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Being Royal #2
How to Love a Prince
What happens when a playboy prince must find a respectable husband to redeem himself and secure the monarchy’s future when he unexpectedly inherits the throne?
When London-based playboy Prince Theodor unexpectedly inherits the Danish throne, he must clean up his scandalous image by finding an appropriate husband. But his planned redemption arc to audition fake boyfriends to fake marry creates another set of problems, until a fateful party on Corfu, Greece leads him to Greek Prince Stefanos, of the former Greek monarchy, and challenges his guarded heart as sparks fly.
It’s too bad they accidentally sink a yacht, which inevitably leads to more scandal, and they must start apart. However, Theodor and Stefanos can’t stop thinking of each other, leading to heated, secret encounters between Greece and England guaranteed to set the tabloids alight once their secret is revealed…
How to Love a Prince is a light-hearted royal romcom featuring fake dating, opposites-attract, and forbidden love in a holiday romance.
When London-based playboy Prince Theodor unexpectedly inherits the Danish throne, he must clean up his scandalous image by finding an appropriate husband. But his planned redemption arc to audition fake boyfriends to fake marry creates another set of problems, until a fateful party on Corfu, Greece leads him to Greek Prince Stefanos, of the former Greek monarchy, and challenges his guarded heart as sparks fly.
It’s too bad they accidentally sink a yacht, which inevitably leads to more scandal, and they must start apart. However, Theodor and Stefanos can’t stop thinking of each other, leading to heated, secret encounters between Greece and England guaranteed to set the tabloids alight once their secret is revealed…
How to Love a Prince is a light-hearted royal romcom featuring fake dating, opposites-attract, and forbidden love in a holiday romance.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2026
About the author
Hayden Stone
7 books278 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
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 3, 2026
I previously read the first book in the London Arts series by Hayden Stone and marked him as a follow-up read. Then this book came out, but I hadn't read the first in the series, so I bought it and read that last week. This weekend I quickly transitioned into the sophomore of the series, realizing while Augie plays a small role, it's an entirely new set of characters. A Danish and Greek prince fall in love this time! Good chemistry, tho they came together too quickly to immediately fall. Tho perhaps love at first sight is a thing? Good writing - keeps the emotions in check but lets a few tears form at the right moments. Wanted more family time, but also enjoyed the parts we got. Looking forward to the third one!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for letting me read this book. I’m going to be honest, I only read 6% of this book and it wasn’t good. Let me start out by saying that I most likely won’t read any other books from this series if my experience is like the one I had while trying to read this book. This book is a solid 1✨.
Firstly, the writing wasn’t good. I can’t tell you how bored I was trying to read this because of how dry the sentences were and how they were lacking a lot of elements that make the writing in a book good. The writing also wasn’t my favorite because it was both hard to read and it was so awkward. Whenever our characters interacted it was always very awkward. It was like they were seeing each other for the first time.
Secondly, I didn’t like our characters especially our main male characters. I’m not gonna lie when I say I don’t remember his name. But the prince of Denmark’s ex, Aiden was actually the most boring character I had even read about. He was lying to the press about the prince of Denmark and he just sounded annoying on the page. I didn’t like the prince’s friends James and Frankie because I really couldn’t tell if they were dating or just friends. Also the prince of Greece, he was just so predictable because with him and Theo (prince of Denmark) interacted I knew they were going to fall in love. Because it was just so insta-lovey and I’m not a fan of insta-love. Also Stefanos who is the prince of Greece, his name does not fit him at all. But he was the best character.
The writing also felt like the author was trying too hard because at some point Theo said something along the lines of “with every fiber of my being.” When I had read that I couldn’t stop my eyes from rolling because of how cringey it was and it sounded like the author was trying to write things in that would be in a Hallmark movie. Which is not the right genre for this book and the author could have said something entirely different that would have made the chapter a lot better. I just want to thank NetGalley and the author for allowing me to read this book.
Firstly, the writing wasn’t good. I can’t tell you how bored I was trying to read this because of how dry the sentences were and how they were lacking a lot of elements that make the writing in a book good. The writing also wasn’t my favorite because it was both hard to read and it was so awkward. Whenever our characters interacted it was always very awkward. It was like they were seeing each other for the first time.
Secondly, I didn’t like our characters especially our main male characters. I’m not gonna lie when I say I don’t remember his name. But the prince of Denmark’s ex, Aiden was actually the most boring character I had even read about. He was lying to the press about the prince of Denmark and he just sounded annoying on the page. I didn’t like the prince’s friends James and Frankie because I really couldn’t tell if they were dating or just friends. Also the prince of Greece, he was just so predictable because with him and Theo (prince of Denmark) interacted I knew they were going to fall in love. Because it was just so insta-lovey and I’m not a fan of insta-love. Also Stefanos who is the prince of Greece, his name does not fit him at all. But he was the best character.
The writing also felt like the author was trying too hard because at some point Theo said something along the lines of “with every fiber of my being.” When I had read that I couldn’t stop my eyes from rolling because of how cringey it was and it sounded like the author was trying to write things in that would be in a Hallmark movie. Which is not the right genre for this book and the author could have said something entirely different that would have made the chapter a lot better. I just want to thank NetGalley and the author for allowing me to read this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✧ Genre: Gay Romance
✧ Tropes: Royals • Secret Relationship • Danish Prince/Greek Prince
✧ Rating: 3.25/5 ★
✧ Spice: 2.5/5 🌶️
✧ Summary:
This was a fun, light-hearted royal rom-com about Prince Theodor unexpectedly becoming heir to the Danish throne after his sister steps down, forcing him to clean up his scandalous reputation and search for a suitable husband. But all Theo wants is Greek Prince Stefanos.
