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A review by sara_berlin
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Red, White & Royal Blue is for restoring your hope in a better present and future, the thing to work towards, an inspiration for how to live your life.
One Last Stop is the place you come back to after a days hard work fighting for that better future, the comforting home and the little things.
Top five books I’ve ever read, no questions asked. Beautiful. Unbelievably gorgeous. Wonderful. I don’t have any more synonyms to describe what the experience of reading this book was like
Apologies if this review gets more and more emotionally as it goes on charged because when I tell you I felt this book, I mean it. I read this book in 24 hours, starting sometime after midnight on July 4th and finishing some time after midnight on July 5th. There was not a dry face in my vicinity (and by that I mean just me) for the last 100 pages. Even the goddamn author’s note made me cry happy tears. Anyway, enough with the sappy gushing over this book, and onto the hard facts of why you HAVE to read this, Alex-style:
One: It is filled to the brim with LGBTQ+ history references, and I loved that.
Two: The dialogue is absolute gold and belongs in… I don’t even know what place would be holy enough for such a masterpiece.
Three: Despite some inaccuracies, the political aspect wasn’t absolutely botched, in my humble opinion.
Four: Despite lacking a so-called side plot of a mystery like One Last Stop, it still hooks you and doesn’t let go until a day after you’ve read the last word.
Five: Omg even the gosh darn emails were so well written
Six: British boy. That’s it, no explanation needed.
Seven: The side characters are to die for. Literally, I would step in front of a bullet for June, Nora, Zhara, Bea, any of them. Even frikin David Bowie the Beagle.
Eight: Casey apparently loves to write scenes of characters lazying around in bed and I stan that
Nine: Nerdy gays are the best gays, change my mind.
Ten: And last but abso-fucking-lutely not last, HENRY AND ALEX OMGGGGGGGG. What a couple of insufferable, adorable twinks. I love them so much.
Bonus points for: Giving me comfort in a difficult time. The recent SCOTUS decision has given me a lot of anxiety, especially with people saying marriage equality (aka gay marriage) could be next. As someone who is queer herself (hi, hello, 💖💜💙) this made me worry a lot for my future and the future of my many queer friends, and even that of strangers. This book was the perfect read at the perfect time for me, with fireworks going off outside my window and thoughts about what future I could make for myself inside my room. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Casey McQuiston, for writing the work of art that is this book. I know it will be something that future generations will read and find comfort in as well. It gave me a genuine hope in humanity which I haven’t experienced in at least a year, maybe even two.
Was that enough to convince y’all? It better have been.
Bye, I’ve gotta go cry over this book some more and then maybe possibly get some sleep.
P.S. Yes it is very unrealistic but that’s the point; as someone who likes to read depressingly accurate depictions of real life, sometimes all you need is some bubblegum romance to give you something to hope for in life.
One Last Stop is the place you come back to after a days hard work fighting for that better future, the comforting home and the little things.
Top five books I’ve ever read, no questions asked. Beautiful. Unbelievably gorgeous. Wonderful. I don’t have any more synonyms to describe what the experience of reading this book was like
Apologies if this review gets more and more emotionally as it goes on charged because when I tell you I felt this book, I mean it. I read this book in 24 hours, starting sometime after midnight on July 4th and finishing some time after midnight on July 5th. There was not a dry face in my vicinity (and by that I mean just me) for the last 100 pages. Even the goddamn author’s note made me cry happy tears. Anyway, enough with the sappy gushing over this book, and onto the hard facts of why you HAVE to read this, Alex-style:
One: It is filled to the brim with LGBTQ+ history references, and I loved that.
Two: The dialogue is absolute gold and belongs in… I don’t even know what place would be holy enough for such a masterpiece.
Three: Despite some inaccuracies, the political aspect wasn’t absolutely botched, in my humble opinion.
Four: Despite lacking a so-called side plot of a mystery like One Last Stop, it still hooks you and doesn’t let go until a day after you’ve read the last word.
Five: Omg even the gosh darn emails were so well written
Six: British boy. That’s it, no explanation needed.
Seven: The side characters are to die for. Literally, I would step in front of a bullet for June, Nora, Zhara, Bea, any of them. Even frikin David Bowie the Beagle.
Eight: Casey apparently loves to write scenes of characters lazying around in bed and I stan that
Nine: Nerdy gays are the best gays, change my mind.
Ten: And last but abso-fucking-lutely not last, HENRY AND ALEX OMGGGGGGGG. What a couple of insufferable, adorable twinks. I love them so much.
Bonus points for: Giving me comfort in a difficult time. The recent SCOTUS decision has given me a lot of anxiety, especially with people saying marriage equality (aka gay marriage) could be next. As someone who is queer herself (hi, hello, 💖💜💙) this made me worry a lot for my future and the future of my many queer friends, and even that of strangers. This book was the perfect read at the perfect time for me, with fireworks going off outside my window and thoughts about what future I could make for myself inside my room. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Casey McQuiston, for writing the work of art that is this book. I know it will be something that future generations will read and find comfort in as well. It gave me a genuine hope in humanity which I haven’t experienced in at least a year, maybe even two.
Was that enough to convince y’all? It better have been.
Bye, I’ve gotta go cry over this book some more and then maybe possibly get some sleep.
P.S. Yes it is very unrealistic but that’s the point; as someone who likes to read depressingly accurate depictions of real life, sometimes all you need is some bubblegum romance to give you something to hope for in life.