A chance encounter sets one woman on the path to marrying a prince—but is he the one she really wants, or will she find herself falling for his best friend instead?
Birdie Hamilton’s life is a mess. She’s working a dead-end job, is about to be evicted from her apartment, and can’t seem to escape the looming holiday season, no matter how hard she tries. So when a chance encounter leads to her competing for the heart and hand of the Crown Prince of Wexstone, surely things are starting to look up. She just has to embrace the adventure, be herself, and definitely not fall for the prince’s grumpy best friend.
Knox Henderson has spent his life in the shadow of his best friend, Prince Oliver of Wexstone—not that he minds. Knox is happy to support him and ensure the future of the throne, even if it means endorsing the ridiculous competition to find Oliver a wife before his coronation. There’s just one problem: He can’t stop thinking about Birdie Hamilton, one of Oliver's suitors.
When physical sparks fly and emotional connections are forged, Birdie and Knox must confront their past traumas and embark on a journey of self-healing to embrace the love they both deserve.
Royally Yours by Jules Kyle is such a sweet and fun, somewhat spicy, holiday romance. It gives Christmas Movie vibes, for sure, especially one of my favorites, A Christmas Prince. I feel like you can rarely go wrong with a holiday romance and this certainly did not disappoint!
Spoilers ahead-
I love Queen Evelyn and Rosie's bets and knew the one about Knox had to do with Birdie. I definitely thought Evelyn was the one who put Birdie down for the auction, but alas we had a different matchmaker.
Also, let me just say that I was so entranced with the first spicy scene, I could not believe it ended up being a dream. I would be rocked after having such a vivid dream!
I'm excited to read the next book focused more on Oliver's search for a wife and I definitely hope it's Adelaide!
The way the book started with the mishaps with the hot man would totally be me! Birdie was definitely relatable.
I felt like I'd read the story before at times mainly around the competition for the Prince but the other parts reminded me I hadn't. I really rooted for Knox and Birdie and as I don't do spoilers I can't tell you if I rooted for the right one 😂 Its fine though it's release day so go buy it and find out for yourself 😂 I will say though even from early on I was caught out by the twist with the dream! 🙈
It was well written and flowed as quite an easy read. The chapters were quite long. I prefer shorter chapters but I enjoyed the story and there was a lot going on in each chapter to keep me engaged.
I'd say it's definitely more of a light hearted read and I'd recommend it for those who want a light hearted but spicy romance! I also got all the festive vibes 😍
I think it might remind me of a movie perhaps Princess Diaries which doesn't feel right but I can't think of the other movie I'm thinking it's like. Either way it was a thoroughly enjoyable read grab it now!
I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy of this cozy, spicy, rom-com-ish. Get on your flannel, cozy up under a blanket with a cup of coffee or tea, and get ready to enjoy this holiday gem. Nothing better than a tall, grumpy, self-aware, emotionally smart MMC. Great banter and funny yet supportive side characters. I wouldn’t mind reading about some of the other characters back stories. If you’re a fan of the Bachelor and looking for a whimsical adult version of that mixed with The Princess Diaries, then this is the book for you. Dreaming about visiting the grounds and castles in Wexstone.
Oh, this book was so good! Seriously, my favorite kind of hallmark movies are royalty, romance, Christmas movies and that’s what this book is!! Birdie is so fun and as the book goes, you see how much more depth she has and you just want to love her and be her best friend. Knox well he’s downright dreamy! Their story truly just makes me happy. I am so excited to read more of this series.
I met one of the authors at a local book signing and she was really sweet and cool so I bought the book. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait for the rest of the series!
A chance meeting gives Birdie a way out of the mess she's found herself in - about to be evicted, with a job that barely makes ends meet. But now she gets to fight for the affections of an honest to god prince. Good yeah? Or no because it's not Oliver she's developing feelings for, it's his best friend, Knox.
Knox is part of the family, but he's always refused to be in line for the throne. He may be Oliver's best friend, and his family made him into one of their own, but he's not really, is he? It's why the woman he's falling for of course is one of the contestants for Oliver's love, and he knows she's off limits. He and Birdie each have their pasts, have the scars to prove it. He's dealt with his pain, but has she? Is she ever going to admit how she feels? Or will she spend the rest of her life running?
