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The Beautiful Heir
Not yet published
Expected 2 Feb 27The dashing eldest prince of a fae kingdom must work with a no-nonsense professor’s daughter to woo a foreign princess—only to start falling for his tutor instead—in this first book in the young adult fantasy romance Heirs of Westemere series perfect for fans of Holly Black.
Nineteen-year-old Prince Harmon—known as “Fitz” to his many admirers—is the first heir to the throne of the fae kingdom of Westemere. Widely considered the handsomest person in the realm, Fitz enjoys hopping from bed to bed and leading a soft life of drinking, feasting, and raking from dusk ’til dawn.
But not everyone is charmed by his rollicking ways—especially his father, who has a reputation for cruelty and banishing his children to the most desolate corners of the land when they displease him. So when the king issues an ultimatum to court and marry a visiting princess from a neighboring kingdom of Alanza or else, Fitz knows he must accept his fate. There’s just one how can he seduce a woman whose language he doesn’t speak?
Enter Ava Lemontree, the whip-smart, sharp-tongued daughter of a celebrated professor of Alanzan language, history, and culture. Well aware of and thoroughly disgusted by Fitz’s playboy reputation, Ava nonetheless agrees to tutor the prince in hopes of receiving a royal magical boon to save her dying father.
Forced to work together to secure their futures, Fitz and Ava have nothing but hostility between them until their verbal sparring melts into something sweeter. But as secrets from Ava’s past and expectations for Fitz’s future collide, their love—and their lives—might be in more danger than they know.
Nineteen-year-old Prince Harmon—known as “Fitz” to his many admirers—is the first heir to the throne of the fae kingdom of Westemere. Widely considered the handsomest person in the realm, Fitz enjoys hopping from bed to bed and leading a soft life of drinking, feasting, and raking from dusk ’til dawn.
But not everyone is charmed by his rollicking ways—especially his father, who has a reputation for cruelty and banishing his children to the most desolate corners of the land when they displease him. So when the king issues an ultimatum to court and marry a visiting princess from a neighboring kingdom of Alanza or else, Fitz knows he must accept his fate. There’s just one how can he seduce a woman whose language he doesn’t speak?
Enter Ava Lemontree, the whip-smart, sharp-tongued daughter of a celebrated professor of Alanzan language, history, and culture. Well aware of and thoroughly disgusted by Fitz’s playboy reputation, Ava nonetheless agrees to tutor the prince in hopes of receiving a royal magical boon to save her dying father.
Forced to work together to secure their futures, Fitz and Ava have nothing but hostility between them until their verbal sparring melts into something sweeter. But as secrets from Ava’s past and expectations for Fitz’s future collide, their love—and their lives—might be in more danger than they know.
- GenresYoung Adult
304 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 2, 2027
About the author
Vanessa Montalban
6 books170 followersVanessa Montalban channels her wanderlust for far-off worlds into writing young adult fantasy and thrillers, including A Tall Dark Trouble, winner of the Florida Book Awards in the YA category, and These Vengeful Wishes. She’s a first-generation college graduate from the University of Central Florida with bylines in Reactor Magazine, Crime Reads, and Diabolical Plots. Her newest novels, Heirs of Westemere: The Beautiful Heir, releases February 2027 with Simon Pulse, followed by Midnight's Vicious Toll coming Fall 2027 with Penguin Random House.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When the handsome, rakish (yet misunderstood) Prince Harmon of Westemere is slated to impress and woo the elegant Princess Sophia of Alanza to further his father's political goals, he's deemed so hopeless that the King's advisors hire him a secret tutor to whip him into shape. Enter Ava Lemontree, who comes on her father's behalf when he (a renowned Alanzan studies professor) is too sick to fulfill the duty.
Ava atruggles at first with the prince who takes his studies a little too casually, but she sees in Harmon what no one else has--his yearning to be more than just a pretty face. He's willing to reform (not just in his studies, but in his lifestyle) in order to impress Ava, whom he begins to fall for. But as a special relationship develops between tutor and student, intrigue at the palace threatens to tear them apart.
Montalban has a delightful gift for romantic tension and banter that left me yearning right along with the characters. The subtle magic system of the world was woven into the setting in such a natural way. I adore the cross-cultural relationship and the delicacy with which Montalban handles the social and cultural aspects. This book is for anyone who loves a good light fantasy romance without too much war, death, sex and gore. Appropriate for a younger audience, but adults will find it equally swoony.
I can't wait to see what secrets will unfold in the next installment of the Heirs of Westemere series. Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read.
Ava atruggles at first with the prince who takes his studies a little too casually, but she sees in Harmon what no one else has--his yearning to be more than just a pretty face. He's willing to reform (not just in his studies, but in his lifestyle) in order to impress Ava, whom he begins to fall for. But as a special relationship develops between tutor and student, intrigue at the palace threatens to tear them apart.
Montalban has a delightful gift for romantic tension and banter that left me yearning right along with the characters. The subtle magic system of the world was woven into the setting in such a natural way. I adore the cross-cultural relationship and the delicacy with which Montalban handles the social and cultural aspects. This book is for anyone who loves a good light fantasy romance without too much war, death, sex and gore. Appropriate for a younger audience, but adults will find it equally swoony.
I can't wait to see what secrets will unfold in the next installment of the Heirs of Westemere series. Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read.
August 30, 2026
Thank you so much Vanessa and Simon Pulse for my advanced copy.
