The Royals

Flora Sutherland moves from Scotland to America following the death of her husband, where she works as a housekeeper at an isolated estate in Newport, Rhode Island. At the property, she encounters Amelia and Adelaide, heiresses to a tobacco fortune who live under the guardianship of their uncle. The story alternates between Flora's perspective in 1926 and that of Beatrice, a descendant investigating the property's mysteries in the present day. Beatrice uncovers secrets about the estate's past while renovating the mansion for her company's development project. Both timelines center on the wealthy and powerful Price family, whose influence spans generations at the Newport estate. Questions of inheritance, power, and family loyalty emerge as the parallel narratives progress. Through its dual timeline structure, the novel explores themes of class division, wealth's corrupting influence, and the ways the past continues to affect the present. The gothic elements and historical backdrop serve to examine how privilege and gender roles have evolved - or haven't - across nearly a century.

Readers describe this as a fast-paced thriller with dark academia vibes that keeps them guessing. Many finish it in one sitting, noting it reads like a CW drama meets true crime. Readers highlight: - Quick pacing and short chapters - Multiple timelines that build suspense - Commentary on privilege and class - Character development of Ashlynn - Social media elements feel current Common criticisms: - Predictable plot twists - Shallow treatment of serious themes - Romance feels forced - Character motivations lack depth Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (98,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (33,000+ ratings) StoryGraph: 3.75/5 "Perfect beach read thriller" appears in many reviews. Several readers note it works better as a mystery than a romance. A frequent comment is that it's entertaining but forgettable. As one Goodreads reviewer stated: "Fun while it lasted but don't expect it to stay with you."

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The Royal We by Heather Cocks, Jessica Morgan An American college student falls in love with the heir to the British throne and faces the realities of life in the royal spotlight.

The Selection by Kiera Cass Thirty-five girls compete for the heart of a prince in a competition that blends royal politics with reality television.

A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole A grad student discovers she is the betrothed of an African prince through a series of emails she dismissed as spam.

🎭 "The Royals" was published in fall 2023 as Rachel Hawkins' adult fiction debut, following her success as a young adult author. 👑 The novel draws inspiration from the real-life romance between Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco, while putting a modern, darker spin on the story. 🏰 The book is set in the fictional European kingdom of Daxen, which the author created by blending elements of various small European principalities. 📚 Rachel Hawkins previously wrote under the pen name Erin Sterling for her adult romance novels, including "The Ex Hex" and "The Kiss Curse." 🌟 The book quickly became a #1 New York Times bestseller and was selected as a Read with Jenna book club pick by Jenna Bush Hager.