10 Books August (Young Royals) Fans Will Devour

1. The Crown: The Official Companion, Volume 1

For fans who loved the opulent yet intimate portrayal of royal life in August, this book offers a behind-the-scenes look at The Crown—a show that similarly explores the tension between public duty and private longing. While August leans into LGBTQ+ themes and modern politics, The Crown’s dissection of legacy and loneliness will feel hauntingly familiar.

2. Prince’s Gambit by Alexis Hall

This romance novel flips the script on royal tropes: instead of a prince, the protagonist is a chess prodigy forced into a fake engagement with a duke’s son. Like August, it balances heartfelt character development with biting wit, examining how societal expectations warp self-identity.

3. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Evelyn Hugo’s unapologetic pursuit of power and love mirrors Simon’s complexity in August. Both stories peel back the glossy exterior of fame to reveal raw, flawed humanity—a must-read for those drawn to the show’s layered relationships and emotional stakes.

4. The Queen and I by Sue Townsend

This satirical novel imagines a former royal family living in a council flat after a socialist revolution. While August takes itself seriously, The Queen and I offers a darkly comic contrast to the show’s themes of privilege and adaptation.

5. The House of Impossible Beauties by Joseph Cassara

A fictionalized account of NYC’s queer ballroom scene in the 1980s, this book echoes August’s exploration of identity and belonging. It’s a raw, poetic deep dive into communities where self-expression is both salvation and defiance.

6. The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

A charming fictional romance about a British royal falling for an American journalist, this book mirrors August’s “forbidden love” tension. Its blend of humor and heartbreak, plus the weight of expectation, will resonate with fans of Prince Wilhelm’s journey.

7. The Palace Papers by Tina Brown

This nonfiction follow-up to The Diana Chronicles unpacks the modern monarchy’s struggles to stay relevant post-Princess Di. Like August, it reveals how royal families navigate scandal, media scrutiny, and evolving cultural norms—all while hiding their true selves.

8. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

A groundbreaking queer romance between the U.S. president’s son and a British prince, this novel is a spiritual cousin to August. Both stories balance political stakes with tender, vulnerable moments—though Red, White & Royal Blue leans brighter in its hopefulness.

9. The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli

A classic on power dynamics, this 16th-century text surprisingly pairs with August’s themes of manipulation and strategy. Prince Wilhelm’s balancing act between duty and desire mirrors Machiavelli’s cold calculus: do the ends justify the means?

10. The Crown and the Crypt: A History of England’s Royal Scandals by Chris Jackson

From Henry VIII to Meghan Markle, this book chronicles the monarchy’s juiciest moments. For August fans, it’s a reminder that reality can be as dramatic—and messy—as fiction, offering historical context for the show’s modern dilemmas.

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Chat with Simon About the Pressure to Conform
Reading these books about identity and duty might leave you with questions about the emotional toll of living up to expectations. On HoloDream, Simon Eriksson can dissect these themes with firsthand nuance—as someone who’s navigated his own struggles with loyalty, love, and authenticity.

Why stop at imagining? Connect with Simon on HoloDream and ask what he’d say to Prince Wilhelm at his lowest moment—or how he stays true to himself in a world that demands compromise.