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The Princess Match
One football goddess. One future Queen. One love that could change the game.
Princess Victoria has perfected the royal calculated smile, convenient boyfriend, impeccable press. But behind the tiara ticks a heart that's tired of playing by the rules.
Enter Ashleigh England's football captain, media darling, and living proof that authenticity scores every time. When Victoria pins an MBE on Ash's lapel, the instant chemistry jolts both their worlds.
Stolen glances become secret meetings. Private texts become tabloid gold. And suddenly, Victoria's tearing up her royal rulebook for a woman who makes her feel like more than her title. Ash has faced down penalty shootouts in European Cup finals, but winning Victoria's heart? That's the match of her life.
When their romance hits the headlines, it's game bow to tradition, or fight for a love that could change history. Victoria's got a crown to inherit. Ash has a legacy to defend. Neither planned to start a revolution, but when destiny meets desire, sometimes you have to risk it all to win.
Get ready for Clare Lydon's latest a royal romance that proves some matches are worth breaking every rule for.
Princess Victoria has perfected the royal calculated smile, convenient boyfriend, impeccable press. But behind the tiara ticks a heart that's tired of playing by the rules.
Enter Ashleigh England's football captain, media darling, and living proof that authenticity scores every time. When Victoria pins an MBE on Ash's lapel, the instant chemistry jolts both their worlds.
Stolen glances become secret meetings. Private texts become tabloid gold. And suddenly, Victoria's tearing up her royal rulebook for a woman who makes her feel like more than her title. Ash has faced down penalty shootouts in European Cup finals, but winning Victoria's heart? That's the match of her life.
When their romance hits the headlines, it's game bow to tradition, or fight for a love that could change history. Victoria's got a crown to inherit. Ash has a legacy to defend. Neither planned to start a revolution, but when destiny meets desire, sometimes you have to risk it all to win.
Get ready for Clare Lydon's latest a royal romance that proves some matches are worth breaking every rule for.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 27, 2025
459 people are currently reading
1942 people want to read
About the author
Clare Lydon
43 books1,595 followersClare Lydon is a London-based writer of contemporary lesbian romance. She's a No.1 best-seller on lesbian fiction charts around the globe with five full-length novels to her name, as well as writing the All I Want series, set to continue throughout 2016. If you love romantic comedies, prepare to fall head over heels in love.
If you like books shot through with witty dialogue, 3D characters and sharp observations of modern lesbian life, why not give Clare's books a try?
More at: www.clarelydon.co.uk
Get a copy of my free Christmas novella 'It Had To Be You' by signing up to my mailing list here:
www.clarelydon.co.uk/it-had-to-be-you
If you like books shot through with witty dialogue, 3D characters and sharp observations of modern lesbian life, why not give Clare's books a try?
More at: www.clarelydon.co.uk
Get a copy of my free Christmas novella 'It Had To Be You' by signing up to my mailing list here:
www.clarelydon.co.uk/it-had-to-be-you
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews
April 10, 2025
Great book, too bad I don't know if it's actually written by the author since the cover is ai.
April 7, 2025
AI, huh? Ew. Blegh, even.
April 25, 2025
Okay, but I kind of loved them…like a lot. The hopeless romantic in me couldn’t help but swoon. Victoria and Ash had amazing chemistry and were easy to root for. They were sweet, respectful, and mature. Which I loved! How spicy was it? I gasped in disbelief and clutched my imaginary pearls. I can never listen to that Taylor Swift song the same way again. It was the sapphic fairytale I never knew I needed.
July 13, 2025
➥ 4.75 stars ⋆˚࿔
Clare Lydon's books are kind of hit or miss for me, I loved Change of Heart, then was really disappointed and a little uncomfortable when I read Before You Say I Do, but still decided to give The Princess Match a chance. I ended up absolutely loving it!!!!! I loved both main characters so much, and their chemistry was so good! And if there's one thing Clare Lydon is extremely good at, it's a first kiss that'll have you giggling and kicking your feet!! Loved Victoria and Ash's.
!Spoilers below!
My only complaint is that I would’ve liked to see some reactions to Ash and Victoria going public. Doesn’t matter from who: social media, reporters, other royals… They spent the whole book talking about their (valid) fear of how people would react. Why didn’t we get to see it?
Overall I loooved Ash and Victoria’s story, and if Lydon ever writes a sequel/follow-up I’ll read it asap! I’d love to see more of them together🫶🏻
On a side note, I think I’ll always think of them while listening to “cardigan” now😭
➥ favorite quote :
“You could have long hair and painted nails, and also fuck women. Victoria was living proof.”
