This book is a very interesting dichotomy of cute & cozy and surprisingly dark & epic. I can absolutely see where it’s likened to The Cruel Prince. It has very similar vibes. Ivy is a really fun FMC. I loved her stubbornness and that fact that she is very self aware of her flaws. She knows she is a bit coddled and unprepared for the world. I LOVED the chapters from other POVs and the glimpses they gave into everyone else’s backstory. 
I will admit I had suspicions at the beginning of the book, but as the went on I was convinced myself there wasn’t some ulterior motive….only to be proven complete wrong in the last few chapters! 😆 It’s the kind of book I look forward to eventually rereading and trying to see if I spot any clues I missed the first time around.