What do you think?
Rate this book
Being Royal #1
How to Date a Prince
What happens when the British Crown Prince falls in love with an American influencer who wants to get rid of the monarchy? Prince Auggie swears he’s no kind of dashing prince: daydreamer, private—and also secretly very gay. He’s instantly horrified when his father, reality TV addict King James, signs Auggie up for a reality TV show to promote the monarchy, where the man with the most talents wins—and to help find Auggie a bride, the very last thing Auggie wants. But duty calls.
When Auggie finds out his co-star is irritatingly gorgeous Thomas Golden, the charismatic dual American-English heir to the Golden hotel fortune, it’s another step too far. There’s at least one problem: Prince Auggie’s already recently crossed paths with Thomas Golden on a disastrous night in a London club. Plus, there’s that whole second not-so-small, not-so-secret problem—the Golden family wants to get rid of the monarchy.
Once Auggie and Thomas arrive on set in the English countryside, it’s already unapologetically hate at first sight. It’s going to be a very long summer of filming…until sparks fly behind the scenes. They make a searing heatwave all their own as they secretly date. But soon, real reality strikes, and Auggie must choose between the life he’s destined for as the future king—or dare risk everything for love.
When Auggie finds out his co-star is irritatingly gorgeous Thomas Golden, the charismatic dual American-English heir to the Golden hotel fortune, it’s another step too far. There’s at least one problem: Prince Auggie’s already recently crossed paths with Thomas Golden on a disastrous night in a London club. Plus, there’s that whole second not-so-small, not-so-secret problem—the Golden family wants to get rid of the monarchy.
Once Auggie and Thomas arrive on set in the English countryside, it’s already unapologetically hate at first sight. It’s going to be a very long summer of filming…until sparks fly behind the scenes. They make a searing heatwave all their own as they secretly date. But soon, real reality strikes, and Auggie must choose between the life he’s destined for as the future king—or dare risk everything for love.
360 pages, Paperback
First published July 15, 2025
43 people are currently reading
6222 people want to read
About the author
Hayden Stone
6 books253 followersMore animal than mineral, Hayden Stone is a writer of queer fiction, especially with kissing. He currently lives in Victoria, Canada, and has previously lived in Vancouver, Canada and London, UK. Hayden likes strong coffee and is owned by two cats.
Pronouns: he/him
Pronouns: he/him
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
June 20, 2025
This was a pretty fun book. It did the job.
How to Date a Prince is a romcom about a prince and an heir to an empire of hotels who is also an anti monarchist competing together in a reality show. It's a rivals to lovers kinda story, lighthearted and funny.
However there were some contradictions. The characters made decisions that were very uncharacteristic seemingly out of nowhere. I just can't understand that many 180 for no reason. It's also a little too long. The smut bothered me because I couldn't tell what it wanted to be, it isn't closed door but it's not full on smut either, it's strange.
At the end, it was an entertaining book.
Thank you Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the ARC.
How to Date a Prince is a romcom about a prince and an heir to an empire of hotels who is also an anti monarchist competing together in a reality show. It's a rivals to lovers kinda story, lighthearted and funny.
However there were some contradictions. The characters made decisions that were very uncharacteristic seemingly out of nowhere. I just can't understand that many 180 for no reason. It's also a little too long. The smut bothered me because I couldn't tell what it wanted to be, it isn't closed door but it's not full on smut either, it's strange.
At the end, it was an entertaining book.
Thank you Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the ARC.
July 5, 2025
I actually breezed through this story. It’s fun and lighthearted, and an easy read for the beach or curled up on the couch. Thomas is a cinnamon bun and I always have a soft spot for those. Think Boyfriend Material meets Red, White, and Royal Blue.
Because of everything I mentioned above, I desperately wanted to rate this book at least four stars. I love enemies-to-lovers, but what I like less is going back and forth in a relationship. Sadly, this was the case with Auggie and Thomas. Auggie pushed Thomas away almost constantly, then made up again, until the next moment when everything started all over again. Even up to the end when I thought they would finally stay together. But they didn’t and I couldn’t do anything else but push the three-star button.
Like I said, this is a great beach read and a fun story if you want to escape from the real world for a while. And sometimes we need those stories desperately.
Thank you, Hayden Stone and Xpresso Book Tours, for this ARC!
Follow me on Instagram
Because of everything I mentioned above, I desperately wanted to rate this book at least four stars. I love enemies-to-lovers, but what I like less is going back and forth in a relationship. Sadly, this was the case with Auggie and Thomas. Auggie pushed Thomas away almost constantly, then made up again, until the next moment when everything started all over again. Even up to the end when I thought they would finally stay together. But they didn’t and I couldn’t do anything else but push the three-star button.
Like I said, this is a great beach read and a fun story if you want to escape from the real world for a while. And sometimes we need those stories desperately.
Thank you, Hayden Stone and Xpresso Book Tours, for this ARC!
Follow me on Instagram
July 7, 2025
rating: 3.75★
This was a really cute MM romance that started off feeling very similar to red white and blue but it definitely delineated from that I kept reading.
What works for me is that I did feel like Auggie and Thomas had great chemistry, they were really cute, and I was really rooting for them. I liked the initial reality TV set up and I think overall this was a pretty good coming out story considering the very unrealistic parameters of royalty lol.
I could've used work was maybe getting at least a few POVs from Thomas because since it's all Auggie I just didn't nearly have a much of a connection and sense of who Thomas is beyond their relationship.
I also felt like the second half was much slower pace and was kind of trying to figure out its footing. I wish the relationships between the side characters could've been strengthened, especially with his best friend.
Overall, I enjoyed it and got through it pretty quickly. There are some pretty spicy scenes too 🤭
I would read the next book in the series following one of Auggie's exes.
an honest arc review ♡
This was a really cute MM romance that started off feeling very similar to red white and blue but it definitely delineated from that I kept reading.
What works for me is that I did feel like Auggie and Thomas had great chemistry, they were really cute, and I was really rooting for them. I liked the initial reality TV set up and I think overall this was a pretty good coming out story considering the very unrealistic parameters of royalty lol.
I could've used work was maybe getting at least a few POVs from Thomas because since it's all Auggie I just didn't nearly have a much of a connection and sense of who Thomas is beyond their relationship.
I also felt like the second half was much slower pace and was kind of trying to figure out its footing. I wish the relationships between the side characters could've been strengthened, especially with his best friend.
Overall, I enjoyed it and got through it pretty quickly. There are some pretty spicy scenes too 🤭
I would read the next book in the series following one of Auggie's exes.
an honest arc review ♡
July 27, 2025
I am a sucker for Royal Romance. This story is not just royal but also on the set of a reality tv show. The over all plot and setting is fun. The two characters are hot and fit together well.
But there are some things that bother me. The first couple of pages were just info dumping, I read a lot of fantasy so I know how world building can work.
The characters didn't have consistent characteristics, some of their choices seemed so off that I was really confused.
But I did read an early copy and maybe some of the issues I saw will be smooth out until release.
Thank you Netgalley and Hayden Stone for the chance to read the ARC! All opinions are honest and my own.
But there are some things that bother me. The first couple of pages were just info dumping, I read a lot of fantasy so I know how world building can work.
The characters didn't have consistent characteristics, some of their choices seemed so off that I was really confused.
But I did read an early copy and maybe some of the issues I saw will be smooth out until release.
Thank you Netgalley and Hayden Stone for the chance to read the ARC! All opinions are honest and my own.
