Book Review | Red, White & Royal Blue: An Adorable Love Story

Haters become lovers in Casey McQuiston’s politically correct and cleverly crafted debut rom-com novel Red, White & Royal Blue. The author has managed to weave in a gay love story around the world’s most loved and hated families — the British royalty and the First Family of the United States. Prince Henry (full name: Henry George Edward James Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor) is a reserved and guarded person.

Alex Claremont-Diaz, son of the US president, is a witty, sharp, and audacious person who is handling his mother's presidential campaign for the second term. Rivals turn into lovers after a few hits, misses, witty banter, and unforgettable ‘first kiss’ moments in this light-hearted read. The friendship between Alex and Henry blooms into romance, and before you know it, they are sneaking and smooching around in the Royal Gardens, Whitehouse corridors, and presidential suites. There are late-night pillow-talk calls and sexually loaded snappy text messages between the two irresistibly handsome men. Alex divulges his relationship with Prince Henry to his sister June, his go-to-mentor Nora. While the British tabloids and American scribes print the duo’s WhatsApp exchanges with salacious details.

The author’s writing style has a mix and match of American slangs and British humour for example: “The next slide is titled: EXPLORING YOUR SEXUALITY: HEALTHY, BUT DOES IT HAVE TO BE WITH THE PRINCE OF ENGLAND? She apologizes for not having time to come up with better titles. Alex actively wishes for the sweet release of death. The one after is: FEDERAL FUNDING, TRAVEL EXPENSES, BOOTY CALLS, AND YOU.”

Casey takes you inside the hallowed Whitehouse corridors and royal palaces. She leaves you by their bedpost when Alex and Henry make out. Casey takes you to the royal stables and Wimbledon storage box to witness some romping sex. She manages to capture the adrenaline rush, fear, aspirations, concerns, and “stupid” “unbearable love” of Alex and Henry.

She also manages to show their genuine concern and efforts to solve the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community. The portrayal of family support, sibling love-hate relationships, and steamy sex scenes between the royal scion and the president’s son is riveting. Red, White & Royal Blue is one of those rare books that will make you laugh, cry, stomp around, and show you that quintessential ray of hope in the darkest of hours.