Consider Kate Middleton: the English “commoner” who managed to win Prince Will’s heart and the envy of many. Now imagine if Kate were an American. That is exactly what Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan’s novel, The Royal We, does. American Anglophiles like myself can finally fathom our dreams by reading this novel! The authors, Cocks and Morgan, are the co-owners and authors of the witty blog, Go Fug Yourself, and their first adult novel is just as hilarious as their online work.
The Royal We follows the relationship of American Rebecca Porter – Bex for short – and British Prince Nick over an eight-year time span. From their first meeting in Oxford where Bex is studying abroad to the moment where she walks down the aisle, Bex and Nick’s love story reels you in. But it’s not just the main characters who are captivating – their quirky friends also add to the story. Despite the outlandish plot wherein an American falls in love with a prince, the characters and their interactions make this fairytale realistic.
Cocks and Morgan have clearly done their British monarchy research, because Bex and Nick’s relationship shares many similarities to Kate and Will’s love story. Also, many of the characters in the book bear a striking resemblance to members of the British monarchy. Some might call this novel Will and Kate fanfiction, but heck, it’s enjoyable and I devoured it in one sitting.
Overall, The Royal We left me a bit too eager to study abroad. I highly recommend it to Anglophiles everywhere and anyone who has ever dreamed of being a Disney Princess!