June 20, 2025
Yay! When I requested this book on NetGalley, I was hoping it would give Red, White and Royal Blue vibes. I wanted it to satisfy that craving I have for another story like that and it did!
This was so much fun and I cam definitely see myself rereading it in the future. And I think that's the testament to a good book if right after reading it, I know I will want to again.
This follows the British crown prince and an American influencer. There is family drama and politics, royalty and reality tv. This was so much fun. A perfect, quick little romance.
Sometimes, the romance felt a little forced and I could tell it was to move the story along and relying a lot on the reader to figure out clues that weren't really given. But it didn't really pull me out of the story at all, so I was fine with it. I can ignore little boo-boos if it doesn't distract me from the actual book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
This was so much fun and I cam definitely see myself rereading it in the future. And I think that's the testament to a good book if right after reading it, I know I will want to again.
This follows the British crown prince and an American influencer. There is family drama and politics, royalty and reality tv. This was so much fun. A perfect, quick little romance.
Sometimes, the romance felt a little forced and I could tell it was to move the story along and relying a lot on the reader to figure out clues that weren't really given. But it didn't really pull me out of the story at all, so I was fine with it. I can ignore little boo-boos if it doesn't distract me from the actual book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
July 7, 2025
This story delves into the struggles of coming out and the journey of recovery that follows. It's a powerful and poignant exploration of identity and acceptance. If you enjoyed Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, or Stars in your eyes by Kacen Callendar, I have no doubt you will love this book.
Though it had a similar starting point to Casey McQuiston’s Red, White and Royal Blue, it veers off into a totally unexpected and delightful territory; carving out its own special niche. From the first page to the last, I was completely hooked. The plot moves at a breakneck speed, with twists and turns that kept me guessing. I literally couldn't put it down.
What truly stood out for me was the way the relationships were portrayed. We're NOT talking about fluffy, unrealistic connections here. The characters actually communicate, face real problems, and work through them together.
The way the book explored different family dynamics, by highlighting the contrasts and similarities in how families function, and the impact that upbringing can have on an individual, GROUNDBREAKING. It added a layer of depth and relatability to the story. And just when you think things might be settling down, the rivalry between the characters intensifies, adding a whole new level of excitement to the mix.
This was truly an enjoyable read, but I have to ask, do these characters ever sleep? The late-night rendezvous definitely added some spice to the story, but I did find myself wondering when did they ever find time to sleep?!
Though it had a similar starting point to Casey McQuiston’s Red, White and Royal Blue, it veers off into a totally unexpected and delightful territory; carving out its own special niche. From the first page to the last, I was completely hooked. The plot moves at a breakneck speed, with twists and turns that kept me guessing. I literally couldn't put it down.
What truly stood out for me was the way the relationships were portrayed. We're NOT talking about fluffy, unrealistic connections here. The characters actually communicate, face real problems, and work through them together.
The way the book explored different family dynamics, by highlighting the contrasts and similarities in how families function, and the impact that upbringing can have on an individual, GROUNDBREAKING. It added a layer of depth and relatability to the story. And just when you think things might be settling down, the rivalry between the characters intensifies, adding a whole new level of excitement to the mix.
This was truly an enjoyable read, but I have to ask, do these characters ever sleep? The late-night rendezvous definitely added some spice to the story, but I did find myself wondering when did they ever find time to sleep?!
July 7, 2025
truly saddened to say i didn't like this one, which breaks my heart bc the premise sounded right up my alley and the cover gave me boyfriend material vibes which was why i requested the arc and was excited to dive in.
sadly, the writing just didn't live up to those expectations. other than our main character, the others just aren't fleshed out - and even with auggie, his character work is just infodumping different facts. it was all too much on the telling side instead of showing.
i've been thinking about this since i finished the book last night and really the only thing i can say is that this read like fanfiction except i lacked the knowledge of and devotion to the characters so that everything fell flat.
the scenes and chapters were also very weirdly broken up, which in my opinion ruined the flow.
the last thing i'll touch upon very briefly is the internalized homophobia the main character deals with, and the expectations he has set on him. i want to be very careful with this because i'm not part of the community and i could never understand those struggles. however, we've not only read this in other books, we've seen it in tv, in film, and the closeted lead is truly a tale as old as time. reading what he was going through, instead of inciting empathy, instead felt like we were back in 2008. i think the way that turmoil was written was just very shallow and instead of establishing the character it was purely a plot device for why these two characters couldn't be together until we passed the climax. it also just didn't work narratively in my opinion.
thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the arc. all views are my own.
sadly, the writing just didn't live up to those expectations. other than our main character, the others just aren't fleshed out - and even with auggie, his character work is just infodumping different facts. it was all too much on the telling side instead of showing.
i've been thinking about this since i finished the book last night and really the only thing i can say is that this read like fanfiction except i lacked the knowledge of and devotion to the characters so that everything fell flat.
the scenes and chapters were also very weirdly broken up, which in my opinion ruined the flow.
the last thing i'll touch upon very briefly is the internalized homophobia the main character deals with, and the expectations he has set on him. i want to be very careful with this because i'm not part of the community and i could never understand those struggles. however, we've not only read this in other books, we've seen it in tv, in film, and the closeted lead is truly a tale as old as time. reading what he was going through, instead of inciting empathy, instead felt like we were back in 2008. i think the way that turmoil was written was just very shallow and instead of establishing the character it was purely a plot device for why these two characters couldn't be together until we passed the climax. it also just didn't work narratively in my opinion.
thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the arc. all views are my own.
July 1, 2025
What a fun read this was, from beginning to end! Rom-com shenanigans between a prince and an influencer meet reality TV in Hayden Stone's upcoming release "How to Date a Prince", which is the perfect beach or swimming pool read for this summer. When prince Auggie is signed up for a reality show where he'll have to compete against eight other men to claim the title of Renaissance Man, it sounds like a nightmare in the making. But behind the cameras might lie a chance for Auggie to find what he has never even dreamt of ever having, which is a chance at true happiness.
Something I really loved about "How to Date a Prince" was that it was a fun and light-hearted read. Although the novel deals with serious topics and features complicated conversations about grief, child neglect and identity crises, there was always a very sunshiney quality to it thanks to prince Auggie's clever and cheerful voice. His sharp tongue and terrible impulse control made my whole day every time he didn't rein them in, and to be honest, he was such a lovely main character! I would read about his shenanigans anytime. In fact, I wouldn't be too bothered by badgers as long as I had him beside me to keep me from losing my marbles.
Aside from being a great narrator, Auggie was really well done in that, since he's the heir to the throne, there were nuanced discussions of what "tradition" truly means for those born into it. While I am not English, I am from a country that also has a Royal Family, and I've always been intrigued by how life must be when you have never been allowed to not be in the public eye. In this sense, "How to Date a Prince" was quite humane and moving, and I found myself thinking about Auggie and feeling quite fond of him precisely because the novel excelled at showing us what the royal backstage might look like and the toll it often takes.
Just as charming and vulnerable, Thomas Golden was another highlight of the book for me. I was quite invested in him from the get-go, since he caught my attention from the moment he walked into the club, and as the book progressed I was really moved to watch him slowly open up and show his vulnerable side to Auggie. Child influencers, as well as people born with a silver spoon in their mouth, are just as fascinating as royal kids to me, and so I was really curious about Thomas and his backstory. It was beautiful to realise that he was just as scared and lost as Auggie, even if he seemed to have it all figured out, and I loved that he was allowed to be human and mess up just like Auggie.
