How to Find a Princess Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
How to Find a Princess by Alyssa Cole is the second installment in the Runaway Royals series. Makeda Hicks loses her job and her relationship in one day—just when she already feels at her lowest. Then Beznaria "Bez" Chetchevaliere shows up, claiming Makeda might be the long-lost princess of Ibarania. Makeda reluctantly agrees to travel with Bez—and a quirky crew—across the Atlantic under the guise of a fake marriage. They end up sharing a cabin and a lot more than space. But when they finally reach Ibarania, Makeda learns there’s more riding on this journey than identity and inheritance. She discovers what it means to fight for who she truly wants to be—and who she wants beside her.
Why I Love This Book
I love how Makeda’s story is both personal and epic. I feel her uncertainty and her stubbornness. I love the strange, fun voyage with a crew that reads like family of misfits. I love the fake-marriage trope, how it sparks tension and sparks expectations—and then flips them. I love how Bez isn’t trying to “rescue” Makeda but meet her halfway. And I love that amidst comedy and chaos, the book asks what makes a home—and who gets to choose it.
Who Will Like This Book
If you like queer royal romances with modern touches and real hearts, you’ll like this. If fake marriage stories, ocean voyages, and discovering your place call to you, this fits. It’s for readers who want charm, found family, and meaning served with their romance.
⚠️ Trigger warning: This book touches on loss, identity confusion, and emotional stress tied to family legacy. It’s gentle in tone, but these themes carry weight.
Tagged As
contemporary romance, queer romance, royalty, fake marriage, slow burn, found family, LGBTQ+ romance, adventure romance, transatlantic journey, modern fairy tale, indie romance, HEA, series, second chance vibes
Steam Level
The chemistry is earnest and sensory. It simmers before it boils—but when it does, it’s honest and earned, not overly explicit. It fits the characters and the royal stakes.
This novel is #3 on our list of 7 Spicy Romance Novels with Insanely Hot Enthusiastic Consent. View the full list.
