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Runaway Royals #2
How to Find a Princess
New York Times and USA Today bestseller Alyssa Cole’s second Runaway Royals novel is a queer Anastasia retelling, featuring a long-lost princess who finds love with the female investigator tasked with tracking her down.
Makeda Hicks has lost her job and her girlfriend in one fell swoop. The last thing she’s in the mood for is to rehash the story of her grandmother’s infamous summer fling with a runaway prince from Ibarania, or the investigator from the World Federation of Monarchies tasked with searching for Ibarania’s missing heir.
Yet when Beznaria Chetchevaliere crashes into her life, the sleek and sexy investigator exudes exactly the kind of chaos that organized and efficient Makeda finds irresistible, even if Bez is determined to drag her into a world of royal duty Makeda wants nothing to do with.
When a threat to her grandmother’s livelihood pushes Makeda to agree to return to Ibarania, Bez takes her on a transatlantic adventure with a crew of lovable weirdos, a fake marriage, and one-bed hijinks on the high seas. When they finally make it to Ibarania, they realize there’s more at stake than just cash and crown, and Makeda must learn what it means to fight for what she desires and not what she feels bound to by duty.
Makeda Hicks has lost her job and her girlfriend in one fell swoop. The last thing she’s in the mood for is to rehash the story of her grandmother’s infamous summer fling with a runaway prince from Ibarania, or the investigator from the World Federation of Monarchies tasked with searching for Ibarania’s missing heir.
Yet when Beznaria Chetchevaliere crashes into her life, the sleek and sexy investigator exudes exactly the kind of chaos that organized and efficient Makeda finds irresistible, even if Bez is determined to drag her into a world of royal duty Makeda wants nothing to do with.
When a threat to her grandmother’s livelihood pushes Makeda to agree to return to Ibarania, Bez takes her on a transatlantic adventure with a crew of lovable weirdos, a fake marriage, and one-bed hijinks on the high seas. When they finally make it to Ibarania, they realize there’s more at stake than just cash and crown, and Makeda must learn what it means to fight for what she desires and not what she feels bound to by duty.
367 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 25, 2021
163 people are currently reading
17.4k people want to read
About the author
Alyssa Cole
43books6,254followersAlyssa Cole is an award-winning author of historical, contemporary, and sci-fi romance. Her Civil War-set espionage romance An Extraordinary Union was the RT Reviewers� Choice Award’s Best Book of 2017 and the American Library Association’s RUSA Best Romance for 2018, and A Princess in Theory was one of the New York Times� 100 Notable Books of 2018. She’s contributed to publications including Bustle, Shondaland, The Toast, Vulture, RT Book Reviews, and Heroes and Heartbreakers, and her books have received critical acclaim from The New York Times, Library Journal, BuzzFeed, Kirkus, Booklist, Jezebel, Vulture, Book Riot, Entertainment Weekly, and various other outlets. When she’s not working, she can usually be found watching anime or wrangling her pets.
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July 21, 2021dnf @ 50%
this started off promisingly, but good lord it drags! have to agree with a lot of my friends' reviews in that regard. i would also add though that the characters are... interesting. makeda was initially characterized as being a pushover and people pleaser but the majority of the book she is kind of a complete bitch who won't be pushed around by bez. bez was excited to discover a hidden royal for her home country and does anything she can to please makeda.
i guess it just didn't make sense to me. i felt like bez should have been skeptical of makeda's lineage. and that makeda should have been the sunshine-y one. maybe. i just know that the dynamic between the characters really didn't work for me. which sucks.
this started off promisingly, but good lord it drags! have to agree with a lot of my friends' reviews in that regard. i would also add though that the characters are... interesting. makeda was initially characterized as being a pushover and people pleaser but the majority of the book she is kind of a complete bitch who won't be pushed around by bez. bez was excited to discover a hidden royal for her home country and does anything she can to please makeda.
i guess it just didn't make sense to me. i felt like bez should have been skeptical of makeda's lineage. and that makeda should have been the sunshine-y one. maybe. i just know that the dynamic between the characters really didn't work for me. which sucks.
May 25, 2021
3.75 Stars. This was a super cute romance. I’ve wanted to read Cole for a while so I was happy to get my hands on this book. This is a bit of an Anastasia retelling, but I didn’t really feel much Anastasia while reading this. This was just more of a slow-burn, feel-good romance. This did have a few bumps so this wasn’t a total win for me, but overall I quite enjoyed the read.
I loved the beginning of the book and found it very easy to get sucked into the story. Yes, there were a few things that were over the top, but this book is much more in that fun and fluffy vein. This book actually reminded me of the feel of a Disney movie –I mean the overall vibe and of course I’m not including the sex scenes- and not the old school Disney movies that could be a little sad or terrifying in parts for kids, but the newer, feel-good kind of Disney. I don’t know if it was the royalty and some of the humor, but I couldn’t help feeling that way.
The book is very slow-burn. The chemistry is easy and in your face, and even though it made me roll my eyes at times, I still enjoyed it. I love slow-burn, but I wish they had gotten together a bit faster here. There is no big angst, but some little angst that keeps them apart enough that I wish we had more couple time. The sex scenes had some steam and I was a big fan of the couple they made together. Fauxmances are always my favorite romance trope so I was happy that is what this romance turned out to be.
While I loved the beginning, and later when the characters started to actually get some couple time, there was a bit of a lull in-between. There was a lot of travel time in this book and it is where things slowed down for me. It’s funny since I’m such a big fantasy fans that I’m used to lots of traveling. It normally doesn’t bother me but I’m not a fan of it in a romance. I know it was used for character and relationship growth, but I would have edited some parts out and added time to the end.
The ending is the other part I have mixed feelings apart. I do love twists and being surprised, so I give Cole credit for that, but I wasn’t an overall fan of the ending. We just had this big travel slow-down and then all of a sudden the ending is very hectic and rushed. This whole book was leading up to the ending. You are waiting for the end even more than in a normal romance. And maybe because this is a retelling, or has an adult Disney vibe, but I wanted this big fairytale ending and I didn’t really get it. The ending was fine, and it doesn’t ruin the book, but I was honestly disappointed.
If you are looking for fun, sweet, and a romance that has a bit of a fairytale feel, then this book is for you. It does have its bumps, but the characters were great and it was a fun, feel-good romance. I would absolutely read more of Cole’s WLW stories.
A copy was given to me for a review.
I loved the beginning of the book and found it very easy to get sucked into the story. Yes, there were a few things that were over the top, but this book is much more in that fun and fluffy vein. This book actually reminded me of the feel of a Disney movie –I mean the overall vibe and of course I’m not including the sex scenes- and not the old school Disney movies that could be a little sad or terrifying in parts for kids, but the newer, feel-good kind of Disney. I don’t know if it was the royalty and some of the humor, but I couldn’t help feeling that way.
The book is very slow-burn. The chemistry is easy and in your face, and even though it made me roll my eyes at times, I still enjoyed it. I love slow-burn, but I wish they had gotten together a bit faster here. There is no big angst, but some little angst that keeps them apart enough that I wish we had more couple time. The sex scenes had some steam and I was a big fan of the couple they made together. Fauxmances are always my favorite romance trope so I was happy that is what this romance turned out to be.
While I loved the beginning, and later when the characters started to actually get some couple time, there was a bit of a lull in-between. There was a lot of travel time in this book and it is where things slowed down for me. It’s funny since I’m such a big fantasy fans that I’m used to lots of traveling. It normally doesn’t bother me but I’m not a fan of it in a romance. I know it was used for character and relationship growth, but I would have edited some parts out and added time to the end.