Their relationship was charming, and I deeply enjoyed the build-up as they gravitated towards each other on and off-camera. I felt really warm inside as Auggie and Thomas both gave into the feelings for each other they could've suppressed, but chose not to! Everything about them was both really beautiful and messily human, which made them all the more endearing to me.
Despite the seemingly low stakes, the plot was engaging, and I found myself wanting to know what happened next so bad! Both during the reality show and afterwards, at that. There was an overarching plot regarding Auggie's life choices, as well as his struggle to choose between sticking to what's been laid out for him or pursuing his happiness - it brought everything together nicely, and I felt like I was reading a very lovely and intimate story about a caged bird learning to fly.
All in all this was deliciously fun, swoonworthy, and charming! I cannot wait to see where Hayden Stone goes next, to the point that I immediately pre-ordered this book's sequel and the standalone that Stone will be releasing in 2026 (thank God for the utter lack of object permanence, because otherwise the wait would destroy me). Don't miss out on this book!
Something I really loved about "How to Date a Prince" was that it was a fun and light-hearted read. Although the novel deals with serious topics and features complicated conversations about grief, child neglect and identity crises, there was always a very sunshiney quality to it thanks to prince Auggie's clever and cheerful voice. His sharp tongue and terrible impulse control made my whole day every time he didn't rein them in, and to be honest, he was such a lovely main character! I would read about his shenanigans anytime. In fact, I wouldn't be too bothered by badgers as long as I had him beside me to keep me from losing my marbles.
Aside from being a great narrator, Auggie was really well done in that, since he's the heir to the throne, there were nuanced discussions of what "tradition" truly means for those born into it. While I am not English, I am from a country that also has a Royal Family, and I've always been intrigued by how life must be when you have never been allowed to not be in the public eye. In this sense, "How to Date a Prince" was quite humane and moving, and I found myself thinking about Auggie and feeling quite fond of him precisely because the novel excelled at showing us what the royal backstage might look like and the toll it often takes.
Just as charming and vulnerable, Thomas Golden was another highlight of the book for me. I was quite invested in him from the get-go, since he caught my attention from the moment he walked into the club, and as the book progressed I was really moved to watch him slowly open up and show his vulnerable side to Auggie. Child influencers, as well as people born with a silver spoon in their mouth, are just as fascinating as royal kids to me, and so I was really curious about Thomas and his backstory. It was beautiful to realise that he was just as scared and lost as Auggie, even if he seemed to have it all figured out, and I loved that he was allowed to be human and mess up just like Auggie.
Their relationship was charming, and I deeply enjoyed the build-up as they gravitated towards each other on and off-camera. I felt really warm inside as Auggie and Thomas both gave into the feelings for each other they could've suppressed, but chose not to! Everything about them was both really beautiful and messily human, which made them all the more endearing to me.
Despite the seemingly low stakes, the plot was engaging, and I found myself wanting to know what happened next so bad! Both during the reality show and afterwards, at that. There was an overarching plot regarding Auggie's life choices, as well as his struggle to choose between sticking to what's been laid out for him or pursuing his happiness - it brought everything together nicely, and I felt like I was reading a very lovely and intimate story about a caged bird learning to fly.
All in all this was deliciously fun, swoonworthy, and charming! I cannot wait to see where Hayden Stone goes next, to the point that I immediately pre-ordered this book's sequel and the standalone that Stone will be releasing in 2026 (thank God for the utter lack of object permanence, because otherwise the wait would destroy me). Don't miss out on this book!
June 30, 2025
first of all — i love the premise. really. i’m an absolute sucker for reality tv AND make it queer? i was so unbelievably excited to read this.
unfortunately, the writing was just not up-to-par; i found the sentences awkward due to mistakes in verb tenses and the use of plain telling, not showing. i know this is all personal preference and it’s hardly noticeable in this book but i’m a stickler for grammar so that’s a no.
the characters and storytelling overall also fell a bit flat. i love auggie but everyone else was just? there? it was so hard to connect with any of them and they never really felt tangible. the storyline is fine, enjoyable even, but everything happened so fast and out of nowhere. his relationship (if you could call it that) with thomas was literally lust at first sight and after that it was all over the place there was no buildup at all. i’m just disappointed i didn’t enjoy this as much as i wished i had but maybe other people will disagree 🤷♀️
thank you to netgalley for the arc!
unfortunately, the writing was just not up-to-par; i found the sentences awkward due to mistakes in verb tenses and the use of plain telling, not showing. i know this is all personal preference and it’s hardly noticeable in this book but i’m a stickler for grammar so that’s a no.
the characters and storytelling overall also fell a bit flat. i love auggie but everyone else was just? there? it was so hard to connect with any of them and they never really felt tangible. the storyline is fine, enjoyable even, but everything happened so fast and out of nowhere. his relationship (if you could call it that) with thomas was literally lust at first sight and after that it was all over the place there was no buildup at all. i’m just disappointed i didn’t enjoy this as much as i wished i had but maybe other people will disagree 🤷♀️
thank you to netgalley for the arc!
September 1, 2025
Special thanks to the author(s), publisher, Goodreads and/or NetGalley for the review copy. All views and opinions expressed are honest and my own.
The story follows Prince Augustus, Auggie who ends up on a reality TV show after making recent headlines. There he meets co-star and competitor Thomas Golden. Auggie has already had a horrible run in with Thomas, but that doesn’t stop the feelings from growing, even if this relationship is a failure before its start!
I enjoyed the game show concept and its execution. I thought it was the perfect balance between show related content and plot progression. I liked how there was realistic competition; a believable host and camera crew; as well as more than one competition round depicted. It made the story interesting and engaging. I love watching similarly formatted shows, so it was interesting to read about how they were possibly recorded!
That said, the relationship between Auggie and Thomas is instant. The sparks don’t fly, it’s pure love at first sight. I have nothing against it but I felt like it could have been executed better. It was unnecessarily messy as the story tries to make them some type of enemies but fails each time. I also felt sympathetic for Auggie. He’s someone with internal homophobia, unfortunately due to his surroundings, whereas Thomas has been open about his sexuality since he was a teen. So I found it unfair that Thomas kept getting closer to Auggie while asking for an open relationship. Like, it’s not easy and people cannot change overnight, so please be a bit understanding.
That said, I had no clue how much time passed in this book sometimes. At times, it was indicated however the latter half of the book felt unclear to me. Instead of indicating how many days or weeks had gone by, it suddenly shifted to describing the seasons and noting months. I felt like this worked against the second half of the story because it was the messiest time in Auggie’s and Thomas’s relationship.
We never get Thomas’ perspective in this book but I personally don’t like him. He got frustrated really quickly and I felt like he was not willing to understand Auggie. Like sit down, listen and understand. Auggie’s a Prince and no, he cannot be open about his relationship that quickly, especially since he’s spent years denying himself. Instead, Thomas could have easily given him encouragement and support as well as have been honest. It hurt me when Thomas was hiding things and in the later half, when he quickly fell into another relationship.
Personally I don’t like unnecessary drama. So I didn’t like the “rebound”. It hurts the other person in the relationship as well, so nothing good ever comes from it. It’s likely real and common, but it doesn’t make me hate it any less.
There are quite a few supporting characters and all I can say is that they were quite confusing. Some are named while others are a part of the story. Auggie’s relationship with them felt unclear and rough but I was ultimately glad he was friends with Katie. Death is definitely a moment where things change and I liked how Auggie’s family became more caring. Yes, they needed a wake up call and got one, however that doesn’t justify the somewhat rushed ending with King James.
