Royal Summer

by Kass Morgan

Aspiring writer Hannah has scored the opportunity of a lifetime—escaping her sleepy Midwestern town for the summer to intern in Scotland for her favorite author. But her plan to spend the next few months being the best assistant ever is derailed when her idol suddenly decides to abscond to Japan with her boyfriend.

So it almost seems too good to be true when a mysterious stranger—a tall, obnoxiously cute stranger—she meets at the pub one night gets her job at the royal family’s castle in Inveresk. It’s only when she shows up to her first day of work that she realizes the stranger is Finnian, the prince of England.

Finn is confined at Inveresk as punishment for his party boy antics, and clearly just wants Hannah around for his own amusement. But the more she gets to know him, the more she wonders if this is just a fling or if she’s found herself in a star-crossed summer romance that she never could have imagined…

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Audiobook, Contemporary, Summer, Summer Reads, Young Adult Romance

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 12, 2026

About the author

Kass Morgan studied literature at Brown and Oxford, and now resides in Brooklyn, where she lives in constant fear of her Ikea bookcase collapsing and burying her under a mound of science fiction and Victorian novels.

Reviews

[SJARR ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. I’m not totally sure why, but I can feel the summer vibes radiating in this.
There isn’t any one thing that really screams “summer!” in here, but somehow, I get it.
I read this in October. Summer has just passed, and yet… this made me want for one of those warm rainy days.

Royal romance is something I usually enjoy. So, I was pretty excited about this one.
It isn’t super different from some of the others that I have read, and it has a lot of the typical plot points that can be found in those.
Things like struggling with family approval, the “heartbreaker prince” persona, etc.
So, if you like that sort of thing, you will probably like this.

This is a fast-paced, and very quick read at only 288 pages. I think it’s good if you want to read something light.
I will say that I think the sort length means sacrificing a little bit of the connection with the characters though, because there isn’t a ton of depth or buildup.

I did like the little romantic moments that Finn and Hannah had together though, and I loved the banter.
In books, I always find it so entertaining when someone is joking around or inquiring about a bunch of random American stuff. This has that, so it brought some humor in for me.
Case and point: Wisconsin cheese hats.

Random notes:
- COWS! The Scottish ones. I love them so much, and they get a little mention in here.
- Horse scenes. I am obsessed with scenes where the love interest is teaching the other person how to do something, or helping them overcome a fear. I think that is so cute.
- Jane Austen references. I know a lot of people are into that, so I thought it was a worthy mention.
- I love the cover.

It’s a good story overall, though I did want to feel a bit more connection to the characters individually and together. But, it was fun to read and was written well.

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collin's Children's Books and author Kass Morgan, for providing me with the eARC of "Royal Summer", in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: May 12, 2026

[Jaimes_Mystical_Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute summer romance read. I enjoyed following Hannah in this story as her summer plans in Scotland fell through and as she ended up working at a royal gift shop instead. I loved the entire cast of characters as well as the banter between Hannah and Finn. I do wish we could have seen their relationship develop a bit more, but overall it was a great royal romance.

Read this if you like:

📖 Scotland settings
📖 Books with royalty
📖 Jane Austen references
📖 Banter
📖 Some spice

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted copy.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio Narration: 2.5⭐️
Plot: 3.75⭐️


If you’re ready to fully lean into a fairytale fantasy, complete with royalty, romance, and a lot of suspended disbelief, this one might just sweep you off your feet.

I’m so grateful to have received complimentary audiobook access from Harper Audio via NetGalley-s it’s always a treat to get an early listen, even when it ends up being a bit of a mixed bag.

If you can suspend disbelief for a spell, this is a cute, charming, and lightly spicy YA romance that makes for a fun escape… but I’m going to gently suggest skipping the audiobook format for this one if you have the choice.

Let’s start there, because the narration really impacted my experience. It’s primarily narrated by Siho Ellsmore, with the epilogue by Stewart Crank, and unfortunately Ellsmore’s performance didn’t quite land for me. While pacing can easily be adjusted with playback speed, the inconsistency in accents was much harder to overlook. The FMC,who is (if I remember correctly) from Wisconsin, doesn’t sound remotely Midwestern. Instead, her voice drifts between what feels like New York and Boston influences, sometimes harsher, sometimes disappearing altogether.

It becomes even more noticeable given that the story is set in Edinburgh. Characters who should have distinct Scottish accents do have them… but not consistently. The delivery slips between styles, occasionally blending accents in a way that pulled me completely out of the story. By the end, the only real consistency was the inconsistency, and it made it difficult to stay immersed.

That said—back to the story itself. At its core, this is an endearing, wish-fulfillment romance: the kind of fairytale where an ordinary girl finds herself entangled with royalty. It leans heavily into that fantasy, and while some suspension of disbelief is expected in this subgenre, there are definitely moments that push the boundary of plausibility—especially early on with how she manages to remain in Scotland.

Still, there’s a sweetness to it that’s hard to deny. It’s cozy, a little whimsical, and the Highland cow references? Absolutely doing some heavy lifting in the charm department.