What a great debut! It felt like one of those Hallmark holiday movies, only with more heat, more heart, and a lot more depth. It's lighthearted, yet the characters are compelling and have layers and depth, especially the main couple. I really like the Wexstone Royals and can't wait for the prince's story next, Hopelessly Yours.
ARC provided by The Author Agency for an honest review.
3.75 rounded up! Thank you so much to Jules Kyle for the ARC! This was a perfect read to kick off the cozy fall season.
For a debut novel, this book does a lot of things right. It nails the hallmark movie plot line and themes in the best way — come on, who doesn’t love a royal bachelor-style competition set in a winter wonderland with major mia thermopolis vibes and plenty of spice thrown in?
It also handles the depiction of personal trauma and anxiety well in our main characters, and the different degrees of healing that takes place over time. The book openly champions therapy and taking the time to work through personal trauma, as hard as that is.
These characters are cute. The writing is the best kind of easy, which makes it a quick read. The perfect palette cleanser in between the denser fantasy books I tend to read with endless world building and 40 different names I can’t pronounce to save my life. I expected Hallmark going in, so it was just plain fun to read!
Aside from some pacing at the end, my main critique is that I wish the timeframe hadn’t been so condensed. This book covers A LOT of ground in the span of less than 2 months. It starts out just after Halloween and ends on Christmas Day, and it felt like our main girl Birdie goes through a whole year’s worth of life in that time. If not a longer timeframe, then maybe a few more grounding references to thoughts like “this is moving way too fast, but when you know you know…” or “what is wrong with me? Who falls in love over the course of a few weeks?” It just would have made it a little more believable for me. But on the other hand, that’s exactly how the Bachelor works, so that’s totally on brand.
But let’s be real, if I was swept off my feet by a tall man in plaid who wears glasses, knows how to work with his hands, has a dog, lives in a winter wonderland, has spent years working through his own baggage, is actually a healthy human being and openly admits his feelings for me…I’d probably fall in love that quick too, royal family or no. Helloooo Knox, take me away!
Overall a very fun, cozy read. If you’re looking for a light Hallmark story to kick off November, this is a great option!
Now this was the royal romance I’ve been waiting for! After a string of lighter festive reads, Royally Yours by @authorjuleskyle was exactly the warm, emotional, slow-burn comfort I needed. It’s charming, cozy, and surprisingly heartfelt — the perfect mix of swoon and substance.
Birdie instantly stole my heart. She’s real, messy, and so easy to root for — a woman doing her best while the world seems to throw everything at her. Her anxiety was portrayed with such care and authenticity that it hit close to home for me. As someone who also lives with anxiety, there were so many little moments and thoughts that felt seen. It was refreshing to have mental health represented honestly but gently, without taking away from the warmth of the story.
And then there’s Knox — our brooding royal best friend who doesn’t think he deserves happiness. His quiet grief and the way he carries his losses added a depth I didn’t expect. Watching him and Birdie navigate their connection — equal parts spark, safety, and healing — was beautiful. The way Jules Kyle handled themes of loss, self-worth, and finding comfort in someone who gets it was truly special.
This story has everything I adore: a royal court full of pressure and expectation, a group of women competing for a prince’s hand, and one heroine whose heart belongs to someone else entirely. The emotional tension that builds between Birdie and Knox had me completely hooked, and their journey from guarded strangers to soul-deep connection was perfection.
Thank you so much to Jules and The Author Agency for the e-ARC — and apologies for the late review! It’s been one of those anxious, whirlwind weeks, which I’m sure Birdie herself would completely understand. If you’re after a feel-good story with genuine heart, this one’s absolutely worth curling up with this season.
I liked the unique story of this romance! Definitely enjoyed all of the "The Bachelor" themes along with the way royalty was pulled in to this. The characters of Knox and Birdie were really likeable too, Knox was the somewhat tortured soul, feeling forever in debt to his best friends family, not believing any good will ever come to him but through his pain he was romantic compassionate and quippy. Birdie was independent and still very much grieving, kind of frozen and not sure how to get everything she wanted out of life, just taking her after hit. But she was artistic, funny, loyal and thoughtful. I liked the friendships she made with the other contestants, and the way she had her friends backs. I liked the loyalty between Oliver and Knox, and the other guys too - it was nice to see a moment or two of vulnerability in a guy group.
