Spin Control

Royally Jacked #2

by Niki Burnham, Amy Saidens

Valerie Winslow never thought life in the tiny country of Schwerinborg could be so great.

But then she never thought she would be dating the prince of Schwerinborg either! Georg, a real prince, is also her first real boyfriend.

And then everything falls apart. Georg's decided they need to cool off for a while and her dad's sending her back to Virginia to visit her mom.

Valerie's bummed—until she decides to go out with her old crush, David Anderson. David may not be a prince, but maybe he'll take her mind off of Georg—or will he?

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Teen, Chick Lit, Young Adult Romance, Fiction, Contemporary

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 28, 2004

About the author

Niki Burnham is the pseudonym of romance author Nicole Burnham.

You can subscribe to Nicole's newsletter for reader bonuses and the latest news by visiting https://nicoleburnham.com/new-events/
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NOTE FROM NICOLE: My Goodreads library is by no means comprehensive. I have thousands of books on my real (as opposed to my Goodreads) bookshelves. However, my Goodreads library only contains those books I'd give four or five stars and would recommend to friends without hesitation (and I haven't even gotten around to listing all those yet!)

Reviews

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's Valerie and Georg's second book in this 2000s rom-com. This time even more drama ensues... The two love birds are seen sneaking off at a party, and someone sees them with a pack of cigarettes. Now, the news cycle has deemed Valerie a bad influence, so she is shipped back off to stay with her Mom over winter break. While she's there, her old crush David Anderson goes on a date with her... DUH DUH DUHHHHH.

This book added a bit more drama, but didn't have nearly enough Georg if you ask my opinion. It was still a hoot and my inner 2000s middle grade reader found it fun.

I don't take this book too seriously, since it was written with the mind of a middle grader from the 2000s as the lead. The tolerances and way we act now is a bit differently. So this is the kind of book you have to drop your current views to really enjoy it. Still, it was fun and super cute. Definitely a great sequel to keep bringing on the drama for this series.

Three out of five stars.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Niki Burnham's sequel to Royally Jacked is even better than the first. Spin Control takes place right where Royally Jacked leaves off with Valerie finally getting her Prince. But her life isn't the fairy tale she thought it would be when the newspapers start a horrible rumor about her. Her life begins to spin out of control. Then Georg suggests they "cool off", and a confused Val heads home to spend Winter Break with her mom and unfortunately her mom's girlfriend, Gabrielle. Back home she has to face her friends who still don't know that her mom has come out of the closet and are already mad at her for not telling them about her relationship with Prince Georg. But things start to pick up when her old crush David pops back into the picture.

Spin Control answers all the unanswered questions Royally Jacked left. Burnham delves into Val's relationship with her mother and the secrets she had kept from her friends. And we find out whom her heart truly belongs to. It's a lighthearted comedy that will leave you grinning from ear to ear. If you haven't read either book, you should order them both today. You won't be disappointed.

[Geli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Niki Burnham is now one of my favorite authors. She captured me with "Royally Jacked" and stole my heart with "Spin Control".

These books are just completely awesome! If you are into teen comedic romances, than you should totally be reading these books.

"Spin Control" picks up right where "Royally Jacked" left off. In this one the main character Valerie has to go back to the States, after living in a German palace for a month, because of a little media problem shes having with her new bf. But home doesnt get any better. There are several issues she has to face with her friends and her mom, who just came out the closet. Going home also makes her have to decided who she wants to be with: David, the guy shes been crushing on forever who is FINALLY starting to notice her or Georg, her prince who really gets her and doesnt judge about the whole gay mom thing.

Though its probably true that a prince doesnt fall in love with an ordinary girl, all the time, its concept and meaning are completely heart felt and relatible. You'll love every part of it!

[BabyLunLun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still a fun read.

After the ending of the first book, I was like damn what Val gonna do . She is with Prince Georg and David is finally showing some interest towards her and Val is going back to USA for vacation. There gonna be some major love triangle going on. I wish Val would be with Georg and not get snatch away from David.

I am so glad that is not the case and David is finally out of the picture yay

[Amanda [Novel Addiction] · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books that I read in an hour and a half because it's so easy (and short). But you know what? It was cute. This is one of those books that was teen fiction blew up and became a thing that everyone wanted to read. And it actually dealt with some fascinating issues - a parent possibly cheating on another, gay marriage, what exactly "cool it" means when it comes to relationships, etc. Had I read this when I was 12 or 13, I would have gobbled it up.

Is it the best thing ever written? Hardly. But it was cute and amusing.