Overall, this is a solid pick for YA readers who love royal romances and want something escapist and swoony—as long as you’re willing to roll with the fantasy and maybe opt for the physical or ebook instead of the audio if you have the choice.

[caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I devoured this book! Truly what isn’t to love about a cute romance between an American girl and a British prince in Scotland over a summer? Reading this book really felt like I was watching a 2010s teen rom com in the best way possible. It was trope-y (/pos) and I really loved every single character. Finn was so sweet with Hannah (“my American Hannah” mhm!!) and the relationship development between them really hit the spot. I’m such a sucker for strangers to friends to lovers. It wasn’t the slowest of slow burns but was so satisfying nonetheless. My only complaint is that I wish we got to see more of Hannah and Finn after they finally ended up together. Definitely would recommend if you’re looking for a fast-paced, lighthearted romance to curl up with!

Special shoutout to the random Northwestern/Deering cameo at the end — loved that!

Thank you to HarperCollins and Netgalley for this ARC!

[Lissa Hawley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of this book reads pretty YA, but in certain places, it gets a little spicier than I would have expected.
I did enjoy the characters, although my disbelief needed to be suspended a few times (particularly with the horse scenes.)
And the ending was stressful, but ultimately satisfying.

Recommended for a quick, cute read.

[🧸🎀Tiff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a super cute, YA, summer romcom! I really loved the narrators & how they really brought the story to life. tbh though, if I had to eyeball it, idk if I would’ve finished. it was a quick, easy, lighthearted listen & a cute romcom for summer for sure! but the audiobook I feel like is the way to go. I love how Finn calls her “my American Hannah,” it’s so swoony & I love how they got to know each other and became good friends before exploring a relationship, even though their chemistry was off the charts!

There were a lot of things I really liked: Finn was swoon-worthy, I loved the whole “surprise, he’s a royal prince” aspect, & I loved how lighthearted & sweet this audiobook was. The only thing I didn’t care for was the miscommunication. I’m not a hater of miscommunication if it’s done well, but this just kinda came out of nowhere for the sake of a third act breakup.

Overall, it was a cute listen & perfect for a YA summer romcom on audio. I finished it in less than 24 hours because I just really enjoyed it!

4⭐️
0.5🌶️

🫶🏼 thank you to @harpercollins, @harpercollinschin, @harperaudio for the #gifted audio!

[Annie ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Brace yourself for a very brutally honest review. I did not enjoy this book, it felt like reading a wattpad novel (and was certainly as filthy as one). Now there were aspects of the story I enjoyed, I love a good normie and royal romance. I think my main problem with this one was the writing and pacing. Some things felt like they happened for no reason, and I didn’t really jive with that. I will say I loved Hannah and Finn, but the world they were in was poorly written. This is probably someone’s jam, but it’s certainly not mine.

[liz ౨ৎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book to an extent. I felt a lack of connection to the characters and the story, as the book was so fast-paced and generally shorter than what I am used to reading.

Don’t let that deter you from reading this book, though, especially if you like fast-paced and relatively short books; this one’s for you.

The romance was sweet, and I really liked the overall premise.

[Jori Broad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute Royal Romance Alert! Royal Summer by Kass Morgan is an adorable royal romance that delivers charm, comedy, and plenty of swoon worthy moments. Writer Hannah lands her dream summer job in Scotland before she begins college in the fall, but reality is not what she hoped for when the job disappears on her very first day. Finn swoops in to save the day by offering her a position in a castle gift shop along with a place to stay on the castle grounds. It is safe to say that Finn is not who Hannah thinks he is, and the truth leads to a delightful royal twist.

As Hannah settles into her new role, she begins to explore the castle, the countryside, and her growing connection with Finn. The more time they spend together, the clearer it becomes that he is hiding a very big secret. Hannah is a fish out of water in Scotland, which brings plenty of humor, and the gentle mix of romance and light angst keeps the story moving at a brisk, enjoyable pace. If you have ever dreamed that your prince will come, this is the perfect book to add to your reading list.

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Royal Summer” by Kass Morgan is exactly what its title promises; it’s a breezy, romantic escape full of witty banter, royal charm, and the warm haze of summer love. It’s the kind of story that feels made for lazy afternoons and cozy beach reads, with a mix of fairy-tale fantasy and coming-of-age sincerity.

The book follows Hannah, a smart, determined American teen whose summer plans to intern with her favorite author in Edinburgh go awry when the author backs out. Stranded and jobless, Hannah finds an unexpected rescue in Finn, a flirty Scottish prince with a reputation for trouble. What starts as an impulsive job offer soon turns into a slow-burn romance, one filled with humor, tension, and just enough royal drama to keep things fun.

Hannah is a refreshingly grounded protagonist: independent, witty, and unwilling to fall head over heels just because there’s a crown involved. Finn, on the other hand, is the quintessential charming royal playboy, though Morgan smartly lets his “heartbreaker prince” persona fade as the story reveals his more genuine, vulnerable side. Their banter feels natural and engaging, with plenty of clever jokes, and their chemistry builds gradually in a way that feels sweetly realistic.

