[fifth read, July 2023]
Let’s see how long I can hold out before I reread again, I said. That was two years ago, and honestly, I’m surprised I went so long without another dose of Firstprince. This reread was extremely overdue, and as always, it made me so happy. Alex and Henry make everything better and no one can convince me otherwise.

This was also in preparation for the release of the movie next month, which I’m extremely worried about after seeing the trailer, but I’m trying not to think about that. So yeah. Lemme just go reread Henry’s bonus chapter and forget about everything else. 🫡

[fourth read, May 2021]
I’m so utterly in love and obsessed with Alex and Henry and this entire book. I could read it another hundred times and still laugh and swoon and cheer at all the same moments. I love June and Nora and Pez and Bea. I love the way reading this makes me feel. It’s the perfect read for a massive serotonin boost.

Reading this now and seeing all the subtle hints that my boys like each other? Absolute gold.

Also, I’d like to see more of Pez, June and Nora, please. I know they hooked up in that hotel room after their epic drunk karaoke party with Alex, Henry, and Bea. Imagine how much more iconic this book would be—if that’s even possible—if there were not one but two queer power couples.

—My absolute favorite quote in this book. Henry is such a poetic cinnamon roll and he must be protected at all costs.

Also, I can’t stop thinking about this quote:

—Henry being a vulnerable bean desperately in need of a hug (Let’s be real, he and Alex are always in need of hugs. 10/10 would give them hugs and be their friends, if only I could.)

Or this scene:

when Henry breaks down after his fake date with June because the whole situation is so unfair, and Alex feels so bad but can’t do anything, and “You and me and history, remember?” MY HEART.

So yeah, Alex and Henry live in my mind rent free—if that wasn’t already abundantly clear—and I absolutely adore them. Let’s see how long I can hold out before I reread again. 🌚

[third read, February 2020]
I don’t have anything new to say. I love this book so, so much, and it’s one of my all-time favorites. I see myself coming back to this again and again, no matter how many books I have on my shelves that I could/should read instead.

[second read, October 2019]
If anything, rereading Red, White and Royal Blue has made me love it even more. I picked this up on a whim while feeling down and can confirm that not only is this one of my favorite books of all time, it’s also a great pick-me-up.

My original review thoroughly and more eloquently expresses my thoughts, but to put it simply, I absolutely adore this book. The relationships, the banter, the characters, the themes... Every part of the story is just so fantastic, and I can’t believe I almost didn’t read it. I’m so glad I did, and I’m pretty sure I’ll revisit it sooner rather than later.

[first read, June 2019]
It’s been a while since I read a book I loved so much, it’s hard to review. I’ve seen just about everyone singing this book’s praises, and now that I’ve finally hopped on this bandwagon, I can absolutely see why. In addition to possibly being the first queer NA romantic comedy I’ve read, Red, White and Royal Blue is a phenomenal debut that balances love and humor with politics and a whirlwind of emotions I was in no way prepared for.

Alex and Henry are flawed but amazing characters. I loved their arcs as individuals and as a couple, and although I don’t really have anything to compare it to, I firmly believe McQuiston has mastered queer hate to love stories.

In addition to the wonderful romance, this novel also has platonic and familial relationships that made me ridiculously happy. The Claremont-Diaz family, particularly Alex’s older sister June and mom Ellen, conveys their love in teasing jabs and ample expletives, yet it’s still abundantly clear how much they really do love one another. Alex and Henry each have their own little trio of close friends, but as the two of them grow closer, so does everyone else. The end result was the best six pack to ever exist, and their bar party scene might be one of the best scenes I’ve ever read. (I’m not sure if calling them a six pack is brilliant or horrible, but I’m sticking with it.)

Now back to the star couple. I ship Alex and Henry with every fiber of my being, and from the beginning, their dynamic made me so unbelievably happy. If anyone saw my update saying something along the lines of “my gay heart is about to explode,” that’s still fully applicable. They had to deal with so much emotional baggage and other complications they didn’t deserve, but they ended up an even stronger, cuter couple because of it.

Though I’ve failed to mention it before now, there were aspects aside from the relationships that I really liked about this novel. One that was more prominent in my eyes was that, as the story progressed, Alex only began to question his identity. An entire chapter was dedicated to that, before he finally claimed and came to terms with his bisexuality. I’ve seen a few people complain about this being unrealistic, and firstly, I’m not sure how anyone can complain about this queer masterpiece. Secondly, such is reality for many people. Alex might be five years older than me, give or take, but even after realizing I was queer, it took a year for me to figure out what labels best suited me. I’m not bisexual, and can’t relate to all aspects of the representation, but I appreciate that McQuiston wrote Alex this way.

Another element that stood out to me was the refreshing alternate timeline this story took place in. Though it’s set in 2019-2020, it’s set in an America where Alex’s mom won the 2016 election, became the first woman president, and in general kept the US from turning into the disaster we know it to be. Politics are a significant part of the story, with one protagonist the president’s son, interested in going down a similar path, and the other a European prince. It was interesting without being overbearing.

Usually, when I read a book in a remarkably short amount of time, it’s a fantasy or otherwise fantastical story with a fast-paced plot that I simply can’t fathom putting down. In this case, though, that isn’t what happened. My love for Alex and Henry fueled me, so I ended up reading this in two sittings. I started reading at 11:30 p.m., against my better judgement, and by the time I went to sleep four hours later, I was nearly half done. Then, after a few hours of sleep and some small distractions, I got my earbuds and my paperback and prepared myself to do nothing else until I finished. Overall, I think this took me approximately eight hours to read from cover to cover. My only regret is not marking my favorite quips and quotes, but hey, that gives me an excuse to reread.

Finally, I want to say that one specific line in the acknowledgments made me smile: “What I hoped to do, and what I hope I have done with this book by the time you’ve finished it, my dear reader, is to be a spark of joy and hope you needed.” In this, McQuiston certainly succeeded. Red, White and Royal Blue was a fabulously queer and unbelievably fun debut, and it deserves every bit of hype. It’s incredibly likely that I’ll reread this at least once while waiting for McQuiston’s next novel to come out.

Representation: