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The Rules of Royalty: A Novel
Two princes from neighboring countries fall into a whirlwind royal romance in this sparkling spin on The Princess Diaries by Cale Dietrich.
Jamie Johnson has never been the centre of attention, and he’s perfectly okay with that. His entire world unravels as a hidden truth he's the heir to the throne of Mitanor, a sun-drenched southern European country, and the press is ready to expose this secret to the world. An invitation to spend the summer in his father's palace arrives, giving Jamie a chance to get to know the man he never thought he’d meet.
Meanwhile, in a northern European kingdom known for its cold climate and stoic royals, Erik Von Rosenborg, the spare prince, grapples with the upcoming marriage of his golden-boy elder brother. With the country’s spotlight trained on his family more than ever, Erik feels sidelined and tightly controlled. So when he receives an offer to tutor the newly found American prince in the ways of royalty, he accepts without hesitation.
At a magnificent summer palace, Erik guides Jamie through the intricacies of royal etiquette, politics, and history. What neither prince anticipates is the connection that sparks between them—one that challenges both of their futures. Now each must make a follow their hearts, or the time-honored royal path where crown and country reigns supreme, no matter the personal cost.
Jamie Johnson has never been the centre of attention, and he’s perfectly okay with that. His entire world unravels as a hidden truth he's the heir to the throne of Mitanor, a sun-drenched southern European country, and the press is ready to expose this secret to the world. An invitation to spend the summer in his father's palace arrives, giving Jamie a chance to get to know the man he never thought he’d meet.
Meanwhile, in a northern European kingdom known for its cold climate and stoic royals, Erik Von Rosenborg, the spare prince, grapples with the upcoming marriage of his golden-boy elder brother. With the country’s spotlight trained on his family more than ever, Erik feels sidelined and tightly controlled. So when he receives an offer to tutor the newly found American prince in the ways of royalty, he accepts without hesitation.
At a magnificent summer palace, Erik guides Jamie through the intricacies of royal etiquette, politics, and history. What neither prince anticipates is the connection that sparks between them—one that challenges both of their futures. Now each must make a follow their hearts, or the time-honored royal path where crown and country reigns supreme, no matter the personal cost.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published December 10, 2024
151 people are currently reading
16534 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 487 reviews
October 26, 2024
Young Royals meets The Princess Diaries
Sometimes, I just need an easy and captivating read. A book that won’t reach deep into my feelings, a story I smile at, main characters I swoon about. A comfort read to sink in and daydream about. A Hallmark-like story. The Rules of Royalty did deliver all of these things.
Fluffy, that’s what I’d call this story. Jamie and Erik are lovable main characters, even though Erik could be a little icy at times. Probably because he came from Northern Europe, synonymous with cold. But northern Europe is also beautiful with the northern lights, lakes, mountains, and, of course, those endless long days in the summer. Think of a ray of sunshine poking through the clouds, warming your face. That’s how I see Erik. A bit like Wilhelm from Young Royals.
What I didn’t like was Erik’s Royal family forcing him to date another boy because he needed to have a steady relationship? At seventeen??? I didn’t buy it. And said fake dating was nonsense because Sebastian and Erik only met once for a long time. And I hated the third-act breakup. Like always.
Anyway, even with the things I mentioned above, I enjoyed myself. And I think Cale thought of the Dutch Royalty while writing this story: King Alexander and Princess Amalia. For that, I rounded my 3.5 rating up instead of down.
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Sometimes, I just need an easy and captivating read. A book that won’t reach deep into my feelings, a story I smile at, main characters I swoon about. A comfort read to sink in and daydream about. A Hallmark-like story. The Rules of Royalty did deliver all of these things.
Fluffy, that’s what I’d call this story. Jamie and Erik are lovable main characters, even though Erik could be a little icy at times. Probably because he came from Northern Europe, synonymous with cold. But northern Europe is also beautiful with the northern lights, lakes, mountains, and, of course, those endless long days in the summer. Think of a ray of sunshine poking through the clouds, warming your face. That’s how I see Erik. A bit like Wilhelm from Young Royals.
What I didn’t like was Erik’s Royal family forcing him to date another boy because he needed to have a steady relationship? At seventeen??? I didn’t buy it. And said fake dating was nonsense because Sebastian and Erik only met once for a long time. And I hated the third-act breakup. Like always.
Anyway, even with the things I mentioned above, I enjoyed myself. And I think Cale thought of the Dutch Royalty while writing this story: King Alexander and Princess Amalia. For that, I rounded my 3.5 rating up instead of down.
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December 25, 2024
This was an alright book, but I think I would’ve enjoyed it more had it been a movie. The plot is basically the Princess Diaries: an american teenager (Jamie) finds out he’s the prince of a small nation and goes there for the summer. His father, the king, asks the prince of another country (Erik) to teach Jamie how to be a prince. You reeeally have to suspend your disbelief here – if the world just found out that an american boy has a claim to a whole country’s throne, the king would be finding a bunch of tutors and a whole PR team to teach that boy how to… you know… not ruin the monarchy’s reputation or the country’s relations with other countries lol. It’s quite absurd that the king was just like “Yeah yeah I’ll just ask a teenage prince from another country to tutor and media-train you lol”. 🥴 It was just a very contrived reason for them to be spending time together.
I was okay with suspending my disbelief for the sake of the romance, you know? The problem is that the romance was just… really meh, to me. 😕 Jamie and Erik very quickly started liking each other, and I’m very much a slow-burn kinda gal, so their relationship just felt too sudden and lowkey insta-lovey. They supposedly became friends, and they had their whole mentor-mentee thing going on, but neither of those were very well developed, so I just never felt their bond and I didn’t understand why they even liked each other. Overall, I just think their relationship wasn’t that developed, which made it impossible for me to care *at all* about the romance. How am I supposed to feel anything about their romance when I barely even see them as *friends* yet? 😐😐😐
I will say, though, that I enjoyed their relationship, once they got together. I mean, I didn’t *feel* anything, but I reeeally appreciated that they actually cared about each other and were super respectful. Jamie and Erik always talked openly about their feelings and had comprehensive conversations, which made their relationship feel really healthy.
I actually think that was my favourite aspect of this book: both MCs openly communicated their feelings, which was not only really healthy and refreshing to see, but also made it so that the book didn’t have any annoying miscommunication trope. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 Whenever I thought we were about to reach a stupid miscommunication plot-line that would unnecessarily drag on for 50 pages, the characters immediately discussed their feelings and talked not only to each other, but to the other characters as well, instead of hiding everything and wallowing in self-pity. It was sooooo nice to not be constantly annoyed at the book for creating unnecessary conflict by making the characters hide things for no reason!!!! 👌🏻
Regarding the actual story: this is supposedly a book about Jamie finding out he’s a prince and going to his father’s country. However, we focus pretty much only on the romance. And like, I get it; this is a romance book. But I definitely think more time should’ve been spent with Jamie bonding with the other characters as well. His parents went with him to Mitanor, he had like 4 besties back in the US, he had his birth father, his stepmum and his half-brother in Mitanor, as well as his maternal grandparents, and yet he barely even interacts with any of them them! 😟 I think the most egregious case of this was with his grandparents; he meets them one time and they’re crying because Jamie looks so much like his deceased birth mother. They tell Jamie they’d love to get to know him and tell him more about their daughter (his birth mother) and then we never get to see any of that????? In the epilogue he mentions he got close to his grandparents, but like….???? It all happened off-page, I guess…
Actually, a lotttt of things seemed to happen off-page. They were usually pretty small things, but I think we should’ve gotten to see them, not only because *telling instead of showing* is annoying, but also because showing these little moments could’ve helped the relationships feel more developed (especially the romance between Jamie and Erik).
