Book Review: Playing The Palace by Paul Rudnick

 

GOODREADS SUMMARY

After having his heart trampled on by his cheating ex, Carter Ogden is afraid love just isn’t in the cards for him. He still holds out hope in a tiny corner of his heart, but even in his wildest dreams he never thought he’d meet the Crown Prince of England, much less do a lot more with him. Yes, growing up he’d fantasized about the handsome, openly gay Prince Edgar, but who hadn’t? When they meet by chance at an event Carter’s boss is organizing, Carter’s sure he imagined all that sizzling chemistry. Or was it mutual?

This unlikely but meant-to-be romance sets off media fireworks on both sides of the Atlantic. With everyone having an opinion on their relationship and the intense pressure of being constantly in the spotlight, Carter finds ferocious obstacles to his Happily Ever After, including the tenacious disapproval of the Queen of England. Carter and Prince Edgar fight for a happy ending to equal their glorious international beginning. It’s a match made on Valentine’s Day and in tabloid heaven.

TEE'S THOUGHTS

I read PLAYING THE PALACE by Paul Rudnick for Bookmas in July, I needed a Royal Romance to fill a square, and Playing The Palace just happen to release around the same time. Perfect timing… Perfect choice…

Like most people I know, I loved the book Red White and Royal Blue, so since this seemed to be the same pretense, I figured I would enjoy this one as well. While I did enjoy Playing The Palace it is NOT RW&RB, nor do I believe it tries to be so do not go into it expecting the same story…it is not, it stands on its own.

Carter Ogden is a 29-year-old Jewish Event Coordinator who meets the heir to the British Throne, Prince Edgar while working on an event. He finds out that the Prince is different and much nicer than he had imagined and they two hit it off and begin having a relationship, which is easier said than done.

The book is a Rom-Com…heavy on the “ Com “, but underneath all the comedy it is also a story of an up and down rollercoaster of two people from different backgrounds trying to make a relationship work. The writer takes this hard relationship and lightens it with some very funny moments. It is light and easy to read, and the characters are all well played.

I love the Jewishness of Carter’s family. As a Jewish person, I always enjoy seeing them represented in books. Carters Aunt Miriam is a staple in many Jewish families, and she quickly became one of my favorite secondary characters.

Prince Edgar…well he is a Prince…so he comes off a bit stuffy at times, and a bit naughty at other times, but all in all he has a good heart and he grew on me quickly. 

His grandmother The Queen was probably my least favorite character. I was not fond of the way she treated Carter. It was one thing to not like him, but she at times came off as cruel. Maybe the writer wanted her dislike to be a bit funny, but it did not come off that way to me. I think this was one of my biggest complaints in the book.

I adored James, the Prince’s…Royal Assistant ( I really do not know what his title was ). However, I did find him a bit unrealistic with some of the ways he would speak to the Prince, but then, what do I know. I have neither had a royal assistant or any assistant for that matter nor have I ever came in contact with someone in Royal Service to know the type of relationships they may or not have with each other. I did love the comedy he brought to the book, and I really enjoyed his character.

So about Carter…first let me tell you a story…. because I know you just love hearing a story that may or may not have any bearing on the story … 

Several years ago my husband took me to New York City, there were several historic things I wanted to see there..mainly Tiffanys and Saks Fifth Ave ( don’t judge, they are historic…or iconic… whichever )  We have a Saks in the city I live in and I love shopping there, but I wanted to shop in THE SAKS FIFTH AVE…the one actually on Fifth Ave. So after leaving the store, my husband loaded down with shopping bags, I noticed that Saint Patrick Cathedral was right across the street, so we crossed the street and went in and had a look around. As we were standing at the altar, I looked out the opened side door and could see the Saks building and I laughed and said “ I am sure that Saks was put next to this big church so you could walk over here and ask God for forgiveness for all the money you just spent while you were in there… “ I am sure at the time my husband was thinking I should get on my knees and start asking for forgiveness, but he was nice enough to keep that thought to himself.

So back to Carter…I loved him, and Knew I loved him early on…page 6 infant, when he had this to say about Saint Patricks Cathedral

“ It’s my favorite place in the city, located between Tiffany’s and Saks, although I believe that’s a sign of God’s admiration for high-end retail…”

As you can see, I believe Carter and I would be friends.

Carter provides some of the best comedic bits in the book. He is a bit out of sorts in the world of the Royals, but he tries so hard to make Edgar proud. He will also make you feel differently about Trifle, but you will love him all the more for all of it.

Playing The Palace was a fun, and enjoyable book. It was the perfect vacation read for me. Funny. I Love Lucy slapstick type comedy. But it also proves that we all deserve happiness and perhaps even a Prince.