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lilrongal's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed this book so, so so much!
Zora is inspirational and adorable, and Owen is amazing.
What I loved about this book was that it wasn't too angsty (we all know YA can get pretty dang angsty). It was a love story, but with a prince who was considerate, thoughtful, and had the most adorable crush, and a girl who wore natural hair and was unapologetically black, whose family and friends loved her fiercely, and who was making a difference in her community.
This book will be perfect for pre-teen Black girls who are desiring to see themselves in a fluffy, fun book. More rom-coms starring girls of color, please and thank you!
Zora is inspirational and adorable, and Owen is amazing.
What I loved about this book was that it wasn't too angsty (we all know YA can get pretty dang angsty). It was a love story, but with a prince who was considerate, thoughtful, and had the most adorable crush, and a girl who wore natural hair and was unapologetically black, whose family and friends loved her fiercely, and who was making a difference in her community.
This book will be perfect for pre-teen Black girls who are desiring to see themselves in a fluffy, fun book. More rom-coms starring girls of color, please and thank you!
manaledi's review against another edition
4.0
Cute, quick, interracial ya romance. Dealt well and directly with microagressions. A mix of [b:Red, White & Royal Blue|41150487|Red, White & Royal Blue|Casey McQuiston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566742512l/41150487._SY75_.jpg|61657690] and [a:Alyssa Cole|7790155|Alyssa Cole|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1556901538p2/7790155.jpg]'s Reluctant Royals series.
delaney572e4's review against another edition
4.0
It's a cute love story! Royalty trope! Positive mom and daughter relationship! Black girl love! Black hair love! It was FUN just like it was meant to be and I really enjoyed it. Also, gotta love the kids
abholt96's review against another edition
1.0
Love the concept, not the execution
Everything felt so whiny + juvenile. It was hard to get into. But once I was into it (as into it as I could be), I just couldn’t really root for the characters.
Everything felt so whiny + juvenile. It was hard to get into. But once I was into it (as into it as I could be), I just couldn’t really root for the characters.
miszjeanie's review against another edition
5.0
As an unabashed royalty-love-story aficionado, this satisfied all my desires. Yet, the romance is just a fraction of what Truly Madly Royally is about. This book is SO CUTE without being eye-roll inducing. I was nervous about reading it because many reviews recommended it, but as "younger YA." I loved it! Zora's character is determined and community-centered. Read my full review here.
raeanne's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book for free from Fantastic Flying Book Club in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Today is a good day. Today I get to share Truly Madly Royally by Debbie Rigaud. A quick snappy rom com about an American girl and a prince grappling with their attraction and media attention.
Zora is kicking ass and taking names at a prestigious educational white haven while commuting, do-gooding, and surviving the snobs. One cell phone mishap in a library leads to a confessional with a cutely accented stranger leads to Truly Madly Royally.
It's really hard to talk about Zora & Owen as so much revolves around their dynamic and events. But I love their dialogue, it sparks off the page. Owen also plans amazing dates. On one hand, I would like to see more of Owen & Zora time, but on the other, I love how tight and snappy the narrative is.
Things happen, stuff goes sideways, and it's handled. There's no long drawn out melodrama or unnecessariness. They talk honestly and head-on. Life can be full and exciting and a whirlwind of domino effects without being unpleasant and full of villains.
I love how the community watch and support of fellow black women was included. Yes, media can be invasive and slanted and plain fatphobic trash in Emily's case, but throughout out it all, black women hold it down for each other. I don't care about white royalty or aristocracy, but watching black women support and enjoy Markle's wedding, was a thing of beauty.
Zora's mom is remarried and they're a happy family with the step-dad. Her brother's gotten to the other side of rough patch and her father is quite the character. Him and Zora are so alike it's difficult since they use their talents in seemingly opposite ways.
I could see and understand her parents so well. This next bit it'll sound really weird-but I appreciate the included parental headbutting and disagreements. It's refreshing to see adults lovingly rendered with history, and baggage. So many kids deal with this and it's great to see Zora handle it with aplomb.
Prize: Win (1) of (2) copies of TRULY MADLY ROYALLY by Debbie Rigaud (US Only)
Starts: 24th July 2019
Ends: 7th August 2019
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This review was originally posted on The Layaway Dragon
About Truly Madly Royally:
IMHO: Truly Madly Royally
Zora is kicking ass and taking names at a prestigious educational white haven while commuting, do-gooding, and surviving the snobs. One cell phone mishap in a library leads to a confessional with a cutely accented stranger leads to Truly Madly Royally.
"This summer could've gone as I'd planned had I just walked away from Owen to begin with."
Snapshot:
- Quick breezy fun contemp
- Tight and snappy narrative
- Fantastic dialogue
- So adorable!
- Zora is amazing
- Full of black girl magic and black positivity
- Fundraising and community building
- Amazing library and bookstore hang outs
- Understandable mishaps & miscommunications.