I think the main thing that held me back from loving this book was how rushed the relationship between Knox and Birdie was. It just went from 0 to 100 inconceivably fast and it turned me right off.
I thought there were some great moments in this story, their dog brought joy, Archer and his family, the Queen and her involvement, the openess about counselling were all solid. But the ending, and more broadly, the last third/quarter of this book was just too rushed to feel genuine. No this book didnt always feel believable, everyone was so reasonable when they fought and everything always went just right etc, but that was part of the charm for me - until it came to the main romance, I couldn't get on board. This was en enjoyable enough read though, and I'd like to try others by this author.
Royally Yours is book 1 in The Wexstone Royals series and is sweet, holiday, romcom romance. Birdie is having it rough in life at the moment. She's at a dead end job and about to get evicted. When she has a chance encounter with a handsome man name Knox at a coffee shop, things may just start to look up. But when she ends up seeing him again later that night, she feels a connection to him. There's an unsuspecting draw to him that she can't seem to deny. Knox's best friend is Crown Prince Oliver of Wexstone, and somehow, even though Birdie feels that attraction to Knox, she ends up a suitor for Prince Oliver, who is needing to find a wife before his coronation. Knox is happy to step aside and let them be together, as he just wants Prince Oliver to be happy and ensure the future of the throne. The problem is, he can't stop thinking about Birdie. And while things are also looking up for Birdie, she has to make sure that she isn't falling for Prince Oliver's grumpy best friend. When unforeseen circumstances force them together though, and they can no longer deny that attraction, Birdie is left confused not knowing if she should return home to the Prince, or feed into this connection with Knox. I loved this. Knox's character is broke my heart a little. He was just willing to set aside his happiness because he felt undeserving of it due to his hard life. The hurt/comfort in this book was so sweet. I loved the characters. Knox and Birdie both go through so much growth in the story just learning to seek comfort in each other. Also, the spice is very well balanced. It's not too much of and not too over the top. I recommend giving this one a read during the holiday season.
This book was a great debut novel! The characters have so much depth and I love the healing from trauma aspect.
Birdie is down on her luck and about to be out of a place to live. With a chance run in at a coffee shop, she might have just met her match in Knox. When she sees him for a second time later that night she knows there is serious chemistry there. So she does the most rational thing she can think of, court his best friend and the future King of Wexstone.
Knox has had a hard life and struggles to see the value within himself. Although they have tried, he refuse to officially become part of the royal family. Now he must watch his best friend/brother court the woman he has undeniable chemistry with.
One night full of allergic reactions and a blizzard leads them to finally giving in to their hot, hot, hot, chemistry! Now they dont know what to do, does Birdie go home and leave the possible love of her life behind or do they tell the truth and give it a real shot?
I absolutely loved the different dynamics that were entwined in this story. There is a ton of plot and it was well thought out. While the chemistry between them is undeniable I wish the ending didnt feel so rushed. I was really enjoying to slow burn and wish it had gone on just a little longer. Overall I would definitely reccomend reading this book and I cant wait to read the next!
What happens when a royal drama meets “The Bachelor”? That’s exactly what drew me to Royally Yours. I had so much fun with the clever twists on reality TV and the unique spin of bringing royalty into the mix.
Knox and Birdie really stood out as leads. Knox felt tortured yet sweet, weighed down by guilt but so caring and quick-witted. Birdie was still grieving, a bit stuck, but she was also artistic and warm. I loved the friendships she formed with the other contestants and how the guys, especially Knox and Oliver, showed loyalty and even vulnerability together.
The side characters, their dog, and even the Queen brought so many heartfelt or funny moments. I also appreciated the honest nods to counseling and mental health. The female contestants who became Birdie's friends were a good addition, and it was enjoyable to read their friendship develop.
My main issue was how quickly Knox and Birdie’s romance developed; it went from nothing to everything way too suddenly for me. The ending especially felt rushed and less believable compared to the earlier parts of the book.
