-
Red, White & Royal Blue
- A Novel
- Narrated by: Ramon de Ocampo
- Length: 12 hrs and 15 mins
- Categories: LGBTQ+, Romance
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Audible Premium Plus
$14.95 a month
Buy for $25.51
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Boyfriend Material
- By: Alexis Hall
- Narrated by: Joe Jameson
- Length: 13 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Luc O'Donnell is tangentially - and reluctantly - famous. His rock-star parents split when he was young, and the father he's never met spent the next 20 years cruising in and out of rehab. Now that his dad's making a comeback, Luc's back in the public eye, and one compromising photo is enough to ruin everything. To clean up his image, Luc has to find a nice normal relationship...and Oliver Blackwood is as nice and normal as they come. He's a barrister, an ethical vegetarian, and someone who has never inspired a moment of scandal in his life. He’s perfect boyfriend material.
-
-
The right material!
- By Cranky Reader on 07-08-20
By: Alexis Hall
-
Carry On
- By: Rainbow Rowell
- Narrated by: Euan Morton
- Length: 13 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen. That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right. Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon's face.
-
-
So glad I stumbled into this
- By JM on 10-11-15
By: Rainbow Rowell
-
Glitterland
- Spires, Book 1
- By: Alexis Hall
- Narrated by: Nicholas Boulton
- Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ash Winters is barely holding on, near drowning in his own darkness and fear. He lives a gray shadow of a life, sullen and cynical, unable to remember hope or happiness - much less the distant, fading glitterball of love. It has to be a sick joke of the universe that he finds himself hooked up with good-humored Essex boy Darian Taylor, a wannabe model in a sparkly jacket and a fake tan. Darian may not be an intellectual giant, but he's hysterically funny, and he's got the courage to challenge Ash to live again.
-
-
Why did I wait so long to read this?!!
- By Toni H on 02-20-16
By: Alexis Hall
-
The House in the Cerulean Sea
- By: TJ Klune
- Narrated by: Daniel Henning
- Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Linus Baker is a by-the-book case worker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He's tasked with determining whether six dangerous magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world. Arthur Parnassus is the master of the orphanage. He would do anything to keep the children safe, even if it means the world will burn. And his secrets will come to light.
-
-
incredible 😍
- By Rebecca Azizov on 03-20-20
By: TJ Klune
-
Call Me by Your Name
- A Novel
- By: André Aciman
- Narrated by: Armie Hammer
- Length: 7 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Call Me by Your Name first swept across the world in 2007. It is the story of a sudden and powerful romance that blossoms between an adolescent boy and a summer guest at his parents' cliffside mansion on the Italian Riviera. During the restless summer weeks, unrelenting but buried currents of obsession, fascination, and desire intensify their passion as they test the charged ground between them and verge toward the one thing both already fear they may never truly find again: total intimacy.
-
-
Stunning and deep dive into infatuation
- By D.K. on 11-20-17
By: André Aciman
-
The Gravity of Us
- By: Phil Stamper
- Narrated by: Michael Crouch, Jonathan Davis, Gabra Zackman, and others
- Length: 8 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As a successful social media journalist with half a million followers, 17-year-old Cal is used to sharing his life online. But when his pilot father is selected for a highly publicized NASA mission to Mars, Cal and his family relocate from Brooklyn to Houston and are thrust into a media circus. Amidst the chaos, Cal meets sensitive and mysterious Leon, another "Astrokid", and finds himself falling head over heels - fast. As the frenzy around the mission grows, so does their connection.
-
-
A weak story
- By Anonymous User on 04-23-20
By: Phil Stamper
-
Boyfriend Material
- By: Alexis Hall
- Narrated by: Joe Jameson
- Length: 13 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Luc O'Donnell is tangentially - and reluctantly - famous. His rock-star parents split when he was young, and the father he's never met spent the next 20 years cruising in and out of rehab. Now that his dad's making a comeback, Luc's back in the public eye, and one compromising photo is enough to ruin everything. To clean up his image, Luc has to find a nice normal relationship...and Oliver Blackwood is as nice and normal as they come. He's a barrister, an ethical vegetarian, and someone who has never inspired a moment of scandal in his life. He’s perfect boyfriend material.