✧ Thoughts:
Compared to the first book, which I had mixed feelings about, I found this one a little less interesting overall, even though it was also significantly less cringe than How to Date a Prince. It was still entertaining and easy to fly through, but it never fully hooked me emotionally. The pacing dragged because of the repetitive “will they/won’t they” dynamic, and some plot points felt more dramatic than necessary. The writing style is okay.
The romance between Theo and Stefanos was cute, but it was heavily insta-lust, which I’m not the hugest fan of. Their chemistry was definitely there, the flirting and secret meetups where fun, and I enjoyed their romantic moments together—but I never completely fell in love with them. A lot of their relationship happens in short bursts between long periods apart, so I struggled to feel fully invested in their emotional connection, and it also made parts of the book a bit... boring.
As for the main characters—I liked Theo most of the time. I liked his anxiety, his grief over his father, and his struggle with suddenly carrying the weight of the monarchy. It made him and interesting character. However, he is very immature for someone who is 27 years old, but more importantly who is supposed to be a prince. I never really got the royal vibe. Meanwhile, Stef was sweet and supportive, but I never felt like I fully knew him outside of being Theo’s love interest. Not even his Coming Out was really adressed...
I liked some of the side characters, but surely not everyone. I liked his mother and sister, but I really disliked how Theo’s sister situation was handled. I understood why she didn’t want the throne, but I hated how Theo’s panic and frustration were treated as unreasonable by her and his mother. He was suddenly expected to completely change his life overnight, and it felt like they dismissed his feelings far too quickly. And, well, his ex is just stupid.
On top of that, Theo constantly seemed to get pushed around by the people around him, especially when it came to the fake dating scheme and public image expectations, which made me frustrated for him more than once. Which is also a reason I did not like James.
Oddly enough, I just never fully warmed up with James. I can’t even fully explain why, but every time he appeared, something about him annoyed me a lot. Even though I know he was supposed to be supportive and charming and his intentions were nothing but good, I just didn’t like him, and the whole fake dating thing didn’t help. The third book in the series, How to Find a Prince (coming out 2027), will have him as an MC, and I’m not sure yet if I want to read it. I’d like a fun romance by Hayden Stone, but I’m neither a fan of James or the blurb.
Overall, this was a enjoyable royal gay romance that’s easy to binge and fun in the moment, even if it wasn’t anything groundbreaking. I liked it, it entertained me and I had a good time reading it, but it also didn’t leave a huge emotional impact on me.
✧ Thanks to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
✧ Publication Date: 1st June, 2026
✧ Tropes: Royals • Secret Relationship • Danish Prince/Greek Prince
✧ Rating: 3.25/5 ★
✧ Spice: 2.5/5 🌶️
✧ Summary:
This was a fun, light-hearted royal rom-com about Prince Theodor unexpectedly becoming heir to the Danish throne after his sister steps down, forcing him to clean up his scandalous reputation and search for a suitable husband. But all Theo wants is Greek Prince Stefanos.
✧ Thoughts:
Compared to the first book, which I had mixed feelings about, I found this one a little less interesting overall, even though it was also significantly less cringe than How to Date a Prince. It was still entertaining and easy to fly through, but it never fully hooked me emotionally. The pacing dragged because of the repetitive “will they/won’t they” dynamic, and some plot points felt more dramatic than necessary. The writing style is okay.
The romance between Theo and Stefanos was cute, but it was heavily insta-lust, which I’m not the hugest fan of. Their chemistry was definitely there, the flirting and secret meetups where fun, and I enjoyed their romantic moments together—but I never completely fell in love with them. A lot of their relationship happens in short bursts between long periods apart, so I struggled to feel fully invested in their emotional connection, and it also made parts of the book a bit... boring.
As for the main characters—I liked Theo most of the time. I liked his anxiety, his grief over his father, and his struggle with suddenly carrying the weight of the monarchy. It made him and interesting character. However, he is very immature for someone who is 27 years old, but more importantly who is supposed to be a prince. I never really got the royal vibe. Meanwhile, Stef was sweet and supportive, but I never felt like I fully knew him outside of being Theo’s love interest. Not even his Coming Out was really adressed...
I liked some of the side characters, but surely not everyone. I liked his mother and sister, but I really disliked how Theo’s sister situation was handled. I understood why she didn’t want the throne, but I hated how Theo’s panic and frustration were treated as unreasonable by her and his mother. He was suddenly expected to completely change his life overnight, and it felt like they dismissed his feelings far too quickly. And, well, his ex is just stupid.
On top of that, Theo constantly seemed to get pushed around by the people around him, especially when it came to the fake dating scheme and public image expectations, which made me frustrated for him more than once. Which is also a reason I did not like James.
Oddly enough, I just never fully warmed up with James. I can’t even fully explain why, but every time he appeared, something about him annoyed me a lot. Even though I know he was supposed to be supportive and charming and his intentions were nothing but good, I just didn’t like him, and the whole fake dating thing didn’t help. The third book in the series, How to Find a Prince (coming out 2027), will have him as an MC, and I’m not sure yet if I want to read it. I’d like a fun romance by Hayden Stone, but I’m neither a fan of James or the blurb.
Overall, this was a enjoyable royal gay romance that’s easy to binge and fun in the moment, even if it wasn’t anything groundbreaking. I liked it, it entertained me and I had a good time reading it, but it also didn’t leave a huge emotional impact on me.
✧ Thanks to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
✧ Publication Date: 1st June, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m bummed that I didn’t like this book.
From the description and cover, I thought it’d be a new favorite. Speaking of the description, let’s get into my first critique. The description is not 100% accurate to the actual story. In my own opinion, it comes off as a secret relationship or perhaps a fake dating plot… It’s not. Theo meets Stef before the fake dating scheme and news of his sister’s abdication. I also wouldn’t call what happens between Theo and Stef a ‘secret relationship’ for the first +80% percent of the book, they’re not even technically together. They meet up only a handful of times and only for at most a day, and they briefly text one another before weeks/months apart. I was frankly disappointed at the lack of a relationship developed between them.
