From the Publisher
A treat for fans of rollicking, romantic road trip novels or rom-coms in which independent-minded young women fall for intelligent, good-looking princes.” —Booklist
“Hard-hitting lines create tension between plenty of deadpan and situational humor…Enchanting entertainment.” –Shelf Awareness
“This book is just pure fun, romance and action swirled together in one wild, adrenaline-fueled package. Kara McDowell excels at crafting comedic moments, lovable characters, and life-or-death tension. A royally perfect romp!” —Rachel Lynn Solomon, NYT bestselling author of See You Yesterday and Today, Tonight, Tomorrow
“The Prince & the Apocalypse is a page-turning rom-com utterly unlike any other, full of heart, humor and huge surprises. This wonderfully whimsical, genre-mashing royal romance is the ride of a lifetime.” —Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka, bestselling authors of The Roughest Draft
“Kara McDowell is—hands down—my favorite rom-com author of all time. The Prince & the Apocalypse is an absolutely perfect blend of romance, humor, and adventure—Wren and Theo are going to live rent-free in my heart forever!” –Kass Morgan, bestselling author of The 100
"The Prince and the Apocalypse has to be the most inventive novel I've read in a long time! Twisty, romantic-as-heck, and heart-wrenching, I haven't stopped thinking about it since I read the final page." —Sophie Gonzales, author of Never Ever Getting Back Together
“I am obsessed with everything Kara McDowell writes and her new book is no exception. This book was EVERYTHING I wanted it to be. One part humor, one part angsty romance, one part vulnerable feels, and all parts bonkers. THIS IS THE ROYAL ROMANCE WE DIDN’T KNOW WE WANTED BUT ABSOLUTELY NEED.”—Kristin Dwyer, author of Some Mistakes Were Made
“Cute, witty, and alarmingly funny in all the right places. Only McDowell could make the apocalypse seem swoon-worthy! A fantastic read.” –Alex Light, author of The Upside of Falling
"If you're looking for a heart-racing good time, this is it—for more reasons than one. I adored Wren, who wants to spend her last week alive getting home to the people she loves most... and winds up finding love with the last person she expected. The Prince & the Apocalypse is a relatable, charming page-turner readers won't be able to put it down!" —Diana Urban, author of These Deadly Games
School Library Journal
08/01/2023
Gr 9 Up—The apocalypse meets cute royal romance in this fast-moving novel. Eighteen-year-old Wren's senior trip to London has derailed from her carefully planned itinerary, starting with a stomach virus. Then she crosses paths with Prince Theo, heir to the British throne, and helps him escape the paparazzi—and kisses him. When she later finds out the world will end in eight days due to a massive comet crashing into Earth, she calls him, hoping he can help her get home to Chicago. Theo, on the run from the palace, promises to get her home if she accompanies him to Santorini where his family has a home and plane. So begins a romp of a trip through Europe dodging passport control, hopping trains, stealing a car, rescuing a dog, and more—all while everyone is on the lookout for the rogue prince to get the reward his mother, the Queen, has promised for finding him. Wren and Theo get closer with every passing day (each chapter begins with a countdown to the comet strike), and everything seems plausible in the chaos of the end of the world. While mostly light with fun banter, the narrative, told from Wren's perspective, hits on real issues of grief and impending loss. Theo, who lives with untreated clinical depression, has disdain for his privileged life and struggles with the expectations of his mother. Wren and Theo are white; Theo's best friend, Will, has a boyfriend. VERDICT Readers who like a dose of adventure with their romance will devour this page-turner (and hope for a sequel). Recommended for YA collections.—Amanda Mastrull
Kirkus Reviews
2023-08-11
After missing her flight home from London, an American teen faces further travel interruptions when she hears an announcement that the world is ending in eight days.
Nothing has gone to plan during 18-year-old Wren Wheeler’s summer study abroad trip to London with her BFF. After years of anticipation, planning, and creating itineraries, she spent most of the time sick in her hotel room, and now she’s missed her flight home just as the news breaks that a comet is due to hit Earth, putting an end to life as we know it. Wren was running late in the first place because earlier, in a meet-cute at Camden Market, she helped 19-year-old crown prince Theo evade paparazzi after he ditched his security detail in hopes of enjoying some freedom before it was too late. Calling in a favor, she asks Theo for help getting home to Chicago. He agrees but in exchange wants Wren to help him get to Santorini, where he was happiest and would like to die. He’ll send her on to Chicago in the private jet that’s waiting there. The two embark on a trip across Europe involving trains, a ferry, and a stolen car, not to mention a blossoming romance. Quirky Wren is full of personality, and her lively first-person narration is engaging and sympathetic. The witty banter and romantic tension between the leads, combined with a fast-paced plot, help readers suspend their disbelief. Main characters are white.
A charming escapist romance. (Romance. 13-18)
