– And How It Broke Gone Girl‘s Long Reign As My Favourite Book Of All Time
*All artwork depicted is by the amazing Venessa Kelley (@vkelleyart on Instagram).*
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston was published in the spring of 2019. Since then, it’s become a staple in the Queer Romance genre of fiction. If you love queer romance and haven’t read it yet, you should. If you don’t love queer romance and haven’t read it yet, you also should. It’s a literary masterpiece, and there’s a reason that it’s so beloved worldwide.
When I first heard about the premise – the First Son of the US falling in love with the Prince of England – I assumed this was just another gay romance story. As many people probably do. Then I learned that the protagonist, Alex, was a bisexual man that comes to this realization in the book, and my interest went up tenfold. I knew I had to read it. As a bisexual, I find that representation of our stories is often lacking, so I get very excited when I find them. (Although, I will acknowledge that such representation is growing in pop culture, with the rising popularity of stories like Heartstopper and even the upcoming Red, White & Royal Blue movie.)
Nevertheless, my first assumptions about this book were wrong. This is not another gay love story. This is a queer love story – and also a monument in queer literary history. I aspire to the level that Casey has hit with this one, and she’s really encouraged me to put my focus into queer romance elements in my future work.
Alexander Gabriel Claremont-Diaz
I have a bad habit of flipping through books before I’ve read them. So, naturally, I flipped through my copy of Red, White & Royal Blue just after I bought it. The first thing I read was the end of an email from Alex to Henry where Alex signs off as the “First Son of Cheese Shopping and Blowjobs.”
“Oh, shit,” I thought. “I’m totally going to fall in love with this character.”
And that’s exactly what happened.
I am not ashamed to admit – I am absolutely fucking head-over-heels for Alex Claremont Diaz, and I always will be. I often refer to him as the “character love-of-my-life” (second to my own characters, of course), because that’s what he swiftly became. Sharp-witted, fearless, fiercely intelligent, and a little self-centered (okay – a lot), Alex is nearly impossible to hate. He’s bold and ruthless in going after what he wants in life; and this very much includes his handsome prince, Henry. He’s also fucking hilarious, and his sarcastic sense of humour is such a joy to read.
Alex’s Bisexual Realization
One thing I loved about this story is that Alex doesn’t know he’s bisexual at the beginning, and he starts off being straight. He comes to this realization after deepening the bond with Henry, and experiencing their first kiss. With sexuality being as fluid as it is; this I found very realistic and relatable.
I was thirty-two when I realized that I was bisexual. Or, really, had the courage to embrace it. And though Alex was much younger than I was – being only twenty-one – I know what it’s like to have such heavy self-realization hit you at an older age.
I respect the debate and reflection that he goes through after Henry kisses him, because I can identify with those feelings.
He starts to think about his teen years and the true nature of the relationship that he shared with his friend, Liam. He starts to see things as they really are, instead of hiding them behind a straight lens.
One thing that differs between us, though, is that Alex embraces it quickly, and I suppose that’s because he has Henry to inspire him. When I came out, it was all tears and confusion and letting my old self go and many questions like, “How the fuck do I do this?” But perhaps that’s a story for another blog.
Long story short, Alex’s bisexualism and his revelation are one of my favourite parts of this story, and I’m glad Casey wrote such a great representative character.
Alex Overall
It’s impossible to define Alex Claremont-Diaz in a nutshell. Half Texan, half Mexican; and imbrued with a whole lot of charisma. All “America! Fuck yeah!” and one foot on the gas a hundred percent of the time. There’s just something about him that can’t be explained unless you’ve read this book. In the bonus chapter of the special edition, Henry describes Alex as a symphony, and I feel like that’s an incredibly accurate metaphor for him. I admire him to no end, and I’ve seen lots of evidence that many die-hard fans of this book feel the same. In all seriousness, I wish he existed so I could fly down to D.C. and become his best friend.
I love you, Alexander!
Also, on a side-note: Alex is the one reason that I’m as terrified for the Red, White & Royal Blue movie as I am. He’s such a unique and unprecedented character, so this actor better not fuck him up! Jk. But also – very much not jk!
His Royal Highness, Henry George Edward James Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor
(Also lovingly called such names by Alex as: HRH Prince Dickhead, Huge Raging Headache Prince Henry of Who Cares, and His Royal Horniness)
Ah, our gentle Prince. (Who also has a shit ton of names!)
