I must admit I struggled to finish this one. It was well written however that era in history didn't particularly excite me. Thanks kindly however to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review.

This book was a cute read based on Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s relationship. It was really interesting to read about how one imagines the beginning of their courtship went.

This is a historical fiction that features the relationship between Queen Elizabeth 2 and Prince Philip. 

Before inheriting the crown and despite growing up in a palace in the time of war, Elizabeth was like other teenagers. She was taught many things, engaged herself to performing plays. Yet she longed to be in a relationship with the charming and handsome, Philip. However, the Queen, her mother has other suitors for her. Even though he too long to be in a relationship with her. Their relationship is tested.

This book is definitely recommended for those who love to watch The Crown series. It was a pleasure for me to read. I like how the characters of Elizabeth and Philip was developed as well having the insight to their relationship.

I received an e-book from Netgalley.

I liked this book. It is well done but it is just a little too simple. It was simply an easy and quick read. 

I do recommend it. I think it is a good introduction to teens who want to start reading Historical Fiction.

'Before the crown there was a love story…

Windsor Castle, 1943

As war rages across the world, Princess Elizabeth comes face to face with the dashing naval officer she first met in London nine years before.

One of the youngest first lieutenants in the Royal Navy, Philip represents everything she has always been taught to avoid. Instability. Audacity. Adventure.

But when the king learns of their relationship, the suitability of the foreign prince is questioned by all at court.

He is the risk she has never been allowed to take. The risk not even the shadow of the crown will stop her from taking…

Step through the palace gates and discover a captivating historical novel of royal secrets and forbidden love exploring the tempestuous courtship between Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip in the wake of WWII.'
________________________________

3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 stars.

Before the Crown is a stand-alone historical fiction following Princess Elizabeth's path toward the altar with the exciled, Prince  Philip of Greece.

I really enjoyed reading about the start of Elizabeth and Philip's relationship. It was largely practical, but there was an underlying sweetness. It all begins very one-sided with a childhood infatuation, but grows over time into something more meaningful. It's a far more realistic glimpse into royal and aristocratic marriages than in many historical fictions, which makes it interesting to read.

I've watched The Crown on Netflix and found that this book made them a little more human and relatable. Or at least Elizabeth was. I genuinely stil don't understand why anyone would be head-over-heels for Philip; he just comes across as petulant and entitled.

This is a historical fiction, which obviously pretty strongly follows the facts. I think it would have been a great addition to the book if there had been an included historical note to give readers an idea as to how much the story followed the real events.

After closely following their emotions throughout the book, I was a little surpried and disappointed by the wedding itself which fades to black during the walk down the isle and is focused solely on Elizabeth's point of view. There is very little emotion at all, mainly detailed descriptions, which made it feel a bit detatched from the rest of the book. Overall I enjoyed the book though and found it interesting.
_____

I would like to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for sharing e ARC of Before the Crown by Flora Harding with me. This is my honest review.

4 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

This is an entertaining historical fiction that imagines the events between Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip in the years before they married.

The story begins in 1943 during WWII. Philip is a lieutenant in the Royal Navy and Elizabeth is a young 16 year old enamored with him. Philip's uncle Dickie tries to push Philip into courting Elizabeth, hoping to improve their families' fortune. Philip, for his part, is not interested. As the duo get to know each other better throughout the years, Philip's interest changes and he finds himself falling in love with Elizabeth. The story ends with their marriage.

This book reminded me a lot of the story that was told in the first season of the Netflix series The Crown. The book is well written and is an easy, quick read. I enjoyed getting a more personable peek into what Queen Elizabeth, who always seems so formal and closed off, might have been like, and the things she may have been going through, during this time. I know it's fiction, but it's fun to imagine.

If you like reading about the Royals, this is a great book to read and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was a little apprehensive about reading historical fiction based on two living people. I am pleased to say I couldn’t put it down. It was a lovely story and I believe it to be mostly true. I wish this was the first in a trilogy, because although it ends at an appropriate time,  there are still many years of before the crown.  Definitely a book that I will recommend to my friends. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Whilst this is a fictional reimagining of the courtship between Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip of Greece it’s beautifully told, and very believable.

