Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
This topic is about
Red, White & Royal Blue
2023 Monthly Group Reads
>
June Group Read Discussion: Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
date
newest »
newest »
Mod
1) Do you usually notice a cover image? What are your thoughts regarding this cover?
2) What does the title indicate to you? Or does it not impress you at all?
3) What excites you the most about this book?
4) Does anything make you hesitant to read this book?
Please feel free to post any of your reactions as you read: surprises, likes, dislikes, etc. Sometimes those can prompt some of the best discussions!
Let's go!
1) Do you usually notice a cover image? What are your thoughts regarding this cover?A good cover can get my attention, but I try not to let a cover I don't like turn me off from a book. I think this cover is kind of boring, actually. It looks like a pretty typical rom-com cover of this era, with that cartoony illustration style.
2) What does the title indicate to you? Or does it not impress you at all?
I think it's a cute pun. I know from the blurb it involves the US President's son falling in love with a member of the British royal family, and I think the title reflects that.
3) What excites you the most about this book?
I'm looking forward to reading about an America that's more accepting of queer people, considering the current climate in the US right now.
4) Does anything make you hesitant to read this book?
I was only kind of lukewarm on One Last Stop, the other book I've read by this author, so we'll see how this one goes.
I loved this book, and am using it for the "book you wish you could read again for the first time" prompt. I enjoyed the characters, the humor and fun, and the creative use of quotes from historical same-sex lovers. (And I agree with Jen about liking the alternate America in 2020, with no Covid and no state governments attacking the LGBT+ community.)Very much hoping the movie coming in August will capture that amazing chemistry between Alex & Henry.
Fun fact about the title: as some languages don't have the expression "royal blue," the Spanish title translates as "Red, White, and Blue Blood." The French version is titled, in English, "My Dear F***ing Prince."
I forgot to put my hold on this until today, but the wait list is short and there are 8 copies, so I hope it'll come in before the end of the month.1) Do you usually notice a cover image? What are your thoughts regarding this cover?
I notice covers, but I usually don't let that impact what I read. I do find the cover art to be very generic, as most romance covers are.
2) What does the title indicate to you? Or does it not impress you at all?
Well, it combines 'red, white and blue' which is an iconic American saying, and Royal, which tends to be a European thing, which does suggest a story like 'The Prince and Me' or 'The Princess Diaries'. And given blue is also associated with boys and by changing it, the blue becomes emphasized, and it's a MM romance, I actually find the title quite clever.
3) What excites you the most about this book?
My sister recommended it to me, but I just haven't gotten around to it until now. But having it be the group read has given me the extra push to get to it.
4) Does anything make you hesitant to read this book?
If I'm honest, I am worried about how the world politics will be handled.
Laura wrote: "I loved this book, and am using it for the "book you wish you could read again for the first time" prompt. I enjoyed the characters, the humor and fun, and the creative use of quotes from historica..."That's hilarious about the different translations.😁
Jen wrote: "I'm looking forward to reading about an America that's more accepting of queer people, considering the current climate in the US right now."I hadn't even thought about that. Can I add this to my answer too?
Mod
A good cover can get my attention, but I try not to let a cover I don't like turn me off from a book. I think this cover is kind of boring, actually. It looks like a pretty typical rom-com cover of this era, with that cartoony illustration style."
I do likewise, Jen! Though I find most horror book covers are distinctive and alert me to that genre. And since I cannot read horror, that's a good thing. At least it can make me wary... :)
"2) What does the title indicate to you? Or does it not impress you at all?
I think it's a cute pun. I know from the blurb it involves the US President's son falling in love with a member of the British royal family, and I think the title reflects that."
Yep! I thought that was quite clever!
"3) What excites you the most about this book?
I'm looking forward to reading about an America that's more accepting of queer people, considering the current climate in the US right now."
Couldn't have said it better!! Agreed!
"4) Does anything make you hesitant to read this book?
I was only kind of lukewarm on One Last Stop, the other book I've read by this author, so we'll see how this one goes"
Ah, well, I plan to read her backlist, but this is the first book I've read written by her!
Mod
Very much hoping the movie coming in August will capture that amazing chemistry between Alex & Henry."
I hope so as well!
"Fun fact about the title: as some languages don't have the expression "royal blue," the Spanish title translates as "Red, White, and Blue Blood." The French version is titled, in English, "My Dear F***ing Prince.""
Oh, my! That is hysterical! Leave it to the French? ;)
Mod
Fingers crossed!
"1) Do you usually notice a cover image? What are your thoughts regarding this cover?
I notice covers, but I usually don't let that impact what I read. I do find the cover art to be very generic, as most romance covers are."
Huh. I had never thought of romance covers in that way. But they are very similar overall...
"2) What does the title indicate to you? Or does it not impress you at all?
Well, it combines 'red, white and blue' which is an iconic American saying, and Royal, which tends to be a European thing, which does suggest a story like 'The Prince and Me' or 'The Princess Diaries'. And given blue is also associated with boys and by changing it, the blue becomes emphasized, and it's a MM romance, I actually find the title quite clever."
Agreed.
"3) What excites you the most about this book?
