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Prince Pact #2
Prince Material
The BRAND NEW hilarious MM romance from Nora Phoenix, perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston, Alexis Hall and Jax Calder!
✨ Tropes & Themes ✨ ✧ MM Romance 🔥 ✧ All the spice 🌶️✧ Roommates to lovers 💗✧ Forced proximity 🌞✧ Friends to lovers 😍 ✧ College setting
Can I have both—the title and the guy?
After a scandal, starting college in Massachusetts is my fresh start. With an ocean between me and the palace in The Netherlands, this is the chance to be just Floris instead of the first openly gay prince in Europe.
College life in America appeals to me…including my roommate, Orson. He’s cute as a bug in an adorkable way, but also serious and focused, his head permanently in a book. But behind his glasses, there is a sparkle in his gorgeous eyes, and I want to get to know him.
When I manage to break through his walls, we discover we have more in common than we thought, and we become friends. I’m convinced that’s all there could ever be, but when an emergency brings us closer, the chemistry between us heats up.
But I’m a prince with all the expectations my position brings, and he’s determined to realize his own dreams, so where does that leave us? He knows my real identity, but we’re from such different worlds.
Can I really have it all? The royal life and the boy next door?
Perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston, Alexis Hall and Jax Calder!
✨ Tropes & Themes ✨ ✧ MM Romance 🔥 ✧ All the spice 🌶️✧ Roommates to lovers 💗✧ Forced proximity 🌞✧ Friends to lovers 😍 ✧ College setting
Can I have both—the title and the guy?
After a scandal, starting college in Massachusetts is my fresh start. With an ocean between me and the palace in The Netherlands, this is the chance to be just Floris instead of the first openly gay prince in Europe.
College life in America appeals to me…including my roommate, Orson. He’s cute as a bug in an adorkable way, but also serious and focused, his head permanently in a book. But behind his glasses, there is a sparkle in his gorgeous eyes, and I want to get to know him.
When I manage to break through his walls, we discover we have more in common than we thought, and we become friends. I’m convinced that’s all there could ever be, but when an emergency brings us closer, the chemistry between us heats up.
But I’m a prince with all the expectations my position brings, and he’s determined to realize his own dreams, so where does that leave us? He knows my real identity, but we’re from such different worlds.
Can I really have it all? The royal life and the boy next door?
Perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston, Alexis Hall and Jax Calder!
234 pages, Hardcover
First published September 12, 2025
267 people are currently reading
873 people want to read
About the author
Nora Phoenix
127 books2,179 followersWould you like the long or the short version of my bio?
The short? You got it.
I write steamy gay romance books and I love it. I also love reading books. Books are everything.
How was that?
A little more detail? Gotcha.
I started writing my first stories when I was a teen…on a freaking typewriter. I still have these, and they’re adorably romantic. And bad, haha. Fear of failing kept me from following my dream to become a romance author, so you can imagine how proud and ecstatic I am that I finally overcame my fears and self doubt and did it. I adore my genre because I love writing and reading about flawed, strong men who are just a tad broken..but find their happy ever after anyway.
My favorite books to read are pretty much all MM/gay romances as long as it has a happy end. Kink is a plus… Aside from that, I also read a lot of nonfiction and not just books on writing. Popular psychology is a favorite topic of mine and so are self help and sociology.
Hobbies? Ain’t nobody got time for that. Just kidding. I love traveling, spending time near the ocean, and hiking. But I love books more.
Come hang out with me in my Facebook Group Nora’s Nook where I share previews, sneak peeks, freebies, fun stuff, and much more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/noras...
Wanna get first dibs on freebies, updates, sales, and more? Sign up for my newsletter (no spamming your inbox full…promise!) here: http://www.noraphoenix.com/newsletter/
You can also stalk me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoraFromBHR
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nora.phoenix/
On Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/nora-...
The short? You got it.
I write steamy gay romance books and I love it. I also love reading books. Books are everything.
How was that?
A little more detail? Gotcha.
I started writing my first stories when I was a teen…on a freaking typewriter. I still have these, and they’re adorably romantic. And bad, haha. Fear of failing kept me from following my dream to become a romance author, so you can imagine how proud and ecstatic I am that I finally overcame my fears and self doubt and did it. I adore my genre because I love writing and reading about flawed, strong men who are just a tad broken..but find their happy ever after anyway.
My favorite books to read are pretty much all MM/gay romances as long as it has a happy end. Kink is a plus… Aside from that, I also read a lot of nonfiction and not just books on writing. Popular psychology is a favorite topic of mine and so are self help and sociology.
Hobbies? Ain’t nobody got time for that. Just kidding. I love traveling, spending time near the ocean, and hiking. But I love books more.
Come hang out with me in my Facebook Group Nora’s Nook where I share previews, sneak peeks, freebies, fun stuff, and much more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/noras...
Wanna get first dibs on freebies, updates, sales, and more? Sign up for my newsletter (no spamming your inbox full…promise!) here: http://www.noraphoenix.com/newsletter/
You can also stalk me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoraFromBHR
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nora.phoenix/
On Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/nora-...
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 228 reviews
September 23, 2025
Having enjoyed the first in this series, I had to read the next one. You don't have to read them in order, and other than some casual references, it's a completely different character set. A few princes in Europe, this installment focuses on one who wants to fly under the radar as a college student in America. He's placed in a dorm room for freshman year with a slightly older student who won't be too immature about the whole "living with a prince" thing. While they want the truth to stay hidden, they're not naive enough to think everyone won't eventually discover it. But what they failed to predict was falling in love. Through all the typical new school, college-aged wisdom, we witness drama and romance, sexual tension and intelligent conversation. I think Nora Phoenix's books are more realistic than others, and for that reason alone, I really like reading them. Good history, friendships, and life-questioning moments... but also light reading with an escape mentality.
July 22, 2025
Cool, calm, confident, caring Prince x anxious, neurotic mess of a nerd with the biggest heart? Yes please.
This was such a lovely read.
I really enjoyed the more unique choice of main characters here. Their backgrounds, their interests felt fresh and thoughtfully done. I also loved that this wasn’t one of those predictable secret identity stories where you can see the third act breakup coming from page one. Quite the opposite: Floris was completely upfront with Orson about who he was from the very start, and I really appreciated that honesty. It made their connection feel a lot more solid and mature.
Both of them really grew on me. Orson is a little stiff at first, very focused on his studies, but as we get to know him better, it all makes so much sense. And Floris was the absolute perfect match for him with his sunshine attitude, his endless patience, and his earnest affection. They made such a strong, steady couple with so much gentle, open, honest communication about their feelings and expectations and boundaries and I just… ugh, swoon.
Also, I felt Floris in my soul with how he wanted to kiss Orson whenever he got nerdy about stuff that mattered to him. Same, Floris. Same. There’s just nothing more attractive and beautiful than someone lighting up while talking about their passions.
One of the things I enjoyed most (besides the romance) was how much I unexpectedly learned along the way. Water management, flood prevention, and civil engineering? Not even remotely on my radar, but this book made it seem so fascinating! The Dutch Delta Works? Absolutely mind-blowing! I’m now armed with quite a few ‘Did you know…?!’ facts, ready to annoy everyone around me. I’m sorry in advance.
On top of that, I loved all the food talk and the exploration of cultural differences throughout the book. And the chunk of the story set in New Orleans was an absolute highlight for me.
The beginning was a bit slow, but honestly, it suited these characters well. This story was all about the tentative steps of friendship first - gentle, careful, believable - and I loved the slow progression into something more. That said, I did feel like the story could have benefitted from slightly higher emotional stakes in the second half (and the potential was there!! What happens after Floris has to go back home? What will Orson do about his major?), just to give us a bit more to root for. As it was, things fizzled out a little towards the end, while the wrap-up in the epilogue felt oddly rushed.
Still, this was such a sweet, heartwarming addition to the series - which I enjoyed much more than book one - and I’m honestly so curious to see where the next book will take us!
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the chance to read this ARC. This is my honest opinion.
This was such a lovely read.
I really enjoyed the more unique choice of main characters here. Their backgrounds, their interests felt fresh and thoughtfully done. I also loved that this wasn’t one of those predictable secret identity stories where you can see the third act breakup coming from page one. Quite the opposite: Floris was completely upfront with Orson about who he was from the very start, and I really appreciated that honesty. It made their connection feel a lot more solid and mature.
Both of them really grew on me. Orson is a little stiff at first, very focused on his studies, but as we get to know him better, it all makes so much sense. And Floris was the absolute perfect match for him with his sunshine attitude, his endless patience, and his earnest affection. They made such a strong, steady couple with so much gentle, open, honest communication about their feelings and expectations and boundaries and I just… ugh, swoon.
