My Best Friend Prince Charming

This book was really fun and cute. It was light-hearted, but it still had those emotional tugs I love while reading.

Ryker and Shannon have been best friends most of their lives, and that comfort and familiarity is very apparent in the story. I loved seeing them grow together as they finish high school and approach adulthood. Seeing them get these rare opportunities and support each other was wonderful.

I do wish some things would have been fleshed out more. I think it's intended to be short, but I feel like there could have been a little more depth on some of the more serious subjects, such as their families' struggles. Some of the dialogue felt a bit... forced and awkward as well but not enough to stop me reading. In fact, it was a very easy read that I didn't want to stop.

If you're looking for a sweet, fun YA romance, this is definitely one to check out!

MY BEST FRIEND PRINCE CHARMING is a contemporary romance told in alternating point of views so the reader witnesses both sides of the story. Shannon has a lot of personal issues she's dealing with between the divorce of her parents and the break up with her boyfriend who she caught cheating on her. Throughout it all, her best friend Ryker is there for her. When Ryker lands a role as Prince Charming, he becomes busy with the lifestyles of the rich and the famous. But even when surrounded by celebrity stars, his mind lingers on Shannon.

Shannon is jealous of Ryker's new job and the attention it earns. She feels him slipping away from her, even though she refuses to admit her feelings for him. Ryker on the other hand has always had strong feelings for Shannon. She's very important to him, but so is his family. They don't have much money, so this opportunity is life changing for them. As the tension builds, they're both forced to face their feelings for the better or the worse.

There's a lot of character growth for Shannon, even though she's quite a bit annoying in the beginning. Ryker is a sweetheart with a strong sense of what's right and wrong. He wants to be there for both Shannon and his family, which is admiral, even though it wears him a little thin. I love the idea of him being Prince Charming in both a movie and real life. Because anyone can be someone's prince with the right situation.


Overall: MY BEST FRIEND PRINCE CHARMING is a cute and clean contemporary romance that makes for a quick read. I would recommend it to those looking for a book in the friends to lovers trope and for those who prefer clean plots.

‘My Best Friend Prince Charming’ by Cindy Ray Hale tells the story of Ryker and Shannon, two best friends who care deeply about each other, but are too afraid of their relationship unraveling if either reveals the truth. While Ryker has known of his feelings for Shannon for some time, she’s been in a relationship with someone Ryker can’t stand. When their situations change, neither knows how to move forward in terms of their feelings, both old and developing, for each other.

When Ryker is discovered by a Hollywood movie director, he is cast as Prince Charming in a movie version of Cinderella. Shannon worries about what this might mean, including how they won’t be able to attend college together as they had always planned. While girls suddenly take notice of Ryker, Shannon finds herself somewhat jealous, but doesn’t feel it’s her place, while Ryker can’t take notice of anyone but Shannon.

They wonder if their feelings matter in the long run, and if being together supersedes all else. When another girl, the lead actress in the Cinderella movie, comes into the picture, Shannon figures that Ryker will move on, and quickly at that, with someone like her. Their uncertainty about each other seems very true to teenage life. There is also the fact that Ryker takes the time to analyze the decision of whether to take the acting job, even though not taking it means more of a struggle for himself and his family since he didn’t start out with much money. Many people would just take it without looking back, but it was nice to see a teenager take the time to consider and weigh the outcomes of taking on such responsibility.

A sweet and enjoyable story about inner turmoil, friendship, and love, ‘My Best Friend Prince Charming’ is perfect for lovers of YA contemporary romance.

A cute and fun romp.

What’s better than a Hollywood romance between a rising star and the quiet girl next door? When she’s also his best friend. For most of Shannon’s life, she hasn’t thought she was worth much. Growing up the daughter of a father who abandoned her affected the way she saw the world, pushing her into a bad relationship simply because she didn’t think she deserved more.
When her best friend is discovered by a Hollywood director, it forces her to come to terms with feelings she hasn’t let herself had for fear that one day he’d leave her as well.

What I loved:
This book is adorable. From cover to plot, it’s a quick and fun read with engaging writing and easy to root for leads. Ryker is SUCH a good guy, the kind of friend few are lucky to have. It’s impossible not to cheer him on as he’s chased by paparazzi, befriending Hollywood starlets, and facing a future he’d never imagined.
Told in alternating points of view, the reader is taken into the minds of both Shannon and Ryker, getting the full picture of why these two belong together despite jealousies, ex boyfriends, and sudden changes in status.
The most impressive part of the book though is Shannon’s growth from a girl who blames her mother for her parents divorce even though it was her father who cheated to a young woman who begins to see that both she and her mom deserve to be treated with respect and love.

What was just okay:
Not much. This book was pretty solid end to end. There’s the onus on the reader to suspend disbelief a bit with the Hollywood parts of the story, but once you manage that, the rest of the story is a pleasant trip.

Final Verdict:
A fun and adorable trip though young love that reminds us everyone deserves to be treated well and we should never settle for less.