The Runaway Princess

I can't decide if this is a 3 or 4 star book. While I enjoyed reading it, I have some major issues with a couple aspects. First, the first person narration would have been fine except for the bits where Amy is speaking to the reader. I'm not sure there's a more annoying tactic but dear readers, you decide.Second, the lack of any chemistry between Leo and Amy. I had a hard time believing that they really cared for each other. In fact, I'm pretty sure neither of them ever used the "L" word to each other (Amy mentioned in the end that she loved him, but did she ever tell him?). I'm not sure exactly what Amy saw in Leo except for his gorgeous looks--which we know because the word "gorgeous" is used to describe him. Amy didn't do anythuing particularly clever or noteworthy when they met, so I'm not sure why Leo was so determined to have her.Finally--and here's a bit of a spoiler--the ending was just...what? I was about to accept that Amy and Leo were not meant to be together, then he pulls a deus ex machina out of his crown and voila! They can be together after all. But I'm not sure why she'd want to be with a man who didn't defend her to his mother and sister, and who lets his sister triumph in her schemes to become crown princess. Really? That's what Willi would have wanted?And Ted...what a drip.The other parts of the book were very well done, however, and I enjoyed the descriptions and detail that went into the book. I liked the real life family drama--Amy's mother's problems came across as very real, and Amy's sympathy for her mother's anxiety issues makes her a sympathetic character.So, I'll give it four stars--with caveats. If you like royal books or chick lit, give this one a go.

Amy Wilde is a gardener in London who has a tough time meeting men despite her outgoing flat mate Jo's best intentions. Amy meets Leo at a party when his brother Rolf is out of control and breaks some of her potted plants. Amy goes on a date with Leo before she ever realizes that he is a Royal... aka exactly the kind of man Amy's dad warned her about. But Leo is different than most other Royals, in that he has a "regular" job, enjoys watching TV on his couch at night, and he is interested in Amy. I hope I'm not giving anything away when I say that Amy and Leo fall in love over the course of the book, though there are some bumps along the way that bring into question whether a regular girl can really ever fit into a Royal lifestyle.I'm a pretty fast reader, but it took me nearly a week to finish this book, and not just because the book is 400+ pages. The Runaway Princess is chick lit, but at times it didn't feel like it. There was so much character development and description that I found myself taking my time and enjoying every single written word. I felt like all of the main characters were fleshed out extremely well and I was rooting for everyone by the end of the book.My only request? The Runaway Princess NEEDS a sequel so we can find out what happens to Amy, Leo, Jo, and Rolf!

I've read every Hester Browne novel since reading The Little Lady Agency a few years back. She has a clear, funny writing style that I think many "chick lit" novels seriously lack. I enjoyed the aforementioned Little Lady Agency and Browne's last release, Swept Off Her Feet. I was less pleased with The Finishing Touches and the 2nd Little Lady book and, unfortunately, this one as well.My main issue with The Runaway Princess is that it feels too recycled. Browne's heroines are all a bit too alike, something I'm at odds with because they make me feel like a good friend of Browne's. To have four main, first person characters who all share several identical traits is a bit much to believe it's not totally coincidentally fictional. But I'm never bored with these girls, so that's not the recycled bit that I'm talking about. What I'm talking about is other things: the BFFs of these women are identical, there are unbelievable yet comedic families (particularly heavy on the sister front), the love interests are dreamy, typical guys (the exception being Nelson). The only thing that changes is the details of the plot, and even that is only slight at best.This plot didn't appeal to me much, so in that sense I knew what I was getting into. I don't find it attractive to be a royal or someone famous and I was really hoping Amy would choose someone different, particularly (and this brings me back to the recycled bit) because Leo is much, much too familiar, being a clear composite of mostly Jonathon and Nelson from Little Lady Agency. I also didn't like all the royal name dropping; it was to be expected but it was way overkill by the end of the book, which was way too slow in coming. Add to that the family "mystery/secret" that Amy withheld until almost the very end (making it more predictable and, therefore, less terrible than it was built up to be). But this book had several funny moments. In fact, I would say this was Browne's funniest of the bunch.

I paid like $12.00 for this book when I have kindle unlimited. Enough said. It's absolutely fantastic. Great funny writing. Delightful story. The book is an advertisement for how just how good romance can be. I hope it gets made into a movie!

For me, this is the perfect romance. The commoner, the royal, discord! And very funny supporting characters. I love everything by this author, but this is my favorite. Both my teenage daughter and I like to re-read this one. I hope you enjoy it!