The reason for the sister’s abdication was ridiculous. The way the other characters treated her reason to not want to rule as valid and treat Theo as if he’s unreasonable for freaking out was infuriating. It made me dislike the sister and actively not enjoy the book anytime she was on page (which was thankfully very little).
The ex-boyfriend plot line was also unsatisfying. Theo’s ex breaks up with him in the first chapter due to his falling for someone else. He then goes to the press and bashes Theo, telling all sorts of lies. Does Theo fight back? No. Aiden (the ex) also acts as if they’re still together, and Theo is ghosting him when Theo goes out on other dates despite the fact that he posted a picture of him and his new boyfriend on social media. The press could easily find that and expose Aiden for lying, but they don’t. Aiden and his smear campaign are such a big conflict at the beginning of the story, and in the end, it just goes… nowhere.
The ‘finding a fake husband’ scheme is also nonsensical. They decide to clean up Theo’s name after Aiden ruined it by making Theo go on multiple fake dates in public. Aiden’s whole thing was that Theo was a playboy and a cheat. Why would he go on multiple dates with different men to clear that up? How would getting a husband make him look like a better king? If this was a way to get him and Stef together, I could excuse it, but this plot point was a point of major contention between them as he was going on these dates while seeing him. It just added so much unnecessary drama.
The characters are either extremely unlikable or not noteworthy. James, in particular, was one of my least favorite characters. I had a hard time anytime he was on the page. The main character and love interest, while tolerable, seemed to have no personality. I couldn’t tell you a single trait either one of them had. Their dialogue (particularly in the beginning) was very stilted, unnatural, and awkward. It got a bit better towards the end, though I’m not sure if it’s because I grew to tolerate it or not.
Clearly, from the other stellar reviews, this is just a me thing. Maybe I just read it at the wrong time or something. Thank you, Netgalley, and the author for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review.
There’s also a continuity error in the book, though hopefully it’s just in the arc? (Spoilers) Theo tells James that Stef ended things on their trip to Edinburgh, but when Theo has a meeting, to tell James and Ethan what happened in the next chapter, James asks if he even made it to Edinburgh and why he was back early. He knows why?? Why does he suddenly have memory loss?
Tags/Warnings
.
.
.
Tropes: Insta-love/lust, Cheating
Triggers: Grief
Third act break-up: Yes.
OM/OW: Theo goes on multiple dates while he is seeing Stef, he only kisses one.
From the description and cover, I thought it’d be a new favorite. Speaking of the description, let’s get into my first critique. The description is not 100% accurate to the actual story. In my own opinion, it comes off as a secret relationship or perhaps a fake dating plot… It’s not. Theo meets Stef before the fake dating scheme and news of his sister’s abdication. I also wouldn’t call what happens between Theo and Stef a ‘secret relationship’ for the first +80% percent of the book, they’re not even technically together. They meet up only a handful of times and only for at most a day, and they briefly text one another before weeks/months apart. I was frankly disappointed at the lack of a relationship developed between them.
The reason for the sister’s abdication was ridiculous. The way the other characters treated her reason to not want to rule as valid and treat Theo as if he’s unreasonable for freaking out was infuriating. It made me dislike the sister and actively not enjoy the book anytime she was on page (which was thankfully very little).
The ex-boyfriend plot line was also unsatisfying. Theo’s ex breaks up with him in the first chapter due to his falling for someone else. He then goes to the press and bashes Theo, telling all sorts of lies. Does Theo fight back? No. Aiden (the ex) also acts as if they’re still together, and Theo is ghosting him when Theo goes out on other dates despite the fact that he posted a picture of him and his new boyfriend on social media. The press could easily find that and expose Aiden for lying, but they don’t. Aiden and his smear campaign are such a big conflict at the beginning of the story, and in the end, it just goes… nowhere.
The ‘finding a fake husband’ scheme is also nonsensical. They decide to clean up Theo’s name after Aiden ruined it by making Theo go on multiple fake dates in public. Aiden’s whole thing was that Theo was a playboy and a cheat. Why would he go on multiple dates with different men to clear that up? How would getting a husband make him look like a better king? If this was a way to get him and Stef together, I could excuse it, but this plot point was a point of major contention between them as he was going on these dates while seeing him. It just added so much unnecessary drama.
The characters are either extremely unlikable or not noteworthy. James, in particular, was one of my least favorite characters. I had a hard time anytime he was on the page. The main character and love interest, while tolerable, seemed to have no personality. I couldn’t tell you a single trait either one of them had. Their dialogue (particularly in the beginning) was very stilted, unnatural, and awkward. It got a bit better towards the end, though I’m not sure if it’s because I grew to tolerate it or not.
Clearly, from the other stellar reviews, this is just a me thing. Maybe I just read it at the wrong time or something. Thank you, Netgalley, and the author for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review.
There’s also a continuity error in the book, though hopefully it’s just in the arc? (Spoilers) Theo tells James that Stef ended things on their trip to Edinburgh, but when Theo has a meeting, to tell James and Ethan what happened in the next chapter, James asks if he even made it to Edinburgh and why he was back early. He knows why?? Why does he suddenly have memory loss?
Tags/Warnings
.
.
.
Tropes: Insta-love/lust, Cheating
Triggers: Grief
Third act break-up: Yes.
OM/OW: Theo goes on multiple dates while he is seeing Stef, he only kisses one.
