In 2019, speaking to Hello! after the book’s release, McQuiston expressed their joy that the book was immediately so beloved (the author identifies as queer and non-binary, and uses they/them pronouns). “I feel so incredibly lucky to have written something that’s resonated with so many people on so many levels,” McQuiston said at the time. “I expected this book to do well if it could find its target audience of queer millennials looking for a fun and escapist rom-com, but I never expected it to transcend as much as it has.”
Asked about a sequel, they were pretty direct in saying that they would potentially want to spend more time with this international cpouple. “I will say that I have plenty of ideas for stories set in this world and would love a chance to explore one of them some day,” they teased. “I would be surprised if you’ve seen the last of Alex and Henry.”
Since “Red, White & Royal Blue” was published in 2019, McQuiston has published two more books — 2021’s “One Last Stop,” a queer time-travel romance set in New York City, and 2022’s young adult venture “I Kissed Shara Wheeler.” That said, a collector’s edition of “Red, White & Royal Blue” hit shelves in late 2022, and it already teases more of Alex and Henry’s love story.