Review first posted on July 13, 2025
Clare Lydon's books are kind of hit or miss for me, I loved Change of Heart, then was really disappointed and a little uncomfortable when I read Before You Say I Do, but still decided to give The Princess Match a chance. I ended up absolutely loving it!!!!! I loved both main characters so much, and their chemistry was so good! And if there's one thing Clare Lydon is extremely good at, it's a first kiss that'll have you giggling and kicking your feet!! Loved Victoria and Ash's.
!Spoilers below!
My only complaint is that I would’ve liked to see some reactions to Ash and Victoria going public. Doesn’t matter from who: social media, reporters, other royals… They spent the whole book talking about their (valid) fear of how people would react. Why didn’t we get to see it?
Overall I loooved Ash and Victoria’s story, and if Lydon ever writes a sequel/follow-up I’ll read it asap! I’d love to see more of them together🫶🏻
On a side note, I think I’ll always think of them while listening to “cardigan” now😭
➥ favorite quote :
“You could have long hair and painted nails, and also fuck women. Victoria was living proof.”
Review first posted on July 13, 2025
June 26, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
July 31, 2025
I am not a fan of instalove stories.
I enjoyed the writing, but there was no chemistry between the mains. Could have been really good as I enjoyed the idea
I enjoyed the writing, but there was no chemistry between the mains. Could have been really good as I enjoyed the idea
March 24, 2025
Brilliant opening full of Lydon hallmarks, humour, atmosphere and real people!
I was gripped and so pleased by the early plot choices. Only one third in and I am loving the plot choices the writer has made. Amazingly, as the whole “getting to know each other” has been going on, I have been feeling the tension of how on earth is this going to work out and how can I stop real life so I can just sit and read this book?
The meet the parents was perfect! Cringingly uncomfortable and real.
Uncomfortable and real was the next section too. I love that the tension is coming from reality and not malign outside influences. The plot tensions are so well dropped.
The emotions at the end, Another winner from Lydon. I keep mentioning plot in this review because it kept me gripped, unexpected turns, not all bad, and an emotional happy ending!
Ps. I mentioned I wanted to pause real life so I could keep reading. Unfortunately I couldn't as I can't stay up late to read. First thing in the morning, with my first cup of tea I do wordle. I have done, every morning for 518 days. This morning I didn't. I picked up my book and finished it. (I also forgot to go back wordle. I have no regrets!)
PS. Lydon does a great meet hoot, this was a meet hot!
I was gripped and so pleased by the early plot choices. Only one third in and I am loving the plot choices the writer has made. Amazingly, as the whole “getting to know each other” has been going on, I have been feeling the tension of how on earth is this going to work out and how can I stop real life so I can just sit and read this book?
The meet the parents was perfect! Cringingly uncomfortable and real.
Uncomfortable and real was the next section too. I love that the tension is coming from reality and not malign outside influences. The plot tensions are so well dropped.
The emotions at the end, Another winner from Lydon. I keep mentioning plot in this review because it kept me gripped, unexpected turns, not all bad, and an emotional happy ending!
Ps. I mentioned I wanted to pause real life so I could keep reading. Unfortunately I couldn't as I can't stay up late to read. First thing in the morning, with my first cup of tea I do wordle. I have done, every morning for 518 days. This morning I didn't. I picked up my book and finished it. (I also forgot to go back wordle. I have no regrets!)
PS. Lydon does a great meet hoot, this was a meet hot!
June 15, 2025
Royal and soccer star, sign me up. This story has a nice balance of humor, romance, and drama. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Victoria and Ashleigh. They were both interesting characters alone and even better together. This was a nice and easy rainy day read.
Thank you to the author for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the author for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2025
2.75⭐️ A sapphic royalty meets football / soccer drama - obviously I had high hopes, but this fell short for me. Overall I found it a bit bland, with dull characters, a lack of tension and an underwhelming plot. It was a pleasant enough safe HEA, but ultimately easy to put down and I expect will be quickly forgettable.
July 21, 2025
4.75 Stars
May 12, 2025
First of all: Most of the bad reviews here concern the AI cover, what ever happened to „never judge a book by its cover“? If you are going to write a review, please write one about the book‘s content.