Also, I felt Floris in my soul with how he wanted to kiss Orson whenever he got nerdy about stuff that mattered to him. Same, Floris. Same. There’s just nothing more attractive and beautiful than someone lighting up while talking about their passions.
One of the things I enjoyed most (besides the romance) was how much I unexpectedly learned along the way. Water management, flood prevention, and civil engineering? Not even remotely on my radar, but this book made it seem so fascinating! The Dutch Delta Works? Absolutely mind-blowing! I’m now armed with quite a few ‘Did you know…?!’ facts, ready to annoy everyone around me. I’m sorry in advance.
On top of that, I loved all the food talk and the exploration of cultural differences throughout the book. And the chunk of the story set in New Orleans was an absolute highlight for me.
The beginning was a bit slow, but honestly, it suited these characters well. This story was all about the tentative steps of friendship first - gentle, careful, believable - and I loved the slow progression into something more. That said, I did feel like the story could have benefitted from slightly higher emotional stakes in the second half (and the potential was there!! What happens after Floris has to go back home? What will Orson do about his major?), just to give us a bit more to root for. As it was, things fizzled out a little towards the end, while the wrap-up in the epilogue felt oddly rushed.
Still, this was such a sweet, heartwarming addition to the series - which I enjoyed much more than book one - and I’m honestly so curious to see where the next book will take us!
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the chance to read this ARC. This is my honest opinion.
September 7, 2025
I’m pretty torn up about this story, to be honest. I picked it up because there’s a Dutch prince in it, and since I’m Dutch I just had to read it. When I started, all the Dutch details were spot-on. So much so that I began wondering if the author was Dutch. Turns out, I was right.
I also really enjoyed Floris’ sassy voice and the writing style at the beginning. I was convinced this would be a solid four- or maybe even five-star read. But the further I got, the more doubts crept in. The writing lost some of its spark, and the way Tia (Orson’s sister) was described felt odd. On top of that, Floris is only 20, yet in the middle and later parts he comes across much older. After just a few weeks with Orson, he’s already declaring his love. And his brother, who’s 22, is already engaged? Come on.
One thing I did appreciate was that there’s no cliché third-act breakup. So overall: the Dutch side of the story is done really well, but the rest didn’t quite hold up for me. Other readers might feel differently, though, so definitely check out more reviews.
Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
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I also really enjoyed Floris’ sassy voice and the writing style at the beginning. I was convinced this would be a solid four- or maybe even five-star read. But the further I got, the more doubts crept in. The writing lost some of its spark, and the way Tia (Orson’s sister) was described felt odd. On top of that, Floris is only 20, yet in the middle and later parts he comes across much older. After just a few weeks with Orson, he’s already declaring his love. And his brother, who’s 22, is already engaged? Come on.
One thing I did appreciate was that there’s no cliché third-act breakup. So overall: the Dutch side of the story is done really well, but the rest didn’t quite hold up for me. Other readers might feel differently, though, so definitely check out more reviews.
Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
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December 17, 2025
Orson is not a moanable name. #JusticeForFloris.
August 13, 2025
Oof this was delicious.
I devoured this in one sitting. It was a fun, quick read with charming and quite frankly refreshing characters. I loved Floris and Orsen, loved seeing them shed the weight of pressure and guilt from others and themselves too. Their communication was amazing! Every step of the way,they talked to each other and worked as a unit!!! It was, as I said before, refreshing to read about.
What I didn't like though was how most of the relationship development that would be considered mundane was off-page. It felt like I was just going from major plot point to major plot point without filler scenes that would have allowed the story to slow down. The friends to lovers part was done well enough but it seemed like the moment they transitioned to tentative lovers, everything was sped up.
The Disney Prince Charming influence was definitely prominent and it was cheesy as hell but overall, it was cute read and I enjoyed both mcs.
I devoured this in one sitting. It was a fun, quick read with charming and quite frankly refreshing characters. I loved Floris and Orsen, loved seeing them shed the weight of pressure and guilt from others and themselves too. Their communication was amazing! Every step of the way,they talked to each other and worked as a unit!!! It was, as I said before, refreshing to read about.
What I didn't like though was how most of the relationship development that would be considered mundane was off-page. It felt like I was just going from major plot point to major plot point without filler scenes that would have allowed the story to slow down. The friends to lovers part was done well enough but it seemed like the moment they transitioned to tentative lovers, everything was sped up.
The Disney Prince Charming influence was definitely prominent and it was cheesy as hell but overall, it was cute read and I enjoyed both mcs.
August 16, 2025
Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the book!
This was such an adorable book from start to finish! All the characters were incredibly likable, and I loved following their journey.
Right off the bat, I was dying laughing at their banter! Especially Floris struggling with regular tasks like laundry, and Orson’s awkwardness around how unintentionally charming Floris was 🥹 And don't get me started on Floris’ cultural shock with American food and portion sizes! LMAO I think that's something many foreigners can relate to🤣
The way their connection developed was spot on. It never felt rushed and was completely natural. I found myself smiling as they began opening up to each other and connecting on a deeper level. It was just beautiful to watch them fall in love.
The dual POV really enhanced the story, letting us understand each of them individually as well as their relationships with their families. I think that added so much depth and helped explain why they are the way they are.
I also loved that the book avoided the clichés and obvious drama that usually come with “royal romance” stories. Their struggles were completely different, yet felt very real. Despite the royal title, it was really the story of two young men navigating life and becoming better people while also bringing out the best in each other. Overall, it was a heartfelt, feel-good read ❤️
This was such an adorable book from start to finish! All the characters were incredibly likable, and I loved following their journey.
Right off the bat, I was dying laughing at their banter! Especially Floris struggling with regular tasks like laundry, and Orson’s awkwardness around how unintentionally charming Floris was 🥹 And don't get me started on Floris’ cultural shock with American food and portion sizes! LMAO I think that's something many foreigners can relate to🤣
The way their connection developed was spot on. It never felt rushed and was completely natural. I found myself smiling as they began opening up to each other and connecting on a deeper level. It was just beautiful to watch them fall in love.
The dual POV really enhanced the story, letting us understand each of them individually as well as their relationships with their families. I think that added so much depth and helped explain why they are the way they are.
I also loved that the book avoided the clichés and obvious drama that usually come with “royal romance” stories. Their struggles were completely different, yet felt very real. Despite the royal title, it was really the story of two young men navigating life and becoming better people while also bringing out the best in each other. Overall, it was a heartfelt, feel-good read ❤️
September 2, 2025
I've read a lot of hidden prince romance books, and Prince Material was near the bottom of the pile.
I think that I have to accept that Nora Phoenix doesn't work for me. This is the third book in a row from this author that has been under 3-stars, and I think that's a sign that we just don't mesh well together.
I love the set-up for this story, but that was about the only thing about it that I really enjoyed. It was all showing and not nearly enough telling. The character development felt absent, and I didn't get a sense of chemistry at all between the two MCs. Also, the side characters felt like afterthoughts, which was a shame because they were sorely needed for a personality infusion into this book. I just feel like something was missing from the story.
Sadly, other authors have written the secret prince trope better. Sorry, Nora Phoenix.
*copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram
I think that I have to accept that Nora Phoenix doesn't work for me. This is the third book in a row from this author that has been under 3-stars, and I think that's a sign that we just don't mesh well together.
I love the set-up for this story, but that was about the only thing about it that I really enjoyed. It was all showing and not nearly enough telling. The character development felt absent, and I didn't get a sense of chemistry at all between the two MCs. Also, the side characters felt like afterthoughts, which was a shame because they were sorely needed for a personality infusion into this book. I just feel like something was missing from the story.
Sadly, other authors have written the secret prince trope better. Sorry, Nora Phoenix.
*copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram
August 27, 2025
I absolutely loved the storyline! I’ve always adored the “prince meets normal civilian” trope (that counts as a trope, right?), and this book delivered it so well. The fact that Christmas played such a big role in the story made it even more magical. I can definitely see myself rereading it every holiday season.
The ending was so sweet, and I really appreciated how many characters found peace and closure in both love and life. Overall, it’s a charming, heartwarming romance that makes a perfect addition to my Christmas reads collection.
The ending was so sweet, and I really appreciated how many characters found peace and closure in both love and life. Overall, it’s a charming, heartwarming romance that makes a perfect addition to my Christmas reads collection.
August 1, 2025
Will post a review closer to release.
December 12, 2025
it‘s so cozy and sweet and I love the STEM content 🥹
September 21, 2025
It’s not that this book isn’t a lovely read, and the Dutch was portrayed authentic, which makes sense knowing the author is originally Dutch. I do think she has not lived here for a long time because the word “lieverd” is not something 20 year old boys say to each other. But that’s just nitpicking from my side.
The problem I have with this series is that it’s incredibly unlikely and at the same time very uneventful.