I can’t talk about Alex without talking about his loving counterpart, Henry. The ying to Alex’s yang. The calm to Alex’s chaos. The day to Alex’s night.
I didn’t connect with Henry on the same level that I did with Alex, but I still fell in love with him.
As the prince of England, his character arc was very sensible. Just like any royal that exists today, his “image” and “who he’s expected to be” is defined for him from birth, and straying from that comes with a great deal of risk. Not just to the royal family, but also for his own future. So, when we find out that Henry is gay and that he struggles deeply with this, it’s very understandable. It makes the moves and decisions where he “ghosts” and leaves Alex more characteristic and pragmatic for him. (As fucking painful and frustrating as they are as the reader!) We want a happily-ever-after for our two lovebirds, but their diplomatic position and roles (unfortunately) make this a strife. And I think this is much more visceral and difficult for Henry than it is for Alex.
Alex fearlessly embraces who he is and isn’t afraid to show it. Henry, on the other hand, has been told who he is and has had to hide his true self in the interest of the Crown’s image. And my heart bled for him the entire book. Freedom is a one of my highest values, and I can’t imagine having to mask yourself so thickly as Henry does.
He deserves to live as his authentic self; regardless of his regal position. He deserves revel in to his true love with Alex and let it show without fear of public consequence. But reality is cold to him, and many times in the book I found myself wanting to give him a tight hug.
Though I can’t identify with being a royal and always being mercilessly scrutinized in the public eye, I can relate to being a queer person that’s masking who they really are. And as well-written as his arc of unconditional self-acceptance was, part of me wishes it didn’t have to exist at all.
Another thing I admired about Henry was his bravery. His decision to turn away from his pre-determined path and go after the future he wants made me do a mental, standing ovation.
Fuck yes, Henry! Fuck yes, mate!
His gentle, kind, and calm nature also make him a loveable character, and he’s a great romantic counterpart for the book’s spirited protagonist.
And, on a side-not: I love hen Casey let the more casual parts of Henry show. Every time he said, “Oi!” and “Numpty,” my heart pulsed in fondness.
Enemies to Lovers Trope
Enemies to lovers is my favourite romance trope! Why? Because I love reading about the assumptions that the characters make, then watching them shift as they get to know the other person. In RW&RB, this is written effectively.
At the beginning, we’re shown all of Alex’s false assumptions about Henry. They’re based on a negative experience when they met at the Olympics in Rio, and the fact that the press is always comparing them. Alex is unfairly judging the version of Henry that he’s been shown. He’s also, naturally, assuming that Henry’s attitude in Rio is all about him. This is so realistic that it hurts.
As human beings, we’re always taking things at face value, and internalizing others’ reactions to be all about us. They acted like this, so they must not like me. They said this, so they must not like me. And if they don’t like me, I don’t like them.
But what Alex doesn’t realize is that Henry just lost his father, and he actually didn’t have the emotional energy to put on a good face for Alex in Rio. What Alex also doesn’t realize is that the version of Henry he’s seeing has been dictated and curated since his birth. The version of Henry he’s seeing isn’t the real Henry.
Then, after “cakegate,” Alex and Henry are forced into close proximity to smooth over the image of the US and the UK, and here’s where we start to see the shift. It’s delivered slowly in the scenes that lead up to their first kiss, so the blossoming of their new relationship seems natural to the reader. Alex learns things about Henry like: He enjoys Cornetto ice cream cones and sneaks them in the middle of the night because he can’t sleep. He’s deeply philanthropic, and visits the kids in the cancer ward because his father died of cancer. He resents his dictated path under the Crown and wants more. He’s gay and he has to hide it to protect his image and the nation’s image. You get the gist.
I love enemies to lovers because nothing is ever as it seems. What we see in others is the tip of the iceberg. There is always more to discover about people.
Casey wrote this message into the relationship between Alex and Henry beautifully.
Casey’s Style
RW&RB is written third person, present tense. Which I thought was a really interesting choice.
When you write third person, the advantage is that you can write from multiple character perspectives. The disadvantage is that you lose the deeper connection between the reader and the protagonist that comes from writing first person. Somehow, Casey managed to use this advantage, while (mostly) avoiding the disadvantage. Though she wrote third person, she still wrote everything from Alex’s perspective, and made it feel like first person. That kept the connection between the reader and the character strong.