Having said that,
I was so excited for this book to come out, I read „hotshot“ and hat high hopes for this Princess/Star setting. When I finally got my hands on it I wanted to dive in and devour it right away. However that is not what happened, right from the start it was clear that the plot was not what I expected it to be. The love interests knew pretty much from the start that the other one was into them and that they wanted to be together. No slow burn in sight, unless you count life and outside factors that are keeping them apart for the first half of the book. There is no tension, no curve, no „will they, won‘t they“ situation. They meet, they like eachother and then they try to be together. It is very straight forward, the conflicts are predictable, overall a diapointment for me. There was always hope that it was going to pick up the pace some more but I had to force myself to keep reading and to pick the book back up, even though it could be one day read through. I am truly shocked that the reviews of this book are as high as they are, there are much more interesting and better books around, this is not even Clare Lydons best.
Having said that,
I was so excited for this book to come out, I read „hotshot“ and hat high hopes for this Princess/Star setting. When I finally got my hands on it I wanted to dive in and devour it right away. However that is not what happened, right from the start it was clear that the plot was not what I expected it to be. The love interests knew pretty much from the start that the other one was into them and that they wanted to be together. No slow burn in sight, unless you count life and outside factors that are keeping them apart for the first half of the book. There is no tension, no curve, no „will they, won‘t they“ situation. They meet, they like eachother and then they try to be together. It is very straight forward, the conflicts are predictable, overall a diapointment for me. There was always hope that it was going to pick up the pace some more but I had to force myself to keep reading and to pick the book back up, even though it could be one day read through. I am truly shocked that the reviews of this book are as high as they are, there are much more interesting and better books around, this is not even Clare Lydons best.
May 20, 2025
Ashleigh is captain of the England soccer team, and also plays for the Royal Ravens, a London football team. Since becoming the national team captain, she has been out, even though the football association asked her to tone it down a bit. A few months before, England had won the European cup with Ash as captain, and so at the beginning of this book she is nervously preparing to receive her MBE from Prince Michael. A last minute change allegedly because of alcohol induced illness 🥴 replaces Michael by his older sister and heir to the throne Victoria. For both women, this meeting is life changing.
Princess Victoria is the new patron of the Women’s Football Association, and is in a relationship with her long term boyfriend Dexter. She is also well in the closet, nobody knowing except for her immediate family and Dexter. He also has his own secret, and their arrangement benefits him as much as it does Victoria. She wants out of the closet enforced on her by her family and the press.
In the royal/commoner trope, this book is one of the best, having got the details as correct as possible (as far as we know). I loved all the little details that made this seem so real. Both characters are so sweet, and there is only one point of angst, provided by the pressure from the public.
This is one that I can totally recommend, especially if you love all things royal.
Princess Victoria is the new patron of the Women’s Football Association, and is in a relationship with her long term boyfriend Dexter. She is also well in the closet, nobody knowing except for her immediate family and Dexter. He also has his own secret, and their arrangement benefits him as much as it does Victoria. She wants out of the closet enforced on her by her family and the press.
In the royal/commoner trope, this book is one of the best, having got the details as correct as possible (as far as we know). I loved all the little details that made this seem so real. Both characters are so sweet, and there is only one point of angst, provided by the pressure from the public.
This is one that I can totally recommend, especially if you love all things royal.
October 31, 2025
I’ve read this but not on Goodreads! 5*s, as is usual for this author: and sport & Royalty, my favourites! I’ll review better when I re-read!
August 22, 2025
I really enjoyed Hotshot, so I expected more from this one. Sadly, the insta-love, weak plot, and bland characters made it a miss for me. Also kind of a letdown that the cover was AI-generated.
April 5, 2025
4.75 stars!
July 3, 2025
I absolutely LOVE this book! i haven’t heard anything about it or seen anyone talk about it, I just saw it on storytel and got curious but it ended up being a five star read!? We love when that happens. If you like red white and royal blue you will probably love this too
We follow Ashleigh who is the captain of the England soccer team and also plays for a London football team, and princess Victoria who is the new patron of the womens football association. Victoria is in the closet but not to those closest to her, just to the public.
Victoria and Ash have amazing chemistry and were easy to root for, they were sweet, respectful and mature and communicated so well with each other and those around them. I feel like everyone made good choices in this book (except a certain someone, iykyk) and their choices made perfect sense with who they are as characters, and this goes for main and side characters. Love love love. I love that the main conflict of the book wasn’t between them but rather how their different lives might not work and how they could make it work together. After reading this I definitely want to read more books with the royal/commoner trope!