[°☆.。.:*・Nanna°☆.。.:*・ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was kind of interestng with the drama of her dating a prince and all of the other problems that come with it, but the book got boring around the time she goes to visit her mom and friends. As I read further, I got even more bored with the emails and the date between David and Valerie. I'm only going to continue this to find out if there is anymore drama between Valerie and the mean girl at her school, and to find out what will happen between Georg and Valerie.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

Update August 17th, 2017:
I definitely didn't read the first book because the order in book series was not relevant to me at the age of 10 apparently.


i didnt really like it and i read it a while ago so i dont really remember it so i dont really have n e thing to write about.

[ReadingwithGemi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I still dislike the main female character. I feel that she was very immature and bratty. I feel like certain situation should have been dealt with differently. I also hate how the out look of the LGBTQ community in this book. It is really annoying how the main female character talked about it. It just rubbed me the wrong way. I do not feel like she grew much as a character; only until the end did she somewhat mature and that is stretching it.

I honestly don't know if I would read the third book since the main character was so hard for me to like in two books. Each book is over 300 pages and I don't know if I can read 300 more pages.....

The main guy character is alright. I still feel like he is a one dimensional. I feel like that there was no development in his character one bit. I feel like he character is only there for the main female character, nothing more. That is a little disappointing because I wish there was a little more then just surface characteristics about him.

I feel like there is not plot in this story either beside the female and the male just dating each other and nothing more with a few problems going on. Overall I was disappointed in this story. I was wishing there was more.

[Olivia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Valerie's mom turns out gay. Valerie's parent's divorce and she moves to Europe with his father. She meets a prince and romance with him starts to escalate. Then everything falls apart. Prince George decided they need to cool down. Her dad sends her back to Virginia to visit her mom. Valerie battles feelings with accepting her mom as gay. Valerie meets her old crush, David. David is not a prince but maybe he will take her thoughts of the prince.

I didn't like the book, it didn't stand out at all. This book is really short! The book was corny and too full of teenage drama.

I also felt like there really wasn’t any conflict keeping Prince Georg and Valerie apart. That is sort of a big part in a book like this, some kind of problem keeping the MCs apart. So I can’t say this book was really exciting.

I did like Valerie, though, and definitely Georg, but still, this book was only so-so. It is a quick read, though, so if you are looking for something quick to read, check this out, but don’t expect it to be very exciting to have a lot of conflicts.

[Norah Dmytrasz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I HAVE NOTHING BAD TO SAY ABOUT THIS BOOK. I literally randomly picked this up at my library when they were giving it away, I didn't read the first book....and honestly you don't have to, you get the gist of everything within the first like 2 pages, even if you just read the back you'll know what happened. It was super fast paced which made it go by super quickly and it was so cute!!! I loved

[Hendrix Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can't relate to not being excited about queer love, though divorce is always messy. This series' moderate stance is probably for another more mainstream audience and actual young kids which I am not since I am a 31 year old who often wears a "Lesbian Mermaids of Atlantis" tee shirt.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 STARS

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dating a prince isn't as easy as one would think - especially when dealing with jealous school mates and the press. Great book as Val and Georg try to be normal!

[Elgyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Naprosto zbytečné nudné pokračování, do kterého nacpala, co se dalo, ale zapomněla na příběh.

s. 78 než jsme skončili šestou třídu
s. 79 když jsme šly do osmé třídy

[Tessie Dragon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pokračování příběhu Valerie. Popravdě se mi nelíbila tak moc jako první díl. Byla dost nudná, chyběl mi nabytý první díl.

[Karen Keyte · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Yep. I, Valerie Winslow, a totally boring, non-cheerleader, non-athletic, non-popular sophomore redheaded nobody from Vienna, Virginia, have officially hooked up with an European prince. A prince who knows how to kiss in the most knock-me-on-my-ass way, and who is formal and polite and looks beyond hot in a tux, but who also knows how to kick back and be cool and totally un-prince-like when we’re alone, if you catch my drift.” - Val Winslow

After one fabulous date and a wonderful weekend, Valerie Winslow is totally blissed out over her brand new relationship with Prince Georg of Schwerinborg. When her mom came out of the closet and asked her dad for a divorce six weeks ago, Val didn’t opt to come to Europe with her dad because she thought she’d find Prince Charming. Nope, it was more that she didn’t want to stay in Virginia and deal with the weirdness that is her mother with a girlfriend. Well whatever, because she’s found romance anyway. And her bliss is sure to last all the way to ... Monday?

Everything comes crashing down when the Schwerinborgian press gets a hold of the wrong end of a rumor and decides to run an article - a front page, screaming headlines article, no less - implying that Val might be a corrupting influence on their beloved Crown Prince. As if! Now Val’s dad, in his capacity as protocol advisor to Georg’s parents, is telling Val that she and Georg will have to be much more discreet in the future. Well, it looks like that won’t be a problem because Georg has just told her (on the phone, if you can believe it) that he thinks they need to ‘cool it.’

