This was a really fun read! It reminded me a lot of The Royal We, though it’s definitely not an imitation of that work.
Alex Claremont-Diaz is a college senior, the son of the President of the United States and a US senator. For years, the younger prince of Great Britain, Henry Wales, has been his nemesis. The prince is too controlled, too perfect. He’s a stiff where Alex loves getting his hands dirty and treats politics like an intramural sport. Alex causes an international incident, and, of course, the solution is for the two young men to pretend to be best friends. Because: public relations.
Anyway, forced proximity helps Alex see what everyone around him has known for years: his enmity isn’t so much enmity as a desperate crush. Worse, Henry reciprocates! Uh. Maybe the president’s re-election campaign is about to get a whole new talking point.
Alex comes across as simultaneously infuriating and charming. He’s utterly confused by his feelings for Henry, and readers are privy to his gradual acceptance of his bisexuality. On the other side of the pond, Henry is trying to sort out what life means as a homosexual senior royal. The story seems realistic in what forces would be arrayed against him.
The story itself is really the relationship between Alex and Henry. There are a couple of B-plots with the campaign and the royal family that feel almost like filler, but it’s all well-plotted and paced.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley in order to facilitate this review.