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A review by asipofcozy
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5/5 - 2nd reread
I figured it was time for a reread of one of my favorite books from last year! It's amazing to me what you capture when you reread a book. I found so many more moments, and quotes, and had more internal thoughts this time around. And after the announcement for the cast of the movie, I wanted to compare my thoughts on what the characters look like and who was picked....have to admit fairly spot on!
After rereading, I also found the complexity of the characters that I didn't see before. This mask that Henry puts up to hide his pain and the confidence that Alex struggles with.
Something that did erk me was the "diversity" situation. Yes, Alex is Mexican; however, his extent of mexican goes to his love of tacos and mexican food, and tequila. Oh and the two sentences "in spanish", which were implied they were speaking in spanish. That's it. Other than that Alex is white-washed. This is coming from the perspective of a Latina women. It was as if McQuiston decided she needed to add diversity at the last minute and did a very poor and inappropriate job of it. You should have just had him white.
Also, as a person that reads quite a bit of "spicy" 🌶 novels, I wish people would stop putting this in the super spicy category. It is far from it. There are more explicit books and this is NOT one of them. I always find it funny that people mark this (especially on Tiktok) as 🌶 🌶 🌶/5 on the spice scale when it's more of a one pepper dealio!
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4.5/5
Wow-what a read. It was definitely a sappy, happy read that I needed in my life after reading The Song of Achilles and then getting into an awful accident that put me in the hospital for a day.
Casey McQuiston definitely has a way with words and knows how to write a romance novel. Her characters are charismatic and you can’t help fall in love with them. And the romance is so swoon worth, I honestly need more of Alex and Henry in my life. And what a time to read it when the US president in the book is a female and we just elected our first Black, South Asian female Vice President... I mean wow! Talk about history being made.
So what were the few things that made me not give this book a 5/5...
1. The characters were too perfect-
Honestly, I was hoping for more diversity in the character's personalities and actually having flaws. Alex and his sister June were just too perfect. Both were geniuses in their own right. Nothing really wrong with them besides “working” too hard and maybe they partied hard when they could...which was rare as is. Alex had slight anger issues but nothing out of the ordinary. There was nothing defining. Even Henry who has some flaws were just still too perfect for me.
2. The climax/conflict was WAY too short-
When I mean too short I mean it was 3 pages together. I was not really impressed with that. I understand that McQuiston was trying to focus on fluff and happiness but I do like a slight bit of angst, especially with just one book.
3. The diversity - as a Latina women, I saw Alex as a white-washed mexican. Besides his "love" of tacos (which is stereotypes us) and the few sentences "in spanish" Alex came across as white and priveledged in all other cases.
Oh and to address the issue of people saying this book has intense/"spicy" sex scenes. I would have to disagree because S.J Maas writes explicit sex scenes that it makes this book like a virgin. Yes, the sex scenes were there but you aren’t given too much detail besides that it’s happening. So if you are worried about your soul, don’t be lol.
I figured it was time for a reread of one of my favorite books from last year! It's amazing to me what you capture when you reread a book. I found so many more moments, and quotes, and had more internal thoughts this time around. And after the announcement for the cast of the movie, I wanted to compare my thoughts on what the characters look like and who was picked....have to admit fairly spot on!
After rereading, I also found the complexity of the characters that I didn't see before. This mask that Henry puts up to hide his pain and the confidence that Alex struggles with.
Something that did erk me was the "diversity" situation. Yes, Alex is Mexican; however, his extent of mexican goes to his love of tacos and mexican food, and tequila. Oh and the two sentences "in spanish", which were implied they were speaking in spanish. That's it. Other than that Alex is white-washed. This is coming from the perspective of a Latina women. It was as if McQuiston decided she needed to add diversity at the last minute and did a very poor and inappropriate job of it. You should have just had him white.
Also, as a person that reads quite a bit of "spicy" 🌶 novels, I wish people would stop putting this in the super spicy category. It is far from it. There are more explicit books and this is NOT one of them. I always find it funny that people mark this (especially on Tiktok) as 🌶 🌶 🌶/5 on the spice scale when it's more of a one pepper dealio!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.5/5
Wow-what a read. It was definitely a sappy, happy read that I needed in my life after reading The Song of Achilles and then getting into an awful accident that put me in the hospital for a day.
Casey McQuiston definitely has a way with words and knows how to write a romance novel. Her characters are charismatic and you can’t help fall in love with them. And the romance is so swoon worth, I honestly need more of Alex and Henry in my life. And what a time to read it when the US president in the book is a female and we just elected our first Black, South Asian female Vice President... I mean wow! Talk about history being made.
So what were the few things that made me not give this book a 5/5...
1. The characters were too perfect-
Honestly, I was hoping for more diversity in the character's personalities and actually having flaws. Alex and his sister June were just too perfect. Both were geniuses in their own right. Nothing really wrong with them besides “working” too hard and maybe they partied hard when they could...which was rare as is. Alex had slight anger issues but nothing out of the ordinary. There was nothing defining. Even Henry who has some flaws were just still too perfect for me.
2. The climax/conflict was WAY too short-
When I mean too short I mean it was 3 pages together. I was not really impressed with that. I understand that McQuiston was trying to focus on fluff and happiness but I do like a slight bit of angst, especially with just one book.
3. The diversity - as a Latina women, I saw Alex as a white-washed mexican. Besides his "love" of tacos (which is stereotypes us) and the few sentences "in spanish" Alex came across as white and priveledged in all other cases.
Oh and to address the issue of people saying this book has intense/"spicy" sex scenes. I would have to disagree because S.J Maas writes explicit sex scenes that it makes this book like a virgin. Yes, the sex scenes were there but you aren’t given too much detail besides that it’s happening. So if you are worried about your soul, don’t be lol.