This was such a charmingly fun read! The main characters were chaotically relatable almost instantly and I think Vanessa has a special talent when it comes to her writing that allows me to be easily transported to other worlds. The story keeps you invested in the characters while wrapping you in its surroundings, keeping you fully immersed in the dynamic and reality of the story line. Surprisingly, I think the mom's and dad's really stole the show here and left my heart aching!!! The parents presented for three different characters painted different circumstances, duties and sacrifices, and I love how well Vanessa was able to hint at the complexity of their situations and decisions. Cannot wait to continue the series and see how the future plays out for so many of these lovable characters!
This was such a charmingly fun read! The main characters were chaotically relatable almost instantly and I think Vanessa has a special talent when it comes to her writing that allows me to be easily transported to other worlds. The story keeps you invested in the characters while wrapping you in its surroundings, keeping you fully immersed in the dynamic and reality of the story line. Surprisingly, I think the mom's and dad's really stole the show here and left my heart aching!!! The parents presented for three different characters painted different circumstances, duties and sacrifices, and I love how well Vanessa was able to hint at the complexity of their situations and decisions. Cannot wait to continue the series and see how the future plays out for so many of these lovable characters!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Vanessa and Simon Pulse for my ARC📚🫶🏼🫶🏼
From the very first chapter I immediately felt transported into the world of Howl's Moving Castle with the aesthetic Bridgerton but make it a telenovela?!🤩 AHH this was such a fun read, I absolutely loved getting to know our characters Fitz and Ava and just overall growing and learning with them. The banter, the tension, the aesthetics, the politics, the SPANISH??? My heart is so happy. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next in The Heirs of Westemere series and of course to continue expanding my Vanessa Montalban book collection🥰♥️
From the very first chapter I immediately felt transported into the world of Howl's Moving Castle with the aesthetic Bridgerton but make it a telenovela?!🤩 AHH this was such a fun read, I absolutely loved getting to know our characters Fitz and Ava and just overall growing and learning with them. The banter, the tension, the aesthetics, the politics, the SPANISH??? My heart is so happy. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next in The Heirs of Westemere series and of course to continue expanding my Vanessa Montalban book collection🥰♥️
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.75 stars🌟👑
one of my most anticipated books of 2027, i had such a fun time with this & i couldn't put it down! an intriguing YA fantasy romance! academic fmc x rakish royal mmc, such an interesting dynamic and overall the plot was such a page turner, my only gripe is the pacing went by at such a swift pace the story needed more time to settle in a few places
*disclaimer: i read an early arc and the page count is a bit lower than official page count listed!
[full book review to be written]
one of my most anticipated books of 2027, i had such a fun time with this & i couldn't put it down! an intriguing YA fantasy romance! academic fmc x rakish royal mmc, such an interesting dynamic and overall the plot was such a page turner, my only gripe is the pacing went by at such a swift pace the story needed more time to settle in a few places
*disclaimer: i read an early arc and the page count is a bit lower than official page count listed!
[full book review to be written]
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The banter, the yearning, the drama… did I mention the yearning? Y’all preorder the book and preorder the popcorn because this one will keep you engaged. All the elements are there for a lovely yet poignant story. One that reminds you to look closely at what hides behind the glamour.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I could read five hundred of these, so keep 'em coming.
August 27, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Thank you @netgalley, @simonteen, and @simonbooks for the e-arc, and HUGE thanks to @vvmontalban for sending me the traveling arc! It's such an honor and a joy to be a part of your street team 🫶🏼
The Beautiful Heir was such a wonderful read and it scratched the itch I had for a young adult fantasy. There was light magic and fae elements; enjoyable characters including a smart, headstrong fmc and a rakish mmc with a charming smile; court intrigue and a palace ball; and even some Spanish!!
I was immediately pulled in by the premise: "professor's daughter tutors the eldest prince in order to woo a foreign princess but, oops, he falls for his tutor, instead." This book promised yearning and, boy, did it deliver! Our man Fitz was so down bad, and I loved how Ava was his ruin and salvation.
This is only Book One of the Heirs of Westmere, but I'm locked in for all future installments! I can't wait to explore more of these characters stories, especially Sofia, Oliver, and Lyric.
Highly recommend if you want a book that reminds you of 2000/2010s ya fantasy with Bridgerton and The Selection vibes and so much yearning!
Thank you @netgalley, @simonteen, and @simonbooks for the e-arc, and HUGE thanks to @vvmontalban for sending me the traveling arc! It's such an honor and a joy to be a part of your street team 🫶🏼
The Beautiful Heir was such a wonderful read and it scratched the itch I had for a young adult fantasy. There was light magic and fae elements; enjoyable characters including a smart, headstrong fmc and a rakish mmc with a charming smile; court intrigue and a palace ball; and even some Spanish!!
I was immediately pulled in by the premise: "professor's daughter tutors the eldest prince in order to woo a foreign princess but, oops, he falls for his tutor, instead." This book promised yearning and, boy, did it deliver! Our man Fitz was so down bad, and I loved how Ava was his ruin and salvation.
This is only Book One of the Heirs of Westmere, but I'm locked in for all future installments! I can't wait to explore more of these characters stories, especially Sofia, Oliver, and Lyric.
Highly recommend if you want a book that reminds you of 2000/2010s ya fantasy with Bridgerton and The Selection vibes and so much yearning!
Review of advance copy
This one was a lot of fun! It felt very atmospheric—like if a seashell and the entire set of BRIDGERTON hooked up one night and had a baby. The writing was easy to get fully invested in, and I loved Fitz and Ava's storyline. Definitely a fun one!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews