Blog Tour + Review: Truly Madly Royally by Debbie Rigaud

Truly Madly Royally
by Debbie Rigaud

My rating: 3 hearts

Publisher: Point

Publication date: July 30, 2019

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

Fiercely independent and smart, Zora Emerson wants to change the world. She's excited to be attending a prestigious summer program, even if she feels out of place among her privileged, mostly white classmates. So she's definitely not expecting to feel a connection to Owen, who's an actual prince of an island off the coast of England. But Owen is funny, charming...and undeniably cute. Zora can't ignore the chemistry between them. When Owen invites Zora to be his date at his big brother's big royal wedding, Zora is suddenly thrust into the spotlight, along with her family and friends. Everyone is talking about her, in real life and online, and while Owen is used to the scrutiny, Zora's not sure it's something she can live with. Can she maintain her sense of self while moving between two very different worlds? And can her feelings for Owen survive and thrive in the midst of the crazy? Find out in this charming romantic comedy that's like The Princess Diaries for a new generation.

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I have mixed feelings about this one, to be honest. It was really sweet, and I loved all the representation in it. I think this book could really help young people of color, because Zora is the kind of character any young girl would look up to - and a great role-model, at that. That being said, I couldn't really connect to her. The plot was well-paced, but it felt kind of farfetched to me, which ruined it a little for me. But overall, it was a sweet romance, and perfect for anyone who is looking for more representation in books, because this one certainly has it.

Zora is a great person, but I really couldn't connect to her. I really felt like she was way too perfect - I mean, taking summer classes at an Ivy League college and also the head of several local charities, all before senior year of high school, just doesn't seem realistic to me. I liked that she cared so much for her community, but all her accomplishments made her feel very out-of-reach and, you know, kind of perfect, which just isn't realistic. But on the plus side, it was really inspiring to see a book about such an independent girl of color.

The romance was really cute. I liked that Zora and Owen really started off as friends, and it took time before they became anything more than friends. It wasn't all that heated, but I didn't mind that. In fact, it fit this book. I have to say, the romance was the part I enjoyed the most, and it definitely brought my rating up.

The plot was well-paced. It definitely didn't leave you bored at any time, and it also didn't feel like too much. But it felt pretty farfetched to me. It also didn't really have any real surprises, so it was pretty predictable. Still, it was definitely enjoyable.

The writing made it really difficult to get into the book. It didn't help with the issue of Zora not being relatable, because the language felt very foreign to me. It was very relaxed, it bordered on too relaxed, and honestly, I think it would've fit better into a Middle Grade book. I actually think this one would be better fit as Middle Grade.

Overall, it has great representation, which was part of why I wanted to pick it up in the first place - I mean, a girl of color from a small town with a prince? And Zora is really a great role-model for any young girl. But I just couldn't connect to the main character, which ruined a lot of the enjoyment for me.

There were some really great quotes in this one, and I don't have the space to include all of them, but here are my favorite ones.

Romantic hugs are so underrated. The friendly, congratulatory ones get all the shine, but romantic hugs don't go viral. I could write a TED Talk about how nice it is being wrapped up in Owen's arms.

I mean, how cute is this? Also, hugs are the best. Any kind, really. 

 "When I see her, she reminds me that some things in life aren't too good to be true."

Again with the unbelievable cuteness. This was just such a cute read.

"I started to say I haven't been to space or led an army. But I guess through these women, I kind of have, or at least feel like now I can."

This one just had to be included. It's just such an amazing thought, and it also represents this book so well. It's all about making the impossible possible for the younger generation, and role-models are also a big theme. 

And that's it for today! Don't forget to check out the rest of the blog tour here!