The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage

Meet Princess Alexandrina ‘Lexi’ Villiers. She's 29 years old and living in Australia where she is completing her medical residency, hanging out with friends and living a relatively anonymous life But her life is turned upside down when a tragic skiing accident kills her father and brother. Suddenly, she's next in line for the throne and set to become Queen of England.

The problem? Lexi has successfully escaped the royal life she was born into. She's built a new existence in Tasmania, working as a doctor and living with her two best friends. Now she's being dragged back to a world she publicly rejected.

Journalist Rebecca Armitage was inspired while covering Harry and Meghan's 2018 wedding, noticing something beneath Harry's composed exterior. That observation led her to wonder: what if a royal who'd successfully escaped had to return?

When the Queen grants Lexi one year to decide her future, the stakes couldn't be higher. Can you be born into a role and still choose your own destiny? What follows is a year-long battle between duty and desire, with Lexi caught between the life she's built and the crown she never wanted.

The Palace politics are where this novel really shines. There's a grieving sister-in-law harboring explosive secrets, a scheming uncle plotting to claim the throne and a public that hasn't forgiven Lexi for abandoning her royal duties. Royal watchers will enjoy spotting the real-life parallels, but there are enough twists to keep everyone guessing.

Ultimately, this is just a story about a family and while this may be a family that waves to us from a palace balcony draped in jewels, they have a lot of the same problems that ordinary families have as well, says Rebecca.

Anyone who has struggled with family expectations or wondered whether to follow their heart or their head will relate to Lexi's journey. The writing is sharp and moves quickly, making this the perfect holiday read. Rebecca Armitage lives in Tasmania. After years of reporting on the royals, she's successfully channelled her insider knowledge into an entertaining page-turner.

Reviewer: Andrea Molloy

HarperCollins