The ending is the other part I have mixed feelings apart. I do love twists and being surprised, so I give Cole credit for that, but I wasn’t an overall fan of the ending. We just had this big travel slow-down and then all of a sudden the ending is very hectic and rushed. This whole book was leading up to the ending. You are waiting for the end even more than in a normal romance. And maybe because this is a retelling, or has an adult Disney vibe, but I wanted this big fairytale ending and I didn’t really get it. The ending was fine, and it doesn’t ruin the book, but I was honestly disappointed.
If you are looking for fun, sweet, and a romance that has a bit of a fairytale feel, then this book is for you. It does have its bumps, but the characters were great and it was a fun, feel-good romance. I would absolutely read more of Cole’s WLW stories.
A copy was given to me for a review.
July 9, 2021
I'm so sad that this was a miss for me. For a novel just shy of 400 pages, not a whole lot was happening in this book. I was looking forward to this romance after meeting Bez in book one. The beginning was interesting enough as Bez and Makeda meet and develop an attraction to each other, but too much of this book took place on that boat and the story quickly lost my interest. Then, when we had such a stretched out time on the boat, the ending seemed to go by in a flash. I've just been having problems with the pacing of Alyssa Cole's romances lately. They seem to drag out and the romance in this book doesn't even really go anywhere until 80% into the book. It was just too slow burn for me and the plot wasn't interesting enough to hold my interest when the romance wasn't there. I liked Makeda and Bez as characters individually, but the romance was just lackluster and the plot uninteresting.
June 2, 2021
2.5 stars
ARC provided by Avon through NetGalley for honest review
I wanted to like this so bad! I've been waiting for Bez's story after How to Catch A Queen and I was let down. The pacing wasn't great and over all plot development underwhelming. I did get aspects of an Anastasia retelling but the whole story just wasn't there. And the time spent in Ibarania at the end of the book was to short and rushed. Here's hoping the next book in this series is better!
ARC provided by Avon through NetGalley for honest review
I wanted to like this so bad! I've been waiting for Bez's story after How to Catch A Queen and I was let down. The pacing wasn't great and over all plot development underwhelming. I did get aspects of an Anastasia retelling but the whole story just wasn't there. And the time spent in Ibarania at the end of the book was to short and rushed. Here's hoping the next book in this series is better!
May 10, 2021
Makeda may not know what she wants from life but she knows exactly what she doesn’t want, and that’s being a princess. The family folklore according to which her grandmother had a fling with the prince of the tiny kingdom of Ibarania was fun to entertain until it became her mother’s obsession. So when, in one day, Makeda loses both her job and her girlfriend, the last thing she needs is for a so-called investigator to try and convince her to travel to Ibarania with her to claim her title as the lost heir.
This sapphic retelling of Anastasia is a Grumpy/Sunshine romance with Grumpy being a former Sunshine tired of being used as a doormat. It’s also, for a while, a fake romance, confusing both parties, as should be, with the added bonus of only one bed and a lifeboat. It’s definitely an opposites attract romance, all book long.
Makeda lives in a perpetual state of anxiety, even though she probably doesn’t realise it. She wants everyone to be happy all the time because when people aren’t happy, they either laugh at her or leave her. Her whole personality is being helpful and who cares if she always puts everyone else’s dreams before her? She doesn’t have dreams anyway. Beznaria is the opposite. Not that she’s happy all the time, but she’s running too fast for stress to catch up, at least most of the time. Among her other strategies: go for what you want and never never give up. She’s at once incredibly cool and old-fashioned (the type to demand a duel to right a wrong). I’m actually impressed Makeda resisted her for so long.
This was my first book by Alyssa Cole and I didn’t expect to laugh so much. Bez gets the best lines, and I’ll go against my rule of not taking sentences out of context with two quotes, one that made me laugh:
“The coffee grinder apparently had more settings than Bez’s vibrator because the noise grew even louder.�
The other I found surprisingly touching:
“Her past relationships had made her think she would be bad at every relationship, but maybe she just hadn’t learned how to be good at them yet.�
Both perfectly Bez.
Despite a rushed ending, I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a light-hearted, funny and tender romcom.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
This sapphic retelling of Anastasia is a Grumpy/Sunshine romance with Grumpy being a former Sunshine tired of being used as a doormat. It’s also, for a while, a fake romance, confusing both parties, as should be, with the added bonus of only one bed and a lifeboat. It’s definitely an opposites attract romance, all book long.
Makeda lives in a perpetual state of anxiety, even though she probably doesn’t realise it. She wants everyone to be happy all the time because when people aren’t happy, they either laugh at her or leave her. Her whole personality is being helpful and who cares if she always puts everyone else’s dreams before her? She doesn’t have dreams anyway. Beznaria is the opposite. Not that she’s happy all the time, but she’s running too fast for stress to catch up, at least most of the time. Among her other strategies: go for what you want and never never give up. She’s at once incredibly cool and old-fashioned (the type to demand a duel to right a wrong). I’m actually impressed Makeda resisted her for so long.
This was my first book by Alyssa Cole and I didn’t expect to laugh so much. Bez gets the best lines, and I’ll go against my rule of not taking sentences out of context with two quotes, one that made me laugh:
“The coffee grinder apparently had more settings than Bez’s vibrator because the noise grew even louder.�
The other I found surprisingly touching:
“Her past relationships had made her think she would be bad at every relationship, but maybe she just hadn’t learned how to be good at them yet.�
Both perfectly Bez.
Despite a rushed ending, I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a light-hearted, funny and tender romcom.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 30, 2022
❶ ❶ ❶ ❶ ❶ ❶
Perhaps I hyped myself so much so that disappointment was inevitable. How to Find a Princess was one of my most anticipated 2021 releases and I can't say that I loved it. It had its entertaining moments and some funny lines but the pacing was all over the place. Also, tone-wise this felt less like an Anastasia retelling and more like something in the realm of a Netflix princess movie. I guess it makes for a decent escapist read.
After being let go from her job working at a store and being dumped by her girlfriend Makeda Hicks feels that she needs to change her attitude. The people around her either exploit her kindness or feel suffocated by it so she decides that she will start standing up for herself more. When an investigator from the World Federation of Monarchies shows up at her grandmother's hotel Makeda is for one in her life quite vocal about not wanting to do what other people tell her to do. This investigator, Beznaria Chetchevaliere, is convinced that Makeda is her country's missing heir and despite Makeda's protestations, she is determined to follow the job through as to do so would reinstate her family's honour (her grandmother was accused of betraying their now long lost Queen). The narrative doesn't really provide much background for these characters other than vague impressions of their lives so far. They both seem to have no friends nor do we really delve into their relationship with their family members. Makeda's strained relationship with her mother felt very surface level and seemed to exist only to complicate Makeda feelings towards the whole royal thing (her mother was obsessed with the possibility of Makeda being a princess and pretty much ridiculed in front of her own school turning Makeda into a pariah). Understandably Makeda isn't keen to go to Ibarania.
The first 30% of the narrative feels very rushed and the chemistry between Beznaria and Makeda came across as somewhat rushed. The two bicker for a good 80% of the novel and I would be lying if I said that it didn't get repetitive (because it sure did). Much of the humor stems from the cultural difference between Beznaria and Makeda and sometimes it felt rather forced. Beznaria is neurodivergent and this is sometimes used as a source of humor as she is often portrayed as taking things literally or is shown to be unaware of many social norms. 30% in, their relationship and the plot hit a plateau. The two make their way to Ibarania on a ship posing as a married couple because of *reasons* where they spend most of their days bickering. It is only around the 70% mark that their relationship moves on from this childish stalemate. But, to be perfectly honest, I didn't feel the chemistry between them. Beznaria lies so much (lying by omission is still lying) and never properly apologises for the way she basically manipulates/bullies Makeda into going along.