While the romance shines, the plot was a bit predictable, but that was something I expected from a royal romance. Many familiar tropes of the royal romance genre appear like the commoner who doesn’t recognize the prince, the disapproving royal family, and the inevitable third-act misunderstanding, but Morgan delivers them with warmth and humor. The story’s shorter length and fast pace make it an easy read, though that does mean some character depth and world-building get sacrificed. A few subplots, like Hannah’s family background or the royal aspect with Finn’s side of the family and his responsibilities, feel a bit rushed or underexplored.

One thing that stands out is the book’s tone; it’s light, wholesome, and decidedly summery. Even though there aren’t many literal beaches or bonfires, Morgan captures that feeling of fleeting freedom, self-discovery, and possibility that defines summer. There’s also an openness about sexuality and communication in relationships, making this feel more like an upper YA or new adult novel. I probably would not recommend this book for high school libraries just because of some of the sexual content throughout the book that doesn’t just “fade to black” as is common in YA books.

If you’re looking for something deeply original or full of political intrigue, this may not be your royal read. But if what you want is escapist fluff done right (quick, romantic, and full of heart), then “Royal Summer” definitely delivers.

Overall, this is a sweet, fast-paced royal romance. Predictable but irresistibly charming, “Royal Summer” is a feel-good getaway in book form — one that will make you believe in summer love (and maybe a little royal magic, too).

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a very quick read, before you know it, you’re already at the end. It’s a light and easy romance.

The story follows Hannah, who travels to work as an assistant for her favorite author, only to find herself without a job and a place to stay less than 24 hours after arriving in Edinburgh, abandoned when the author decides to go to Japan for love. Meeting a stranger leads her to a job at a castle… only to discover that he is actually Finn, one of the princes of England.

At first, a relationship based on trust and friendship develops between them, slowly turning into something deeper. But loving a prince isn’t easy, especially when his ex and an unsupportive royal family get in the way.

Overall, it’s a fast-paced read. I would have liked to see more scenes where Hannah pushes Finn away, like in the early chapters, but I really enjoyed the found family that forms with the castle staff.
Another small downside is that I didn’t really feel strong summer vibes in this romance, which is a bit unfortunate considering the title, Royal Summer.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing me with an advance copy of this book.

🇮🇹:
Questo libro si legge veramente in fretta: in un attimo non te ne accorgi e sei già alla fine. È un romance leggero e non impegnativo.

La storia segue Hannah, che parte per lavorare come assistente della sua scrittrice preferita, ma dopo meno di 24 ore a Edimburgo si ritrova senza lavoro e senza alloggio, abbandonata dalla scrittrice che decide di andare in Giappone per amore. L’incontro con uno sconosciuto la porterà a lavorare in un castello… scoprendo poi che lui è in realtà Finn, uno dei principi d’Inghilterra.

Tra i due nasce prima un rapporto di fiducia e amicizia, che lentamente si trasforma in qualcosa di più profondo. Ma amare un principe non è semplice, soprattutto quando entrano in gioco un’ex ingombrante e una famiglia reale poco favorevole.

È una lettura che scorre via in un attimo. Mi sarebbe piaciuto vedere più scene in cui Hannah respinge Finn, come nei primi capitoli, ma ho apprezzato molto la found family che si è creata con lo staff del castello.
Un’altra “pecca” è che non ho avvertito molto le vibes estive in questo romance, cosa un po’ sfortunata visto che si intitola, appunto, Royal Summer.

Ringrazio NetGalley e HarperCollins per avermi dato la possibilità di leggere questo libro in anteprima.

[Jessica’s Book Nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️⭐️⭐️
1.5🌶️ (mostly closed door, but definite indicators of spice)
3.5 for audio

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for a copy of this Audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute, feel good read that is perfect if you're in the mood for something quick and light.

I will admit, the plot is slightly predictable but its almost like snacking on a comfort food. This gave me the same warm feeling I get watching Hallmark movies, like I'm indulging in something I know may be just a little bit too sweet but I love it anyway.

We have our playboy prince, Finn, who has found himself the topic of too many tabloids and ends up spending the summer at his family's castle in Inveresk to keep out of the spotlight. Hannah, after travelling halfway across the globe to chase a dream and escape her own troubles, finds herself jobless and homeless after the author she planned to work for leaves the country to chase a man. Lo and behold, Finn jumps to the rescue after a chance meeting. Without realizing he is the Prince of England, Hannah forms a connection with him which quickly turns to more.

Adorable, right? And yes, while it may seem like we've heard this story before Kass Morgan has put her own touch on what we know is a tried and true story arch. I really enjoyed Hannah and Finn as independent characters and found their chemistry to be top notch.

This is a short book, so I do wish we could have had a bit more depth (or drawn out some of the angst more..I'm a sucker for angst). There were some side characters I would have loved to see built up and some backstory that I feel we could have expanded on, but in the end it was fun and light and perfect for a quick, summer read.

Audio review:

Overall, the audio was done well on this. The majority of the book was narrated by Siho Ellsmore, who I think did a pretty good job. We did get an epilogue by Stewart Crank, which only made me wish we had more from him during the book. In all fairness though, the way the book is written it did make most sense to have the solo narration for the majority.