Random thing: some of the conflicts felt a little forced and were lowkey unnecessary. Just silly conflicts, omg…
Overall, this was a fine book, but I wish that: 1) Jamie and Erik’s relationship had been better developed; 2) Jamie had interacted more with the SCs; 3) there was more *showing* instead of *telling. The story we got kind of fell flat to me. In general, I think this would be a cute movie.
(review written on 25/12/2024)
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royalty belongs to the gays i'm sorry str8 people you're OUT
(24/01/2024)
I was okay with suspending my disbelief for the sake of the romance, you know? The problem is that the romance was just… really meh, to me. 😕 Jamie and Erik very quickly started liking each other, and I’m very much a slow-burn kinda gal, so their relationship just felt too sudden and lowkey insta-lovey. They supposedly became friends, and they had their whole mentor-mentee thing going on, but neither of those were very well developed, so I just never felt their bond and I didn’t understand why they even liked each other. Overall, I just think their relationship wasn’t that developed, which made it impossible for me to care *at all* about the romance. How am I supposed to feel anything about their romance when I barely even see them as *friends* yet? 😐😐😐
I will say, though, that I enjoyed their relationship, once they got together. I mean, I didn’t *feel* anything, but I reeeally appreciated that they actually cared about each other and were super respectful. Jamie and Erik always talked openly about their feelings and had comprehensive conversations, which made their relationship feel really healthy.
I actually think that was my favourite aspect of this book: both MCs openly communicated their feelings, which was not only really healthy and refreshing to see, but also made it so that the book didn’t have any annoying miscommunication trope. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 Whenever I thought we were about to reach a stupid miscommunication plot-line that would unnecessarily drag on for 50 pages, the characters immediately discussed their feelings and talked not only to each other, but to the other characters as well, instead of hiding everything and wallowing in self-pity. It was sooooo nice to not be constantly annoyed at the book for creating unnecessary conflict by making the characters hide things for no reason!!!! 👌🏻
Regarding the actual story: this is supposedly a book about Jamie finding out he’s a prince and going to his father’s country. However, we focus pretty much only on the romance. And like, I get it; this is a romance book. But I definitely think more time should’ve been spent with Jamie bonding with the other characters as well. His parents went with him to Mitanor, he had like 4 besties back in the US, he had his birth father, his stepmum and his half-brother in Mitanor, as well as his maternal grandparents, and yet he barely even interacts with any of them them! 😟 I think the most egregious case of this was with his grandparents; he meets them one time and they’re crying because Jamie looks so much like his deceased birth mother. They tell Jamie they’d love to get to know him and tell him more about their daughter (his birth mother) and then we never get to see any of that????? In the epilogue he mentions he got close to his grandparents, but like….???? It all happened off-page, I guess…
Actually, a lotttt of things seemed to happen off-page. They were usually pretty small things, but I think we should’ve gotten to see them, not only because *telling instead of showing* is annoying, but also because showing these little moments could’ve helped the relationships feel more developed (especially the romance between Jamie and Erik).
Random thing: some of the conflicts felt a little forced and were lowkey unnecessary. Just silly conflicts, omg…
Overall, this was a fine book, but I wish that: 1) Jamie and Erik’s relationship had been better developed; 2) Jamie had interacted more with the SCs; 3) there was more *showing* instead of *telling. The story we got kind of fell flat to me. In general, I think this would be a cute movie.
(review written on 25/12/2024)
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royalty belongs to the gays i'm sorry str8 people you're OUT
(24/01/2024)
July 21, 2024
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Contemporary Romance + Young Adult + LGBTQ
This is a queer young adult romance. The plot revolves around two princes from different countries who are neighbors. It was inspired by "The Princess Diaries." One of them is Jamie Johnson, who, up until the time he turned seventeen, was completely unaware that he was supposed to be a prince. The second one is Erik Von Rosenborg, the prince of a European Kingdom.
Erik is asked to tutor Jamie on everything about being a prince. How to speak, how to conduct oneself, and all of the associated royal etiquette. During the course of all of that, the two young princes develop feelings for one another, which ultimately leads to the beginning of a romantic relationship between them.
The narrative is told in the first person, but it is told from the points of view of the two main characters. Even though the story is endearing and the book itself is adorable, it lacks any kind of depth. This is the kind of story that is ideal for going through when you are looking for something simple to read that does not contain a lot of tension. You are going to have a good time with it, but I do not think you will remember it for a very long time.
My primary criticism of the writing in this piece is directed toward the voices of the two main characters. They are very similar, and it is hard to distinguish them from each other. Even though the events of the story allow you to differentiate between the two voices, the point I am trying to make is that both voices share the same characteristics. I feel these primary characters needed to be more unique.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book.
Genre: Contemporary Romance + Young Adult + LGBTQ
This is a queer young adult romance. The plot revolves around two princes from different countries who are neighbors. It was inspired by "The Princess Diaries." One of them is Jamie Johnson, who, up until the time he turned seventeen, was completely unaware that he was supposed to be a prince. The second one is Erik Von Rosenborg, the prince of a European Kingdom.
Erik is asked to tutor Jamie on everything about being a prince. How to speak, how to conduct oneself, and all of the associated royal etiquette. During the course of all of that, the two young princes develop feelings for one another, which ultimately leads to the beginning of a romantic relationship between them.
The narrative is told in the first person, but it is told from the points of view of the two main characters. Even though the story is endearing and the book itself is adorable, it lacks any kind of depth. This is the kind of story that is ideal for going through when you are looking for something simple to read that does not contain a lot of tension. You are going to have a good time with it, but I do not think you will remember it for a very long time.
My primary criticism of the writing in this piece is directed toward the voices of the two main characters. They are very similar, and it is hard to distinguish them from each other. Even though the events of the story allow you to differentiate between the two voices, the point I am trying to make is that both voices share the same characteristics. I feel these primary characters needed to be more unique.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book.
November 8, 2024
Cale Dietrich, author of The Rules of Royalty, was a new find for me on NetGalley. The engaging cover caught my eye, and I was lucky enough to receive an early release. On the plane ride home from California this weekend, I dove in and read the entire novel. A boy turns 17 and learns his father's identity... the king of a small country nestled between Spain and France. Alternating chapters, the second son of a royal family in a nearby country is asked to mentor the new prince. By lucky, he's also gay and thus their love story begins.
What I love best about this book - it's not a trope! I assumed there would be immediate conflict, or a story scandalizing their connection... but it's just a slowly growing relationship that begins with a a favor and ends with love. I adore both the characters and their families, tho the queen got on my nerves a bit. The author, rightfully so, ignores all the reasons why this could never happen, and instead leans into the tenets of a fairy tale.
