Series: Royals #2
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Published May 7th 2019 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Goodreads Synopsis
Millie Quint is devastated when she discovers that her sort-of-best friend/sort-of-girlfriend has been kissing someone else. And because Millie cannot stand the thought of confronting her ex every day, she decides to apply for scholarships to boarding schools . . . the farther from Houston the better.
Millie can't believe her luck when she's accepted into one of the world's most exclusive schools, located in the rolling highlands of Scotland. Everything about Scotland is different: the country is misty and green; the school is gorgeous, and the students think Americans are cute.
The only problem: Mille's roommate Flora is a total princess.
She's also an actual princess. Of Scotland.
At first, the girls can barely stand each other--Flora is both high-class and high-key--but before Millie knows it, she has another sort-of-best-friend/sort-of-girlfriend. Even though Princess Flora could be a new chapter in her love life, Millie knows the chances of happily ever afters are slim . . . after all, real life isn't a fairy tale . . . or is it?
Goodreads
Review
Royals was one of my favourite books of 2018, and even though Scholastic decided not to publish book 2, Her Royal Highness, in the UK, I knew I needed to read it, so ordered a copy online. And I'm so glad I did, because though I still prefer Royals over this one, I loved Her Royal Highness, and would've so been missing out if I hadn't bought it.
Millie has been in a relationship with her best friend and girlfriend for quite some time, yet her girlfriend has been wanting to keep them a secret, and Millie doesn't understand why. When she eventually finds out that her now ex-best friend has been kissing other people, she decides on a change of scenery and applies for loads of different schools and scholarships, all across the world, and is astonished to discover she has been accepted to one of the most prestigious schools in Scotland, one that royalty have even attended, including the currently enrolled Princess Flora of the Scottish royal family. Even more astounding is the fact that Millie and Flora are roommates, but it's not a match made in heaven. Flora is a total bitch - she doesn't want to be at the school, and is in need of attention. She thinks that if she kicks up enough fuss, and picking on her new, American, roommate is a good start, she will be expelled and taken back home to the family. However, the Queen has made it clear that Flora will be at the school, no matter what, and Millie isn't taking any of her crap either. As they grew together, facing a common enemy - the school - Millie and Flora soon realise that it's not hatred towards each other that they feel, but something that could be even more problematic.
I really did like both of the main characters, Flora, more so than Millie. Their backstories were well fleshed out, and the plot to this story, though some might not think there was much to it, was actually really well done. If you've seen the Netflix series, The Crown, think of the school, Gordonstoun, that Prince Charles is sent to in series 2. The school in this book is very similar, with one of the main plot points being a expedition in the Scottish wilderness that Flora and Millie have to find their way home from. Millie is such an intelligent character, with a love of geology, and though Flora seems to not be clever, she definitely is, but has been hiding it for so long, being left alone in the limelight of her two, more 'spectacular' brothers. Throughout the course of this book, Flora definitely seemed to grow into her personality, and accept her own sexuality.
Millie and Flora's relationship was such fun to read too. It's the classic trope, of enemies to lovers, and it's definitely believable. To start of with, neither can really stand the other, even if they're not proper 'enemies'. As they're put in more and more situations, they get over their preconceptions, and understand that they're very much alike, apart from the whole Princess situation. Because of this, they fall for each other easily, and I found it all so cute. The only negative I could pick up from the book was the ending - I found it a bit abrupt, but that's an issue I had with a lot of contemporary books these days. I hope beyond all hope that we get a book 3, because I need to see Sebastian's story!
Dates Read:
Rating
5 Stars