Overall this was a good read but I felt like it wasn’t connecting for me. I enjoyed Auggie’s character but the rest were less than enjoyable. I also enjoyed the depiction of the game show as well as was intrigued by the depiction of a concussion. Ultimately this book has a happy ending after multiple waves so at least that was satisfying.
Read more reviews @ Mystic's Review Shelf
The story follows Prince Augustus, Auggie who ends up on a reality TV show after making recent headlines. There he meets co-star and competitor Thomas Golden. Auggie has already had a horrible run in with Thomas, but that doesn’t stop the feelings from growing, even if this relationship is a failure before its start!
I enjoyed the game show concept and its execution. I thought it was the perfect balance between show related content and plot progression. I liked how there was realistic competition; a believable host and camera crew; as well as more than one competition round depicted. It made the story interesting and engaging. I love watching similarly formatted shows, so it was interesting to read about how they were possibly recorded!
That said, the relationship between Auggie and Thomas is instant. The sparks don’t fly, it’s pure love at first sight. I have nothing against it but I felt like it could have been executed better. It was unnecessarily messy as the story tries to make them some type of enemies but fails each time. I also felt sympathetic for Auggie. He’s someone with internal homophobia, unfortunately due to his surroundings, whereas Thomas has been open about his sexuality since he was a teen. So I found it unfair that Thomas kept getting closer to Auggie while asking for an open relationship. Like, it’s not easy and people cannot change overnight, so please be a bit understanding.
That said, I had no clue how much time passed in this book sometimes. At times, it was indicated however the latter half of the book felt unclear to me. Instead of indicating how many days or weeks had gone by, it suddenly shifted to describing the seasons and noting months. I felt like this worked against the second half of the story because it was the messiest time in Auggie’s and Thomas’s relationship.
We never get Thomas’ perspective in this book but I personally don’t like him. He got frustrated really quickly and I felt like he was not willing to understand Auggie. Like sit down, listen and understand. Auggie’s a Prince and no, he cannot be open about his relationship that quickly, especially since he’s spent years denying himself. Instead, Thomas could have easily given him encouragement and support as well as have been honest. It hurt me when Thomas was hiding things and in the later half, when he quickly fell into another relationship.
Personally I don’t like unnecessary drama. So I didn’t like the “rebound”. It hurts the other person in the relationship as well, so nothing good ever comes from it. It’s likely real and common, but it doesn’t make me hate it any less.
There are quite a few supporting characters and all I can say is that they were quite confusing. Some are named while others are a part of the story. Auggie’s relationship with them felt unclear and rough but I was ultimately glad he was friends with Katie. Death is definitely a moment where things change and I liked how Auggie’s family became more caring. Yes, they needed a wake up call and got one, however that doesn’t justify the somewhat rushed ending with King James.
Overall this was a good read but I felt like it wasn’t connecting for me. I enjoyed Auggie’s character but the rest were less than enjoyable. I also enjoyed the depiction of the game show as well as was intrigued by the depiction of a concussion. Ultimately this book has a happy ending after multiple waves so at least that was satisfying.
Read more reviews @ Mystic's Review Shelf
July 16, 2025
*A big thanks to NetGalley for this ARC, this in no way affects my honest, and unbiased review*
I really really really wanted Red, White, & Royal Blue vibes, but I was left with no vibes. This is another "enemies" to lovers where there is no true reason for the enemies nor did they even act like they disliked each other at first at all. Non-prince boy doesn't like the Crown falls for Prince, don't see how they can be enemies unless the Crown murdered all of his family and he wants to seek revenge (which I would read ASAP! but not a romance, have them hunt each other down or something)
Speaking of non-prince boy hating the Crown, unless I missed it, that was never resolved or corrected or discussed once they got over a very tiny barely 3 sentences of an "argument" over it halfway through the book.
Has spice/smut, but it's not overly detailed and feels more like softcore/too afraid to write all the gritty details. Writing overall felt meh even outside the smut/spice scenes.
WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE TV SHOW?!
I really really really wanted Red, White, & Royal Blue vibes, but I was left with no vibes. This is another "enemies" to lovers where there is no true reason for the enemies nor did they even act like they disliked each other at first at all. Non-prince boy doesn't like the Crown falls for Prince, don't see how they can be enemies unless the Crown murdered all of his family and he wants to seek revenge (which I would read ASAP! but not a romance, have them hunt each other down or something)
Speaking of non-prince boy hating the Crown, unless I missed it, that was never resolved or corrected or discussed once they got over a very tiny barely 3 sentences of an "argument" over it halfway through the book.
Has spice/smut, but it's not overly detailed and feels more like softcore/too afraid to write all the gritty details. Writing overall felt meh even outside the smut/spice scenes.
WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE TV SHOW?!
July 5, 2025
4⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Hayden Stone for giving me an ARC for this book, this was amazing. I loved this book sooo much! I hesitated almost giving it a 5 star, but didn’t because of a few things.
1. I think the author wrote Auggie’s closetedness too aggressive. like when he told thomas “if i’m seen with you, people might think i’m gay too” and just him never wanting to be seen with Thomas major red flag in someone that’s gay. Don’t care if you’re closested or not, that’s a weird thing to say/do. Definitely didn’t like that. It was only for like 100 pages, so it wasn’t for a majority of the book so I was able to get over it.
2. There’s a lot of childish wording “x” at the end of every text
“I listen to the conversation because i like hot boys,” it just seems like something a 13 year old and teen boy would say to me. Doesn’t seem like something an adult would say let alone a grown adult prince.
Overall I enjoyed it and really liked it. Besides Auggie being written too aggressive in the closeted aspect and the childish/teen boy wording every now and then, I really enjoy this book! I will definitely be reading from this author again! Write after I finished this book I went to sign up for the newsletter and went to see if I could preorder for How to Love a Prince and Handle with Care!
Thank you NetGalley and Hayden Stone for giving me an ARC for this book, this was amazing. I loved this book sooo much! I hesitated almost giving it a 5 star, but didn’t because of a few things.
1. I think the author wrote Auggie’s closetedness too aggressive. like when he told thomas “if i’m seen with you, people might think i’m gay too” and just him never wanting to be seen with Thomas major red flag in someone that’s gay. Don’t care if you’re closested or not, that’s a weird thing to say/do. Definitely didn’t like that. It was only for like 100 pages, so it wasn’t for a majority of the book so I was able to get over it.
2. There’s a lot of childish wording “x” at the end of every text
“I listen to the conversation because i like hot boys,” it just seems like something a 13 year old and teen boy would say to me. Doesn’t seem like something an adult would say let alone a grown adult prince.
Overall I enjoyed it and really liked it. Besides Auggie being written too aggressive in the closeted aspect and the childish/teen boy wording every now and then, I really enjoy this book! I will definitely be reading from this author again! Write after I finished this book I went to sign up for the newsletter and went to see if I could preorder for How to Love a Prince and Handle with Care!
July 14, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
I really wanted to like this book, but there were so many gaps in the story. It's never really stated why Thomas's family is so against the monarchy, which is supposed to be driving the story. Thomas and August is an instant love, and I'm not a big fan of it, as it doesn't feel very authentic.
August blows so hot and cold with everyone around him, and everyone seems to want him to pretend to be someone he isn't. It felt like the conflicts between all the characters were resolved so quickly and it cheapened the book. It feels like none of the characters know what they actually want. The writing kept repeating itself and it got frustrating to keep reading it over and over.
