Finding Prince Charming

by Jamar J. Perry

In this swoonworthy YA romance, an ordinary teenage boy finds himself accidentally fake dating a crown prince.

Tyriq Howell is swearing off of love. After a fight with his cheating ex leads to missing his college scholarship interview, he vows to be done with dating for good. Until Desmond, a boy who works in the scholarship office, approaches with a curious proposal: he'll get Tyriq another interview if he pretends to be Desmond's date to a fancy gala in two weeks.

When Tyriq shows up to the gala, he's shocked when photographers swarm him and Desmond. He's even more shocked when he finds out that Desmond is Prince Desmond of Catalina. And now that the whole world knows Desmond is gay, he's front page news.

When the King angrily summons Desmond and his new boyfriend to Catalina, Desmond begs Tyriq to play along. If his father realizes Desmond is serious about coming out, he might finally agree to let Desmond pass the crown to his sister instead. But navigating court politics and pretend relationships is harder than Tyriq imagined-especially when he realizes that he may have accidentally broken his swearing-off-of-love rule.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBT, Queer, Audiobook, Gay

272 pages, Hardcover

Published June 10, 2025

Reviews

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany)]

For anyone who has wished for a royalty romance with characters who are Black and gay! Finding Prince Charming is a (mostly) lighthearted fake dating romance between a normal American teen boy and a gay prince trying to go incognito and convince his homophobic dad that he doesn't want to be in the closet. It's a slowburn that then jumps into romance a little quickly later in the book. It also deals with homophobia and the pressure placed on modern royals to conform to certain standards. It's worth noting that the main antagonist is the prince's dad and most other people are fairly supportive, which keeps the vibe less heavy than it might otherwise be. I love that books like this are starting to come out! It's a quick, effervescent read. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

[b ☆]

stumbled upon this on netgalley and are you kidding? fake dating? lgbtq fake dating? this is soooo up my alley, i wanna read this so bad

[gracie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was cute but I had a major issue with the pacing. The time skips were too many, poorly incorporated and just kept taking me out of the story each time.

[Frank Chillura (OhYouRead) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will never get tired of fake dating. It is, arguably, the best trope that ever did trope. Yes, you know that it’ll be fake dating fail into a real long lasting relationship. Does that matter? Not in the slightest. I eat it up!

After yet another fight with his closeted boyfriend, Tyriq is late for a scholarship meeting that was his only chance at being able to afford college. But “lucky” for him a cute guy named Desmond who works part time in the admissions office overhears his utterly embarrassing dismissal and offers to help him… for a price. He’ll get him another meeting, if he accompanies him to a fundraiser gala and pretends to be his boyfriend.

What starts out as a quid pro quo and a friendship, quickly opens a can of worms as the paparazzi magically appear out of nowhere at the gala and begin to take photos of the two of them. THIS is how we find out that Desmond is the prince and future king of a small country named Catalina. This whole ordeal is how his people find out that he likes boys and his father is P!$$ED!

This was a cute book. I love a royal x commoner trope, especially when it’s a queer story. I don’t know if I’ve read one with BIPOC characters, so that was a huge plus. On the other hand, the father not being okay with his sexuality and expecting him to marry and have children thing is not my favorite point of contention, so I could have lived without it.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and would definitely read the author’s next book.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a super fun YA royal romance between a college freshman and the prince of Catalina who asks him on a fake date to show his unsupportive father he wants to live his life out and proud in America. Perfect for fans of the movie The prince & me, this was a cute and entertaining fade to black M/M love story that was good on audio. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Anita White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I definitely enjoyed this story it was given Coming To America for Queers. I especially liked how Desmond stopped at nothing to prove to his father that he wants to live his own life of freedom instead of being the heir to the throne. Now there was moments that Tyriq disappointed me but in the end he finally learned to love and think about himself and that’s all I ever wanted for him 🥰.

[Anastasia Slaughter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows Tyriq, an American boy who just graduated high school and is down on his luck in life (his closeted boyfriend cheated on him and he missed his scholarship interview). Desmond, who works at the student services desk, is able to help him get another interview as long as Tyriq goes on a fake date with him.

I enjoyed the plot a lot. There were times where Tyriq’s line of thinking felt very immature for his age, so that was hard to get through at times. BUT I AM HERE FOR BLACK PEOPLE BEING SPOILED AND LOVED ON OUT LOUD.

