Books Like Red, White and Royal Blue

Book Summary

As the producer of the long-running reality dating show, Ever After, Dev always scripts the perfect love stories for his contestants, but he hasn’t yet been able to do the same for himself.

When Charlie Winshaw – a disgraced tech genius – is cast as the next star of Ever After, Dev has his work cut out for him. Unlike Dev, who has always believed in fairy tales, Charlie doesn’t believe in true love and only agrees to the show in hopes of rehabbing his image. He’s far from a natural on camera, and behind the scenes, he’s cold and awkward.

As they travel the world filming the show, Dev tries desperately to get Charlie to connect with the contestants. Instead, Charlie discovers that he has better chemistry with Dev than with his female co-stars. But it’s not so simple to flip the script on reality tv. Whose love story will get told?

Book Summary

Chloe is focused on one final accomplishment to finish her senior year at Willowgrove Christian Academy – winning Valedictorian. Her only competitor is the principal’s perfect prom queen daughter – Shara.

Then, with only a month until graduation, Shara kisses Chloe and disappears. Before vanishing, she’s also kissed Smith, her long-time boyfriend who is the school’s quarterback, and Rory, her bad-boy neighbor. Shara left cryptic notes behind, forcing the unlikely trio of Chloe, Smith, and Rory to work together. Chloe wants Shara to return so she can win the Valedictorian title fairly.

You’ll laugh at the situations the trio gets themself into trying to find Shara, while having your hearts warmed by the growing friendships and relationships along the way. 

Book Summary

For twenty years, Liv has run a successful NYC wedding-planning business with her husband, Eliot. When he dies unexpectedly, Liv is shocked to learn that he’s left his half of the business to his young girlfriend, whom Liv knew nothing about. Much to Liv’s chagrin, perky Savannah shows up on her doorstep, eager to be her partner and protege.

As Liv and Savannah struggle to find a way to work together, they each find new love in unexpected places. In addition to Liv and Savannah, we are introduced to many of the wedding vendors that they work with – the florists, caterers, servers, and musicians. In a Love Actually-style narrative, this book follows each of them as they navigate love and friendship, and we see their lives overlap at weddings throughout the city.

Book Summary

This YA book has been described as a boy-meets-boy spin on Grease. Will and Ollie had a dreamy-summer fling, but after vacation, Will stopped texting Ollie back. 

When Ollie’s family has an emergency that causes them to move across the country, Ollie is excited to learn that his new school is the same one that Will attends. Unfortunately, Ollie soon discovers that the sweet, comfortably queer guy he met that summer isn’t quite the same at his school. Instead, Will is not only closeted, but also a class clown and a bit of a jerk.

Ollie is disappointed by this version of Will but doesn’t want to waste his time pining after someone who isn’t ready for a real relationship. Ollie has no interest in getting his heart broken all over again. But when Will starts showing up everywhere Ollie goes, it makes it hard for Ollie to stand his ground.

Book Summary

We are huge fans of writing duo Christina Lauren, so we were surprised to discover this YA title from them that we hadn’t heard of before. 

Tanner Scott’s family relocated from progressive California to conservative Utah three years ago. Life in Provo (home to BYU) is complicated enough as a half-Jewish, half-lapsed Mormon teenager, so Tanner – who was openly bisexual at his previous school, decides to go back into the closet at Provo High. Now, in his senior year, he is looking forward to attending an out-of-state college next year, where he can once again feel free to be himself.

He fully intends to coast through his final semester of high school classes, until his best friend, Autumn, dares him to take a prestigious honors seminar where students draft an entire book in just four months. And his final semester plans are pushed even further off track when Tanner finds himself falling in love with Sebastian Brother, the class mentor who sold his seminar novel to a major publishing house the year before. He’s also the son of an LDS Bishop.

Book Summary

If you want another look inside the world of Washington insiders and LGBTQ struggles in the form of a drama rather than a rom-com, Speak No Evil paints a vivid picture of modern-day adolescence. 

Best friends Niru and Meredith are privileged teenagers growing up in Washington D.C. but come from very different backgrounds. Niru appears to lead a very charmed life. He’s a track star at his prestigious private school, and after graduation, he is Harvard-bound. He has very attentive Nigerian parents, but he’s keeping a big secret from them – one that conflicts with their conservative views. Niru is gay.

Meredith – the daughter of two prominent Washington insiders – is the only one who knows Niru’s secret. But when Niru’s dad discovers that he’s gay, Meredith doesn’t lend Niru the support she knows he needs because she’s emotionally drained from dealing with her own troubles.

Book Summary

As we saw in Red, White, and Royal Blue, everything is amplified when you’re living life in public view. When London Parker is selected as one of the contestants on a popular cooking show, they become the first openly non-binary contestant and are determined to prove their worth to all the trolls. 

Dahlia is also a contestant and has joined the show in an attempt to re-invent herself and is determined to win the prize money. However, she’s off to a klutzy start and sends fish tacos flying in the first episode. While London & Dahlia are focused competitors in the kitchen, things begin heating up behind the scenes.

Book Summary

This slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance tells the story of beloved star soccer captain Oliver Bergman and his grumpy teammate Gavin. When Gavin joins the team, he plans to avoid the gorgeous and sunshine-y Oliver. Oliver would be equally happy not dealing with moody Gavin, but decides to take the approach of killing him with kindness. 

When the coach makes them co-captains and demands they work together, they discover the hatred they felt for each other may have been covering different feelings. Gruff Gavin may be just who Oliver needs in his life.

Book Summary

Prince Henry is closeted to support the royal family, and in this book, Joanna is asked to be closeted to support her family as well. In this case, her dad is a popular radio evangelist. He was fine with her being out in Atlanta, but when he moves the family to a more rural conservative town, he asks her to lie low for the remainder of her senior year. 

She knows it will be easier to fit in as the new kid if she’s a straight girl, so isn’t opposed to hiding a part of herself to make life smoother. It’s going well until she meets Mary Carlson, her new friend’s sister. She doesn’t want to break the promise to her dad, but it gets complicated as she falls for the girl.

Book Summary

Set in the Scottish Highlands, this fake dating rom com goes deeper into a drama as the story progresses. In the early chapters, you’ll see Erin desperately hiring a fake date for her parent’s big anniversary party. 

The gorgeous hired date, Steph, turns out to be as charming as she is beautiful. When Erin encounters some unexpected family stress, she leans on Steph as she tries to make it through the five-day trip. From sizzling first kisses to simmering family drama, this one has a bit of everything! 

Book Summary

This graphic novel is the first in a series set at a British all-boys school. Charlie is openly gay, and has been bullied for it in the past after being outed before he was ready. Unfortunately, that experience didn’t help his high-strung nature. 

Nick is a soft-hearted rugby player who knows of Charlie’s bullying the year before. After sitting next to him in a class, he befriends Charlie, and the friendship stirs up unexpected emotions in each of them. Like Red, White, & Royal Blue, you’ll see the relationship grow over text messages as they try to figure out who they are both apart and as a duo.

Book Summary

Thom is a cut-throat political consultant working on the presidential campaign of California’s governor. Although they’re on the same campaign, smug data analyst Clay makes Thom crazy. When a photographer snaps a photo of them in a heated argument, it looks like they’re kissing instead of fighting. 

Instead of correcting the reporters, the governor asks the duo to fake a relationship and give the people the love story they want. As a professional, Thom agrees to do what’s best for the campaign, but it’s painful. At least at first. Could there be deeper feelings buried under all the animosity?

Book Summary

This hugely popular and highly rated YA novel is a charming and witty coming-of-age story. The main character Simon is gay, but not openly. After an email that would out him to the school falls into the wrong hands, he’s blackmailed into playing wingman for classmate Martin. But worse than that, he wouldn’t only be outing himself by refusing. The boy he’s been emailing, nicknamed Blue, would be outed too. 

The emails with Blue have been more and more flirtatious, and Simon has to find a way to break out of his comfort zone before he’s forced out. But he doesn’t want to upset his friends or lose his chance for happiness with Blue along the way.

Book Summary

This hate-to-love romance is perfect for fans of the classic 90s rom-com, You’ve Got Mail. Rosie loves books and has taken over her mom’s Manhattan bookstore. She loves her work, but is lacking in the romance department. However, she’s hopeful that her growing online flirtations with lesbian romance author Brie could turn into something more.

Jane works for her family’s property development company by day, but at night writes steamy romance under the pen name Brie as her creative outlet. She’s also single and wonders if a certain reader could be her perfect match.

As you may have predicted, Jane’s company terminates the lease for Rosie’s bookstore, and drama ensues. This storyline is classic for a reason, and it works just as well with two strong female leads!

Book Summary

Can you imagine if George Washington had become the King of America instead of President? This clever fiction series takes that alternative-history premise and fast-forwards it to the present day. 

RW&RB features the First Son of an American President, and the second in line to the British throne – both of whom are under enormous pressure to keep up appearances and to put the good of the country above their own desires. American Royals explores these same themes as the King’s three children struggle to find love – and themselves – while trying to live up to the expectations of both Crown and country. 

Princess Beatrice, the heir apparent, will become America’s first queen, but the expectations that she grew up embracing suddenly feel stifling when her parents start pushing her to get married. 

And then there are Beatrice’s younger siblings – twins Samantha and Jefferson. Samantha is second in line to the throne, but feels like the “spare” – the one no one cares about except when she’s breaking the rules. 

Had Jefferson been born a generation earlier, he would be next in line for the throne as the only son, but the new laws of succession instead put him third in line. Nonetheless, America adores this heart-throb prince. But having the eyes of the entire country watching and judging his relationships is a huge burden. He has two very different young women vying for his heart, but how will public opinion weigh in?