Audio Review: American Royals by Katharine McGee

American Royals by Katherine McGee
Illustrator: Brittany Pressley
Series: American Royals #1
Published by Listening Library on 2019-09-03
Length: 13 hours and 53 minutes
Reviewing Audiobook from Library
Rating:
Reading Challenges: 2022 Audiobook Challenge

What if America had a royal family? If you can't get enough of Harry and Meghan or Kate and William, meet American princesses Beatrice and Samantha. Crazy Rich Asians meets The Crown.

Perfect for fans of Red, White, and Royal Blue and The Royal We!

Two princesses vying for the ultimate crown. Two girls vying for the prince's heart. This is the story of the American royals.

When America won the Revolutionary War, its people offered General George Washington a crown. Two and a half centuries later, the House of Washington still sits on the throne. Like most royal families, the Washingtons have an heir and a spare. A future monarch and a backup battery. Each child knows exactly what is expected of them. But these aren't just any royals. They're American.

As Princess Beatrice gets closer to becoming America's first queen regnant, the duty she has embraced her entire life suddenly feels stifling. Nobody cares about the spare except when she's breaking the rules, so Princess Samantha doesn't care much about anything, either...except the one boy who is distinctly off-limits to her. And then there's Samantha's twin, Prince Jefferson. If he'd been born a generation earlier, he would have stood first in line for the throne, but the new laws of succession make him third. Most of America adores their devastatingly handsome prince...but two very different girls are vying to capture his heart.

The duty. The intrigue. The Crown.

New York Times best-selling author Katharine McGee imagines an alternate version of the modern world, one where the glittering age of monarchies has not yet faded - and where love is still powerful enough to change the course of history.

This is my second time reading American Royals, and it is just as good as the first! I decided to listen to the audiobook, as I had read an ARC of the book back in 2019 when it first came out. The narrator is fantastic! I had no problems discerning which POV she was in, and she really brought the four girls to life. I’ll repost my original review below, but here are some take aways from this read through:

• Beatrice is my favorite POV this time. She’s the eldest, and her position to inherit the crown along with the secrets she carries held my interest. I’m hopeless romantic 😉
• Daphne is still the worst! I’ll admit I was intrigued by her the first read through, but her motives and the things we learn about her make her an easy target to hate.
• Jeff is totally clueless and naive when it comes to Nina. I love these two together. They have an easy relationship built on years of friendship, but how can he not see what his position and the limelight are doing to Nina?
• Samantha grew on me. The first time I read this I disliked her. She’s immature and rash, acts out and is not a good friend. BUT I picked up on her character’s growth and self-awareness this read through, which endeared her to me a bit.
• THAT ENDING!!! is still the worst cliffhanger EVER. I’m now on the waitlist for book two at the library, but I may breakdown and buy it 😉

I’d still give this one 5 stars. I enjoyed it thoroughly, even when I bumped the listening speed up to 2.5x so I could catch up with the girls I was reading it with. I’m so glad this is February’s YA pick for #COYER book club. Looking forward to discussing it with the rest of the group the last Sunday of the month.

Original Review (9/2019)

What if at the end of America’s Revolutionary War, George Washington was offered a crown and what if he said yes? This is the entire premise of Katherine McGee‘s new novel American Royals. Hooked from the first words, I became deeply committed to the modern day lives of the House of Washington. While I was initially drawn to the story because of the alternate history, I kept reading for the political intrigue and drama. If you like me are fascinated by the British monarchs, then by all means do yourself a favor and READ THIS BOOK!

Beatrice is the eldest Washington and the first in line for the throne. Not only is she the first in line, she will also be America’s first reigning queen. She never steps a toe out of line, does everything her parents require of her, all in the name of the crown and the country she will one day serve. Now her parents are requiring her to marry. They’ve given her a list of pre-approved candidates to choose from. But her heart wants someone else. 

Samantha is one half of a duo, her twin brother Jefferson makes up the other half. In Sam’s eyes, Jeff is the male version of her elder sister. He can do no wrong in the eyes of her parents or the press. Sam, on the other hand, stays in trouble. She is the “spare,” the extra, the second in line for the throne. No one cares about her, at least that’s what she thinks. She is determined to be the opposite of her perfect sister. Sam is loud, parties, speaks her mind, and lets nothing hold her back. How else can she make an impact on the world?

Nina Gonzalez is Sam’s best friend. Her mother works for the Washington family and has since Nina was little. It is how she first met the precocious princess. Sam and Jeff became Nina’s constant and closest friends. But that friendship changes when Nina finds herself falling in love with the prince. Nina struggles with her feelings of inadequacy, knowing America will never accept a commoner with their prince. Will she take a chance at happiness with him anyways?

Daphne Deighton is the daughter of American nobility and the ex-girlfriend of Prince Jefferson. America’s Sweetheart to the press, Daphne is the perfect choice for Jeff to settle down with….at least on the outside. This girl is nothing that she appears to be. Determined to win a spot at Jefferson’s side, she will stop at nothing til she gets what she wants – a crown. The question is just how far she will she have to go.

Alternating chapters among the four girls’ POV, American Royals is unlike anything I’ve ever read. Twists and turns around every corner, cliched-but-can’t-stop-reading drama, and oh-so-sweet romance moves this book to the top of my favorites list.Nina’s perspective is by far my favorite as she gives a commoner’s view of the palace, political intrigue, and the royals. Beatrice is a close second with her sacrifices and secret romance. 

American Royals is a must read and I cannot wait for more!

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