There was a slight inconsistency with accents among the characters, however as someone who cannot do a Scottish accent to save me life, I was quite impressed with Siho's ability to switch between.

[Larissa Benfey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best two words I’d use to describe this story would be ‘delightful whirlwind.’ It was quick, charming, and delivered exactly what it promised: a sweet summer romance with a down-on-her-luck, aspiring writer and a charismatic, misunderstood prince. It very much gave ‘What a Girl Wants’ meets ‘The Prince and Me,’ and seeing as those are two of my favorite 2000s rom-coms, I was happily sat.

Beyond the romance, the real standout for me was the found family element. Watching Hannah find a sense of belonging among the castle staff was genuinely heartwarming. After everything she’s been through, seeing her welcomed, supported, and cared for in that environment added an extra layer of emotional depth that balanced the lighter, more fantastical elements of the story.

There is some mild angst, particularly with the introduction of Finn’s ex, but I appreciated that the story never dragged out miscommunication for too long. Finn is refreshingly upfront, and his actions consistently back up his words, which made it easy to stay invested without getting frustrated. The third-act conflict felt a bit familiar, but it also stayed relatively low-stakes, which suited the overall tone. This is very much a feel-good story, and it doesn’t lose sight of that. And while the grand romantic gesture takes a little time coming, it still delivers on that satisfying, swoony payoff.

As for the audiobook itself, the narration kept me engaged throughout. The primary narrator (Siho Ellsmore) does a great job conveying emotion and pulling you into the story, even if there are a few accent slips here and there (she had to juggle a lot of accents—it was impressive!). The addition of a male narrator (Stewart Crank) for the epilogue was a fantastic choice—I loved getting a short POV from Finn at the end, and Stewart Crank’s voice suited him perfectly).

Overall, this was charming, cozy, and easy to fall into—a delightful escape with a whirlwind romance and a wonderfully heartwarming found family at its core. I’d happily recommend it to anyone looking for a light, feel-good older YA romance with plenty of swoon.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperAudio Children’s, and HarperCollins for the opportunity to listen to this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

[Teenage Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what rom-coms are all about. Seriously, I would not be surprised if this novel becomes a movie in the next few years—Red, White & Royal Blue–level of popularity. This one just happens to be a little less spicy, a heterosexual relationship, but with the same amount of campy, feel-good vibes. With easy, approachable writing, Morgan moves the novel along quickly, delivering a fast-paced plot and strong banter that makes you root for Hannah and Finn from the very beginning.
Traveling from Milwaukee to Edinburgh, aspiring writer Hannah Grant lands a dream opportunity working for her favorite author, Margaret MacIntyre, hoping this summer will finally kickstart her writing career. Morgan sets this up perfectly, pairing the exciting new setting with just enough back-home drama—Hannah’s best friend hooking up with her boyfriend—to justify Hannah fully unplugging and escaping for the summer. When her plans fall apart almost immediately, Hannah is rescued by “good citizen” Finn, who helps her land a job at the castle gift shop. Of course, Finn is not just a charming flirt—he also happens to be the Prince of England, fresh off a breakup after his long-term girlfriend dumps him out of the blue. Something about Hannah—especially the fact that she doesn’t recognize him—makes Finn stop and truly notice her. It’s a plot that’s easy to love and perfect for a fun summer read.
Hannah herself is incredibly likable, with her go-with-the-flow attitude and quick comebacks. It’s genuinely enjoyable to watch her confront her past, largely with Finn’s encouragement, and slowly come into her own. Her character growth is subtle—not rooted in dramatic breakthroughs as a writer, but in learning to believe in herself and claim her place in the world. Finn mirrors this quieter arc; while he doesn’t change drastically, he does grow by allowing himself to be vulnerable and honest about his feelings instead of hiding behind his title.
This novel is pure fun—a quick, cozy read at under three hundred pages. I especially liked how Morgan handled the commoner-and-prince dynamic, the playful dates Finn takes Hannah on, and the way their relationship builds through seemingly meaningless conversations that end up meaning everything.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW OF ADVANCE READER COPY FROM NETGALLEY

A British royal romance will always grab my attention and what a sweet surprise to find out that our MC is a Milwaukee girl! There's nothing less regal than a born and raised Midwesterner! We just don't grow very classy.

Hannah is fresh out of: high school, a devastating heartbreak, and a dream job. Being stranded in a foreign country is not the most convenient way to start her adventure. But lo and behold, we have a classic and mysterious hot guy, a job at an epic castle, and a forbidden romance. The setting was picturesque, the characters felt like they belonged in a great British romcom of the late 90's, and the romance was my favorite level of slow-burn.

What I loved: I enjoyed reading the descriptions of these Scottish scenes so much that I caught myself grabbing the Costco Scotland travel brochure! The romance was a perfect level of spice for older YA. I know this one would definitely get checked out in our library's YA collection. The castle staff made me picture a modern day Downton Abbey and I could have enjoyed even more of them throughout the story.