-
-
The right material!
- By Cranky Reader on 07-08-20
By: Alexis Hall
-
Carry On
- By: Rainbow Rowell
- Narrated by: Euan Morton
- Length: 13 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen. That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right. Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon's face.
-
-
So glad I stumbled into this
- By JM on 10-11-15
By: Rainbow Rowell
-
Glitterland
- Spires, Book 1
- By: Alexis Hall
- Narrated by: Nicholas Boulton
- Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ash Winters is barely holding on, near drowning in his own darkness and fear. He lives a gray shadow of a life, sullen and cynical, unable to remember hope or happiness - much less the distant, fading glitterball of love. It has to be a sick joke of the universe that he finds himself hooked up with good-humored Essex boy Darian Taylor, a wannabe model in a sparkly jacket and a fake tan. Darian may not be an intellectual giant, but he's hysterically funny, and he's got the courage to challenge Ash to live again.
-
-
Why did I wait so long to read this?!!
- By Toni H on 02-20-16
By: Alexis Hall
-
The House in the Cerulean Sea
- By: TJ Klune
- Narrated by: Daniel Henning
- Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Linus Baker is a by-the-book case worker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He's tasked with determining whether six dangerous magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world. Arthur Parnassus is the master of the orphanage. He would do anything to keep the children safe, even if it means the world will burn. And his secrets will come to light.
-
-
incredible 😍
- By Rebecca Azizov on 03-20-20
By: TJ Klune
-
Call Me by Your Name
- A Novel
- By: André Aciman
- Narrated by: Armie Hammer
- Length: 7 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Call Me by Your Name first swept across the world in 2007. It is the story of a sudden and powerful romance that blossoms between an adolescent boy and a summer guest at his parents' cliffside mansion on the Italian Riviera. During the restless summer weeks, unrelenting but buried currents of obsession, fascination, and desire intensify their passion as they test the charged ground between them and verge toward the one thing both already fear they may never truly find again: total intimacy.
-
-
Stunning and deep dive into infatuation
- By D.K. on 11-20-17
By: André Aciman
-
The Gravity of Us
- By: Phil Stamper
- Narrated by: Michael Crouch, Jonathan Davis, Gabra Zackman, and others
- Length: 8 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As a successful social media journalist with half a million followers, 17-year-old Cal is used to sharing his life online. But when his pilot father is selected for a highly publicized NASA mission to Mars, Cal and his family relocate from Brooklyn to Houston and are thrust into a media circus. Amidst the chaos, Cal meets sensitive and mysterious Leon, another "Astrokid", and finds himself falling head over heels - fast. As the frenzy around the mission grows, so does their connection.
-
-
A weak story
- By Anonymous User on 04-23-20
By: Phil Stamper
-
The Infinite Noise
- The Bright Sessions, Book 1
- By: Lauren Shippen
- Narrated by: Briggon Snow, James Fouhey
- Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Caleb Michaels is a 16-year-old champion running back. Other than that his life is pretty normal. But when Caleb starts experiencing mood swings that are out of the ordinary for even a teenager, his life moves beyond "typical". Caleb is an Atypical, an individual with enhanced abilities. Which sounds pretty cool except Caleb's ability is extreme empathy - he feels the emotions of everyone around him. Being an empath in high school would be hard enough, but Caleb's life becomes even more complicated when he keeps getting pulled into the emotional orbit of one of his classmates, Adam.
