Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club
Episode: Rebecca Armitage is No Princess
Host: Danielle Robay
Guest: Rebecca Armitage (author of The Heir Apparent)
Release Date: December 30, 2025
Overview
In the season finale, host Danielle Robay sits down with Rebecca Armitage, journalist and author of The Heir Apparent, Reese’s Book Club’s December pick. The conversation explores the nuance of royal life—on and off the page—interrogating fairy tales, media narratives, inherited power, and the unwritten rules women must navigate. The discussion is candid, witty, and deeply reflective—perfectly suited for the year’s end as listeners contemplate agency and choosing one’s own story.
Main Themes and Purpose
- Exploration of Modern Royalty: Armitage’s book reframes the fairy-tale princess narrative, focusing on the push-pull between public expectation and private desire.
- Female Agency and Identity: Both the novel’s protagonist and Armitage herself reckon with the difficulty of stepping into one’s power on one’s own terms.
- Media & Narrative (Inside/Outside the Monarchy): The truth, distortion, and ethics of journalism and storytelling, especially regarding the British royals.
- Creation, Confidence, and Legacy: Armitage’s candid account of pursuing authorship, overcoming fear of failure, and advice for aspiring writers.
- Pop Culture and Literary Joy: Fun speed-rounds, royal observations, and book recommendations close the year on an uplifting, encouraging note.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
The Heir Apparent: A Modern Fairy Tale
- Plot Refresher (03:08): Lexi, granddaughter of the Queen of England, unexpectedly becomes heir to the throne following a family tragedy, prompting her to question if the fairy-tale life is truly her own dream.
- "Lexi's forced to confront a future that she never asked for...she's just trying to imagine a future where she gets to choose herself." — Danielle (03:08)
- Fairy Tale, With a Twist (08:01-09:40): Unlike classic tales where the villain is external, Lexi’s struggle is largely internal—overcoming her own doubts and past.
- "She really is waging this battle not against dragons or against an evil queen. It's against her own demons in a way." — Rebecca (08:52)
- Why Make It Modern? (09:05): Lexi’s adversaries are the media and family secrets, not fantastical monsters; her challenges mirror everyday struggles of young women.
Royal Archetypes and Inspirations
- Which Princess Are You? (06:09)
- Rebecca identifies most with Princess Anne: "I don't think I bring princess vibes at all...If I ever found myself as a princess, that's how I would be...just does whatever she wants and it's paid off." (06:09)
- Danielle: "No pretense, no pretending, no nonsense. I like that about you." (07:09)
- Real Life Inspirations for Fictional Royals (19:40)
- Isla = Diana ("very, very obviously")
- Lexi = Loosely based on Lady Jane Grey
- Amira = Inspired by outsider commoners like Meghan and Kate
The Allure and Danger of Royal Fascination
- Public Narratives and Tabloid Media (09:40–10:45; 22:19–24:14)
- Rebecca explains how different royals use media to shape public perception: "It's just the most bizarre form of journalism...they are transporting secret messages via the media..." (23:10)
- Ethical concerns over the public internalizing narratives crafted by interested parties.
- Favorite Royal ‘Energy’ (10:54): Rebecca believes Harry has the most “main character energy.”
- "Harry was born to be a prince...I think I was just startled that they allowed them to leave...such assets to the family." (10:56)
Writing and Creativity
- Transitioning from Journalism to Fiction (24:14)
- Used her journalist’s habit: “I'll write 700 words a night because I know I can do that.”
- First draft completed in six months, fueled by a creative burst and structured by discipline.
- Balancing Fact & Fiction (26:09)
- Many anecdotes are real (e.g., Prince Andrew helicopter, Beatrice cutting Ed Sheeran’s ear, Charles's toothpaste), but major family trauma was fictionalized “out of respect.”
- On Diana’s inspiration (Isla): “I was never going to do a car accident… I didn't want to pick over a real family's trauma.” (27:14)
- Epic Book Rollout (27:29):
- Instagram series demystifies the steps from writing to publication, aiming to help aspiring writers.
- Advice: “Things happen when they're meant to happen...but I do think I probably delayed things a lot because I just didn't have the confidence to do it." (28:54)
- “The act of making it is the most important thing...you just have to write your thing and you need to write every day.” (29:41)
Deeper Themes: Power, Agency, and Inheritance
- Power & Choice (43:49)
- “I think inherited power is probably a scourge on the earth and probably shouldn't happen because power should be something that is bestowed upon people who have sought it...” (43:54)
- Appearance as Armor (41:01)
- "That is, like, a weapon that royal women wield, and it's often the only weapon they have.” (41:01)
- Royal women’s clothing as communication and protection, reflecting struggles of ordinary women.
- Legacy (42:19)
- “Legacy is more about what you leave in people than what you leave for them.” — Danielle (42:19)
- Rebecca credits her mother’s encouragement in reading as essential to her writing journey.
Memorable Quotes
- On Failure and Fear: (31:11)
- "You just have to take the risk because you don't want to get to the end of your life and realize that you never gave it a shot." — Rebecca (46:00)
- “Are you going to die thinking, oh, I could have tried. Our time on Earth is so fleeting. You don't want to waste time.” (31:15)
- On Art and Accomplishment: (31:51)
- "Even if they're not published, it's such an accomplishment...Art is the thing that you make for yourself. And the magic of what your grandfather has done is it's now with you. That's all you need to worry about." — Rebecca (31:51)
Notable Moments & Rapid Fire
- Instagram Book Rollout Praise (27:27): Rebecca’s behind-the-scenes book launch series is recommended for aspiring writers.
- Speed Read—Rapid Fire Literary Questions (46:23–49:03)
- Favorite fictional royals: The Princess Diaries (46:28)
- Favorite book on writing: Stephen King’s On Writing (46:41)
- Book to re-read for the first time: The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Holly Ringland (47:08)
- Desert island author: Daphne Du Maurier (47:25)
- Most like: Unnamed narrator in Rebecca (47:32)
- Memoir narrator pick: Helen Mirren (48:49)
- This Week's Bookmark (32:51): Orzo Al Limone recipe by Molly Baz — "If you've got nothing in your pantry...you can make dinner. Highly recommend." (32:51)
- Overarching Message & Host’s Reflection (49:16–52:00)
- “So many of them carried a book in their heart for years before ever writing it. And once they finally did, every single one said it was life changing. No regrets, no looking back, just the thought of, why didn't I do this sooner?” — Danielle (49:18)
- “Being legendary isn't about being louder or bigger or more online. It's about being lasting. It's the quiet power of impact...” (50:24)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 03:08 — Episode & book intro
- 06:09 — Rebecca on which princess she’s most like
- 08:01 — Deconstructing fairy tales; Lexi’s real “enemy”
- 09:40 — The role of media and royal gossip
- 19:40 — Who inspired each main character in The Heir Apparent
- 24:14 — Switching from journalism to fiction writing
- 27:29 — Rebecca’s Instagram book rollout tips
- 28:54 — Overcoming fear and advice for aspiring writers
- 41:01 — Appearance as armor for royal women and all women
- 43:49 — Deeper questions on power and inheritance
- 46:22 — Speed Read: Rapid fire questions
- 49:18 — Host’s year-end message on taking creative risks
Conclusion
This episode offers a nuanced, relatable, and encouraging conversation about writing, female agency, the illusions and realities of royalty, and the power of stories—both royal and personal. Rebecca’s candor about art, failure, and self-doubt, paired with Danielle’s probing questions, makes this essential listening not just for readers, but for anyone reassessing their own narrative as a new year begins.
“You just have to write your thing and you need to write every day. So just write and then worry about the logistics later...You just have to take the risk because you don't want to get to the end of your life and realize that you never gave it a shot.” — Rebecca Armitage (29:41, 46:00)
Recommended for: Book lovers, writers, fans of royal drama, and anyone pondering what it means to live a life of their own choosing.