I almost didn’t pick this one up because I’m not a royal superfan and it seemed to be Harry and Meghan fan fiction. But, I am so glad I picked it up.

My initial impression is 100% correct though. The Royals Next Door by Karina Halle is absolutely Harry and Meghan fan fiction. No denying it. There are far too many details that match reality for it to be classified as anything else.

However, the royal couple moving in next door is really only a set up for Piper.

She’s an elementary school teacher who lives with her mom in what was once servant’s quarters for a big house. She’s just trying to go home after a student puked in her purse, when she finds her street blocked by a man in aviators who wont let her through without proof of address. You know, the stuff that would be in the purse she just threw away. A local officer vouches for her and this stiff British guy named Harrison Cole escorts her home.

Turns out, he’s the personal protection officer for the royal couple. Piper realizes, he’s pretty hot, but can’t do anything about it. Harrison’s too serious and focused on work to even notice her in that way… maybe.

While the romance side of this story is rather fun, (I mean, sneaking around is generally more fun, isn’t it?) I don’t think it’s even the best part of the story. Piper’s mom has a couple mental illnesses, which is why they still live together. Piper is taking care of her mom, and dealing with her own variety of anxiety. Their journey through mental health issues is important and one I’m happy to see handled so beautifully on the page, as well as the theme of what a community is/should be.

Those deeper themes made The Royals Next Door a wonderful read. It balanced the light and steamy fun of a relationship developing with the weight of reality without being too much to handle in what’s already a stressful time for so many of us. Loved it! (Although, I will say, I felt slightly tricked by the cover. There is no binocular use in this story, daggumit. Would’ve been funny, for sure!)