-
-
A MUST for Bright Sessions Lovers
- By NShaffer on 10-04-19
By: Lauren Shippen
-
The Extraordinaries
- By: TJ Klune
- Narrated by: Michael Lesley
- Length: 13 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Nick Bell? Not extraordinary. But being the most popular fan-fiction writer in the Extraordinaries fandom is a superpower, right? After a chance encounter with Shadow Star, Nova City’s mightiest hero (and Nick’s biggest crush), Nick sets out to make himself extraordinary. And he’ll do it with or without the reluctant help of Seth Gray, Nick's best friend (and maybe the love of his life).
-
-
A fantastic narrator!!
- By Kindle Customer on 07-21-20
By: TJ Klune
-
A Guy Walks into My Bar
- By: Lauren Blakely
- Narrated by: Shane East, Joe Arden, Full Cast
- Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Every bartender should follow one simple rule - don't go home with the customers. That’s been easy for me to stick to, until the night a cocky, confident, and sinfully charming hockey star walks into my bar. This sexy athlete is too hard to resist, especially when he makes it clear how much he wants the “sarcastic, witty, hot AF” guy behind the bar - also known as me. Still, I’m not keen on breaking my own rules since I know where that can lead - no place good.
-
-
⭐️10 Beautiful, Romantic, Sexy Love Stars⭐️
- By 🎧 Cyndi Marie 🎧 on 08-17-20
By: Lauren Blakely
-
Don't You Forget About Me
- A Novel
- By: Mhairi McFarlane
- Narrated by: Madeline Gould
- Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
If there’s anything worse than being fired from the lousiest restaurant in town, it’s coming home early to find your boyfriend in bed with someone else. Reeling from the humiliation of a double dumping in one day, Georgina takes the next job that comes her way - bartender in a newly opened pub. There’s only one problem: It’s run by the guy she fell in love with years ago. And - make that two problems - he doesn’t remember her. At all. But she has fabulous friends and her signature hot pink fur coat...what more could a girl really need?
-
-
Helpful for Sexual Assault Victims
- By Katie Best on 12-05-20
By: Mhairi McFarlane
-
Date Me, Bryson Keller
- By: Kevin van Whye
- Narrated by: Vikas Adam
- Length: 7 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Everyone knows about the dare: Each week, Bryson Keller must date someone new - the first person to ask him out on Monday morning. Few think Bryson can do it. He may be the king of Fairvale Academy, but he's never really dated before. Until a boy asks him out, and everything changes. Kai Sheridan didn't expect Bryson to say yes. So when Bryson agrees to secretly go out with him, Kai is thrown for a loop. But as the days go by, he discovers there's more to Bryson beneath the surface, and dating him begins to feel less like an act and more like the real thing.
-
-
dear potential reader
- By Amazon Customer on 05-29-20
By: Kevin van Whye
-
Witchblood
- A Kitsune Chronicle Story (Kitsune Chronicles, Book 1)
- By: Lissa Kasey
- Narrated by: Tyler Kent
- Length: 11 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sebastian Volkov, a fox shifter raised among werewolves, ran from everything he ever loved after a brutal attack that left him fearing his own shadow. That night a single kiss saved his life and left him with fantasies of a man whose face he couldn’t remember. When Sebastian’s car breaks down in a small Washington town, he meets an alpha werewolf who reminds him vaguely of a stranger’s kiss.
-
-
I really wanted to like this!
- By April 🎧 Reads on 05-31-20
By: Lissa Kasey
-
Well Met
- By: Jen DeLuca
- Narrated by: Brittany Pressley
- Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Emily knew there would be strings attached when she relocated to the small town of Willow Creek, Maryland, for the summer to help her sister recover from an accident, but who could anticipate getting roped into volunteering for the local Renaissance Faire alongside her teenaged niece? Or that the irritating and inscrutable schoolteacher in charge of the volunteers would be so annoying that she finds it impossible to stop thinking about him?