3.5 StarsWhilst this was an enjoyable read with liberal sprinkles of humour I never really believed the central relationship. Somehow the social gulf between Amy and Leo never really seemed to be breached and, as Amy frequently complains it did feel like money was just thrown at any problems. There are also plenty of really cringy moments between the two that would have felt like red flags in a real relationship that Amy seems to think are the ultimate in Romantic gestures once she gazed in to Leo's eyes.As characters Amy, and her flatmate Jo, are fun and realistically feisty. Some 7 years after publication the situations still work and the pervasiveness of social media has only increased so it reads as fresh. The seeming exception to this is whatever heinous atrocity Amy's sister Kelly perpetrated. Yes, I know it all happened a number of years ago (10?) but as it seems to have destroyed lives then I am pretty sure it would have snuck online in the intervening period and a quick google of Kelly's name and her home town would bring up some information.Then there is hint at a sabotage sideplot by a member of the Nironian Royal Family. This never gets addressed at all and is just left to flounder forgotten in the shadows. Even worse is that it pays off the perpetrator as they ultimately get exactly what they want. What happened to justice for the bad guys in fiction? I know it is dressed up in striking for the rights of women but the methods do not justify the end result - you don't break another person to get what you feel you deserve.This was a fun and frothy read but I never really got involved in the life of any of the characters. This came as a surprise to me as I have always found myself thoroughly sucked in to rarefied worlds I know nothing about in the previous Hester Browne books I have read.

Amy is a sensible landscape gardener with a love of plants and the beginnings of a successful business in London. She is not particularly enamoured with any of the men that her flatmate finds for dates but suddenly finds herself drawn to Leo - the prince of a small European principality who engages her services. This then becomes a fairytale story about the prince's love for the ordinary woman and her struggle to fit into his world. You need to disengage your sense of reality at the start of this book - the romance is unlikely and the principality definitely made up. However strong the attraction that Leo has for Amy, in the real world it wouldn't result in a marriage proposal.Once you've accepted the concept of the story then this is actually a very entertaining read. The author has created an excellent character in Amy. She is sensible, with her feet firmly on the ground, and is willing to sacrifice a lot of her love but not her family and friends. The love between Amy and Leo is well done and develops slowly - they are neither of them without faults which the book represents well. The book is told by Amy and her narrative is amusing and insightful - the author gives Amy the knowledge that the situation is like a fairytale and the sense of irony to understand how far the fairytale differs from real life.The minor characters are particularly well done and the author avoids falling into the trap of making those who oppose the union nasty people in themselves. I particularly liked Jo and Ted's slowly developing love. The story leads to an inevitable climax which rather challenges the rules of succession as I understand them - although if you can invent a whole country I suppose you can make up your own rules. The ending is all very satisfying.This is a good, escapist read with a touch of romance and an engaging heroine - you can ask for little more !

Amy is a normal girl who unwittingly meets and falls in love with a Prince; Leo. What follows tells of their relationship and the difficulties of being in a royal family. Set against this is the mystery surrounding Amy's sister, Kelly, and what she did. The reader does not find out until the end which makes it more suspenseful. The characters are well written and it is a joy to read about them. I found this to be unputdownable and raced through this excellent read. This has everything; emotion , wit, real life and at its heart a true romance.

A very normal Yorkshire gardener falls for a dashing man at her friends party.Little does she know he is Royalty.Full of fun, phowpars, romance and hidden secrets.A very enjoyable read with some very lovable characters.

I enjoyed reading this book, even if the plot is a little far fetched. It is an easy read and provides some real escapism. However, I have deducted a whole star for the fact that Amazon have sold me an American version of the book instead of one written in British English. It spoiled some of my enjoyment of a great Hester Browne novel.

Loved it, ended up staying up most of night reading, every time decided time to sleep found myself picking book up to just read a bit more

An excellent easy read. Quick ending, but nothing really spoiled. Great characters and elegant plot. Left wondering if we will get a sequel about the brother or best friend and the gardener...

One of the best books I've read for a long time.Loved the characters and the moral of the story.Laughed and cried and finished it in less then a week!Hope for a second book to follow

A lovely rom-com book. I really enjoyed this book, I wouldn’t say it made me laugh out loud but I definitely had many smiles throughout, loved all the characters

I love all the stories that came out later like her sister employing her best friend to keep in touch

Hester is a new author for me and I cannot put her books down. She has quirky characters who are entertaining. Excellent rom coms. Nothing wrong with a happy ending either. Well recommended

An enjoyable read. Have read a couple of books from this author and this was amusing and easy to read.

I took a shot at trying this book as previous attempts at similar styles have been disasterous, however i was gladly surprised that i really enjoyed the runaway princess. The characters were nicely developed although Ted seemed to take a background role for 2/3 rds of the book. The relationship was written nicely although it was a little TOO fairy tale, to perfect to be realistic, but it was still enjoyable.

Delightful, witty romance novel. Unlike many of it genre this book has a storyline, likable (mostly anyway) characters, and none of the clichéd misunderstandings that normally cause upset between couples. I would recommend!!

Having just read The Vintage Girl by this lady I looked forward to this book and I was not disappointed!From the beginning I thoroughly enjoyed this book so much!It was a wonderful sit down and read book that I didn't want to put down with its twists and turns!Loved this book and highly recommend it!!