WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
“When she finally lifted herself up, she was Princess Beatrice no longer. She had become Her Majesty Beatrice Regina, Queen of America, and long may she reign.”
Queen of America? Yes, you read that correctly. Author Katharine McGee transforms modern-day America into a kingdom in her “American Royals” book series. Filled with many trials and tribulations surrounding friendship, love, power and duty, McGee’s characters work to figure out just how much they would risk for a successful, happy future.
It all started when the Patriots won the Revolutionary War. Instead of creating a democracy, however, a monarchy was created. American hero George Washington and his wife Martha were crowned king and queen and so began the story of “soaring ballrooms and backstairs corridors. Of secrets and scandal, of love and heartbreak. [So began] the story of the most famous family in the world, who play out their family dramas on the greatest stage of all.” And 250 odd years later, the House of Washington still sits on the throne, with a young princess preparing to succeed her father as queen.
The series revolves around the members of the Washington Royal Family, as primarily told through the perspectives of heir apparent and eventual queen, Beatrice, and her sister, Princess Samantha, who goes by Sam. Another featured perspective is Nina Gonzalez, the childhood best friend of Sam and her twin brother, Prince Jefferson. Daphne Deighton is the final perspective included within the series. The daughter of a baron, Daphne’s scheming and deceitfulness takes a turn due to her family’s financial struggles.
Other characters in the series include King George and Queen Adelaide of America, Revere Guard member Connor Markham, Lord Theodore “Teddy” Eaton and many of Nina, Sam, Jefferson, who goes by Jeff, and Daphne’s former St. Ursula and Forysthe Academy classmates, as well as their current classmates at King’s College.
The four books in the series—“American Royals,” “Majesty,” “Rivals” and “Reign”—follow the characters as they battle challenges within their personal and professional lives, while also balancing their duty to the crown and to the better good of America.
Published in 2019, the first book in the series, “American Royals,” introduces readers to the reimagined lavish lifestyle of America. We first meet Beatrice as heir apparent and a young princess, who, despite being prepared her whole life to ascend the throne, is suddenly overwhelmed by her stifling life.
On the other hand, her younger sister, Sam, lives her life to the fullest and doesn’t care much about anything, except the one boy she meets, but ultimately cannot have. Their younger brother, Jefferson, is the life of the party and has every person in America swooning, except for two—Nina and Daphne—who in turn, are vying for his heart. When a tragedy brings the siblings together and puts Beatrice on the throne, they must realize what life now means for themselves and their family.
Picking up where “American Royals” left off, “Majesty,” which was published in 2020, follows the newly crowned Beatrice, as she looks to juggle her new royal responsibilities and role as queen, while also figuring out what is best for heart. Torn between two men, she must decide once and for all who her partner in life will be.
Meanwhile, Sam’s “party princess persona” never fails to disappoint and make one laugh. Involving herself with one nobleman to spite another, they develop an actual friendship that could potentially develop into something more, unless he breaks her heart first.
And then there’s Jefferson. Newly single and ready to mingle, people are wondering what happened with his relationship with Nina and if Daphne has a true shot at finally capturing his heart and a crown this time. Nina, on the other hand, is fine with her new relationship status, looking to continue her studies at King’s College. That is until someone starts to sweep her off her feet once again. As for Daphne, the ultimate schemer and manipulator won’t stop until she has what she wants: Jefferson. But, the outcome isn’t what she expects. And for that matter, no one can expect what happens next.
Following “Majesty” is “Rivals,” which was published in 2022. Readers are in for a treat as Beatrice and the entire country prepare for the quinquennial League of Kings conference, where leaders from all over the globe, including kings and queens, emperors and empresses and sultans and sultanas among others meet to discuss issues of global importance. Only this time, it is an even bigger deal because America’s hosting the conference and it’s Beatrice’s first year as queen. As a newcomer, Beatrice hopes to make some new friends and allies, and fortunately she picks up one in Princess Louise of France. But, things always don’t turn out as they look to be.
While Beatrice faces the pressure of the conference, she is also defining her feelings and relationship with her fiancé, Teddy Eaton. At the same time, Sam is also struggling to define her relationship with her beau, Lord Marshall Davis of Orange. While they both are committed to each other, they are also committed to their duties as princess and heir to a dukedom. As they try to figure things out, the situation might just become too tough for the couple to overcome in the end.
Meanwhile, Nina and Daphne surprisingly form an alliance to everyone’s surprise including themselves. The spoiled, scheming Gabriella Madison looks to worm her way into Jefferson’s circle. Neither of them want to see that happen and so they work together to take her down. This is so especially since Nina’s financial aid has been denied and Daphne’s family is stripped of their baronet, both of which Gabriella is behind. Despite their temporal alliance, things don’t stay friendly between the two for long. Things become heightened once again, though, when yet another tragedy strikes. This time, though, there is no unity of the royal family and their friends as things look like they are taking a turn for the worse.
And finally, published in 2023, “Reign” concludes the series as readers come to realize just how far members of the Washington Royal Family and their friends have come. Before we get to the supposed stereotypical happily-ever-after ending, the book opens with Beatrice still in a coma following a harrowing car accident, Sam still missing after running off with her boyfriend Marshall Davis and Jefferson suddenly being crowned king. If you’re not familiar with Daphne’s ways by now, safe to say she is beyond ecstatic about this development. And she finally has the ultimate chance to swoop in and be a princess, especially after informing Jefferson she is “pregnant.”
Meanwhile, Nina is minding her own business, exploring new things. She ultimately meets Jamie, later revealed to be the Prince of Canada, and explores a relationship with him. However, after all these years as boyfriend-girlfriend, exes, friends, confidants, you name it, she and Jefferson have always had and will always have something special, which is exactly what Daphne is fearful of, so she sets her sights on taking her down once and for all.
On the other side of the country, Sam learns of the news of Beatrice’s accident and races home, discovering that she has been stripped of her title and duties as a member of the royal family. Life turns hard for her as she learns how to navigate her new life and be there for her family. As for Beatrice, she luckily does awake from her coma, but not without memory loss. She and Teddy work to rebuild their relationships and she works to rebuild her identity as queen, but not without its own challenges. Despite all the sacrifices and challenges these characters face in this book and within the entire series, it all finally comes to an end once and for all, with a result that we can all be proud of.
Safe to say, not a page goes by where readers aren’t literally swept off their feet by all the action going on within the series. McGee goes even further to transition to another character’s perspective, which is oftentimes after a cliffhanger, leaving readers anxious to find out what happens next. Hopefully, this review has done the same. Happy reading!