I enjoyed being up close to watch this relationship build, and while it's hard to prove why love should win in a book when you've only a few hours in the read, this one does a remarkable job. I think I shed a tear or two while reading it, mostly because I'm a sentimental fool who secretly (not so secretly) learns to live the life of a romantic hero?
My only issue... and not quite that big, is they are so young. At 17, do you really understand well enough yet to choose your life partner? It's possible; I'm just a bit pragmatic (jaded?) and doubtful. Doesn't take away from this being a feel-good, entertaining book. And now I'm checking out the author's backlog to decide if I want to read more or just keep on going with future releases. Any fans out there want to help me decide?
What I love best about this book - it's not a trope! I assumed there would be immediate conflict, or a story scandalizing their connection... but it's just a slowly growing relationship that begins with a a favor and ends with love. I adore both the characters and their families, tho the queen got on my nerves a bit. The author, rightfully so, ignores all the reasons why this could never happen, and instead leans into the tenets of a fairy tale.
I enjoyed being up close to watch this relationship build, and while it's hard to prove why love should win in a book when you've only a few hours in the read, this one does a remarkable job. I think I shed a tear or two while reading it, mostly because I'm a sentimental fool who secretly (not so secretly) learns to live the life of a romantic hero?
My only issue... and not quite that big, is they are so young. At 17, do you really understand well enough yet to choose your life partner? It's possible; I'm just a bit pragmatic (jaded?) and doubtful. Doesn't take away from this being a feel-good, entertaining book. And now I'm checking out the author's backlog to decide if I want to read more or just keep on going with future releases. Any fans out there want to help me decide?
November 14, 2024
This was fun! The Rules of Royalty is a gay retelling of The Princess Diaries and is perfect if you want a light-hearted YA romance with fairly low stakes.
Jaime grew up as a normal American kid and works a part-time, low-paying job. But on his 17th birthday he finds out that his father is the king of a small European country! In order to help him cope with his new reality, his father recruits Prince Erik (a gay younger son from another country, with a kind of controlling family) to talk him through it. And then give him lessons on things like etiquette.
Sparks of course fly between the two, but Erik's grandmother the queen has told him to keep things with Jaimie platonic. Will love win between these royals?...
Super cute and entertaining, though I kind of wanted more drama. There were points at which things felt a little too easy. Like a fake royal boyfriend who is super chill about everything, but could have been more interesting? Overall though, I enjoyed this and would recommend it. The audio narration is pretty good, though the accent for Erik feels a tad forced. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Jaime grew up as a normal American kid and works a part-time, low-paying job. But on his 17th birthday he finds out that his father is the king of a small European country! In order to help him cope with his new reality, his father recruits Prince Erik (a gay younger son from another country, with a kind of controlling family) to talk him through it. And then give him lessons on things like etiquette.
Sparks of course fly between the two, but Erik's grandmother the queen has told him to keep things with Jaimie platonic. Will love win between these royals?...
Super cute and entertaining, though I kind of wanted more drama. There were points at which things felt a little too easy. Like a fake royal boyfriend who is super chill about everything, but could have been more interesting? Overall though, I enjoyed this and would recommend it. The audio narration is pretty good, though the accent for Erik feels a tad forced. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
December 3, 2024
Princess fantasies!*
Jamie has every expectation of a normal life, until his mother drops a bombshell: his father is king of the small European country Mitanor, making Jamie a prince—and his life will never be the same. Meanwhile, as the second prince of Sunstad, Erik has never had or expected a normal life—but things get a lot more interesting when the king of Mitanor asks him to provide some informal support to Europe's newest prince. They'd both young, gay, single (more or less), and pretty...and even if getting together is risky,** neither of them can help the mutual interest.
This is described as a modern (gay) take on The Princess Diaries, which in a lot of ways feels about right. It's wish fulfillment: Jamie suddenly has everything under the sun(stad) that he could dream of, including the full support of both his families and an apartment suited for, well, a prince. There are very few expectations placed on him—while in The Princess Diaries Mia groans over her princess lessons (and, frankly, has a lot fewer eyes on her, growing up before the age of cell phone cameras and social media), when the news breaks about Jamie he's just asked to take some tips from Erik. Despite the sudden scrutiny, Jamie makes very few faux pas,*** which I'm actually glad of; I get tired of books in which characters are thrust into the spotlight and it never occurs to them to brush their hair or think before they speak.
It's...not a super realistic book, or a subtle one. A lot of things are glossed over: Jamie is basically told that he can step into the life of a prince and do whatever he wants (or, not quite, but that's the general vibe), or he can go back to the US and continue his life there (never mind that he'd probably never have a moment of peace again); he's routinely encouraged to speak to the media and stand up for things he believes in. There's very, very little standing on ceremony, including when security protocols are broken and Jamie is allowed to decide to brush it off and continue into an unsecured situation. Mitanor has somewhat flexible inheritance laws, but there's neither conflict nor really interaction with Jamie's half-brother (who might suddenly have competition as presumptive heir to the throne), and instead the villain of the book is a homophobic politician who leaves a trail of slime in his wake. I also thought it was quite sad how quickly Jamie takes to calling his biological father (the king) "Dad" because "He's earned it" (loc. 4000****)—never mind that Jamie has a stepdad who's been in the picture for five or six years and has actually helped raise Jamie, but never gets beyond first-name status. (There's nothing wrong with first-name status! But it has to hurt to see a kid take the attitude of "well, you raised me, but he gave me DNA and is a king, so we all know who gets 'dad' status".) I also rather wished that we'd stayed in one POV throughout, as I couldn't tell Jamie and Erik's voices apart, down to Erik using casual American slang.
But it's a princess fantasy book. I know I'm not supposed to be looking for something super realistic here—better to look for the fancy apartment and polite princes and suddenly limitless possibilities. (And, of course, for a queer Princess Diaries.) Check your practicality-o-meter at the first page—it'll be waiting for you at the end of the book.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
*Never mind the general lack of princesses here—this sort of book is always going to be a princess fantasy book for me.
**Risk/risks/risky count: 31
**Yes, I looked it up, and both singular and plural are faux pas, with a slight variation in pronunciation.
***Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.
Jamie has every expectation of a normal life, until his mother drops a bombshell: his father is king of the small European country Mitanor, making Jamie a prince—and his life will never be the same. Meanwhile, as the second prince of Sunstad, Erik has never had or expected a normal life—but things get a lot more interesting when the king of Mitanor asks him to provide some informal support to Europe's newest prince. They'd both young, gay, single (more or less), and pretty...and even if getting together is risky,** neither of them can help the mutual interest.
This is described as a modern (gay) take on The Princess Diaries, which in a lot of ways feels about right. It's wish fulfillment: Jamie suddenly has everything under the sun(stad) that he could dream of, including the full support of both his families and an apartment suited for, well, a prince. There are very few expectations placed on him—while in The Princess Diaries Mia groans over her princess lessons (and, frankly, has a lot fewer eyes on her, growing up before the age of cell phone cameras and social media), when the news breaks about Jamie he's just asked to take some tips from Erik. Despite the sudden scrutiny, Jamie makes very few faux pas,*** which I'm actually glad of; I get tired of books in which characters are thrust into the spotlight and it never occurs to them to brush their hair or think before they speak.
