Prompt: A book from your TBR list chosen at random

This could have been any one of a huge number of books! I picked The Royals Next Door by Karina Halle which was definitely a Bookstagram made me do it! I saw a couple of people who had shared the book and enjoyed it so ordered a copy too.

What it’s about?

An ordinary summer goes royally awry when a prince and princess move next door, bringing their handsome bodyguard with them, from New York Times bestselling author Karina Halle.

Piper Evans: elementary school teacher by day–avid romance reader and anonymous podcaster by night. She lives a quiet, reclusive life, taking care of her mother, who struggles with mental illness, avoiding her regrettable ex, who bartends in town, and trying to make inroads in the tight-knit island community that still sees her, five years in, as an outsider.

And she’s happy with how things are–really–until British royals rent the property next to hers and their brooding bodyguard decides she’s a security threat. Piper quickly realizes that one person’s fairy tale is an ordinary woman’s nightmare as a media frenzy takes over the island and each run-in with Harrison Cole is hotter and more confusing than the last. But beneath Harrison’s no-nonsense exterior lies a soft heart, one that could tempt a woman who’s sworn off attachments into believing in white knights.

But when Piper finds herself smack in the middle of a royal scandal that rocks the island she’ll need more than Harrison’s strong arms to shield her–she’ll have to do a little rescuing herself. With careers, hearts, and friendships on the line, Piper and Harrison will have to decide what they’re willing to give up for a chance at their own happily ever after.

What I think:

Imagine if Harry and Meghan moved in next door.

That is essentially the premise of this book.

The Royals cause havoc on the island with paparazzi and security disrupting the residents. Piper in particular finds her summer plans changing as she shares a driveway with the Duke and Duchess who have moved into the mansion. Piper is desperate to keep her routines fixed and her life calm as she helps her mother with her mental health issues and the arrival of such high profile neighbours does not make this easy.

Piper finds herself spending an increasing amount of time with royal protection agent Harrison Cole. A former army friend of the Duke, he is now head of security. Of course he’s gorgeous and of course he’s sensitive and kind underneath his gruff no nonsense exterior.

This is a fun easy read. Piper and Harrison are great characters and the royal couple are presented as nice, normal and fun.

The writer gets a few digs in about the British press all of which are more than justfied. Piper’s love for romance books is also a nice touch as this is a genre, that while hugely popular, is often dismissed into je literary world.

This was a quick and enjoyable read that would be perfect for reading into he sunshine. I’m glad bookstagram made me buy this one!