All in all, even if I wasn’t completely swept away by the love story, I enjoyed reading this overall and would be looking forward to reading Oliver's story!
Thank you to The Author Agency for my advance copy of Royally Yours by Jules Kyle in exchange for my honest opinion.
🎄A royal romance set during the holidays? YES, PLEASE!
Birdie is working a dead end job at a bar. Knox is living in the shadow of his best friend, the Prince of Wexstone. Knox doesn't mind, but all the attention usually goes to him. So when they fly to the states for the Prince's bachelor party, will he possibly get some attention?
The Prince and his entourage end up in Birdie's bar and she and her friend wind up joining them. It's all great until they discover there's no bride...yet...because he's going to be in a competition of sorts to find one once he goes home!
Plot twist...Birdie gets invited back to partake in the competition and be sponsored by one of his friends. Oh, did I mention that Birdie and KNOX spent 7 minutes in heaven as a dare before she gets invited to fall for the Prince?
That's all I'm saying! It was a fun read and different...towards the end I'm was like, this is a little bizarre, but I'm not mad. It was different and refreshing...but we don't know who won the competition. I'm just hoping in book 2 we find out!
Birdie is dealing with apartment drama & then Mr Tall Dark & Handsome (aka Knox) has to be a jerk about not only her coffee, her city & her breakfast sandwich! WTH. Knox is just trying to have a last hurrah to support his best friend, Oliver. With any good romcom, there is some hate/spark, 7 minutes in heaven & some miscommunication, now Birdie is flying to Europe to participate in a competition to marry Oliver, the next King of Wexstone…
I liked seeing the royal family being real & normal, working through conflict like any other family. I thought it was sweet how hard Oliver worked to find happiness for Knox. Both Birdie & Knox have some trauma from losses in their lives, and feeling their value & worth in life, (thank you author for acknowledging the importance of mental health & therapy) I also enjoy seeing women “straighten each other’s crown” even though they were competing. Several great moments of women supporting women.
This was a fun take on a royal romance, with some forced proximity, a lot of romcom vibes, good spice & even better banter. I really enjoyed this book. Great read for this time of year!
Royally Yours is book one in the Wexton Royals. I am excited to read Oliver’s HEA next!
I got an early copy of this novel because one of the authors is one of my best friends. And truthfully, I read the book because even though I'm not an avid reading and hadn't finished a single book in 2025, I wanted to support my friend.
But y'all - this book sucked me in. This book put a new spin on the relationship between royals and civilians that I haven't ever seen before. I became so invested in the characters and found myself reading it on every subway train I took on a recent trip instead of looking at my phone and scrolling social media. I quite literally had a hard time putting it down.
If you're someone who likes The Bachelor, Netflix's A Christmas Prince, or Hallmark movies in general, and appreciate adding in some more *adult* content... you're going to love this book. I'm giving it 5 stars not because she's my friend, but because this book had twists and turns that I wasn't expecting and got me reading again after years of neglecting that part of my life. I'm actually excited to pick up new books and discover books and authors that I've been missing in the last several years, and that's really the biggest compliment I can give any book.
I just finished "Royally Yours," the first book in the Wexstone Royals series, and wow! As someone who isn’t really into Hallmark movies because they often feel too clean and predictable, I was pleasantly surprised by this twist on the “The Bachelor" theme set in a fun, spicy Hallmark-like atmosphere. Plus, it all takes place during the holidays with a dashing prince and his best friend—what’s not to love?
The main characters, Bridie and Knox, are both so wonderful that I couldn’t help but cheer for them. Their connection is really sweet and heartfelt, especially as they both work through their past traumas; it makes their bond even stronger and more emotional. I also loved seeing Bridie build amazing friendships, and it was great to watch Knox and Oliver develop their friendship as they each learned to be vulnerable with one another.
Since this is a debut novel, I’m super excited to see what this author comes up with next! I can't wait for Oliver's story to be next in the series!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
SPOILERS. 3.75-4 stars. This was an unexpectedly fun read. Truthfully I don’t read a lot of indie authors because I have a hard time pushing through grammatical/editing errors. Most indie books I’ve read are riddled with them, so I stopped picking them up. I’m really glad this one was recommended to me. Were there some errors missed in editing? Yes. But they weren’t as prominent and didn’t stop me from devouring the story. I had a hard time putting this down!
