The King & the Crash - by Kara McDowell

About the Book

"Freshman year is stressful enough without accidentally being marr ied to the King of England. Of course, Wren Wheeler can't tell her Northwestern classmates about that; after surviving a narrowly-averted apocalypse over the summer, everyone's had enough excitement for one lifetime. Wren knows she needs to move on from Theo, but she can't forget the look in his eyes when he left her on that island in Greece--and also, he took her dog. When an ill-fated attempt to rescue Comet the Apocalypse Dog turns into a chemistry-fueled reunion with Theo that's caught by the paparazzi, Wren finds herself under the royal spotlight. Suddenly, she's a problem for 'the firm' to solve, and in order to be protected from the rabid press, she'll have to fly back to London with Theo. Along for the ride are Naomi and Brooke, as well as Theo's siblings, including Henry, the brother he's spent his life being compared to. But because the universe can't let these two maybe-newlyweds have one conversation in peace, their plane goes down over the Atlantic, crashing on a tropical island in the middle of nowhere. Stranded with no sign of rescue, the group will have to band together against poisonous animals, catastrophic injuries, a brotherly rivalry, and an ill-timed volcano if they're going to make it out alive.And, scariest of all, Wren and Theo will have to face their feelings for one another and decide what they want their futures to look like--and if that future will be heartbreak, or happily ever after"--

Book Synopsis

An American teen learns she may have accidentally married the King of England, only to end up stranded on a tropical island with him in Kara McDowell's high-stakes rom-com, Heir, Apparently.

Freshman year is stressful enough without accidentally being married to the King of England. Of course, Wren Wheeler can't tell her Northwestern classmates about that; after surviving a narrowly-averted apocalypse over the summer, everyone's had enough excitement for one lifetime. Wren knows she needs to move on from Theo, but she can't forget the look in his eyes when he left her on that island in Greece--and also, he took her dog.

When an ill-fated attempt to rescue Comet the Apocalypse Dog turns into a chemistry-fueled reunion with Theo that's caught by the paparazzi, Wren finds herself under the royal spotlight. Suddenly, she's a problem for "the firm" to solve, and in order to be protected from the rabid press, she'll have to fly back to London with Theo. Along for the ride are Naomi and Brooke, as well as Theo's siblings, including Henry, the brother he's spent his life being compared to. But because the universe can't let these two maybe-newlyweds have one conversation in peace, their plane goes down over the Atlantic, crashing on a tropical island in the middle of nowhere.

Stranded with no sign of rescue, the group will have to band together against poisonous animals, catastrophic injuries, a brotherly rivalry, and an ill-timed volcano if they're going to make it out alive. And, scariest of all, Wren and Theo will have to face their feelings for one another and decide what they want their futures to look like--and if that future will be heartbreak, or happily ever after.

Review Quotes

Goodreads, "New YA Books to Keep Teens Reading All Summer Long"

"A romantic story with serious elements that will have readers wringing their hands and holding their breath." - Kirkus

"Fans of British royalty, adventure, and romance will enjoy this gratifying conclusion to McDowell's entertaining duology." - Booklist

Praise for The Prince & The Apocalypse:

"Chaos, certain death, and a dash of sweet romance - this book was exactly the European summer vacation I needed." -NPR

"A charming, high-stakes rom-com...two parts entertaining chaos and one part charming banter." -Paste Magazine

"Readers who like a dose of adventure with their romance will devour this page-turner (and hope for a sequel)." -School Library Journal

"A treat for fans of rollicking, romantic road trip novels or rom-coms in which independent-minded young women fall for intelligent, good-looking princes." --Booklist

"Hard-hitting lines create tension between plenty of deadpan and situational humor...Enchanting entertainment." -Shelf Awareness

"The duo's magnetic chemistry and wry banter work levity into a would-be dire situation, culminating in a cavorting, globe-trotting jaunt." -Publishers Weekly

"This book is just pure fun, romance and action swirled together in one wild, adrenaline-fueled package. Kara McDowell excels at crafting comedic moments, lovable characters, and life-or-death tension. A royally perfect romp!" --Rachel Lynn Solomon, NYT bestselling author of See You Yesterday and Today, Tonight, Tomorrow

"The Prince & the Apocalypse is a page-turning rom-com utterly unlike any other, full of heart, humor and huge surprises. This wonderfully whimsical, genre-mashing royal romance is the ride of a lifetime." --Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka, bestselling authors of The Roughest Draft

"Kara McDowell is--hands down--my favorite rom-com author of all time. The Prince & the Apocalypse is an absolutely perfect blend of romance, humor, and adventure--Wren and Theo are going to live rent-free in my heart forever!" -Kass Morgan, bestselling author of The 100

"The Prince and the Apocalypse has to be the most inventive novel I've read in a long time! Twisty, romantic-as-heck, and heart-wrenching, I haven't stopped thinking about it since I read the final page." --Sophie Gonzales, author of Never Ever Getting Back Together

"I am obsessed with everything Kara McDowell writes and her new book is no exception. This book was EVERYTHING I wanted it to be. One part humor, one part angsty romance, one part vulnerable feels, and all parts bonkers. THIS IS THE ROYAL ROMANCE WE DIDN'T KNOW WE WANTED BUT ABSOLUTELY NEED."--Kristin Dwyer, author of Some Mistakes Were Made

"Cute, witty, and alarmingly funny in all the right places. Only McDowell could make the apocalypse seem swoon-worthy! A fantastic read." -Alex Light, author of The Upside of Falling

"If you're looking for a heart-racing good time, this is it--for more reasons than one. I adored Wren, who wants to spend her last week alive getting home to the people she loves most... and winds up finding love with the last person she expected. The Prince & the Apocalypse is a relatable, charming page-turner readers won't be able to put it down!" --Diana Urban, author of These Deadly Games

About the Author

KARA MCDOWELL is the author of Heir, Apparently; The Prince & The Apocalypse; One Way or Another; This Might Get Awkward; and Just for Clicks. She lives with her husband and a trio of rowdy boys in Mesa, Arizona, where she divides her time between writing, baking, and wishing for rain.