It's...not a super realistic book, or a subtle one. A lot of things are glossed over: Jamie is basically told that he can step into the life of a prince and do whatever he wants (or, not quite, but that's the general vibe), or he can go back to the US and continue his life there (never mind that he'd probably never have a moment of peace again); he's routinely encouraged to speak to the media and stand up for things he believes in. There's very, very little standing on ceremony, including when security protocols are broken and Jamie is allowed to decide to brush it off and continue into an unsecured situation. Mitanor has somewhat flexible inheritance laws, but there's neither conflict nor really interaction with Jamie's half-brother (who might suddenly have competition as presumptive heir to the throne), and instead the villain of the book is a homophobic politician who leaves a trail of slime in his wake. I also thought it was quite sad how quickly Jamie takes to calling his biological father (the king) "Dad" because "He's earned it" (loc. 4000****)—never mind that Jamie has a stepdad who's been in the picture for five or six years and has actually helped raise Jamie, but never gets beyond first-name status. (There's nothing wrong with first-name status! But it has to hurt to see a kid take the attitude of "well, you raised me, but he gave me DNA and is a king, so we all know who gets 'dad' status".) I also rather wished that we'd stayed in one POV throughout, as I couldn't tell Jamie and Erik's voices apart, down to Erik using casual American slang.
But it's a princess fantasy book. I know I'm not supposed to be looking for something super realistic here—better to look for the fancy apartment and polite princes and suddenly limitless possibilities. (And, of course, for a queer Princess Diaries.) Check your practicality-o-meter at the first page—it'll be waiting for you at the end of the book.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
*Never mind the general lack of princesses here—this sort of book is always going to be a princess fantasy book for me.
**Risk/risks/risky count: 31
**Yes, I looked it up, and both singular and plural are faux pas, with a slight variation in pronunciation.
***Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.
July 11, 2024
1 Sentence Summary: Jamie Johnson lived a totally normal American life until he turns seventeen and learns that he’s actually the prince of Mitanor, a sunny European country, and when his father—the king!—invites him to spend the summer at the palace, Jamie agrees; however, he doesn’t know anything about royal etiquette, so it’s a good thing Erik, a prince from a nearby kingdom, agrees to tutor Jamie in the rules of royalty.
My Thoughts: This was essentially a gay Princess Diaries, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The romance was super cute, and the story had an overall light, happy, and positive tone.
I loved how supportive all of Jamie and Erik’s family and friends were. And yes, maybe the story was cheesy at times and unrealistic, but the world is already dark enough as is. Let me read my happy feel-good love-conquers-all fictional romance novel in peace.
The characters could have had more depth and the writing could have been more developed, but overall it was a fun YA romance—a lighthearted and quick read, perfect to get out of a reading slump.
Recommend to: Fans of YA romance and stories about royalty.
(Warnings: swearing)
***
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review
My Thoughts: This was essentially a gay Princess Diaries, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The romance was super cute, and the story had an overall light, happy, and positive tone.
I loved how supportive all of Jamie and Erik’s family and friends were. And yes, maybe the story was cheesy at times and unrealistic, but the world is already dark enough as is. Let me read my happy feel-good love-conquers-all fictional romance novel in peace.
The characters could have had more depth and the writing could have been more developed, but overall it was a fun YA romance—a lighthearted and quick read, perfect to get out of a reading slump.
Recommend to: Fans of YA romance and stories about royalty.
(Warnings: swearing)
***
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review
January 28, 2025
this was fineeeeee. like the writing style was boring and the plot was good but there was nothing like wow about it
July 28, 2025
“I’m so proud of him. It would’ve been so easy for him to sit back and live a life of luxury. But he’s trying to make changes. He’s trying to help people.” girl he sent out
one tweet.
November 20, 2024
DNF'd at 28%
I have been hemming and hawing over this one for a week or two now and I just can't find it in myself to pick it up again so I'm just giving up.
I was excited for this because of the Red, White, and Royal Blue feel, but where RWRB has incredible characters and clever writing, this is just... not that. My main gripe was the writing... it was just... not good. It was clunky and awkward and it took me out of a moment every time I was just starting to get a little bit invested.
I think what really did it for me was one of the worst descriptions of a panic attack I have ever read. The character literally just said "I'm having a panic attack" and that was it. There was no description of his rushing breath, increased heart rate, etc. We are just... told he is having a panic attack and that is it. There was only telling and not showing. And then, to make it worse, the whole reason why he had a panic attack wasn't even resolved in a meaningful manner. There's practically a one sentence description of "Oh and it turned out fine" and that was it. Meanwhile, a chapter or two before we have a detailed description of how the other main lead has a fencing match with his brother that has no relevance on the overall plot.
I don't know. Maybe younger teens will like this one. But for all those that are thinking about reading this because it reminds them of Red, White, and Royal Blue, don't bother.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
I have been hemming and hawing over this one for a week or two now and I just can't find it in myself to pick it up again so I'm just giving up.
I was excited for this because of the Red, White, and Royal Blue feel, but where RWRB has incredible characters and clever writing, this is just... not that. My main gripe was the writing... it was just... not good. It was clunky and awkward and it took me out of a moment every time I was just starting to get a little bit invested.
I think what really did it for me was one of the worst descriptions of a panic attack I have ever read. The character literally just said "I'm having a panic attack" and that was it. There was no description of his rushing breath, increased heart rate, etc. We are just... told he is having a panic attack and that is it. There was only telling and not showing. And then, to make it worse, the whole reason why he had a panic attack wasn't even resolved in a meaningful manner. There's practically a one sentence description of "Oh and it turned out fine" and that was it. Meanwhile, a chapter or two before we have a detailed description of how the other main lead has a fencing match with his brother that has no relevance on the overall plot.
I don't know. Maybe younger teens will like this one. But for all those that are thinking about reading this because it reminds them of Red, White, and Royal Blue, don't bother.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 1, 2024
This book really captures the devastation of being seventeen and in love and feeling like your current feelings will be your only feelings EVER, and not knowing what to do with them when things go awry.
The only difference is....they're having to go through all this on a royal stage.
I liked this one. It's very YA, as they're 17, and their fears and choices reflect that. Don't expect adult angst but what's available is very realistic when you factor in their age.
If you liked 'If This Gets Out', you'll probably like this one too.
8 year old me who was obsessed with The Princess Diaries is a very happy bunny right now.
I did feel like the start was a bit slow, but once it picked up, I got into it pretty quickly. I'm giving this a 3.5 rounded up.
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
The only difference is....they're having to go through all this on a royal stage.
I liked this one. It's very YA, as they're 17, and their fears and choices reflect that. Don't expect adult angst but what's available is very realistic when you factor in their age.
If you liked 'If This Gets Out', you'll probably like this one too.
8 year old me who was obsessed with The Princess Diaries is a very happy bunny right now.
I did feel like the start was a bit slow, but once it picked up, I got into it pretty quickly. I'm giving this a 3.5 rounded up.
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
December 30, 2024
Contemporary queer royal romances will always have a very special place in my heart. I really love the Princess Diaries, so was incredibly excited to read this queer retelling. I adored Dietrich’s book If This Gets Out, which is up there with my favourite books of all time.