The first books I read by Nora Phoenix were all so raw and angsty. They really told a story and had big feelings and all sorts of relationships. This series is so incredibly tame. It’s just what I want to read from this author knowing she has so much more interesting stories to tell.
This was more an almost YA type book with college kids falling in love. Yes one’s a prince, and the other one a nervous nerd with a very mean uncle. And that’s about it.
So I’m not sure I’ll read the next one in the series because I also had this issue with the first one. I don’t think this is a bad book. And the writing in fine, she’s a great author. I just don’t think this is a story I hoped to read when picking up this book.
Ps: Fun fact: we actually have a Dutch prince named Floris who used to be 7th or so in line. He’s around 50 now and definitely not gay. And not so fun fact: We also had a prince Friso who was the younger brother of our current king. He died after being in a ski accident. I think it’s really bad taste to use his name for the name of the king in this book…
The problem I have with this series is that it’s incredibly unlikely and at the same time very uneventful.
The first books I read by Nora Phoenix were all so raw and angsty. They really told a story and had big feelings and all sorts of relationships. This series is so incredibly tame. It’s just what I want to read from this author knowing she has so much more interesting stories to tell.
This was more an almost YA type book with college kids falling in love. Yes one’s a prince, and the other one a nervous nerd with a very mean uncle. And that’s about it.
So I’m not sure I’ll read the next one in the series because I also had this issue with the first one. I don’t think this is a bad book. And the writing in fine, she’s a great author. I just don’t think this is a story I hoped to read when picking up this book.
Ps: Fun fact: we actually have a Dutch prince named Floris who used to be 7th or so in line. He’s around 50 now and definitely not gay. And not so fun fact: We also had a prince Friso who was the younger brother of our current king. He died after being in a ski accident. I think it’s really bad taste to use his name for the name of the king in this book…
August 25, 2025
What a sweet story about young love!
Set in an American college, this follows Floris, whose uncle just happens to be the king of the Netherlands, and Orson, a studious American from New Orleans. They’re roommates who quickly fall for each other. No secret identities here, Orson already knows Floris’s “prince status”, though the lurking British tabloids (because of course it’s always them 😂) add some drama.
I didn’t read the first book in the series, but this worked perfectly well as a standalone. I really enjoyed the writing style and the lack of a third-act breakup. Floris and Orson were endlessly sweet with each other, and yes, there’s steam too.
It was a bit too slow-paced for me at times, but that might not bother other readers.
Overall, a cute MM love story with some Dutch culture flavour.
3.75/5 ⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my review.
Set in an American college, this follows Floris, whose uncle just happens to be the king of the Netherlands, and Orson, a studious American from New Orleans. They’re roommates who quickly fall for each other. No secret identities here, Orson already knows Floris’s “prince status”, though the lurking British tabloids (because of course it’s always them 😂) add some drama.
I didn’t read the first book in the series, but this worked perfectly well as a standalone. I really enjoyed the writing style and the lack of a third-act breakup. Floris and Orson were endlessly sweet with each other, and yes, there’s steam too.
It was a bit too slow-paced for me at times, but that might not bother other readers.
Overall, a cute MM love story with some Dutch culture flavour.
3.75/5 ⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my review.
dnf
August 18, 2025ARC Review
DNF 53%
This book suffers from an immense amount of telling and not showing. It made everything feel very surface level, the characters lacked depth and therefore the relationship lacked depth. I thought that they were a cute couple but I couldn't get invested because we were never shown them getting closer and building something together we were just told that.
And the sheer volume of talk about architecture and water management was very boring, but if that topic interests you then it may be a fun addition. A lot of the topics they have discussions about read like it came from a textbook, not like an actual conversation between two people. On top of the water management and architecture they also discuss project management and the creole language and all of those conversations come off very academic and not like two friends talking to each other.
With that being said I loved the banter between our two characters, genuinely had me smiling and laughing while reading. I do see potential in this authors work and I think with time and experience I could really enjoy their future releases
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher (Boldwood Books) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
DNF 53%
This book suffers from an immense amount of telling and not showing. It made everything feel very surface level, the characters lacked depth and therefore the relationship lacked depth. I thought that they were a cute couple but I couldn't get invested because we were never shown them getting closer and building something together we were just told that.
And the sheer volume of talk about architecture and water management was very boring, but if that topic interests you then it may be a fun addition. A lot of the topics they have discussions about read like it came from a textbook, not like an actual conversation between two people. On top of the water management and architecture they also discuss project management and the creole language and all of those conversations come off very academic and not like two friends talking to each other.
With that being said I loved the banter between our two characters, genuinely had me smiling and laughing while reading. I do see potential in this authors work and I think with time and experience I could really enjoy their future releases
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher (Boldwood Books) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book!!
This book was a nice fairly easy read. I managed to get through it with just a few hours of reading.
I found it somewhat silly at times but it wasn’t silly in a cringe way, more like a “laugh-out-loud” way, and I really enjoyed that.
I like how we don’t really know what the big scandal is at the beginning of the book, but that entices you to continue reading so that we can find out later on.
There are a bunch of sex scenes in the book — I mostly skipped those because I wasn’t in a smut reading mood - but they are well written and would be enjoyable.
As someone who lives in the parts of the world where we use the CORRECT measure for temperature, I found it hilarious how he kept on having to convert from c to f or from f to c.
It’s a very real experience when you go to America.
I liked how Floris was always ready to help Orson — even when he said he didn’t want his help — and he insisted on being there for him.
I also really loved having a Dual POV — a lot of books don’t really have that and I enjoyed being able to understand both characters from their own experiences, rather than just one of the MC’s being a narrator.
All in all, this book was a great story and I probably will be reading it again in the future.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
This book was a nice fairly easy read. I managed to get through it with just a few hours of reading.
I found it somewhat silly at times but it wasn’t silly in a cringe way, more like a “laugh-out-loud” way, and I really enjoyed that.
I like how we don’t really know what the big scandal is at the beginning of the book, but that entices you to continue reading so that we can find out later on.
There are a bunch of sex scenes in the book — I mostly skipped those because I wasn’t in a smut reading mood - but they are well written and would be enjoyable.
As someone who lives in the parts of the world where we use the CORRECT measure for temperature, I found it hilarious how he kept on having to convert from c to f or from f to c.
It’s a very real experience when you go to America.
I liked how Floris was always ready to help Orson — even when he said he didn’t want his help — and he insisted on being there for him.
I also really loved having a Dual POV — a lot of books don’t really have that and I enjoyed being able to understand both characters from their own experiences, rather than just one of the MC’s being a narrator.
All in all, this book was a great story and I probably will be reading it again in the future.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
August 20, 2025
4 stars
Super sweet and quite entertaining. Prince Material is a bit of a level up from the previous book in this series. I found more connection between Floris and Orson, and their characters were more interesting to me. The story has pretty much zero angst, and I loved that this queer royal romance avoided the usual route of the closeted royal and working around all that drama. This story is not at all drama free, but the drama wasn't overly stressful and added to the character development of Floris and Orson. I was hesitant to pick this one up since the first book felt just okay, but this was a drastic improvement from that one. This was definitely a fun one, and if you want something sugary sweet, then this is perfect for you.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Super sweet and quite entertaining. Prince Material is a bit of a level up from the previous book in this series. I found more connection between Floris and Orson, and their characters were more interesting to me. The story has pretty much zero angst, and I loved that this queer royal romance avoided the usual route of the closeted royal and working around all that drama. This story is not at all drama free, but the drama wasn't overly stressful and added to the character development of Floris and Orson. I was hesitant to pick this one up since the first book felt just okay, but this was a drastic improvement from that one. This was definitely a fun one, and if you want something sugary sweet, then this is perfect for you.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 11, 2025
I absolutely adore royal romance books and this absolutely hit the spot.
The two main characters are witty, sweet, determined and so steamy hot together. I especially liked how the relationship slowly evolved, there was a lot of open communication.
It is heartwarming to see how they lift each other up, and help each other overcome past pain. They are just so perfect for each other. I could not stop smiling while reading this story.
This is the perfect Royal romance book for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author Nora Phoenix and the publisher Boldwood Books for the eArc.
The two main characters are witty, sweet, determined and so steamy hot together. I especially liked how the relationship slowly evolved, there was a lot of open communication.
It is heartwarming to see how they lift each other up, and help each other overcome past pain. They are just so perfect for each other. I could not stop smiling while reading this story.
This is the perfect Royal romance book for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author Nora Phoenix and the publisher Boldwood Books for the eArc.
August 7, 2025
This was the second book in the series. Though I would consider this a standalone. I was excited to get this book. I was looking forward to reading Floris' book. He was a Dutch prince who wanted to escape his loyal duties for the year. He decided on an American college in Massachusetts. His roommate, Orson, was a cute graduate student informed of Floris' identity. The friendship between them was refreshing and sweet. Their love story was cute. I liked that there was no third-act breakup or drama. Overall, it was a sweet love story. I'm looking forward to the next book! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.
