I’m just going to admit up front that I find Penny Reid’s books totally delightful. I started out in the Knitting in the City series, and have read everything I could get my hands on since. So perhaps I’m not entirely objective when reviewing this latest series, but again, they’ve really worked for me.
There’s a big focus on Found Family (as opposed to blood family) in her novels, and the Three Kings series (book three still pending) focuses on three friends from a small town high school, Rex, Cyrus and Alaric.
In Homecoming King, Rex has gone on to become a pro football player (look, I’m an Aussie, I can tell you he’s not a QB and that’s about all). He has a reputation in the press for acting as “training wheels” for his girlfriends, who all go on to marry their very next boyfriend. This kinda bugs Rex, for a bunch of reasons that lead him to a bar, where he meets up with Abby, the bartender. Abby, of course (how else could it go?) went to school with Rex, and had a monster crush on him.
I’ll be honest – there’s a little bit of the “if these two just had an honest, up front conversation, there’d be no book” trope here. I’ll forgive it, though; I’ve read this twice now and found it just as charming both times. Rex hires Abby to be his wife, to shut the media up and keep his mindset clear enough to perform in the NFL.
As they wind their inevitable way towards their HEA, we’re introduced to Rex’s ex-harem, his reasons for hating the Training Wheels nickname, and their circles of friends. Rex and Abby are both complex and quirky characters, easy to invest in and cheer on. It’s an excellent set up/first series book, imo, as it left me wanting to spend more time in the universe Reid’s created.
Drama King, the second book in the series, focuses on Cyrus Malcolm (bleargh, two first names), an actor who has broken out in a Marvel-style universe film. He’s hit the “people are going to tear his clothes off in public” level of fame, and he’s been getting enough threats from bananapants fans that he needs 24/7 security. The catch is that the studio doesn’t like the branding implications of him being shadowed by bigger, badder dudes than himself. So they’re hiring an all-female team of guards who can be disguised as personal trainers, stylists and hangers on.
I have to laugh at this, because it seems entirely feasible, right? It’s offensive and empowered at the same time, somehow.
Beth has been working security for a female movie star/doppelganger, and meet-cutes Cyrus when she’s vetting him for a date. Cue an overwhelmingly cringey comedy of errors (I am pretty sure we don’t get Benadryl that strong here in Aus), followed by Beth’s inevitable appointment to Cyrus’ new team.
You guys, Beth is scrupulous about her job. I think its my favourite thing about her – she’s just so dedicated, and meticulous – and physically incapable of keeping her incident with Cyrus from her boss. It’s also SUCH a relief – so many novels would have held that secret until the third act, when it could explode, get Beth fired, and drive a final reunion where we’re supposed to forget about Beth’s ambition, because she’s now got a HEA instead of her job (…yay?).
Instead, we get a much richer story, with a female lead who is allowed to be driven and good at her job on an ongoing basis (to be fair, its on me if I have read way too many of those “admin assistant gives up her job to marry billionaire and have kids” books).
These are lovely books, warming and featuring both distinct (and awesome) characters, and a found family you’ll want to be a part of. As I keep telling my sister, you should give Penny Reid a try.
