Book by Casey McQuiston
Your favorite "average girl falls in love with prince and becomes a fairytale princess" romance gets a smart, witty update in this novel by debut author Casey McQuiston. In this telling, Alex, the son of the president of the United States, is forced into a public relations arranged friendship with Henry, a prince of the United Kingdom, which quickly blossoms into more. The representation in this book is off the charts – Alex is Hispanic and bisexual, while Henry is gay. Despite the male protagonists, supporting characters provide some great female representation – especially Alex’s sister, who is firm in her opinions and happy to put her brother in his place. I have heard criticism of the Hispanic representation in this book as one-dimensional lip service, but I felt like the subplot (can a Hispanic, female presidential candidate win Texas?) provided McQuiston with the opportunities she needed to make the characters’ ethnicity relevant to their lives without distracting from the adorable romance element of the novel.
Somehow, the gay romance removes the ick of certain romance novel tropes, giving all the main characters equal footing that makes their teasing and emotional turmoil less uncomfortable than in most straight romance novels. This book packs all the pleasure of a sexy romance, with none of the guilt. I have found myself returning to my favorite sections of the book – the flirty email exchanges that develop with their relationship - more than once, when I’ve had a hard day and need to smile. This is my favorite romance, and one of my favorite books, and I cannot wait for McQuiston’s next book, scheduled to be released next June.
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