This was just a sapphic fairytale I didnt know I needed. Also I love that the Sweden was mentioned a lot in this, that was fun. And that the Swedish princess has a wife named Sofia, that was a fun bonus for me as a Swedish lesbian named Sofia 🤪
We follow Ashleigh who is the captain of the England soccer team and also plays for a London football team, and princess Victoria who is the new patron of the womens football association. Victoria is in the closet but not to those closest to her, just to the public.
Victoria and Ash have amazing chemistry and were easy to root for, they were sweet, respectful and mature and communicated so well with each other and those around them. I feel like everyone made good choices in this book (except a certain someone, iykyk) and their choices made perfect sense with who they are as characters, and this goes for main and side characters. Love love love. I love that the main conflict of the book wasn’t between them but rather how their different lives might not work and how they could make it work together. After reading this I definitely want to read more books with the royal/commoner trope!
This was just a sapphic fairytale I didnt know I needed. Also I love that the Sweden was mentioned a lot in this, that was fun. And that the Swedish princess has a wife named Sofia, that was a fun bonus for me as a Swedish lesbian named Sofia 🤪
May 28, 2025
Empowering!
Princess Victoria meets the England Football Team Captain, Ashleigh when Ashleigh is awarded an MBE and there is a spark. The spark leads to a coincidental second meeting and secret follow up meets after to protect the relationship Victoria appears to have with her boyfriend. Tired of it all, Victoria fights for being her authentic self in public so she can be with Ashleigh before she loses her.
Loved every second of this! As usual, Clare had delivered another funny, heart-warming romance that got me hooked through the secrecy of their initial meetings, the drama of newspapers surmising what was happening between Victoria and Ashleigh, and Victoria’s passion in wanting her life to be authentic. Victoria was also wary at the same time. She knew why she was expected to keep her true feelings and relationship with Ashleigh private, but Ashleigh’s own celebrity status added complications that should they have tried to do that it was going to have devastating consequences. My heart really broke for both of them because other factors outside both their control were contributing to what was and wasn’t possible for them, and it was tiring for them both trying to navigate it all and still get what they wanted. The dedication they both showed in not wanting to hurt one another was very special, even if at times, to Ashleigh it didn’t seem as if Victoria was considering her.
The story was well balanced focusing in equal parts on the football, the royal duties, and the developing relationship between Ashleigh and Victoria. They shared so many cute moments, and some unexpected ones happened too. During those times I was smiling away thinking how not normal some of it was, but how nice it was that when it came to two people in love, titles and statuses really didn’t matter. It was all about finding balance and happiness, and being authentic and true to yourself. Trying not to be was having consequences that were affecting both Victoria and Ashleigh in every area of their lives.
Loved it! Such a magical and wonderful romance with an odd sense of normality that just felt comforting in the circumstances! Really recommend this for any romance lover.
Princess Victoria meets the England Football Team Captain, Ashleigh when Ashleigh is awarded an MBE and there is a spark. The spark leads to a coincidental second meeting and secret follow up meets after to protect the relationship Victoria appears to have with her boyfriend. Tired of it all, Victoria fights for being her authentic self in public so she can be with Ashleigh before she loses her.
Loved every second of this! As usual, Clare had delivered another funny, heart-warming romance that got me hooked through the secrecy of their initial meetings, the drama of newspapers surmising what was happening between Victoria and Ashleigh, and Victoria’s passion in wanting her life to be authentic. Victoria was also wary at the same time. She knew why she was expected to keep her true feelings and relationship with Ashleigh private, but Ashleigh’s own celebrity status added complications that should they have tried to do that it was going to have devastating consequences. My heart really broke for both of them because other factors outside both their control were contributing to what was and wasn’t possible for them, and it was tiring for them both trying to navigate it all and still get what they wanted. The dedication they both showed in not wanting to hurt one another was very special, even if at times, to Ashleigh it didn’t seem as if Victoria was considering her.
The story was well balanced focusing in equal parts on the football, the royal duties, and the developing relationship between Ashleigh and Victoria. They shared so many cute moments, and some unexpected ones happened too. During those times I was smiling away thinking how not normal some of it was, but how nice it was that when it came to two people in love, titles and statuses really didn’t matter. It was all about finding balance and happiness, and being authentic and true to yourself. Trying not to be was having consequences that were affecting both Victoria and Ashleigh in every area of their lives.
Loved it! Such a magical and wonderful romance with an odd sense of normality that just felt comforting in the circumstances! Really recommend this for any romance lover.