August 4, 2025
Arc provided by Boldwood Books via NetGalley for an honest review.
This was a cute and quick read! I love how the characters communicated so well. The setting was great, making me want to escape to New England. I love how Floris helped Orson expand his horizon. I'm excited to continue this series!
This was a cute and quick read! I love how the characters communicated so well. The setting was great, making me want to escape to New England. I love how Floris helped Orson expand his horizon. I'm excited to continue this series!
December 8, 2025
a charming and cozy royal romance
August 5, 2025
A very sweet MM romance. who doesn't love a royal romance story. The relationship and characters are very sweet. This is a smutty book, so not ya. I really loved the story this book told.
August 22, 2025
ARC through NetGalley. I came into Prince Material hoping for something as sharp and addictive as the first book in the series but it didn’t quite hit that mark.
Not as enjoyable as the first in the series. The premise still sparkled; MM romance, prince goes rogue, roommate-to-lovers, forced proximity, college setting; it’s a winning mix. But the pacing and emotional stakes felt muted compared to the opener.
The character development felt undercooked. Floris and Orson have the makings of a great duo, but I never felt their growth land with any real punch. Their arcs just felt… thin. Moments veered into cliché territory, even cheesy. I know the genre leans into tropes, but here it occasionally felt cloying rather than charming.
Dialogue often felt stiff and stilted. There were glimpses of warmth, but mostly, the exchanges read like scripts, not real people talking.
A genuinely sweet, easy read. I breezed through it, lighthearted, fun, with a soft touch. Could’ve used a touch more heat and passion. Maybe that’s personal preference, but there were moments when the emotional and physical chemistry didn’t fully combust.
Bottom line: Prince Material is an enjoyable, lightweight read, cute, affable, and easy to get through. But if you’re expecting layered characters, natural dialogue, or slow-burn intensity, this one might leave you a bit unsatisfied.
Would recommend it to readers craving a cozy, trope-filled rom-com. But if you’re chasing emotional resonance or depth, temper your expectations.
Not as enjoyable as the first in the series. The premise still sparkled; MM romance, prince goes rogue, roommate-to-lovers, forced proximity, college setting; it’s a winning mix. But the pacing and emotional stakes felt muted compared to the opener.
The character development felt undercooked. Floris and Orson have the makings of a great duo, but I never felt their growth land with any real punch. Their arcs just felt… thin. Moments veered into cliché territory, even cheesy. I know the genre leans into tropes, but here it occasionally felt cloying rather than charming.
Dialogue often felt stiff and stilted. There were glimpses of warmth, but mostly, the exchanges read like scripts, not real people talking.
A genuinely sweet, easy read. I breezed through it, lighthearted, fun, with a soft touch. Could’ve used a touch more heat and passion. Maybe that’s personal preference, but there were moments when the emotional and physical chemistry didn’t fully combust.
Bottom line: Prince Material is an enjoyable, lightweight read, cute, affable, and easy to get through. But if you’re expecting layered characters, natural dialogue, or slow-burn intensity, this one might leave you a bit unsatisfied.
Would recommend it to readers craving a cozy, trope-filled rom-com. But if you’re chasing emotional resonance or depth, temper your expectations.
September 12, 2025
PRINCE MATERIAL
By Nora Phoenix
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I received an E-book ARC edition of this novel in exchange for an honest review. It is available TODAY on Amazon & Kindle Unlimited!
www.amzn.com/B0F12GDMGZ
This is a 276-page _________Paced, Opposites Attract, Forced Proximity, Roommate-to-Friends-to-Lovers, Geek-Royalty Contemporary RomCom MM Romance. This is book 2 of The Prince Pact series where four Princes from different countries agree to go off for a year secretly to experience common life at college. This novel overlaps book 1, THE PRINCE AND THE PLAYER, with a couple of scenes written from a different POV. This novel could be read as a standalone, but one major plot point for book 1 will be spoiled.
⚠️At the bottom of the review will be my trigger warnings that may be spoilers.
--His green eyes were serious now, holding none of their usual mischief. For a moment, I saw past the charming prince exterior to someone who might understand more than I’d given him credit for.--
Written in 1st person alternating chapters duel POV, Floris the fourth in line to the crown of the Netherlands and the first ever openly gay prince, secretly goes off to college for a year in Massachusetts to study Water Management Engineering. He wants to experience real college life like any young adult, have fun, and make a mistake or two without constantly being watched. Upon arrival, he meets his adorkable roommate Orson, who already knows who Floris is and is a fellow Engineering major working on his Masters and has no time for distractions as he studies around the clock to be as perfect as possible. He has walls up that would rival the Maeslantkering. That’s not a typo. With Floris finally able to be himself without all the different façades he normally has to use to protect his image, he can show his true sassy and humorous character that are like flood waters in spite of Orson already knowing his identity. His personality is so strong, positive, and encouraging that Orson’s walls begin to fail. Their common goals in school, despite the difference in life & study styles, plus the way they can naturally read each other without the other knowing, like looking at a magic picture book image, they start a friendship Orson never saw coming, only for them to start truly caring and protecting each other.
--I was a tornado in human form compared to his meticulous organization. But there was something endearing about how he pretended to be annoyed while still bringing up my laundry, getting me coffee, and reminding me about class times.--
This novel was character development forward and had so much going on. I'm sure you noticed at the top that I didn’t state what kind of pace the plot speeds to. And it's because it’s not slow, medium, or fast. It just SMOOTH. I don't know how else to describe it. Each character was flushed out down to very small details, positives & negatives. Despite their class differences, they bond over their common curiosity of life on the other side, food, and the different types of engineering. Each of them have their own piece in life holding them back from either showing their true self or doing what they want to do. Nora Phoenix went to extreme lengths to write each character singularly before slamming them together and making their outlines blur. Orson went through something no child should ever have to suffer, which still puts this unwarranted pressure on him to be something he won’t fully enjoy as a sort of self-punishment. Floris has a life of never showing the public who he is. He has an image that must be presented at all times that’s not really him and the one time he’s not careful, harsh accusations of the worst kind are spread through the media that he can’t even defend. But Nora Phoenix is phenomenal at writing hurt without overwhelming the reader. This is a romcom, after all. Floris is probably one of the funniest characters I've ever read. His sense of humor and his sassy quick tongue with the most colorful descriptions for everything would make the most wretched person laugh. And how she bounces that humor off Orson and his reaction makes the plot even better than I could ever imagine. I'd also like to note that Nora Phoenix did an amazing job at researching so much about the water management of the Netherlands, the different types of food from that country, and about locations architecture in the college town and New Orleans! You can tell she had so much fun with all these topic with the passionate way she wrote them into the story. It made me fall down a Google Rabbit Hole about the Water Management for hours because of how interesting the process is and how they keep that country dry and safe.
--His lips tasted like wind, like snow, like all the daydreams I had about him. He kissed me until I forgot about all the people who might be watching. Until I forgot about everything except the feel of his mouth and the weight of his body.--
The spice was like eating a fresh beignet. Hot and sweet, but melt in your mouth fluffy. 5/5🌶! I don’t want to say it was a slowmance because it wasn’t but because it had a Teach Me aspect, like any teacher, you need patience. The best things come to those who wait. It was the most loving and sensual scenes I’ve ever read. Even with the "I Need You Now," so much care went into creating the right vibe. One wrong word or action would have completely changed the feel of how the outcome would have been presented.
--I treated the communal bathrooms like a museum of classical statues: appreciate the artistry in theory, but don’t touch and definitely don’t stare at their junk.--
The ensemble! Our Prince Pact individuals were expanded on a little bit with more of their personalities presented. Since they have known each other all their lives, they have a strong friendship with a riot banter. It was like getting a peek into the palace, behind closed doors to see them unfiltered. Not much more ensemble gets page time except family, which, in my reader opinion, is all it needed. The families added a safe space that helps open the readers' eyes more to who the MCs are. It was an additional layer of depth that we wouldn’t have gotten otherwise, which was an amazing surprise. Also, Nathan….Tim…. Is that you!? And lets not forget a hint of who's book is next and a plot detail!
--He has this aura about him, this charm that drew me to him like a damn moth to a flame. And he was so, so freaking hot.--
This novel was a really fun read. It was so engaging that when I swiped the page and the epilogue appeared, I was surprised. I forgot how close to the end I was. I didn’t want it to be finished. Outside of the humorous and humid romance that would make anyone’s hair defy standards, between a middle-class American Commoner and a Dutch Prince, are important lessons to remember. Don’t just exist but live without calculating every lifely move, its ok to be spontaneous and believe you are wanted when you are treated like your extraordinary especially when the other person truly shows who they are in return. True connection and love can only be separated by the water between us unless that love is so strong the water will have no choice but to part.