We also never learn much about Ibarania other than it being a (fictional) island in the Mediterranean. A very small section of the novel actually takes place there and we don't really glimpse its customs/traditions/peoples/landscapes. Also, while we know this place is missing an heir the narrative doesn't really provide much information in regards to why they did not look for them before.
I loved how casual the queer rep was and there was the odd moment that made me smile or that I found cute. Overall however the world, characters, and story within this novel felt very undefined. There were too few secondary characters and the ones that were mentioned now and again (on the ship for example) blurred together. Bez and Makeda as leads were a bit confined in their roles (Bez being this offbeat investigator and Makeda a nice girl who doesn't want to be a princess). The whole 'watering can' metaphor to describe Makeda's feelings was kind of forced and lasted way longer than it should have.
The narrative plays around with popular fanfic tropes (fake dating, only one bed) and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. If you are in the mood for an easy sapphic read, this may very well hit the spot. I for one hoped would have preferred for Bez and Makeda not to spend most of the novel pretending they are not into each other.
“A princess and her lady knight—the kind of fairy tale she'd always wanted, if she had to be a princess.�
Perhaps I hyped myself so much so that disappointment was inevitable. How to Find a Princess was one of my most anticipated 2021 releases and I can't say that I loved it. It had its entertaining moments and some funny lines but the pacing was all over the place. Also, tone-wise this felt less like an Anastasia retelling and more like something in the realm of a Netflix princess movie. I guess it makes for a decent escapist read.
After being let go from her job working at a store and being dumped by her girlfriend Makeda Hicks feels that she needs to change her attitude. The people around her either exploit her kindness or feel suffocated by it so she decides that she will start standing up for herself more. When an investigator from the World Federation of Monarchies shows up at her grandmother's hotel Makeda is for one in her life quite vocal about not wanting to do what other people tell her to do. This investigator, Beznaria Chetchevaliere, is convinced that Makeda is her country's missing heir and despite Makeda's protestations, she is determined to follow the job through as to do so would reinstate her family's honour (her grandmother was accused of betraying their now long lost Queen). The narrative doesn't really provide much background for these characters other than vague impressions of their lives so far. They both seem to have no friends nor do we really delve into their relationship with their family members. Makeda's strained relationship with her mother felt very surface level and seemed to exist only to complicate Makeda feelings towards the whole royal thing (her mother was obsessed with the possibility of Makeda being a princess and pretty much ridiculed in front of her own school turning Makeda into a pariah). Understandably Makeda isn't keen to go to Ibarania.
The first 30% of the narrative feels very rushed and the chemistry between Beznaria and Makeda came across as somewhat rushed. The two bicker for a good 80% of the novel and I would be lying if I said that it didn't get repetitive (because it sure did). Much of the humor stems from the cultural difference between Beznaria and Makeda and sometimes it felt rather forced. Beznaria is neurodivergent and this is sometimes used as a source of humor as she is often portrayed as taking things literally or is shown to be unaware of many social norms. 30% in, their relationship and the plot hit a plateau. The two make their way to Ibarania on a ship posing as a married couple because of *reasons* where they spend most of their days bickering. It is only around the 70% mark that their relationship moves on from this childish stalemate. But, to be perfectly honest, I didn't feel the chemistry between them. Beznaria lies so much (lying by omission is still lying) and never properly apologises for the way she basically manipulates/bullies Makeda into going along.
We also never learn much about Ibarania other than it being a (fictional) island in the Mediterranean. A very small section of the novel actually takes place there and we don't really glimpse its customs/traditions/peoples/landscapes. Also, while we know this place is missing an heir the narrative doesn't really provide much information in regards to why they did not look for them before.
I loved how casual the queer rep was and there was the odd moment that made me smile or that I found cute. Overall however the world, characters, and story within this novel felt very undefined. There were too few secondary characters and the ones that were mentioned now and again (on the ship for example) blurred together. Bez and Makeda as leads were a bit confined in their roles (Bez being this offbeat investigator and Makeda a nice girl who doesn't want to be a princess). The whole 'watering can' metaphor to describe Makeda's feelings was kind of forced and lasted way longer than it should have.
The narrative plays around with popular fanfic tropes (fake dating, only one bed) and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. If you are in the mood for an easy sapphic read, this may very well hit the spot. I for one hoped would have preferred for Bez and Makeda not to spend most of the novel pretending they are not into each other.
June 17, 2021
I'm starting to think that - even though I am such a huge fan of Alyssa Cole's Reluctant Royals series - that this new series isn't for me.
The basic premise of this book is that a woman who is the white knight for all of her loved ones gets a white knight of her own. There have been rumors since Makeda's childhood that she might be a lost descendent of the royal line of an island nation. The mere idea that they might have royal blood sent her mom on a spiral during Makeda's younger years, and now, as an adult, Makeda wants nothing to do with the whole princess thing.
That is until Beznaria, agent of the World Federation of Monarchies, is sent to the United States to track down possible living heirs to the throne of Ibarania and convinces Makeda to come to the island to answer the question once and for all - is Makeda a princess?
I think I had two major issues with this book. First of all, Makeda is supposed to be the type of person who has real trouble saying no to people. She does and does and does for people and doesn't consider herself or whether the people in her life really want that kind of doting before she does so. It's made clear in the opening section that it's a serious problem in her life: it's put her into debt, lost her relationships, and most recently, it cost her a job. So if this is such a deeply-seated issue, why does it cease to be a problem as soon as Beznaria shows up?
I know we're meant to believe that Makeda feels so strongly about this royalty issue that she has no trouble saying no to anything relating to it, but I find it completely unbelievable that taking a hard stance on one issue would have the kind of trickle-down effect that happens in the book. I was actually looking forward to seeing Makeda work through that issue - of only feeling worthy of love when she's doing things for other people - but that character development happens in a flash and it's not really mentioned again.
But the biggest thing that didn't work about this novel is that a good half of it (if not inching toward two thirds) takes place aboard a cargo ship. I remember seeing I was eighty percent done with the book and we were still on the damn boat. You can imagine what kind of rushed conclusion it was if we barely step foot in the oft-spoken-of Ibarania.
I think I would have happily taken the cargo ship section if we would have been done with it half way through the book and then moved onto the happenings of Ibarania for the back half. But to spend so much time in a confined space...let's just say I've had enough of feeling claustrophobic over this past year and I don't need to feel like I'm in lockdown in the fiction I read for the feel-good factor.
Makeda and Beznaria were cute together, don't get me wrong. I liked their chemistry. But I wish I could have spent more time with them on dry land, if only to know whether or not they stood a fighting chance as a couple.
The basic premise of this book is that a woman who is the white knight for all of her loved ones gets a white knight of her own. There have been rumors since Makeda's childhood that she might be a lost descendent of the royal line of an island nation. The mere idea that they might have royal blood sent her mom on a spiral during Makeda's younger years, and now, as an adult, Makeda wants nothing to do with the whole princess thing.
That is until Beznaria, agent of the World Federation of Monarchies, is sent to the United States to track down possible living heirs to the throne of Ibarania and convinces Makeda to come to the island to answer the question once and for all - is Makeda a princess?