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
I really wanted to like this book, but there were so many gaps in the story. It's never really stated why Thomas's family is so against the monarchy, which is supposed to be driving the story. Thomas and August is an instant love, and I'm not a big fan of it, as it doesn't feel very authentic.
August blows so hot and cold with everyone around him, and everyone seems to want him to pretend to be someone he isn't. It felt like the conflicts between all the characters were resolved so quickly and it cheapened the book. It feels like none of the characters know what they actually want. The writing kept repeating itself and it got frustrating to keep reading it over and over.
July 8, 2025
This was okay. Not great, but not bad either. Just okay.
I really wanted more from it, I feel like the characters were too surface level. I wanted more from this book, but at the same time I felt like it was dragging on for much longer than it needed to. I felt like we could have wrapped the story up a little more succinctly.
This was a solid 3 stars. Not sure if I will request the next one in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
I really wanted more from it, I feel like the characters were too surface level. I wanted more from this book, but at the same time I felt like it was dragging on for much longer than it needed to. I felt like we could have wrapped the story up a little more succinctly.
This was a solid 3 stars. Not sure if I will request the next one in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
July 25, 2025
2.5 review coming
July 22, 2025
1⭐️
*deep guttural sigh*
I honestly don't even know where to begin with this. I - like many others - came to this looking for another "Red, White & Royal Blue," and was deeply disappointed with how this went. Where it's predecessor succeeded, this one failed to deliver.
Let's start with the premise: it is whack af. The fact that the firstborn crown prince would go on a reality TV show (yes, you read that correctly) in the first place, let alone that he is made to go on by the King of England (yep, that too) is absolutely insane to start. It gets even worse when I see the manufactured drama sprinkled throughout the story that all just feels tired and played out. Imagine every overplayed trope - opposites attract, reality TV premise, miscommunication, "enemies" to lovers - played out in a giant mish-mash of convoluted storytelling.
Characters were a little too predictable, the writing was not that great, and there just did not seem to be any redeemability with this work. I admire the author for attempting this piece, I fear they missed the mark so far that I cannot find the silver lining. I don't want to harp on this author more than necessary, but suffice it to say that I did not like this book in the least. Someone may enjoy this...
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this book.
*deep guttural sigh*
I honestly don't even know where to begin with this. I - like many others - came to this looking for another "Red, White & Royal Blue," and was deeply disappointed with how this went. Where it's predecessor succeeded, this one failed to deliver.
Let's start with the premise: it is whack af. The fact that the firstborn crown prince would go on a reality TV show (yes, you read that correctly) in the first place, let alone that he is made to go on by the King of England (yep, that too) is absolutely insane to start. It gets even worse when I see the manufactured drama sprinkled throughout the story that all just feels tired and played out. Imagine every overplayed trope - opposites attract, reality TV premise, miscommunication, "enemies" to lovers - played out in a giant mish-mash of convoluted storytelling.
Characters were a little too predictable, the writing was not that great, and there just did not seem to be any redeemability with this work. I admire the author for attempting this piece, I fear they missed the mark so far that I cannot find the silver lining. I don't want to harp on this author more than necessary, but suffice it to say that I did not like this book in the least. Someone may enjoy this...
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this book.
September 3, 2025
1.5 ⭐ Well that was not the book for me.
I literally disliked it from the first page. I'm stubborn though, so I finished it. Honestly I should have dnfd it after probably the first or second chapter.
My number one pet peeve in books, what I hate so fucking much, is when mcs have sex with non mcs and guess what? We got this in the first few pages.
He fucks his "bff". He says he is a gay person and only attracted to men but fucks his female bff and almost another woman? Plus he knows his friend has feelings for him and he uses her. Are you for real? Also he is depressed which comes often with a low libido and still he can have sex with a woman eventhough he is gay. Okay.
And this friendship ugh, again he uses her and she is in love with him. That's not a base for a friendship, let alone best friendship for me.
We only get one pov which is another huge pet peeve for me. Of course it's Auggie's pov. He was so fucking annoying. If you want sympathy for a character, maybe don't make him a Windsor? A lot of people have the same issues he has, but without the added privilege.
The mentioning of Taylor Swift annoyed me from the beginning but having her mentioned 6 times? If you like her music fine what ever but to promote her? Her? In your book. There are so many other popstars that deserve it more.
If you are looking for a swoony, sweet love story, look further. Their love story was barely mentioned. And so much hot and cold bullshit. There were so many fucking chapters were they didn't even have contact. I mean the other guy has another relationship. THE FUCK??? *screams
How much can you love someone if you can move on so quickly?
His public coming out was barely mentioned. Thomas family is anti monarchy and it was barely mentioned in the epilogue how his family reacted to him dating the prince.
Auggie doesn't identify as male, more gender fluid or non binary but that was barely mentioned. If you want to add a non binary character, great but please talk about it more than him just sometimes wearing nail polish or makeup.
The same goes with his eating disorder. His relationship with food was mentioned quite a bit but it was never stated that it's probably an ED and it never sounded negative.
His conflict with his sister could have been resolved the next day but he takes half a year to talk to her?
I honestly have nothing positive to say about this book. It felt too long with way too much internal monologue.
I literally disliked it from the first page. I'm stubborn though, so I finished it. Honestly I should have dnfd it after probably the first or second chapter.
My number one pet peeve in books, what I hate so fucking much, is when mcs have sex with non mcs and guess what? We got this in the first few pages.
He fucks his "bff". He says he is a gay person and only attracted to men but fucks his female bff and almost another woman? Plus he knows his friend has feelings for him and he uses her. Are you for real? Also he is depressed which comes often with a low libido and still he can have sex with a woman eventhough he is gay. Okay.
And this friendship ugh, again he uses her and she is in love with him. That's not a base for a friendship, let alone best friendship for me.
We only get one pov which is another huge pet peeve for me. Of course it's Auggie's pov. He was so fucking annoying. If you want sympathy for a character, maybe don't make him a Windsor? A lot of people have the same issues he has, but without the added privilege.
The mentioning of Taylor Swift annoyed me from the beginning but having her mentioned 6 times? If you like her music fine what ever but to promote her? Her? In your book. There are so many other popstars that deserve it more.
If you are looking for a swoony, sweet love story, look further. Their love story was barely mentioned. And so much hot and cold bullshit. There were so many fucking chapters were they didn't even have contact. I mean the other guy has another relationship. THE FUCK??? *screams
How much can you love someone if you can move on so quickly?
His public coming out was barely mentioned. Thomas family is anti monarchy and it was barely mentioned in the epilogue how his family reacted to him dating the prince.
Auggie doesn't identify as male, more gender fluid or non binary but that was barely mentioned. If you want to add a non binary character, great but please talk about it more than him just sometimes wearing nail polish or makeup.
The same goes with his eating disorder. His relationship with food was mentioned quite a bit but it was never stated that it's probably an ED and it never sounded negative.
His conflict with his sister could have been resolved the next day but he takes half a year to talk to her?
I honestly have nothing positive to say about this book. It felt too long with way too much internal monologue.
July 4, 2025
Stop everything you're doing and pick up How to Date a Prince immediately! Hayden Stone has delivered an absolutely dazzling, utterly addictive, and heart-achingly romantic masterpiece that earns every single one of its five stars.
The premise alone is pure gold, a secretly gay British Crown Prince, forced onto a reality TV show to find a bride, finds himself falling head over heels for a charismatic American heir whose family wants to abolish the monarchy. Seriously, that's not just a plot, it's a gold mine of delicious tension and witty banter.