The author brings you in to the Palace intrigues, and with this lovely love story set against the war years, and austerity of post war Britain.  I was quite drawn into it and spent a lazy morning in bed immersed finishing in almost one sitting.

Well researched and it was lovely bringing the touches of her majesties life that make the news today; like the dressmaker Norman Hartnell, and the broken tiara on her wedding day that all made the pages.
I suggest switch your phone off, lock the door and settle into the wonderful true love story that Before the Crown is.

An imagined version of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip's before Elizabeth was crowned as queen. I enjoyed the book and learned a few new things but didn't love it. I found it a bit voyeuristic although that's definitely my own taste and in no way a reflection of the research the author has obviously put in as the book appeared to me to be very detailed.

4.5 stars

Not only is this cover absolutely breathtaking, but the story sounded excellent as well. But in all honesty, it was the cover that captured my attention and made me want to read this one!

Thanks to shows like The Crown, royals and Queen Elizabeth have been getting a lot of attention and focus. In The Crown though we don’t get too much background on the early years of Princess Elizabeth so that’s why this one excited me so much.

This book promised to shed some light on the romance between Phillip and Elizabeth and I was absolutely here for it!

Summary
Before the crown there was a love story…

Windsor Castle, 1943

As war rages across the world, Princess Elizabeth comes face to face with the dashing naval officer she first met in London nine years before.

One of the youngest first lieutenants in the Royal Navy, Philip represents everything she has always been taught to avoid. Instability. Audacity. Adventure.

But when the king learns of their relationship, the suitability of the foreign prince is questioned by all at court.

He is the risk she has never been allowed to take. The risk not even the shadow of the crown will stop her from taking…

Step through the palace gates and discover a captivating historical novel of royal secrets and forbidden love exploring the tempestuous courtship between Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip in the wake of WWII. (summary from Goodreads) 

Review
Royal marriages are often about advantage or power rather than love or suitability. But that started to change with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. By the time the world hit the WWII era, royal marriages started to take on a new meaning for couples like Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip. Though they have been married for 70+ years it’s hard to imagine them being young and in love right? Well this book does just that.

I loved how this book focused mostly on the events leading up to their wedding. There are so many books both fictional and non that focus on the things that went on one they were married but the unknown period for me really is the courtship and how they met. I loved reading about all that in this one! Even if this was a fictionalized version of their romance, I still felt that it was believable and realistic with an air of authenticity. Phillip was so dashing and I couldn’t help but love him even if there were elements about that relationship which were a bit depressing.

I mean who doesn’t love an underdog though right? In this book her is very much the last choice the other royals want Princess Elizabeth marrying so I loved seeing how they eventually came together and thinking about that and seeing now how long they have been married, it’s truly a heartening story even if sad at times.

Overall I really really loved this book. I read it in only a couple of sittings and found that the closer I got to the end, the less I wanted to be done with it. It was a great book and nice little escape for me and I am looking forward to seeing what this author comes up with next. If you love The Crown or just all things royal (like me) this book is one you want on your shelf and with a cover like that, do yourself a favor and buy the hard copy of it!

Book Info and Rating
Kindle Edition, 267 pages
Published June 12th 2020 by One More Chapter
ASIN B081PTY79C
Free review copy provided by publisher, One More Chapter, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Genre: historical fiction

Absolutely LOVED this one! It was so interesting to read a time before Queen Elizabeth II was Queen Elizabeth II and I also finished watching the crown as I read, which I really recommend because it was so much fun to see the very beginning of her and Philip's relationship and later on in their marriage. The writing kept me engaged and I felt like I was reading a fairy tale, only it was even better because I knew it was real life. Definitely one of my favorite books of the year!

