Bex and Nick are back fresh from a wedding marred with scandal. The royal family continues to impose itself upon Bex - but her discovery of hidden secrets (and adding some of her own to the mix) brings some needed humanity and understanding to the seemingly arbitrary dictates of the monarch. There's some humor and a lot of sorrow and love. ( )

On my reading list forever and moved to the front with the passing of the Queen. I had no idea that there’s a vague subplot around royal funerals.

Mix of audio and reading - listened to a huge Chuck during a 3 hour solo long run and it was perfect for that.

I could barely remember the original book and was expecting this to be a stand alone about Freddie/Harry but it was really a continuation of Bex and Nick and the early years of their married life. There’s much more plot and intrigue here than expected and o think it’s better for it not being just another romance. I am also a longtime fan of The Fug Girls so I enjoyed seeing them shine through in some of the details like the fake Max & Wax, all the attention to baseball, the bake off, and the occasional mention of blue suits and lame shoes.

( )

Gossip-y, dramatic, and fun. ( )

These are just so well done for soapy royal goodness ( )

This follow up to The Royal We is about What Comes After. When the book opens, Bex and Nick are on the run, hiding from the fallout of the scandal that broke on their wedding day, and threatens to break the family. I couldn't help comparing what happens in these books with the real story of William and Kate, and in this case, it feels like the authors are also inspired by Harry and Meghan. The similarity stops when the runaway couple are summoned back to the fold because of a health crisis, and then their relationship begins to be truly tested. As in the first book, this is where this book becomes a Romance. The up and down, the will-they-or-won't-they, with the constant threat of exposure by the press, but with an undercurrent of passion and devotion. They just have to get over themselves to let it all work out. Eventually, a bombshell family secret ends up trumping all the other crap, and the family (and the couple) bond over something that should have torn them apart. I found this a little less crisp and clever than the first book, but that's to be expected in a sequel, especially one in which the romance evolves from youthful discovery to mature family matters. I am a sucker for any fiction that offers a glimpse behind the curtain, and this definitely contains some plot points that make me hope that is how royal families actually are. ( )