I loved the set up of the main relationship. On one side you have Jamie, who recently learned he is the secret prince of Mitanor, and on the other hand you have Eric, the prince of a neighbouring country. An expert on all things royalty, Eric agrees to help tutor newbie Jamie, and I loved the dynamic this created between the two. While Eric helped Jamie learn how to navigate this strange new world, Jamie helped Eric learn to process his own emotions and fight for more personal freedom.
As usual, I adored the media elements and the sensationalism around Jamie being the secret uncovered prince, but wish there was more of those moments. Overall, this is a very fun and lighthearted romance I’d recommend reading when you’re in the mood for feel-good queer royalty.
Thank you so much to TeamBkmrk for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for a review!
I post about queer books on: Instagram Twitter TikTok
I loved the set up of the main relationship. On one side you have Jamie, who recently learned he is the secret prince of Mitanor, and on the other hand you have Eric, the prince of a neighbouring country. An expert on all things royalty, Eric agrees to help tutor newbie Jamie, and I loved the dynamic this created between the two. While Eric helped Jamie learn how to navigate this strange new world, Jamie helped Eric learn to process his own emotions and fight for more personal freedom.
As usual, I adored the media elements and the sensationalism around Jamie being the secret uncovered prince, but wish there was more of those moments. Overall, this is a very fun and lighthearted romance I’d recommend reading when you’re in the mood for feel-good queer royalty.
Thank you so much to TeamBkmrk for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for a review!
I post about queer books on: Instagram Twitter TikTok
March 2, 2025
The characters were boring, annoying and had no distinct voice. They could have as well been the same person.
December 3, 2024
Honest review: This book is Young Royals meets gay The Princess Diaries meets Red, White and Royal Blue. A queer YA romantic comedy. While the premise of this book intrigued me, the writing became a bit repetitive and I found myself skimming through parts subconciously and nodding off. A lot of telling instead of showing and that created a very underwhelming and shallow story imo.
The story is told through the two characters POV, interchanging each chapter. Unfortunately, the characters had no disntictive voice as they are very similar to each other and they felt very one-dimensional. The relationship between the characters was more akin to a middle-school type of boyfriend/boyfriend than an actual fleshed out romance of two high schololers. Maybe that’s the target audience? Although there are very heavy makeout scenes… so not quite sure…
Overall the story is cute albeit trope-y, and I caught a few references to the story’s inspiration which was fun. But this missed the mark for me in terms of its writing execution.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
The story is told through the two characters POV, interchanging each chapter. Unfortunately, the characters had no disntictive voice as they are very similar to each other and they felt very one-dimensional. The relationship between the characters was more akin to a middle-school type of boyfriend/boyfriend than an actual fleshed out romance of two high schololers. Maybe that’s the target audience? Although there are very heavy makeout scenes… so not quite sure…
Overall the story is cute albeit trope-y, and I caught a few references to the story’s inspiration which was fun. But this missed the mark for me in terms of its writing execution.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
November 26, 2024
A Fun Concept That Falls Short
When I first read the summary of The Rules of Royalty, I was excited—it promised a fresh spin on The Princess Diaries, which is such a beloved and fun story. While I could see the inspiration, this book ultimately fell flat and didn’t live up to the original’s charm.
The pacing was sluggish, making it a chore to get through at times. Although there was technically conflict between the characters, their reactions felt too casual, lacking emotional depth. The teenage angst and internal struggles that made The Princess Diaries series so relatable and engaging were noticeably absent here.
The two main characters were underwhelming, and I found myself unable to connect with or care about them, which was disappointing given how much potential the concept had. While I appreciate the effort to reimagine a classic idea, the execution didn’t quite hit the mark for me. It’s a shame because I had such high hopes for this story.
When I first read the summary of The Rules of Royalty, I was excited—it promised a fresh spin on The Princess Diaries, which is such a beloved and fun story. While I could see the inspiration, this book ultimately fell flat and didn’t live up to the original’s charm.
The pacing was sluggish, making it a chore to get through at times. Although there was technically conflict between the characters, their reactions felt too casual, lacking emotional depth. The teenage angst and internal struggles that made The Princess Diaries series so relatable and engaging were noticeably absent here.
The two main characters were underwhelming, and I found myself unable to connect with or care about them, which was disappointing given how much potential the concept had. While I appreciate the effort to reimagine a classic idea, the execution didn’t quite hit the mark for me. It’s a shame because I had such high hopes for this story.
June 13, 2024
Inspired by The Princess Diaries, this book follows Jamie as he learns on his seventeenth birthday that he is actually the prince of Mitonar. In order to help Jamie learn the ways of being a royal prince, Jamie’s father enlists the help of Erik, another prince. Jamie finds his life has changed so quickly, juggling newfound royal status, friendships, and expectations. Erik struggles with family expectations to date a politically strategic suitor. What ensues is an adorable slower burn romance. Read if you like Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, The Princess Diaries, royalty, male-male romance.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 21, 2024
I definitely got The Princess Diaries vibes from this story and found it easy to become enamored with the lead characters — Jamie, the young man who discovered he was a prince on his 17th birthday, and Erik, the prince tasked with teaching him the ins and outs of being a royal.
I liked the easy chemistry between the characters and how their friendship grew into something more intimate and meaningful. It's a clean romance with sweet queer representation and the royal families who accept, praise, support and love them.
I liked the easy chemistry between the characters and how their friendship grew into something more intimate and meaningful. It's a clean romance with sweet queer representation and the royal families who accept, praise, support and love them.
December 13, 2024
You know, when I was in 8th grade, I wrote a lot of fanfiction about my OTP. Those fics often ended up being rewrites of movies or shows I like with my preferred characters standing in for the original couple--often turning a straight romance into my favorite gay pairing. Those fics often had surface-level development wherein each scene of the original property was rewritten, beat-for-beat, on the page. There was love, happy endings, lots of good stuff, but upon looking back I realize they weren't really good--they were, more often than not, training to get into writing original stories. They were my try at honing my skills, learning how to show by only being able to tell, but I began to develop. It didn't take me long before I decided to take one of those fanfics and turn the characters original, and that began my foray into creative writing.
All that said, my fics weren't published and they weren't nearly as laughable as this book. Nor were they an extended advertisement for Arcane Realms.
Keep in mind, I've never seen The Princess Diaries, but I wonder if that has as many plot holes as this does. First, Jamie is lackluster and a stand-in for any young gay man who wants to have a fairy tale romance. It's reminiscent of a watered-down "Red White and Royal Blue", which I found myself missing while reading this book. He's juvenile and written without any nuance or complexity--he's too good. He doesn't get mad at his mother for lying about her knowledge of his parentage, he doesn't get mad at his friend for leaking his identity to the press no matter how inadvertently, he doesn't call his best friend out for being a moody buzzkill as he navigates his new life. He forgives way too easily, and adjusts to his new life with way too few obstacles--he's a "natural" at being a royal, and it's more set-dressing than plot. There isn't focus on him as a character--this reads like a movie put onto a page without regard for how books require more than movies do.
Erik is moderately better because he has a personality. His internal struggles make sense and actually color his narrative, and that's genuinely enjoyable. However, he's let down by the cast around him being dull as rocks, and a subplot that's honestly a footnote in his development. You can tell that the author likes Erik as a character the most--it shows. This is the only thing that truly shows, though, as the entire narrative is simply statements of fact or references to scenes or relationship dynamics that are written out rather than detailed outside of, "I like this" or "He did that" sentences.