I think I had two major issues with this book. First of all, Makeda is supposed to be the type of person who has real trouble saying no to people. She does and does and does for people and doesn't consider herself or whether the people in her life really want that kind of doting before she does so. It's made clear in the opening section that it's a serious problem in her life: it's put her into debt, lost her relationships, and most recently, it cost her a job. So if this is such a deeply-seated issue, why does it cease to be a problem as soon as Beznaria shows up?
I know we're meant to believe that Makeda feels so strongly about this royalty issue that she has no trouble saying no to anything relating to it, but I find it completely unbelievable that taking a hard stance on one issue would have the kind of trickle-down effect that happens in the book. I was actually looking forward to seeing Makeda work through that issue - of only feeling worthy of love when she's doing things for other people - but that character development happens in a flash and it's not really mentioned again.
But the biggest thing that didn't work about this novel is that a good half of it (if not inching toward two thirds) takes place aboard a cargo ship. I remember seeing I was eighty percent done with the book and we were still on the damn boat. You can imagine what kind of rushed conclusion it was if we barely step foot in the oft-spoken-of Ibarania.
I think I would have happily taken the cargo ship section if we would have been done with it half way through the book and then moved onto the happenings of Ibarania for the back half. But to spend so much time in a confined space...let's just say I've had enough of feeling claustrophobic over this past year and I don't need to feel like I'm in lockdown in the fiction I read for the feel-good factor.
Makeda and Beznaria were cute together, don't get me wrong. I liked their chemistry. But I wish I could have spent more time with them on dry land, if only to know whether or not they stood a fighting chance as a couple.
April 23, 2021
I had so much fun reading How to Find a Princess. When Bez was introduced, I was laughing and loving her already. She has such a chaotic energy you won't be able to stop loving her. And then there is Makeda, a lonely woman who, throughout all her life, has been called a doormat because she loves giving even if no one gives in return. We have two people who never would have met under other circumstances. But somehow they find each other.
This is such a slow burn romance!!!! I was waiting so hard for them to kiss because the energy they had together? BEAUTIFUL. Bez flirts with Makeda constantly and you know that when they finally kiss it's going to be incredible. But yes, Alyssa Cole makes us wait for a bit but it's all worth it. Love how the relationship flowed and the way it was written; I think it was perfect for them both.
- Investigator goes to find the long-lost heir of her kingdom
- Fake marriage + ONLY ONE BED
- F/F Anastasia retelling
This is such a slow burn romance!!!! I was waiting so hard for them to kiss because the energy they had together? BEAUTIFUL. Bez flirts with Makeda constantly and you know that when they finally kiss it's going to be incredible. But yes, Alyssa Cole makes us wait for a bit but it's all worth it. Love how the relationship flowed and the way it was written; I think it was perfect for them both.
- Investigator goes to find the long-lost heir of her kingdom
- Fake marriage + ONLY ONE BED
- F/F Anastasia retelling
June 18, 2021
3.5 Stars
“How to Find a Princess� is a pretty sweet slow-burn romance. I had never read anything by Cole before and I feel like this was a nice introduction. This is also the second in her Runaway Royals series, however, I didn’t read the first but I never felt I was missing anything here.
Makeda Hicks is a people pleaser who has just been let go of her job and dumped by her girlfriend all on the same day. On top of that, her grandmother is wanting her to claim her lost princess status from a small country where she is rumored to be the missing heir. Makeda has no interest in being a princess. Her mother made a big deal of it when she was younger which caused her a lot of embarrassment and pain and their relationship is strained because of it.
Beznaria Chetchevaliere is an investigator with the World Federation of Monarchies and she’s on the hunt for the lost heir. The runaway heir happened on her grandmother’s watch and has been cause of the family shame for years. When she sees that Makeda could actually be the princess she’ll do whatever she can to restore her family’s honor and return the princess, whether Makeda wants it or not.
Makeda and Bez are complete opposites. Makeda has been a people pleaser all her life but she’s finally done with that. Pleasing everyone but herself is finally drained all her care and she’s ready to put her foot down. Bez, on the other hand, has never worried about anyone but herself. She’s quite happy doing and saying what she wants and doesn’t really concern herself with the fallout. I really liked them together and how their personalities played against each other. It was entertaining when they were sniping at each other and finally, when they were flirting with each other.
I liked this overall but there were a few issues for me that tempered my enjoyment a bit. In the beginning I really felt like Bez and Makeda’s grandmother were lying and manipulating Makeda to get her to do what they wanted. She stated several times that she wanted nothing to do with the being a princess and they refused to accept that. Bez also lies by omission quite a lot, almost right up until the end when she starts feeling guilty, and the lies could’ve really made things tough on Makeda in the future. While she did decide on her own to go, their attitudes about it kind of rubbed me the wrong way. The ending also seemed really rushed to me. I really didn’t feel like we were coming to the conclusion when all of a sudden, I was at the end. I still had questions about certain things that were never explained and that took away some of my joy.
Aside from that, I still enjoyed this. I don’t want to say this is campy, but it is kind of over the top and light-hearted in that way. It’s angst-lite and fun and sweet and would be a good, entertaining beach read. There are a few tropes here too: fauxmance, forced proximity, only one bed.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Avon in exchange for an honest review.
“How to Find a Princess� is a pretty sweet slow-burn romance. I had never read anything by Cole before and I feel like this was a nice introduction. This is also the second in her Runaway Royals series, however, I didn’t read the first but I never felt I was missing anything here.
Makeda Hicks is a people pleaser who has just been let go of her job and dumped by her girlfriend all on the same day. On top of that, her grandmother is wanting her to claim her lost princess status from a small country where she is rumored to be the missing heir. Makeda has no interest in being a princess. Her mother made a big deal of it when she was younger which caused her a lot of embarrassment and pain and their relationship is strained because of it.
Beznaria Chetchevaliere is an investigator with the World Federation of Monarchies and she’s on the hunt for the lost heir. The runaway heir happened on her grandmother’s watch and has been cause of the family shame for years. When she sees that Makeda could actually be the princess she’ll do whatever she can to restore her family’s honor and return the princess, whether Makeda wants it or not.
Makeda and Bez are complete opposites. Makeda has been a people pleaser all her life but she’s finally done with that. Pleasing everyone but herself is finally drained all her care and she’s ready to put her foot down. Bez, on the other hand, has never worried about anyone but herself. She’s quite happy doing and saying what she wants and doesn’t really concern herself with the fallout. I really liked them together and how their personalities played against each other. It was entertaining when they were sniping at each other and finally, when they were flirting with each other.
I liked this overall but there were a few issues for me that tempered my enjoyment a bit. In the beginning I really felt like Bez and Makeda’s grandmother were lying and manipulating Makeda to get her to do what they wanted. She stated several times that she wanted nothing to do with the being a princess and they refused to accept that. Bez also lies by omission quite a lot, almost right up until the end when she starts feeling guilty, and the lies could’ve really made things tough on Makeda in the future. While she did decide on her own to go, their attitudes about it kind of rubbed me the wrong way. The ending also seemed really rushed to me. I really didn’t feel like we were coming to the conclusion when all of a sudden, I was at the end. I still had questions about certain things that were never explained and that took away some of my joy.
Aside from that, I still enjoyed this. I don’t want to say this is campy, but it is kind of over the top and light-hearted in that way. It’s angst-lite and fun and sweet and would be a good, entertaining beach read. There are a few tropes here too: fauxmance, forced proximity, only one bed.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Avon in exchange for an honest review.