-
-
ho hum
- By April on 09-21-19
By: Jen DeLuca
-
American Royals
- By: Katharine McGee
- Narrated by: Brittany Pressley
- Length: 13 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
Rushed
- By Ashley Flinn on 10-03-19
By: Katharine McGee
-
They Both Die at the End
- By: Adam Silvera
- Narrated by: Michael Crouch, Robbie Daymond, Bahni Turpin
- Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On September 5, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: They're going to die today. Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they're both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: There's an app for that. It's called The Last Friend, and through it Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure - to live a lifetime in a single day.
-
-
My heart..
- By Shay on 10-03-17
By: Adam Silvera
-
Caraval
- By: Stephanie Garber
- Narrated by: Rebecca Soler
- Length: 10 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful - and cruel - father. Now Scarlett's father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the faraway once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over. But this year Scarlett's long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval's mastermind organizer, Legend.
-
-
While many will love it, I did not.
- By Amazon Customer on 03-26-17
By: Stephanie Garber
-
The Song of Achilles
- A Novel
- By: Madeline Miller
- Narrated by: Frazer Douglas
- Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the kingdom of Phthia to be raised in the shadow of King Peleus and his golden son, Achilles. “The best of all the Greeks”—strong, beautiful, and the child of a goddess—Achilles is everything the shamed Patroclus is not. Yet despite their differences, the boys become steadfast companions. Their bond deepens as they grow into young men and become skilled in the arts of war and medicine—much to the displeasure and the fury of Achilles’ mother, Thetis, a cruel sea goddess with a hatred of mortals.
-
-
Wasn't Expecting to Like It- BOY! was I wrong!!
- By susan on 06-11-14
By: Madeline Miller
-
The Heir Affair
- By: Heather Cocks, Jessica Morgan
- Narrated by: Christine Lakin
- Length: 17 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After a scandalous secret turns their fairy-tale wedding into a nightmare, Rebecca "Bex" Porter and her husband, Prince Nicholas, are in self-imposed exile. The public is angry. The queen is even angrier. And the press is salivating. Cutting themselves off from friends and family and escaping the world's judgmental eyes feels like the best way to protect their fragile, all-consuming romance. But when a crisis forces the new duke and duchess back to London, the Band-Aid they'd placed over their problems starts to peel at the edges.
-
-
Not as good The Royal We
- By Lori Harmon on 08-14-20
By: Heather Cocks, and others
Publisher's Summary
A 2019 NYPL Book for Reading and Sharing
One of Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of the Year for 2019
One of Shelf Awareness' Best Books of the Year for 2019
One of Library Journal's Best Books of the Year for 2019
A 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards Winner
A 2019 NPR Best Book of the Year
One of Amazon.com's Best Books of the Year for 2019
One of Vogue Magazine's Best Books of the Year for 2019
Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Best Debut and Best Romance of 2019
One of AudioFile Magazine's Best Audiobooks of 2019; an instant New York Times best seller; a Must-Read Book for US Weekly, Vogue, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, Oprahmag.com, and more!
"Narrator Ramón de Ocampo brings out all the emotion in this tender, serious, funny, and warmly hopeful love story.... Listeners will be swept up as Alex and Henry face questions of identity and coming out amid familial duties and political machinations." (AudioFile Magazine)
What happens when America's First Son falls in love with the Prince of Wales?
When his mother became president, Alex Claremont-Diaz was promptly cast as the American equivalent of a young royal. Handsome, charismatic, genius - his image is pure millennial-marketing gold for the White House. There's only one problem: Alex has a beef with the actual prince, Henry, across the pond. And when the tabloids get hold of a photo involving an Alex-Henry altercation, US/British relations take a turn for the worse.
Heads of family, state, and other handlers devise a plan for damage control: staging a truce between the two rivals. What at first begins as a fake, Instragramable friendship grows deeper, and more dangerous, than either Alex or Henry could have imagined. Soon, Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret romance with a surprisingly unstuffy Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations and begs the question: Can love save the world after all? Where do we find the courage, and the power, to be the people we are meant to be? And how can we learn to let our true colors shine through? Casey McQuiston's Red, White & Royal Blue proves: True love isn't always diplomatic.