[Nathan Bartos · Rating 3 out of 5]

As much as I love a gay royal romance, I think this book suffers from just being too short. Because of that, there wasn't enough space to breathe new life into a told story of secret prince meets commoner. Don't get me wrong, I like the plot and knew what I was getting into going in, but it followed what I knew a bit too closely and didn't offer much in the way of fresh or new or subverting expectations. I'm glad to get this story from a black and queer perspective, but I wish it came with a bit of a different take rather than a retread.

[Beaumont · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a classic “you’re a prince?!” romcom, but queer. It’s simplistic like that plot usually is, but deeply enjoyable and fun. Except for all the horrific homophobia, of course. They really should make this into a movie. I’d watch that movie so fast.

Tyriq is a 17-18 year old cis Black gay young man. He wants to be a teacher and go to college to get his teaching degree. He’s always loved helping people, even to his own detriment sometimes. His newly ex-boyfriend Pearson is a closeted queer guy (implied to be gay and not bi) who cheated on him but doesn’t want to let go. Tyriq is torn between being pissed at his ex-boyfriend for cheating on him by kissing a girl, or understanding of his desperation to stay closeted due to his homophobic family and football friends. He wonders if maybe he’s in the wrong and not Pearson. But he ultimately realizes that while he would never out Pearson as gay, it’s also not ok for him to cheat on Tyriq to stay closeted.

Desmond is the prince of Catalina, a small but wealthy nation off the coast of England. He’s tall and charismatic. He’s a cis Black gay young man. His dad insists he’s closeted but Desmond insists he isn’t. His dad pushes him to like girls too, ignoring that that’s impossible for a gay man.

Lol, I’m so confused about why the photos the press has of Tyriq’s parents when they were younger are black and white! His mom is probably in her early 40s. They had color photos for decades before she was born.

My only real issue is that we missed a chunk of like 6 weeks where we were told the MCs grew closer as friends, and then the story started again sometime after Tyriq had started to pull away again out of panic. Because we got to see none of those 6 weeks I felt like I was playing catch up with the feelings the characters had. And I was somewhat disappointed we didn’t see more than a glimpse of Catalina - it sounds amazing and beautiful!

Contains:
—royalty and regular person
—gay MCs
—Black MCs
—secret identity
—fake dating
—cheating ex-boyfriend
—“I promise I won’t fall in love”
—Catalina was founded by and named for its fire monarch who was the queen, and in modern times only

Other:
—third person single POV
—cheating: Tyriq’s ex cheated on him by making out with a girl
—romantic rival: yes but only mildly. Tyriq’s ex-boyfriend is very open about wanting him back, and Tyriq still has a few reluctant feelings for him and wants to help him with the stress of being closeted.
—breakup: yes, third act, due to external forces/pressures.
—kids: no
—sex: sex is implied but it’s completely fade to black.
—HEA: yes.

[Shaketta · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Some spoilers included*
Favorite quote(s): "People only treat you the way you allow them to." -Troy & Tyriq
"How do you make yourself believe that you're worthy of love when no one has ever seen you that way?"- Tyriq

What would you do if the person you agreed to "fake date" turned out to be a price after you have sworn off dating and love because of your previous partner's cheating?
Tyriq finds himself front and center of all the news sites and gossip blogs after attending a major dinner with Prince Desmond with whom Tyriq didn't know was a prince. Tyriq ends up in this arrangement because he is in desperate need of a second chance to interview for the merit scholarship that he fumbled his first go round and Desmond promises that he can get him a second interview if he agrees to accompany him to his important dinner.
Well, little does Tyriq knows that Desmond is the Prince of Catalina and wants to use the dinner as the opportunity to show his dad and all the other dignitaries that he is not your average prince.

Of course this public display and outing with Tyriq doesn't go over well with Desmond's father and thee tension is on! Even though this started out as an arrangement, Tyriq and Desmond now have to decide if they will continue this arrangement or call it quits because it doesn't fit the aesthetics of what a prince looks/behaves like.

This story deals with family, classism, self-sabatoge, power struggle, LGBTQIA+ conversations, etc.

I enjoyed reading this and I am so thankful that I received the ARC from @bloomsburybooksus. I cannot wait to see what other works Jamal J. Perry has in store for the future.

[LN Azadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rounded this up to a 5 stars cause this was the cutest feel-good romance I've read in a while! It was making me want to kick my feet at times, while wanting to throw my book at other times. The story took me through such an emotional rollercoaster and I was so locked in throughout the whole thing.