The worldbuilding is weak, but I suppose that might be said for the source material this story is based on and requires a suspension of disbelief, given the fictionalized royal families and countries. Still--how is everyone so easily okay with Jamie's existence? How is Alexander's wife not throttling him? How is there no political subterfuge given surface-level references to him having a claim to the throne? How is Erik's grandmother not considering a marriage between him and Jamie given their closeness and their desire to strengthen relations with Mitanor? How is the public so accepting of this literal hidden baby that can upend the entire country? Why is it so easily glossed over that the Prime Minister and Jamie have very different ideas of how to help the country? How is this entire story without conflict except for petty friend squabbles, brief and inconsequential deceptions and forgiveness scenes, and the obstacles between Jamie and Erik's relationship that are so flimsy they're resolved within chapters at a time?
This book genuinely feels like it could have been a fic ripped straight out of my Google Docs from about ten years ago. It's all sugar without any balance; an oversimplified rewrite of a movie and book series I suppose is probably really good, but somehow when crafting the story to be about a gay couple, it became nothing more than a perfect example of an author who needs to develop their story and skills before they publish.
I'm also deeply convinced Jamie and Erik were based on Dean and Castiel from Supernatural, specifically. Maybe I'm projecting, but given the writing quality and clues? I wouldn't be surprised.
All that said, my fics weren't published and they weren't nearly as laughable as this book. Nor were they an extended advertisement for Arcane Realms.
Keep in mind, I've never seen The Princess Diaries, but I wonder if that has as many plot holes as this does. First, Jamie is lackluster and a stand-in for any young gay man who wants to have a fairy tale romance. It's reminiscent of a watered-down "Red White and Royal Blue", which I found myself missing while reading this book. He's juvenile and written without any nuance or complexity--he's too good. He doesn't get mad at his mother for lying about her knowledge of his parentage, he doesn't get mad at his friend for leaking his identity to the press no matter how inadvertently, he doesn't call his best friend out for being a moody buzzkill as he navigates his new life. He forgives way too easily, and adjusts to his new life with way too few obstacles--he's a "natural" at being a royal, and it's more set-dressing than plot. There isn't focus on him as a character--this reads like a movie put onto a page without regard for how books require more than movies do.
Erik is moderately better because he has a personality. His internal struggles make sense and actually color his narrative, and that's genuinely enjoyable. However, he's let down by the cast around him being dull as rocks, and a subplot that's honestly a footnote in his development. You can tell that the author likes Erik as a character the most--it shows. This is the only thing that truly shows, though, as the entire narrative is simply statements of fact or references to scenes or relationship dynamics that are written out rather than detailed outside of, "I like this" or "He did that" sentences.
The worldbuilding is weak, but I suppose that might be said for the source material this story is based on and requires a suspension of disbelief, given the fictionalized royal families and countries. Still--how is everyone so easily okay with Jamie's existence? How is Alexander's wife not throttling him? How is there no political subterfuge given surface-level references to him having a claim to the throne? How is Erik's grandmother not considering a marriage between him and Jamie given their closeness and their desire to strengthen relations with Mitanor? How is the public so accepting of this literal hidden baby that can upend the entire country? Why is it so easily glossed over that the Prime Minister and Jamie have very different ideas of how to help the country? How is this entire story without conflict except for petty friend squabbles, brief and inconsequential deceptions and forgiveness scenes, and the obstacles between Jamie and Erik's relationship that are so flimsy they're resolved within chapters at a time?
This book genuinely feels like it could have been a fic ripped straight out of my Google Docs from about ten years ago. It's all sugar without any balance; an oversimplified rewrite of a movie and book series I suppose is probably really good, but somehow when crafting the story to be about a gay couple, it became nothing more than a perfect example of an author who needs to develop their story and skills before they publish.
I'm also deeply convinced Jamie and Erik were based on Dean and Castiel from Supernatural, specifically. Maybe I'm projecting, but given the writing quality and clues? I wouldn't be surprised.
December 7, 2024
3.25⭐️ im trying to get back in my audiobook era yall👏👏
apparently there is something about mlm romances and royalty that people love and i am people because i eat it up every time. this book was so so young royals coded (with less depression) and so so cute.
jamie is actually one of the most wholesome characters i have read. hes such a sweetie and willing to do anything for his friends and for the people around him i wanna hug him 🫂 he perfectly balances erik and shows him how to take control of his own life which i loved. hes such a teenager i love him😭😭
ERIK MY FAV💗💗 guys he is adorable like hes so down bad for jamie. although he isnt so much a "grumpy" character in this dynamic i still loved seeing his walls come down for jamie even though he tried so hard to keep them up. they are so wihelm and simon coded i wanna cry.
i dont know if it was just because i havent listened to an audiobook in a while or just because of the writing but i feel like this couldve been shorter and it kind of dragged towards the middle and took me a while to get through. still super cute and i loved the voice actors especially eriks. thank you to netgalley for this audio ARC!!
apparently there is something about mlm romances and royalty that people love and i am people because i eat it up every time. this book was so so young royals coded (with less depression) and so so cute.
jamie is actually one of the most wholesome characters i have read. hes such a sweetie and willing to do anything for his friends and for the people around him i wanna hug him 🫂 he perfectly balances erik and shows him how to take control of his own life which i loved. hes such a teenager i love him😭😭
ERIK MY FAV💗💗 guys he is adorable like hes so down bad for jamie. although he isnt so much a "grumpy" character in this dynamic i still loved seeing his walls come down for jamie even though he tried so hard to keep them up. they are so wihelm and simon coded i wanna cry.
i dont know if it was just because i havent listened to an audiobook in a while or just because of the writing but i feel like this couldve been shorter and it kind of dragged towards the middle and took me a while to get through. still super cute and i loved the voice actors especially eriks. thank you to netgalley for this audio ARC!!
February 2, 2025
A cute YA prince romcom. Would recommend.
February 11, 2025
It was no Red, White, and Royal Blue
May 18, 2024
This book started really slow for me, it took me awhile to get into it. Overall is was a fun storyline that could have been excited better but was still a cute read.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 4, 2024
The Rules of Royalty
An adorable MM YA princess diaries romance. A cute story and cute premise delivered with typical YA angst. The narrators were good at pacing, although it felt like the narrator for Erik was more formal and sounded older than his age. I struggled to connect with him and his decisions, and the romance between the two as a result.
Good for fans of:
- Princess Diaries
- MM YA Romance
- Royal romance
- Forced proximity / prince lessons
Thank you to Macmillian audio for this ALC! My opinions are my own. The Rules of Royalty is on shelves December10, 2024.
An adorable MM YA princess diaries romance. A cute story and cute premise delivered with typical YA angst. The narrators were good at pacing, although it felt like the narrator for Erik was more formal and sounded older than his age. I struggled to connect with him and his decisions, and the romance between the two as a result.
Good for fans of:
- Princess Diaries
- MM YA Romance
- Royal romance
- Forced proximity / prince lessons
Thank you to Macmillian audio for this ALC! My opinions are my own. The Rules of Royalty is on shelves December10, 2024.