What I didn't love: There were a few details that I didn't find believable. I struggle to believe that a successful author would hire an 18 year old as their assistant. I found Hannah's complicated relationship with her parents a bit disjointed and not necessary for the storyline. Last, there was an odd comment at the very beginning about Hannah's personality being compared to black licorice. I never seemed to capture any examples in the story that related back to that statement. She seemed to be liked by everyone she met along her way. It felt like the story was setting her up to be "not like the other girls" when she was in fact very much like an average 18 year old American girl in her Converse and dress combos.

The ending was absolutely adorable! Any reader who loves quick romance novels that involves travel or a "Prince Charming" will love this predictable yet satisfying read.

[Connie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Content warning: graphic sex
Recent high school graduate Hannah, has landed the job of her dreams: being an assistant to her favorite writer–which happens to be located in Scotland. While there, she becomes entwined romantically with the prince of England.
This is your classic royal falling in love with a commoner trope, which I’m usually very into, but the writing on this is lackluster. It was slow going from the beginning, and many parts of the book felt disjointed and clunky. There was little to no lead up to their romantic feelings and actions–Hannah went from thinking the guy was a creep to suddenly being attracted to him, but there was no reasoning for this. The reader also has very little buy in with them as a couple because there wasn’t an emotional connection. Additionally, the side characters also had so little development that we were also left not caring about them. (Tina? Who is Tina and why do we care that she tattled?) Furthermore, there was zero drama after they were told no by the king.
But first and foremost, this is not a YA book. Shame on the publishers for putting it in this age bracket. There is too much sexual content for this to be YA–stop making this normal–our teens don’t need to be reading about graphic sex. And shame on the reviewers who think that 14 and 15 year olds would be okay reading about how many times–and how very descriptively–the characters have an orgasm (Kirkus and SLJ, I’m looking at you).
Second, the plot itself was too far-fetched for me to get behind. How plausible is it that a recent high school graduate would be chosen to be an assistant to a best selling world renown author, in a different country no less? I guess when the plot is that a royal and a commoner get together, the rest doesn’t need to be realistic?
Third, in another point for being the wrong age audience, the name of the comedic group is Perimenopause–what teenager would know or even care about this term?
This was a clear miss in the YA department, and the marketing team would be wise to move it to New Adult or Adult.

[TatumReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer abroad. Witty banter. Royal romance. Living on castle grounds!!

Midwesterner Hannah escapes to Scotland for the summer to intern for her favorite author. Things immediately go awry. Who is there to step in? A handsome, quippy stranger who ends up getting her a job so she can stay for the summer… and who also ends up being the prince of England. SWOON.

Say less! Royal Summer had me strapped in from the start.

What I really liked about this book:
- The pacing at the beginining of the book was quick, keeping me hooked and wanting to speed read to see what happened next.
- Hannah and Finn’s banter was NEXT LEVEL. The first half of the book had me kicking my feet as I read because their interactions were so fun.
- Scotland as a setting in the summer was a chef’s kiss choice. Also having Hannah end up staying on castle grounds?? Talk about a dream come true!
- The character development for everyone in the story felt genuine and well-fleshed out. I especially enjoyed Hannah as a main character, she was a real hoot at times.

What didn’t work for me:
- The ending of the book didn’t feel as magical as the rest of the chapters. Things started slowing down and then just felt kinda meh. It wasn’t the satisfying feeling ending I would have liked. The tension felt rushed and Hannah figuring out her issues with many characters simultaneously felt like each one didn’t get the moment it deserved to be its best. This was so close to being a 5 star read for me but I just didn’t feel it at the end.

Overall this was such a cute read! Highly recommend to anyone who likes royal romances, abroad romances and books where the main character wants to be a writer.

Heads-Up: This is labeled as a YA, but the content reads more as a New Adult book. There are some spicy scenes and language throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the ARC! All opinions are my own. #NetGalley #RoyalSummer

[Danita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperAudio Children's, and NetGalley for providing free review copies of the ebook and audiobook of Royal Summer. All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

In Royal Summer, an American girl, Hannah, is supposed to be working abroad in Scotland with her favorite author for the summer. When her plans fall through, a prince, Finn, helps her get a new job at a castle.

I really liked this book! The story pulled me in easily from the start, and it kept my interest right through to the end. I loved how it could make me smile and laugh, especially when it came to the banter and interactions between Hannah and Finn. The romance between them was really sweet too. Hannah was a relatable narrator who had some tough things from her home life that she was dealing with. It was nice to see her character grow over the course of the story! I'll admit, some of the situations seemed extremely unlikely to happen in real life, but it was still made a fun escape. There's a bit of spice to this one... more than a lot of the YA that I read but not super graphic. The book is probably best suited to older teens and college age.