--"My subject, my consort, my everything.”--
💜Happy Reading, Lieverds🫶
👑
👑
👑
👑
⚠️Post Hurricane Katrina Trauma, Parental Death, Assault Accusation, Small Mention of Losing Virginity to Young to a Problematic Aged Individual.
By Nora Phoenix
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I received an E-book ARC edition of this novel in exchange for an honest review. It is available TODAY on Amazon & Kindle Unlimited!
www.amzn.com/B0F12GDMGZ
This is a 276-page _________Paced, Opposites Attract, Forced Proximity, Roommate-to-Friends-to-Lovers, Geek-Royalty Contemporary RomCom MM Romance. This is book 2 of The Prince Pact series where four Princes from different countries agree to go off for a year secretly to experience common life at college. This novel overlaps book 1, THE PRINCE AND THE PLAYER, with a couple of scenes written from a different POV. This novel could be read as a standalone, but one major plot point for book 1 will be spoiled.
⚠️At the bottom of the review will be my trigger warnings that may be spoilers.
--His green eyes were serious now, holding none of their usual mischief. For a moment, I saw past the charming prince exterior to someone who might understand more than I’d given him credit for.--
Written in 1st person alternating chapters duel POV, Floris the fourth in line to the crown of the Netherlands and the first ever openly gay prince, secretly goes off to college for a year in Massachusetts to study Water Management Engineering. He wants to experience real college life like any young adult, have fun, and make a mistake or two without constantly being watched. Upon arrival, he meets his adorkable roommate Orson, who already knows who Floris is and is a fellow Engineering major working on his Masters and has no time for distractions as he studies around the clock to be as perfect as possible. He has walls up that would rival the Maeslantkering. That’s not a typo. With Floris finally able to be himself without all the different façades he normally has to use to protect his image, he can show his true sassy and humorous character that are like flood waters in spite of Orson already knowing his identity. His personality is so strong, positive, and encouraging that Orson’s walls begin to fail. Their common goals in school, despite the difference in life & study styles, plus the way they can naturally read each other without the other knowing, like looking at a magic picture book image, they start a friendship Orson never saw coming, only for them to start truly caring and protecting each other.
--I was a tornado in human form compared to his meticulous organization. But there was something endearing about how he pretended to be annoyed while still bringing up my laundry, getting me coffee, and reminding me about class times.--
This novel was character development forward and had so much going on. I'm sure you noticed at the top that I didn’t state what kind of pace the plot speeds to. And it's because it’s not slow, medium, or fast. It just SMOOTH. I don't know how else to describe it. Each character was flushed out down to very small details, positives & negatives. Despite their class differences, they bond over their common curiosity of life on the other side, food, and the different types of engineering. Each of them have their own piece in life holding them back from either showing their true self or doing what they want to do. Nora Phoenix went to extreme lengths to write each character singularly before slamming them together and making their outlines blur. Orson went through something no child should ever have to suffer, which still puts this unwarranted pressure on him to be something he won’t fully enjoy as a sort of self-punishment. Floris has a life of never showing the public who he is. He has an image that must be presented at all times that’s not really him and the one time he’s not careful, harsh accusations of the worst kind are spread through the media that he can’t even defend. But Nora Phoenix is phenomenal at writing hurt without overwhelming the reader. This is a romcom, after all. Floris is probably one of the funniest characters I've ever read. His sense of humor and his sassy quick tongue with the most colorful descriptions for everything would make the most wretched person laugh. And how she bounces that humor off Orson and his reaction makes the plot even better than I could ever imagine. I'd also like to note that Nora Phoenix did an amazing job at researching so much about the water management of the Netherlands, the different types of food from that country, and about locations architecture in the college town and New Orleans! You can tell she had so much fun with all these topic with the passionate way she wrote them into the story. It made me fall down a Google Rabbit Hole about the Water Management for hours because of how interesting the process is and how they keep that country dry and safe.
--His lips tasted like wind, like snow, like all the daydreams I had about him. He kissed me until I forgot about all the people who might be watching. Until I forgot about everything except the feel of his mouth and the weight of his body.--
The spice was like eating a fresh beignet. Hot and sweet, but melt in your mouth fluffy. 5/5🌶! I don’t want to say it was a slowmance because it wasn’t but because it had a Teach Me aspect, like any teacher, you need patience. The best things come to those who wait. It was the most loving and sensual scenes I’ve ever read. Even with the "I Need You Now," so much care went into creating the right vibe. One wrong word or action would have completely changed the feel of how the outcome would have been presented.
--I treated the communal bathrooms like a museum of classical statues: appreciate the artistry in theory, but don’t touch and definitely don’t stare at their junk.--
The ensemble! Our Prince Pact individuals were expanded on a little bit with more of their personalities presented. Since they have known each other all their lives, they have a strong friendship with a riot banter. It was like getting a peek into the palace, behind closed doors to see them unfiltered. Not much more ensemble gets page time except family, which, in my reader opinion, is all it needed. The families added a safe space that helps open the readers' eyes more to who the MCs are. It was an additional layer of depth that we wouldn’t have gotten otherwise, which was an amazing surprise. Also, Nathan….Tim…. Is that you!? And lets not forget a hint of who's book is next and a plot detail!
--He has this aura about him, this charm that drew me to him like a damn moth to a flame. And he was so, so freaking hot.--
This novel was a really fun read. It was so engaging that when I swiped the page and the epilogue appeared, I was surprised. I forgot how close to the end I was. I didn’t want it to be finished. Outside of the humorous and humid romance that would make anyone’s hair defy standards, between a middle-class American Commoner and a Dutch Prince, are important lessons to remember. Don’t just exist but live without calculating every lifely move, its ok to be spontaneous and believe you are wanted when you are treated like your extraordinary especially when the other person truly shows who they are in return. True connection and love can only be separated by the water between us unless that love is so strong the water will have no choice but to part.
--"My subject, my consort, my everything.”--
💜Happy Reading, Lieverds🫶
👑
👑
👑
👑
⚠️Post Hurricane Katrina Trauma, Parental Death, Assault Accusation, Small Mention of Losing Virginity to Young to a Problematic Aged Individual.
August 23, 2025
2.5 stars
DNFed at 50%. The premise looks fun, but unfortunately the characters were pretty one dimensional and the dialogue was so weirdly stilted which kept me from enjoying the book. I wish the author utilised "show, not tell" a lot more in this book, since that was such a distracting factor.
DNFed at 50%. The premise looks fun, but unfortunately the characters were pretty one dimensional and the dialogue was so weirdly stilted which kept me from enjoying the book. I wish the author utilised "show, not tell" a lot more in this book, since that was such a distracting factor.
September 9, 2025
2.5⭐️
Thanks for the review copy to Netgalley and the author.
I'm quite torn about the book, but honestly mostly disappointed. This review will contain some spoilers, so beware!
What I liked: The Dutch cultural elements felt accurate (at least from my perspective as a German who’s been to the Netherlands a bunch). Food descriptions in particular were spot on, and apparently Nora Phoenix is Dutch, so that checks out. Also the supportive families were a big plus, honestly, those dynamics were more appealing than the main romance at times. The final/main message about living instead of just surviving was really fitting and beautiful.
But now to the stuff that bothered me. I have to say, since I read an ARC and the book is not published yet, I don't know if some last minute adjustments are being made and some of those points (e.g. regarding the TWs) might not apply to the finished book.
The inconsistencies (oh boy…):
This was honestly the biggest problem for me. The book is full of little contradictions that kept pulling me out of the story:
- Orson says he’s been at college for three years, but later he states it’s his fifth year.
- Floris organises a private charter for Orson via "his" travel planner only to later having to ask his family for help with their travel planner for a flight back to the US.
- The story about young Floris convincing royal guards he could talk to ducks was told twice, and Orson reacts both times as if it’s new.
- Orson “doesn’t know what to say to his mom” about the relationship, but literally pages earlier he decided to keep it between them for now.
- The spice in general put me off, more on that later, but one of their first scenes had the sentence "Nerve endings he didn’t know he had", when two pages earlier Orson mentions a bad bottoming experience.
- Floris is supposed to be 20 and his brother 22, but the way they acted, those ages just didn’t work. His brother also is engaged already, and while he of course can be engaged in that age, it felt like another proof that the ages don't match up.
- The other man in the video that's making Floris problems is never named until the end, but this is done in a way that feels like we should know the name already. It's clear from the context after, but it feels weird? And also, it was a video and the whole scandal only happened because Floris didn't want to out the other person, but wouldn't people see who it was on said video? But I also feel like I might be missing context from book 1 that I haven't read - it reads like Jason is famous (and therefore the complicated outing), but I don't know anything about him.