Praise for Red, White & Royal Blue:
"Effervescent and empowering on all levels, Red, White & Royal Blue is both a well-written love story and a celebration of identity." (NPR)
"I took this with me wherever I went and stole every second I had to read! Absorbing, hilarious, tender, sexy - this book had everything I crave. I’m jealous of all the readers out there who still get to experience Red, White & Royal Blue for the first time!" (Christina Lauren, New York Times best-selling author of Love and Other Words and Roomies)
"Red, White & Royal Blue is outrageously fun. It is romantic, sexy, witty, and thrilling. I loved every second." (Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Maybe in Another Life)
Critic Reviews
"I took this with me wherever I went and stole every second I had to read! Absorbing, hilarious, tender, sexy - this book had everything I crave. I’m jealous of all the readers out there who still get to experience Red, White & Royal Blue for the first time!" (Christina Lauren, New York Times best-selling author of Love and Other Words and Roomies)
"Red, White & Royal Blue is outrageously fun. It is romantic, sexy, witty, and thrilling. I loved every second." (Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Maybe in Another Life)
“Effervescent and empowering on all levels, Red, White & Royal Blue is both a well-written love story and a celebration of identity.” (NPR)
Featured Article: 20 Best Romance Audiobooks to Lose Yourself In
There’s hardly a genre better suited for audio than romance. Whether it’s an innocent story of first love, a wonderfully torturous slow burn, or a whirlwind, passionate affair, listening to narrators at the top of their game carefully unspool the threads of a love story is our favorite way to consume these enchanting stories. You’ll find tropes of every kind, diverse and distinct characters, and remarkable, innovation audio recording and performances.
More from the same
What listeners say about Red, White & Royal Blue
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Leon Miller
- 03-21-20
Almost shockingly wonderful.
Despite its critical acclaim, instant bestseller status, innumerable awards, and snapped-up movie rights, I hesitated to read "Red, White, and Royal Blue." The title seemed too … cute. The book cover seemed too … cute. The theme seemed too … cute. Wow, am I sorry I waited. "Red, White, and Royal Blue" meets and exceeds the attention it has earned. It has everything: warmly drawn and winning characters, a wonderful story, fascinating settings, romance, cut-throat politics, hilarious humor, palace intrigue, current events, love of family, thrills, pop culture, history, sex (very, very hot sex), excitement, love, courage, betrayal, hope for the future, fireworks, and a cliffhanger or two. Reading this book, you will be utterly charmed. You will also fall in love, you will often laugh out loud, and sometimes, you will cry. Oh, will you cry. I "read" this by following the Kindle e-book text while listening to the brilliant voice acting of award-winning actor Ramon De Ocampo. He was a revelation. He nimbly navigated different characters, different accents, even different languages in a way that gave great life to the story and depth to his characters, and he did it all with a seeming ease and total naturalness. I've rarely heard a more assured and enjoyable performance. If you're thinking about buying the Kindle version, buy the Audible version to go with it. You won't regret it. Lastly, "Red, White, and Royal Blue" benefits from a second reading. The author's subtle foreshadowing, her placement of little clues of what's to come, is even more enjoyable the second time around and gives a second reading depth and nuance. You'll enjoy it even more the second time. Especially in these times, we need things that bring us a little escape, a little brightness, and sheer joy. "Red, White, and Royal Blue" does exactly that. Highly, highly recommended.
