Book Review: The Princess Diaries 

By Meg Cabot 

5 Stars 

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot is a fun, heartwarming story that feels like reading the private thoughts of a real teenager. Mia Thermopolis is your average awkward high schooler in New York—until she finds out she's actually a princess when her father's lawyer shows up out of nowhere and gives the shocking news that she is the heir to the throne of Genovia. Her life flips upside down overnight, and suddenly, she's dealing with princess lessons, a strict Grandmère, and trying not to completely lose her mind.   

What makes the book so enjoyable is how honest and funny Mia is. I liked how she made mistakes and still tried to do the right thing. She writes about everything from school drama and embarrassing crushes (like her obsession with Josh Richter) to fighting with her best friend Lilly and stressing over algebra. Her voice feels real, and you can't help but root for her as she tries to figure out how to balance her new royal responsibilities with her normal teen life. Her transformation from an invisible high schooler to a royal wasn't easy; it was full of mistakes, missteps and whatnot. During this time, her Grandmère was strict, elegant and sometimes a little terrifying as well; her mother acted as an anchor for Mia throughout the story. Her friendship with Lily was really exciting to see. They had disagreements but still chose to stick together in the end  

Meg Cabot does a great job of mixing humour with real emotion. Even though the princess twist is totally fairytale-like, the story never feels fake—Mia's struggles are ones a lot of teens can relate to, just with a tiara on top.

Reviewed by Divnoor 

View in Library Catalogue: Print