I was able to listen to the audiobook version of the book, and while it wasn't bad, the narrator wasn't my favorite either. I noticed that sometimes she had an accent where she dropped r's, but it wasn't consistant and didn't feel like a good representation of Hannah's voice. She also tended to pause unexpectedly in the middle of sentence, then not pause between sentences. A few words were also mispronounced (for example, double instead of doable). Since I was reading the ebook along with the audiobook, it's possible that some of my complaints were more noticeable than if I was just reading the audiobook by itself.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ALC of Royal Summer 🎧

Hannah is an aspiring writer who gets the chance of a lifetime to intern for her favourite author in Scotland for the summer. On her first night there, she runs into a handsome and charming man named Finn at a pub. Their encounter seems a bit odd, almost like he is hiding something, but Hannah doesn’t think much of it. When she loses her internship opportunity, she ends up getting an offer from this handsome stranger to work at the Iveresk Castle in the gift shop. That is when Hannah finds out who Finn is: the Prince of England.

This story is a YA novel; it feels like a blend of Jenny Han and The Prince and Me. It has lots of sweet moments, but also some of the immaturity typical of a YA novel, and I was a bit over the teenage friendship conflicts over a boy, which are explored in the story.

I think if you are looking for a flirty summer romance story and have ever dreamed of dating a Prince this one is for you. This story is fairly spicy for a young adult novel, so I would recommend it for ages 16+.

Audiobook rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The audiobook was hard for me to enjoy with the female narrator doing the different accents. I don’t think any of them were done that well. There’s Scottish, British, and Hannah is American, but I can’t figure out what accent she is supposed to have. They were cutting in and out, and they kept changing, so they weren’t consistent. However, I really liked the male voice for Finn in the epilogue.

Read if you like:
👑 American x Prince relationship
☀️ Summer in Scotland
🐴 Horse riding lessons
🐮 Highland cows

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Out May 5th!

Thank you to NetGalley & HarperAudio Children’s for the ALC

[jo ୨୧ · Rating 2 out of 5]

i received an advanced copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Royal Summer? More like Royal Disaster.
And no, I don't give books two stars lightly, I give them when I think they unfortunatly deserve them imo. And yes, in this case, Royal Summer was not for me! And that's okay. I felt like it was slightly rushed but slightly slow, our fmc had the self awareness of a squirrel on drugs and our love interest has the braincells of a pig who has the desires for food (except the food is our fmc, hannah) and the mmc, finn, is a royal prince of fricken england. except, the way it was structured that he was the prince of england was entirely confusing and i don't claim to be an expert but um rant incoming....
3
2
1
rant loaded
why on this green earth, were more people not more confused, concerned, angry, mad, annoyed, that the MOTHERFRICKEN PRINCE OF ENGLAND DATING A COMMONER FROM OHIO (she's not actualy from ohio but she gives the vibe babes)
I SIGNED UP FOR DRAMA AND I GOT A REALITY TV SHOW ON A TWO DOLLAR BUDGET AKA NO REALITY AND NO DRAMA.
rant over.
so if u want ur fun drama finn and hannah are not bringing that. also sue me, im not a big fan of sex scenes in ya books. i dont care about fade to black or anything but this should technically be filed under new adult considering the way it's set up imo ! if u don't agree w/ me thats okay.

anyways, royal summer was not for me but catch me going to england. not for the prince tho. just for the vibes.

[Kierstin Carnahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Royal Summer by Kass Morgan comes out tomorrow, May 5, 2026! It’s the perfect book for royals fans and for people looking for a fun, summer romance.

Royal Summer is about Hannah, an American girl who just graduated from high school and is now in Scotland for the summer interning for her favorite author (and escaping her life and drama at home). Unfortunately, Hannah’s summer plans go up in smoke soon after arriving because the author is moving to Japan and Hannah is left jobless and homeless in Scotland. Fortunately, she ran into a helpful (and cute) guy named Finn and he said he can get her a job at Iveresek Castle and a place to stay. And who is this handsome stranger? The Prince of England who happens to be stuck at the castle this summer and looking for someone to keep him company.

I did the audiobook of this and enjoyed it. I do listen on 2x speed and this one still seemed slow so I listened on 2.5x which means that 1x/normal speed was VERY slow so be aware of that. I love a royal romance book and this one was fun to listen to and I liked the Scottish setting. I will say this book is marked as YA I assume because Hannah is 18 but this is a MATURE YA book. There is a fair bit of sex and while that doesn’t bother me I think it would have made more sense for the story to make Hannah older. It seemed just a little much for high schoolers. I liked the epilogue but could definitely see this being the first in a series too.

Thank you to netgalley and the published for the opportunity to listen to this ARC

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Royal Summer was a really cute and fun escape of a read.

This YA contemporary has such an enjoyable premise, blending royalty, summer adventure, and a dreamy Scotland setting into a story that was easy to get swept up in. From castles to charming scenery, the setting added so much atmosphere and made this feel like the perfect summer read.

I really liked Finn from the start, and I especially loved him with Hannah. Their dynamic had a lot of charm, and the banter between them made their scenes together especially fun. There was a playful push and pull to their relationship that kept me invested, and I made a couple of reader noises over some of their moments together.

This book also made me laugh a few times, which always adds to the enjoyment for me. The humor felt natural and helped balance the sweeter, more emotional moments throughout the story.

I will say the spicy scenes were a little more descriptive than I typically prefer in a YA book, though overall I’d still consider it on the milder side. It didn’t overpower the story, but readers who like to know spice expectations may want that note going in.