This story follows a prospective college freshman, Tyriq, who's just missed his scholarship application interview after getting into a fight with his cheating ex. Upon striking some conversation with another boy from the Student Center, Desmond, he gets a second chance at the interview - if he agrees to be a fake date for Desmond during a fancy gala in two weeks. Not everything is as it seems at the gala, but things take quite a turn when the boys are swarmed with paparazzi. Turns out that Desmond is the long lost prince of a foreign nation, so now Tyriq is caught up in the media frenzy and political backlash of this fake relationship.

This book was SUCH a delight to read! All of the characters were so well-rounded, to the point where I could relate to them as people and empathize with the choices that they made. We got to follow Tyriq's journey into self love and giving himself the same amount of love and help that he gives out to others - every moment within this book was influential to that journey in one way or another. We also got to see the emotional journey behind Desmond being accepted for who he is; not going to spoil that one, but it does tug at your heartstrings!

I would definitely recommend this book and am especially happy to do so during Pride Month. 5 stars!
Thank you to Bloomsbury for the ARC.

[Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I needed a pace of change book and thought I'd try this romance. I liked the premise of Tyriq trying to get over his ex (which led to a missed scholarship interview) and ends up finding his "pretend date" at a gala is actual royalty. And with this discovery means poor Tyriq is on the front page. So when Prince Desmond's father summons his son back home, Tyriq has to go along to help Desmond get out of the line of succession.

Since I tried not to spoil myself too much, I forgot or didn't know that the premise was actually referring to actual royalty and not some theoretical Prince Charming. So the sequences where Tyriq finds out that yes, his "date" is an actual prince was rather amusing to me (poor Tyriq) although that had to definitely suck in real life. But as the story moved to Catalina I found myself less interested-maybe because I did not really need royal/political shenanigans?

Overall, though I thought it was a bit dull. The initial set up was fun but I didn't nee much appeal in Desmond or why Tyriq would go through all of this in the first place (I guess as someone who would absolutely positively hate that much spotlight I would go bananas).

But it definitely had some nice upsides: it wasn't particularly spicy (I don't object to that but I think most authors don't do these scenes well at all), which was pleasant. I thought this helped focus on the romance part and the dynamics of Desmond trying to get out of the crown. It also did remind me of bits of The Princess Diaries and Red, White & Royal Blue although it doesn't take directly from other.

Romance I think is just not a genre for me but this was a nice distraction and I'm sure this will have its audience. Borrowed from the library and that was best for me.

[Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Bloomsbury and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. This story is so sweet! Tyriq’s life just hit a wall when he missed an important interview for a scholarship. That was the only way he was going to be able to pay for college, what’s he going to do now? And all because he was fighting with his cheating ex-boyfriend. Hope comes in the form of Desmond, the hot guy who works for Student Services. He can get Tyriq a redo on his interview if Tyriq agrees to be his date for an event. Not a real date Desmond just needs people to think it’s real. Should he? He did make himself a promise that he’s done with love. But it’s not real. Only Desmond is secretive about his life, refusing to discuss his family. The thing is Tyriq’s ex wasn’t out so he knows what it’s like to be kept a secret. It’s only when they are swarmed by press that he learns Desmond is a Prince. Now the whole world is asking who is Tyriq to have captured the eye of the Prince. His life is turned upside down and dissected. His only option is to continue fake dating the Prince until enough time has passed that they can amicably breakup. But is it fake? Things are increasingly complicated with a controlling King and a country that might not be excepting of a future gay King. Can they figure out what they mean to each other? Or will the pressure of the eyes watching them be too much? Charming, sweet, and chock full of the warm and fuzzies!! Jamar Perry’s Finding Prince Charming is a fast paced swoon worthy fake dating romance that is unputdownable!!

[Meghan Hancock · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC
Rating: 4/5
Spice: 1/5 (descriptive kissing, closed door scenes with assumptions)

Tropes: fake dating; star-crossed lovers; sworn off love

"Don't you get it by now?" Desmond said, gazing into his eyes. "You never have to apologize to me."

------------------------------
Looking for a sweet young adult gay romance with fake dating and royalty? Look no further. This book follows Tyriq, a rising freshman headed to college, and Desmond, the crown prince to Catalina. But Tyriq doesn't know this until after he agrees to be Desmond's date to a charity fundraiser, in exchange for another shot at a scholarship interview (dang ex-boyfriends and their incessant whining). One Tyriq finds out, everything is spinning out of control and before he knows it he's off to Catalina with a hot prince and promise to himself he's no longer dating.

