The Princess Diaires

Review of The Princess Diaries, Volume X: Forever Princess by Meg Cabot

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Synopsis:
It’s Mia’s senior year, and things seem great. She aced her senior project, got accepted to her dream college(s), and has her eighteenth birthday gala coming up . . . not to mention prom, graduation, and Genovia’s first-ever elections. What’s not to love about her life? Well . . . everyone adores her dreamy boyfriend, J.P., but Mia is not sure he’s the one. Her first love, Michael, is back from Japan . . . and back in her life. That senior project? It’s a romance novel she secretly wrote, and no one wants to publish it. And her father is losing in the Genovian polls—to Mia’s loathsome cousin René!

With not just Genovia’s but her own future hanging in the balance, Mia’s got some choices to make. And what she decides might determine not just the next four years but . . . forever!

Review:
“No one has ever died of embarrassment–never, not once in the whole history of time.” (Page 116)

Mia is growing up, and learning more and more about how just because things look nice, doesn’t mean they are the right thing for you. Mia has to face her own self desires for her future, both with her relationships and her career. It’s great seeing her grow and blossom and make educated choices.

Mia herself believes: “Life isn’t a romance novel. The truth is, the reason romance novels sell so well–the reason why everyone loves them–is because no one’s life is actually like that. Everyone wants their life to be like that.” (Page 214)

Everyone goes through turmoil and strife in their day to day life, and even as a princess, Mia still has issues with self doubt, self worth, and the certainty of what she has and wants for her future.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of The Princess Diaries, Volume VII: Party Princess by Meg Cabot

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Synopsis:
Princesses just want to have fun. . . . And Mia does too, despite the fact that the student government over which she presides is suddenly broke. But Grandmère’s got a wacky scheme to raise the money, catapult Mia to theatrical fame, and link her romantically with an eligible teen bachelor who’s not her boyfriend. No wonder Michael seems to think she’s not much fun. Is it possible that Mia, soon-to-be star of the stage, president of the student body, and future ruler of Genovia, doesn’t know how to party?

Review:
“A feeling of calm has descended over me. Oh, wait, that’s just Fat Louie, sleeping on my feet.” (Page 249)

Not only does Mia have to keep on her toes due to Grandmère but she also begins to worry about not being cool enough for her older boyfriend. While Mia doesn’t have any problems writing things down, it’s obvious she needs to actually share her feelings with someone instead of acting so different and trying to be someone she isn’t. All in all, this series continues to be a great homage to a teenager growing up, in a bit more spotlight than the average person faces.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of The Princess Diaries, Volume IV: Princess in Waiting by Meg Cabot

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Synopsis:
Never before has the world seen such a princess. Nor have her own subjects, for that matter. But Genovian politics are nothing next to Mia’s real troubles.

Between canceled dates with her long-sought-after royal consort, a second semester of the dreaded Algebra, more princess lessons from Grandmère, and the inability to stop gnawing on her fingernails, isn’t there anything Mia is good at besides inheriting an unwanted royal title?

Review:
“But I will never love anyone or anything as much as I love Fat Louie.” (Page 88)

Mia has everything she wanted, more or less, but also a position as a princess that makes everything so much harder on her; but she knows one truth–Fat Louie will always come first(to anyone with a pet they adore, it’s so true). It’s fun seeing how she interacts with her cousin Rene, and very amusing as she is thrust into spending so much time with Grandmere that she decides to take her advice. It does get a bit frustrating how Mia won’t come out and tell anyone what is actually bothering her, however, one can understand she doesn’t want to make anything be a problem or seem overly important; after all, to her, being a princess if very uncool. I do love how when given the full understanding of why people have pushed for certain things, she does what would be considered morally right, or, what she would have wanted someone to do for her. For someone who worries so much about not being self-actualized, she is far more insightful than I think I was at her age. Mia spends a lot of time uncertain about what makes her unique, or if she has any talent at all, and while the reveal may not be as surprising as one could expect, imposter syndrome is something that everyone faces, so it was great to see how she tried to cope with a feeling of less-than without becoming fully self-destructive.

All in all, I still would highly recommend this series. I’m in love and only wish I’d read it sooner!

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