My sister recommended it to me, but I just haven't gotten around to it until now. But having it be the group read has given me the extra push to get to it."
YAY! I sure hope you enjoy it!
"4) Does anything make you hesitant to read this book?
If I'm honest, I am worried about how the world politics will be handled."
I hadn't considered that before reading it, but I felt comfortable with that aspect of the book. Hope you will as well!
Mod
I hadn't even thought about that. Can I add this to my answer too?"
I assume so. Copying is the greatest form of flattery, isn't it? LOL
Mod
I do always notice the cover image. I try to guess from that what the genre of the book may be and whether I would enjoy it or not. My thought about the cover was the PINK color! For a romance about two males. Appropriate, IMO, since this is a color typically in our society associated with females. At least in the past. So, I felt it was a challenge to preconceptions! My thought was “Good!� :)
2) What does the title indicate to you? Or does it not impress you at all?
I loved the play on words! Red, White, and Blue. Such an exemplary phrase to represent the USA. But then juxtaposed with “Royal� to add in that aspect of the UK.
3) What excites you the most about this book?
A “queer�/male-male relationship!! Between what I would consider to be the most famous and sought after young men in these two countries! Wild! I only wish it could be true! Just think of the hearts and minds that might be opened by such a revelation!
4) Does anything make you hesitant to read this book?
The only hesitation I had was that it is a ROMANCE. I was hoping it would not be too explicit/open door for my liking� I just feel as if my imagination is vivid enough to fill in the blanks! ;)
Mod
The Alex Awards annually recognize "ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults ages 12 through 18".
More information about the Alex Awards:
Essentially, the award is a listing by the American Library Association parallel to its annual Best Books for Young Adults, a longer list of recommended books that have been promoted in the YA category. Since 2002, the Alex Awards have been administered by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). YALSA also names several other "Top Tens" annually.
The awards, named after Baltimore librarian Margaret Alexander Edwards, who was known as "Alex", are sponsored by the Margaret Alexander Edwards Trust and Booklist magazine. The list of books published during the previous year serves to provide the choice of titles selected for the awards, which were initially bestowed in 1998.
Why do you think this book was one of the winners? What do you think would make it appealing to 12-18 year olds?
Reminder: please use spoilers appropriately!
Mod
Reminder: please use spoilers appropriately!
Mod
Reminder: please use spoilers appropriately!
Mod
Reminder: please use spoilers appropriately!
Mod
Does that ring true for you?
Reminder: please use spoilers appropriately!
Mod
Reminder: please use spoilers appropriately!
Mod
Reminder: please use spoilers appropriately!
Mod
*
*
Did you learn anything new from either or both of these?
(I did...) :)
Reminder: please use spoilers appropriately!
Mod
McQuiston first came up with the idea for what would become Red, White & Royal Blue during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. While watching a season..."
This made total sense to me! I could identify certain aspects of all these factors in the book!
Here's the review I put on my website during last year's challenge:Mild spoilers.
Mod
"My Dear F***ing Prince" is a hilarious title and totally feels like something Alex would say."
Agreed! :)
Mod
The Alex Awards annually recognize "ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults..
(view spoiler)"
I would agree with you. Fortunately for me, I found the (view spoiler) Though I didn't find that spoiled it for me as an adult (an "older" adult) at all. But I still enjoy YA and children's literature!
I meant to reread this last month but didn't get a the library copy in time lol. Once you have finished reading, would you recommend this book to others? Why? Or why not?
I would definitely recommend this book. Romance novels are usually hit or miss for me. I either don't like one person (or both) in the couple or I don't think they have chemistry. (view spoiler)
Mod
Once you have finished reading, would you recommend this book to others? Why? Or why not?
I would definitely recom..."
You make excellent points about this one, Felicia! I would agree with your comments wholeheartedly!
I finally got this from the library and finished it earlier this week. I really enjoyed the banter between Alex & Henry, and I loved the trio between Nora, June and Alex. I appreciated some of the background on the crown/monarchy and loved the grand gestures in this one. Looking forward to the adaptation on Netflix.
In honor of “Pride Month� as declared by US Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden. (Also acknowledged in a 2019 tweet by Donald Trump.) Per Wikipedia this originated to commemorate the Stonewall Riots which occurred at the end of June in 1969. June is increasingly recognized as “Pride Month� (for all LGBTQ+/non-cisgender folks) outside the US.
Are YOU the "savvy superstar" needed to lead this discussion?!? Please message either Nadine or myself to volunteer!Since I loved this book and no one else volunteered, I am posting questions to consider and hopefully initiate some discussion!Every person reads at a different pace, so please use spoiler tags if you are sharing any plot-related surprises. This allows others to decide whether this information might reveal surprising information they have not yet read.
It can also be helpful to other readers if you post the location within the book noting your progress (chapter and/or page number) with the spoiler. That way, if someone else has read that far they can go ahead and open the spoiler, but if not, they'll know to skip it for now and return later...
TO ADD SPOILER TAGS:
Use this for spoilers, just remove the spaces:
< spoiler > write your spoiler here and close with < / spoiler >
Posts here should only be contributions to discussion about this book.