The Princess Trap

Author: Talia Hibbert Title: The Princess Trap Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca Date Published: 07/21/2026

Read Dates: 06/17/2026- 06/18/2026
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

 📖 I received a gifted e-book ARC. The following is my honest review✍🏻

The Princess Trap is a dual POV fake relationship romance. Cherry meets the surprisingly attractive Ruben as he’s touring the academy where she works, thinking he’s just another potential investor. Ruben is captivated by Cherry right away and doesn’t correct her assumption. After all, he IS a potential investor, it’s just that he’d be investing as part of a Royal initiative from back home, where he’s trying to clean up his public image. When the two are caught in a compromising position Ruben says the first thing he can think of: Cherry is his new fiancée! Now he just has to convince her to go along with a temporary fake engagement, move to a foreign country for the duration, and try not to fall head over heels for the stubborn and gorgeous woman who’s determined to treat this like a business arrangement!

Talia Hibbert is becoming a fast favorite for me! I don’t read a lot of “secret royal/secret billionaire “ type romances but if they’re this good maybe I’m missing out! There were a few difficult issues tackled (racism, especially microaggressions, childhood abuse and trauma, and a past revenge porn incident from a partner) but I felt that they were handled well in a way that both appreciated the seriousness without changing the overall tone of the book (fun and flirty). It’s a fine line but it was done well and I walked away really enjoying the book, the chemistry between Cherry and Ruben and the side characters & found family.

Cherry Neita is thirty, flirty, and done with men. As far as she can tell, they’re overrated, overpaid, and underperforming – in every area of life. But a girl has needs, and the smoking-hot stranger she just met at the office seems like the perfect one-night stand…

Prince Ruben of Helgmøre is reckless, dominant, and famously filthy. The outcast royal is rebuilding his reputation – all for a good cause – but he can’t resist a pretty face. And bossy whirlwind Cherry’s got the face, the body, and the attitude to make Ruben’s convictions crumble. Even better, when she propositions him, she has no idea who he really is.

But when paparazzi catch the pair, erm, kissing in an alleyway, Ruben’s anonymity disappears faster than Cherry’s knickers. Now the press is in uproar, the palace is outraged, and Ruben’s reputation is back in the gutter. There’s only one way to turn this disaster around – and it involves Cherry, some big fat lies, and a flashy diamond ring. On her left hand.

Unfortunately, Cherry isn’t pleased with Ruben’s ‘fake engagement’ scheme… and neither is the king.

The Princess Trap is a steamy, diverse royal romance featuring a take-no-sh*t heroine and a misunderstood hero fighting to survive life at the palace. There’s fake relationship fluff, a healthy dose of angst, and a guaranteed happily-ever-after. Please be this story contains scenes of abuse that could trigger certain audiences.