Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn
Published by: Ace
Pub Date: April 1, 2001
Pages: 342
Format: paperback| Source: borrowed
Genres: young adult, fantasy
Rating: 

As a child, Coriel Halsing spent many glorious summers at Castle Auburn with her half-sister-and fell in love with a handsome prince who could never be hers. But now that she is a young woman, she begins to see the dark side of this magical place…

This was so charming!!! It’s a slower paced fantasy, but I loved the slice of life and all of the characters and their relationships. Everyone had an immediate personality that stood out. I was surprised by the inclusion of fairies but it was an intersting plotline. Elissandra and Corie were such close sisters and such good friends each other, and I loved Roderick, and Kent, and how Corie made friends with absolutely everyone. The romances are slow burn but oh so satisfying!! This book definitely made me happy; it reminds me of Ella Enchanted mixed with Spindle’s End and a bit of Alanna. It was wonderful.

Royals by Rachel Hawkins
Series: Royals #1
Published by: Penguin Random House
Pub Date: May 1, 2018
Pages: 256
Format: hardcover| Source: purchased
Genres: young adult, contemporary
Rating: 

Meet Daisy Winters. She’s an offbeat sixteen-year-old Floridian with mermaid-red hair; a part time job at a bootleg Walmart, and a perfect older sister who’s nearly engaged to the Crown Prince of Scotland. Daisy has no desire to live in the spotlight, but relentless tabloid attention forces her to join Ellie at the relative seclusion of the castle across the pond.

While the dashing young Miles has been appointed to teach Daisy the ropes of being regal, the prince’s roguish younger brother kicks up scandal wherever he goes, and tries his best to take Daisy along for the ride. The crown–and the intriguing Miles–might be trying to make Daisy into a lady . . . but Daisy may just rewrite the royal rulebook to suit herself.

This was exactly what I wanted it to be!! A little silly, a little unbelievable, and a lot of fun. It reminded me of What a Girl Wants mixed with Princess Diaries or something. I loved the characters, especially Daisy, and the relationships & Scottish royals were a lot of fun to read about. This is the crack royal contemporary you’ve been looking for! It would make an awesomely cheesy and rewatchable movie. Can’t wait to see what the next book is about!
   

Best weekend of reading ever! Have you read either of these books or are they on your TBR? What other books about royalty do you love?