Playing the Palace

By: Paul Rudnick

Narrated by: Michael Urie

Length: 7 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

One of Buzzfeed's 39 Excellent LGBTQ Books To Read This Month And Always

Their Love Story Captivated the World.... The Crown Prince and That Guy from New York

When a lonely American event planner starts dating the gay Prince of Wales, a royal uproar ensues: Is it true love or the ultimate meme? Find out in this hilarious romantic comedy.

After having his heart trampled on by his cheating ex, Carter Ogden is afraid love just isn’t in the cards for him. He still holds out hope in a tiny corner of his heart, but even in his wildest dreams he never thought he’d meet the Crown Prince of England, much less do a lot more with him. Yes, growing up he’d fantasized about the handsome, openly gay Prince Edgar, but who hadn’t? When they meet by chance at an event Carter’s boss is organizing, Carter’s sure he imagined all that sizzling chemistry. Or was it mutual?

This unlikely but meant-to-be romance sets off media fireworks on both sides of the Atlantic. With everyone having an opinion on their relationship and the intense pressure of being constantly in the spotlight, Carter finds ferocious obstacles to his Happily Ever After, including the tenacious disapproval of the Queen of England. Carter and Price Edgar fight for a happy ending to equal their glorious international beginning. It’s a match made on Valentine’s Day and in tabloid heaven.

©2021 Paul Rudnick (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Award-winning playwright, humorist, and novelist Rudnick steeps his writing in a deliciously snarky sense of wit while at the same time effectively employing his flair for clever storytelling in the creation of a delightfully quirky cast of characters. The end result is a fizzy, fun, fresh, and fairy tale-like rom-com that will restore readers' faith in true love." (Booklist)

“[In] Rudnick’s effervescent new novel...the question isn’t whether love will triumph, only how. The answer may make you cheer.” (The New York Times)

"From the screenwriter of Sister Act, Jeffrey, and The Stepford Wives comes this highly anticipated rom-com debut. Event planner Carter Ogden meets and has instant chemistry with the sought after Prince of Wales, giving way to a high-profile romance that comes with a unique set of obstacles." (Oprah.com)

Almost great...

I was loving this book until the end. It was so funny and Michael Urie absolutely shined with all the family side characters. Then the end came along and I still can't get over my anger at the main character enough to enjoy the resolution. Mostly because it was resolved by placing blame on the wrong person, expecting an apology that was not warranted, and made a victim out of the person who intentionally, by their own (late) admission, set out to mess things up on purpose... and then after admitting it, never apologize the way he expected the prince to. I just can't get over it...

Fun!

I’ll admit that I was a bit skeptical about this when I downloaded it, but I was hooked once I started listening. As improbable as the story is, the characters are so likable, funny and mostly, relatable that it’s easy to get absorbed into it. No regrets!

Loved it.

Absolutely loved it. Light and fun and some great twists and turns. Really enjoyable. I was rooting for Carter all the way. The narration was excellent. Great, fun story… exceptionally told.

The best thing I’ve heard this year

The writing was superb. I was blown away by it and how entertaining everything was. I laughed so much.
BUT if you buy this book I warn you not to listen to it when your household is asleep bc you’re going to laugh out loud so hard during a particularly funny scene that you’ll wake someone up and they’ll be like “what are you doing! It’s late and you are so loud in here.” True story.
Seriously you won’t regret buying this audiobook. The narration was perfection. Urie’s depiction of the Queen and Aunt Muriel were wonderful.

Outstanding

This book was sublime from beginning to end. I laughed out loud so many times. The narration was perfection. The story was so much fun. The supporting characters stole the show. I loved every word!

Funny, charming, touching

This is just a jewel of a romantic comedy and I'm already thinking it needs to be a movie and casting it in my head! Glenn Close as Queen Catherine! Ryan Gosling as Prince Edgar and why not reader Michael Urie as Carter??

Funny

This book is amazingly and ridiculously funny. I don’t know who gave the author permission to be hilarious but I am grateful!

So sweet and hilarious

This was such a cute book! I loved the story. It was sweet, a little campy, full of fun and relatable characters. I enjoyed every moment and laughed out loud, gasped a few times, and awwwed. Give it a listen if you want to hear a fun and fabulous love story.

I suggest this BEFORE RWRB

if I had not read RWRB I would have loved this, but the prince pisses me off and is rather mean even if he went through stuff. it's hard but it is the comparison we all have right now.

A Fairytale for those #adulting

This is my first book by Paul Rudnick and first narration by Michael Urie, and I wasn't sure what to expect. The Romance, the Sass, the Tears, and Frustration, the Aunt Miriam, I loved every second of it. A heartfelt book, that made me feel like maybe fairytales can happen to any one of us. An out jewish Event Planner from New Jersey, or even a gay 20-something from Long Island with a fear of turning 30, and a rambunctious family himself.

I'd give it 20 stars if I could, amazing written, perfectly performed, y'all made me ugly cry happy tears. I'll forever be asking myself: what would Ruth Bader Ginsburg do?