- Love the bffs and the additional subplot romance.
- Divorced parents, one being remarried
- Yesssss my studious overachievers.
- Not all the students are awful & they find a place on campus
- I didn't even know there were classes in such things, though it makes total sense.
- It Girl Antagonist. Loved their conversation and interactions at the wedding.
- Happy ending that hits just right.
It's really hard to talk about Zora & Owen as so much revolves around their dynamic and events. But I love their dialogue, it sparks off the page. Owen also plans amazing dates. On one hand, I would like to see more of Owen & Zora time, but on the other, I love how tight and snappy the narrative is.
"Even though I failed the Dope Dress Test, this feels like a win."
Things happen, stuff goes sideways, and it's handled. There's no long drawn out melodrama or unnecessariness. They talk honestly and head-on. Life can be full and exciting and a whirlwind of domino effects without being unpleasant and full of villains.
"It's about joining hands with the families to safeguard children from one of society's greatest ills: apathy. This program models the idea that in the absence of your parents or guardian, your community is your family. You never walk alone."
I love how the community watch and support of fellow black women was included. Yes, media can be invasive and slanted and plain fatphobic trash in Emily's case, but throughout out it all, black women hold it down for each other. I don't care about white royalty or aristocracy, but watching black women support and enjoy Markle's wedding, was a thing of beauty.
"Zora, every day I pray my darkness didn't take away your light."
Zora's mom is remarried and they're a happy family with the step-dad. Her brother's gotten to the other side of rough patch and her father is quite the character. Him and Zora are so alike it's difficult since they use their talents in seemingly opposite ways.
I could see and understand her parents so well. This next bit it'll sound really weird-but I appreciate the included parental headbutting and disagreements. It's refreshing to see adults lovingly rendered with history, and baggage. So many kids deal with this and it's great to see Zora handle it with aplomb.
Perfect for fans of Kaisie West, and Not Now, Not Ever by Lily Anderson.
About the Author:
Giveaway:
Prize: Win (1) of (2) copies of TRULY MADLY ROYALLY by Debbie Rigaud (US Only)
Starts: 24th July 2019
Ends: 7th August 2019
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour Schedule:
This review was originally posted on The Layaway Dragon
kirstenellang's review against another edition
3.0
My worst guilty habit is reading romances set around British/faux-British aristocrats. This was cute though.
chandraleereads's review against another edition
4.0
This book was super cute! What can I say I am a sucker for the “oh my gosh you’re a royal” trope! The book also felt very relevant/current given the lovely Prince Harry & Duchess Megan. I recommend it if you want something romantic, sweet, and thoughtful!
bookishnicole's review against another edition
2.0
This was a cute fluffy read. Adored the community good works.
sc104906's review against another edition
3.0
Find my original review on my blog: https://wp.me/p8jcuj-27T
Zora started a successful nonprofit, Walk Me Home, and this summer she is taking special college courses to help her learn how to continue its success. She travels from her beloved home in Appleton, NJ every morning, to her prestigious university in NYC. Zora is having trouble finding her groove, because all of her classmates are over-the-top privileged teens. The first connection she makes is with Owen, the most privileged of the bunch, who is a prince. The two accidentally swap phones and quickly find themselves falling for each other. While being tied to a famous celeb is not in Zora's plans, Owen is level-headed in a way that she can't help but be drawn to. Will the two make it through the media storm and parent meet ups, to keep their relationship alive?
I loved the fact that Zora had a successful nonprofit. I found this layer of the story to be the most interesting and well-developed. I think that Owen and the romance between the two main characters was not as developed. In fact, I don't feel like I know the prince at all. I think this book could have done with 100 more pages to further flesh out the relationship, but it did follow the traditional girl falling for prince storyline. This novel is appropriate for tweens because nothing too risky happens and the reading level and voice are approachable for younger readers.
Zora started a successful nonprofit, Walk Me Home, and this summer she is taking special college courses to help her learn how to continue its success. She travels from her beloved home in Appleton, NJ every morning, to her prestigious university in NYC. Zora is having trouble finding her groove, because all of her classmates are over-the-top privileged teens. The first connection she makes is with Owen, the most privileged of the bunch, who is a prince. The two accidentally swap phones and quickly find themselves falling for each other. While being tied to a famous celeb is not in Zora's plans, Owen is level-headed in a way that she can't help but be drawn to. Will the two make it through the media storm and parent meet ups, to keep their relationship alive?
I loved the fact that Zora had a successful nonprofit. I found this layer of the story to be the most interesting and well-developed. I think that Owen and the romance between the two main characters was not as developed. In fact, I don't feel like I know the prince at all. I think this book could have done with 100 more pages to further flesh out the relationship, but it did follow the traditional girl falling for prince storyline. This novel is appropriate for tweens because nothing too risky happens and the reading level and voice are approachable for younger readers.