While Val is agonizing over how, exactly, Georg might define ‘cool it,’ her father informs her that he’s sending her back to Virginia to spend the week of winter break with her mother. On the one hand, Val will have to finally face the fact that her mother is a lesbian. On the other hand, Val figures she can spend some quality time with her three best friends, Christy, Nat and Jules. There’s also the enigma of David Anderson, who Val had a crush on for like, ten years (seriously, ever since they took care of the class rabbit together in kindergarten), and who finally decided he was interested in her just before she left for Schwerinborg. Maybe cooling it with Georg will give her the chance to heat things up with David, just like she’s always dreamed.


Niki Burnham’s three stories about Valerie Winslow (Royally Jacked, Spin Control and Do-Over) are some of the best examples of why Simon’s Romantic Comedies line for teens was so popular. These stories may be light and funny (at least most of the time) but they are also incredibly well-written, Val is an engaging heroine - smart, slightly geeky and witty - who reacts to the gigantic changes in her life about as well as you might expect. There’s some resentment, some subterfuge and some tears, but Val also knows how to see the humor that’s so often right in front of her. Spin Control is a quick read, but it manages to deal intelligently with a couple of significant issues while still maintaining it’s quirky humor.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen for TeensReadToo.com

When we last left Valerie, she had moved to Schwerinborg with her father after her mother dropped the news that she was gay. After arriving, Valerie set her eyes on Georg, the royal family's very cute son. And in the end Valerie got the guy and is beginning to get used to her new life in Schwerinborg.

Valerie Winslow is back with a whole new set of problems. Turns out dating a future prince isn't the easiest thing in the world to do. What with all the cameras and reporters tracking your every move, and the tabloids hungry for some juicy inside news, it sure doesn't help when you are caught in the bathroom with the prince -- and when a pack of cigarettes falls out from behind the toilet.

But when a newspaper takes the story a little too far, the entire royal family and their staff that handles public relations are trying to make things right. With all the pressure, though, Georg decides that he and Valerie need to "cool off" for awhile, but what exactly does "cool off" mean? Valerie's father thinks this is the perfect time for a visit with her mother, while things settle down in Schwerinborg.

Going back home shouldn't be so bad, what with getting to hang out with her friends and her mother. But it turns out that alerie's "relationship" with Georg made headlines in Virginia, and now her friends all know what Valerie has been keeping from them. To make matters worse, Valerie still hasn't told them about her mother and her girlfriend.

Going back to Virginia does have its advantages when Valerie decides to go on a date with her longtime crush, David Anderson, who apparently has had his eye on her since she left. Will going out with David help Valerie decide if he is the right one for her? Or will it just make her miss Georg even more?

SPIN CONTROL is the perfect follow-up to the last novel, ROYALLY JACKED. The author makes Valerie stronger than ever, what with all the issues she has to deal with. Not only that, but SPIN CONTROL delves deeper into the issue of having a parent or any family member that is gay and helps us see it in a whole new light. This is another great read from Niki Burnham, who never seems to disappoint.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a review of both Spin Control and Do-Over.

In these last two books in the trilogy now compiled as Royally Crushed, Valerie continues to experience the ups and downs of her relationship with Prince Georg. In Spin Control, she believes she has been dumped, so when she heads home to Virginia for Winter Break, she goes on a date with David Anderson, only to discover that she loves Georg more than ever. In Do Over, she returns to Schwerinborg to reconcile with Georg, and to work on gaining confidence in his feelings for her, even if they can’t always demonstrate their affections where the press can see. Before the end of the trilogy, Valerie also sees her dad start dating again, and finally finds a way to come clean with her friends about her mother’s newly revealed homosexuality.

I know this trilogy is not the best-written in the world, but I really loved reading it. The ultimate outcome was fairly predictable, but the emails between Val and her friends in Virginia, and her awkward uncertainty around Georg, as well as the cattiness of the girls in her Schweringborgian school, all made for great entertainment. I was distracted repeatedly by references to Heath Ledger, who has died since the publication of these books, but the Google books preview of the new edition shows that this problem has been corrected with several passing references to Ledger resting in peace. The only other thing that felt vaguely out of place was the fact that Val and her friends email rather than text or send Facebook messages, but I am sure there are teenagers out there somewhere for whom this is still the norm, so it doesn’t ruin the books by any means.

All in all, these are light reads, even at their most serious moments, and they provide insight into all the drama of first relationships without ever becoming too weepy, or losing hope that the ending would be happy. The series was definitely worth finishing, and I’ll be looking for more from Niki Burnham, starting with her latest book for teens, Shot Through the Heart.