25 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ana's Attic
- 08-13-19
The audio was a little tough to follow
4.25 Stars *This review has no spoilers but if you like a quick review skip to the Down & Dirty* Fresh and relevant, fun and unique, Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston is blowing up with amazing reviews. I had to see what the hype was about, so I got the audiobook. If any book could benefit from an ensemble cast of narrators, it’s this one, despite the story being told in 3rd person. Ramon de Ocampo did an OK job, especially switching between the two men, but there were a lot of side characters, and I found the audio very hard to tell who was talking. “I’m the son of the first female president. And I’m not white like she is, can’t even pass for it. People will always come down harder on me.” First son Alex Claremont-Diaz is 21, half Mexican, and handsome. He, his sister and the VP’s daughter are all around the same age and make up “The White House Trio”, all working to get their ticket reelected in 2020. The beginning of the book seemed kind of slow to me, introducing all the characters as well as their security detail, and I had a hard time following the dialog between them in the audio version. Prince Henry is about the same age as Alex but Alex can’t stand him and his stuffy British ways. “‘Arch nemesis’ implies he’s actually a rival to me on any level and not, you know, a stuck-up product of inbreeding who probably jerks off to photos of himself.” When their rivalry causes a mishap, they need to smooth things over with the press, and they are forced to spend time together and pretend to be friends. But pretending turns into an actual friendship, and the two start keeping in touch across the continents. Oh, the e-mails! I loved them so much! “But he thinks about Henry, and, oh. He thinks about Henry, and something twists in his chest, like a stretch he’s been avoiding for too long.” When Henry and Alex kiss, Alex realized he was bisexual for the first time, and I really enjoyed reading his feelings about it. But Alex’s mom is trying to get reelected and the race is very close. What kind of problems would coming out cause the campaign and his own political aspirations? And as for Henry, would the Monarchy ever accept a gay prince? "Thinking about history makes me wonder how I’ll fit into it one day, I guess. And you too. I kinda wish people still wrote like that. History, huh? Bet we could make some." My biggest problem with the book I think was when the 6 friends were all together, it was so hard to follow on audio, so I had to stop and make a list of the players. Here is a quick breakdown of the main characters. •Alex: Mexican-American bisexual first son, going into politics himself. •June: Mexican-American first daughter. More of the leader of the group. •Nora: the VPs granddaughter and Alex and June’s BFF. She is geeky, bisexual, a hacker, and totally funny. •Henry: The stuffy Prince of England. 100% in-the-closet gay. •Bea: Henry’s sister, former drug addict (possibly bi too?) •Pez: Flamboyant fashionista who seems gay but isn’t. Henry’s best friend. •Rafael Luna: A Senator •Cash, Amy and Zahra are all Secret Service or working on the campaign. •Prince Phillip: the actual heir to the throne and Henry’s older brother. •President Ellen Claremont: Democrat President of the US, Alex and June's mother. •Leo: The President's 2nd husband and Alex and June's stepfather. •Senator Oscar Diaz: Alex & June's Dad Likes: •Current, fresh and funny. •Alex - it took a while for me to warm up to him, but when I did, I was hooked. •I actually loved the political part of the story and wish it was really the way things are (I do not think most Republicans will like this aspect of the story). •Wonderfully diverse and developed side characters. •I was glad the sex scenes were fade to black because I think high-school aged kids who may be struggling with their identities should read this. •Lots of sexual tension despite the sex scenes being fade-to-black. •Alex’s family and their reaction to his news. •I love correspondence in a book, and Henry and Alex’s emails and texts were wonderful. •Happy and hopeful. Dislikes: •It didn’t translate well to a single narrator audiobook even though it was 3rd person but would have been phenomenal with a full cast. •It felt a bit too long, especially the first half and it was hard to follow all the characters. •Present tense. The Narration: I think the narration took away from the book and I wish I read instead of listened. There were too many characters with too much dialog to be able to follow easily. While Ramon de Ocampo did a pretty good job of switching voices and accents, I did notice several times that he used the wrong voice for a line here and there. If ever a book needed an ensemble cast this would be the one. The Down & Dirty: Red, White & Royal Blue has all the makings to be a hit. It's fresh and different. It's modern. It's relevant. It's fun. It has a wonderful message of inclusiveness with the understanding of the consequences. But I think the narration, for me, took away from the story. There were a lot of characters and I had a hard time following along with who was speaking. The beginning moved a bit slow for me, but the last third of the book was amazing. Though this is definitely an adult book with some sexual scenes, the actual sex is fade-to-black which I think works fine for this and will help it appeal to the more mainstream reader. I loved the characters and the storyline was just perfect. I see why everyone has been talking about Red, White & Royal Blue, but I think the narration held me back from being as blown away as everyone else. *Note: while taking the photo I started listening again, and now that I know the characters I am enjoying it even more. Though the beginning is still a bit of an info overload - I can see why I had trouble following, because it's a lot even the second time. Rating: 4.25 Stars, 2.5 Heat, 3 Narration
30 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ryan Logsdon
- 05-14-19
Can’t Wait to Listen Again!
