Families who loved Royal Heirs Academy by Lindsey Duga often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is feeling overwhelmed by high-stakes competition, family pressure, or the need to constantly perform for others. Set in an elite European boarding school, the story follows four teens vying for a kingdom's throne, but beneath the glitz is a grounded exploration of what it means to define yourself outside of your family's expectations. While it reads like a fast-paced thriller with 'enemies-to-lovers' romance, it provides a safe space for teens to process feelings of inadequacy and the ethics of ambition. It is best suited for older middle schoolers and high schoolers who enjoy high-drama contemporary stories about power dynamics and social hierarchies.