Red, White & Royal Blue

Living in this story was just delightful. A balm for a tired soul in the year of our Lord 2019. Let's call this an alternate history, shall we!? We've got our first woman president! Who is divorced and remarried, and has biracial children! One of whom is bisexual! They are snarky and funny and tight-knit and beautiful, and open to handling issues together and talking things out and being as honest as they can with each other. They're from TEXAS! There is so much Texas in here.

Alex and Henry's relationship was adorable and messy and swoony and adorable again. Enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, but also SECRET RELATIONSHIP! Again, just delightful.

There's “but private email server!” hand-wringing because OF COURSE there is, but even though I knew that it was going to have to blow up at some point because this is post-2016, I didn't mind - I gave a good eye-roll - but also the stakes felt more legitimate in this context than they did in the real world?? The entire political aspect of this book was just great; so much of the focus was on helping others in the best ways you can, and leaving a legacy of good.