The narrator was incredible. The accents and character choices were spot on and added to the overall story. I listened to this in one sitting while reading along with the book. I was completely enveloped in the lives of all of these characters, especially Alex and Henry’s relationship.
18 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Regina W
- 05-21-19
In a better world...
This story is just what I needed. If we could turn back time and if the good guys always won this is the America we'd live in right now. I felt deeply invested in these characters and I cared what happened to them; after all they belong to us. They are members of our first family. And of course there was that handsome prince from across the pond that felt so familiar. Casey McQuiston's Red, White & Royal Blue let me believe again in what our country could be and in the power of love. I thought the mix of the political and the love story worked well. I thought the length gave it the space needed to tell the story without getting bogged down with detail or side story. The story is heart warming and hopeful and makes you dream of a brighter day. Add to that the narration of Ramon de Ocampo and it elevates this audiobook to new heights. de Ocampo's performance of Alex's American and Henry's British accent was brilliant. It's hard to believe they were done by the same person. Give this book a listen and dream this dream with me. We deserve it .
23 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- H Price
- 05-15-19
Happy Crying
First of all, I want to warn you not to listen to the last 20% of the book in public. Unless you're not bothered by others seeing you happy-cry. 'Red, White & Royal Blue' is a love song to politics, equal love, and the world as we wish it would be. It's very much a 21st century version of 'The American President', complete with a version of President Shepherd's 'I've love two women' speech. Only this time it's delivered by Alex Claremont-Diaz, First Son. The love story between Alex and Prince Henry is sweet, funny, and smart. I know I'll be listening to it again in the future. A few notes: 1. The narration by Ramon de Ocampo is spot-on 2. The novel is written in 3rd person/present continuous tense. It was jarring in the beginning, but my ears finally got sort of used to it.
27 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Robert Jackson
- 05-31-19
Beautiful. Bright. Bloody Brilliant!
THE NOVEL: I must say I had no idea what to expect from this book. I accidently stumbled upon it, was intrigued, and thought I would give it a go. I was firstly impressed with the author's rich palette of words and their use, allowing her to paint a heartwarming and moving story. A tale disguised as a comedic look into the lives of powerful individuals... but in truth deeply bores into our core values, hopes, and dreams. Second, I was touched by the realistic portrayal of the nature of family. Two families, both with public personas, as well as intimate, dynamic and sometimes heartbreaking relationships between parents, children, and siblings. In the current political climate which I believe will be seen as the White House and congressional "reign of terror," I felt the warm and nurturing embrace gifted to us by the author. Someone who understands the true meaning of words like, compassion, love, and hope. Kudos to you Ms. McQuiston. NARRATION AND VOICE ARTISTRY: The success of an audible book absolutely hinges upon the skills of the voice artist. The skill, and perhaps gift of Ramón de Ocampo and his voice was and is amazing. I must say it was a privilege to listen to someone whose voice artistry almost made me feel as if I was eavesdropping in on real conversations between characters. I have listened to scores of audible books and this voice artist/actor is truly one of the best. I think perhaps he could narrate a telephone directory and I would pay to listen.