The choice to write present tense was also an advantage, because it immerses the reader straight into the action.
In addition, there were also lots of different written elements that broke up the narrative/dialog (emails, articles, texts etc.), and this made it more fun to read.
There’s a great deal of skill and talent in her style, and as a writer, I learned a lot from reading her work!
My Favourite Scenes (that I hope are in the movie!)
The Turkey Scene
I remember seeing Venessa Kelley’s drawing of this on the inside of my book and thinking, I have to know what happens in that scene!
Alex decides to keep the live Thanksgiving turkeys in his room, only to call Henry and talk about how scared he is of them. Not only is “the turkey scene” pure Alex-being-Alex, it also shows Henry’s playful side. If they cut this scene from the movie, I’ll keep it close to my imagination’s heart.
The New Year’s Kiss
Also known as, “When Henry gets tipsy off of champagne and kisses Alex for the first time.” Alex is adorably clueless. Henry’s imbued with liquid courage. They’re alone and outside in the snow. Henry can’t ignore how much he wants him. It’s the iconic spark that starts their romance. I’ve already seen previews of this scene in the movie, and I’m looking forward to seeing it come to life!
The Red Room Scene
And their first sex scene in Alex’s bedroom after! Casey is so incredibly talented with writing classy sex scenes, and I loved every one. The Red Room scene shows Alex mercilessly going after the man he wants. And him telling Henry that if he “ghosts” him again, he’ll get him on a “fucking no-fly list” is just so Alex. It’s hot. It’s steamy. It makes Henry start humming God Save The Queen to get rid of his hard-on after they part. It’s pure Alex being Alex. Love it, love it, love it.
The Moonlit Lake
Alex takes Henry on a mini-vacation to his father’s lake house in Texas with his family and friends. In the evening, they skinny dip alone and Alex tries to tell Henry that he loves him. Not only is this scene brutally romantic (until Henry walks off because he’s scared of what Alex is about to say), it also becomes a pivotal point for their future. It sparks the moments where they start to fight for each other.
History, Huh? Bet You We Could Make Some
The way that the worldwide queer community (and allies) support Alex and Henry after their relationship becomes public is truly heartwarming. I love the mention that the Dykes on Bikes chase homophobic protestors out of D.C. and that people start wearing “History, Huh?” t-shirts to show their support. It makes me hopeful that the same would happen in reality, and that queer relationships can be normalized, regardless of social status.
You and Me
The added scene in the special edition from Henry’s perspective. Expertly finished with Alex and Henry declaring “You and me” to each other. *Dreamy romance sigh.*
What I Didn’t Like About RW&RB
(What?? There are parts of your favourite book that you don’t like??)
Well, yes. The list is small, but it exists. Here goes:
- The President of the US saying she’s a “mom first, and a president second” and then proceeding to tell her twenty-one-year-old son that, if he’s gonna choose Henry, he’d better be forever. Whoa. That is a massive amount of pressure to put on someone so young. Though I realize this is a fictional romance, it’s completely unrealistic to demand this of a twenty-one-year-old. Are you with the person that you loved at twenty-one? Chances are, no. We barely know what we want for breakfast at twenty-one. Presidential campaign at risk or not, that’s your son, Ellen! And I think this scene is the book actually sends a bit of a toxic message to the reader. (Sorry, Casey.) She should have just told him that she’d support him with his sexuality and his present choice of partner – Whether Henry ends up being forever, or not.
- There are too many characters. Yes, I understand that there are massive crews of people that run both the White House and The Crown. And, yes, I do think that Casey captured the most important characters well. But throughout the book I found myself thinking things like, Who the hell is Amy again? Perhaps some small reminders would have served better.
To Conclude
Despite the tiny list above, this book is amazing with a capital A. I love it with all my heart – enough that it’s this suspense-preferring reader’s new favourite – and you should go read it. Even if you watch the movie, read it. I promise; you’ll connect deeper with these incredible characters, and it’s worth your time! Seriously. Read it. And if you don’t like it, I don’t need to know.
*All artwork depicted is by the amazing Venessa Kelley (@vkelleyart on Instagram). References – Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston – Collector’s Edition.*