Paper Princess

The first book in a new to me series, The Royals. And also the last book I completed of the year! I doubt I'll finish the second book in a day. Anywho...

I went into this soapy YA series with low expectations. But it's well written and sucked me right in! It doesn't seem juvenile. I think it's because Ella is grounded and doesn't get sucked into the life she's thrust into overnight. She mistrusts everything and everyone. This is very much a rags to riches story. You need to be able to suspend your disbelief because the situation is overblown and would never happen in real life. But they had to start the story somehow!

The boys are crude and rude. Some of the language and actions are hard to read. The author sets up a toxic relationship. Actually most of her relationships with the Royal men seem toxic. But it's a work of fiction and a fun one at that. It's a soap opera in a book.

A pick for me! Something to get into while I'm working overnight with a fire going and hot chocolate.

I really enjoy Paper Princess. I'm re-reading it right now, and I forgot some of the little details, but there are parts that I'm waiting for. My favorite scene is the scene where Ella bails Easton out with the money in her car, and he and Reed figure out that she has been preparing to run and is ready to leave at the drop of a hat. I haven't even gotten to Ella getting a car, or where the boys start to tolerate her, which I always associate with them watching football with her. Additionally, I'm really excited to read the other books. I've only ever read the first part of the second book, and would like to get through the whole series, because I think the dynamics of the book are very interesting in general. Some of the complications of the book are not my favorite, specifically with Steve's widow. I don't like her and the whole thing with her trying to keep the money from Ella is just her being a bitch. I like the relations between people, and the complicated relationships that is caused by the fact that they are all rich assholes with too much time and money in general. The whole Steve thing in general, which I understand is a major plot point and the whole reason she is there, is wholly uncompelling to me, and I much prefer the, she's with Easton, oh now it's Daniel because the seal has been broken, but she's with Reed now, and takes her revenge on Daniel with Savannah and Valarie. This is so much more interesting than the adult drama, which just feels so real. The teenage drama just seems so unreal and wild that it feels like fiction, whereas the adult drama feels real in that they are older, more mature, and have the ability to make rational decisions.

I finished the book this morning, and the ending gets me every time. I really like how it brings a close to the current line, and I really want to start the next one because of the cliff hanger. I also want to read Fallen Heir, which I think is about Easton, who is by far my favorite character. I like that he becomes so protective of his family, and especially Ella. I like how he starts off so brazen and seems to only follow Reed and do things that are easy and fun, but it gets more complicated. While that is still the crux of his personality, it gets explain a little bit more, and it seems that Easton has some real deep issues going on, and I like how he tries to deal with it. He seems to be slowly but surely getting better, like he quite oxy, but still fucks anything that moves. He gambles, but since Ella had to bail him out, I would think he would stop, and the scare of Ella leaving will influence him.

I also think it's interesting how there is a distinct difference between Callum, Gideon, Reed, and the in group two is Easton and the twins. When Gideon is warning Ella, he specifically states that he, his dad, and Reed are poison for women. I wonder if that has to do with the ages, because both Reed and Gideon have been leaders of the brothers, and Callum the leader of the family, but it's different. I think that they all have their own issues, but I think the twins being younger eliminates them, and Easton being too much of a follower also disqualifies him from the too fucked up group. I also want to know more about the relationship between Savannah and Gideon. I'm sure it will come up in the other books, but I find it very fascinating. The only part of the book that I didn't really enjoy was the whole thing with Dinah, because it just seemed so boring.