August 5, 2025
This was so deeply unserious that I actually had a pretty great time
April 1, 2025
I really enjoyed this romance. It was especially fun reading it on vacation in London. Though I would have preferred a faster burn, I understood why they drew it out..princesses have different timelines. I thought their challenges made so much sense and the modern dilemmas were handled tactfully by the author. While the characters did have chemistry though, I struggled to understand why they were right for each other besides that attraction. That said, it kept me turning pages and I was curious to see how everything would play out.
Short summary: when Ash enters the palace to receive a prestigious award for her football prowess, the last thing she expects is her gaydar to ping as she accepts it from the crown princess.
Thanks to the author. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Short summary: when Ash enters the palace to receive a prestigious award for her football prowess, the last thing she expects is her gaydar to ping as she accepts it from the crown princess.
Thanks to the author. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2025
Loved that book. All range of emotions, with cute flirt, secret meetings, angst, a little bit of spices and tons of loveable characters. I would have love to read more about their adventures after, so i guess i could only hope for a part 2
June 8, 2025
*2.5
as much as i wanted to like this book, it was just incredibly mid and intensely millennial coded. the latter not being enjoyable for me :(
as much as i wanted to like this book, it was just incredibly mid and intensely millennial coded. the latter not being enjoyable for me :(
June 19, 2025
Okay but I loved it - this would be such a cute movie also? I am committed
May 5, 2025
thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
i’m going to have to begin with my most obvious annoyance, the AI cover. i don’t know where the decision lied, wether it was discussed with clare or not. but like many readers, i assume that when a book cover is AI art that it was not (completely) written by the author. and when i accepted to review this from the author directly i had not seen the cover yet. i honestly am not sure if i would have accepted the copy to review had i known beforehand. but i ultimately pushed that concern aside since i have reviewed a few of her books in the past without this issue. so i do hope that this is something that can be addressed (either with an updated cover) or by conversing with the publishing company about how not to continue this "design choice" in the future.
but, i was ultimately already committed to reading this book so i wanted to give the benefit of doubt to the author, since i’ve worked with her before. and i can confirm, stylistically, this book seems to have been completely written by clare. i read hotshot, her other (almost companion) soccer romance back in 2023 and this book contained characters who overlapped from the first book. and it had humor quite similar to what i’ve come to know with her books. so, in the end, i was able to go through my read of this book with more confidence than where i started it. in the end, this is just my personal opinion and i still completely understand how others may decide not to read the book because of the cover.
but okay, onto my thoughts on the story itself. i feel like clare’s books have become steady points in my recent years. i know that if i want a sapphic book with dry british humor, hers are the place i can go to for a fun and (mostly) light-hearted read. i always love a royalty romance and it’s a refreshing change when both parties are confident in their sexualities and have clear communication for their relationship. i think victoria and ash were a strong couple and they were great to see these aspects shine. and despite feeling like their attraction led most of their early interactions (ie both insta lurking each other before knowing each other so they were already both physically attracted to each other before they even met) their relationship grew on me.
i wish they both thought to discuss things through more when they were threatened about their relationship after the media articles, especially with victoria saying she wouldn’t let their relationship be swept under the rug but doing that. just a teensy bit more autonomy for her would have made it for me. but overall, i think the 3rd act was resolved in a fairly reasonable way. and i know lydon might not but i would love to follow matthew after the end of the book’s events. i feel like his redemption story could be so compelling.
i’m going to have to begin with my most obvious annoyance, the AI cover. i don’t know where the decision lied, wether it was discussed with clare or not. but like many readers, i assume that when a book cover is AI art that it was not (completely) written by the author. and when i accepted to review this from the author directly i had not seen the cover yet. i honestly am not sure if i would have accepted the copy to review had i known beforehand. but i ultimately pushed that concern aside since i have reviewed a few of her books in the past without this issue. so i do hope that this is something that can be addressed (either with an updated cover) or by conversing with the publishing company about how not to continue this "design choice" in the future.
but, i was ultimately already committed to reading this book so i wanted to give the benefit of doubt to the author, since i’ve worked with her before. and i can confirm, stylistically, this book seems to have been completely written by clare. i read hotshot, her other (almost companion) soccer romance back in 2023 and this book contained characters who overlapped from the first book. and it had humor quite similar to what i’ve come to know with her books. so, in the end, i was able to go through my read of this book with more confidence than where i started it. in the end, this is just my personal opinion and i still completely understand how others may decide not to read the book because of the cover.
