A Princess in Theory

By: Alyssa Cole

Narrated by: Karen Chilton

Length: 11 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's Summary

Between grad school and multiple jobs, Naledi Smith doesn't have time for fairy tales . . . or the patience for constant emails claiming she's betrothed to an African prince. Sure. Right. Delete! 

As a former foster kid, she's learned that the only things she can depend on are herself and the scientific method, and a silly email won't convince her otherwise. 

Prince Thabiso is the sole heir to the throne of Thesolo, shouldering the hopes of his parents and his people. At the top of their list? His marriage. Ever dutiful, he tracks down his missing betrothed. When Naledi mistakes the prince for a pauper, Thabiso can't resist the chance to experience life - and love - without the burden of his crown. The chemistry between them is instant and irresistible, and their flirty friendship quickly evolves into passionate nights. But when the truth is revealed, can a princess in theory become a princess ever after?

©2018 Alyssa Cole (P)2018 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Inclusive Royal Romance

I don't read royal romances since they are often very white. When this came out, I jumped at the chance to read a less eurocentric take on royalty. I loved it, and I'm surprised this is my first book from this author. I read it in audio and thought the narrator did a good job. I liked how it showed a privileged black prince when I'm so used to seeing privileged rich white men in books.

The hero was woke in some aspects but dense in others, while his heroine helped him see the world so differently. She literally helped him be a better man which I think is so lacking in romance, as we're expected to take men at their worst because they're so dangerously good looking(but hot guys are allowed to be extra flawed right???).

The heroine was a scientist which was awesome! This book had so many great things, that I ignored some of the small details I didn't like(minor, but some of my questions were still unanswered by the end of the book) as well as the HFN ending.

I wanted to see a huge extravagant African traditional wedding because we always have to see weddings from a Western view, so I was not only expecting it, I was disappointed that I felt robbed of it. I'm not even huge on marriage at the end of books, but come on??? An African wedding in a mainstream romance book??? That would've been amazing!

Anyway, the author created her own Wakanda(one free of colonialism and of great wealth) so I'm definitely reading the sequel!

It’s Coming to America meets The Princess Diaries

And I’m here for all of it! Loved this sweet and erotic romance featuring a dark-skinned princess learning about her destiny through a comedy of errors. If you’re a fan of Alyssa Cole’s wit and real love stories, there’s nothing in this review that will come as news to you. If you’re looking for a great princess story after this week’s royal wedding, you cannot go wrong with Naledi and Thabiso’s love story.

Excited for the next book in the series.

A book to read again and again

Loved it! Fell in love with this book instantly! I cant wait for the next.

Just get it and thank me later!

I am typically drawn to para-romance. But I just couldn’t stop listening to this book. Such a great story line. Narrator was phenomenal. The building of love with all the good stuff was so well written. I’m an instant fan of this author and narrator.

what a great book!

perfectly written! I didn't want the book to end. SEXY, BLACK, AND AMAZINGLY ENTERTAINING! A MUST READ!

Fun story, excellent narrator, twist on Cinderella

This is my first novel by Alyssa Cole. I listened thru then went back and listened again. I enjoyed the plot and support characters.

Thabioso and Ledi...Enjoyed Their Journey!

I really enjoyed reading and listening to this book. I thought the narration was very good. I liked both "Jamal" and Ledi's characters.

I was so amped when learning that Ledi was a scientist working on her master's. There are not many romances, or other books where a black woman is so firmly entrenched in STEM.

I also thought it was kind of funny and sweet that Thabioso struggled with things like turning on a stove. The scenes with him trying to be a server and his responses were humorous.

Thabioso and Ledi did have great chemistry. I could feel the tension ratcheting up as he tried to tell Ledi the truth. The longer it went on, the worse I knew the outcome would be for them.

I wish that there had been an epilogue. The story just kind of stopped leaving me with a number of questions. I liked that this story had a bit of mystery, but felt like the mystery was not fully explored. As the truth started to unfold, it felt like there was a push to end the story instead of fully detail some of the occurrences that were revealed.

I also felt that two of the biggest questions of all remained unanswered.

wonderful read

very guyood story only wish for more details in the ending, but overall enjoyed the book.

Beautiful love story

What’s again Alessa Cole one of my favorite writers....Beautiful love story! I can always see myself in her stories lovely writer.

Good but dislike how it ends

The ending was left so open and I know its a book 2 so I hope she gives more on about the princes and the princess

Excellent!

I’m so glad I listened to this book. It’s a well-written, well-read, straightforward happily-ever-after romance, but from a few angles that we don’t see quite so often: an orphan raised in the foster care system in NYC meets her Prince Charming, an actual African prince. The descriptions, from her work as a grad student in epidemiology, to her visits to a remote southern African village, are vivid and interesting and realistic. The chemistry between the two main characters is irresistible, and the sex is HOT!

The narrator performed the various accents and dialects perfectly (to my ear, anyway)—the differences between a character from Brooklyn and a character from Africa were discernible without being so strong that it becomes difficult to understand to a foreign ear.

Frankly, we need a LOT more books like this one. My white ass should be put in the position of seeing myself in a heroine who’s race and background are different from my own a lot more often. And perhaps even moreso, black women deserve to see many, many more smart, funny, sexy heroines that look and sound like them, too. I’m sure those books exist, but if they’re half as good as A PRINCESS IN THEORY, they should be promoted, and visible, and as celebrated as any book with a white princess in a corset on the cover.

Read/listen to this book. You won’t regret it.

I had high hopes

After reading the reviews i had high hopes for this book. I found myself zoning out and missing huge chunks of the story. The storyline was ridiculous and very predictable the only shining light was the diverse characters. The princes PA being a black queer woman was fab and of course the snippets of cultural references used throughout. Overall though i did not enjoy this book and will likely be returning it sadly.