June 1, 2026
2.5 ⭐️
ok so this started as a silly goofy fun time and i was doing a good job suspending my disbelief and just going along for the ride but unfortunately that didn’t last…
my favourite part of the book is theo. he is such a hot mess but i am endeared to him and enjoyed watching him get into weird situations.
now onto what didn’t work for me:
basically, the whole fake dating plot. it just didn’t feel necessary. i think it’s because the fake dating isn’t between the main character and the main love interest as it usually is. so since we knew it wasn’t going to go anywhere, it got kinda boring. it also didn’t really make any sense. at first they kept sending him on dates with different dudes. but since this is supposed to help salvage his reputation, wouldn’t back to back dates with different men just make theo look (for lack of a better word) slutty? because that kind of defeats the whole purpose. they do kind of reach this conclusion and have theo stick with eddie but i still feel like it didn’t work because i don’t think the fake dating actually accomplished anything. theo just laid low and his name naturally fizzled out of the news cycle. it felt like the whole trope solely existed in this story to keep theo and stef apart and create manufactured drama (well duh but you know what i mean).
i also didn’t like many of the side characters. i thought that freja was incredibly selfish and a bad sister. i hated james. he was just so annoying constantly pushing the fake dating as if it’s the only solution to theo’s problems even when theo had his doubts and didn’t really want to do it (very much my way or the highway and i’m like dude shut up). apparently the next book is going to be about him…
i wanted to like stef but instead i found him very bland. he was kinda just there, i feel like we never really got to know him therefore making it hard to be invested in their relationship. also both him and theo kept saying it was impossible for them to be together but it really wasn’t? like all of their worries were lowkey no big deals so it felt really forced keeping them apart.
i wasn’t a fan of the writing. theo and stef’s interactions were so repetitive, there was rarely any development. also the dialogue was very strange. many times it felt like the characters were having two separate conversations and i had to like parse together what was actually happening.
this book did send me down a rabbit hole learning about the fall and exile of the greek royal family which is actually fascinating stuff so thank you
honestly, you’d probably be better off if you just read (or reread) red white and royal blue. it does the two princes (or first son) secret relationship much better and without the weird fake dating drama.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
ok so this started as a silly goofy fun time and i was doing a good job suspending my disbelief and just going along for the ride but unfortunately that didn’t last…
my favourite part of the book is theo. he is such a hot mess but i am endeared to him and enjoyed watching him get into weird situations.
now onto what didn’t work for me:
basically, the whole fake dating plot. it just didn’t feel necessary. i think it’s because the fake dating isn’t between the main character and the main love interest as it usually is. so since we knew it wasn’t going to go anywhere, it got kinda boring. it also didn’t really make any sense. at first they kept sending him on dates with different dudes. but since this is supposed to help salvage his reputation, wouldn’t back to back dates with different men just make theo look (for lack of a better word) slutty? because that kind of defeats the whole purpose. they do kind of reach this conclusion and have theo stick with eddie but i still feel like it didn’t work because i don’t think the fake dating actually accomplished anything. theo just laid low and his name naturally fizzled out of the news cycle. it felt like the whole trope solely existed in this story to keep theo and stef apart and create manufactured drama (well duh but you know what i mean).
i also didn’t like many of the side characters. i thought that freja was incredibly selfish and a bad sister. i hated james. he was just so annoying constantly pushing the fake dating as if it’s the only solution to theo’s problems even when theo had his doubts and didn’t really want to do it (very much my way or the highway and i’m like dude shut up). apparently the next book is going to be about him…
i wanted to like stef but instead i found him very bland. he was kinda just there, i feel like we never really got to know him therefore making it hard to be invested in their relationship. also both him and theo kept saying it was impossible for them to be together but it really wasn’t? like all of their worries were lowkey no big deals so it felt really forced keeping them apart.
i wasn’t a fan of the writing. theo and stef’s interactions were so repetitive, there was rarely any development. also the dialogue was very strange. many times it felt like the characters were having two separate conversations and i had to like parse together what was actually happening.
this book did send me down a rabbit hole learning about the fall and exile of the greek royal family which is actually fascinating stuff so thank you
honestly, you’d probably be better off if you just read (or reread) red white and royal blue. it does the two princes (or first son) secret relationship much better and without the weird fake dating drama.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
May 24, 2026
When Theo gets dumped by his boyfriend on their sixth month anniversary the only thing that could make it worse is said ex running to the press with a defamatory tell all! Little did he know that the experience would lead him to the love of his life.
Prince Stefanos of the Greek Royal Family is hot, talented, passionate about his country’s history, and the perfect way for Theo to get over his crappy ex. Stef understands the pressure Theo is under, and though he cannot deny the attraction between them, Theo is his first male love interest and he has a lot of introspection to do after figuring out his feelings.
Theo was a lot easier for me to connect to than Auggie. Maybe it was his determination to do what he loved, or his romantic heart, or maybe it was just his raging anxiety. Either way he was an absolute sweetheart and I honestly found myself so angry about how the people around him treated him. He was justifiably angry with Aiden, but I felt he should have been a lot angrier with Freja too. His grief over losing his father is also a prevalent theme in the book and I was happy he decided to see a therapist for some help by the end.
The romance was spectacular, from the banter to the longing. The dates between them literally made me want to pause and swing my feet with giddiness. I also loved how unconditionally Ethan and James supported Theo through everything—even if poor James gor his heart broken in the end (but that just gives me another book in the series so I am not complaining much).
Overall this was such a sweet romance and I had a wonderful time devouring it in less than two days! I don’t usually go for contemporary romances but I am glad I started this series!
Prince Stefanos of the Greek Royal Family is hot, talented, passionate about his country’s history, and the perfect way for Theo to get over his crappy ex. Stef understands the pressure Theo is under, and though he cannot deny the attraction between them, Theo is his first male love interest and he has a lot of introspection to do after figuring out his feelings.
Theo was a lot easier for me to connect to than Auggie. Maybe it was his determination to do what he loved, or his romantic heart, or maybe it was just his raging anxiety. Either way he was an absolute sweetheart and I honestly found myself so angry about how the people around him treated him. He was justifiably angry with Aiden, but I felt he should have been a lot angrier with Freja too. His grief over losing his father is also a prevalent theme in the book and I was happy he decided to see a therapist for some help by the end.