And the ending was so adorable. It wrapped the story up in a way that left me smiling and felt like the perfect finish for this kind of romance.

Overall, Royal Summer is a charming, entertaining read filled with summer vibes, royal romance, fun banter, and a sweet couple to root for. Huge thank you to Kass Morgan and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Ayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Royal Summer by Kass Morgan

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 1/5 🌶️

Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Royal Summer is a super fun YA contemporary romance with an enjoyable plot that perfectly combines adventure, royals, and a delightful Scottish setting!

Hannah, an aspiring writer from a small Midwestern town, gets the chance to intern in Scotland for her favorite author during the summer. Unexpectedly, she meets a mysterious stranger at the pub and he gets her a job at the royal family’s castle. When she gets there for her first day she realizes the stranger is Finnian, the prince of England. Finn is stuck at the castle due to his shenanigans and Hannah figures she’s just around for his amusement. But the more she gets to know him, the more she believes it is more than a fling and may just be a genuine summer romance that she never could have imagined.

Royal Summer is super interesting from start to finish. Hannah and Finn’s interactions and banter were especially great throughout. The romance between them is so sweet and well written. Hannah’s character growth throughout the story was amazing as well.

Overall, Royal Summer is an entertaining, sweet, and utterly charming read that is perfect for summer! With a royal romance, awesome banter, and a wonderful couple to root for, Royal Summer is fast-paced and so much fun!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannah is an aspiring writer and lands herself an opportunity of a lifetime as an intern for her favorite writer in Scotland. When the internship quickly falls apart upon her arrival Hannah is at a loss until Finn steps in and gets her a job at the local castle. It isn’t until she starts that she realizes who Finn actually is, the prince of England. It isn’t long before they are growing closer, but is Hannah ready to give him a chance? She’s just a nobody American while his face is plastered across every newspaper in the country. There’s no way it could work, or could it?

I was hooked on this book from the beginning and found it easy to get lost in this world while listening to this romance. Hannah and Finn are so cute together and I loved them as a pair. This was a fun romance that is perfect for someone who loves the idea of a nobody and a prince. It’s easy to get lost in this make believe world and think that this could actually happen. It was fun and sweet and a good book for this time of year where I’m looking for something lighthearted that will hold my interest. Yes, none of this would probably really happen, but that’s the whole point of fiction, to get lost in a different world and this book did that for me. If you are looking for a fun romance with an ordinary girl and Prince Charming give this one a chance.

[Mackenzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This just wasn't for me! I normally am a big YA fan, but I just found that Royal Summer landed a bit too far into young category for me to enjoy it. Would I have liked it in high school? Maybe.

I found the characters to be so distinctly high school in the characteristics and mannerisms, but then they way they were behaving/their activities to be very young adult-esque. Their authority on some of these things made me roll my eyes--they haven't even begun their adulthood, and I had a hard time suspending my belief for the story. I also just found these characters to be quite surface level, which contributed to the romance feeling flat to me. It very much felt like they met, they "hated" each other, they kissed, and suddenly are in love and figuring out how to make a transcontinental long distance relationship work all in the span of 40 pages. I wasn't invested at all.

The narration also took me out of the story a bit. Considering the premise of the book was an American girl spending her summer in Scotland, you would expect all of our side characters would have similar accents...but I felt like the use of accents was inconstant, even for the same character.

It's a bummer this wasn't for me, as again I do love the YA genre. Either way, thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Children's and HarperCollins Children's Books for these advanced listener and advanced reader copies in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Jessica Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I confess: I am a royal watcher. 😋 I love stories about royals and am here for any kind of royal love story, so I absolutely adored this cute book!! I highly recommend picking this one up when it comes out next May!

Quick Synopsis
Hannah, an aspiring writer from America, agrees to spend the summer in Scotland interning for her favorite author while working on her own novel. Everything is going great, until the author decides to follow her boyfriend to Japan, and suddenly she doesn’t need an intern anymore. Now with no job and no place to live, thousands of miles from home, Hannah doesn’t know what to do - which is when she runs into a mysterious, handsome stranger and his friends in the local pub.

Finn just happens to have an in with the gift shop at the royal castle, and he sets her up with a job and a new place to live. It seems too good to be true, but the job and the cottage turn out to be legit, as does his connection to the castle..since he’s the actual Prince of England! He’s been forced to spend the summer at the castle in Scotland by his parents as a punishment for his tabloid-inducing playboy ways.

Spending time together lets Hannah see past Finn’s playboy exterior to the sweet guy underneath, and soon this American girl is falling for a real-life prince. But with the end of summer nearing, and Hannah’s her first year of college back in the States getting closer and closer, these two will have to decide if what they feel is real, or just a summer fling.