19 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Dennis
- 04-11-20
Why the high ratings?
I'm half-way into this book and am returning it. By now, some semblance of a plot should have materialized. Instead I've suffered through long and detailed descriptions of gay encounters, childish banter, and general nonsense. Maybe the 2nd half is better, but I'll never know.
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Laura Peden
- 06-16-19
Skip the audio, read the book!
What can I say? I was feeling frisky and chose this on a whim. I love the story but they made a huge mistake in my opinion. The narrator is not right for these roles. The characters are 21 & 23; one British and one Mexican-American. No way does this dude sound any younger than 45. I’ve never recommended someone choose the book over audio. Nearly every book I’ve read on audio has completely elevated the story to another level; something that most readers aren’t even aware of. Unfortunately it didn’t work for me here. It disturbed me to hear him tell the story of these 2 young men. Especially when he voiced for Henry, the British prince. I had a tough time figuring this one out. Is it a rom-com or a contemporary romance? The cover alludes to a rom-com but it is more insightful and deep than others in the genre. It felt to me like a modern day fairytale; a coming of age love story between the son of a US female president and the younger prince of England (think homosexual Prince Harry). A lot of the scenes felt manufactured and cliched but I’m completely on board with the message and I appreciate the hopefulness it provided. One thing to consider while reading is that this book is a debut and I believe it’s aimed at a younger audience (even though the narrator sounded like an older uptight accountant half the time). If you find yourself wanting to read this do yourself a favor and read the book, skip the audio.
14 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Megs
- 05-15-19
Better than my wildest hopes!! History, huh?
The hype around d this book and it's story has been huge. When hype gets like that I worry I will be disappointed - instead I was blown away. The characters are real and human and mAke you laugh and cry. All of them pull you in, every single one. The humanity, humor and love in this story was astonishing and I am already listening to this a second time. I also pre-existing a physical copy and I so very pleased with that purchase as well. A fantastically told story that will have you cheering for Alex (when you aren't going 'oh noooo Alex..!!!') and wanting to just smoosh he and Henry together because....yeah. They deserve it. All of it. Casey - thank you for this story. Thank you for these characters. Just...Thank you for all of it. Now I have to dry my eyes and listen again. Because I can and have to get lost in this world again.
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- VT
- 03-10-20
Except for sex scenes, it's pretty juvenile
I am not sure why this would get such raving reviews. The story line and the writing style are rather juvenile except for the explicit sex scenes. I don't dislike it but it reads like a teenage romance novel 99% of the time. There is nothing political about it. Setting the scene at the White House does not make the story a political one or have a meaningful political backdrop. The security details, the campaign, the political rivalries, etc. are all superficial. It could have been a high school student council election and the story would not change much.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 10-28-20
The bi and gay prince
I wasn't expecting this book to have sexual content. I'm not used to that in a romantic book, but I loved the twist it felt like I was listening to a fanfiction because of how plot was and the romance between the guys. It's a beautiful written book I loved every minute of it even when I was yelling at Alex because he haven't realized that he was bi. The story just sits well with me and I wished we lived in that universe. The reader was pretty good I couldn't always hear who was supposed to be talking but it was still well done.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 05-03-20
The best book I’ve ever read!
The way the book just sweeps you in is amazing. In the beginning I was a bit skeptical of the plot, but it’s fantastic!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Jagna
- 04-27-20
Unexpectedly lovely book!
Funny and thoughtful story about figuring out your life and identity in the limelight of political re-election campaign. Well-rounded characters, great dynamics between them all and above all heart-warming story about loving a real life prince and yourself.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- dreamer-of-foolery
- 03-13-20
love is worth fighting for
I loved it the whole way through. do you know the feeling when your whole body is grinning, that's how I felt reading this book. beautifully written piece of art. always worth a reread and definitely one I'll hold dear to my chest for the rest of my life.