The Royals Next Door by Karina Halle
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Heat Level: 🔥🔥
Release Date: August 31, 2021
Publisher: Berkley
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
SYNOPSIS
An ordinary summer goes royally awry when a prince and princess move next door, bringing their handsome bodyguard with them, from New York Times bestselling author Karina Halle.
Piper Evans: elementary school teacher by day–avid romance reader and anonymous podcaster by night. She lives a quiet, reclusive life, taking care of her mother, who struggles with mental illness, avoiding her regrettable ex, who bartends in town, and trying to make inroads in the tight-knit island community that still sees her, five years in, as an outsider.
And she’s happy with how things are–really–until British royals rent the property next to hers and their brooding bodyguard decides she’s a security threat. Piper quickly realizes that one person’s fairy tale is an ordinary woman’s nightmare as a media frenzy takes over the island and each run-in with Harrison Cole is hotter and more confusing than the last. But beneath Harrison’s no-nonsense exterior lies a soft heart, one that could tempt a woman who’s sworn off attachments into believing in white knights.
But when Piper finds herself smack in the middle of a royal scandal that rocks the island she’ll need more than Harrison’s strong arms to shield her–she’ll have to do a little rescuing herself. With careers, hearts, and friendships on the line, Piper and Harrison will have to decide what they’re willing to give up for a chance at their own happily ever after.
REVIEW
Piper lives a quiet life on a small island in the Pacific Northwest. She’s a school teacher by day and romance reader/podcaster on her off time. She also just happens to live with her mom who struggles with mental illness (bipolar disorder and dependent personality disorder). Piper is completely surprised when The Royals end up moving right next to her! Their bodyguard – Harrison Colt – isn’t exactly the friendliest person, but Piper can’t help but needling him. When they continually run into each other, their relationship starts to turn to more than just acquaintances. But will Piper be able to handle all the stress/media frenzy/constant being hounded by the media if she decides to take her relationship further with Harrison who is in essence linked to the royals?
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I picked up The Royals Next Door, but it is definitely up there as one of my favorite reads this year. This book was funny, sweet, sexy and also so inspirational and swoony. I would be laughing out loud one moment and then falling so hard for Piper and Harrison.
I loved the slow burn between Piper and Harrison. There were more than a few moments where I was yelling at them to finally get together. But the slow burn totally paid off and Karina Halle definitely knows how to write her steamy scenes 🔥.
One aspect of The Royals Next Door that I absolutely loved was the mental health representation. I feel like there’s such a stigma still attached to mental illness and books like The Royals Next Door are slowly showing us the readers that you shouldn’t be ashamed of having a mental illness or seeing a therapist. In fact it should be talked about more often and not shunned as it so often is.
Add The Royals Next Door to your TBR and pre-order this book before it releases on August 31, 2021. I for one cannot wait to re-read this wonderfully romantic book.
p.s. Not only is Piper a romance podcaster but she’s also an unapologetic romance reader and I loved her even more for that!
Readaholic Book Reviews 