My Thoughts
I was quite confused as to their ages throughout most of the book; it was never explicitly explained in the beginning (unless I missed it?) but I gathered from contextual clues that Hannah had just graduated high school, which was sort of surprising because she acted SO mature! She was probably the most mature 18-year old ever! 🤯

I loved the fact that Hannah had no idea who Finn was when they first met; it made it possible for her to be her snarky and irreverent self, which made her even more attractive to Finn. And I loved how her personality didn’t change once she found out who he really was. Finn made for a very swoony prince; he was a reformed playboy who was genuinely kind and thoughtful, and it didn’t take long before he had Hannah weak in the knees. 🤤

I was so impressed by the way Hannah spoke her mind whenever she was worried about Finn’s actions…no miscommunication trope for these two! 🥳 When she was concerned about what he might be feeling, she took the bull by the horns and just straight out asked him how he was feeling! It was so refreshing, and so dang mature!!

This book does have a third act breakup, but in this case, I actually liked it…shocking, I know! 😱 But it made complete sense given their very different lives and futures, and it felt mature (very on brand for Hannah), so it felt like the right path for their story to take. And, of course, it allowed for a swoonworthy reconciliation scene. 😍

My only complaint was the epilogue, which was disappointing; I was excited to see into their future, but the glimpse we got wasn’t enough for my tastes. I could have used a lot more! 🤷🏻‍♀️

All in all, I loved this sweet YA, closed door romance…I think it might have just kickstarted my Royal Romance era!

Thank you to NetGalley & HarperCollins for providing this book for review consideration; all thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

[Jazz .☘︎ ݁˖ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not my style, but still fun!

I think what was stopping me from seeing the full potential was the ages of the characters. They were too young for my liking and a lot of the time, Hannah got on my nerves. She’d go from saying how much she felt for Finn, to then switching up so fast and cursing his name.

Finn though, was so charming! I’m talking SOOOOOOO swoon worthy. He was hilarious in a Wes Bennett kind of way, with that arrogant exterior yet a soft and vulnerable inside.

That said, the only character I actually LOVED was Caro. She was a doll! The most grounded person by far and so funny!

I didn’t love this story itself, but the audiobook made it exceptional! The narrator PERFECTED the accents (particularity Caro’s), and I genuinely felt like I was watching an early 2000s romcom. Heck, I wouldn’t complain if we got to see this on our screens one day.

My final thoughts on this book are… I didn’t love it. Don’t get me wrong, I laughed a lot and that’s always a must for me, BUT it lacked the romantic depth I needed and the characters were much too immature. There were definitely bits and pieces I truly DID like, but it wasn’t enough.

Book itself: 1.2 ★
Audiobook: 4 ★

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾!

[Mal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Childrens for the advanced reader copy.

High school graduate Hannah is hoping that her summer trip to Edinburgh will be the start of a new chapter for her--she's going to be the personal assistant for her favorite author and hopefully being so far away will help her get over her troubles back home. But when the author up and leaves one day after Hannah arrives, she's forced to take a job offer from Finn, who seems to attractive and smooth. Finn and Hannah's banter draws them closer together, even after she finds out that he's the bad boy prince of England. Can Hannah and Finn figure out a way to be together when one of them is a soon to be college student in the U.S. and the other is a Royal?

This is the perfect YA romcom going into the summer. There was definitely some needed suspension of disbelief while reading but the story and characters were fun, including several very humorous secondary characters. The baggage that Hannah brings with her from home could've been given a bit more heft but overall this is a great read if you like:
-Royal meets normie
-fish out of water/international romance
-castles

Royal Summer is out May 12, 2026

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

A modern fairytale with the Prince of Scotland and a small town American girl during her working summer abroad.

While it hurts my heart to give my favourite YA author anything less than a 5 star, I just can't justify it in this short contemporary setting. The mentions of social media apps like Snapchat, Instagram, WhatsApp and then TikTok dances being done in a bar. It wouldn't helped if she just lost her phone lol.

Overall it was a quick cute summer romance. Early 2010s rom-coms or hallmark movies. A little trope-y but not in an obnoxiously forced way. I don't think you'd regret giving it a read if you get any enjoyment of hidden identity, forced proximity, royalty romance and found family.

This book is starting to push on the YA capacity and at the beginning of New Adult. I was shocked at the cheeky sex comments throughout and closed door scenes, nothing too explicit but more than I'd expect. Hannah is 18 in this book and having some drinks in Scotland where the drinking age is that. 

I'd still recommend as physical/ebook instead of the audiobook I did. The narrators Scottish accent failed to be consistent throughout making it a little difficult to say connected.

Thank you to Harper Audio via NetGalley for the early access to this audiobook.

[Christina L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun summer book about an American girl about to go to college who unexpectedly gets a job at a Scottish castle and gets to know the prince. This book was very enjoyable, and there was really no part of it where I felt bored.

It’s not often that I like the fmc as much as I did in this one, especially with young adult books, but I really liked Hannah’s development throughout the book, and there wasn’t really a time where she got on my nerves. I absolutely loved Finn—he’s just so swoon worthy. He really fell hard for Hannah and I loved how caring he was for her from the beginning. Overall, they were a great couple, and although I always dislike third act break ups, this one was understandable and really didn’t last long at all.

My only complaint about this book is that I feel it was a bit too short—it moved a bit too fast, and could’ve been drawn out a bit for some character development, although I do like what the author did with the length it was.

Thank you to Harper Collins Children’s and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.