December 11, 2024
2024 reads: 324/250
i received an advanced listening copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
jamie has always lived a fairly normal life, which is fine by him. but on his seventeenth birthday, a truth is revealed: his biological father is the king of mitanor, a small european country. what’s more, his father has invited him to spend the summer in his palace. there’s a lot to learn when it comes to being a prince, though, which is where erik, spare prince of a neighboring country called sunstad, comes in. erik agrees to spend the summer teaching jamie to be a prince. the two become friends quickly, and soon enough, can’t deny the romantic feelings growing between them.
with the royalty and romantic aspects, this seemed like something i’d like. however, while it was okay, this just wasn’t a great read for me. the characters felt very two-dimensional to me, even though there were opportunities for them to have been more developed. the plot also wasn’t the most groundbreaking, but again, it was okay. i do have more books by cale dietrich on my tbr so i’d be willing to give his books another try!
narration: major curda and max meyers did a lovely job narrating this story and putting emotion into the narration of their respective characters. i think the audiobook made this book more enjoyable for me!
i received an advanced listening copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
jamie has always lived a fairly normal life, which is fine by him. but on his seventeenth birthday, a truth is revealed: his biological father is the king of mitanor, a small european country. what’s more, his father has invited him to spend the summer in his palace. there’s a lot to learn when it comes to being a prince, though, which is where erik, spare prince of a neighboring country called sunstad, comes in. erik agrees to spend the summer teaching jamie to be a prince. the two become friends quickly, and soon enough, can’t deny the romantic feelings growing between them.
with the royalty and romantic aspects, this seemed like something i’d like. however, while it was okay, this just wasn’t a great read for me. the characters felt very two-dimensional to me, even though there were opportunities for them to have been more developed. the plot also wasn’t the most groundbreaking, but again, it was okay. i do have more books by cale dietrich on my tbr so i’d be willing to give his books another try!
narration: major curda and max meyers did a lovely job narrating this story and putting emotion into the narration of their respective characters. i think the audiobook made this book more enjoyable for me!
December 18, 2024
(fully aware this is an absurd statement): in terms of LGBTQ American Prince romances that came out in 2024 I have to say I prefer Prince of the Palisades
and like I know it's meant to be a fluffy romance and god knows I like that, and I understand wanting it to be low stakes but the stakes are like sort of stupidly low hinging around miscommunication and slightly snobby royal relatives?
idk it's a fine line bc I wanted it to be dumb but then for me it was really like
too dumb
and like I know it's meant to be a fluffy romance and god knows I like that, and I understand wanting it to be low stakes but the stakes are like sort of stupidly low hinging around miscommunication and slightly snobby royal relatives?
idk it's a fine line bc I wanted it to be dumb but then for me it was really like
too dumb
November 24, 2024
4 stars
This is such a cute read! A YA m/m romance set within the royal palaces of Europe, it’s a sweet and heartfelt love story, and I loved this one.
Jamie is a well-adjusted 17 year old living a happy life in the USA when he learns that he is actually the son of European royalty. His biological father is the King of Mitanor, in southern Europe, and he and his adoptive parents have been invited to visit to get to know his newly-discovered family. Erik is the Prince of Sunstad, in the north of Europe, also 17 years old, and he has been asked to help Jamie adjust to royal life – show him the ropes, help him with the customs and etiquette, and be somebody for him to lean on. It helps that Erik is openly gay, as is Jamie, so they can also talk about the unique challenges that brings to life in the public eye.
Jamie and Erik initially chat over text, but it’s when they meet up in Mitanor that their friendship truly blossoms. They find that despite their different backgrounds, they have a lot in common, and as Erik helps Jamie find his way, the two boys grow close and attraction blossoms. But their situation is complicated – Jamie’s whole world has just been turned upside down and he has no idea what he’s doing or what his future looks like, and Erik’s family is a lot more stoic and ‘proper’ than Jamie’s. While they accept his sexuality, the still want to hand pick a partner for him, and outright refuse to allow him and Jamie to get involved. Their attraction soon becomes impossible to resist though, so we get the most beautifully sweet and innocent forbidden romance that absolutely warmed my heart, and that means so much to both of these boys.
I loved these characters! Jamie is a sweetheart who embraces all of the changes in his life with maturity, intelligence and an open heart. And Erik’s story is so gorgeous as he comes to realise how stifled and controlled he has been in his life as “the spare heir”. Both of them get the opportunity to branch out and experience life like they have never experienced, and they embrace it with all of the wide-eyed enthusiasm of teenagers, and it was gorgeous to see.
There is a great bunch of side characters – family and friends – who support and guide the boys through their journey, and they’re really enjoyable. Perhaps a little bit too unrealistically perfect at times, but I enjoyed the different relationships. And though I did think that the reason behind the secret of Jamie’s birthright was a bit weak (I can’t believe any devoted father choosing to be out of his son’s life for so long), it paved the way for such a delightful read that I just forgot about that and happily lost myself in the story.
These boys have a gorgeous romance, and they work through their issues honestly and openly, and I loved seeing them get their happy ending.
This was a gorgeous read, appropriate for young readers and old, and I really enjoyed this book.
4 stars.
An Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
This is such a cute read! A YA m/m romance set within the royal palaces of Europe, it’s a sweet and heartfelt love story, and I loved this one.
Jamie is a well-adjusted 17 year old living a happy life in the USA when he learns that he is actually the son of European royalty. His biological father is the King of Mitanor, in southern Europe, and he and his adoptive parents have been invited to visit to get to know his newly-discovered family. Erik is the Prince of Sunstad, in the north of Europe, also 17 years old, and he has been asked to help Jamie adjust to royal life – show him the ropes, help him with the customs and etiquette, and be somebody for him to lean on. It helps that Erik is openly gay, as is Jamie, so they can also talk about the unique challenges that brings to life in the public eye.
Jamie and Erik initially chat over text, but it’s when they meet up in Mitanor that their friendship truly blossoms. They find that despite their different backgrounds, they have a lot in common, and as Erik helps Jamie find his way, the two boys grow close and attraction blossoms. But their situation is complicated – Jamie’s whole world has just been turned upside down and he has no idea what he’s doing or what his future looks like, and Erik’s family is a lot more stoic and ‘proper’ than Jamie’s. While they accept his sexuality, the still want to hand pick a partner for him, and outright refuse to allow him and Jamie to get involved. Their attraction soon becomes impossible to resist though, so we get the most beautifully sweet and innocent forbidden romance that absolutely warmed my heart, and that means so much to both of these boys.
So much about my life has always felt like work: carefully analyzing every interaction, making sure I’m presenting an appropriate version of myself, one that represents myself, my country, and the crown, with the appropriate amount of reverence.
With Jamie, I don’t feel that way. My walls are down in a way they’ve never been before, and spending time with him is simply easy. It just works, in a way that feels special.
I loved these characters! Jamie is a sweetheart who embraces all of the changes in his life with maturity, intelligence and an open heart. And Erik’s story is so gorgeous as he comes to realise how stifled and controlled he has been in his life as “the spare heir”. Both of them get the opportunity to branch out and experience life like they have never experienced, and they embrace it with all of the wide-eyed enthusiasm of teenagers, and it was gorgeous to see.
