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Red, White & Royal Blue
by Casey McQuiston
Red, White & Royal Blue, by Casey McQuiston, is about Alex Claremont-Diaz, the biracial son of the fictionalized first female president of the United States. As an aspiring congressman and politician, Alex takes his role in his mother's staff and campaign very seriously. However, a rivalry with Prince Henry of Wales turns sour at a royal wedding, and the boys' handlers organize a fake friendship to mend international strains that occur because of their fight. Eventually, the first son and prince's fake friendship turns into a secret romance, but they struggle to fulfill their own love while retaining approval of those in their respective countries. This book is great because it brings up the possibility of the figureheads of countries being queer, and the struggles they would face. Prince Henry, especially, has trouble getting the royal family to break tradition and allow him to be openly gay, saying when he came out to his brother Philip, "He was not surprised to discover I am not the heterosexual heir I'm supposed to be, but rather surprised that I do not intend to keep pretending to be"(McQuiston, 298). Another great part of this book is that it introduces the reader to important queer figures in history, such as Michelangelo, James I, Alexander Hamilton, and Eleanor Roosevelt. Red, White & Royal Blue is great for readers who would like to see queer representation in international politics, and really just anyone who wants to see a cute romance unfold. Similar books include What If It's Us by Adam Silvera and Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli.
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