Prince Material

I had loved The Player and The Player so much, so I knew I would enjoy The Prince Material because they’re a fun and relaxing read. I enjoyed the tale of Prince Floris from the Netherlands and Orson Ritchey, a New Orleans native who, like the prince, is attending a university in Massachusetts. They come across as very different in their likes and mannerisms, and obviously Floris is trying to have a ‘normal’ experience for the first time so that must add some weight to how he sees people but these two become friends. Friends who discreetly check one another out... and then deny it and think the other wouldn’t want them. Expect to shout at the page of the book because they make sense and you can see even before they date that the two provide a balance in the other's life. I have to say, I adored Orson, he’s quiet and he’s reserved for a lot of the book, and you will learn very early on that there’s a reason for him being a student but not really doing any of the traditional student things bar studying till he’s exhausted. What I did love is that this story is happening around the same time as The Player and the Prince because some brief moments cross-over, and I always like when an author creates a series that weaves and overlaps at times because you get to see both sides of a situation etcetera. I do want to say that this is a standalone book though, as are all the books in the series. Whilst there are the natural ups and downs between the two, this primarily is a cute story of two men falling in love, and for Orson in particular? How he grows as a person and becomes a lot more self-assured and learns to find his voice in difficult situations in many aspects of his life.The two both have great families who are the perfect support network for both Floris and Orson, for the prince of course he has the royal family; with his siblings and parents - who are royal but not the monarchs of the country. Orson’s family is his mother and sister, and I really like the disability representation with the sister and how positively she’s shown and how her conditions are explained. I would have liked more of Orson’s family in particular and their time in New Orleans because Mama Ritchey is so lovely, and she needs to be treasured so much. A surprising but well-done aspect in the book is how much we inadvertently learn about the historical architecture and restoration elements of both of their native homes, and it added depth to both of them because they’re in Massachusetts to study civil engineering. The information once again feels natural, and it felt like I could have been walking past the two as they conversed over the subject matter that the two are passionate about. It acts as one of the many ways the two become close, and you gain insight into why the two are studying and what they want to do in their future lives. (I warn you now, you might get a bit emotional over why Orson wants to do it and why he studies 24/7)We do get intimate moments between the two that are natural, and their emotions and conversations about taking their relationship to each stage had me smiling because yes, consent etc is always such a positive thing to see. It’s sensual and spicy at times and I liked seeing how well the two connect and how wonderful the author wrote these moments between the two.This was everything I was looking for, and I hope that maybe in a book further down the line we might see more of these couples  because I want to see their ‘happy ever after’. Floris and Orson are perfect, I couldn’t put the book down, and was smiling through most of it because they’re so sweet together. I’m going to be curled up with book three next and know I’ll be smiling at that one too!