The misunderstood grumpy + sunshine trope is one of my favorites. Knox: I love a respectful man who will do anything to protect his people. Birdie: her energy was infectious and her pure heart was endearing. Their love story was really fun to read. The Bachelor + holiday magic + found family.
Why I took away some stars. I personally didn’t like the drop of a pregnancy announcement in the epilogue. I feel like it’s an overdone and cliché happily ever after. I would have enjoyed seeing another peek into their future. Birdie kicking ass as the palace’s curator? Birdie’s actual reunion with her father and how Knox supported her? A view into Knox’s found family (aka the royals) and how Birdie fits seamlessly into their dynamic? This part lacked a little creativity IMO.
Overall I’m glad I picked this story up and look forward to reading more from this duo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Thank you to Jules Kyle and The Author Agency for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
When I think about "if my life was a fairytale," this book totally fits that vibe. I read some other reviews and several people stated that it gave them The Princess Diaries vibes and I would have to agree. This was a really fun read for me that just allowed me to escape in the best way possible. We love that! It's what reading is all about for a lot of us! It wasn't real deep, it was light-hearted in a way that makes you really enjoy a swoony romance novel. It had a bit of a rom-comish vibe to it, as there was plenty of banter (which I absolutely LOVE) and parts that made me chuckle. Birdie was such a relatable FMC, and I really enjoyed watching her navigate two love interests. This was my first book by Jules, and I really enjoyed the writing style here. It was an easy read, but one I will remember, and I will definitely be looking out for more of this author's books!
Birdie is a soon to be homeless bartender who meets a group of guys one night. Turns out one of them is a prince and he is about to embark on a quest to find a wife. Despite attraction to his friend Knox, Birdie takes on the adventure and joins the contest. Will she be the next queen?
I liked it. I am always into books about potentially being royalty. I thought this one has some really interesting twists, even though it was a bit predictable overall. The characters were likable and it is the first book of a planned series.
The main characters definitely had chemistry even though they tried to ignore it. The dog was adorable and stole every scene he was in! There is some spice scattered throughout-mainly one in the beginning and more towards the end. It was nice. It was a solid holiday romance with a royal twist.
I was looking forward to reading this book and I'm so glad that I was able to. it is messy in a good way. And not only that It's a bit of a touching read, a little heartwarming but also so much more. The humor, the emotions, the connections, and the characters we're well done. I couldn't put this down and read it in one sitting. It's definitely entertaining. It is also something I would recommend reading. I loved the dynamics between the characters. I also liked the slight twist to The Bachelor show concept. It really gave that whole idea a different meaning. This is a lovely holiday/royal romance. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. And I'm looking forward to the next book.
Thank you to the author and the author agency for an advance copy. My opinions are my own and freely expressed.
Hallmark meets The Bachelor, with Christmas vibes. There’s a little bit of everything in this quirky book but it totally works. Prince Oliver is in need a wife before his coronation as King of the fictional European country of Wexstone, so a contest of potential suitors is arranged.
On his early bachelor party to America he meets Birdie, who becomes a contender in the contest. However, from the moment they meet Birdie’s heart belongs to Oliver’s best friend Knox - they just don’t realise it.
It’s not quite a love triangle but you’ll be screaming at the pages for Knox and Birdie to be together. The forbidden tension that builds is delightful, as is the spice when it all kicks off!
What happens when you mix the vibes of Princess Diaries, the Bachelor and a holiday hallmark movie? You come out with Royally Yours!
I really enjoyed this read, and for a debut I was impressed.
I had a blast following brash American bartender Birdie as she meets a prince, follows him to his country to compete in a Bachelor style contest to win his heart, but just maybe falls for his best friend along the way.
Both Birdie and Knox were likeable, interesting characters with history to work through and they had a great chemistry together. And as a bonus the story is full of interesting side characters who I can’t wait to see in future books in the series.