When so many of these little things pile up, it makes the story feel messy, and I honestly started side-eyeing every new detail, otherwise I don't think as many things would have stood out to me.
Also the dialogue often felt unnatural, especially regarding characters explaining things the dialogue partner already knows, just so the reader can catch up. And sometimes it was just too much detail in a way nobody would realistically say (like pointing out built-in bookshelves visible through a window in conversation??)
Also, can we talk about calling a Creole language “bastard French” in 2025? That was… certainly a choice.
I’ll be honest: I started skimreading the spice. Lines like "What do you recommend, chef Floris?" "Our special of the day is anal play" completely threw me out. It was certainly meant to be cheeky, but instead it just made me cringe HARD. And just weird lines kept coming up in the spice context: "He gave and gave, and I still wanted more, needed him to fill me until I couldn’t see straight, until it was too much for anyone else to take." - I don't even know what the author wanted to say with this? Maybe it's an issue with me not being a native speaker, but there were a lot of similar sentences in those scenes.
In general, I caught myself skimreading sometimes also beside the spice, because I just wasn't invested. This book almost threw me into a reading slump and that's never a good sign. The MCs have so much trauma and background info, but somehow they still felt flat. I couldn’t anticipate how they’d react in certain situations or otherwise get a feel for them, which made them hard to connect with and be invested into their story - and to feel their chemistry. Weirdly enough, the side characters (especially family members) sometimes had more depth. Also storywise: I was SO looking forward to Orson meeting Floris’ royal family. I was so ready for a dramatic, nerve-wracking "meet the parents" scene… but nope. We just get a quick summary like, “oh yeah, that happened on Zoom, it was terrifying but they were nice.” Show-don't-tell is such an important writing concept and ESPECIALLY in such a scene. Also the scene with Orson's uncle? It felt completely random and unnecessary, like it was fabricated to add drama. The resolution was nice, but still all in all weirdly forced.
Also some other things that bothered me:
A 24-year-old gay man interested in science not knowing what PrEP is? That didn’t feel believable. A heart attack death gets mentioned super casually, and there’s trauma around a drowning parent in front of the MC's eyes. Both of those things definitely would’ve needed trigger warnings (could be an ARC issue, but also ARC readers deserve to go into a book well informed). Just a minor thing: The author quotes in the Netgalley blurb are for other books by Nora Phoenix and Idk if that's common, but it feels a bit weird? Like false advertising?
It’s one of those books where I can see the potential. A super interesting set up, but the inconsistencies, unnatural dialogue, story choices and missed opportunities just made it frustrating. Instead of getting sucked into the story, I was SO easily distracted and like I said in the beginning, it almost put me into a reading slump.
Thanks for the review copy to Netgalley and the author.
I'm quite torn about the book, but honestly mostly disappointed. This review will contain some spoilers, so beware!
What I liked: The Dutch cultural elements felt accurate (at least from my perspective as a German who’s been to the Netherlands a bunch). Food descriptions in particular were spot on, and apparently Nora Phoenix is Dutch, so that checks out. Also the supportive families were a big plus, honestly, those dynamics were more appealing than the main romance at times. The final/main message about living instead of just surviving was really fitting and beautiful.
But now to the stuff that bothered me. I have to say, since I read an ARC and the book is not published yet, I don't know if some last minute adjustments are being made and some of those points (e.g. regarding the TWs) might not apply to the finished book.
The inconsistencies (oh boy…):
This was honestly the biggest problem for me. The book is full of little contradictions that kept pulling me out of the story:
- Orson says he’s been at college for three years, but later he states it’s his fifth year.
- Floris organises a private charter for Orson via "his" travel planner only to later having to ask his family for help with their travel planner for a flight back to the US.
- The story about young Floris convincing royal guards he could talk to ducks was told twice, and Orson reacts both times as if it’s new.
- Orson “doesn’t know what to say to his mom” about the relationship, but literally pages earlier he decided to keep it between them for now.
- The spice in general put me off, more on that later, but one of their first scenes had the sentence "Nerve endings he didn’t know he had", when two pages earlier Orson mentions a bad bottoming experience.
- Floris is supposed to be 20 and his brother 22, but the way they acted, those ages just didn’t work. His brother also is engaged already, and while he of course can be engaged in that age, it felt like another proof that the ages don't match up.
- The other man in the video that's making Floris problems is never named until the end, but this is done in a way that feels like we should know the name already. It's clear from the context after, but it feels weird? And also, it was a video and the whole scandal only happened because Floris didn't want to out the other person, but wouldn't people see who it was on said video? But I also feel like I might be missing context from book 1 that I haven't read - it reads like Jason is famous (and therefore the complicated outing), but I don't know anything about him.
When so many of these little things pile up, it makes the story feel messy, and I honestly started side-eyeing every new detail, otherwise I don't think as many things would have stood out to me.
Also the dialogue often felt unnatural, especially regarding characters explaining things the dialogue partner already knows, just so the reader can catch up. And sometimes it was just too much detail in a way nobody would realistically say (like pointing out built-in bookshelves visible through a window in conversation??)
Also, can we talk about calling a Creole language “bastard French” in 2025? That was… certainly a choice.
I’ll be honest: I started skimreading the spice. Lines like "What do you recommend, chef Floris?" "Our special of the day is anal play" completely threw me out. It was certainly meant to be cheeky, but instead it just made me cringe HARD. And just weird lines kept coming up in the spice context: "He gave and gave, and I still wanted more, needed him to fill me until I couldn’t see straight, until it was too much for anyone else to take." - I don't even know what the author wanted to say with this? Maybe it's an issue with me not being a native speaker, but there were a lot of similar sentences in those scenes.
In general, I caught myself skimreading sometimes also beside the spice, because I just wasn't invested. This book almost threw me into a reading slump and that's never a good sign. The MCs have so much trauma and background info, but somehow they still felt flat. I couldn’t anticipate how they’d react in certain situations or otherwise get a feel for them, which made them hard to connect with and be invested into their story - and to feel their chemistry. Weirdly enough, the side characters (especially family members) sometimes had more depth. Also storywise: I was SO looking forward to Orson meeting Floris’ royal family. I was so ready for a dramatic, nerve-wracking "meet the parents" scene… but nope. We just get a quick summary like, “oh yeah, that happened on Zoom, it was terrifying but they were nice.” Show-don't-tell is such an important writing concept and ESPECIALLY in such a scene. Also the scene with Orson's uncle? It felt completely random and unnecessary, like it was fabricated to add drama. The resolution was nice, but still all in all weirdly forced.
Also some other things that bothered me:
A 24-year-old gay man interested in science not knowing what PrEP is? That didn’t feel believable. A heart attack death gets mentioned super casually, and there’s trauma around a drowning parent in front of the MC's eyes. Both of those things definitely would’ve needed trigger warnings (could be an ARC issue, but also ARC readers deserve to go into a book well informed). Just a minor thing: The author quotes in the Netgalley blurb are for other books by Nora Phoenix and Idk if that's common, but it feels a bit weird? Like false advertising?
It’s one of those books where I can see the potential. A super interesting set up, but the inconsistencies, unnatural dialogue, story choices and missed opportunities just made it frustrating. Instead of getting sucked into the story, I was SO easily distracted and like I said in the beginning, it almost put me into a reading slump.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2025
Massive thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for gifting me with this ARC in exchange for my review!
Prince Material is a fluffy and sweet dual POV m/m queer romcom with a royal twist and the second in the Prince Pact series, though it works perfectly well as a standalone, which is how I read it.
Meet Floris: tall, blonde, handsome, charming and oh yeah, the nephew of the King of the Netherlands. While that all sounds dreamy, he's desperate for a bit of normalcy after getting caught up in a tabloid scandal not of his own fault. So the obvious solution is to ship off to the States for an "average American" college experience at a technical school in Massachusetts to work on his engineering degree and relax a bit. Enter Orson, Floris' foil - a nerdy and hardworking grad student with some trauma he channels into his school assignments.
Things I enjoyed about this book:
⭐️ Perfect for fall reading as it takes place during back to school season! A great book to cozy up with on the couch and a steaming beverage on the weekend.
⭐️ The spice is spicing and the banter is on target! If you like a lot of snark and sass in your main characters, Florin and Orson deliver on that front in spades. It's sometimes used to cover secrets and vulnerability, which is a downside, but it's cute.
⭐️ The friends/roommates to lovers trope works here and is believable.
⭐️ Queer love is celebrated and accepted - there's a delightful lack of homophobia from our main characters' friends and family. While homophobia is a fact of the world we live in, sometimes it's nice to live in a world where our main characters don't have to struggle for acceptance with people closest to them so they can focus on other character development. We see both of our main characters' friends and families be accepting of their sexuality and love off the bat.
⭐️ Some fun references and education on Dutch culture.
