Palace Envy: A Royal Romance

by Annabelle Costa

My destiny in life is to serve the royal family.

After all, they rescued me from the orphanage when I was a young girl and gave me a good job and a place to live. So, when Prince Arthur is suddenly killed six months before he was to take the throne, leaving the kingdom without a successor, I'm willing to do absolutely anything to help save the royal line.

It turns out, all is not lost. Queen Amelia tells me about the existence of a second prince. Arthur’s twin brother, who was mysteriously banished from the kingdom years ago, and now wants nothing to do with the royal family.

First, I must bring Prince Edward back to Norland.

Second, I must convince him to become the next king.

I have made a solemn oath to do anything for the queen. But this?

This will be impossible.

Genres: Romance, Rom Com, Contemporary

341 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 23, 2022

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid fan of Ms Costa's books I was delighted to be offered the opportunity to review an early copy of Palace Envy through Booksprout. I was a bit worried about the concept of a Royal Romance, the fairy tale start and the story taking place some time ago (mid 1990's). Really, I need not have worried! This book has all the feels with Ms Costa's hilarious observations and banter between the MC's guaranteeing laughs and giggles, with the occasional tear.

Hannah grew up in an orphanage in a small kingdom. At age 24 she is happy to work at the palace for the 'perfect' royal family everyone in the country adores. Edward is the 'not-so-perfect' royal, happily leading a life of anonymity until suddenly he needs to 'step up' to rescue the kingdom.

The banter and development of friendship and more between these two is so sweet and such fun; two-faced secondary characters putting up obstacles and the difficult choice Edward faced kept me glued to the book.

I was a little disappointed the book seemed to finish rather sudden, but the epilogue made up for most of that with glimpses towards the future. Just wondering how they are faring anno 2022...

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ynis Ainu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Much as I liked my previous reads by this author (only a few so far, though), this one didn't work at all for me, and I find myself rather disappointed after a promising book blurb - a fairy tale, transported to the modern world and with imperfect / diverse / disabled characters - what's not to love? As it turned out I didn't find anything to love, or even appealing, as much as I regret to say this, particularly since I made quite different experiences with the other books by the author I've read.
I couldn't relate to any of the characters: every single one felt overly clichéd and flat to me without anything that got me interested in their tale, and I found I also didn't feel any sympathy also to the main protas. Same goes for the setting - everything felt artificial and didn't seem to really fit together, with no fairy tale or simliar vibe whatsoever being evoked.
I struggled through the first 20% of the book, and took a few glimpses in the later chapters, before I gave up.

[Kate Workman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character’s life was a little too Dickensian to fit in with the modern setting, so that was the main thing that threw me off (although I think it was supposed to be a little tongue-in-cheek). But overall this is a fun, quick read. Prince Edward was a great hero, and it’s nice to see disability representation in a romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Palace Envy by Annabelle Costa is the touching, romantic story of Eddie and Hannah. He and his brother are twins. But, Eddie is born with an ailment. Later, he is back home for a funeral….and faced with expectations. She is a recent addition to the staff of the royal household…but, things are different now

Thoroughly enjoyed this beautifully romantic story!!! These two are so perfect for each other…but, their lives won’t allow it. Absorbing, beautifully-wrought story!!!! Excellent and a real tear-jerker!!!

I am volunteering to leave a review for an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

sweet untraditional royal romance

I love royal romance….I love a strong hero who has to overcome insurmountable obstacles…I love heroines who are strong and kind-hearted….this had ALL of that. Such a sweet, beautiful story! A beautiful HEA! I must warn though that there is strong language and sexual references.

[LizKat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting. Things just didn't flow well and I kept looking at how much of the book was left and at that point I realized this book wasn't for me. As much as I love the author's other books and that this is her last pains me, this book was a DNF.

[Victoria Darkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just finished Palace Envy. Not too sure how I feel about it.
Cons

I found the incident with Prince Arthur too jarring. This is a sweet comic genre and it is inappropriate to have such a heavy subject in a light hearted genre - disrespectful to people that have gone through it.

Prince Edward was annoying, the author usually nails the male protagonist and I become obsessed with them while I read but I will pass on Eddie. Why? His limitations were stated too much to the point where I’m going yeah yeah we know you can’t do buttons, we know your brace hurts, we know your humble ass uses duct tape on your braces.

Constantly telling us how poor old Hannah’s bedroom could fit in the cupboard of the palace. Once is interesting, ten times is annoying.

The continuous recaps of the storyline I found irritating. It is like the word count needed bolstering or the author thought we had the attention of a gnat.