Before the Crown by Flora Harding allows readers to get a behind the scenes look at the courtship between Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip.  I found the book easy to read, but I did feel it had slow pacing and it lacked depth.  Before the Crown seemed to be aimed at a younger audience.  The point-of-view alternates between Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip.  We get to see what each one thought and how they felt as the relationship progressed.  We get to see different moments of their relationship.  It is small snippets of time.  I was disappointed that their original meeting was not included.  The story builds up to the wedding, but the actual event is not included.  I found the ending to be dissatisfying.  I like how it made Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, and the other members of the royal family seem like real people.  Queen Elizabeth is so confident and poised, but she was not always this way.  I liked seeing how she felt about being queen and dealing with her shyness.  There is some mild foul language in the book.  It is wise to remember that this is a fictionalized account of events.  It would have been helpful if the author had added an afterward on what was fact and what was fiction.  Before the Crown is a book that will appeal to those who are fascinated by the royal family and enjoy watching “The Crown”.

his was a fun look into Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip's relationship up to their marriage. This isn't a period in their history that I've seen a lot about, so it was nice to get this different perspective. I wouldn't say that I know a lot about either of them, so there was a lot to learn in this book and see a whole new side of them both. ⭐⭐⭐💫 I recommend for fans of The Crown who want a little more.

I am breathless having just finished Before the Crown. This is such a beautifully told story, achingly romantic, so well researched and written as to seem a true account of the love story of a princess and her prince.

I will start by saying that historical fiction is not my favorite genre but sometimes it surprise me and I end up loving the story. While I did enjoy this book, I thought it was extremely slow and I had a hard time staying engaged. I think it would really appeal to some readers and I can see why it got so many 5 star reviews. I'm sad that it didn't quite work out for me personally but I still recommend checking it out!

Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for providing a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

rincess Elizabeth was just a teenager when she first met Prince Philip of Greece.  While she was immediately taken with his handsomeness and joie de vivre, he took time to grow to appreciate the person she was.  They saw one another off and on over the next years and their friendship continued to grow.  It was Elizabeth who asked Philip if he wished to taken their relationship further and he agreed.

During this time, World War II was raging and Philip was fighting too.  Elizabeth and the Royal family did all they could to join in with rationing just as the rest of the country was doing.

We learn about Philip’s Greek family in exile in various places.  This information is a great addition to thie book.  It’s the first time I have read as much about his family.  We also learn how his Uncle  Mountbatten pressed him to court Elizabeth with hopes of marrying her.

Due to Philip’s German relatives, Elizabeth’s parents are against the marriage.  However, Philip is working to become a British citizen which should negate some of their feelings on this.  However, Elizabeth is determined to marry him again despite anyone else’s objection.  Will their be many more roadblocks to face before they can marry?

This book is delightful from start to finish.  Included are some beautiful descriptions of the Scottish countryside and of a tour of South Africa.

As a long-time follower of the English Royal family, I really loved this book learning even more that I already knew.  Well done!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A beautifully written story of love and romance in an era where honor and duty were the usual requirements for royal marriages.  Although a fiction, the love story is so emotionally touching that you hope this is really the truth.  

Flora Harding has obviously done a great deal of research, adding little flourishes to historical fact to bring us a really wonderful read that will be enjoyed by most anyone.

I wish to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins UK Publishers for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book.  I have voluntarily read and reviewed this book.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

So much is written about Queen Elizabeth, Victoria and Albert, Charles and Diana, Kate and William and now Megan and Harry.  As readers, we all love learning about the Royals and the behind the scene stories of the most powerful people in the world.  This is a delightful look into the story of Elizabeth and Philip from the time of their meeting until their marriage in 1947.  I learned so much about Philip and how the future Queen of England was drawn to this poor Prince of Greece who only had a title, good looks and a sense of adventure to offer.  Her parents were very much against such a union and as a reader I learned about the path of these two young people.  I learned more about Margaret and how the household actually operated around the Royals.  You feel sadness for Philip as he tries to adjust to all expectations from all fronts.  He was lonely and an outsider with no family roots to guide him on this journey.  I came away from this knowing a lot more about the man he was at the time and understanding parts of the man he has become.  Flora humanized this family in a way I had never known before.  I highly recommend this historical novel and applaud the author for all her careful research to bring this story to life.

Stunning look at the early years of Queen Elizabeth. This is PERFECT for fans of The Crown on Netflix!

As someone who loves all things in regards to the royal family I was very excited to read this one! The cover is beautiful and the story was really good! It focuses on the period of time before Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip's wedding and it was really interesting to read about their courting. Although it is a fictional book, it seems well researched and you can almost believe it could have happened this way in real life! It is a bit slow at times but overall was a great read. If you are a fan of the show The Crown or anything to do with the royal family this is definitely the book for you!