July 5, 2021
A repetitive and lackluster romance
Makeda Hicks loses her job and her girlfriend in the same day. Reeling, she's forced to move back with her grandmother and help out at her bed and breakfast. Being back with Grandmore means hearing more about when Grandmore supposedly had a passionate affair with the Prince of Ibarania--leading to Makeda's mother. Makeda has no patience for this story, as her mother's obsession with being a Princess dominated Makeda's entire childhood. When it never panned out, she disconnected from life (and Makeda), receding into alcoholism and forcing Makeda to grow up fast. When Beznaria Chetchevaliere, an investigator for the World Federation of Monarchies shows up at the B&B, claiming to be looking for Ibarania's missing heir, Makeda wants nothing to do with it. But the beautiful and chaotic investigator is surprisingly persuasive. Can she convince Makeda to go with her--and is Makeda indeed the heir to Ibarania?
"No adventures, no drama, and always there to lend a helping hand, even when her hands were full, that was Makeda."
This was one of my #Pride reads for June, and it sounded so cute. There were definitely funny and enjoyable moments, and I'm always glad to see queer romances in the world, but overall, this one didn't really work for me. I am a sucker for a good Hallmark movie, but even I couldn't get into this crazy idea--an unhinged royal investigator, a reluctant heir... and eventually a lot of fakedating and a cargo ship. It was all too much.
It's hard to believe the instachemistry between Bez and Makeda, especially as we do not get a lot of backstory on the two women. Makeda's "will I go with Bez or won't I" takes an inordinately long time--it was incredibly frustrating. Just decide already! Things are repeated over and over, making the story feel inordinately long. Being unable to get into the characters or their romance, it was just hard to really love this one. The pacing and timing always seemed off. I wound up skimming the last half just to find out what would happen, otherwise it would have been a DNF. 2 stars.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Makeda Hicks loses her job and her girlfriend in the same day. Reeling, she's forced to move back with her grandmother and help out at her bed and breakfast. Being back with Grandmore means hearing more about when Grandmore supposedly had a passionate affair with the Prince of Ibarania--leading to Makeda's mother. Makeda has no patience for this story, as her mother's obsession with being a Princess dominated Makeda's entire childhood. When it never panned out, she disconnected from life (and Makeda), receding into alcoholism and forcing Makeda to grow up fast. When Beznaria Chetchevaliere, an investigator for the World Federation of Monarchies shows up at the B&B, claiming to be looking for Ibarania's missing heir, Makeda wants nothing to do with it. But the beautiful and chaotic investigator is surprisingly persuasive. Can she convince Makeda to go with her--and is Makeda indeed the heir to Ibarania?
"No adventures, no drama, and always there to lend a helping hand, even when her hands were full, that was Makeda."
This was one of my #Pride reads for June, and it sounded so cute. There were definitely funny and enjoyable moments, and I'm always glad to see queer romances in the world, but overall, this one didn't really work for me. I am a sucker for a good Hallmark movie, but even I couldn't get into this crazy idea--an unhinged royal investigator, a reluctant heir... and eventually a lot of fakedating and a cargo ship. It was all too much.
It's hard to believe the instachemistry between Bez and Makeda, especially as we do not get a lot of backstory on the two women. Makeda's "will I go with Bez or won't I" takes an inordinately long time--it was incredibly frustrating. Just decide already! Things are repeated over and over, making the story feel inordinately long. Being unable to get into the characters or their romance, it was just hard to really love this one. The pacing and timing always seemed off. I wound up skimming the last half just to find out what would happen, otherwise it would have been a DNF. 2 stars.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
May 11, 2021
How to Find a Princess is a queer Anastasia retelling where Makeda, a long lost African princess falls for Beznaria, the (pansexual, neurodivergent) female agent sent to track her down. Which is a cool idea and I had a pretty good time with this book, but the execution was mixed.
One thing to note is that this book is VERY slow burn in terms of steamy scenes. We don't even get a real kiss until the 75% mark and then there are just a couple of steamier scenes. And this is somewhat related to my main issues with this book: the pacing and the underdeveloped romance. I really loved both of our main characters- they are well developed and each have their own growth arc through the narrative. And their forced proximity brings those things to the surface. However, for a book that is taking so long to develop a physical relationship, I didn't get enough building tension or ooey gooey feelings to really buy the romance.
And part of the problem is that the pacing is weird with a LOT happening in the last 10-15% of the book that made it feel rushed and didn't give the relationship time to breathe. This almost reads like it's edging towards women's fiction because the plot feels more about Makeda learning to have better boundaries, dealing with trauma from her mom, and facing the reasons for her past relationships failing, more than about her actually falling in love with Bez. Bez is more the catalyst for those changes if that makes sense. And look, the characters are great. The tone is light and funny, the plot is silly but interesting....I just didn't quite get what I was hoping for out of this as a romance. And this is similar to my issue with the first book in the series as well, which makes me wonder if the author is just becoming more interested in writing different kinds of stories. I enjoy her books and will continue to read, but it might change my expectations. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
One thing to note is that this book is VERY slow burn in terms of steamy scenes. We don't even get a real kiss until the 75% mark and then there are just a couple of steamier scenes. And this is somewhat related to my main issues with this book: the pacing and the underdeveloped romance. I really loved both of our main characters- they are well developed and each have their own growth arc through the narrative. And their forced proximity brings those things to the surface. However, for a book that is taking so long to develop a physical relationship, I didn't get enough building tension or ooey gooey feelings to really buy the romance.
And part of the problem is that the pacing is weird with a LOT happening in the last 10-15% of the book that made it feel rushed and didn't give the relationship time to breathe. This almost reads like it's edging towards women's fiction because the plot feels more about Makeda learning to have better boundaries, dealing with trauma from her mom, and facing the reasons for her past relationships failing, more than about her actually falling in love with Bez. Bez is more the catalyst for those changes if that makes sense. And look, the characters are great. The tone is light and funny, the plot is silly but interesting....I just didn't quite get what I was hoping for out of this as a romance. And this is similar to my issue with the first book in the series as well, which makes me wonder if the author is just becoming more interested in writing different kinds of stories. I enjoy her books and will continue to read, but it might change my expectations. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
May 27, 2021
Ahhhh this is such a sweet and fun rom-com. I laughed out loud at so many points - especially the scenes with Makeda's fabulous grandmother! - and loved the heroines' adventures in the land of only-one-bed in a fake-married trip across the world. This is my very favorite Alyssa Cole novel yet, and that is REALLY saying something! And the ending was just delicious.
April 24, 2022
Alyssa Cole is hit or miss for me, and unfortunately her first full length sapphic romance was more of a miss. I was interested in the characters and their backstories. I was livid that competent and dedicated Makeda was laid off at the beginning of the book and felt so bad for her when her girlfriend dumped her for being too "helpy." Bez's protective nature and outside the box neurodivergent thinking made her a unique love interest. I also loved that she self identified as pan!
I just felt like the middle chunk of the novel didn't do enough, with either character growth, the romantic plot, or the royal plot. Then the end felt rushed. On the individual sentence level I usually really like Cole's writing and find it fun. But this isn't the first book of hers where I found the pacing super off.
I listened to the audiobook version and while the performance of Karen Chilton is very good for an African American woman's voice like Makeda, it's disappointing they couldn't get an actor who could also do the book's other accents. Bez, who is from a fictional kingdom called Ibarania, is supposed to have an accent in English between Italian and Arabic. Various other characters are explicitly described as having types of British accents. It's jarring to hear a character's dialogue narrated in a decidedly not BBC accent and then have their voice literally described as such by the author immediately after.