but okay, onto my thoughts on the story itself. i feel like clare’s books have become steady points in my recent years. i know that if i want a sapphic book with dry british humor, hers are the place i can go to for a fun and (mostly) light-hearted read. i always love a royalty romance and it’s a refreshing change when both parties are confident in their sexualities and have clear communication for their relationship. i think victoria and ash were a strong couple and they were great to see these aspects shine. and despite feeling like their attraction led most of their early interactions (ie both insta lurking each other before knowing each other so they were already both physically attracted to each other before they even met) their relationship grew on me.
i wish they both thought to discuss things through more when they were threatened about their relationship after the media articles, especially with victoria saying she wouldn’t let their relationship be swept under the rug but doing that. just a teensy bit more autonomy for her would have made it for me. but overall, i think the 3rd act was resolved in a fairly reasonable way. and i know lydon might not but i would love to follow matthew after the end of the book’s events. i feel like his redemption story could be so compelling.
July 7, 2025
i so badly wanted to love this but it was very meh :(
March 29, 2025
Another great book by Clare Lydon - funny, emotional and heartwarming. As always when I started reading I couldn’t stop. It was such a wonderful story. I loved „Hotshot” so I was certain I am going to love this one too and Clare never disappoints. Perfect blend between royal and sport romance. It was well-balanced with just enough of everything - spice, drama, heartbreak, love.
March 31, 2025
I've read a number of royal romances over the years and this is one of the best. I was so engrossed in the story I was half way through before I realized it. Ash and Victoria are fully developed characters who are celebrities in their own rights navigating a relationship with the public and social media. This is well written with humor and realism and is hands down my new favorite Clare Lydon book. I wholeheartedly recommend it.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 30, 2025
Meh, I guess? These had to be two of the blandest protagonists I’ve ever read. The novel version of white rice and boiled chicken. Gets the job done but a snooze fest.
Victoria is a princess and heir to the throne. She isn’t out but would like to be one day if the Queen approves. She thinks Ash is hot.
That’s it. That’s literally her whole personality.
Ash is a star footballer. She has good gaydar and clocks Victoria. She thinks Victoria is hot.
That’s it. That’s literally her whole personality.
What follows is a predicable story with all the pitfalls of the “1/2 of the couple is in the closet” trope and the “royal falls for a commoner” trope. Any chemistry these two built, getting to know each other, their hopes and dreams, their fears, etc. all happens off page. There’s some attempt to build them up by having Victoria support LGBTQ+ shelters and Ash modeling for Tiffany’s, but these are just filler activities and things they do, not really who they are. Very one dimensional and dull. But there is some decent 🌶️. Clare Lydon can bring the 🌶️.
Victoria is a princess and heir to the throne. She isn’t out but would like to be one day if the Queen approves. She thinks Ash is hot.
That’s it. That’s literally her whole personality.
Ash is a star footballer. She has good gaydar and clocks Victoria. She thinks Victoria is hot.
That’s it. That’s literally her whole personality.
What follows is a predicable story with all the pitfalls of the “1/2 of the couple is in the closet” trope and the “royal falls for a commoner” trope. Any chemistry these two built, getting to know each other, their hopes and dreams, their fears, etc. all happens off page. There’s some attempt to build them up by having Victoria support LGBTQ+ shelters and Ash modeling for Tiffany’s, but these are just filler activities and things they do, not really who they are. Very one dimensional and dull. But there is some decent 🌶️. Clare Lydon can bring the 🌶️.
June 16, 2025
I've enjoyed a few other books by this author, but this was easily my favourite of hers I've read so far - I fell in love with these characters and their romance from the very first page. An absolutely delightfuly read. The happily giggling, kicking my feet kind of delightful. Clearly, I need more Clare Lydon books... there might be another gem like this to be found.
February 1, 2026
The least believable part of this book isn’t that a football player falls in love with a royal, no, it’s the idea that the Lionesses are the best team in the world… sorry, but as a Spanish football fan, we rule 😜
Jokes aside, I really loved this novel. It even made me feel like I should have pursued a career in football, despite the fact that I didn’t like it at all when I was little.
The way the beginning and the ending mirror each other is fantastic, I loved that comparison.
Victoria and Ash, I’m going to miss you girls 🥲
Jokes aside, I really loved this novel. It even made me feel like I should have pursued a career in football, despite the fact that I didn’t like it at all when I was little.
The way the beginning and the ending mirror each other is fantastic, I loved that comparison.
Victoria and Ash, I’m going to miss you girls 🥲
Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews