggling with their personal demons and coming together are show stoppers.

Read-alikes

All Lined Up: A Rusk University Novel by Cora Carmack

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Scratch by Rhonda Helms