In the pulsating heart of 1981 London, amidst the fervor of royal wedding bells and punk's defiant screams, "Royals" by Emma Forrest unfolds a tale of beauty, friendship, and the relentless pursuit of identity. Steven, a shy, working-class eighteen-year-old with dreams too vast for the confines of his reality, finds himself navigating the tumultuous waters of self-discovery. Grappling with his sexuality and a tumultuous relationship with his father that culminates in a brutal attack, Steven's life takes a dazzling turn when he crosses paths with Jasmine, an heiress as intoxicating as she is anarchic. Bound by their shared love for fashion, their friendship plunges Steven into a world glittering with promise and peril, where the highs are euphoric, and the lows are devastatingly deep. "Royals" is a narrative mosaic, expertly piecing together themes of friendship, self-acceptance, and the transformative power of art against a backdrop of societal decay and familial dysfunction. Emma Forrest weaves a story that is at once heartrending and hopeful, chronicling the journey of two souls from vastly different realms as they navigate the complexities of identity, love, and the bitter sweetness of fleeting youth. With its richly drawn characters and evocative setting, "Royals" is a testament to the indomitable spirit of youth and the enduring allure of beauty in all its forms—a compelling exploration of the lights and shadows that define us and the unbreakable bonds that shape our paths.