Royally Lost by Angie Stanton
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 224
Format: eARC
Source: ARC for Tour
Goodreads • Amazon • B&N • Signed Copy
Dragged on a family trip to Europe’s ancient cities, Becca wants nothing more than to go home. Trapped with her emotionally distant father, over-eager stepmother, and a brother who only wants to hook up with European hotties, Becca is miserable. That is until she meets Nikolai, a guy as mysterious as he is handsome. And she unknowingly finds herself with a runaway prince.
Nikolai has everything a guy could ask for-he's crown prince, heir to the throne, and girls adore him. But the one thing he doesn't have...is freedom. Staging a coup, he flees his kingdom and goes undercover on his own European tour.
When Nikolai and Becca meet, it’s their differences that draw them together. Sparks fly as they share a whirlwind of adventures, all the while dodging his royal guard. But Becca's family vacation ends in a matter of days. Will Nikolai and Becca be forced to say goodbye forever, will his destiny catch up to him, or will they change history forever?
Royally Lost is best described in two words: cute and fun. It's the kind of simple Young Adult contemporary that's great for a little sweet escapism. In fact, the release is perfectly timed, because it's the perfect light summer read. There's a decent splash of drama and the innocence (and sometimes frustrations) of young love. And, in the vein of The Princess Diaries or The Prince and Me, and heaping dose of the fairy tales that fill the heads of little girls.
But it's not without its faults. I've seen many reviews that were quick to point that out. There's definitely insta-love. I didn't like it, but I tend to be able to move past it unless its really bad. And this was a nuisance, but it didn't entirely ruin the story by any means. The parents in this story are ridiculous. Controlling, simultaneously aloof and overbearing. Unfortunately, the kids don't help. They're teenagers, and not in the good sense of the word. Luckily, the story is a platform for coming-of-age, so that particular aspect gets a little better. It's also highly Americanized, given that one of the main characters isn't actually American. And, of course, the story is definitely on the unrealistic side. But, you know what? That's half the fun of these kinds of stories. I enjoyed it for exactly that reason.
Even if Becca wasn't having it at the beginning, the trip provided a really fun background for the story. It transports you as you read and really does help Becca and Nikolai grow up. And part of that growing up was them together. Their relationship is an absolutely sweet summer romance, the kind we've all fantasized about at one time or another.
Of course, there is the cheese factor. There were some moments of eye-rolling and cringing, but I still managed to smile through them. They flowed right along with the innocent charm of the entire book.
If you're looking for a short and sweet read to jump-start your vacation or brighten up your weekend, give Royally Lost a shot!
Giveaway!
About the Author
Angie Stanton never planned on writing books; she wanted to be a Rockette. However, growing up in rural Wisconsin, with her brothers' 4-H pigs as pets, dance didn't work out. Instead she became an avid daydreamer. After years of perfecting stories in her head, she began to write them down, and the rest is history.
Angie is the author of six books including Royally Lost, Rock and a Hard Place, and Snapshot. She graduated with a Journalism degree from the University of Wisconsin, and is a proud double finalist of the National Readers Choice Awards for Love 'em or Leave 'em.
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