Summary
Red, White & Royal Blueis a beloved LGBTQ+ romance novel, but another book in the same genre acts as the perfect replacement for those looking for similar love stories. The 2019 novel by Casey McQuinston follows Alex Claremont-Diaz, son of the first female President of the United States, who gets in an altercation with Prince Henry of the British royal family. Following their public spat, the pair are forced to become public friends, something which slowly leads the pair into romantic territory for each other.
Following the novel’s positive reception,Red, White & Royal Bluewas adapted for Prime Video, becoming a critically and commercially successful movie for the streaming platform. This led toconfirmation ofRed, White & Royal Blue 2, with novelist McQuinston co-writing the screenplay. Thecast ofRed, White & Royal Blueis also set to return, showing how successful the love story between the two young men ended up being. However, while viewers await the movie sequel’s release,there is another LGBTQ+ novel with similar themes that acts as the perfect replacementin the meantime.
Red, White & Royal Blue Movie’s 10 Biggest Changes Made From The Book
Red, White & Royal Blue gets the film treatment, but that also means there are several differences to the novel. We break down the biggest changes.
Boyfriend Material Has A Familiar Setup
Boyfriend Materialis a 2020LGBTQ+ romance novelby Alexis Hall, following a romance between an unlikely couple, similar toRed, White & Royal Blue. The story follows 28-year-old Luc O’Donnell, the only child of two formerly famous rock stars that works for a charity trying to save dung beetles. Following his dad’s twenty-year journey to sobriety, the father and son both end up back under public scrutiny, a fame that causes Luc to be perceived negatively in the press due to a disdainful partygoing image.
This leads him to meet Oliver Blackwood, a vegan barrister whose clean public track record makes him the perfect candidate for Luc’s public boyfriend. The two make a deal to pretend to date one another to save Luc’s reputation, something that seems impossible at first due to the pair being so different. However, they soon begin to fall for each other, leading to a romance deeper than either of them anticipated. While it’s a relativelynew LGBTQ+ romance book,Boyfriend Materialoffers all the right details to make it a memorable entry in the genre.
The book is also bolstered by the love story being told, with Luc and Oliver’s slow burn relationship akin to that of Alex and Henry realizing their feelings for one another.
Why Boyfriend Material Will Appeal To Red, White & Royal Blue Fans
The Book’s Love Story Has Many Similarities To McQuinston’s Work
Hall’s novel has a very similar setup toRed, White & Royal Blue’s romance,with two unlikely people from different backgrounds falling in love with one another.Their love is also the result of pretending to form a relationship, the biggest difference being that Luc and Oliver’s starts as a faked romance. Both novels also prominently feature the UK as a primary setting, with McQuinston’s book featuring more of America because of Alex’s role. These surface similarities will makeBoyfriend Materialfamiliar to those who enjoyedRed, White & Royal Blue.
The book is also bolstered by the love story being told, with Luc and Oliver’s slow burn relationship akin to that of Alex and Henry realizing their feelings for one another. While the main duo inBoyfriend Materialdon’t have the lavish lives of theirRed, White & Royal Bluecounterparts,the love stories told in both novels have major parallelsbecause of each couples' interactions with one another. However,Boyfriend Materialdoes have one element the royal romance doesn’t yet, making Luc and Oliver’s relationship blossom even more than expected.
Alexis Hall’s Book Has 1 Thing Red, White & Royal Blue Doesn’t
A Sequel Continues Luc & Oliver’s Story
Red, White & Royal Blue’s endingis definitive, granting Alex and Henry a much-deserved happy conclusion that sees the pair still in a romantic relationship despite the boundaries that were in their way. In terms of the book side of things, this ends their story, with only the movie sequel being the next planned installment in the franchise. However,Boyfriend Materialhas an official sequel from Hall, showing how Luc and Oliver’s relationship continues to evolve past their original fake couple scheme.
The sequel, titledHusband Material, follows Luc as he begins to feel like he needs to get married as he grows older, and as his relationship with Oliver continues to grow more serious.Both books are the first installments in Hall’sLondon Callingseries, with a third book,Father Material, slated for release at an unknown future date. Because Luc and Oliver’s lives are so fleshed out, it gives readers a chance to continue spending more time with them compared to Alex and Henry - on the page, that is.
WhileRed, White & Royal Blueprovides a gripping LGBTQ+ romance for readers,Boyfriend Materialis the perfect companion story for those wanting more. It offers a familiar tale for those who liked McQuinston’s novel, as well as an expanded story thanks to its sequel. Even viewers waiting forRed, White & Royal Blue 2might want to check out theLondon Callingseries, especially those itching for engaging LGBTQ+ representation in their media.
Red, White & Royal Blue
Cast
Red, White & Royal Blue is a romantic comedy film based on the New York Times best-selling novel by Casey McQuiston. The film follows the President of the United States son, Alex, and Britain’s Prince Henry, who are at odds over nearly everything. However, the two get into an altercation at a significant event, further causing a divide between the two nations; they are forced to reconcile their differences on paper. But as the two spend time together, their rivalry evolves into something more.
