PRINCE OF THE PALISADES

After a disastrous public fiasco, a disgruntled African prince unexpectedly finds love, friendship, and himself.

Viral video ranting about his country’s popular prime minister? Check. Public breakup with said prime minister’s son? Check. Ultimate betrayal by his best friend? Check. Despite his best efforts, 17-year-old Jadon, troublemaking prince of the beautiful island kingdom of Îles de la Réverie, feels like he keeps checking all the wrong boxes. Banished to Los Angeles to spend a semester at an elite private school, Jadon is desperate to rehabilitate his image, but he struggles to connect with his new classmates and continues to say and do unprincely things. All his efforts feel pointless until he meets pink-haired classmate Reiss Hayes, an aspiring filmmaker, one of the few other Black students, and someone around whom Jadon finally feels like himself. Reiss tempts Jadon to do the one thing he said he wouldn’t: date. Jadon is a likable but unfortunately opaque character: Winters skips or reduces to a single line some critical moments of potential insight into his inner life, flattening his character. As a result, the coming-of-age story and its related themes of Blackness, queerness, otherness, and belonging, although interesting, feel unevenly developed. The romantic and familial relationships, however, are highlights, as is the book’s rich racial and sexual diversity. The royal family’s reconnection journey is heartwarming, and Jadon’s relationship with Reiss features cute moments, healthy communication, and a nice dollop of drama.

Black, queer, royal romance wish fulfillment.