About Truly Madly Royally
Release Date: July 30, 2019
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble
An #ownvoices Point Paperback original that is like The Princess Diaries for this generation—pure wish-fulfillment fun, from new talent Debbie Rigaud.
Zora Emerson is not here to play. She’s enrolled in a prestigious summer program, and is ready to use what she’s learning to change the world (or at least her corner of New Jersey, for now).
Zora’s not expecting to vibe with any of her super-privileged classmates. So she’s shocked to find she’s got chemistry with Owen Whittelsey, who is charming, funny, undeniably cute…and turns out to literally be a prince. As in, his parents are the king and queen of a small European country. What?
Suddenly, Zora’s summer is looking a lot more complicated—especially when Owen asks her to be his date at his older brother’s wedding. Can her feelings for Owen, not to mention her sense of self, survive the royal chaos?
Debbie Rigaud brings sparkling humor and insight to this empowering romantic comedy that’s all about ruling your own destiny.
Royal romances are MY JAM so I was so excited to receive a copy of and dive into Truly Madly Royally!
Zora is such strong, driven character and I loved how committed she was to bettering her community. She started an after-school program for the kids in her community who needed someone to walk them home. Zora wants to grow the program and fund it for years to come, so she’s enrolled in a summer program through a university and has also applied for an award with a grant. While on campus one day, Zora meets Owen in the library and accidentally switches phones with him…all without realizing that he’s a prince. From there, their relationship takes off in a whirlwind.
What stood out the most, was Zora’s strong narration. I loved all of her humor and how she takes no BS. Truly Madly Royally prides itself as being #OwnVoices, and I can confirm that it’s unapologetically Black. I loved this aspect and believe this will provide valuable representation for those looking to see themselves in a fun rom-com. I also really loved the role her family played in Zora’s life, which seems very true for a high schooler.
And let’s not forget to mention Owen, who’s cute and supportive! He’s very proper, but I liked his manners and how respectful he was of Zora. Anyone who was interested in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s engagement and wedding will enjoy Owen and Zora’s relationship, especially when they travel to Owen’s home country for his older brother’s wedding.
Overall, if you’re a fan of royal romances, you’re going to want to pick up Truly Madly Royally. This adorable #OwnVoices novel is perfect for your end-of-summer reading lists!
My Rating:
*This ARC was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Ahh I’ve only heard good things about this one! I can’t wait to pick it up and read it. Thanks so much for sharing!
I loved Zora so much. The romance was cute, but I stayed for Zora. I loved her commitment and everything she did for her community.
This book keeps popping up all over the blogosphere! How did I miss it?? It seems like you enjoyed it just like everyone else, so clearly I need to make it more of a priority. 🙂
Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear?