Red, White, and Royal Blue is my first contemporary novel in years and the first romance novel I have ever finished so it was kind of a big step for me. Especially considering how much I connected with Alex Claremont-Diaz.
I don’t normally like romances because they don’t feel real to me, they feel a little too perfect and a little too good. The characters are lovey-dovey over each other and there is absolutely no awkwardness. I could never connect with them. Alex and Henry, however, I loved. They didn’t just fall in love at first sight, they were attracted to each other but if they had never gotten to know each other it would have never happened, if they hadn’t each made the effort, they couldn’t have made it worked. The fact they flirt like fighting is a bonus, as someone very snarky and sarcastic it’s my favorite method of showing affecting so it won me over.
Alex's sexual awakening felt true to someone, me, who is also attracted to other genders. I pretty much did the same thing Alex did half my life, I just ignored it because I was also attracted to the opposite gender so no need to think about, no need to wonder why I stared at people of the same gender as me right? And then one day I woke up and realized “oh shit, straight people don’t need to wonder if they are straight.”
Although more and more books have been coming out with the primary relationship being between two people of the same gender lately, RWRB is the first one I have read, and it did not disappoint.
I am not from the States or English so a lot of the time reading contemporary, since most are based in both countries, is hard because I always feel like they are romancing their countries and although I think the author went easy on the US compared to England, I didn’t feel like a love for both countries was being shoved down my throat.
I wish I could have a leader like Ellen Claremont, but sadly I don’t. Now the real person I need in my life is Zahra. I want to be her. I have a new role model and I need more from her.
The story felt real and difficult, raw and loving, the friendship and love I could connect with my own life, I finished the book in two days, so it was pretty much perfect.
Comentários