I just felt like the middle chunk of the novel didn't do enough, with either character growth, the romantic plot, or the royal plot. Then the end felt rushed. On the individual sentence level I usually really like Cole's writing and find it fun. But this isn't the first book of hers where I found the pacing super off.
I listened to the audiobook version and while the performance of Karen Chilton is very good for an African American woman's voice like Makeda, it's disappointing they couldn't get an actor who could also do the book's other accents. Bez, who is from a fictional kingdom called Ibarania, is supposed to have an accent in English between Italian and Arabic. Various other characters are explicitly described as having types of British accents. It's jarring to hear a character's dialogue narrated in a decidedly not BBC accent and then have their voice literally described as such by the author immediately after.
May 31, 2021
How to Find a Princess is a queer Anastasia retelling about a constant people pleaser Makeda Hicks, who is on her last leg after being fired and dumped on the same day for being "too helpful" of a person. Makeda takes refuge working in her grandmother's AirBnB until a pansexual, neurodivergent royalty investigator crashes onto her doorstep, claiming Makeda has royal blood, and must be taken to her ancestor's land to claim her throne. As the investigator Bez and Makeda set off to claim her throne, they find themselves getting closer through forced proximity and a fake marriage.
Now, I'm going to preface this by saying I don't typically read mass-market paperback romance novels, so I don't have much of a basis to compare the quality or content of this book to others of its kind. First of all, I wouldn't really qualify the genre of this book as a romance, like the plot summary and cover suggests. Romance is more of a side plot to the main action, which is their journey to Makeda's island. The plot drags on really slowly, spending an excruciating amount of time and detail on moments throughout the days of their journey that don't hold much significance to the story or plot. This probably lines up with Anastasia, the fairytale this story is retelling, but I've never seen it so I can't say. However, I caution prospective readers to keep this in mind.
This story didn't flow well for me. The writing style and vocabulary was pretty stiff and formal throughout the story in a way that didn't make sense to me. This is likely because the story is a fantastical fairy tale that combines fictional lands with the modern world in which we currently live. The language was trying to draw a bridge between those contrasting styles, which didn't work out for me. The romance is infuriatingly slow burn (I'm talking first kiss about 75% through the book slow burn) while the first three quarters of the book contains a lot of unnecessary scenes that are drawn out at such a pace that was exhausting to read. The conclusion to the book was also very rushed, and felt like it came out of nowhere. Perhaps it was because by the last 90% I was completely skimming the book, but I didn't understand how the book came to that ending at all, and it only took up about 3% of the book.
That being said, the romance was really cute once it got going, and I enjoyed the chemistry the two leads shared. The steamy scenes were really well done, and I really enjoyed how the romance was executed once we finally got there. I also loved the character of Bez. She was chaotic in the best way, and I think her neurodivergent representation was done really well.
Overall, I would say while I enjoyed reading the romance, the world-building and suspense to get there wasn't worth it. If you're a reader who loves lots of plot and lengthy descriptions of benign moments, this book is definitely for you. Personally, I look for more fast paced side plots with a healthy main plot of romance, especially when the book is marketed as such.
2.5 stars, rounded down.
Now, I'm going to preface this by saying I don't typically read mass-market paperback romance novels, so I don't have much of a basis to compare the quality or content of this book to others of its kind. First of all, I wouldn't really qualify the genre of this book as a romance, like the plot summary and cover suggests. Romance is more of a side plot to the main action, which is their journey to Makeda's island. The plot drags on really slowly, spending an excruciating amount of time and detail on moments throughout the days of their journey that don't hold much significance to the story or plot. This probably lines up with Anastasia, the fairytale this story is retelling, but I've never seen it so I can't say. However, I caution prospective readers to keep this in mind.
This story didn't flow well for me. The writing style and vocabulary was pretty stiff and formal throughout the story in a way that didn't make sense to me. This is likely because the story is a fantastical fairy tale that combines fictional lands with the modern world in which we currently live. The language was trying to draw a bridge between those contrasting styles, which didn't work out for me. The romance is infuriatingly slow burn (I'm talking first kiss about 75% through the book slow burn) while the first three quarters of the book contains a lot of unnecessary scenes that are drawn out at such a pace that was exhausting to read. The conclusion to the book was also very rushed, and felt like it came out of nowhere. Perhaps it was because by the last 90% I was completely skimming the book, but I didn't understand how the book came to that ending at all, and it only took up about 3% of the book.
That being said, the romance was really cute once it got going, and I enjoyed the chemistry the two leads shared. The steamy scenes were really well done, and I really enjoyed how the romance was executed once we finally got there. I also loved the character of Bez. She was chaotic in the best way, and I think her neurodivergent representation was done really well.
Overall, I would say while I enjoyed reading the romance, the world-building and suspense to get there wasn't worth it. If you're a reader who loves lots of plot and lengthy descriptions of benign moments, this book is definitely for you. Personally, I look for more fast paced side plots with a healthy main plot of romance, especially when the book is marketed as such.
2.5 stars, rounded down.
September 6, 2021
Someone who refused to be a princess was utterly confounding to a person who had grown up longing to protect one.
3.5 stars. I really really enjoyed most of this, though it did have a fair few bumps. It's been on my radar for a while, and I was going to put it off for longer, but then I saw a bad review for it where someone was complainingthat it'sslow burn. Which, ofcourse, immediately made me want to read it, lol. I'm sorry, but slow burn is just SO GOOD in romance; I'm right and I should say it.
I adored this mostly for the characters, which is, generally, where Cole shines in her writing. Makeda and Bez just feel so real, even within this fairytale-ish plot. They have meaningful strengthsand foibles that make you want to root for them as people, and make you feel super connected to them. Makeda, a long lost princess who has no desire to be a princess, is a chronic people-pleaser and "sentient doormat". Afterlosing her job and her girlfriend, while saddled with a huge debt from another ex-gf, she's back living at her grandmother's bed and breakfast. Bez is an investigator and a descendant of the royal guards, looking for the long lost princess. She's neurodivergentand doesn't have the most conventional people skills. Their relationship is just... SO good. Slow burn, but with a good amount of tension behind it, that makes it soooo satisfying. They're opposites in a lot of ways, and have great banter, but then there are moments where they're really sweet and tender with each other and I... gah. I really loved all of their interactions; Cole does a good job of showing their personalities and also showing how they change in little ways. Makeda becomes less of a pushover and Bez learns to listen more. At various points in the book, they gave me serious queen/lionheart vibes, which I loved a wholehecking lot. It makes me want a modern day lady/knight story. Also, I have to say, this was really funny; parts of this made me laugh out loud. It was just a fun book to read.
My biggest nitpick was the ending; like most peoplehave said, it was just too rushed. A bunch of character stuff happened, and I thought we had more for the characters to discuss and work out, but suddenlywe were hurtling towards the finish line. I actually really liked the ending and the reveals and whatnot, but it definitely needed a lot more build-up. It just happened too quickly. I liked the middle of the book with the sea voyage, but I think we should have spent a little less time with a certain side-character (who's obviously going to be in one of the next books) and more time with the main characters. Maybe there could have been some action, idk. The writing also got a little cheesy at times, in ways I didn't always enjoy, and the repetition of certain words and phrases got a teensy bit on mynerves. By the third mention of Makeda's watering can, I was over it, and the sea-snail thing was creative... but not that cute.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Karen Chilton, which was pretty okay. I'm not always the biggest fan of her voicework, but I enjoyed it here, even though the accents didn't always do it for me. I've really liked Alyssa Cole in the past, and I was so happy to hear that she was writing a full-length f/f romance, and I'm even happier that I liked it. Hopefully there'll be more from her in the future!