The romance was spectacular, from the banter to the longing. The dates between them literally made me want to pause and swing my feet with giddiness. I also loved how unconditionally Ethan and James supported Theo through everything—even if poor James gor his heart broken in the end (but that just gives me another book in the series so I am not complaining much).
Overall this was such a sweet romance and I had a wonderful time devouring it in less than two days! I don’t usually go for contemporary romances but I am glad I started this series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Theodore always knew his older sister was going to take over the thrown of Denmark, but when she unexpectedly abdicates and he's next in line he's not sure how to fix his messy, playboy reputation. Especially after a bad breakup sells likes to any tabloid that will listen.
With thoughts of fake dating a respectable man put in his head by his friends, he meets Greek Prince Stefanos by chance. Handsome and charming, they hit it off right away and what starts as a friendship quickly leads to more. But both their lives are complicated and it seems like their match is not meant to be.
Theo has a really interesting group of friends. While I understand his friend James was only trying to help him, DAMN was he every pushy about the fake boyfriend thing. I also truly cannot imagine the grief of suddenly and unexpectedly having to give up your currently career and life and having to take over a thrown you aren't prepared for.
While I really like Stef and totally feel for what he was going through with his own family, coming out etc, man he was really jerking Theo around quite a bit throughout the story. At one point in the story even I was thinking Theo just needed to move on!
But hey, this is romance about princes after all! And love is going to find a way. Overall the story was very sweet and fun. Theo was a charming and witty MC and deserved his happy ending!
Thank you NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
With thoughts of fake dating a respectable man put in his head by his friends, he meets Greek Prince Stefanos by chance. Handsome and charming, they hit it off right away and what starts as a friendship quickly leads to more. But both their lives are complicated and it seems like their match is not meant to be.
Theo has a really interesting group of friends. While I understand his friend James was only trying to help him, DAMN was he every pushy about the fake boyfriend thing. I also truly cannot imagine the grief of suddenly and unexpectedly having to give up your currently career and life and having to take over a thrown you aren't prepared for.
While I really like Stef and totally feel for what he was going through with his own family, coming out etc, man he was really jerking Theo around quite a bit throughout the story. At one point in the story even I was thinking Theo just needed to move on!
But hey, this is romance about princes after all! And love is going to find a way. Overall the story was very sweet and fun. Theo was a charming and witty MC and deserved his happy ending!
Thank you NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of an advance copy from NetGalley. No incentive was provided in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was a cosy read, there were some sweet moments and I enjoyed most of the story "arc" overall.
The positives - Theo and Stef are engaging, and there are some standout moments. Some of the other characters have enough about them to be interesting; Theo's mother, and sister in particular. James and Eddie also get some good moments, but I'll admit that I wanted more.The spice is moderate, but feels relevant to the story being told for the most part.
The negatives - a combination of lust at first sight, combined with a relationship development that had more meandering cul de sacs than a whodunit novel... I struggled to truly care about the angst moments. They also felt amped up given how little contact they actually had early on. The ex sub-plot feels like it's building and building until... nothing. The culmination feels lackluster to me, like there was a nefarious scheme that got cut in an edit and then needed to be tidied up. A bit similar with Eddie, James implements a plan, story develops, record scratch moment, he suddenly fades to barely a reference.
This is a fun, bingeable read that doesn't ask too much of the reader in my opinion. Go into it with middling expectations, and you won't be disappointed.
This was a cosy read, there were some sweet moments and I enjoyed most of the story "arc" overall.
The positives - Theo and Stef are engaging, and there are some standout moments. Some of the other characters have enough about them to be interesting; Theo's mother, and sister in particular. James and Eddie also get some good moments, but I'll admit that I wanted more.The spice is moderate, but feels relevant to the story being told for the most part.
The negatives - a combination of lust at first sight, combined with a relationship development that had more meandering cul de sacs than a whodunit novel... I struggled to truly care about the angst moments. They also felt amped up given how little contact they actually had early on. The ex sub-plot feels like it's building and building until... nothing. The culmination feels lackluster to me, like there was a nefarious scheme that got cut in an edit and then needed to be tidied up. A bit similar with Eddie, James implements a plan, story develops, record scratch moment, he suddenly fades to barely a reference.
This is a fun, bingeable read that doesn't ask too much of the reader in my opinion. Go into it with middling expectations, and you won't be disappointed.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
How to Love a Prince, by Hayden Stone, is book 2 in the Being Royals series. This is Theo’s story, a Danish prince who unexpectedly inherits the throne from his sisterf. His boyfriend Aiden dumps him publicly in a very humiliating way, and Theo soon meets Stefanos, a member of the Greek royal family. Theo also works in interior design, marketing, and is a social media influencer. Other than having a bodyguard, his life in the book did not seem like a royal at all.
Theo and Stefanos are drawn to each other from their first meeting. Unfortunately, a lot of random things happen to them while together which delay them from becoming more than friends. The romance between them doesn’t really start until about 75% through the book, so it felt rushed and insignificant. Theo talked a lot about his feelings for Stef, but his actions didn’t always show his feelings. He starts a fake dating scenario with another man to improve his reputation, which frankly just didn’t make sense.
The pacing of this novel was slow, and it didn’t feel like much happened. I could have easily skipped a few chapters while reading and still follow the plot. I love a good royal romance, but this book just didn’t work for me.
Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Theo and Stefanos are drawn to each other from their first meeting. Unfortunately, a lot of random things happen to them while together which delay them from becoming more than friends. The romance between them doesn’t really start until about 75% through the book, so it felt rushed and insignificant. Theo talked a lot about his feelings for Stef, but his actions didn’t always show his feelings. He starts a fake dating scenario with another man to improve his reputation, which frankly just didn’t make sense.
The pacing of this novel was slow, and it didn’t feel like much happened. I could have easily skipped a few chapters while reading and still follow the plot. I love a good royal romance, but this book just didn’t work for me.
Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Poor Prince Theo - always causing scandals, even when they're hardly his fault. This is definitely a romcom as far as Theo's issues are concerned. He's 2nd to the Danish throne, living in London, and about to go to a 6 month anniversary dinner with his boyfriend, when....the boyfriend breaks up with him via text. Immediately after the boyfriend sells their story (entirely lies) to the press, making Theo look very bad. He runs into Prince Stefanos (a 'spare' to the Greek throne) in a bar afterwords, gets run into and drinks fly everywhere. More bad press. Theo & Stef are attracted to each other, meet in Greece, take Dad's boat out, and immediately sink it. More bad press.
Surprise - Theo's sister (heir to the throne) is going to abdicate and Theo will be king. Now he feels he needs to find the proper person to fake date to fix his reputation. Meanwhile he's still in love with Stef.
This is a slow burn, lots of pining (sooooo much pining, most of the book is pining) love affair that eventually ends in an HEA. There's a medium amount of spice, lots of friends giving advice (mostly bad), lots of family, and lots of travel. This story is told from a single point of view (Theo's).
Surprise - Theo's sister (heir to the throne) is going to abdicate and Theo will be king. Now he feels he needs to find the proper person to fake date to fix his reputation. Meanwhile he's still in love with Stef.
This is a slow burn, lots of pining (sooooo much pining, most of the book is pining) love affair that eventually ends in an HEA. There's a medium amount of spice, lots of friends giving advice (mostly bad), lots of family, and lots of travel. This story is told from a single point of view (Theo's).
June 1, 2026
Read thanks to ARC
Theo the Dutch prince is having a Fabulous life in London any from home his own job and life away from court. His boyfriend dumps him by running to the press to over exaggerate and lie. Also sister wants to abdication the throne and leave it all up to him to deal with.
The book was fun I enjoyed prince Theo antics and his push to be something away from the crown. But this book had similar issues to the previous things are a little too complicated, everyone around him are just not serious people. We are told Theo id this scandalous party prince but that only by other we don't see Theo do anything.
His relationship with the prince Stef is lovely and sweet but so weirdly complicated where they say the can't be together but sending heartfelt messages anyway. It seems like it could be so simple but everything seems too overly complicated and his sister is so crazy entitled and selfish it's unreal. They way she just hands over the throne is wild and the fact that Theo really doesn't take it very seriously at all.
His whole life is getting turned upside down and he's just putting it off going on dates and seeing what happens. Was a ok book but I feel like it needs sorting editing and some trimming as it felt so much wasn't needed.
Theo the Dutch prince is having a Fabulous life in London any from home his own job and life away from court. His boyfriend dumps him by running to the press to over exaggerate and lie. Also sister wants to abdication the throne and leave it all up to him to deal with.
The book was fun I enjoyed prince Theo antics and his push to be something away from the crown. But this book had similar issues to the previous things are a little too complicated, everyone around him are just not serious people. We are told Theo id this scandalous party prince but that only by other we don't see Theo do anything.
His relationship with the prince Stef is lovely and sweet but so weirdly complicated where they say the can't be together but sending heartfelt messages anyway. It seems like it could be so simple but everything seems too overly complicated and his sister is so crazy entitled and selfish it's unreal. They way she just hands over the throne is wild and the fact that Theo really doesn't take it very seriously at all.
His whole life is getting turned upside down and he's just putting it off going on dates and seeing what happens. Was a ok book but I feel like it needs sorting editing and some trimming as it felt so much wasn't needed.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars rounded up.
How to Love a Prince reads as a royal romcom. It follows the usual chaos of a royal out of his depth and works towards becoming more serious, focusing on stress and mental health as Theo works towards cleaning up his image.
While this book is a light hearted comedy, it definitely has some harder hitting moments dealing with grief, toxicity and belonging.
I found this book hard to put down and flew through it, wanting more and more every time I had to stop. The humour keeps the book moving and, as mentioned, the emotional scenes, while scarce, help keep the book grounded.
I really enjoyed exploring Theo’s darker moments and seeing his reactions to the press's onslaught of lies, and seeing how he deals with the grief from his father. It was good to see both the awkward and chaotic moments, and the realer, rawer moments.
Theo and Stef’s love story, while slow at the start, quickens as the yearning follows them from their first interaction, which I really enjoyed. I love a romance that starts with yearning instead of diving right in.
How to Love a Prince reads as a royal romcom. It follows the usual chaos of a royal out of his depth and works towards becoming more serious, focusing on stress and mental health as Theo works towards cleaning up his image.
While this book is a light hearted comedy, it definitely has some harder hitting moments dealing with grief, toxicity and belonging.
I found this book hard to put down and flew through it, wanting more and more every time I had to stop. The humour keeps the book moving and, as mentioned, the emotional scenes, while scarce, help keep the book grounded.
I really enjoyed exploring Theo’s darker moments and seeing his reactions to the press's onslaught of lies, and seeing how he deals with the grief from his father. It was good to see both the awkward and chaotic moments, and the realer, rawer moments.
Theo and Stef’s love story, while slow at the start, quickens as the yearning follows them from their first interaction, which I really enjoyed. I love a romance that starts with yearning instead of diving right in.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This is your vibe if you like:
Romantic comedy movies
Royal shenanigans
Fake dating trope
How to Love a Prince has that classic romantic comedy movie energy. Chaotic situations, a prince facing a huge life change, fake dating, awkward moments that spiral out of control, it definitely delivers the vibe it promises.
I enjoyed reading it in the moment and flew through parts of it, especially with how easy and light the story feels. The humour and chaos kept things moving, and if you love rom-com style setups with plenty of messiness, there’s a good chance this will work for you.
For me personally though, it was missing that extra spark that takes a book from enjoyable to unforgettable. I liked it, but I don’t think it’s one I’d find myself reaching for again later on.