Why leave his sister looking dowdy or not addressing that her real love thought she was beautiful. Also the Prince Andrew storyline could have been tided up more satisfyingly as it was it was a forgotten thread left blowing in the wind. Along with Iris.

Bit one dimensional all round

Pros - sort of

There had to be some as I did finish the book.

The escapism (except for the bad Prince bit where I was pull out of the book)

I turned the page hoping that Nigel was having it off with the Queen but poor old Nigel doesn’t get the girl.

Expectation that the story would go somewhere interesting.

I am not saying this was awful to read, but it needed some more work. A bit rushed in that some of the cons I listed could have been caught.

My favourite ex fiancé is Costa at her best and The Bestman. I wish this one had been a freebie.

[Rebeca SC · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was low-key disappointing but it was a lighthearted story anyway.

My first disappointment is all on me. I thought this was a historical romance love story but it is not. I know royal families and small "kingdoms" still exist nowadays but reading about a royal family, and a royal love story feels antiquated anyway.

My second disappointment relies on the characters and their development. The couple here falls in love in a matter of 4 days. They instantly like each other only based on their looks and for some reason this insta-love felt so unbelievable, unlike others in Costa's books.

Both MC, Edward, and Hannah are presented in a certain way, with a specific personality that contradicts how they act later on in the book.
The problem of the plot is resolved in a matter of a few chapters like it's nothing and I think the problem in the first place around the monarchy and all the paraphernalia is just dumb.

I don't give it fewer stars because it was an easy, lighthearted read.

[Lucy Lennox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like a delicious slice of cake. Royal romance is not a genre I normally read, but I loved this so much. Even in a made-up setting, it feels so real and grounded. The characters all feel like people I know, and I was so invested in their story right from the start.

Eddie is the unwilling heir to the throne, but grew up feeling slighted because of his disability, a form of muscular dystrophy. Hannah is the palace servant charged by Eddie's mother with convincing him to step up, so to speak. But somehow they each immediately see the human side of each other, as well as recognizing the absurdity of their situation. Their romance is so sweet and pure, even while they deal honestly with modern day problems like ableism, discrimination, and harassment, handling all of it with grace and humor.

This was just the escapist entertainment I needed: sexy and funny, the right blend of fantasy and reality.

[Camelia63 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I confess that this is the first time I've shared feedback on one of Annabelle Costa's books, despite being a longtime fan.
How could it be otherwise, at the end of Palace Envy: A Royal Romance, she was completely in love with Eddie and Hannah. Eddie is a very human character in terms of his personality and his thoughts towards his family, on the other hand Hannah is a lovely girl who has a strong sense of loyalty. The sweet way in which their relationship develops ends up being one of the main attractions of this book. The chemistry between can be felt on every page!!
In addition, the fact that the whole story develops in the 1990s is one of the things that pleased me the most, currently few authors choose to venture out writing stories that take place for some time.
Definitely a refreshing and fun read. I can't wait for Miss Costa's next book.

[Avery Kingston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another sweet, cute, romantic story from Annabelle Costa!

A long time a go, in a kingdom far away…there were two princes born to the king and queen. One was not like the other, and was sent away because he was different. How could a child with a disability ever rule the kingdom?

After his twin brother’s death, Edward (Eddie) is sent back to the palace to take his rightful spot as king. He meets Hannah, loyal servant in the palace, who has been tasked by the queen to help get her son ready to take the throne….a throne he’s not sure if he really even wants.

As Hannah helps prepare Eddie, feelings start to happen and a romance blossoms.

Eddie and Hannah were such a cute couple. I loved their chemistry. This story has all of Annabelle’s normal wit and charm, with a dash of fantasy added to it.

A wonderful and whimsical fairytale romance.

Well done Annabelle!

[☆ susan ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

entertaining read

i finished this book in one sitting and now i desperately need a nap. i enjoyed this book—i thought hannah and edward were very cute. hannah’s fascination of the royal family is relatable because i’ve been there. and edward was very sweet, very likeable.

though i couldn’t help but feel like their attraction to each other seemed surface-level. it just felt like they were just friends who were sleeping together more than anything instead of two people who were in love with each other.

another thing i would like to mention is the ableist treatment people gave towards edward. the book itself is not ableist—i’d say it’s a very realistic portrayal—but the way some people treated edward was just awful and i imagine that some people might find some words used quite triggering so be mindful of that.