There is a great bunch of side characters – family and friends – who support and guide the boys through their journey, and they’re really enjoyable. Perhaps a little bit too unrealistically perfect at times, but I enjoyed the different relationships. And though I did think that the reason behind the secret of Jamie’s birthright was a bit weak (I can’t believe any devoted father choosing to be out of his son’s life for so long), it paved the way for such a delightful read that I just forgot about that and happily lost myself in the story.
These boys have a gorgeous romance, and they work through their issues honestly and openly, and I loved seeing them get their happy ending.
This was a gorgeous read, appropriate for young readers and old, and I really enjoyed this book.
4 stars.
An Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
January 1, 2025
Thank you so much to St Martin's Press & Wednesday Books for a copy of this book!
Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the complimentary audio!
This book is out now!
This is my second book from Cale Dietrich and it was such a DELIGHT! And I really mean a delight. Cale was a co writer on one of my all time favorites, If This Gets Out so I knew that I already enjoyed his writing style.
Jamie turns 17 and learns that he is heir to the throne in a European country called Mitanor. I love how his family was open to him about his birth mother and then when learning of this news also learns about his father. I was waiting for Jamie to be upset or to have such a negative reaction but that was not the case. When he does meet his father King Alexander, it was nothing but opened arms and warm welcomes. So who is the lucky fellow who wins over Jamie's heart? None other than Prince Erik of Sunstad.
See King Alexander thought that Jamie needed someone his own age to help guide Jamie on how to be a royal. But Jamie also wonders if his father paired them together because they both are openly gay so there was that extra comfort. Their relationship was just the cutest and I love seeing their friendship blossom! It was really obvious that their feelings for each other was more than just friendship. There were a bunch of obstacles that was getting in the way of them having an actual relationship. I am glad they were able to work through those challenges to be able to give us that HEA.
There was a side storyline involving Jamie and his American friends and their journey with learning of his new life. As the reader, you could see the walls starting to crumble in the relationship between Jamie and his best friend Max. Things were changing rapidly and neither knew how to navigate this new world. I was glad to see that they were able to resolve their issues by having a conversation.
I paired my reading with the audio and this audio had two fabulous narrators: Major Curda, Max Meyers. Max Meyers is a pro narrator and I have enjoyed all the books that I have listen to with them as narrator. They have a very distinctive tone (not a bad thing) and I know what I'm in for while listening. Major Curda is a new narrator to me but I would certainly listen to him narrate again in the future. Each narrator brought their characters to life and even made them sound vulnerable at times.
This book just really made me smile and was just so darn enjoyable!
If you are a fan of The Princess Diaries meets Red, White & Royal Blue, definitely give this one a read!
Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the complimentary audio!
This book is out now!
This is my second book from Cale Dietrich and it was such a DELIGHT! And I really mean a delight. Cale was a co writer on one of my all time favorites, If This Gets Out so I knew that I already enjoyed his writing style.
Jamie turns 17 and learns that he is heir to the throne in a European country called Mitanor. I love how his family was open to him about his birth mother and then when learning of this news also learns about his father. I was waiting for Jamie to be upset or to have such a negative reaction but that was not the case. When he does meet his father King Alexander, it was nothing but opened arms and warm welcomes. So who is the lucky fellow who wins over Jamie's heart? None other than Prince Erik of Sunstad.
See King Alexander thought that Jamie needed someone his own age to help guide Jamie on how to be a royal. But Jamie also wonders if his father paired them together because they both are openly gay so there was that extra comfort. Their relationship was just the cutest and I love seeing their friendship blossom! It was really obvious that their feelings for each other was more than just friendship. There were a bunch of obstacles that was getting in the way of them having an actual relationship. I am glad they were able to work through those challenges to be able to give us that HEA.
There was a side storyline involving Jamie and his American friends and their journey with learning of his new life. As the reader, you could see the walls starting to crumble in the relationship between Jamie and his best friend Max. Things were changing rapidly and neither knew how to navigate this new world. I was glad to see that they were able to resolve their issues by having a conversation.
I paired my reading with the audio and this audio had two fabulous narrators: Major Curda, Max Meyers. Max Meyers is a pro narrator and I have enjoyed all the books that I have listen to with them as narrator. They have a very distinctive tone (not a bad thing) and I know what I'm in for while listening. Major Curda is a new narrator to me but I would certainly listen to him narrate again in the future. Each narrator brought their characters to life and even made them sound vulnerable at times.
This book just really made me smile and was just so darn enjoyable!
If you are a fan of The Princess Diaries meets Red, White & Royal Blue, definitely give this one a read!
December 5, 2024
If you’re a fan of a royal romance and were thinking you need a Princess Diaries and Red, White, & Royal Blue mashup in your life, well do I have the book for you. The Rules of Royalty is such a precious story of family and friendship, but highlights the beauty and strength of a found family forged by choice and love.
It was so touching to see the overwhelming support Jamie had from his parents and I was moved by how his parents were so present, regularly checking in to offer support and help protect his emotional well being. My heart ached for Erik and as he carried immense pressure from his family to uphold a certain image. And while his case is unique because he is royalty, I do think the challenges and family dynamics he navigated are relatable and readers will feel seen.
I was able to read along with both a physical copy and an ALC and really enjoyed both formats, but I do think it’s worth mentioning that the narrator for Erik was maybe not my favorite choice - the narrator did a wonderful job reading Erik’s chapters but his voice was more mature and made the character feel much older than his seventeen years. The narration was still enjoyable but it did throw me off a smidge in the beginning.
I really appreciated the more realistic ending and loved seeing the growth not just in Jamie and Erik, but in their friends and family as well.
It was so touching to see the overwhelming support Jamie had from his parents and I was moved by how his parents were so present, regularly checking in to offer support and help protect his emotional well being. My heart ached for Erik and as he carried immense pressure from his family to uphold a certain image. And while his case is unique because he is royalty, I do think the challenges and family dynamics he navigated are relatable and readers will feel seen.
I was able to read along with both a physical copy and an ALC and really enjoyed both formats, but I do think it’s worth mentioning that the narrator for Erik was maybe not my favorite choice - the narrator did a wonderful job reading Erik’s chapters but his voice was more mature and made the character feel much older than his seventeen years. The narration was still enjoyable but it did throw me off a smidge in the beginning.
I really appreciated the more realistic ending and loved seeing the growth not just in Jamie and Erik, but in their friends and family as well.
December 13, 2024
When Jamie is told the truth about his birth mother it’s a shock. His father is the King of Mitanor, making him the heir to the throne.
We follow Jamie as he visits Mitanor to spend some time with his father. Helping him come to terms with his new status is Erik, the second son and spare of another royal family. Erik is tasked with educating Jamie in manners of etiquette…but neither of them are prepared for the developing feelings they have for each other.
The likelihood of such a scenario is low. The chance of everyone involved being as well-adjusted as they all are is slim. However, it’s hard not to find Jamie’s story entertaining.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this.
We follow Jamie as he visits Mitanor to spend some time with his father. Helping him come to terms with his new status is Erik, the second son and spare of another royal family. Erik is tasked with educating Jamie in manners of etiquette…but neither of them are prepared for the developing feelings they have for each other.
The likelihood of such a scenario is low. The chance of everyone involved being as well-adjusted as they all are is slim. However, it’s hard not to find Jamie’s story entertaining.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this.
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