okay, this is out of my normal tumblr behavior, but i’ve been high-key obsessed with this book series since the beginning of the year. i can’t shut up about it, so now you all have to hear about it.
did you like Black Panther? did you wish it was a bit more … rom-com-y? are you a fan of trashy romance novels? then please allow me to introduce you to the Reluctant Royals series, by Alyssa Cole. specifically, the first book in the series A Princess in Theory.
so, in this book our girl naledi smith keeps getting spammy emails stating she is the long-lost fiancé to the young and handsome prince of thesolo. ledi — who’s grown up in foster care and doesn’t have time for bullshit — trashes them without a second thought.
except, WHOOPS! the emails aren’t spam and she’s actually betrothed to a handsome African prince. his name’s thabiso and he’s come to america to find his missing fiancé.
i don’t want to give away more but i need ya’ll to read this book. it’s got:
a heroine who works in STEM
women bffs who both feel that their platonic relationship is just as important as their romantic relationships
fleshed out world building of the nation of thesolo, including pop culture, religion and memes!!!!
an inclusive supporting cast, including an out lesbian who is basically bffs with the prince and a smart, geeky blogger who uses a wheelchair
fake engagement trope
science … like a bunch of science. ledi’s passionate about public health and epidemiology
humorous and super-cute writing
cave sex
a mysterious illness
royal intrigue
a prince in disguise!
and lines like this:
the series has twomore full-length novels (one which will be released in april of 2019 … i’m so thirsty for that one you don’t even know. the heroine is ledi’s shy cousin and the hero is described as — and i quote — “a fuckboi with a heart of gold” … GIMME!) and two future novellas, including a wlw story featuring likotsi, thabiso’s bff/assistant.
that’s it. if you’ve read this book, are curious about it, want to read it/planning to read it, PLEASE DO SO AND MESSAGE ME ABOUT IT! i don’t have a lot of friends who read romance and i need someone to talk about this book with.
Don0303 