Review: The Royals Upstairs by Karina Halle
Thank you Berkley for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
I LOVED The Royals Next Door back in 2021. I think it was one of my favorite books of the year! It was so fun and different and flowed so well. When I saw The Royals Upstairs, I was READY to get invested in another one of her world’s. Sadly, this book did not work for me. I don’t know if it was my mindset or the character’s chemistry, but I didn’t love it as much as The Royals Next Door. It was still an enjoyable, sexy read but not a new favorite.
Synopsis:
“James Hunter has made a tactical error. His new role as protection officer to Prince Magnus of Norway was supposed to be an exciting change. Instead he’s marooned on a royal estate in the middle of nowhere charged with chasing after demon children and dodging the machinations of meddling staff. And the crowning jewel in this little drama—the children’s nanny is none other than Laila Bruset. The woman whose heart he broke. The woman who still holds his.
When Laila took the job as a nanny for the Norwegian royal children in order to be closer to her ailing grandmother in Oslo, the last thing she expected was to have her life turned upside down—again. But as much as James gets on her nerves, he's also getting under her skin, and the tension between them sizzles just as devastatingly as before.
As undeniable sparks turn James and Laila’s battle royal into a more serious game of hearts, nanny and bodyguard will have to decide just how much they’re willing to risk for a second chance at love.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Setting—I love a good book with royal characters but have never read one about the Norwegian monarchy! It was a nice change and a reminder to step outside my comfort zone.
The Characters—I really enjoyed all the characters and they kept me reading!
What Didn’t Work for Me:
The Chemistry—I didn’t connect with it at all, making it really hard for me to root for the characters to get and stay together.
The Structure—I loved the flashbacks and wish there had been more consistency with them!
The Tropes—I normally love a second chance romance, but I just didn’t feel it with these characters! I am so sad cause I LOVED The Royals Next Door!
Character Authenticity: 3/5 Spice Rating: 3/5 Overall Rating: 2.75/5
Content Warnings:
Death, dementia, grief