This book covers various topics, from coming out to accepting yourself to learning just because someone needs help, it doesn't mean you have to help them (as a people pleaser, I struggle with this myself). The plot was well thought out, however it does contain one of my least favorite things: a third act break-up. However, I feel like a lot of books have this so alas it is what it is. The character development was a little rushed towards the end but overall was very well done. I highly recommend this YA romance for a good reset or break from dark romances!

[Kylee (themoodylibrary) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5, this was really cute!! full review to come

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FINDING PRINCE CHARMING was such a cute and quick read that felt like a warm hug wrapped in fake dating shenanigans and royal drama. we follow tyriq, who misses an important scholarship interview (yiiiiiikes), but ends up getting a second chance… IF he agrees to be desmond’s fake date to a fancy event. easy enough... except desmond isn’t just some random guy. he’s the prince of catalina, hiding out in america and trying to escape the pressures of royal life and his very overbearing father.

naturally, fake dating a prince comes with a lot of drama, emotions, and controlling parents, but i loved how fast they slid into real dating territory. there wasn't a ton of miscommunication and pining. they both knew what they wanted and just went for it. respect!

there’s all the royal romance chaos you’d expect (thanks, king dad), but what really stood out to me was how determined desmond was to fight for his freedom and happiness. he didn’t just want to break away from the crown. he wanted to choose love, and himself, on his own terms.

this was such a fun read full of queer joy, royal mess, and two boys falling in love in the middle of it all. definitely recommend if you’re in the mood for something light, sweet, and a little dramatic in the best way.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun and beautiful celebration of Black queer love. It reminded me a lot of Red, White & Royal Blue meets The Princess Diaries. This was also my first time reading a "fake dating" plot, and I found that Perry wrote it really well. I really enjoyed and could commiserate with both love interests. Tyriq's dreams of going to college and dealing with his ex while also learning to love himself and have a partner fight with him resonated hard, and I think will resonate greatly with other Black queer and trans youth.

I also enjoyed the depiction of Desmond and the slow burn at the beginning with Desmond learning to deal with his country politics and fight to be with Tyriq. The story feels very much like that of Red, White & Royal Blue when it comes to challenging cisheteronormativity and homophobia in traditional monarchies while having a nuanced and fresh depiction of Blackness and Queerness.

Finally, I'd recommend this YA novel to lovers of Black Queer and/or Trans stories like All Boys Aren't Blue. I'm definitely interested in checking out more of Perry's work. What a cute cover too.

Thanks to Bloomsbury and Netgalley for the ARC.

[Queen B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Bloomsbury for the physical ARC and eARC.

Finding Prince Charming was such an adorable read.

Tyriq is a few minutes late to an interview for a scholarship and they refuse to let him in, so he goes to drown his sorrows in the nearby coffeeshop/library. There Desmond convinces him to be his fake date for an upcoming event, and Des will get Tyriq a new interview.

Long story short, Desmond is the prince of a small country and is in the US to try to live his most true life—a life where he can live openly as a gay man. Despite how cute and adorable this story is, there are some very real issues that get mentioned. The paparazzi, homophobia, racism, classism; it’s all mentioned and are important parts of their relationship, but I’m still so hopeful and happy while reading.

Filled with well-rounded characters, the romance is sweet and adorable. While it’s a bit fast paced, I still had fun time and couldn’t stop reading. I thoroughly enjoyed Finding Prince Charming.

[Jay Guillory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that if I ever fake date a prince without knowing he’s a prince and then get mad when I find out, please give me a slap! Lol. Honestly, this was such a fun read! It has a vibe similar to "Coming to America," but with a queer twist. The banter between the two love interests was excellent. I really enjoyed the storyline, especially how Prince Desmond advocated for himself and his love.

The book also provides good commentary on parental expectations and how they often don’t align with what we truly want. I found myself rooting for the King to overcome his age out beliefs on tradition and understand his son’s perspective. In the end, though, the King still preferred to be upset with his son rather than love him openly and unapologetically. Overall, Jamar did an amazing job with this book. Thank you to Bloomsbury for the ARC!

[Kendra Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. This is one of those books that I had to make an effort to savor because it was so good. It checked all the boxes: Fake Dating? Check. LGBTQ+? Check. Secret Royal? Check. I loved the vulnerability of the MMC without taking away what strengths he still had. The character development fantastic as it didn’t seem linear. Like there were times where I had to yell at Tyriq in my head a few times before he finally made the progress we wanted to see as readers. I also appreciate that the author didn’t make EVERYONE grow as we know some folks just stay in their ways. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and am so glad I got to read it. Can’t wait to chat about it with more readers.