May 24, 2021
AHAHAHAHAAAAA
THAT
TWIST
ENDING!!!!
Damn, this was good.
I simply ADORED the characters, it was the perfect romance for me because I could identify with one lead and swoon over the other. Makeda's need to always be the helpful one and her description of her inner emotional reserves as a watering can spoke to me so, so much. And Bez was the tall, buff damsel-rescuing woman of my dreams, I LOVED her.
I think my one complaint was that the pacing was a little sluggish in the middle, but again, the characters are so great they carried me through. You know a romance is good when at the end your heart feels like a warm, gooey cookie. Asshhfjfjgkh so good.
THAT
TWIST
ENDING!!!!
Damn, this was good.
I simply ADORED the characters, it was the perfect romance for me because I could identify with one lead and swoon over the other. Makeda's need to always be the helpful one and her description of her inner emotional reserves as a watering can spoke to me so, so much. And Bez was the tall, buff damsel-rescuing woman of my dreams, I LOVED her.
I think my one complaint was that the pacing was a little sluggish in the middle, but again, the characters are so great they carried me through. You know a romance is good when at the end your heart feels like a warm, gooey cookie. Asshhfjfjgkh so good.
August 27, 2021
4,5*
June 21, 2021
this is my second alyssa cole book and like the first one, a princess in theory, I did struggle with the pacing. however I really love bez and she kept me entertained through the whole book.
was it a favorite romance though? not really. there were hardly any spicy scenes and I didn’t care for makeda at all. but it was cute nonetheless and I liked the ending.
was it a favorite romance though? not really. there were hardly any spicy scenes and I didn’t care for makeda at all. but it was cute nonetheless and I liked the ending.
June 10, 2021
why oh why I didn't love this one more..
who was this person who made my most anticipated list for this year..so many misses it is not funny anymore...
who was this person who made my most anticipated list for this year..so many misses it is not funny anymore...
May 31, 2021
3.5 stars for How to Find a Princess. We loved the premise for this one - a queer Anastasia retelling? Who would be a princess for a Mediterranean island nation whose monarchy is the result of a slave uprising? Yes, please! This book focuses on Beznaria Chetchevaliere who we met in . She's been sent on what is intended to be a fruitless mission to find the heir to Ibarania, and she thinks she's found the princess in Makeda Hicks of Atlantic City, New Jersey.
So far, so good! What was harder for us was relating to either of the main characters. Makeda is a "giver," and she spends most of her time helping others - whether they want her help or not. After losing her job, her apartment, and her girlfriend, Makeda has moved back in with her grandmother and is working on enforcing her own personal boundaries. Unfortunately Bez seems to be an expert in breaking through other people's boundaries. She refuses to take no for an answer, whether that be from Makeda to her grandmother to her employer.
We enjoyed the book, but have preferred the other entries in Cole's royal romances.
8-Word Summaries:
Laine: Maybe-princess and bodyguard kissing on a ship.
Meg: Sexy transatlantic boat trip with a fake relationship.
This objective review is based on a complimentary advanced reader copy of the novel.
So far, so good! What was harder for us was relating to either of the main characters. Makeda is a "giver," and she spends most of her time helping others - whether they want her help or not. After losing her job, her apartment, and her girlfriend, Makeda has moved back in with her grandmother and is working on enforcing her own personal boundaries. Unfortunately Bez seems to be an expert in breaking through other people's boundaries. She refuses to take no for an answer, whether that be from Makeda to her grandmother to her employer.
We enjoyed the book, but have preferred the other entries in Cole's royal romances.
8-Word Summaries:
Laine: Maybe-princess and bodyguard kissing on a ship.
Meg: Sexy transatlantic boat trip with a fake relationship.
This objective review is based on a complimentary advanced reader copy of the novel.
April 17, 2021
2 stars. I think this one may have oversold itself by suggesting that it was an Anastasia retelling. It was more Princess Diaries than Anastasia.
I love a good cheesy romance. But this one was a bit over the top and not quite believable to me. There were moments that the dialogue felt as though it were written by gay men who have to guess what lesbian conversations sound like. The chemistry felt a little forced at the outset and didn't set a good tone... I mean, come on, when in life have you ever accidentally ripped someone's sleeve off and had time to admire the other person's biceps before the other person casually tells you please don't worry about it and offers a seductive smile.
The politics felt fabricated. I was really rooting for our princess after witnessing her heartbreak at the beginning of the novel, and it was enough to keep me reading through to the end, but honestly I was a little disappointed as a whole.
If you want a mindless beach read and a kind of hot orchestrated situation where our two not-yet-lovers are forced to cling to a bed and hold each other against it through a random storm at sea... then yeah, maybe this is your cup of tea.
Three cheers for minority representation in a sapphic romance though. I wish I had liked it more.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC!
I love a good cheesy romance. But this one was a bit over the top and not quite believable to me. There were moments that the dialogue felt as though it were written by gay men who have to guess what lesbian conversations sound like. The chemistry felt a little forced at the outset and didn't set a good tone... I mean, come on, when in life have you ever accidentally ripped someone's sleeve off and had time to admire the other person's biceps before the other person casually tells you please don't worry about it and offers a seductive smile.
The politics felt fabricated. I was really rooting for our princess after witnessing her heartbreak at the beginning of the novel, and it was enough to keep me reading through to the end, but honestly I was a little disappointed as a whole.
If you want a mindless beach read and a kind of hot orchestrated situation where our two not-yet-lovers are forced to cling to a bed and hold each other against it through a random storm at sea... then yeah, maybe this is your cup of tea.
Three cheers for minority representation in a sapphic romance though. I wish I had liked it more.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC!
![Profile Image for laurel [the suspected bibliophile].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645808644i%2F7494844._UX200_CR0%2C6%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
April 8, 2021
How.
Did I.
Not.
See.
That.
Coming?!
Quite satisfying, although the ending's bow was too neatly wrapped and I wanted more conclusion on the ring and some other loose ends. Definitely a cute romance between a chaos agent and a sea snail, with some fantastic secondary characters.
Full RTC.
PS, heed the content warnings from other reviews. There are some definite triggers.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review
Did I.
Not.
See.
That.
Coming?!
Quite satisfying, although the ending's bow was too neatly wrapped and I wanted more conclusion on the ring and some other loose ends. Definitely a cute romance between a chaos agent and a sea snail, with some fantastic secondary characters.
Full RTC.
PS, heed the content warnings from other reviews. There are some definite triggers.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review
May 23, 2021
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes. This in no way influences my review; all words, thoughts, and opinions are my own.
Content notes:
Oh my god!!!! Alyssa Cole does it again and I am a bubbling glass of joy having read this book! One of my most anticipated 2021 releases and it was ~excellent~! Full review closer to release.
Full review:
Oh my god, this book brought me so much joy! Alyssa Cole once against has written an absolutely wonderful romance with characters who make me feel all the feelings.
Beznaria Chetchevaliere was first introduced in How to Catch a Queen as part of the World Federation of Monarchists (WFM) and also as par of Damsel in Distress Rescuer, and I almost immediately wanted her to get a girlfriend. Learning this book would be following her, and she would get the girl (this is a romance after all!) I was immediately grabby hands, and then the cover was revealed!