[Tiffany · Rating 1 out of 5]

In the first in the series Valerie moves with her Dad to a small country and fall in love with a prince. She doesn't want to live close to her home town because her mom just announced that she is a lesbian and is filing for a divorce.

In this novel because of some rumors escalating the prince decides he and Valerie need to "cool it" for a little bit and so Valerie's dad decides to send her home for a week. She decides to go out with the boy she has had a crush on since fifth grade. There were many things I didn't like about this sequel. Here are some; she had several discussions with her mom about her mom being gay, she was dropped off at a PFLAG meeting where there were even more discussions about being gay, she had discussions with her friends about her mom being gay, and then on a date with David he discusses his belief's about gay marriage. I didn't want to read a novel for all of this. Plus the book just gives off this feel of not being anything realistic. Yes I know it is a fiction novel but probably the relationship with her and Georg (the Prince) is what makes me feel that way. Who knows, I will read the 3rd book in the series though just because I'll have to know how the series ends. I am personally hoping it ends with Jon or Jake whatever the boy's name is from her school. How is a relationship with a Prince going to work the girl is only 15.

[Katerina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Plot Line: Quite dreadful, really. Nothing much happened, except for the fact that she realized that she absolutely ADORES Georg. But really. It was extremely predictable.

Writing style: Predictable plot lines can often be balanced with amazing writing. But this book had neither.

Judge a book by its cover: In this case, yes. This book was dreadfully boring.

In summary: A nice, light read. But very meaningless, very thoughtless, and EXTREMELY chic lit. This is the kind of story you'd read as a last resort. There is a fine line between fun reads with light-hearted story lines and good writing and fun reads with poor writing and dull story lines. This is very much a last resort book.

[Heather Adkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read teh first book, Royally Jacked when I was still in highg school. I think I had more of a hankering for books like this back then. Now I feel a little out of my depth, shallowly speaking. Are teenage girls really like this? Every conversation begins and ends with boys, and they're madly in love at fifteen years old. It's a cute story, with agreeable characters, but I suppose I expect more from a novel now that I've been reading more mature books. I've read young adult that has more substance than this. I recently read Goddess Games by the same author, and somewhat enjoyed it.

[Mary Strand · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm rereading the trilogy: great comfort reads! Here, in book 2, Val's relationship with Georg hits the skids after some bad press, so she's shipped off to the U.S. So ... most of the book is NOT with Georg, and I love Georg, so that's the only flaw. It gives Val the chance to meet up with her forever crush, David, back home. In the absence of Georg, it also gives her a chance to figure out what she wants in life. Good growing-up book, and good to see Val with her trio of longtime friends, but I do miss Georg.

[Lillian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spin Control was okay, I suppose. I liked the first book better if I recall correctly! I mean, I don't MIND that there was a sequel but I don't think it was really necessary? I do like that Val figured out she really likes Georg, but... I felt like the whole David thing was a bit... contrived? Haha. First time I ever used that word but it's true. Val's mom was kind of annoying but I don't mind her. Val's friend Cristie? I'm not even sure, she was a bit annoying. I don't know. Not really my favorite, unfortunately!

[Kate H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies are always a fun read. These books are not necessarily the best written novels but the stories are always fun and you know you will get a happy ending. I think some adult romances could take a note from these books b/c they are characterized well which is much of the battle in writing any novel since you want your characters, for the most part, to be endearing and relatable.

[Adrienne]

i have read this book and im currently reading it again. i love this book. its really good. its the sequel to "royally Jacked" also by Niki Burnham. Its about how Valerie winslow is happy because she finally adjusted to her status in her new place. and how she got involved with the country's Prince.

[Cristina F · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the continuation of royally jacked. Valerie and Gorge are finally together but a rumor spread out that both of them were smoking crake or drug in the men's bathroom in the palace, which is technically no true. They did sneak in to the men's bathroom but they did not smoke crack, Gorge just showed Valerie that he had some cigarets hidden there but they were not smoking.

[Catalina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second book in the trilogy. I hate how this girl is still stuck on that stupid boy from her hometown. Grow up already gosh things happen for a reason right? She moved and found new love but cant stop comparing him to the idiot she had a crush on forever. She does not deserve Georg, he is too perfect :)

[Kiara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its so funny how the guy she use to like writes her an email that meant to be for his best friend and it was about her! It was basically a mean email which was really funny cause afterward he sent an email trying to say sorry.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was cute and just what I needed after a long couple of weeks filled with testing, studying, and a sick dad. It totally got me put of my world for awhile and into the crazy world of Valerie. Again, just what I needed.

[Apollos.Dark.Eden_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is SO good!there ups and theres downs. this book really does keep you on your feet at all times!