I want to know I’m in love, no not even know it—I want to understand why it’s called being in love.

Playing the Palace (From ARC, quotes may have changed in publication copy)

Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley, for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After having his heart trampled on by his cheating ex, Carter Ogden is afraid love just isn’t in the cards for him. He still holds out hope in a tiny corner of his heart, but even in his wildest dreams he never thought he’d meet the Crown Prince of England, much less do a lot more with him. Yes, growing up he’d fantasized about the handsome, openly gay Prince Edgar, but who hadn’t? When they meet by chance at an event Carter’s boss is organizing, Carter’s sure he imagined all that sizzling chemistry. Or was it mutual?

This unlikely but meant-to-be romance sets off media fireworks on both sides of the Atlantic. With everyone having an opinion on their relationship and the intense pressure of being constantly in the spotlight, Carter finds ferocious obstacles to his Happily Ever After, including the tenacious disapproval of the Queen of England. Carter and Prince Edgar fight for a happy ending to equal their glorious international beginning. It’s a match made on Valentine’s Day and in tabloid heaven.

So, in my post about my most anticipated books of 2021, I said that Playing the Palace made the list because it reminded me of Red, White & Royal Blue. I mean, an American falling in love with a gay Prince of England? But now that I’ve read it, I can say that the fact that an American falls in love with a Prince is the only thing these two books have in common. Playing the Palace isn’t trying to be Red, White & Royal Blue. It is entirely its own thing, and that thing is a wonderfully campy, messy, fairytale-esque tale of insta-love between two opposites.

The book follows Carter, a gay Jewish New Yorker working as an event planner. He’s a little bit of a neurotic mess and a self-sabatoger but is also kind, sweet, and trusting, especially when it comes to love. But when he goes through a messy breakup, he fears that he’ll never find love. Enter Prince Edgar, the heir to the English throne. He’s also a bit of a neurotic mess but is way better at hiding it. When they meet at an event that Carter is working on, sparks fly. After an impromptu public speaking lesson and an almost kiss, Carter is swept up into a whirlwind romance visible to the entire world with a Prince he isn’t sure he deserves. 

I don’t read a lot of insta-love stories (I’m such a sucker for a slow burn), and I will admit that there is a fair amount of disbelief-suspending to do when reading this (I don’t know a whole lot about royal protocol, but I have a feeling that this book didn’t get a lot of it strictly correct). But sometimes, it’s nice to take a break from the tension and drama of real life, and that’s what Playing the Palace is. It’s an escape. Not every book needs to be a realistic, deep dive into the human psyche. Sometimes you just want to read a story about two people falling head over heels in love. 

Now, that’s not to say there isn’t any drama in this story—because there is. Carter and Edgar have to figure out how to navigate their relationship in the public eye, and there are many bumps along the way, mainly because, as I said, Carter is kind of a neurotic mess, and he doesn’t quite know when to keep his mouth shut. However, all of that drama that ensues is still lighthearted and is bound to make you laugh (sometimes from second-hand embarrassment).

Overall, this story was absolutely adorable, and if you’re looking for a quick read that will make you laugh and has fantastic side characters, I definitely recommend it.