Publication: 8th May 2025 – Scholastic UK
Wardrobe? Couture. Classmates? London’s Elite. Parties? Scandalous. It’s girl meets boy … with a royal twist.
After the death of her mother, Ruby is thrust into the glittering world of London’s upper-class. At Clairmont Hall, the corridors are ruled by the Elites – a group made up not only of London’s richest but actual royalty. Princess Caroline is rumoured to be dating the dazzling duke, Xavier.
Ruby realizes infiltrating the Elites might be the key to finding out who her father is. He has to be one of her mother’s high school friends – but which one? As secrets begin to unravel, Ruby agrees to fake date Xavier in the bid for Clairmont Queen, but she’s not sure her feelings are strictly pretend. And Ruby swears he’s been sending a few glances her way…
I love Katy Birchall’s romance novels, they are hilarious and immersive and I am always looking forward to reading the next one, so I was really excited to get into her YA novels.
Hot Young Royals is set in the world of royalty and aristocracy with its exclusive schools and parties, villas in Italy, masquerade balls, intrigue, and secrets. The protagonist, seventeen-year-old Ruby Carter, knows nothing about this world, having grown up in the English countryside with only her mother, not having anything to do with her aristocratic side of the family, until her mother dies and she goes to live with her aunt Tabatha in Central London. Determined to find out the truth about the identity of her father and her mother’s past, Ruby infiltrates the Elite, the group of nobility at Clairmont Hall, which includes not only the future Queen of England, but also a broody and handsome duke. As Ruby slightly lies her way into the group, she will have to figure out the lengths to which she will go to discover the truth and if she is ready to face the consequences.
Hot Young Royal was such a fun and intriguing read. My favourite character was the outspoken and brazen Lady Tabatha, who managed to make me laugh out loud even in the most serious moments. I also liked the character of Ruby, who I found a strong and authentic (but also flawed) character, and his romantic interest, Xavier, is just adorable and I enjoyed how both their stories (on their own and together) develop.
Hot Young Royal is a witty and entertaining read, well-written and with a wonderful cast of characters, and I am keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel!
A huge thank you to Scholastic UK and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this novel.
Katy Birchall is the author of several young adult and teen novels, including The It Girl series, the Hotel Royale series, the Morgan Charmley: Teen Witch series and the How Not to be a Vampire Slayer series. She is the co-author of the middle-grade Lightning Girl series, Star Switch, Girls Rule and the Luna Wolf books with Alesha Dixon, the co-author of the Ella Jones series with influencer Lucy Edwards, and co-author of the Find the Girl YA series with Lydia and Lucy Connell.
She has written a retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma for the Awesomely Austen series and the Netflix spin-off novel Sex Education: The Road Trip. She is also the author of several romantic comedies for adults including The Secret Bridesmaid, The Wedding Season and The Last Word. She writes romantic fiction for young adults under the name Ivy Bailey, romantic-comedy under the name Katrina Logan, and romantic sports fiction, including Match Point and Ride the Wave, for adults under Katherine Reilly. She has also written the non-fiction book How to be a Princess: Real-life Fairy Tales for Modern Heroines.
Katy lives in London with her husband, daughter and rescue dog.
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