[Gladys · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gosh, I can't even tell you how badly I wish that I had liked this book more than I actually did because I was super excited to read it and thought the blurb sounded amazing. I mean a rom com/modern fairytale! What could go wrong? Well for me personally quite a lot. Now I am not saying that this was a terrible book, but for me it was a disappointment and honestly it didn't take me long before I was struggling to keep reading. Even with the letdown I feel, I still believe that this book/story had so much potential that was squandered. Maybe it was me. I mean everyone's sense of humor and tastes are different and I see other reviews that are glowing, but it just didn't work for me. While I kind of liked the main characters, their naivety really bugged me and while I did like their chemistry and did like them as a couple, their romance took a big backstep to all the other very unlikable characters that all needed to be seriously smacked (except Mari, who I actually did REALLY LIKE!) and the extreme caricatures that served as the fuel for this tale. I also wasn't a fan of how dated this book felt because it seems to be set in the recent past and uses that as a plot point. In the end I'd say it was OK. I am posting an unbiased, unsolicited review.

[BigGirl BigBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was just what the book doctor recommended. After the sadness and heavy news of the last few weeks, I needed a light-hearted read.
I was hooked right from the beginning. Being in a wheelchair myself, I love finding representation. But poor Eddie was the second twin and "deformed." So away he goes. His healthy, older by a few minutes, brother prepares for the life of a king. But Queen Mother has different ideas.
Hannah, taken in as a young girl, has no idea the part she will play in the Royal family's life. But she will soon learn---or disappoint the Queen.
Told between Eddie and Hannah, this novel is just enough family drama, how really wants to be Royal anyway, meant to be together, and a happily ever after fitting for a real prince and princess.

[Naomi R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, just as I enjoy every book by Annabelle Costa. Gobbled it up in about a day. With tales of small kingdoms and princes, we enter into a world a la princess diaries, but, you know, not. That being said, I am generally more of a fan of her book with more realistic settings. I'm glad to have read it; probably wouldn't read it a second time (as I have a number of her other books). Looking forward to the next one!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Peach · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this cute “prince meets servant” romance. Prince Edward was not the traditional prince charming. He suffered from a muscle degenerative disease and was ostracized by the royal family. However, the death of his twin brother forced him to return to the palace and face his family. Hannah was brough up in an orphanage and always had a deep fascination for the royal family. She managed to achieve her dream job which was to work as a servant in the royal palace. Hannah’s thoughts were really funny and she definitely had great chemistry with Prince Edward.

[Gro K. Rosvold Berntsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet and surprising

The cindarella story revised. You think you know the plot. Poor pretty girl meets handsom Prince, and after a few altercations the two fall in love and live happily ever after. But Costa twists the plot around a few times, and each time it is a delightful surprise. She also manages to tell a story about living with a disability is both a challenge, a source of learning and understanding, and not what defines a person, even when it is what everyone else focus on. And of course, the lovebirds do get each other in the end. Enjoy.

[Manisha Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a sweet romantic comedy with a twist . I love the sleeping beauty concept . The characters are loveable and their chemistry is great . The storyline is wonderful with a happy ending . This book is a must read .

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[CMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet read!! I happily devour almost anything Anabelle Costa writes and this was no exception. I always turn to one of her books when I want to enjoy a nice romance, with some lightness but still lovely character development and great writing. Thanks so much to the author for continuing to add her stories to the world and doing so so thoughtfully.

[Sage MacGowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awww! What a cute story!

I'm having trouble coming up with words to describe this book because there are so many aspects and levels. The twists and turns are great! And the relationship between the hero and heroine...! Supurb!!

[Krista Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent book from Costa

I always devour this author's books. she captivates you from the first page. Absolutely delightful read. Counting down the days until she releases another book

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story to read. It is witty and charming. Always fun to read about royalty. This one has a twist of an unexpected sibling that must now be king. Very entertaining read. Highly recommend.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle CHUSTZ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Language

The story was absolutely great however I will not read any more by this author. It is totally unnecessary for all the 4 letter words and taking the Lord’s name in vain to write a book with such a great story

[Amanda V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another well written story by Costa. Very engaging book…easy to read. Loved the characters and the storyline.

[Dixie Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was like watching one of those Hallmark or Netflix movies about Royal Romances. It was cute and quick and enjoyable.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kindle Unlimited

[♡ Jeri's Book Attic ♡ Jeri the Romance Bibiliophile ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Ruth Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took me longer to get into this one than other Annabelle books but once I did I loved it. It has stuck with me and floats back through my memory often.

[Louly · Rating 4 out of 5]

read sep 12, 2023. 3.5 stars ⭐