The Heir and the Spare

Albright debuts with an unabashed fairy tale romance of the American girl who meets her prince, while discovering her own royal background. Evie Gray’s mother died of cancer years ago, but she left big, mysterious plans for her daughter—a series of letters, delivered each year on Evie’s birthday, are aimed at helping Evie understand her true heritage. While in England, where she has just started attending her mother’s alma mater of Oxford, Evie meets and falls for Edmund, the “spare heir to the British throne,” à la Prince Harry. Evie’s initial unawareness of Edmund’s royal status is wildly unlikely, and Albright makes little effort to cloak Evie’s mother’s secret, but that mystery isn’t this story’s main draw, anyway. A rival for Edmund’s affections and a couple of hiccups in Evie and Edmund’s new romance spice up the straightforward romantic story line. It’s a fine choice for fans of films like The Princess Diaries or The Prince and Me, or readers looking for a lighthearted romp with a guaranteed happy ending. Ages 12–up. Agent: Jessica Watterson, Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. (Jan.)