American Royals

By: Katharine McGee

Narrated by: Brittany Pressley

Length: 13 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times Best Seller

What if America had a royal family? If you can't get enough of Harry and Meghan or Kate and William, meet American princesses Beatrice and Samantha. Crazy Rich Asians meets The Crown. 

Perfect for fans of Red, White, and Royal Blue and The Royal We!

Two princesses vying for the ultimate crown. Two girls vying for the prince's heart. This is the story of the American royals.

When America won the Revolutionary War, its people offered General George Washington a crown. Two and a half centuries later, the House of Washington still sits on the throne. Like most royal families, the Washingtons have an heir and a spare. A future monarch and a backup battery. Each child knows exactly what is expected of them. But these aren't just any royals. They're American.

As Princess Beatrice gets closer to becoming America's first queen regnant, the duty she has embraced her entire life suddenly feels stifling. Nobody cares about the spare except when she's breaking the rules, so Princess Samantha doesn't care much about anything, either...except the one boy who is distinctly off-limits to her. And then there's Samantha's twin, Prince Jefferson. If he'd been born a generation earlier, he would have stood first in line for the throne, but the new laws of succession make him third. Most of America adores their devastatingly handsome prince...but two very different girls are vying to capture his heart.

The duty. The intrigue. The Crown. 

New York Times best-selling author Katharine McGee imagines an alternate version of the modern world, one where the glittering age of monarchies has not yet faded - and where love is still powerful enough to change the course of history.

"The lives of the American royal family will hook you in the very first pages and never let go. Relatable, believable, fantastical, aspirational, and completely addictive." (Sara Shepard, number one New York Times best-selling author of the Pretty Little Liars and Perfectionists series)

©2019 Katharine McGee (P)2019 Listening Library

Critic reviews

"For all the glamour and intrigue, there's also a reality check. All four central characters struggle to reconcile the expectations the world imposes on them with the internal selves they discover through heartbreak and struggle." (The New York Times Book Review)

"Critical questions tantalize readers through the foibles and flaws of characters who are frustratingly human…readers will eagerly await the next installment to find out whether true love will win or stodgy tradition will triumph.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“A deliciously soapy American royal family...McGee’s characters are well-crafted and flawed, giving the narrative emotional texture that elevates it above the dramatic formula.” (Publishers Weekly)

Rushed

The book spends 95% of the time letting you into the lives of Nina, Daphne, Samantha and Beatrice only for the end of the book to come and their story lines only felt partially tied up. The book didn't end with what I would consider a cliffhanger, it just...ended. I was disappointed with how rushed the ending felt and how the other characters just dropped off without any real ending. I can imagine what I think happened to them, but that is probably the most unsatisfying thing for me, as a reader, to do. I believe there is a sequel to this book coming out in a year or so, but this ending was just rude. I found the Nina character to be quite unlikable. I wish the age range of the characters had been a bit older so the content was more relatable to the age group this book is marketed to.

So tired of weak women

This is your standard romantic fluff made worse from weak women characters who are either a) unable to stand up for themselves; b) unable to find themselves; c) gullible and easy to manipulate or d) sociopaths. It’s disappointing because the premise is really fun and this could have been a great book, if only the main characters were based on strong, independent, fierce women and not the pathetic lot in this book.

What happened to the rest of the characters?!?!

Delightful book, but what is the point of listening when there is no finality? If the author wants to make a series, she certainly can, however there’s no guarantee she will. Such a disappointing ending!!!

YA fiction

I didn’t realize this was more of a YA book when I started it since it was recommended by my (mid 40s) friends. I listened till the end, but except for a couple of chapters, it was mostly only mildly entertaining for me... pretty predictable. I can see teenage girls liking this book a lot, but it wasn’t for me.

Interesting read

I loved the ideal of the book. I found it quite interesting and gave me an idea of what our country would be like under a constitutional monarchy.

Not a really good one

I’m disappointed. I feel like this story had an amazing potential, or maybe I was expecting too much. Beatrice was such a weak character, I’m pretty sure a future queen would be raise to be strong and unmoving on her decision not someone that can be so easily used. I was disappointed too I wasn't expecting to have so many POVs, it almost diluted the story too much. I realize that in a monarchy there is very strict protocols and expectation from its member but the story was missing something, in many moments it felt rushed and sometime it felt like we were just going around the same word and memories.
I’m pretty open mined on the audiobooks I get but It is the first time I feel like I wasted a credit.

My take

Took a while to get into it at first but I enjoyed it overall. I think the characters should have been a little bit older. Not the ending that I wanted/expected.

Loved this book!

Loved the book! My only complaint is part 2 wont be available until Fall 2020. I can't wait to hear what happens next.

LOVED IT

This book was so fun, but I'm so sad it's over. Ready for the next book to be out to continue on the story.

So much fun!

♥️ What if America was a monarchy, and what would that family be like? Without parsing words, I LOVED this book. I loved the nods to the British Royal Family and I adore the perspectives of the women telling the story. I flew through it, and can’t wait for the next one to come out. ❤️ 👑 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 💫