Elements that didn't quite work for me/places for improvement:
⭐️ While described for fans of Red, White & Royal Blue, this book didn't quite have the depth of Casey McQuiston's work, but it does certainly scratch that same itch!
⭐️ The conversations are a bit too familiar and intense off the bat - Floris talks to Orson like friends would speak to each other after a few years, not a few weeks.
⭐️ The book reads a bit insta-love and both of the characters have an instant comfort and attraction that I think isn't quite realistic. There was likely a development of friendship/relationship off page, but I think the book could have benefited from exploring more of that and giving both main characters time to build the tension.
⭐️ I liked the glimpses we got of New Orleans, but there were real opportunities to dive into some more of the culture and history, especially given the plethora of references to Hurricane Katrina. I would have liked if the author would have spent at least a little bit more time educating the reader about what happened with Katrina - it reads very "skimmed over" and it shouldn't be!
⭐️ There are some inconsistencies that need to be worked out, especially in the spicy scenes - I hope this was hammered out in editing! It was distracting to have to make some logical jumps about positioning or logistics.
I had fun with this lighthearted little romp but I prefer a bit more depth and sophistication in my romcoms. Ultimately I would recommend this to folks who are looking for a fluffy queer book with a royal element, especially if you're looking to escape and turn off your brain for a while!
TW: death of parent, grief, natural disaster/hurricane, a bit of homophobia (from outside sources), mentions of sexual harassment/assault (happens off page).
Prince Material is a fluffy and sweet dual POV m/m queer romcom with a royal twist and the second in the Prince Pact series, though it works perfectly well as a standalone, which is how I read it.
Meet Floris: tall, blonde, handsome, charming and oh yeah, the nephew of the King of the Netherlands. While that all sounds dreamy, he's desperate for a bit of normalcy after getting caught up in a tabloid scandal not of his own fault. So the obvious solution is to ship off to the States for an "average American" college experience at a technical school in Massachusetts to work on his engineering degree and relax a bit. Enter Orson, Floris' foil - a nerdy and hardworking grad student with some trauma he channels into his school assignments.
Things I enjoyed about this book:
⭐️ Perfect for fall reading as it takes place during back to school season! A great book to cozy up with on the couch and a steaming beverage on the weekend.
⭐️ The spice is spicing and the banter is on target! If you like a lot of snark and sass in your main characters, Florin and Orson deliver on that front in spades. It's sometimes used to cover secrets and vulnerability, which is a downside, but it's cute.
⭐️ The friends/roommates to lovers trope works here and is believable.
⭐️ Queer love is celebrated and accepted - there's a delightful lack of homophobia from our main characters' friends and family. While homophobia is a fact of the world we live in, sometimes it's nice to live in a world where our main characters don't have to struggle for acceptance with people closest to them so they can focus on other character development. We see both of our main characters' friends and families be accepting of their sexuality and love off the bat.
⭐️ Some fun references and education on Dutch culture.
Elements that didn't quite work for me/places for improvement:
⭐️ While described for fans of Red, White & Royal Blue, this book didn't quite have the depth of Casey McQuiston's work, but it does certainly scratch that same itch!
⭐️ The conversations are a bit too familiar and intense off the bat - Floris talks to Orson like friends would speak to each other after a few years, not a few weeks.
⭐️ The book reads a bit insta-love and both of the characters have an instant comfort and attraction that I think isn't quite realistic. There was likely a development of friendship/relationship off page, but I think the book could have benefited from exploring more of that and giving both main characters time to build the tension.
⭐️ I liked the glimpses we got of New Orleans, but there were real opportunities to dive into some more of the culture and history, especially given the plethora of references to Hurricane Katrina. I would have liked if the author would have spent at least a little bit more time educating the reader about what happened with Katrina - it reads very "skimmed over" and it shouldn't be!
⭐️ There are some inconsistencies that need to be worked out, especially in the spicy scenes - I hope this was hammered out in editing! It was distracting to have to make some logical jumps about positioning or logistics.
I had fun with this lighthearted little romp but I prefer a bit more depth and sophistication in my romcoms. Ultimately I would recommend this to folks who are looking for a fluffy queer book with a royal element, especially if you're looking to escape and turn off your brain for a while!
TW: death of parent, grief, natural disaster/hurricane, a bit of homophobia (from outside sources), mentions of sexual harassment/assault (happens off page).
September 15, 2025
4,4
Lovely story.
We accompany Floris, the Dutch prince and member of the prince pact, to Massachusetts. He desperately needs a time out after a scandalous video of him making out with someone - purposedly assaulting the other guy - blemished his reputation.
He gets roomed with a Masters student, the very prim and proper Orson, who is rather driven and we get to know early on why he's such a perfectionist and ambitious. He's meant to be a good influence on the "party prince" Floris who really doesn't come across as that much of a party guy after all when he's not in the media's focus.
Those two get along nicely almost from the start, even though they're quite a bit different - Orson is very organized, Floris a bit of a messy guy, but hey, he's used to staff keeping things in order.
However, Floris is nicely down to earth - he's Dutch after all.
Orson is nicely unimpressed by Floris being a prince - he sees the man instead of the prince. They bond over engineering and the burden or expectation - be it selfimposed or by the outside world.
It's very nice to see that both are quite mature in many aspects.
Strangely enough, I always felt as if Orson were the younger one (iirc Orson is said to be 24, Floris 21), but since Floris has been trained from early childhood to be responsible and aware of his surroundings, somehow it makes sense. He also has far more life experience than Orson who always focused on his studies.
I liked it a lot that their whole story was so un-angsty.
Yes, it's very fairy tale like, but at least it's clear that Floris only had a short period of living under the radar - the Dutch press noticed his absence from public events, so he effectively had less than half a year of living a normal life.
I'm not sure about the security protocols - if a prince and fourth or fifth in line could really do without security detail, but hey, the whole premise isn't that realistic I fear but who cares. The story is lovely, well written, and really well narrated.
My biggest critic: the focus shifted a bit too much towards Orson in the second half and I really, really missed Floris's voice, his pov and his voice in general, since his narrator Charlie Klaeboe Svensson is such a wonderful narrator.
I soooo loved him in book 1 with Tore, the Norwegian prince. His Norwegian accent (can't vouch if it's accurate, but it's wonderful anyway) was superb, the Dutch is far less pronounced which is probably spot on afaik.
Now I'm looking forward impatiently to book 3 and 4: Niels, the Swedish prince, is up next - the Swedes have such perfect English that I fear we don't get much of a Swedish accent from Charlie, who I HOPE DEARLY will narrated again. Book 4 will be around Greg, the British prince, who has a rather nice posh accent, also well done by Charlie when he appears in book 1 and 2.
So, if you want to spend a couple of hours with lovely, nice guys and a nice story, grab any of the books in the Prince Pact series!!
Lovely story.
We accompany Floris, the Dutch prince and member of the prince pact, to Massachusetts. He desperately needs a time out after a scandalous video of him making out with someone - purposedly assaulting the other guy - blemished his reputation.
He gets roomed with a Masters student, the very prim and proper Orson, who is rather driven and we get to know early on why he's such a perfectionist and ambitious. He's meant to be a good influence on the "party prince" Floris who really doesn't come across as that much of a party guy after all when he's not in the media's focus.
Those two get along nicely almost from the start, even though they're quite a bit different - Orson is very organized, Floris a bit of a messy guy, but hey, he's used to staff keeping things in order.
However, Floris is nicely down to earth - he's Dutch after all.
Orson is nicely unimpressed by Floris being a prince - he sees the man instead of the prince. They bond over engineering and the burden or expectation - be it selfimposed or by the outside world.
It's very nice to see that both are quite mature in many aspects.
Strangely enough, I always felt as if Orson were the younger one (iirc Orson is said to be 24, Floris 21), but since Floris has been trained from early childhood to be responsible and aware of his surroundings, somehow it makes sense. He also has far more life experience than Orson who always focused on his studies.
I liked it a lot that their whole story was so un-angsty.
Yes, it's very fairy tale like, but at least it's clear that Floris only had a short period of living under the radar - the Dutch press noticed his absence from public events, so he effectively had less than half a year of living a normal life.
I'm not sure about the security protocols - if a prince and fourth or fifth in line could really do without security detail, but hey, the whole premise isn't that realistic I fear but who cares. The story is lovely, well written, and really well narrated.
My biggest critic: the focus shifted a bit too much towards Orson in the second half and I really, really missed Floris's voice, his pov and his voice in general, since his narrator Charlie Klaeboe Svensson is such a wonderful narrator.
I soooo loved him in book 1 with Tore, the Norwegian prince. His Norwegian accent (can't vouch if it's accurate, but it's wonderful anyway) was superb, the Dutch is far less pronounced which is probably spot on afaik.