Prince Auggie is an absolute gem of a character. He's a private, daydreamer, and deeply sympathetic soul navigating the soul-crushing expectations of his royal duty while secretly yearning for a life true to himself. Watching him squirm and then slowly blossom under the glare of reality TV and the infuriating charm of Thomas Golden is a journey you won't forget.
And Thomas Golden? Oh, he's the perfect foil initially 'irritatingly gorgeous' and a walking, talking challenge to everything Auggie represents, especially with his family's anti-monarchy agenda. Their previous disastrous encounter and their initial 'hate at first sight' on the reality show crackles with an electric energy that quickly, and gloriously, ignites into an undeniable, secret romance. The 'searing heatwave' they create behind the scenes isn't just physical; it's emotional, raw, and utterly captivating.
The reality TV setting is genius, providing the perfect crucible for their forbidden love to simmer and then boil over. The stakes are incredibly high, as Auggie is forced to confront the impossible choice between his destiny as future king and the love that threatens to upend his entire world.
Hayden Stone masterfully blends laugh-out-loud moments with profound emotional depth, exploring themes of duty, identity, and the courage it takes to pursue true happiness. This isn't just a romance; it's a compelling story about breaking free from gilded cages and daring to choose love above all else.
If you love M/M romance, forbidden love stories, royal intrigue, and a healthy dose of reality TV drama, How to Date a Prince is your next obsession. I devoured every page and am already desperate for a reread. An absolute triumph!
The premise alone is pure gold, a secretly gay British Crown Prince, forced onto a reality TV show to find a bride, finds himself falling head over heels for a charismatic American heir whose family wants to abolish the monarchy. Seriously, that's not just a plot, it's a gold mine of delicious tension and witty banter.
Prince Auggie is an absolute gem of a character. He's a private, daydreamer, and deeply sympathetic soul navigating the soul-crushing expectations of his royal duty while secretly yearning for a life true to himself. Watching him squirm and then slowly blossom under the glare of reality TV and the infuriating charm of Thomas Golden is a journey you won't forget.
And Thomas Golden? Oh, he's the perfect foil initially 'irritatingly gorgeous' and a walking, talking challenge to everything Auggie represents, especially with his family's anti-monarchy agenda. Their previous disastrous encounter and their initial 'hate at first sight' on the reality show crackles with an electric energy that quickly, and gloriously, ignites into an undeniable, secret romance. The 'searing heatwave' they create behind the scenes isn't just physical; it's emotional, raw, and utterly captivating.
The reality TV setting is genius, providing the perfect crucible for their forbidden love to simmer and then boil over. The stakes are incredibly high, as Auggie is forced to confront the impossible choice between his destiny as future king and the love that threatens to upend his entire world.
Hayden Stone masterfully blends laugh-out-loud moments with profound emotional depth, exploring themes of duty, identity, and the courage it takes to pursue true happiness. This isn't just a romance; it's a compelling story about breaking free from gilded cages and daring to choose love above all else.
If you love M/M romance, forbidden love stories, royal intrigue, and a healthy dose of reality TV drama, How to Date a Prince is your next obsession. I devoured every page and am already desperate for a reread. An absolute triumph!
July 11, 2025
4.25⭐️
This book was so much more than just a simple romance story. It was a coming-out and coming to terms with one's identity, dealing with depression, injury and loss, as well as the expectations that others set for you. Auggie went through so much in this book and I definitely cried about half a dozen times for him (if not more).
Of course, his story with Thomas is beautifully written and I was all for it when I started reading book but what got me hooked to my kindle and reading for 3 hours straight was our not so straight main character. I loved Auggie so much and as a bisexual person who is only out to one person, his struggles with his identity and coming out to his family and friends were relatable and devastating. Of course, the stakes are higher for him than for me because of the whole "future king" thing.
When I started this book this morning I didn't know I would go on to feel so many emotions for these characters. At first, I was a bit skeptical because it felt like the "enemies-to-lovers" plot died too quickly and I was concerned for the rest of the story, but the struggles, the fights, the misunderstandings, they made up for it. And it definitely went in a completely new direction from what I was expecting.
I looked at the cover and the title and thought it was going to be similar to "Red, White and Royal Blue" and not gonna lie, the vibe was the same so if you liked RWRB then you'll probably like this one as well, but the story changes so much and honestly I think it became even better than Casey McQuiston's book.
I don't know what else to say except that I'm sad that I finished this book because I'll miss the characters, especially Auggie, and I'm excited for the second one.
This book was so much more than just a simple romance story. It was a coming-out and coming to terms with one's identity, dealing with depression, injury and loss, as well as the expectations that others set for you. Auggie went through so much in this book and I definitely cried about half a dozen times for him (if not more).
Of course, his story with Thomas is beautifully written and I was all for it when I started reading book but what got me hooked to my kindle and reading for 3 hours straight was our not so straight main character. I loved Auggie so much and as a bisexual person who is only out to one person, his struggles with his identity and coming out to his family and friends were relatable and devastating. Of course, the stakes are higher for him than for me because of the whole "future king" thing.
When I started this book this morning I didn't know I would go on to feel so many emotions for these characters. At first, I was a bit skeptical because it felt like the "enemies-to-lovers" plot died too quickly and I was concerned for the rest of the story, but the struggles, the fights, the misunderstandings, they made up for it. And it definitely went in a completely new direction from what I was expecting.
I looked at the cover and the title and thought it was going to be similar to "Red, White and Royal Blue" and not gonna lie, the vibe was the same so if you liked RWRB then you'll probably like this one as well, but the story changes so much and honestly I think it became even better than Casey McQuiston's book.
I don't know what else to say except that I'm sad that I finished this book because I'll miss the characters, especially Auggie, and I'm excited for the second one.
July 27, 2025
DNF at 36% the fact that it’s been over a month and I’ve only made it 36% should tell you everything you need to know.
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me, though I can absolutely see it appealing to fans of royal romcoms and reality tv.
The premise is fun and full of promise: a British Crown Prince being forced onto a reality show (by his reality TV-obsessed father, which okay.. weird?) while secretly falling for his co-star, an American influencer from a family that wants to abolish the monarchy. So, hear me out.. the opposites attract?? The forced proximity??? Potential enemies to lovers should’ve worked but idk it fell so flat, I was bored.
I struggled to connect with the characters and the plot. The writing felt a bit choppy to me, and I found myself not fully invested in Auggie or his dynamic with Thomas. One scene that particularly didn’t sit well with me was when Auggie sleeps with his best friend to get back at Thomas… it felt like the female character was used more as a plot device than a person, which pulled me out of the story.
I also found the premise of the reality show confusing. I couldn’t quite tell what the purpose of it was supposed to be a talent competition? A dating show? Something like Big Brother? I actually have no idea what the point of big brother is but still… I’m confused is all.
I know many readers will enjoy the wit, the royal drama, and the slow-burn tension between the MMCS. It’s got the bones of a good, fun romcom, it just wasn’t the right fit for me. sorry.
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me, though I can absolutely see it appealing to fans of royal romcoms and reality tv.
The premise is fun and full of promise: a British Crown Prince being forced onto a reality show (by his reality TV-obsessed father, which okay.. weird?) while secretly falling for his co-star, an American influencer from a family that wants to abolish the monarchy. So, hear me out.. the opposites attract?? The forced proximity??? Potential enemies to lovers should’ve worked but idk it fell so flat, I was bored.