This is your vibe if you like:
Romantic comedy movies
Royal shenanigans
Fake dating trope
How to Love a Prince has that classic romantic comedy movie energy. Chaotic situations, a prince facing a huge life change, fake dating, awkward moments that spiral out of control, it definitely delivers the vibe it promises.
I enjoyed reading it in the moment and flew through parts of it, especially with how easy and light the story feels. The humour and chaos kept things moving, and if you love rom-com style setups with plenty of messiness, there’s a good chance this will work for you.
For me personally though, it was missing that extra spark that takes a book from enjoyable to unforgettable. I liked it, but I don’t think it’s one I’d find myself reaching for again later on.
May 27, 2026
4.5 stars!
I really enjoyed this! This is the story of Theo and Stef
Their relationship is complicated to say the least
Theo is about to become king because his sister is abdicating and stef is the prince of Greece
They have so many funny interactions Theo literally falls on him at a club and then he visits stef and they sink a yacht
Parts of it made me sad because they wanted to be together so badly but their obligations kept them apart
I liked jealous Stef about the duke LOL
Also Theos ex trying to squirm back in after he said all that stuff to the press like go away!
Even though it took a lot because Theo became king and Stef wasn’t officially out to the public they got the happy ending they deserved
It was a cute story and I can’t wait to read James book and it was nice to see Auggie and thom!
I really enjoyed this! This is the story of Theo and Stef
Their relationship is complicated to say the least
Theo is about to become king because his sister is abdicating and stef is the prince of Greece
They have so many funny interactions Theo literally falls on him at a club and then he visits stef and they sink a yacht
Parts of it made me sad because they wanted to be together so badly but their obligations kept them apart
I liked jealous Stef about the duke LOL
Also Theos ex trying to squirm back in after he said all that stuff to the press like go away!
Even though it took a lot because Theo became king and Stef wasn’t officially out to the public they got the happy ending they deserved
It was a cute story and I can’t wait to read James book and it was nice to see Auggie and thom!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is actually a 3.75 stars - I enjoyed How to Love a Prince very much and am very grateful to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC. We have a prince trying to figure his life out after multiple losses, another prince learning to try new things, very sweet family dynamics, publicity drama - the whole nine yards. All of those things are lovely, and I like Theo and Stef as a couple. I have some minor complaints, with Stef taking time to get a feel for as a character and James being a little annoying, but they didn’t make the story less enjoyable for me and I still very much think it’s worth reading. Theo in particular was very relatable; he’s trying to do the right thing and cares about the people in his life, but he’s overwhelmed and not ready to deal with his issues. I just want to give him a hug.
Review of advance copy
How to Love a Prince was everything I wanted in a royal rom-com! Theo and Stefanos had amazing chemistry from the very beginning, and I loved watching them fall for each other through all the scandal, pressure, and royal chaos. Theo’s growth throughout the story felt really natural, and I also loved Stefanos’s journey as he chose to follow his heart.
The fake dating, forbidden romance, and opposites-attract vibes had me hooked the whole time. The royal drama added just enough tension without taking away from the romance, and I was rooting for Theo and Stef the entire book.
Hayden Stone delivered such a fun, swoony, emotional love story with humor, heart, and lots of royal chaos. If you love MM royal romances with great chemistry and a happy ending, definitely add this one to your TBR 👑❤️
The fake dating, forbidden romance, and opposites-attract vibes had me hooked the whole time. The royal drama added just enough tension without taking away from the romance, and I was rooting for Theo and Stef the entire book.
Hayden Stone delivered such a fun, swoony, emotional love story with humor, heart, and lots of royal chaos. If you love MM royal romances with great chemistry and a happy ending, definitely add this one to your TBR 👑❤️
June 4, 2026
Ok this was a fun story, but these boys seriously were driving me crazy. Like just get together for real and see how it works. Is it that hard?! 🤣😂 well obviously it was for them. 😉 a lot lol
This was definitely a bit of a rollercoaster ride, and I kept feeling bad for Theo, wishing something would work out for him. Cause everything seemed to be spiraling all the time, like he couldn’t catch a break. And Stef? Loved him. So much.
And it was fun to watch them blossom together. But I just wish they’d talk to people about the situation so they could figure out how to make it work instead of just saying it wouldn’t work. Because we coulda had a lot more of a love story if they just figured their stuff out. But I was still happy with it all, even if I was cursing them and smiling at their cute little exchanges.
This was definitely a bit of a rollercoaster ride, and I kept feeling bad for Theo, wishing something would work out for him. Cause everything seemed to be spiraling all the time, like he couldn’t catch a break. And Stef? Loved him. So much.
And it was fun to watch them blossom together. But I just wish they’d talk to people about the situation so they could figure out how to make it work instead of just saying it wouldn’t work. Because we coulda had a lot more of a love story if they just figured their stuff out. But I was still happy with it all, even if I was cursing them and smiling at their cute little exchanges.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
How to Love a Prince is a royal romance that will give you enticing characters and complex issues like grief and public duty. You really can't help, but to wonder and keep reading to figure out how Theodor and Stefanos will make to the other side amidst not only external obstacles but also internal ones.
While I found the themes engaging, the narrative often felt dragged out, like it was attempting to pack too much into a single volume and stalling the pacing with repetitive "will-they-won't-they" tension. Despite the cluttered execution, though, it’s worth the read for the eventual happy ending, which is fairly satisfying.
Thank you to Netgalley, and Xpresso Book Tours for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
While I found the themes engaging, the narrative often felt dragged out, like it was attempting to pack too much into a single volume and stalling the pacing with repetitive "will-they-won't-they" tension. Despite the cluttered execution, though, it’s worth the read for the eventual happy ending, which is fairly satisfying.
Thank you to Netgalley, and Xpresso Book Tours for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 1, 2026
Ever wondered what it’s like to fall in love with a prince?
After reading How to Love a Prince by Hayden Stone, I’m convinced it’s probably a terrible idea, yet naturally, I had a great time reading about it 🤭
I picked this one up because I was in the mood for a royal MM romance, and it delivered exactly what I wanted: drama, romance, a bit of chaos, and characters making decisions that are far more entertaining to read about than to live through.
What also made me laugh is that this is now the third MM romance I’ve read in the past month with a connection to Greece. At this point, either the publishing world is obsessed with Greece, or the universe is trying to tell me to book a flight. Either way, live, laugh, love it!
Having read Hayden Stone before, I slipped into this one almost immediately. The humor felt familiar and the character dynamics worked for me. Needless to say, I finished it wanting more! So Hayden, if you’re listening: book 3 when? 😏
After reading How to Love a Prince by Hayden Stone, I’m convinced it’s probably a terrible idea, yet naturally, I had a great time reading about it 🤭
I picked this one up because I was in the mood for a royal MM romance, and it delivered exactly what I wanted: drama, romance, a bit of chaos, and characters making decisions that are far more entertaining to read about than to live through.
What also made me laugh is that this is now the third MM romance I’ve read in the past month with a connection to Greece. At this point, either the publishing world is obsessed with Greece, or the universe is trying to tell me to book a flight. Either way, live, laugh, love it!
Having read Hayden Stone before, I slipped into this one almost immediately. The humor felt familiar and the character dynamics worked for me. Needless to say, I finished it wanting more! So Hayden, if you’re listening: book 3 when? 😏
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Big thanks to @NetGalley and author Hayden Stone for the ARC.
This book was fun. While it didn't capture me emotionally, it was sweet. If you want something easy and cute, this is it. Two princes happen to fall for one another while fake dating to salvage the public image of one.
I felt like the characters were fairly immature and their romantic relationship never had me fully invested, partly because it happened in short bursts spaced out over some time.
The relationship didn't really develop for me because the characters spent very little time together.
The other subplots also fell kind of flat for me.
This book was fun. While it didn't capture me emotionally, it was sweet. If you want something easy and cute, this is it. Two princes happen to fall for one another while fake dating to salvage the public image of one.
I felt like the characters were fairly immature and their romantic relationship never had me fully invested, partly because it happened in short bursts spaced out over some time.
The relationship didn't really develop for me because the characters spent very little time together.
The other subplots also fell kind of flat for me.
June 3, 2026
Arc review:
Thanks to Netgalley and the author for the arc!
This was a rollercoaster.
It started well, I liked the premise and the characters and how everything was set, despite some continuity problems.
But as soon as o hit the second half it felt like going from 0 to 100 very fast. It got hard to follow. Some information seemed to be repeated or already known and then forgotten.
The plot started to repeat itself.
Even if I liked the beginning and the end it feels like too much but also nothing happened in between to get from point A to point Z. Which is a shame, because I was really excited about this one.
Thanks to Netgalley and the author for the arc!
This was a rollercoaster.
It started well, I liked the premise and the characters and how everything was set, despite some continuity problems.
But as soon as o hit the second half it felt like going from 0 to 100 very fast. It got hard to follow. Some information seemed to be repeated or already known and then forgotten.
The plot started to repeat itself.
Even if I liked the beginning and the end it feels like too much but also nothing happened in between to get from point A to point Z. Which is a shame, because I was really excited about this one.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I think the idea was good but the delivery was lacking. I don't have a big critique except that I was bored, it moved a little slower to the point the actual plot I was waiting for only picked up after a significant part of the book and that made my experience not so great.
It could be just a personal problem but after finishing it I looked up some other reviews and people had a similar reaction. It's a bummer because I have previously liked Hayden Stone's books.
Thank you Netgalley and Xpresso for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It could be just a personal problem but after finishing it I looked up some other reviews and people had a similar reaction. It's a bummer because I have previously liked Hayden Stone's books.
Thank you Netgalley and Xpresso for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Received this ARC from netgalley and I was very excited! This was a sweet, cosy, romcom-like read! I loved Stef and Theo's relationship! Their conversations and banter were so funny and cute! The end did feel a bit rushed because around 80% of the book was spent developing their relationships and highlighting how impossible it was for them to be together. Nonetheless, this is definitely a fun read for people looking for silly, cute mlm romance, and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
𝟏 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑
This was the first book of the year I had to DNF, as the writing was so incredibly dry and grating. Along with that, it was just so boring - sometimes interesting characters can make up for poor writing, but this was NOT one of those times. There was nothing interesting or particularly likable about anyone, which led me to ask myself multiple times why I was wasting my time with this.
I DNF-ed a little over 60% of the way through.
This was the first book of the year I had to DNF, as the writing was so incredibly dry and grating. Along with that, it was just so boring - sometimes interesting characters can make up for poor writing, but this was NOT one of those times. There was nothing interesting or particularly likable about anyone, which led me to ask myself multiple times why I was wasting my time with this.
I DNF-ed a little over 60% of the way through.
June 3, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for the e-arc!
Great banter, great chemistry, you'll love this if you love Casey McQuiston and Alexis Hall. They fall for each other very fast and I would've loved some more tension and build-up, and some more focus on their relationships with the side characters, but overall a very fun read. Happy Pride month babyyyy!
Great banter, great chemistry, you'll love this if you love Casey McQuiston and Alexis Hall. They fall for each other very fast and I would've loved some more tension and build-up, and some more focus on their relationships with the side characters, but overall a very fun read. Happy Pride month babyyyy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It was a fun story to read
I liked to read about Theo´s journey from prince to king and the character development he went through in this story.
The ending did feel a bit rushed to me but overall i liked the story.
I liked to read about Theo´s journey from prince to king and the character development he went through in this story.
The ending did feel a bit rushed to me but overall i liked the story.
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