04/13/2015
Cabot charms in the latest installation of her Princess Diaries series (after Forever Princess), the 11th book and the first geared to adults. Lovably neurotic Princess Mia Thermopolis of Genovia has plenty on her plate—dodging the paparazzi and online stalkers, dealing with insulting bloggers, and, of course, attending to her royal duties—when her life turns to absolute chaos. After Mia’s longtime love, Michael Moscovitz, pops the question on a romantic beach getaway, Mia thinks a happy ending is all but assured. She doesn’t count on her quirky father’s antics, meeting a close relative for the first time, and a shocking surprise in the family department, one that is destined to change the course of Mia’s life. Readers who first discovered Cabot’s Princess books as teens will enjoy seeing Mia and Michael all grown up, and new readers will enjoy this sweet contemporary tale. Since this is being billed as the final book in the series, one hopes that Cabot will reconsider and write more of Mia and Michael’s story, especially given the developments near the book’s end. Pure fun. (June)
a whirlwind of jaw-dropping, hilarious, and occasionally touching events. Original fans of the series, now adults themselves, will be thrilled with this, but it will be enjoyable for those on either side of Cabot’s extensive fan base.” — Booklist
“Cabot has a knack for hilarious dialogue and zany characters, but she also creates a story that’s full of heart. Fans who grew up with Mia will relish this opportunity to spend more time in her world. This funny, heartwarming story is royally perfect from start to finish.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
a whirlwind of jaw-dropping, hilarious, and occasionally touching events. Original fans of the series, now adults themselves, will be thrilled with this, but it will be enjoyable for those on either side of Cabot’s extensive fan base.
a whirlwind of jaw-dropping, hilarious, and occasionally touching events. Original fans of the series, now adults themselves, will be thrilled with this, but it will be enjoyable for those on either side of Cabot’s extensive fan base.
05/01/2015
Princess Mia is all grown up. In Cabot's first "Princess Diaries" installment for adults, the New York Times best-selling author resurfaces the Genovian royal and her drama after a six-year hiatus. In the previous volume (2009's Forever Princess), Mia was headed off to college in the arms of sweetheart and tech genius Michael, and the small European nation her family rules was taking tentative steps toward a more democratic government. Now, the put-together twentysomething has just launched a community center for underserved teens, is advocating for immigration reform in her country, trying to avoid the tabloids, and hoping to discover the identity of a social media stalker. The supporting characters who fans have grown to love have also returned, including the too-perfect Michael, abrasive Lilly, and merciless Grandmère. As talky as ever, Mia has resumed writing in her diary to relieve stress and continues to recount her travails with heart and humor. The passages are interspersed with borderline preachy remarks on women's rights, health issues, and celebrity-obsessed culture. Still, the reveals, even pacing, breezy tone, and of course, flamboyant royal wedding will engage fans and charm new readers. The protagonist matures by the novel's close and the ending leaves the series wide open for future books. VERDICT This standout in the genre is for lovers of fairy tale-like romance, fans of the series, and chick lit readers.—Shelley Diaz, School Library Journal
★ 2015-03-19
Princess Mia faces grown-up problems in this adult installment of Cabot's popular Princess Diaries series (Forever Princess, 2009, etc.). "I always thought when I became an adult everything would become less confusing, but unfortunately, everything's only become more confusing," Mia Thermopolis writes in her journal. Now in her mid-20s and the founder of a community center for children and teens, the princess of Genovia is dealing with problems she couldn't even have imagined back in her teenage diaries. She's finally engaged to the love of her life, Michael Moscovitz, but the stress of a royal wedding might drive her insane. As if planning a wedding that will be shown on live television isn't enough, she also has to deal with a stalker, the confusing romantic lives of her parents, the press intruding in her life, and her meddling grandmother. But it's a huge bombshell about her family that truly changes Mia's life. Throughout it all, Mia is still the lovably anxious and awkward character she's been since the beginning of the series. Cabot has a knack for hilarious dialogue and zany characters, but she also creates a story that's full of heart. Fans who grew up with Mia will relish this opportunity to spend more time in her world. This funny, heartwarming story is royally perfect from start to finish.
The first adult book of the Princess Diaries is a delightful journey to the aisle with many twists and laughs along the way. Narrator Arielle DeLisle gives the 11th installment a strong voice that is true to Cabot’s beloved Princess Mia. DeLisle perfectly captures Mia’s feelings as she finds herself being spread too thin in her demanding life. Five years after college, she’s working hard running a teen community center in New York City while maintaining a united front as part of Genovia’s royal family. DeLisle recounts Mia’s bubbly optimism, honesty, and unabashed love for—and attraction to—her fiancé in the established “Princess” diary format, which perfectly preserves both the exciting and mundane aspects of being a modern princess. A.L.C. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine
