A Novel by Casey McQuiston
Red, White & Royal Blue is a genuinely harrowing story about international politics, familial obligations, and what it means to find and know yourself while under scrutiny...all right, maybe not harrowing as much as really hot and sometimes heavy, but you know, that other stuff is in there, too.
Jane Austen would be flattered to see Darcy & Elizabeth in the main characters, Prince Henry of Wales & Alex Claremont-Diaz (respectively), as their disdain for one another dovetails into a whirlwind romance and epic queer love affair.
Alex is the son of the POTUS, and Henry is the Duke of Kensington, third in line to the throne. Their journey from enemies to frenemies to lovers is well-paced. It keeps the reader wanting more even as they ultimately satiate their desires for each other again and again and again in this delightfully escapist romantic comedy. The peripheral characters are just as entertaining and witty as Alex & Henry, helping the story along even when you only want to read about them ripping each other's clothes off.
Indeed, it is a story of sexual self-discovery under scrutiny. With glances and glimpses of Heartstopper themes, specifically how coming out is an individually unique experience and subjective according to each queer person. Even from an ocean of distance between them, their witty, flirty banter is peppered with historical revelations, visiting the writings of and bringing to light the passion that has always persisted in forbidden love.
"The phrase 'see attached bibliography' is the single sexiest thing you have ever written me."
Drawing parallels to their problems throughout the history of politics, taking a usually dry subject and romanticizing it. Alex and Henry's love for one another, like all truly true love, empowers and inspires them in their admirable journeys to leave the world a better place than they found it.
"History, huh? Bet we could make some."
A story of sexual identity and becoming, love and loss, and how we grow from both, Red, White & Royal Blue will grip your heart, tickle your funny bone, and reflect on the struggles queer people still face when it comes to the only thing that matters in this crazy world of ours; the single most fundamentally remarkable aspect of being a human being: love.
Discover more about the author: Casey McQuiston
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