Royalty IRL? Seven Enchanting Royal Reads

The Princess Diaries, by Meg Cabot
We can’t have a list of royal reads without including the queen of the genre herself, Meg Cabot. Mia Thermopolis is a girl like any other. In the novel she’s flunking algebra, she’s too tall, and generally has no social life. To top it all off her dad reveals he’s the crown prince of Genovia! We all know the drill. But now that we’re getting a new Princess Diaries movie, it’s time for a new generation to discover our favorite unorthodox princess. 

Royally Lost, by Angie Stanton
If you’ve ever watched a Mary-Kate and Ashley movie and loved it, this book captures that crazy summer romance, especially because it involves falling in love with a prince in hiding. Becca’s terrible Eurotrip is just about to get a whole lot better. She wants nothing more than to ditch her chaotic and dysfunctional family. Nikolai—a crown prince—pulls a Princess Jasmine move and escapes his palace to have a little bit of freedom. When Nikolai and Becca’s trips coincide, their chemistry is instant. But are they destined to be a summer fling or a happily ever after? 

The Heir and the Spare, by Emily Albright
A story for the Kate and William fans. After receiving a cryptic letter from her deceased mom, Evie heads off to Oxford for her first year of college. She never expected that Edmund, the first boy she falls for, is a real-life prince. Second in line to the throne of England, even. No pressure. Life in the royal limelight isn’t how Evie pictured her school year starting off, but she’s convinced Edmund is worth the trouble. But as more letters from Evie’s mom start arriving, she and Edmund begin to uncover a secret that could change their future.

Prince Charming, by Rachel Hawkins
Originally published as simply Royals, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins writes the perfect romance with a wee bit of a twist. In this excellent world she’s crafted, Scotland has its very own monarchy. Enter Daisy Winters, a regular American girl whose sister just happens to be about to marry the Crown Prince of Scotland. Daisy is forced to head off across the pond to learn how to be a “proper young lady” from the prince’s dashing younger brother, Miles. But Miles and the entire country have no idea what’s in store for them as Daisy writes her own rules.

Her Royal Highness, by Rachel Hawkins
This is the perfect companion novel to Prince Charming and includes Rachel Hawkins’s signature wit and humor. After being cheated on, Millie Quint decides to apply for scholarships to boarding schools and ends up in the storybook highlands of Scotland. She’s definitely not a fish out of water, and Millie makes fast friends. The only hitch is her roommate, Flora, the honest to god Princess of Scotland. The girls start off as full-blown enemies, but develop into an unexpected, adorable, flirty romance. Can Millie finally get her fairytale ending, princess and all?

American Royals, by Katharine McGee
Imagine if the founding fathers had never started the democracy of a country, but instead instated another king. What happens to the history we’ve come to know? In McGee’s version, when America won the Revolutionary War, its people offered General George Washington a crown. Two and a half centuries later, the House of Washington still reigns. The story follows princesses Beatrice and Samantha, vying for the ultimate crown. As Princess Beatrice gets closer to becoming America’s first queen regnant, the duty she has embraced her entire life suddenly feels stifling. Nobody cares about the spare except when she’s breaking the rules, so Princess Samantha doesn’t care much about anything, either . . . except the one boy who is distinctly off-limits to her. Duty, love, and intrigue clash in this reimagining of the free world.

Truly Madly Royally, by Debbie Rigaud
Zora is spending her summer at a super prestigious program. Her dreams are to change the world for the better, starting with her town in New Jersey. She expected to work hard and pay no mind to her super-privileged classmates. But she vibes with Owen Whittelsey. Not only does he have a good heart, an amazing smile, he’s also a prince. How is this real life? When Owen asks her to be his date to his brother’s royal wedding, Zora is in for a world of chaos. But she’s ready to face the royal chaos and her feelings for Owen.