My The Princess Trap Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
I read The Princess Trap by Talia Hibbert because I wanted a steamy royal romance with messy fun and bold characters. The story follows Cherry Neita—a sharp, plus-size Black British woman who’s tired of being let down by men and is only looking for a little harmless fun. She meets Ruben, a charming stranger who turns out to be the exiled Prince Ruben of Helgmøre. Neither expects anything lasting when they hook up, but when paparazzi catch them together, their worlds flip upside down. To save face and squash the scandal, Ruben asks Cherry to fake an engagement for a year, promising financial stability in return. The two jump into palace life, family secrets, and tabloid drama—and find their feelings getting more complicated every day.
Why I Love This Book
I love how daring and direct this book is. Cherry is the kind of heroine I root for—confident, practical, and fiercely loyal to her loved ones. She refuses to be anyone’s doormat, no matter how tempting the prince. Ruben is a complex hero—flamboyant, filthy, and vulnerable all at once—a bisexual royal who never quite fits in and hides his pain behind charm and sex jokes. Their banter is genuinely funny, the sexual tension is fierce, and the explicit scenes balance kink and consent in a refreshingly positive way.
The story doesn’t shy away from tough topics—body positivity, sexual abuse, family trauma—and Hibbert handles them with care. There’s depth beneath the fairy tale antics. I was pulled in by the lush, diverse cast and the moments when Cherry and Ruben open up about their pasts. I appreciate that the emotional beats hit hard: it’s not just about heat but about building trust, reclaiming agency, and surviving in a world that wants to define you.
Who Will Like This Book
If you want a royal romance with fake dating, spicy open-door scenes, and a heroine who truly gets her due, read this. It’s perfect if you love contemporary romances about strong, curvy women; grumpy-loveable bisexual antiheroes; and the chaos of palace intrigue. If you like stories with real emotional stakes, witty banter, and a healthy dose of angst alongside the steam, you’ll be hooked. There is quick pacing—sometimes the romance feels rushed, but the emotional payoff is there.
⚠️ Trigger warning: The book deals with child and domestic abuse (in the past), sexual content, family trauma, kink, and frank discussions of consent. If these subjects are tough for you, check the content warnings first.
Tagged As
contemporary romance, royal romance, interracial romance, fake engagement, fake relationship, enemies to lovers, curvy heroine, bisexual hero, grumpy hero, strong heroine, body positivity, family secrets, trauma, found family, open-door romance, explicit romance, kink, palace intrigue, dual pov, standalone, HEA, indie romance, kindle unlimited
Steam Level
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️Explicit