Makeda Hicks is used to fixing everything and taking care of people, especially as her mother has been obsessed with proving they’re descended from the lost queen of Ibarania and when she wasn’t believed she turned to alcohol and gambling, forcing Makeda to grow up faster to ensure things were taken care of. After losing her job and her girlfriend in the same day, Makeda decides its time to start being selfish and stop giving all her sweetness away. When Bez arrives at her grandmother’s B&B saying she believes she really is the lost princess, Makeda finally relents on going to Ibarania with every intention of proving she isn’t the princess so she can finally be free from the trauma that belief has brought her.
This book really brought me so much joy to read and I love Makeda and Bez so much. Especially Bez, with her brain fireflies and chaotic adherence to her personal code of honor. I loved the romance that develops between them, as well as the ways consent and communication are shown. This was so sweet on many levels, even as both Makeda and Beznaria have internal stress about how choices are playing out and what the future may hold for them.
This was an excellent modern day royals romance that I’m looking forward to rereading many times. It was funny and sweet, with hints of angst that just increased the intensity of the romance.
Content notes:
Oh my god!!!! Alyssa Cole does it again and I am a bubbling glass of joy having read this book! One of my most anticipated 2021 releases and it was ~excellent~! Full review closer to release.
Full review:
Oh my god, this book brought me so much joy! Alyssa Cole once against has written an absolutely wonderful romance with characters who make me feel all the feelings.
Beznaria Chetchevaliere was first introduced in How to Catch a Queen as part of the World Federation of Monarchists (WFM) and also as par of Damsel in Distress Rescuer, and I almost immediately wanted her to get a girlfriend. Learning this book would be following her, and she would get the girl (this is a romance after all!) I was immediately grabby hands, and then the cover was revealed!
Makeda Hicks is used to fixing everything and taking care of people, especially as her mother has been obsessed with proving they’re descended from the lost queen of Ibarania and when she wasn’t believed she turned to alcohol and gambling, forcing Makeda to grow up faster to ensure things were taken care of. After losing her job and her girlfriend in the same day, Makeda decides its time to start being selfish and stop giving all her sweetness away. When Bez arrives at her grandmother’s B&B saying she believes she really is the lost princess, Makeda finally relents on going to Ibarania with every intention of proving she isn’t the princess so she can finally be free from the trauma that belief has brought her.
This book really brought me so much joy to read and I love Makeda and Bez so much. Especially Bez, with her brain fireflies and chaotic adherence to her personal code of honor. I loved the romance that develops between them, as well as the ways consent and communication are shown. This was so sweet on many levels, even as both Makeda and Beznaria have internal stress about how choices are playing out and what the future may hold for them.
This was an excellent modern day royals romance that I’m looking forward to rereading many times. It was funny and sweet, with hints of angst that just increased the intensity of the romance.
May 25, 2021
I adored this book! It was fun and I totally fell in love with the characters, especially Bez. This has
✔Sapphic Anastasia retelling
✔Fake marriage
✔Bǻⲵܲ/Գ
Ƿɲܰ
✔Dual POV
Bez is the embodiment of chaotic energy and incredibly charming. She's also neurodivergent, which is something I rarely see in romance. Her family is amzing too!
“Core strength, beauty, and knows how to make a sea slug into an object of affection. You really do win.�
As for Makeda, it took me a couple of chapters to warm up to her but she sort of grows on you. She gives and gives and takes care of everyone but all she wants is someone doing the same for her. Makeda's grandma is a delight and I loved her cat, Kojak, so much!
I haven't read any of the other books set in this world, except for a novella but that did not impede my enjoyment. This definitely can be read as a standalone. I would loved an epilogue to wrap up some of the things, especially their relationship but overall I really enjoyed it.
Makeda and Bez have sizzling chemistry and if you love sea voyages, fake relationships, long lost princesses and a hot bodyguard f/f romance, definitely recommend this one!
*ARC provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
✔Sapphic Anastasia retelling
✔Fake marriage
✔Bǻⲵܲ/Գ
Ƿɲܰ
✔Dual POV
Bez is the embodiment of chaotic energy and incredibly charming. She's also neurodivergent, which is something I rarely see in romance. Her family is amzing too!
“Core strength, beauty, and knows how to make a sea slug into an object of affection. You really do win.�
As for Makeda, it took me a couple of chapters to warm up to her but she sort of grows on you. She gives and gives and takes care of everyone but all she wants is someone doing the same for her. Makeda's grandma is a delight and I loved her cat, Kojak, so much!
I haven't read any of the other books set in this world, except for a novella but that did not impede my enjoyment. This definitely can be read as a standalone. I would loved an epilogue to wrap up some of the things, especially their relationship but overall I really enjoyed it.
Makeda and Bez have sizzling chemistry and if you love sea voyages, fake relationships, long lost princesses and a hot bodyguard f/f romance, definitely recommend this one!
*ARC provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
May 18, 2021
So, I suspect that I say this with every Alyssa Cole book I read, but seriously, this book is my favorite!!!
Badass damsel rescuer and all around agent of chaos Beznaria entirely stole my heart with her magnificent firefly brain, dreamy charm and deep desire to protect folks who need it! And holy moly, do I over-identify with Makeda, who worries she is a doormat with her constant need to care-take, but who learns with time and practice that she is in fact a multi-tool with helping super powers that just need to be deployed thoughtfully? Yep, I sure do! Also, Bez’s family is a delight and I want to be Grandma Ora’s bestie- the author writes such wonderful side characters!
(The fact that a huge chunk of this review is just me repeating phrases that the character use themselves goes to show just how brilliant and thoughtful and fun and wise this story is! Also, have I mentioned yet that it is Very Hot? Because it sure is! *fans self*)
Go read this swoony sapphic read right now so we can gush about it together, please and thank you!
Badass damsel rescuer and all around agent of chaos Beznaria entirely stole my heart with her magnificent firefly brain, dreamy charm and deep desire to protect folks who need it! And holy moly, do I over-identify with Makeda, who worries she is a doormat with her constant need to care-take, but who learns with time and practice that she is in fact a multi-tool with helping super powers that just need to be deployed thoughtfully? Yep, I sure do! Also, Bez’s family is a delight and I want to be Grandma Ora’s bestie- the author writes such wonderful side characters!
(The fact that a huge chunk of this review is just me repeating phrases that the character use themselves goes to show just how brilliant and thoughtful and fun and wise this story is! Also, have I mentioned yet that it is Very Hot? Because it sure is! *fans self*)
Go read this swoony sapphic read right now so we can gush about it together, please and thank you!
September 11, 2021
Alyssa Cole is one of the few authors who can write contemporary royal romance that I actually enjoy, and How to Find a Princess is a fantastic example. I loved Bez and Makeda, and the way they both stumbled through to a happy ending. I see a lot of other reviews complaining about the long boat journey, but I actually enjoyed that part a lot - I am a sucker for the fake relationship trope, and I really liked how it gave both characters space to grow and know each other in a new context. I definitely anticipate re-reading this one.
January 1, 2023
I'm in love with Alyssa Cole romances, and this being sapphic??? *chef's kiss* I knew I was gonna love it before even reading it.
However, if it weren't for that plot twist at the ending, I mightve marked this as 4 stars since the last third was starting to peter out a bit. But what a twist!!!
However, if it weren't for that plot twist at the ending, I mightve marked this as 4 stars since the last third was starting to peter out a bit. But what a twist!!!
Want to read
June 1, 2021Did you just say "only one bed" AND "fake dating"? Ahahahahahahha.
June 19, 2021
This was probably my favourite Alyssa Cole book so far, and that's saying a lot!
April 10, 2022
Oh dear! Did I actually pay money for this? I apologise... Move on...
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