
Romance
Red, White & Royal Blue
We love supporting debut authors. Congrats, Casey McQuiston, on your first book!
Once a year, we break our own rules and share a book from earlier in the year that wowed us.
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Join today.We love supporting debut authors. Congrats, Casey McQuiston, on your first book!
Once a year, we break our own rules and share a book from earlier in the year that wowed us.
The adorable frenemy-turned-lover romance you wish the Royals and First Family were mixed up in. Maybe one day. Sigh.
400+ pages
Happy
Light read
LGBTQ+ themes
When his mother became President, Alex Claremont-Diaz was promptly cast as the American equivalent of a young royal. Handsome, charismatic, genius—his image is pure millennial-marketing gold for the White House. There's only one problem: Alex has a beef with the actual prince, Henry, across the pond. And when the tabloids get hold of a photo involving an Alex–Henry altercation, U.S./British relations take a turn for the worse.
Heads of family, state, and other handlers devise a plan for damage control: staging a truce between the two rivals. What at first begins as a fake, Instragramable friendship grows deeper, and more dangerous, than either Alex or Henry could have imagined. Soon Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret romance with a surprisingly unstuffy Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations and begs the question: Can love save the world after all? Where do we find the courage, and the power, to be the people we are meant to be? And how can we learn to let our true colors shine through?
On the White House roof, tucked into a corner of the Promenade, there’s a bit of loose paneling right on the edge of the Solarium. If you tap it just right, you can peel it back enough to find a message etched underneath, with the tip of a key or maybe a stolen West Wing letter opener.
In the secret history of First Families—an insular gossip mill sworn to absolute discretion about most things on pain of death—there’s no definite answer for who wrote it. The one thing people seem certain of is that only a presidential son or daughter would have been daring enough to deface the White House. Some swear it was Jack Ford, with his Hendrix records and split-level room attached to the roof for late-night smoke breaks. Others say it was a young Luci Johnson, thick ribbon in her hair. But it doesn’t matter. The writing stays, a private mantra for those resourceful enough to find it.
Alex discovered it within his first week of living there. He’s never told anyone how.
It says:
RULE #1: DON’T GET CAUGHT
The East and West Bedrooms on the second floor are generally reserved for the First Family. They were first designated as one giant state bedroom for visits from the Marquis de Lafayette in the Monroe administration, but eventually they were split. Alex has the East, across from the Treaty Room, and June uses the West, next to the elevator.
Being on the editorial team at BOTM means always looking into the future for the next book that everyone will love. But once a year, we take a moment to look back and reflect on the books we read and loved—including those we didn’t feature. Carrying “one book we missed” each December has become a bit of a tradition (last year we offered Severance, a breakout debut we couldn’t stop thinking about) and this year, we’re so excited to feature Red, White & Royal Blue—arguably the best rom-com of 2019.
Alex Claremont-Diaz is the most eligible bachelor in the country. The son of America’s first female president, he’s not only gorgeous but on track to follow in his mother’s footsteps as a brilliant lawyer. But all this perfection would be boring without a little drama, right? Enter his archnemesis—the Prince of Wales, Alex’s stuffier British likeness. When the two get into a tussle at a royal wedding, what should be the start of an international relations crisis not seen since the Revolutionary War turns into … [dah dah dah!!] TRUE LOVE.
It’s the queer, cosmopolitan, classy romance we were all waiting for. But this book is also so much more—it’s funny, charming, and seriously escapist. For a warm-hearted, holiday-friendly tale, look no further than Red, White & Royal Blue!
Haelley H.
Newberg, OR
Truly one of the sweetest LGBT+ books I have ever read! At times a bit cheesy but it touched on so many relate-able real-world things that it will be kept close to my heart for a long time ♥️ ♥️ ♥️ ♥️
Lupita G.
Plantation , FL
Very good book, easy to read, it takes you to another world where you can forget for a few minutes (or hours) about the real world; cute and endearing, you cheer for Alex and Henry. Loved it! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Beth L.
West Jordan, UT
More than just a modern romance. This book touched on sexuality, coming out, defying family’s expectations and more. My heart ached for Alex and Henry and what they endured, but soared for them too ????❤️
Joseph R.
Seattle, WA
I always read horror, but decided to go for something different. I Couldnt put this down, & the first time I stayed up until 3am reading since King’s “It”. RW&RB isnt groundbreaking but its pure fun.
Andrea W.
Longview, TX
I cannot love this one enough!! The cover art lured me right in—read it all in one session like an addict.???? the best part is all the sass & heat between Alex & Henry! Some of those zingers were epic!