I struggled to connect with the characters and the plot. The writing felt a bit choppy to me, and I found myself not fully invested in Auggie or his dynamic with Thomas. One scene that particularly didn’t sit well with me was when Auggie sleeps with his best friend to get back at Thomas… it felt like the female character was used more as a plot device than a person, which pulled me out of the story.
I also found the premise of the reality show confusing. I couldn’t quite tell what the purpose of it was supposed to be a talent competition? A dating show? Something like Big Brother? I actually have no idea what the point of big brother is but still… I’m confused is all.
I know many readers will enjoy the wit, the royal drama, and the slow-burn tension between the MMCS. It’s got the bones of a good, fun romcom, it just wasn’t the right fit for me. sorry.
July 1, 2025
A lighthearted quick read.
How to Date a Prince, was a feel good and a welcome addition to the M/M royal romance genre. It follows a lot of familiar tropes, including enemies to lovers but with a fun new twist in the form of a reality TV show. The story is an easy one to sit back and enjoy watching unfold, quickly becoming a "just one more chapter" kind of book. It allows you to enjoy a queer love story in a seemingly kinder world, which is a much appreciated escape.
While part of its charm is it's lightheartedness for me it was also one of its drawbacks. The stakes never seemed high or impactful. One example without trying to give much away is Thomas, the love interest who is anti-monarchy, never seems to really struggle with his biases. He considers them, but not in any significant way that would suggest his upbringing and actively part of anti-monarchy campaigns. It's very love/lust at first sight and then almost a love conquers all mentality.
Overall I really did enjoy the story and can honestly say I am looking forward to the second book in the Being Royal series, How to Love a Prince. So if you're looking for a cute read in the same vein as Red, White and Royal Blue I'd say you've found the right book.
Also a large thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for a review.
How to Date a Prince, was a feel good and a welcome addition to the M/M royal romance genre. It follows a lot of familiar tropes, including enemies to lovers but with a fun new twist in the form of a reality TV show. The story is an easy one to sit back and enjoy watching unfold, quickly becoming a "just one more chapter" kind of book. It allows you to enjoy a queer love story in a seemingly kinder world, which is a much appreciated escape.
While part of its charm is it's lightheartedness for me it was also one of its drawbacks. The stakes never seemed high or impactful. One example without trying to give much away is Thomas, the love interest who is anti-monarchy, never seems to really struggle with his biases. He considers them, but not in any significant way that would suggest his upbringing and actively part of anti-monarchy campaigns. It's very love/lust at first sight and then almost a love conquers all mentality.
Overall I really did enjoy the story and can honestly say I am looking forward to the second book in the Being Royal series, How to Love a Prince. So if you're looking for a cute read in the same vein as Red, White and Royal Blue I'd say you've found the right book.
Also a large thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for a review.
July 11, 2025
3.25
This was exactly what I expected - a shortish, light-hearted read. It wasn't anything remarkable but it was a lot of fun. I'll be honest the beginning of this book sort of dragged on for me but by around 40% I was invested - in the way you are invested in a silly fanfiction. Sometimes you need these light reads to pick your mood up and this was exactly that. To some extent the characters annoyed me, the constant miscommunication between them and just storming off without listening to one another was growing old by the end of the book, although in between those moments I thought these two were really sweet (I especially liked their epilogue). I wish it was more explored how it was done with the public of them being together. While in places largely unrealistic, I'm a sucker for hurt/comfort tropes and this delivered. What I was not a fan of is the vast popculture references. Yes, the plot was messy, yes this was messy but it was just fun!
Overall, just a fun read but not anything life-changing in terms of plot or writing.
This was exactly what I expected - a shortish, light-hearted read. It wasn't anything remarkable but it was a lot of fun. I'll be honest the beginning of this book sort of dragged on for me but by around 40% I was invested - in the way you are invested in a silly fanfiction. Sometimes you need these light reads to pick your mood up and this was exactly that. To some extent the characters annoyed me, the constant miscommunication between them and just storming off without listening to one another was growing old by the end of the book, although in between those moments I thought these two were really sweet (I especially liked their epilogue). I wish it was more explored how it was done with the public of them being together. While in places largely unrealistic, I'm a sucker for hurt/comfort tropes and this delivered. What I was not a fan of is the vast popculture references. Yes, the plot was messy, yes this was messy but it was just fun!
Overall, just a fun read but not anything life-changing in terms of plot or writing.
July 18, 2025
This book definitely had its fun moments—it is a romcom, after all—and for the most part, it delivered on that promise. There were some genuinely entertaining scenes that made me smile. However, a few elements didn’t quite land for me.
Although the MMC is 25 and the story includes some steamy moments (not fully closed-door but occasionally fading to black), the tone felt more YA than adult. The setting gives off strong boarding school vibes, and Thomas, despite being half-American, reads very British in dialogue. If he was raised in the U.S., his phrasing tend to feel a bit off.
Character-wise, both Thomas and Auggie often felt more like teens than adults. Their hot-and-cold dynamic, frequent avoidance of mature conversations, and abrupt emotional shifts sometimes felt like they were driven more by plot needs than organic character development. Thomas calling out Auggie’s inconsistency was a bit ironic, given both shared that same push-pull behaviour.
The side characters also felt underdeveloped. While I understand that complex family dynamics can be messy, many of the supporting characters came across more like placeholders than fully realized people. I would’ve loved to see them fleshed out beyond surface traits.
This is my third read from Hayden, and while I truly appreciate the ARC and the author’s creativity, I’m starting to think their writing style might not be for me. I often find myself wanting more structure, more flow, and stronger build-ups to key moments. The stories have potential—I just wish the execution felt a little more cohesive.
Although the MMC is 25 and the story includes some steamy moments (not fully closed-door but occasionally fading to black), the tone felt more YA than adult. The setting gives off strong boarding school vibes, and Thomas, despite being half-American, reads very British in dialogue. If he was raised in the U.S., his phrasing tend to feel a bit off.
Character-wise, both Thomas and Auggie often felt more like teens than adults. Their hot-and-cold dynamic, frequent avoidance of mature conversations, and abrupt emotional shifts sometimes felt like they were driven more by plot needs than organic character development. Thomas calling out Auggie’s inconsistency was a bit ironic, given both shared that same push-pull behaviour.
The side characters also felt underdeveloped. While I understand that complex family dynamics can be messy, many of the supporting characters came across more like placeholders than fully realized people. I would’ve loved to see them fleshed out beyond surface traits.
This is my third read from Hayden, and while I truly appreciate the ARC and the author’s creativity, I’m starting to think their writing style might not be for me. I often find myself wanting more structure, more flow, and stronger build-ups to key moments. The stories have potential—I just wish the execution felt a little more cohesive.
June 22, 2025
Auggie, the closeted crown prince of the UK, has been ordered by his father to compete on a reality tv show. Auggie falls for his fellow competitor, Thomas, who wants to abolish the monarchy.
The premise is obviously ridiculous, so you gotta go into this not expecting anything to be realistic in any way. However, the premise is also very fun because it combines two types of stories that people (read: me) love: stories about royals and stories about celebrities. Also the subgenre of reality tv. The parts of the story set during the filming of the show are very fun. There's competition, sneaking around, sabotage, and villains. Then there was the big left turn that the plot took, which I think added a lot to the story. It went somewhere I was not expecting and really elevated the stakes in a good way.
