Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
Culture

Books to fuel your royalty aesthetic obsession

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Mizzou chapter.

If you’re anything like me, you’re obsessed with Bridgerton and the Bridgerton aesthetic. Beautiful ball gowns, wildflowers and soirees seem to be the life everyone wants to live and escape reality. When you’re looking to escape reality, the easiest way to do that is with books and I’ve got the perfect reading list to help all of your royalty-obsessed dreams come true.

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Red, White and Royal Blue is told through the life of Alex Claremont-Diaz, the son of the President of the United States. Alex’s sworn enemy is His Royal Highness Henry the Prince of Wales and within the first 30 pages, the two boys cause a scandal that shakes international waters. The only solution the White House and Royal Family can come up with to fix the PR disaster is to force Alex and Henry to become friends, or at least appear that way in public. Along the way, the boys learn a lot about themselves and even become friends. But the real question is, is there something more than friendship between them?

American Royals by Katharine McGee

I’ve already gushed about the American Royals series for far too long, but this series is genuinely so good. It has all the drama, romance and scandal you could ever want with a four-person point of view to boot. The series follows Beatrice, Nina, Daphne and Samantha as they navigate life in the spotlight while being part of the royal family in fictional America. American Royals and Majesty and are the current books in the series with Rivals see to be released on May 31. You can also listen to Inheritance, the American Royals prequel novella audiobook for extra content into the thrilling series.

Red Queen by Victoria Averyard

Red Queen is a dystopian novel and is part of a four-book series highlighting rebellion, power and a love triangle. Red Queen details the life of Mare Barrow who lives in a world where your status in life is determined by the color of your blood. If you have red blood, you’re a commoner and if you have silver blood, you’re a royal. And of course like every other dystopian novel, eventually that crumbling societal structure is going to fall. This series is unique because of how it effortlessly combines royalty and dystopian aspects to craft a wonderful read.

The Selection by Kiera Cass

The Selection is often described as the perfect combination of The Hunger Games and The Bachelor. The first book in the series follows America Singer on her selection journey and is filled with drama and romance. America starts out in a secret relationship but once she meets Prince Maxon, things start to change. The character development in the story is so well crafted and keeps the reader wanting more. The five-book series is perfect to add to your royalty reading list and I promise you won’t regret it.

The Bridgerton Series by Julia Quinn

Last but certainly not least is the infamous Bridgerton series. The wonderful books inspired by the hit Netflix show are a must-read this summer. Each book follows a different Bridgerton child on their quest for love, starting with Daphne. Each book is filled with romance and drama and is a very timely read after the recent release of season two.

According to Quinn’s website, the reading order is The Duke and I, The Viscount Who Loved Me, An Offer From a Gentleman, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, To Sir Phillip, With Love, When He Was Wicked, It’s in His Kiss and On The Way to The Wedding.

Aside from this list, there are tons of royalty-inspired books out there for your reading pleasure. As long as there’s some romance, drama and someone wearing a crown, it’s sure to fuel your obsession.

Sophia Donis

Mizzou '23

I’m a Journalism major with a minor in Political Science from the Chicago suburbs! I love interior design, spending time with my friends and snuggling up with a good book!