I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve recommended The Royal We to my fellow bibliophiles. It is without question one of my all-time favorite books, and for the past five years I have ached for a follow up about Prince Nicholas of Wales and his American bride, Rebecca “Bex” Porter. In a year when we could all very much use a bright spot, Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan have released the long-awaited sequel, The Heir Affair, and when I tell you that this book filled me with joy from cover to cover, I’m not even beginning to do it justice.
(Side note: This is a spoiler-free review of The Heir Affair, but if you haven’t read The Royal We yet, do that first!!! You can read my review here.)
The Heir Affair reacquaints us with college sweethearts-turned-globally sought-after royal couple Nick and Bex. After their lavish wedding and subsequent scandal leave them prime tabloid fodder, the new Duke and Duchess of Clarence find themselves reconnecting in self-imposed exile. Of course, the heir to the British throne and his now-notorious bride can’t hide away forever, and when duty calls them back to London, the scrutiny they are under only doubles—both from the royal family and from the unwavering press. As they work to settle into their new roles in the monarchy and as husband and wife, they are faced with family rifts, earth-shattering secrets, and challenges to their relationship they never saw coming. The Heir Affair is deliciously juicy and emotionally complex, and I soaked up every second I spent in its 460 pages. I would have devoured 460 more.
Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan have built a world so rich and so real that I honestly feel like I could walk into the supermarket and see Nick, Bex, and Nick’s brother, Freddie (once known as the Ginger Gigolo), on the cover of every magazine in the checkout aisle. Every character, from the stately Queen Eleanor, to Nick’s austere father Prince Richard, to Nick and Bex’s solid, hilarious group of friends is utterly authentic and holds a permanent place in my heart. While the fictional British royal family was certainly inspired by their real-life counterparts, they fully embody lives, relationships, and a decadent storyline that is entirely their own. As a narrator, Bex is everything I could hope for–a trusted friend opening her heart and shedding a few dishy secrets about the monarchy along the way. To say I loved this book would be an understatement. I lived in this book, and now I want nothing more than to fly to England and have tea with Bex and Nick at Kensington Palace. (I know, I know, that’s unrealistic. I’ll settle for some commemorative Duke and Duchess of Clarence china.)
When it comes to writing about the monarchy, Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan are a dream team. They authentically depict the mind-boggling inner workings of royal life while also reminding us that underneath the rules, the scrutiny, and the crown, people are still people and family is still family. Along with The Royal We, The Heir Affair will forever sit on the throne of books I can’t stop recommending and can’t get enough of. I would read about The House of Lyons forever.
For more on Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, be sure to follow their incredibly awesome blog, Go Fug Yourself, and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Pick up The Heir Affair at bookshop.org, IndieBound, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or your favorite local bookstore!
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