The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage

---

✦ BLURB ✦

Lexi Villiers is a 29-year-old Englishwoman doing her medical residency in Hobart, working too hard, worried about her bank balance, and living with friends. It's a good life, and getting even better, because as the dawn is breaking on New Year's Day, Lexi is about to kiss the man she loves for the very first time.

But by midnight, everything will change. Because Lexi is in fact not an ordinary young woman. She is Princess Alexandrina, third in line to the British throne - albeit estranged from the rest of her family and living in voluntary exile on the other side of the world. But following a terrible accident, Lexi - the black sheep of her family and, until this moment, always destined to be the spare - is now the heir apparent, first in line to the throne once her grandmother, the elderly Queen, dies. Called back to do her duty, she arrives in London to a Palace riven with power plays and media leaks, all the while guarding painful secrets of her own. Palace waters are treacherous, rumours are rife, and selling each other's secrets is a family tradition. And with the Crown just within her grasp, Lexi must choose what bonds she will keep ... and what she is willing to leave behind.

---

When your life is ordinary, and suddenly destiny calls — with a side of palace intrigue.

Pre-Reading Thoughts:
I was bracing for two timelines to tangle me up, but the writing feels like your friend is telling you a story over coffee. I expected some glamour and drama - what I didn’t expect was to care so much about someone juggling love, duty, and family secrets at once.

Post-Reading:
As I thought...
Lexi’s voice is warm, candid, and funny. The story is absorbing and clever, balancing palace politics with very relatable human moments. Her journey from overworked medical resident to poised, clever heir apparent is utterly believable and wonderfully engaging.

It surprised me by...
Making the dual timelines effortless. Each thread adds depth and suspense, and Lexi’s growth feels earned. The book manages to be fun, warm, and full of intrigue all at once - the perfect balance for a story about finding yourself in a family that’s centuries old.

---

🎧 MUSIC PAIRING
🎵 “Fight Song” – Rachel Platten
🎶 Future Nostalgia – Dua Lipa
🎧 Florence + the Machine - navigating chaos with flair and heart.

---

🌌 VIBE CHECK
🎨 Colour Palette: blush pink, cream, and deep navy.
🎬 Soundtrack: bustling streets, quiet study rooms, occasional royal fanfare.
🍂 Season: early spring - crisp and full of potential.
😶‍🌫️ Mood: bright, lively, thoughtful.
🌾 Scent: freshly brewed coffee, old books, and perfume.

---

🃏 TAROT PULL – Queen of Wands (Everyday Witch Tarot)
Lexi’s inner power embodied: fiery, playful, and entirely capable. The Queen sits on a dragon, taming it - perfectly symbolic of her journey through palace politics, media storms, and personal growth. She’s not just stepping into a role; she’s making it her own with confidence, charm, and style.

---

For fans of:
📚 Red, White & Royal Blue – Casey McQuiston
🎬 The Crown (early seasons)

Disclaimer:
The Heir Apparent publishes on the 2nd of December, 2025. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.