And You Get a Better Boyfriend! — February 2022 Reading Roundup
(Review of The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder, American Royals and Majesty by Katherine Mcgee, and A Spindle Splintered by Alix E Harrow).
February was the month we got out of our comfort zone and read some royal romance and sleeping beauty retellings.
My reads this month:
1. The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder. Did I buy this book for the cover? Yes. Did I buy it mostly for the girl with the cool braid and huge axe? Also, yes. Did I really buy this book when I found out it is respectably gay? Yes, yes I did. The Bone Spindle was a fun, one sitting read full of campy dialogue and snark. I'm already awaiting the sequel.
2. This month I also read American Royals and Majesty by Katherine Mcgee. I don't often read romance, but I wanted something fun and lighthearted. The first book delivered on that front. McGee has this unique talent where she makes you fall in love with all of the love interests in book one only to do the old switcheroo on you book two. That couple you liked in the first book? Too bad. But you know what? It kind of, works….
And you get a better boyfriend! And you get a better boyfriend! And you get a better boyfriend!
Now, for the political “plot” of the American Royals series… it's meh. In the periphery. If you squint… hard enough. But also, that isn't quiet what the book is, you know what I mean?
3. A Spindle Splintered by Alix E Harrow. This book is one glorious cry laugh. This book is darkly funny, a little depressed, deeply thoughtful, and full of self discovery. It also has that ONE scene that made me spit out my drink laughing. If you read it you know which one I'm talking about. *wink*
Anywayyy, what did you read this month?
Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston Review
Your Next Royal Romance
While in many ways, Red, White, & Royal Blue is a contemporary, I’d categorize it more as an alternative-history, in which the Queen of England is not Queen Elizabeth, and the president of the United States is a democrat woman from Texas.
Like I said, what some would argue a fairytale, alternative, reality.
It took perhaps fifty pages for me to recognize that while all the names of our power players were different, the everyday reality and social fabric of America and England is very similar to today.
Red, White, & Royal Blue follow’s America’s First Son, Alex Claremont-Diaz, a stubborn, brilliant, and hilarious college student who is forced to spent time with his arch nemesis, the literal prince of England, after they cause an international incident. In a straight rom-com, enemies turned lovers, Alex realizes that he is in fact, very much so in love with the illusive and mysterious prince Henry. After their relationship is established, Red, White, & Royal Blue shifts its focus to the political and social significance of two men being together. As Alex writes too Henry, “History, huh?”
Red, White, & Royal Blue is a beautiful read. The dialogue and emails between Henry and Alex are hilarious. In addition, plenty of references to other historical LGBT figures which will make Alex and Henry’s relationship feel part of something bigger.
I cannot recommend Red, White, & Royal Blue highly enough.
You can find Red, White, & Royal Blue here: https://amzn.to/3rmyT5Z