Now I'm looking forward impatiently to book 3 and 4: Niels, the Swedish prince, is up next - the Swedes have such perfect English that I fear we don't get much of a Swedish accent from Charlie, who I HOPE DEARLY will narrated again. Book 4 will be around Greg, the British prince, who has a rather nice posh accent, also well done by Charlie when he appears in book 1 and 2.
So, if you want to spend a couple of hours with lovely, nice guys and a nice story, grab any of the books in the Prince Pact series!!
August 30, 2025
Copy received for an honest reciw
Well, aren't these Princes just wonderful.
This one gave me a bit of a The Prince And Me vibe (with a little bit of "Mork calling Orson, come in Orson call to my soul)
It took a bit for me to warm up to both our lovelies, but in the end, that was how our guys were.
I also learned a lot more about water management than I expected hahaha
Their friendship is a slow burn, as everything really is with them. But again it is perfect for them. I loved how their families became entwined through their friendship. And Floris' family was not what I was expecting of a royal family, which was lovely.
It was cute and adorable. Now I need to see who we get next.
August 8, 2025
Sweet, but with little relationship building, no stakes and then smut. 2.5/5
I'll start off by saying I read the first book in the series, The Prince and the Player and enjoyed it for the most part, so I was interested to continue the series with the one openly gay prince in the group.
The book starts out with Floris, an openly gay Dutch prince, discussing his plan to fulfill the "Prince Pact" he and his friends made in the first book to live life as ordinary college students in America where they will be less likely to be recognized. Early on in this second book, which focuses on Floris' story, it is eluded to that something fabricated happened while he was in London that made headlines that put him in a negative light. Without going into detail, this mysterious tabloid story is the closest thing the book has to a problem and its revealed towards the beginning of the book.
To keep my criticisms short, Floris needed more flushing out to be more than a well polished, quick witted, sometimes forgetful, type B Prince Charming. Orson was a little more flushed out than just a standard type A personality, who seemingly overcame is qualms fairly easily. Their relationship, and the book for the most part, takes place in their dorm room with a few other settings and with limited interactions. During the few occasions when they are not in their dorm ie a coffee shop or on a boat, they're discussing Floris being a prince in public, like no one could possibly overhear them which immediately took me out of the story.
Did I like the book? Yes, but I wish there was more depth to the characters and the building of their relationship. More than, "he's cute and it's becoming distracting and I can be myself around him," without ever building any sort of foundation.
So, if you're looking for an easily read with a gay prince, little to no stakes or stress on their relationship and lots of smut, you'll enjoy this book.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for a review.
I'll start off by saying I read the first book in the series, The Prince and the Player and enjoyed it for the most part, so I was interested to continue the series with the one openly gay prince in the group.
The book starts out with Floris, an openly gay Dutch prince, discussing his plan to fulfill the "Prince Pact" he and his friends made in the first book to live life as ordinary college students in America where they will be less likely to be recognized. Early on in this second book, which focuses on Floris' story, it is eluded to that something fabricated happened while he was in London that made headlines that put him in a negative light. Without going into detail, this mysterious tabloid story is the closest thing the book has to a problem and its revealed towards the beginning of the book.
To keep my criticisms short, Floris needed more flushing out to be more than a well polished, quick witted, sometimes forgetful, type B Prince Charming. Orson was a little more flushed out than just a standard type A personality, who seemingly overcame is qualms fairly easily. Their relationship, and the book for the most part, takes place in their dorm room with a few other settings and with limited interactions. During the few occasions when they are not in their dorm ie a coffee shop or on a boat, they're discussing Floris being a prince in public, like no one could possibly overhear them which immediately took me out of the story.
Did I like the book? Yes, but I wish there was more depth to the characters and the building of their relationship. More than, "he's cute and it's becoming distracting and I can be myself around him," without ever building any sort of foundation.
So, if you're looking for an easily read with a gay prince, little to no stakes or stress on their relationship and lots of smut, you'll enjoy this book.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for a review.
August 16, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood, and Nora Phoenix for sending me this ARC!
I loved this book; I couldn't put it down. From the adorable main characters, Floris and Orson, to the humour and press, I was completely enthralled in the book. It was refreshing how Phoenix focused the story on the development of the relationship between Floris and Orson rather than having another outside plot transpire in the background. The themes of guilt and grief were explored and handled very well. There were even some instances where I felt the weight of Orson's grief on my shoulders as well.
Both characters had so much depth and were well fleshed out. Floris was the opposite of what you would expect a royal to be: funny, goofy, and humble. He was so much more likeable than the love interest, Farron, in the first book (The Prince and the Player); however, in this book, both characters were sweet, compassionate, and friendly. Floris charmed me from the start with the way he would approach or react to cultural differences between America and the Netherlands. He was also very clearly deserving of Orson.
Orson was sweet, serious, shy, apprehensive, and study-driven. It was amazing to see him shift into a less severe and guilt-ridden character who was living rather than surviving. His happiness was everything, and Phoenix certainly made the readers feel that. His point of view has evolved from something dull, grey, and sad to a point of view full of laughter, fun, and joy.
I would 100% recommend this to anyone who loves red, white and royal blue or any royal romance. I will be looking forward to the next instalment in this series! This will be one of the books that I reread constantly because of how much I enjoyed it. Dare I say this might even become one of my all-time favourites...
I loved this book; I couldn't put it down. From the adorable main characters, Floris and Orson, to the humour and press, I was completely enthralled in the book. It was refreshing how Phoenix focused the story on the development of the relationship between Floris and Orson rather than having another outside plot transpire in the background. The themes of guilt and grief were explored and handled very well. There were even some instances where I felt the weight of Orson's grief on my shoulders as well.
Both characters had so much depth and were well fleshed out. Floris was the opposite of what you would expect a royal to be: funny, goofy, and humble. He was so much more likeable than the love interest, Farron, in the first book (The Prince and the Player); however, in this book, both characters were sweet, compassionate, and friendly. Floris charmed me from the start with the way he would approach or react to cultural differences between America and the Netherlands. He was also very clearly deserving of Orson.
Orson was sweet, serious, shy, apprehensive, and study-driven. It was amazing to see him shift into a less severe and guilt-ridden character who was living rather than surviving. His happiness was everything, and Phoenix certainly made the readers feel that. His point of view has evolved from something dull, grey, and sad to a point of view full of laughter, fun, and joy.
I would 100% recommend this to anyone who loves red, white and royal blue or any royal romance. I will be looking forward to the next instalment in this series! This will be one of the books that I reread constantly because of how much I enjoyed it. Dare I say this might even become one of my all-time favourites...
September 11, 2025
I enjoyed this book it’s the second book in the series to the prince and the player 3 book in series coming out soon!!
Blurb
✨ Tropes & Themes ✨ ✧ MM Romance 🔥 ✧ All the spice 🌶️✧ Roommates to lovers 💗✧ Forced proximity 🌞✧ Friends to lovers 😍 ✧ College setting
Can I have both—the title and the guy?
After a scandal, starting college in Massachusetts is my fresh start. With an ocean between me and the palace in The Netherlands, this is the chance to be just Floris instead of the first openly gay prince in Europe.
College life in America appeals to me…including my roommate, Orson. He’s cute as a bug in an adorkable way, but also serious and focused, his head permanently in a book. But behind his glasses, there is a sparkle in his gorgeous eyes, and I want to get to know him.
When I manage to break through his walls, we discover we have more in common than we thought, and we become friends. I’m convinced that’s all there could ever be, but when an emergency brings us closer, the chemistry between us heats up.
But I’m a prince with all the expectations my position brings, and he’s determined to realize his own dreams, so where does that leave us? He knows my real identity, but we’re from such different worlds.
Can I really have it all? The royal life and the boy next door?
Perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston, Alexis Hall and Jax Calder!
Blurb
✨ Tropes & Themes ✨ ✧ MM Romance 🔥 ✧ All the spice 🌶️✧ Roommates to lovers 💗✧ Forced proximity 🌞✧ Friends to lovers 😍 ✧ College setting
Can I have both—the title and the guy?
After a scandal, starting college in Massachusetts is my fresh start. With an ocean between me and the palace in The Netherlands, this is the chance to be just Floris instead of the first openly gay prince in Europe.
College life in America appeals to me…including my roommate, Orson. He’s cute as a bug in an adorkable way, but also serious and focused, his head permanently in a book. But behind his glasses, there is a sparkle in his gorgeous eyes, and I want to get to know him.
When I manage to break through his walls, we discover we have more in common than we thought, and we become friends. I’m convinced that’s all there could ever be, but when an emergency brings us closer, the chemistry between us heats up.
But I’m a prince with all the expectations my position brings, and he’s determined to realize his own dreams, so where does that leave us? He knows my real identity, but we’re from such different worlds.
Can I really have it all? The royal life and the boy next door?
Perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston, Alexis Hall and Jax Calder!
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