They were best friends. He’s always wanted more. Will his newfound fame destroy them?
Shannon
Ryker and I have been best friends since third grade. We were the poor kids in the school, but that didn’t matter. We always had each other. And we had big plans to get scholarships and make something out of our lives. But now he’s been discovered by a big time Hollywood film director who wants to … lives. But now he’s been discovered by a big time Hollywood film director who wants to cast him as Prince Charming in an upcoming production of Cinderella.
Our college plans have been flushed down the toilet overnight, and now Ryker’s become famous with a ridiculous amount of money coming his way.
Thanks to the paparazzi, girls are swarming him both in person and online. And Ryker seems to love every minute of it. It’s so annoying.
I feel like I’m losing my best friend in the worst way possible, and I’m starting to wonder if maybe I’ve been lying to myself about my feelings for Ryker for a long time.
Ryker
I’ve secretly had feelings for my best friend Shannon for years, but she’s solidly kept me in the friend zone.
When a famous Hollywood director sees me as the lead in his niece’s high school play, he casts me on the spot as Prince Charming in his upcoming Cinderella film. I’m in shock and on top of the world as my biggest, wildest dreams are coming true. I’m finally leaving behind my old life of poverty and moving up in the world.
But now Shannon’s acting super weird and withdrawn. I don’t understand why she can’t just be happy for me. I wish she could see that I don’t care about the fangirls. Shannon’s the only girl I’ve ever wanted, and nothing, not even fortune and fame will change that.
But I’m afraid that all this luck may prove to be unlucky after all. Because if I lose Shannon, will it really have been worth it?
Dive into My Best Friend Prince Charming, the sixth installment of the BRAND NEW multi-author series, Sweet Mountain High.
more
My Best Friend Prince Charming is a great read! The story is very well written and the ending was thoughtfully written. The side characters are also well written and I’d love to see them have their own stories!
This is a series of stories in the Sweet Mountain High books and Cindy Ray Hale has once again written a sweet and endearing story. My Best Friend Prince Charming is a fun and delightful read that can be easily read in one sitting.
In My Best Friend Prince Charming, we find main characters Shannon and Ryker go from best friends to more than best friends. But it’s what happens in between their stories that makes this book so sweet. I am a firm believer that childhood best friends can indeed become lovers as they get older. Who else knows you best than your best friend? In this story for instance, Ryker and Shannon has had their share of ups and downs in life but they have always been able to rely on each other – as true friends should. But then something suddenly happens and their friendship gets put to the test. Will this sudden news break them apart or bind them closer together?
I liked Ryker’s character a lot – he is steadfast, honest, and kind. He doesn’t let the little things get to him and he’s very well written to be one of those “dreamy” kind of boyfriends that we all wish we could have. He is incredibly loyal to Shannon and that’s one of the top qualities for him. Shannon is rather complicated in that she has a bad past she can’t get over, thus hindering her from truly breaking free of her demons to realize her full potential. In a sense, she is the classic girl with daddy issues and doesn’t realize her destructive patterns.
My Best Friend Prince Charming is a delightful read. There are some heavy parts that could trigger for some people, but the story is very well written and there is a good resolution for all in the end. The side characters are also well written and I’m hoping for a side story for one of them!
Thank you in advance for the ARC!
This book was super sweet and only took a couple hours to read.
I felt that it was a little short though and things seemed to be rushed. Everything happened so fast and within a month or two.
Ryker was definitely boyfriend material but he did so much for Shannon; it kinda surprised me how much he did for her considering she technically had a boyfriend. I don’t know what she saw in Austin and I’m glad that they explained it because she should have been with Ryker this whole time.
The family dynamics were almost the same also since they only had one parent each and they both had a sibling or two.
I liked some of the side characters but not all of them. The drama was like being in high school all over again with the mean girls and the hormonal teenager boys. I’m glad they finally figured things out though and they will get there happy ending.
I am a sucker for a friends to lovers trope and this novel definitely hit it. This boy/girl next door romance is a fantastic novel for young readers. I am giving it a 4 out of 5 stars though because of the pacing. I felt like we hit the ground running from the first page and it made me feel a little flustered. I could have gone for slightly slower pace with more details. It just seemed like Shannon’s world was all at once, immediately falling a part. That could just be the adult in me though…
Can we talk about how much of a jerk the boyfriend was at the beginning?! MAJOR JERK! Ryker was obviously the way to go from the beginning. Perfect boyfriend material! That kind of guy that every girl in high school deserved.
