Of Princes and Promises

I am so grateful to NetGalley and the Publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, for providing me with a copy of Of Princes and Promises by Sandhya Menon.

I have been a huge fan of Sandhya Menon since I read When Dimple Met Rishi in the Summer of 2017, the reason I am such a fan is because Sandhya Menon creates such happy, contempoary romance books, but they always have such a strong message behind them that hits you like a ton of bricks... In the best way possible of course.

Of Princes and Promises is the second book in the St Rosetta Academy series, the first book I have not read however that didn't effect my reading experience at all, these books can definitely be read as stand alones as the series.

This book follows Caterina LaValle as she returns to St Rosetta Academy after the Winter break hoping to reinstate herself at the Queen Cat after finding out that her boyfriend of two years was cheating on her. But Caterina is a LaValle and she is determined to bounce back stronger than ever and to be untouchable.

Rahul Chopra is an amazingly sweet character that is perfect opposite Caterina's icy exteria. Sandhya Menon has the amazing ability to write characters that have such depth and personality that I start to genuinely believe they exist.

Aside from the main romance of the book, another key storyline is sometimes you have to focus on helping yourself before you help others but also that being vunerable is not a weakness.

I have been in a reading slump recently and this book has definitely helped lift me out of it, this is another amazing Sandhya Menon book and one that I am so happy to have read!

I received an ARC for free from NetGalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Having read the following by Sandhya Menon, I was delighted to be given the opportunity to read Princes and Promises, also by Sandhya Menon.

When Dimple Met Rishi
10 Things I Hate About Pinky
From Twinkle, with Love
There’s Something about Sweetie

Where can I start with this book? Our story starts with the main characters of Rahul and Caterina.

Heart-broken from her break-up with her boyfriend of 2 years, Alaric, Caterina is expected to attend a highly prestigious social event. When she finds out her ex will be taking his new love, a model, Caterina is determined not to have pitying eyes her way. So declares that she will be attending, with a plus one.

Now to find someone to be her plus one. After going through a few possibilities, she settles for the softly spoken, unassuming Rahul. Rahul who is so smitten on love with her, that he will do whatever Cat asks of him.

What follows is a very Pygmalionesque series if events, where Caterina attempts to school Rahul is social etiquette. With the addition of s wardrobe upgrade, the transformation is almost complete. The stylist, Oliver has one final item that will complete Rahul's new look. A supposedly magical hair gel.

Once worn, the gel transforms humble Rahul into the dynamic and confident RC. Initially Caterina is delighted with her new social partner, but as time passes, she misses Rahul.

There are plot twists along the way, and Rahul is almost sucked into becoming RC once again when his supply of hair gel runs out, but thankfully makes the right decision to be himself.

This book, while following a familiar plot, has a few twist to keep the reader involved and turning those pages. Another winning title from Sandhya Menon!!

Actual rating: 4.75/5

Of Princes and Promises is the second book in the St Rosetta's Academy. We follow Rahul and Catarina. After dancing at the winter ball, Catarina asks Rahul to be her fake date for all of the social events she attends to make her ex-boyfriend jealous. Rahul transforms himself into RC, a handsome gentleman with the help of a magic gel...
First, I didn't really like Rahul and Catarina in the first book, but I learned to know them in this one and they were perfect and realistic. I also liked to see Rhey and Jana again as well as all of their friends.
Second, the plot was addictive and I couldn't put the book down. The fake dating trope was awesome and original. The romance was amazing and so sweet.
Last but not least, the retelling of The Frog Prince was great and Sandhya Menon's writing is so soft.
Overall, I truly enjoyed this book and its cuteness. Can't wait to read the next one!

When I was given the invite to review this I was excited. I had really enjoyed getting to know Jaya and Grey and the other St .Rosetta's students.
So I was certain that this read would be no different.

I love that the title alludes to the story of the frog Prince. That's wonderful. I also love the quotes at that are found just before the story starts :

It wasn't a kiss that changed the frog, but the fact that a young girl looked beneath warts and slime and believed she saw a Prince. So he became one.
- Richelieu E Goodrich, Making Wishes

And then

Open the door, my Princess dear. Open the door to thy True Love here
The Frog Prince

Its just perfect for the story that awaits. As the story starts we are reintroduced to Caterina LaValle who is despite having a glamorous lifestyle is trying to get over a bad relationship ship and a slightly damaged social standing.

Her glamour lifestyle means she has a full social calendar and is expected to be on top form and with a good looking date to match her.

But she is tired of all the boys she knows. She wants someone who will help mend her social standing. In walks Rahul Chopra social awkward totally clueless boy. But he's part of her set kind of with some social polishing and finishing off he might just be what she needs.

As time goes on she starts to fall in love with Rahul not her polished socially acceptable Prince. Will they ever see one another as just a girl and just a boy who can love?

Find out in this wonderful reworking of the frog Prince. I loved every moment of this read. Perfect for the start of summer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Caterina LaValle is determined to show she’s still the queen of St. Rosetta’s Academy. Sure, her crown may be slightly askew after her ex-boyfriend, Alaric, cheated on her, but she’s a LaValle. She’ll find a way to march right back in there, her hands clutching the strings to the whole puppet show. This time, she’s going to be untouchable. Rahul Chopra knows that moment he shared with Caterina LaValle at the winter formal meant something. Surely she feels it, too. He’s a little uncertain how someone like him (socially inept to a point way past “adorkable”) could fit into her world, but he’s loved Caterina for years. He knows they’ll find a way. When Caterina finds out Alaric is taking a supermodel to the upcoming gala, she knows she cannot arrive without the perfect date. But the thought of taking another superficial St. R’s boy exhausts her. The solution? Sweet-but-clueless Rahul Chopra and a mysterious pot of hair gel with the power to alter the wearer into whatever his heart desires. When Rahul tries it, he transforms instantly into RC—debonair, handsome, and charming. But transformation comes with a price: As Rahul enjoys his new social standing, the line between his two personas begins to blur. Will he give up everything, including Caterina, to remain RC? Or will this unlikely pair find their way back to each other?

We get to see a totally different side to the ice queen that is Caterina. I LOVED IT! We know her as cold and cruel but getting to see inside her head proves she is anything but. I really loved that we got to see her be more vulnerable and open to new things and about her feelings!
Rahul is such a sweetheart. I’d love a friend like him in my life! It was really cool getting to delve into more of his character too and see his confidence manifest in a more negative way. He is definitely a different person as RC, it’s almost scary!

Romance was definitely undertone throughout this book and I believe Menon executed it perfectly! We get the longing from Rahul, and then the admiration from Caterina... perfection! I loved the twist and turns this book took as well - I had an inkling of what would happen but boy was I shocked by the events that did occur. I really enjoyed Of Curses and Kisses and I am so, so glad that this sequel lived up to expectations!

Overall, Of Princes and Promises is a fabulous sequel that reminds you you’re perfect as you are.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you again to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an advanced copy of this book. Review will be live on my blog on release day.

5 stars!

This was an amazing second instalment in the St Rosetta's Academy series! This can definitely be read as a standalone - the mentions to the first book the series "Of Curses and Kisses" don't spoil it - but I definitely recommend reading it in order to get the full immersive experience.

This time we follow Caterina LeValle and Rahul Chopra as they try to navigate the events that happened before the winter break. When Caterina discovers that her cheating ex-boyfriend Alaric is taking a super model as his date to the next big gala, she has to find a date to. And who better than a polished version of Rahul?

Of Princes and Promises was everything I was expecting and more. There's fake dating, there's character development, there's communication, there's twists - it has everything!

Caterina and Rahul are incredibly fleshed out characters and you'll have no choice but to fall in love with them. The story is also really well paced and reads very quickly.

Once you pick up the book you won't want to put it down until it's all finished.

The most anticipated book of the year for me, the book was so great.
Catarina was one of the character I wanted to read about because she is shown as rude and mean person. But in this book you get to know more about her.
And Rahul, my favorite of all time. The story was written so well. And I really enjoyed this book.