Starred Review ALA Booklist (Thu Oct 31 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Starred Review Seventeen-year-old Jamie is gobsmacked when, on his birthday, his adoptive mother spills the beans: he's actually the son of Alexander, King of Mitanor. His birth mother died when he was one and she asked his adoptive mom to keep his identity a secret til now. Before you can say "fairy tale," Jamie, his mom, and stepfather are on a plane headed to Mitanor. The King, who turns out to be a sweetheart, warm and welcoming, arranges for Erik, prince of Sunstad, to tutor Jamie in being royal. Why Erik? Because he, like Jamie, is gay. Given that, it's no surprise that the tutor-student relationship quickly turns into something romantic. The only problem is that Erik's grandmother, the queen, has decreed that his relationship with Jamie must remain strictly platonic. Unfortunately, when the queen learns that the two have become boyfriends, she lowers the boom. Dietrich (The Pledge, 2023) has written a quintessential gay romance. Everything about it s tantalizing premise, its highly engaging plot, its to-die-for characters practically perfect, and it's irresistibly readable, to boot. The pages fly by as readers root for the star-crossed boyfriends, with whom readers will have doubtlessly fallen in love, and hope for a happy ending. Royalty rules!

Kirkus Reviews

Jamie Johnson is just a regular American high school kid-until his adoptive mom upends his lifeIt turns out that Mom knows more about Jamie's bio parents than she originally let on: He is, in fact, a prince of the kingdom of Mitanor. King Alexander invites Jamie, his mom, and his stepdad to spend the summer with the royal family, and what follows is a wholesome reunion filled with patience, respect, and love. After the news of Jamie's royal status is leaked to the press, Prince Erik of Sunstad becomes his tutor, teaching him the rules of royalty and preparing him for his first press conference. Erik is also the perfect companion for a fellow gay prince. Despite being in a fight with his bestie, Max, for the majority of the narrative, Jamie is well supported by his core group of friends and his adoptive, biological, and step families. Likewise, Erik may not always see eye-to-eye with his parents and grandmother, but he's very close to his older brother, crown prince Stefan, and Stefan's fiancee. Readers will enjoy indulging in the deliciously slow-burn romance between the kind, honest, and adorable boys, who narrate in alternating first-person chapters. While Jamie's and Erik's narrative voices can sound too similar, this cozy royal love story is thoroughly delightful. Main characters are cued white.Healthy relationships and honest discourse abound in this sweet romance.(Romance. 13-18)

School Library Journal (Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2024)

Gr 9 Up— Seventeen-year-old Jamie Johnson is an average high school student until he finds out he is a prince of Mitanor. To make the transition to the new aspects of his life easier, the king brings in Erik, Prince of Sunstad, to give him lessons on royal etiquette. What starts as friendship quickly blossoms into something more. Readers, through the novel's dual points of view, experience the princes' burgeoning romance and the royal expectations that create obstacles in their new relationship. Jamie's family, both biological and adoptive, are supportive of his being gay and encourage him to find balance in his new role as European royalty and in his life back in America. Erik's nation and family embrace his queer identity; however, his family believes they know what is best for him when choosing a suitable partner and exercise heavy control of his life. Readers will enjoy watching the relationship develop against the background of the opulent royal lifestyle. While the pair do not take their relationship past making out, an overnight trip in which they make out in their underwear makes this a purchase for high school collections. VERDICT An LGBTQIA+ romance reminiscent of The Princess Diaries with characters readers will root for.— Ashley Leffel