I recognize that this book can be dumb and I am an anti-monarchist HOWEVER this is my feel good book. I read this and I feel good. I will not explain any further. ( )

Sisters Charlotte and Libby are total opposites who barely see each other but are very close.
For some reason I never understood, their parents seem more concerned about Libby being socially awkward. She gets great grades but Charlotte is more outgoing.
When Libby winds up transferring to Charlotte’s school, Charlotte basically makes it her mission to help her sister be accepted.

There are some sweet sisterly bonding stories at the beginning. Despite being very different, these two are clearly very close to each other.

Charlotte even suggests that Libby get to know her boyfriend, who happens to be Prince Edward.
This blows up very quickly when gossip starts about Libby and Edward getting too close to each other.

Soon Charlotte and Libby are fighting and there’s even drama within their social circle.

It was a cute story but I honestly liked Libby way more than Charlotte.
I won’t say any more on that matter in order to avoid spoilers.
Also, this isn’t so much a story about royalty as it is a story about sisters. ( )

*Read at work for review for ROYAL*

Romancing the Throne tells the story of Charlotte and Libby, two sisters from the upper crust of London society, who attend boarding school and live a charmed life. The best of friends and sisters forever, Charlotte and Libby depend on each other for almost everything, but when Prince Edward comes into the picture, things take quite the turn, ultimately testing the bond they share.

The main plot point for the first half of the book is a love triangle, which is already my least favorite trope to read about. But then, throw in the added bonus of two points of the triangle being sisters, and the trope becomes even worse. Often times we see young girls and their relationships with each other portrayed negatively in YA. They’re pitted against each other, most frequently when it comes to boys. This book is no exception and it’s even more saddening to see it reflected upon two sisters, who up until the introduction of Prince Edward were each other’s best friend and closest confidant.

Another problem I had with the book was the point of view. Charlotte is the only narrator, and in a story where both sisters are main characters and play a big role, it would have been nice to get Libby’s point of view as well. We as the reader are frequently told by other characters how Libby is feeling, but it would have really added to the book if we could have been inside Libby’s head for a while and experienced her thoughts and feelings directly and more in depth.

I did really enjoy most of the supporting characters. Charlotte’s best friend India was fantastic, very rational, and very supportive in every situation toward both sisters. She never picked sides and she offered insight to Charlotte when she was being unreasonable. I also really loved Robert, who played a bigger role in the second half of the book. He was sweet and quirky and really helped Charlotte with her business ideas. I wish there could have been more of him.

The second half of the story is where the book’s redemption arc takes place, and I don’t mean for a character, I mean for the book itself. Charlotte gets over her issues and is a much better person for it. The business venture she undergoes with Robert and his brother entailing a beauty app was interesting to read about, and I wish the whole book had focused more on this plot point rather than the love triangle. I think the author really shined in this portion of the story because she was using her own knowledge of the beauty industry, which is clear when looking at her back catalogue.

One aspect of Charlotte’s character I did really appreciate was her ability to stand up for herself. She dates Prince Edward but when her sister Libby shows up, he starts getting distant with Charlotte, and pays more attention to her sister. Charlotte is the one to stand her ground and basically tell him “hey, I’m not going to be treated like this, whether you’re royalty or not” and that was a great moment for her character.

Romancing the Throne is fast paced and mostly fun, albeit a few problematic areas, but overall not a bad read.
( )

Literary Merit: Fair
Characterization: Good
Recommended: Recommended with reservations
Reading Level: High school

Romancing the Throne tells the story of Charlotte and Libby, two sisters from the upper crust of London society, who attend boarding school and live a charmed life. The best of friends and sisters forever, Charlotte and Libby depend on each other for almost everything, but when Prince Edward comes into the picture, things take quite the turn, ultimately testing the bond they share.

The main plot point for the first half of the book is a love triangle, which is already my least favorite trope to read about. But then, throw in the added bonus of two points of the triangle being sisters, and the trope becomes even worse. Often times we see young girls and their relationships with each other portrayed negatively in YA. They’re pitted against each other, most frequently when it comes to boys. This book is no exception and it’s even more saddening to see it reflected upon two sisters, who up until the introduction of Prince Edward were each other’s best friend and closest confidant.

Another problem I had with the book was the point of view. Charlotte is the only narrator, and in a story where both sisters are main characters and play a big role, it would have been nice to get Libby’s point of view as well. We as the reader are frequently told by other characters how Libby is feeling, but it would have really added to the book if we could have been inside Libby’s head for a while and experienced her thoughts and feelings directly and more in depth.

I did really enjoy most of the supporting characters. Charlotte’s best friend India was fantastic, very rational, and very supportive in every situation toward both sisters. She never picked sides and she offered insight to Charlotte when she was being unreasonable. I also really loved Robert, who played a bigger role in the second half of the book. He was sweet and quirky and really helped Charlotte with her business ideas. I wish there could have been more of him.

The second half of the story is where the book’s redemption arc takes place, and I don’t mean for a character, I mean for the book itself. Charlotte gets over her issues and is a much better person for it. The business venture she undergoes with Robert and his brother entailing a beauty app was interesting to read about, and I wish the whole book had focused more on this plot point rather than the love triangle. I think the author really shined in this portion of the story because she was using her own knowledge of the beauty industry, which is clear when looking at her back catalogue.

One aspect of Charlotte’s character I did really appreciate was her ability to stand up for herself. She dates Prince Edward but when her sister Libby shows up, he starts getting distant with Charlotte, and pays more attention to her sister. Charlotte is the one to stand her ground and basically tell him “hey, I’m not going to be treated like this, whether you’re royalty or not” and that was a great moment for her character.

Romancing the Throne is fast paced and mostly fun, albeit a few problematic areas, but overall not a bad read. ( )

I ended up enjoying this 25% onward. Glad I stuck around to read. ( )