[Khaliat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, this was so cute. If a prince ever asks me to fake date, just know I’m already planning our matching outfits for the press tour. Finding Prince Charming was a fun, feel-good read with the right amount of drama, humour, and heart.
I absolutely loved both main characters! Desmond was confident, grounded, and not afraid to stand up for what he wanted. Meanwhile, Tyriq was a people pleaser who made some questionable decisions. But even with his frustrating choices, I still stood by him. He’s my sweet, confused boy, and I love him. 🥹
The chemistry between Desmond and Tyriq? Chef’s kiss.
If you're into fake dating, royal drama, this one’s for you. 10/10 would fake date again. 🤭

[Lindsay Bilyeu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous cover alert!!!
This book is super cute and so swoony! I loved Tyriq & Desmond's chemistry from the beginning and enjoyed seeing their relationship progress as they navigated the scrutiny from the public and Desmond's family. There's fake dating and hidden identity and forbidden love. No spice really because this is a Young Adult book but it's super sweet and was a quick read for me. I liked the message of learning to love yourself and doing what's best for you and standing up for yourself. I enjoyed this book overall and I'd recommend it to anyone wanting a light & sweet, queer rom-com!

[Aisha (seetheworldwithbooks)]

I hate to DNF this book, but I honestly have no choice. Tyriq is so dramatic and only ever seems to care about himself and his own problems—and the constant whining? Ugh. 😩

The instant connection in this story also felt way too fast. It was almost funny how quickly things escalated. Maybe it’s just me being a slow burn lover, but the way Desmon is already so attentive to Tyriq—despite Tyriq's constant attitude—made no sense to me. He acts like he already likes him, and I’m just sitting here like... why?

Maybe I’ll come back to it someday, but right now, my time is too precious to spend on a book that grates on my nerves. Sorry!

[Ranisha Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the perfect YA ROM COM novel. I usually don’t like fake dating or Rom Com’s because it’s always so cheesey and not really funny. But this one was perfect. The reason behind the fake dating was really good and benefited both main characters. I loved the authors writing style. It was easy to follow, and it just flowed! The main topic was a serious one but the author found a way to incorporate some comedy to make us laugh. I’d highly recommend this title. I enjoyed my time while reading.

[Emily Cavender · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was super cute, and I enjoyed it a lot. Was it the best written story? No. It was definitely rushed at times. But I still liked these boys. And who doesn’t love the royalty trope?

Things I didn’t love:
- This was major insta love.
- There were a lot of time skips.
- Why would a country founded by a woman refuse to let women be the ruling monarch?? Insane.

Things I enjoyed:
- Black gay representation
- The narrator, Andre Santana
- Sticking it to the man (king).
- Running an animal shelter.

A cute, quick read!

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Sometimes in life we think we’ve done something to others because we refuse to live the life that they choose for us.”— This quote hit hard!

This book is so cute! It’s like Coming to America meets Princess Diaries. Tyriq is so frustrating at times but I’m a stick beside him. Desmond carried this story for me. To see him advocating for himself and fighting for his right to live and love on his own terms is inspiring. I’m so glad we have Black queer stories like this.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. When Tyriq agrees to a date with Desmond, the handsome young man at a scholarship office, he doesn't realize he's getting involved with the Prince of Catalina-- and that his return to the limelight is about to skyrocket both of them to fame. Finding Prince Charming is a fast-paced, fake-dating royal romance that readers are sure to get swept away in.

[Susie Dumond · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much queer Black joy! I had such fun reading this story that I finished it in one sitting. I especially love the DC/Maryland setting and the adventures in Catalina. Finding Prince Charming is a treat.

[David Mcdonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome story.

[Jay DeMoir · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable, but cute.

[Prof. Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

💫 NetGalley ARC Review 💫

In this swoonworthy YA romance, the story of Tyriq and Prince Desmond unfolds beautifully, capturing the essence of young love amid royal expectations. The plot starts strong with Tyriq's relatable struggle after a heartbreak, setting the stage for an unexpected twist when he becomes the crown prince's faux boyfriend. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, and their journey through the complexities of court life and personal growth is both heartwarming and engaging.

The writing is vibrant, and the pacing keeps you hooked, making it hard to put down. However, while the premise is intriguing, there are moments where the plot feels a bit rushed, particularly towards the end. Some character developments could have benefited from more depth, which is why I’m giving it a solid four stars instead of five. Overall, it's a delightful read that balances humor, romance, and the challenges of coming out in a royal setting. Perfect for anyone who enjoys a good love story with a twist!