Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Red, White, and Royal Blue: reread




One month. One. Month. 

The film adaptation of Casey McQuiston's novel "Red, White, and Royal Blue" comes out in one month from today.

["First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz is the closest thing to a prince this side of the Atlantic. With his intrepid sister and the Veep’s genius granddaughter, they’re the White House Trio, a beautiful millennial marketing strategy for his mother, President Ellen Claremont. International socialite duties do have downsides—namely, when photos of a confrontation with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations.

The plan for damage control: staging a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince. Alex is busy enough handling his mother’s bloodthirsty opponents and his own political ambitions without an uptight royal slowing him down. But beneath Henry’s Prince Charming veneer, there’s a soft-hearted eccentric with a dry sense of humor and more than one ghost haunting him.

As President Claremont kicks off her reelection bid, Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret relationship with Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations. And Henry throws everything into question for Alex, an impulsive, charming guy who thought he knew everything: What is worth the sacrifice? How do you do all the good you can do? And, most importantly, how will history remember you?"]

I sped read parts (sometimes I feel as if I could do without the politics aspects of this novel, but the politics aspects, all of the nitty-gritty and paperwork and NDAs and pollings and secrecy, is half of the novel--an important half). I read and reread and rereread parts. I highlighted and underlined and screenshooted parts. I tried really hard not to cry while reading the emails (and the declarations of love in real-life, still in poetry form) and cried really hard during the not-so-fun times (the almost-break-up, the second almost-break-up, the fights, the family, the politics). Plus, they're both huge fucking nerds, and I'm here for it ("the phrase: 'see attached bibliography' is the single sexiest thing you have ever written"). I fucking love this book.

I forgot how poetic this book was.  (again, all the emails--but also: "but the thing is, jumping off clips is kinda my thing. that's the choice. I love him, with all that, because of all that. on purpose. I love him on purpose."--and: "straight people, he thinks, probably don't spend this much time convincing themselves they're straight.")

I forgot how devistating this book was. I forgot how dark the depression and anxiety and closets are in this book (because the crown and the world puts poor Henry into so many fucking closets).

This book is a fucking icon. ("history, huh?")

I just went and rewatched the trailer for the RWRB movie again...a few times. Again, I can't wait. I'm going to have to watch this in my own closet so no one sees be fan-girl-squeal and ugly cry.

Also, have some random ass posts I've collected over the years. Enjoy. ;)

#redwhiteandroyalblue #caseymcquiston #LGBT #LGBTbooks #historyhuh #makinghistory #hamilton #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

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