However, I did find that the back and forth of “I really care about you, but I’m a prince” got repetitive and frustrating because it seemed like it took a long time to move forward. Additionally, I think there were several relationships/issues that needed to be addressed or explored more thoroughly than they were - Anne, Auggie's father, gender identity, and views on monarchy.
Overall, I had fun and enjoyed the characters, so I'll give 3.5 stars, rounded up.
(I received a free advanced review copy from the publisher/NetGalley.)
The premise is obviously ridiculous, so you gotta go into this not expecting anything to be realistic in any way. However, the premise is also very fun because it combines two types of stories that people (read: me) love: stories about royals and stories about celebrities. Also the subgenre of reality tv. The parts of the story set during the filming of the show are very fun. There's competition, sneaking around, sabotage, and villains. Then there was the big left turn that the plot took, which I think added a lot to the story. It went somewhere I was not expecting and really elevated the stakes in a good way.
However, I did find that the back and forth of “I really care about you, but I’m a prince” got repetitive and frustrating because it seemed like it took a long time to move forward. Additionally, I think there were several relationships/issues that needed to be addressed or explored more thoroughly than they were - Anne, Auggie's father, gender identity, and views on monarchy.
Overall, I had fun and enjoyed the characters, so I'll give 3.5 stars, rounded up.
(I received a free advanced review copy from the publisher/NetGalley.)
June 27, 2025
Due to be published 07/15/2025.
This book had no right being as cute as it was. Prince Augustus (Auggie) is next in line to the throne and figuring himself out when his father signs him up for a reality television show to increase the transparency of the monarchy. He is cast alongside no other than Thomas Golden, an American influencer whose family is anti-monarchy. It has very light enemies to lovers plotlines, though the enemies trope is very lightly done. It has strong Red, White, and Royal Blue influences.
If you're looking for a very light, easy, queer read with some non-binary representation (sort of), then this is an easy pickup to add to your summer list. The characters were easy to like or dislike and while some of the relationship building was frustrating and repetitive, I don't think it got in the way too much.
3 stars, thanks Netgalley for the early read!
This book had no right being as cute as it was. Prince Augustus (Auggie) is next in line to the throne and figuring himself out when his father signs him up for a reality television show to increase the transparency of the monarchy. He is cast alongside no other than Thomas Golden, an American influencer whose family is anti-monarchy. It has very light enemies to lovers plotlines, though the enemies trope is very lightly done. It has strong Red, White, and Royal Blue influences.
If you're looking for a very light, easy, queer read with some non-binary representation (sort of), then this is an easy pickup to add to your summer list. The characters were easy to like or dislike and while some of the relationship building was frustrating and repetitive, I don't think it got in the way too much.
3 stars, thanks Netgalley for the early read!
Read
July 2, 2025[ARC] Thank you to NetGalley for this Arc in exchange for an honest review.
I am DNFing at 51% I was going to try and push through but I couldn’t see this being more than a 2.5 for me and I didn’t want to leave a bad review because I forced myself to finish a book I wasn’t liking. I couldn’t feel the chemistry between the two characters at all and I could tell this was going to be a back and forth of “we can’t but let’s do it anyway” then someone gets hurt… repeat. I also wasn’t a big fan of the spice, it felt really rushed and awkward.. going straight from first kiss to… YK, is not my style. I really wish I liked this more because I love a good royalty romance but it just wasn’t hitting for me. Thank you again to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.
I am DNFing at 51% I was going to try and push through but I couldn’t see this being more than a 2.5 for me and I didn’t want to leave a bad review because I forced myself to finish a book I wasn’t liking. I couldn’t feel the chemistry between the two characters at all and I could tell this was going to be a back and forth of “we can’t but let’s do it anyway” then someone gets hurt… repeat. I also wasn’t a big fan of the spice, it felt really rushed and awkward.. going straight from first kiss to… YK, is not my style. I really wish I liked this more because I love a good royalty romance but it just wasn’t hitting for me. Thank you again to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.
July 8, 2025
Modern day Romeo and Julius with a fair bit of heavy petting!
I want to start this by saying I really enjoyed it! The premise was a clear enemies to lovers trope, but that wasn't hidden of course, and it was brilliant!
On occasion, especially towards the middle of the book, conversations were a little jarring, feeling like they could have done with being fleshed out a little bit. A couple of times I spotted some grammatical issues, but nothing major and it didn't put me off reading.
Honestly I was really into it, and, towards the last half especially, I couldn't put it down.
I feel really privileged to have received an ARC of this book, and I look forward to reading more of this authors work in future!
I want to start this by saying I really enjoyed it! The premise was a clear enemies to lovers trope, but that wasn't hidden of course, and it was brilliant!
On occasion, especially towards the middle of the book, conversations were a little jarring, feeling like they could have done with being fleshed out a little bit. A couple of times I spotted some grammatical issues, but nothing major and it didn't put me off reading.
Honestly I was really into it, and, towards the last half especially, I couldn't put it down.
I feel really privileged to have received an ARC of this book, and I look forward to reading more of this authors work in future!
July 5, 2025
What happens when a closeted gay prince starts to develop feelings for an anti-monarchy billionaire and while filming a reality TV show?
I will always pick up an MM royal romance. I will admit that this story did take a little bit longer to get into but once the setting in story and pacing picked up, it was a very fast read. It did feel like these characters could actually exist. I would be swooning one minute with their bonding and wanting to throw my Kindle the next. I think that it is always a positive aspect to a book if you can get the reader to verbally react to something. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
I will always pick up an MM royal romance. I will admit that this story did take a little bit longer to get into but once the setting in story and pacing picked up, it was a very fast read. It did feel like these characters could actually exist. I would be swooning one minute with their bonding and wanting to throw my Kindle the next. I think that it is always a positive aspect to a book if you can get the reader to verbally react to something. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
July 17, 2025
It’s hard to be a royal. Yes there are perks, but there are definite downsides too. In Hayden Stone’s “How to Date a Prince” Crown Prince Augustus has his life all mapped out. Unfortunately he has had little input into it and is required to follow that path, even if he doesn’t really want to. On top of everything else Prince Auggie is entered into a reality tv show without his prior knowledge, where he meets Thomas Golden, an anti-monarchist. Sparks fly, competition flares, and rivalries are created. But who will win? Readers who like romance, royalty tropes, and LGBTQIAP+ themes will enjoy this book.
Once I started reading this book, I didn’t want to put it down! The storyline is well paced and plausible, though it touches the limits of believability. I liked the interactions of the different characters throughout the book. The concussion effects are quite accurate and I’m glad to see that they aren’t minimized, as I’ve had personal experiences with family members who have been affected by severe concussions. This is definitely a book that I will read more than once!
I wish to thank Xpresso Book Tours for providing this book and selecting me to review it on NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#HowToDateAPrince
#XpressoBookTours
#NetGalley
Once I started reading this book, I didn’t want to put it down! The storyline is well paced and plausible, though it touches the limits of believability. I liked the interactions of the different characters throughout the book. The concussion effects are quite accurate and I’m glad to see that they aren’t minimized, as I’ve had personal experiences with family members who have been affected by severe concussions. This is definitely a book that I will read more than once!
I wish to thank Xpresso Book Tours for providing this book and selecting me to review it on NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#HowToDateAPrince
#XpressoBookTours
#NetGalley
July 19, 2025
This was such a fun and unique take on a monarchy M/M romance. I really enjoyed the storyline, especially the reality show aspect—it added a fun twist. Auggie was a complex character, and I liked seeing how he grew throughout the book. The dynamics between both main characters were also really well done and kept me hooked
Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews