The Heir Apparent - Rebecca Armitage

The Heir Apparent

By Rebecca Armitage

  • Release Date: 2025-12-02
  • Genre: Fiction & Literature
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 517 Ratings

Description

An irresistible modern fairy tale about a British princess who must decide between her duty to her family—or to her own heart.

A Reese's Book Club Pick!


It’s New Year’s Day in Australia and the life Lexi Villiers has carefully built is working out nicely: she’s in the second year of her medical residency, she lives on a beautiful farm with her two best friends Finn and Jack, and she’s about to finally become more-than-friendly with Jack—when a helicopter abruptly lands.

Out steps her grandmother’s right-hand-man, with the tragic news that her father and older brother have been killed in a skiing accident. Lexi’s grandmother happens to be the Queen of England, and in addition to the shock and grief, Lexi must now accept the reality that she is suddenly next in line for the throne—a role she has publicly disavowed.

Returning to London as the heir apparent Princess Alexandrina, Lexi is greeted by a skeptical public not ready to forgive her defection, a grieving sister-in-law harboring an explosive secret, and a scheming uncle determined to claim the throne himself.

Her recent life—and Jack—grow ever more distant as she feels the tug of tradition, of love for her grandmother, and of obligation. When her grandmother grants her one year to decide, Lexi must choose her own destiny: will it be determined by an accident of birth—or by love?

​“There's nothing better than snuggling up with a great story this time of year. The December Reese's Book Club pick, The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage, has everything I love in a holiday read—royals, romance, family twists, and a woman finding her own path. Can't wait for you to dive in.” —Reese Witherspoon

“One of the best books I've read all year.” —Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Seamstress

Reviews

  • Layers upon layers

    5
    By NardoNerd
    The story was captivating from beginning to end. I enjoyed how each character had multiple layers of complexity.
  • English Drama

    3
    By mlvarr
    A bit too unrealistic for me. Writer moves from one thought to another without a good transition. A few times I had to reread sentences to understand them. Entertaining storyline but ending was too predictable.
  • Great read

    4
    By Jazzy Princess
    Great book! Easy to read. I’m a teacher and read this during winter break!
  • To Many Political Undertones

    1
    By 1Stratton
    The store line was passable, but this book is full of political undertones. When I read a book I am looking for entertainment not a dose of the authors political views. The author was not subtle and this is just a regurgitated royal family news feed with names and places changed. Frankly it was not very original. I did finish the book hoping it would get better but it really was a waste of my time and money.
  • Excellent!!!!

    5
    By Nathanw1997
    Excellent book!!!!! Loved it!!!!
  • The Heir Apparent!!

    5
    By Rakland
    Fantastic read! It had all the things…cute couple to root for, bad guy you want to punch, questionable friendships that don’t make sense at first, and the fairy tale of kings and queens and princes and princesses in big castles. Loved it!
  • ADDICTING

    5
    By kaykaybean13
    Lexie, the next in line to be the Queen, has been thrust into this position after a terrible and tragic accident that will befall some men in her family. She is thrust back into the environment of the establishment of the monarch and will find herself in a continuous struggle with her own morality, simultaneously adhering to the impossibly high expectations of the family. It’s a whirlwind of a year while Lexi figures out if this position, being Queen and all that it entails. Will the crown be placed on her head or will she return to her life she was happily living as a resident physician and living apart from her royal duties. Will she be abdicating her duties? Her title? Or does she have the moral ambiguity that’s required of her to accept her role.