I have not read any of the other Sweet Mountain High novels, but I look forward to reading more from this set.
I would definitely recommend this novel to my high school students looking for a quick read who love cute romances. This novel would even be appropriate for upper middle schoolers.
Extremely cute and fun to read!
I loved this high school, Prince Charming, movie star, best friend next door romance! The characters were great and their struggles relatable. I loved the ups and downs and hung on every word.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This book was a sweet, YA rom-com that can be read as a stand-alone or with the other Sweet Mountain High books. I had so many emotions and thoughts as I read through this book.
First, right at the beginning of the book, one of the main characters, Ryker, is offered a main role in an upcoming blockbuster movie. I love that he took the time to consider this big decision. In so many YA books where the main character is given an amazing opportunity, they just take it without thought. I like that Ryker took the time to weigh all the pros and cons before coming to a decision. This might be a little unbelievable for a 17/18-year-old guy, but I liked it nevertheless.
Secondly, I like that this book talks about some relationship issues that kids noways experience. Ryker and Shannon, the two main characters, both have a hard past with their parents that’s discussed a bit here. It affects their future relationships, as we see throughout the book. I’m glad the author chose to explore these issues with her characters since I’m sure there are teenagers in the world that deal with these issues IRL and would be happy to see there is help out there for them.
Along with all these things I liked, there were also some things I didn’t. Part of my dislike starts with Shannon. She was so wishy-washy sometimes that it just grew annoying. She deals with a lot of emotional trauma throughout the book which is why she acts the way she does sometimes, but it still bothered me.
As well, the plotline moved so fast that we often didn’t get much description when I felt like I needed it. It seemed like we were constantly moving between places and events with only a few lines of dialogue to hold us over. I wish I could have seen more of Ryker and Shannon’s thoughts rather than just dialogue and storyline. Like when Shannon was acting upset with Ryker, why was she upset? What was she feeling at that moment to make her so upset? I wish we could have seen a little more of that.
Overall, it was a quick and cute contemporary romance read. It was fun getting to go on this adventure with Ryker and Shannon and getting to see Ryker’s quick rise to stardom. Also, it’s a good book for younger ages as it doesn’t contain any swearing or sexual content.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I, for one, am charmed by royalty and back in the day, loved daydreaming about my favorite Hollywood crush, so this story settled right into my past self’s heart.
I loved the deep friendship that Ryker and Shannon share and as they come to recognize their true feelings in this rags-to-riches, friends-to-lovers, young adult romance, I was captivated. The chapters alternated points-of-view, which enhanced the story, although there were times when I wished for more depth. Keep in mind, these are teenagers, and while at times they seem utterly mature, there are plenty of times when their age shows, leaving plenty of room for the angst and drama.
Sweet Mountain High is a beloved place for me, but the setting for this one really focuses on the theatrical, Hollywood side that is introduced because of Ryker’s acting talent and the buzz that ensues was almost crushing. Ryker is very accommodating and sweet, while Shannon is a little more cynical and hesitant, but their relationship works and they are both great characters. This is a great series that takes me back in time.
Content: mild romance
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
This story captured my attention right away! The main characters are very relatable and their circumstances are realistic. Cindy Ray Hale does an incredible job helping the reader feel the magnitude of the character’s decisions. The reader also gets to experience the emotions of both characters throughout the story. I would recommend this book to anyone. I’m 38 and really enjoyed it. It was difficult to put this book down. I was eager to find out how it would end. I’ll definitely be reading more of her books!
A quick read and a cute love story! Ryker is definitely boyfriend material! There are scenes where my heart melts, and scenes where it almost hurts, but of course we get our “happily ever after”!
There’s really nothing wrong with this story other than it’s too short! I would have liked if it went a bit deeper in some places; it sometimes feels a little shallow and rushed. Of course, it’s a while since I left the years of “Young Adult” behind me, so that might explain my wish for more depth. Despite this I could hardly wait to get home from work today so I could finish reading!
*I received an ARC from the author and promised to give an honest review.*
I have so many mixed up feelings for this book…
It was short and sweet, that was nice because I found it very boring.
The whole thing felt watered down… the drama, the romance and chemistry.
Ryker did everything for Shannon, like everything. Expensive dresses and a full scholarship to her number one college… Shannon seemed very codependent on him, she over looked him for years and she just wasn’t a very likable person, in my opinion.
Ryker was sweet, always putting Shannon first, then his family. He was a good student who had a great opportunity.