Overall this felt like a fun holiday hallmark movie and I recommend it if you like these tropes:
👑 Royalty 👨👨Best friend 😠🌞Grumpy sunshine 🐕 He has a dog 😉
Royally yours by: Jules Kyle 5⭐️ *possible spoilers* I really enjoyed this book! It is a very quick and cozy holiday read, it reminded me of a Hallmark holiday movie. When I found out that Oliver was the one pushing Knox and birdie together I squealed 🤪 I though that Oliver was a great person and friend for noticing and acknowledging that his best friend had feelings for her (maybe he didn’t go about it the best way by being sneaky) but everyone ended up doing/ being what and where they needed to be. Such a great story with a wonderful HEA…but I am curious if the story will continue because we didn’t get to find out who won the contest, I really hope it was Cora or Adelaide!! 😝😆☺️ (so glad it won’t be Renata)
This book is like if Princess Diaries had a contest for who would be the Princess. Except they’re trying to be queen! It’s a cute, fun book that follows Birdie to a new country where she’s competing for the hand of Princess Oliver. But…. Is she? Knox is Oliver’s best friend, and he’s caught Birdie’s eye far more than Oliver has.
Tropes 🎁Holiday Romance 👑Royal Romance 🎁Grumpy/Sunshine 👑Forced Proximity 🎁He falls first 👑Romcom 🎁Forbidden Love 👑Slow Burn 🎁Hurt/Comfort 👑Trauma
I love holiday romance, and royalty romance done well, and this one does that. I am so glad that I was able to read this story!
The Princess Diaries meets The Bachelor meets a holiday Hallmark movie in Royally Yours.
Birdie's life is anything but royal. She's floundering in her waitress job in NYC and she's just been evicted. So when a chance encounter sets her up for the adventure of a lifetime, she doesn't think she has anything to lose. Soon, she's in the snowy streets of Wexstone, wearing fancy gowns, vying for the hand of a Prince(!), and trying not to let the grief of her past or her unlikely attraction to the Prince's grumpy best friend ruin everything.
This is perfect if you want Hallmark vibes with plenty of spice and space for deeper themes of grief and healing.
This book was such a fun and cozy surprise. It had that perfect mix of humor, romance, and heart that made it impossible to stop reading. I loved the royal meets reality show twist. The setting in Wexstone was magical, and full of holiday warmth. The banter was sharp, and the grumpy but self-aware male lead completely stole my heart. Thank you so much to the author and The Author Agency for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving an honest review.
Wow, I cannot believe this is a debut novel by Jules Kyle! Thank you to The Author Agency and Jules Kyle's team for an ARC of Royally Yours! I truly did not know what to expect from this book but it delivered. Birdie falls down on her luck when her apartment is bought out and she's being evicted. What's a girl to do, other than enter a Bachelor-style competition to win the hand of the Crown Prince of Wexstone, Oliver's, hand in marriage? Enter a complication in Knox and you've got yourself a will they, won't they dilemma and behind the scenes plotting to make sure everyone ends up right where they're supposed to be! This was a great book with a brand new world that Jules Kyle is building with a set up with even more stories to come - and I can't wait!
Royally Yours brought all of the feels in this holiday romcom. It definitely gave Princess Diaries and The Bachelor vibes, which I absolutely loved.
Birdie and Knox had such good chemistry, and I was excited to read how everything would play out for them. While the setting was filled with some of my favorite tropes, it was also something that felt different (in the best way).
Thank you to The Author Agency for the ARC of this story. I absolutely loved it! This has been my voluntary review.
I had high hopes for this book, but it didn’t quite meet my expectations, especially as a holiday romance. I managed to get through the first few hundred pages, but I found it difficult to continue reading the last half. Even the beginning was challenging to read, as the main character’s speaking voice seemed quite juvenile. Additionally, the constant references to the intense attraction between the main characters became overwhelming after a few pages. While I might revisit this book, as of now, the story isn’t captivating me enough to draw me back in.
It’s giving the Bachelor meets Princess Diaries but with a twist. This is the perfect Hallmark transition from fall to winter months. I want to go to the cute little country of Wexstone and see all of their quaint shops and get stuck in a blizzard with a hot…. Okay no spoilers. But truly a super easy, feel good read. Thank you so much Jules Kyle for the ARC, it is perfect to bump to the top your holiday reading list!