The Royals Next Door

this was so cute?? all the character development!! and the mental illness rep and promotion of therapy! it's canadian and there's baking and cinnamon rolls!! so cozy

This is one of those books that are perfect to pick up if you're wanting a good escape to a rom com. It's one of those cliche rom-coms that are so successful at sucking you in.

I am loving the bodyguard trope at the moment and I really want to find more books that include it.

My only wish is that it wasn't so rushed. I would've loved for there to have been more moments between Harrison and Piper so the romance between them felt more authentic.

That all being said, I laughed and I enjoyed this and I think that's all that matters.

A school teacher by day, an anonymous smut and romance podcaster by night, Piper Evans is a hermit more or less. She lives with her mother in their small house on the island, away from the business and the hustle and bustle. That is until her world is turned upside down by a pair of sunglasses and a black suit. Oh and the Duke and Duchess of England.

Harrison Cole, personal protection officer to Monica and Eddie, the Duke and Duchess, is a guarded man. There's no funny business with him, his walls are higher than the fence that has been put up to shield Piper's new royal neighbors from the press. However, the more he learns about Piper, the more he's willing to relax to the world. He's willing to let go, and have the kind of fun he hasn't had in a while. She transfixes him.

Piper Evans is a ball of fire, a mess in her words. She has a lot of trauma, including her mother and her own mental health issues. She's afraid to let people in because she's been hurt before. But Harrison validates her and her existence. Piper learns that she doesn't need to hold back, that she can be her whole self, and that her whole self is a lovely, beautiful mess.

This novel is about love and letting go.

I appreciated this novel's mention of trauma and mental health struggles. Most of the characters have some sort of issue that they have dealt with in their life. Harrison has PTSD, Piper has anxiety, Mrs. Evans has BPD and DPD, and Monica has dealt with lots of racism. These topics are not easy to discuss. And I'm glad they were brought to light. However, I wish they played a bit more of a role.

I loved the tension between Harrison and Piper, it was definitely a slow burn. However, the conflict didn't seem to be strong enough. It didn't shake or test them, they seemed to skirt around it scuff-free. I would have liked to see the two of them have more of a challenge that tests their relationship.

Karina Halle's Piper was a thrill to read. Her stream of consciousness was enjoyable to read. She was fucking hilarious. And Halle did a great job in creating chemistry and banter between Harrison and Piper.

I didn't dislike this novel, I liked it. However, to me, it fell flat. There was not enough at stake between the two. The conflict was a bit weak and resolved too quickly. It was only really ahead in the last half of the novel as well, very rushed. However, I appreciated and liked the characters. Not bad but not my favorite. As the shelf I put it on, it was meh.

2.75/5 stars

A cute bodyguard romance.
The royal aspect of the book, the royal neighbors, was interesting and intriguing but I don't think it added anything special or different to the story.
Piper was an introvert, almost a hermit, she had a romance podcast (loved that) and she loved reading. I liked her as a character. The struggles concerning mental health and her mom's neurological issues added a more real feel to this book.
I didn't connect much with Harrison. Didn't quite feel the chemistry between them. The steam scenes were ok. I enjoyed the writing. I just wasn't very invested in these characters and their relationship.
Overall, it was an entertaining read. Not very memorable though.